Anna Hazare parts ways with Kejriwal

Team Anna on Wednesday suffered a vertical split with Anna Hazare and some top activists choosing to part ways with the Arvind Kejriwal-led group, opposing their plans to form a political party.

After a roller-coaster ride of 18 months in which they came together to run a high-steam anti-graft movement, the group led by Hazare had acrimonious discussions with Kejriwal and his supporters including Prashant Bushan and Shanti Bhushan on the issue of forming a political party.

Backed by activists including Kiran Bedi and Justice Santosh Hegde, Hazare told the other group during the nine-hour deliberations that they were free to form a political party but cannot use his name or photo for their campaign.

"It is unfortunate that the team has separated...I will not join any party or any group. I will not go for their campaign. I have told them not to use my photo or my name in their campaign. You fight on your own," he told reporters here.

Hazare refused to accept the survey done by India Against Corruption which overwhelmly favoured a political path, saying he does not agree with the exercise done through social networking sites.
"My best wishes are with them (those taking political path). There is no harm in it. If they think that they can get majority in Parliament, it is good...The paths have been separated. Both of us have chosen our (separate paths).

When pointed out that Kejriwal had earlier declared that he will not form any party if Hazare does not approve it, he said if that was the case, then the party should not be formed but ‘it is a good thing’.
The discussions saw a section alleging that Hazare was ‘exploited’ by the Kejriwal group. It was countered by others saying ‘people in Delhi have made Anna what he is now’.

Source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com/channels/nation/north/anna-hazare-parts-ways-kejriwal-990

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Homemakers fret over 6-cylinder cap

Lack of clarity on rate of non-subsidised cylinders and type of refills causes confusion For consumers in the city, there were more questions than answers as they tried to come to terms with the government’s decision to impose a six-cylinder-a-year-cap on subsidised cooking gas for households.

Making it difficult, even for distributors for much part of the day, was the lack of clarity and communication on various issues, particularly the rate of non-subsidised cylinders and the type of refills. 

As per the government announcement, which came into force on Friday, “Any number of cylinders will be available over and above the cap of six cylinders a year at market rate.”

“As consumers we are in the dark,” said consumer activist T. Sadagopan, while pointing out that the number of cylinders being supplied to consumers is consistently on the decline. From a situation of plenty, a few years ago, the supplies were subsequently restricted using the mandatory 21-day gap between supplies of two refills. 

Operational reasons also contributed and effectively not more than nine cylinders were supplied per household. Six cylinders a year, he said, were just not enough for a household. “What is the alternative? The power situation is bad and families with two cylinders are not eligible for PDS kerosene,” he said.

Officials of state-owned oil marketing companies and cooking gas distributors, however, said consumer reaction to the decision was muted. “They will react only when the pocket is hit,” an official of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) said, adding that detailed instructions could be expected, on an industry basis, in a few days.

The consumers, an official of Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) said, were unlikely to be affected immediately as they would be eligible for three subsidised cylinders till March-end. 

The households, on exhausting their quota, would be supplied the same 14.2 kg cylinder, but at a price of around Rs. 750 per refill. The price would be subject to monthly revision, depending on international fuel prices, and since it is meant for use only by households, the excise duty exemption was expected to continue, the official said.

There is no value-added tax on domestic LPG in Tamil Nadu. Commercial cylinders (19 kg), on which excise duty and value-added tax are levied, cannot be supplied to domestic consumers as the focus is on faster turnaround of the equipment. From the consumer’s point of view, commercial cylinders would be expensive.

S. Kiran, a resident of Perambur, said: “It will be difficult for six of us to manage with just six cylinders a year. I am worried as I’ve used up five cylinders so far. I am thinking of using the induction stove and electric cooker more often to reduce usage of cooking gas.”

While this would increase electricity tariff bills, many residents said there was no other choice if the government decided to implement the decision.

Blue Book

Both IOC and BPCL instructed their distributors on Friday to insist on domestic gas consumer cards while supplying cylinders and make an entry in it before getting the customer’s signature. The card, a blue book, has details of cylinder supplies made. Distributors were also asked to maintain the cash memos. 

Chennai Area president of All India Indane Distributors Association, A. Ramachandran, said these measures were intended to avoid disputes over the number of cylinders supplied. Most of the enquiries from customers, he said, were about the price of the non-subsidised cylinder. 

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/chennai/article3898134.ece

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Guwahati molestation case: 13 accused get bail

Guwahati, Sept 12: Thirteen persons, accused of molesting a girl outside a bar in Guwahati, have been granted bail by a court.

The Kamrup Chief Judicial Magistrate on Tuesday, Sept 11 granted bail to Nabajyoti Baruah, Jitumoni Deka, Nabajit Deka, Dipak Deb, Puspendra Das, Dhanraj Basfor, Rubul Ali, Hafizuddin, Sikandar Basfor, Diganta Basumatary, Debo Das, Rupkanta Kalita and Ghanashyam Malik.

While prime accused Amarjyoti Kalita's bail application was pending before the Gauhati High Court and is scheduled to come up on Thursday, journalist of a local television channel Gaurab Jyoti Neog, an accused in the case, was granted bail by the high court on Aug 13.

The CJM ordered that the trial of the case would proceed on a day-to-day basis from Sept 18.

The Special Investigation Team of the Assam Police, after completing investigations, had filed a charge sheet on Sept 4 before the CJM's court against 15 persons, under sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 341 (wrongful restraint), 294 (obscene acts), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 354 (outraging of modesty of woman with criminal force) of IPC.

The court in pursuance of an order passed by the Gauhati High Court on Jul 30 had observed that since the present case fell in the special category involving social concern therefore, it should be put on the fast track and efforts would be made to dispose of it within one month.

The girl was allegedly assaulted and molested by a mob outside a bar on the busy GS Road on July 9 which was captured on camera leading to a national furore.

Source: http://news.oneindia.in/2012/09/12/guwahati-molestation-case-13-accused-get-bail-1069447.html

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Govt issues guidelines for its departments for using social media

New Delhi: The government today issued guidelines for its departments using social media networks asking them not to post confidential information and "unverified" facts.

With 40 million Facebook and 16 million twitter users in India, social media has emerged as a powerful platform for forming an opinion as well as generating mass support, the Information Technology Ministry said in its 38-page guidelines issued today.

"Great care must be taken to avoid propagation of unverified facts and frivolous misleading rumours," it said.

It asked persons handling social media for all government agencies including public sector undertakings not to "comment and respond unless authorised to do so especially in the matters that are sub-judice, draft legislations or relating to other individuals".

Asking social media handlers to be polite, discrete and respectful, the guidelines said personal comments for or against any individuals or agencies should not be made and professional discussions should not be politicised.

"Not all posts/comments need to be responded to immediately and individually. Also, wherever a response is required all posts should be kept short and to the point," it said adding infringement of IPR and copyrights of others should be avoided.

The guidelines said while employees were free to post response in their personal capacity, "it is mandatory that while they are doing so, they must clearly identify themselves, confidential information must not be divulged and should not be seen to represent 'official view' unless authorised to do so".

The guidelines stated that social media can only be used by the government to communicate existing government information and propagate official policy to the public.

Social media, it said, should only be one of the components of the overall citizen engagement strategy and government departments must desist from using only social media to communicate with their stakeholders.

"Initially, the departments may just aim to post information regularly. For example, if it is a Facebook page, posting may be done at least a couple of times a week and on Twitter slightly more frequently," it said.

The government's communication to citizens via social media should follow the same data retention policy as its communication through other electronic and non-electronic channels.

"When any information is shared or guidance given online, it is necessary to ensure that all relevant records are captured, trail is generated and records are managed appropriately," the guidelines stated.

The government said the guidelines have been formulated with a view to help ministries, departments and agencies to make use of social media platforms to engage more meaningfully with their various stakeholders.

World over, various government agencies use various social media platforms to interact with their stakeholders. In US, the White House has Facebook page and a Twitter profile.

Even the US Army has a Facebook page and a social network website called GovLoop.com was created within the US Department of Homeland Security to share experiences and best practices.

In India, the Prime Minister's Office this January launched social media initiatives and currently uses Twitter, Facebook and YouTube. The Ministry of External Affairs is also present on Twitter.

Courtesy: http://www.ndtv.com/

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Autopsy rpt: Geetika was subjected to unnatural sex

New Delhi, Aug 20: With former Haryana Minister Gopal Kanda, main accused in the Geetika Sharma suicide case, surrendering after evading arrest for close to 11 days, the drama with regard to the case seems to be far from over. The autopsy report of the former airhostess Geetika has revealed that she died from hanging. The report also says that Geetika was subjected to unnatural sex which could also be one of the reasons the ambitious woman chose to end her life.

Geetika was found hanging in her flat on Aug 5 and the suicide note in the premises had named Gopal Kanda and another MDLR employee Aruna Chaddha of causing her mental distress and cited as the reason for her decision to commit suicide.

As part of the autopsy, samples of vaginal swabs taken from Geetika's body has been sent for DNA profiling. The result of the same will give more insights into some valuable clues regarding her death.
The autopsy report was released to the media. Kanda has been charged with abetment to suicide and is presently in police custody for the next seven days.

Meanwhile, the Opposition parties are trying to take leverage of the case and have sought the resignation of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda for trying to protect Kanda while he was termed 'absconder' by the police.

Geetika Sharma's brother Ankit has been quoted as saying, "Police has demanded remand of 14 days but they only got for seven days. This shows that he has once again misused his stature but police is doing its work and I have full faith in judiciary. This is a very good thing that he has been sent on police remand for seven days. Police is also cooperating and now the entire interrogation depends on police."

On Kanda's dubious past, Ajay Chautala of the Indian National Lok Dal party, told reporters in Rohtak, Haryana, that Kanda was earlier involved in several such cases before also.

Source: oneindia.in 

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10 killed, 38 missing as heavy rains batter Uttarakhand

Ten people were killed and 38 others went missing as incessant rains battered Uttarakhand today triggering landslides, cloud bursts and flash floods which flattened homes and stranded hundreds of pilgrims with the Chardham Yatra coming to a grinding halt.

The Garhwal region bore the brunt of the natural calamity.

The state government has sounded a high alert after the MET department’s warned of very heavy rains and sought the help of the army to mitigate the sufferings of the people.

Nineteen labourers of the state—run UJVN Ltd’s Assi Ganga hydel project went missing following a cloud burst in the upper hills of Uttarkashi district.

Similarly, 19 other people also went missing from Gangori, Dunda, Uttarkashi town and Barkot areas in the district.

“We have launched a manhunt to trace the missing people,” said R Rajesh Kumar District Magistrate Uttarkashi.

Elsewhere in the state, 10 people were killed in different incidents following heavy rains during the past 24 hours, said sources in the Disaster Management and Mitigation Centre (DMMC) here.

 In the disaster—prone Uttarkashi district, flash floods hit several low—lying areas creating havoc there.

At least three jawans of the fire brigade department and two others were killed at Gangori area even as Chardham yatra to Gangotri and Yamunotri remained suspended for the second day on Saturday.

In Gangori area of Uttarkashi, Bhagirathi is flowing above the danger level with people being evacuated to safer areas.

Nearly 30 homes were washed away in the floods with the Gangori bridge also collapsing.

“We have now reports that three jawans of the fire brigade and two others were killed in Gangori,” said state disaster management minister Yashpal Arya. 

Source : The Hindu

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Team Anna ends fast this evening, but political plans will be the focus

New Delhi: In a few hours from now, Anna Hazare and his team of activists will end their hunger strike at the protest camp they have inhabited for 10 days at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. Anna has not eaten since Sunday; his aides like Arvind Kejriwal have been fasting for twice as long and their health has been a cause of concern. (Track live updates)

But political parties and the public will really be looking for any announcements that elaborate on the team's political plans. They have asked for feedback - via twitter and the India Against Corruption website - for whether they should set up their own political party. (See forum) The government, which refused to urge them to end their fast, says the activists have always hungered for power while claiming otherwise.

Critics say that a lukewarm reception to this hunger strike -when compared to the epic turnouts for the protests pivoted by Anna last year - have proved that Team Anna can no longer get by as the self-proclaimed safeguard of public interest. Anna has said he will not contest elections, will support a "political alternative." His aides admit that entering politics is a daunting task. Raising the sort of funds required to contest elections seems out of their league, they said. They also said that power corrupts MPs, and they are worried about how their candidates would remain immune to graft if they reach Parliament.

"We want to form a front of honest people," said Mayank Gandhi to NDTV yesterday, after Anna announced on stage that he does not "see anything wrong with forming a party." Mr Kejriwal, visibly weak, appealed to the public to advise the activists on what sort of role they should play. "They are hardcore politicians," said Kapil Sibal, who is among the ministers who have accused Team Anna of trying to dictate terms to a democratically-elected Parliament. (What politicians say)

Union Law Minister Salman Khurshid told the Tehelka magazine that Anna Hazare had asked him to keep their June 23 meeting near Pune a secret. Mr Khurshid also hit out
at Team Anna, saying Mr Hazare and his team "talk in different tunes".

Even supporters of Anna have warned that a formal entry into politics is more likely to end as a mis-step rather than a game-changer. "One has to think a 100 times before taking a plunge into electoral politics. If he joins politics, then the momentum gained should not be lost. When people with noble intentions join politics, either they don't last long or they don't achieve much," said activist Medha Patkar.

"I don't think Team Anna should get into politics because we are not ready for elections," said Justice Santosh Hegde, who has been a core member of Anna's group, but has often differed with the others on their tactics.

Team Anna says that the government has proved it has no interest in cleansing the country of graft. The activists believe the antidote lies in the Lokpal Bill, which Anna brought onto the big stage with him through a series of hunger strikes last year. The longest, in August, lasted 16 days, and made Anna the centrifugal force in a middle-class push against corruption. Anna ignored appeals from the Prime Minister and others to end his fast; he relented only after MPs promised to urgently debate the Lokpal Bill, which provides the blueprint for a national ombudsman agency with the powers to investigate and prosecute government servants.

The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha last year, but has tripped in the Rajya Sabha. Anna's activists say without it, there is no chance of reintroducing probity in the governing class.

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PM questions Atomic Energy Department on Kudankulam nuclear plant

New Delhi: There is fresh trouble for the Kudankulam nuclear power plant as the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has questioned the Department of Atomic Energy not to exercise the right to recourse in the event of a mishap in the nuclear power plant.

NDTV has learnt that as the minister in charge, Dr Singh has now sought legal clarifications from the Ministry of External Affairs and the Law Ministry on whether international obligations can override India's nuclear liability bill.

Citing his concerns, Dr Singh has pointed there will be demands for the same treatment by the Americans and the French companies on the grounds of a level playing field.

The Tamil Nadu government has given its no objection from its pollution control board to the Kudankulam nuclear project but there is fresh hurdles for the phase 3 and 4 of the project. The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) is expected to clear the next phase of the project.

The Department of Atomic Energy, meanwhile, argues that Nuclear Power Corporation does not need to exercise the right to recourse as there is a provision in the international agreement and there is no such provision with the American and the French governments.

The Russians are keen that the right to recourse does not apply for its project and have brought this up during their bilateral meetings with prime minister Manmohan Singh. 

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Pune blasts a planned, coordinated act: Centre

The Centre on Thursday described the near simultaneous explosions in Pune as a planned and coordinated act. 

Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh said forensic experts were examining the two unexploded IEDs and nature of the four blasts. 

“Since the blasts have taken place within an area of 500 metres and within a span of 45 minutes, it appears to be a coordinated act. I am sure there was a plan behind it,” he told reporters in New Delhi. 

Mr. Singh said teams of National Investigation Agency, National Security Guards and Central Forensic Science Laboratory reached Pune early Thursday morning and were examining the explosives. 

“They have examined two IEDs which had not exploded. There are three detonators in each and other peculiarity. Investigation is on. We are making progress,” he said. 

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde said there was no update on the blasts so far. 

Mr. Shinde, who assumed charge of the key department on Wednesday, held a high-level meeting with top Home Ministry oficials to review the security scenario in the country, particularly Pune, in view of Wednesday night’s blasts. 

Pune blasts taken very seriously: Shinde

Meanwhile, Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Thursday said the Centre has taken the near 

simultaneous explosions in Pune “very seriously” and investigators were looking for clues.

“We have taken it very seriously,” Mr. Shinde told reporters in New Delhi after a high-level meeting which reviewed the security situation in the country in the wake of Wednesday evening’s blasts in Pune. 

Mr. Shinde said a team of National Investigation and experts of National Security Guards were already in Pune and they have joined the investigation with Maharashtra Police.

“The report of the investigation has not yet come,” he said, adding, one injured person had been admitted to hospital.

Asked how he would like to describe Wednesday’s four explosions in his home state, the minister said “I cannot say what sort of attack it was“.

Mr. Shinde also said he has no immediate plan to visit Pune.

Wednesday’s blasts took place hours after Mr. Shinde assumed charge of the key Home Ministry.

‘Terror angle being probed’

Meanwhile, Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil on Thursday said investigating agencies were probing all angles to determine whether any terror outfit was behind the low intensity serial bomb blasts that rocked the city on Wednesday night.

 “Whether it was a terrorist act or not will be determined only after proper investigations are carried out by Maharashtra ATS, city crime branch and central agencies,” Mr. Patil told reporters after visiting the four blast sites on J.M. Road in Pune.

Four coordinated low-intensity explosions struck the busy arterial J.M. Road in the heart of Pune on Wednesday night. The explosions occurred at spots near the Balgandharva Theatre, a Dena Bank branch, a McDonald food outlet and the Garware Bridge on the road.

Asked whether there could be a “saffron terror” angle to the incident, he said, “All angles are being probed and it will not be proper to comment at this stage.”

He said the person injured in one of the blasts — near the Bal Gandharva theatre — was being treated for minor injuries.

The injured person — Dayanand Patil, who hails from a nearby village of Uruli Kanchan, had reportedly visited the spot opposite the Balgandharva Theatre, where a dharna by India Against Corruption (IAC) was in progress.

After he left the place, the explosive, which had apparently been put in his carry bag, exploded on the way, police sources said.

Unconfirmed reports said ammonium nitrate could have been the substance used in the blast triggered by small detonators and pencil cells.

Police have also issued an advisory to IAC activists to wind up the dharna pandal for security reasons.

Life in the city returned to normal late night as the blasts did not cause any large scale damage. 

Police have appealed to people to ignore rumours and carry on daily routine without fear.

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Fasting Team Anna members refuse police request to shift to hospital

New Delhi: Activist Anna Hazare  meets today with his core group in Delhi to take stock of the team's hunger strike against corruption, which has completed a week. Anna, who is 75, joined the fast on Sunday.  His aides like Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia  and Gopal Rai, have not eaten for a week.

The Delhi Police has written to the activists reminding them that when the activists were given permission to hold their protest, they had agreed in writing to move to hospital if their  health was in danger.

Doctors from the government-run RML Hospital say they must be moved to hospital immediately.   But the activists  have refused and have warned the government against trying to force-feed them. They say their own doctors have indicated that there's no urgent need for them to end their fast just yet.

Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh said today  "The government cannot be allowed to let people die without being called insensitive." He also said that the government should engage with the activists, but "not at gunpoint." About reports of the deteriorating health about those who're fasting, he said, "Nothing will happen" and pointed to the example of Irom Sharmila, the activist from Manipur who has been fasting for 11 years; she is regularly force-fed by the government via a drip.

Last August, Anna's health dipped precariously when he spent 16 days fasting in Delhi, a pressure tactic to force the government to work on new landmark legislation against corruption. The Prime Minister and others urged Anna formally to call off his strike; he agreed only when parliamentarians promised to urgently debate the Lokpal Bill, named for the new national ombudsman agency that it creates.

This time around, the government has decided not to intervene.  Sources say no appeal will be made for the activists to end their fast. "Those that gave permission for the camp at Jantar Mantar will decide how to deal with issues like deteriorating health," said government sources, who also ruled out any backroom discussions with Anna and his aides.

Earlier this week, Minister of State in the Prime Minister's Office V Narayanasamy described the hunger strike to NDTV as "a drama." Senior government sources who did not want to be named said that Anna's own team should take responsibility for the health of its members.  They pointed out that the ruling coalition introduced the Lokpal bill in parliament in December- it was passed by the Lok Sabha but is now stalled in the Rajya Sabha, where opposition parties have asked for more than 200 amendments.

The government's stark attitude towards Anna and his team is at least partly provoked by the activists' blacklisting of the Prime Minister and 14 senior ministers.  Team Anna says it has documented evidence to prove how through corruption or by sheltering other venal parties, they hurt the nation's interests. The activists demanded an independent inquiry against the ministers.

The government said that the unsubstantiated charges did not merit a circumvention of established processes. Many ministers replied individually to Anna, explaining why his team's allegations were factually incorrect.

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Renault Duster launched in India at Rs 7.2 lakh

French automaker Renault on Wednesday launched the mid-sized sports utility vehicle (SUV) Duster at an introductory price, ranging between Rs 7.19 lakh and Rs 11.29 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi), as it looks to increase volume in the Indian market.

The vehicle will be available in both petrol and diesel options. The petrol version will be powered by a 1.6-litre engine and is priced between Rs 7.19 lakh and Rs 8.19 lakh.

The diesel option will be powered by a 1.5-litre engine at price ranging between Rs 7.99 lakh and Rs 11.29 lakh.

"This year, we are looking to sell a total number of vehicles which is twenty times more what we sold last year. Duster is one of the five products that we have announced to launch in India," Renault India managing director Marc Nassif said.

The company had sold 1,500 vehicles last year.

Nassif, however, declined to comment on the sales volume of the Duster, but said about 3,500-4,000 bookings have already been made.

With Duster, the company has attained 60 per cent of localization and plans to increase it to 80 per cent in the next twelve months, he said.

Duster will compete with the likes of Mahindra & Mahindra's Scorpio and Tata's Safari.

Asked about the export plans, Nassif said the Duster would be exported to UK from Chennai plant by the end of the year.

"Our Chennai plant will be the only Renault facility in the world which will supply the Duster to all the right hand drive markets in the world," he said.

Asked if the company has cut down the production due to market slowdown, he replied in negative and said, "Production is going as planned".

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Rahul Gandhi visits hospital, meets young girl attacked

New Delhi:  Rahul Gandhi today met a 14-year-old girl from Uttar Pradesh, undergoing treatment at AIIMS after being stabbed in the eye by two young men who tried to rape her.

Mr Gandhi went to the Rajendra Prasad Eye Centre at the AIIMS at 10.45 am and spoke to the girl and her parents for, sources said.

They said doctors briefed Mr Gandhi about the treatment being given to the minor girl.

His visit comes close on the heels of the Congress attacking the Mayawati government over the alleged spurt in incidents of rape and murder in her state.

The victim was allegedly kidnapped by two persons from her home in Ghurpurwa village in Kannauj district on June 19 and was stabbed in her eyes when she resisted a rape attempt.

The villagers found her in the fields and rushed her to the district hospital.

Doctors are learnt to have told Me Gandhi that the victim has lost vision in one eye while 80 to 90 percent recovery is possible in the other eye, which was operated upon.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/rahul-gandhi-visits-hospital-meets-young-girl-attacked-115043?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ndtv%2FLsgd+%28NDTV+News+-+India%29&utm_content=Google+International&cp

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Yeddyurappa visits temple, skips 'Truth Test'

Bangalore:  BS Yeddyurappa kept his promise to visit the Lord Manjunatha temple in Dharmasthala this morning. He offered prasad, but did not make references to the controversial face-off he had set up with his political rival.

The Karnataka Chief Minister had dared HD Kumaraswamy, leader of a major Opposition party, to meet him at this temple. Mr Kumaraswamy, in the presence of God, he said would have to testify that allegations of corruption that he has leveled against the Chief Minister are based on fact.

"I have told the chief minister and Kumaraswamy to follow political dharma, but not mix politics with religion. Both have accepted it," Veerendra Heggade, the head of the famous temple said last night.

Criticism from other religious leaders, and a stern warning from his party president, Nitin Gadkari, persuaded Mr Yedduyarappa to drop the bizarre "truth test."

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/yeddyurappa-visits-temple-skips-truth-test-115023?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ndtv%2FLsgd+%28NDTV+News+-+India%29&utm_content=Google+International&cp

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India gives into China at the border

Leh:  China has done it, but India can't.

One can see Chinese construction next to the Indo-China border, but after a confrontation with China last year - over an Indian shed being made - New Delhi has banned all construction on the Indo-China border in Ladakh.

The Ministry of Home Affairs in a letter, written in November 2010, to the Jammu and Kashmir Government said: "You are not to undertake any construction work of any nature in Demchok area till clearance of the Ministry of Defence and Ministry of External Affairs, New Delhi is obtained."

Gurmet Dorjee, who represents Demchok in the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Developmental council says his people are feeling cheated, and let down.

"China continues to build across the border but we can't. What is the meaning of this order? People sitting in air-conditioned rooms in New Delhi can't decide what is good for us," said Gurmet Dorjee, member, Ladakh Autonomous Council, Leh.

Dorjee showed NDTV pictures of the Chinese army in the Demchok area, and the buildings coming up in the Chinese controlled area.

But Dorjee and his people after the MHA order, now, can't even build residential houses in the area till it is cleared by New Delhi.

The construction of roads and all the rural development projects have been stopped. The construction of schools and medical health care facilities too has been stopped.

While New Delhi takes babysteps to normalise relations with China, people in Durbhok and Nyomah in south east part of Ladakh are raising serious questions for New Delhi. They want India to be more aggressive with the 'dragon' and are questioning India's China policy.

Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/india-gives-into-china-at-the-border-114921?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ndtv%2FLsgd+%28NDTV+News+-+India%29&utm_content=Google+International&cp

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Sai Baba Trust money: Puttaparthi wants clarity

Puttaparthi:  In Sathya Sai Baba's Puttaparthi, things are changing. Following the spiritual leader's death there are serious doubts about financial irregularities in the way the enormously rich Trust is functioning - with police even questioning two Trust members - something unheard of in the past.

A public meeting was held in Puttaparthi's Hanuman temple today - the first of its kind - organised in the little town to discuss the current scenario. With rumours of financial irregularity mounting against some Trust members, representatives from NGOs and political parties demanded clarity, but nobody from the Trust was present to answer them.

"After the death of Sathya Sai Baba, this place is losing its divinity. There are doubts about Trust leaders...we are discussing about what to do...All the hard work of Baba is being lost through these happenings," said K Nagendra Kumar, an NGO representative.

The meeting was held close to the home of Ratnakar, a Trust member and the nephew of Sathya Sai Baba. Ratnakar was questioned for hours by the police yesterday over the movement of lakhs in cash from the ashram.

However, there are those who still have faith and believe that this dark cloud will pass.

"In a family little bit problems ...the law is there...What you see depends upon your mind...Devotees don't bother about the Trust," said Shivaiah, a school principal in Puttaparthi.

On June 17, close to Rs. 11.56 crore in cash were found in Yajur Mandir, which was Sai Baba's private chamber at his ashram. 98 kilos of gold and 307 kilos of silver were also found. At that time, trustees said the cash was being counted in the presence of income tax officials and was being deposited in the State Bank of India.

Two days later on June 19, police in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district seized Rs. 35.5 lakh from a car belonging to the trust and arrested the driver of the vehicle Harishnanda Shetty. A trust official V Srinivasan was believed to have given him the money. This led to allegations that the trust money was being removed from the ashram premises. Sai Baba's nephew RJ Ratnakar, who is also a member of the trust, was questioned by the Andhra Pradesh police on Friday in connection with this seizure. Police is also interrogating V Srinivasan.

The Sai Baba Trust is now under pressure as there is just too much at stake for the public to settle for uncertainty when it comes to the handling of the incredible assets of the Trust. 

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Baba Ramdev back in Delhi, hits out at government

New Delhi:  Returning to Delhi three weeks after he was bundled out from here, yoga guru Ramdev today attacked the government claiming that it has no will to fight corruption or create a Lokpal to check the menace.

Ramdev said he would continue his fight against corruption alongside "anybody from any party, any religion". He said he was willing to fight the menace but he did not make it clear whether he would join Anna Hazare on August 16 when the latter relaunches his campaign for a strong Lokpal.

Holding that he was "not a mask" for BJP or RSS, he asked why the government was talking to him if they thought he was a criminal and insisted he doesn't have a penny of black money.

"Government does not want to create a Lokpal," he said addressing a press conference here after meeting Raj Bala, who was grievously injured in the June five pre-dawn police crackdown at Ramlila Maidan on his supporters, at a hospital and dared the government to "search" his institutions for black money and declare it as national asset.

"Sarkar pehle bhrashtachari thi, abh woh atyachari bhi ho gayi (The government was indulging in corruption earlier. Now it is indulging in atrocities)," he said, adding, "This government has no will to fight corruption."

The yoga guru alleged that the government was muzzling voices of those who talk about black money or tell the truth.

Terming the crackdown in Ramlila Maidan as "murder of democracy", he alleged it was aimed at eliminating him and that there were "attempts to rape women" by drunk men during the police action.

However, Ramdev did not throw any light on his next move as part of his anti-corruption campaign. He said he would launch a free housing scheme in Haridwar on July one followed by another programme on August four for empowering villages.

Ramdev reached the capital from Haridwar by road this afternoon and straight away headed to G B Pant Hospital in central Delhi to visit Raj Bala.

Police had erected barricades along the border to screen those entering the Capital and ensure that no untoward incident occurred during Ramdev's visit to the city.

Earlier, police had said he was not allowed to enter the capital for 15 days but later retracted from it.

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Protests in Puttaparthi over alleged mishandling of Sathya Sai Trust money

Puttaparthi:  Several followers of Sathya Sai Baba held protests in Puttaparthi today over reports of alleged mishandling of Sri Sathya Sai Central Trust's money by its members.

"We have lost trust in the trust members and want them to quit. We want the donations to be put to good use," said one of the protesting devotees. They are demanding an inquiry into the functioning of the trust.

On June 17, close to Rs. 11.56 crore in cash were found in Yajur Mandir, which was Sai Baba's private chamber at his ashram. 98 kilos of gold and 307 kilos of silver were also found. At that time, trustees said the cash was being counted in the presence of income tax officials and was being deposited in the State Bank of India.

Two days later on June 19, police in Andhra Pradesh's Anantapur district seized Rs. 35.5 lakh from a car belonging to the trust and arrested the driver of the vehicle Harishnanda Shetty. A trust official V Srinivasan was believed to have given him the money. This led to allegations that the trust money was being removed from the ashram premises. Sai Baba's nephew RJ Ratnakar, who is also a member of the trust, was questioned by the Andhra Pradesh police today in connection with this seizure. Police is also interrogating V Srinivasan.

The trust enjoys several exemptions from the state government and there are now demands that the government must withdraw those privileges and intervene on behalf of the devotees.

Earlier this week, Sai Baba's grand-niece Chetna Raju claimed that there was a threat to her life as she is questioning the actions of those managing the trust.

"Since the person caught claims that the money was given by a trust member, V Srinivasan, we are demanding that there should be a proper inquiry into all this," Chetna told NDTV.

The spiritual and religious guru of millions died on April 24.

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Indian cricketers criticise Daryl Harper for bad decisions

KINGSTON ( Jamaica): Umpire Daryl Harper came in for some scathing criticism from the Indian cricket team, which blasted the Australian for his poor decisions during the first cricket Test against the West Indies.

Such was the exasperation that a senior member of the side said that whole team wishes that Harper does not officiate in the third Test.

Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni did little to hide his disgust at the standard of umpiring in the Test, which they won by 63 runs to take a 1-0 lead.

"If correct decisions were made, the game would have ended much earlier and we would have been in the hotel by now," Dhoni said at the post match press conference.

The Australian would stand for one last time when India take on West Indies in the third Test at Dominica from July 6.

"We don't want him -- you can quote it as the reaction of the entire Indian team," said a very senior member of the side.

Though Dhoni did not name anyone of the two umpires officiating in the match --- Ian Gould (England) and Harper -- several Indian players openly termed the latter as the centre of their ire.

"It's Daryl Harper six not out," said another senior cricketer as soon as he saw a bunch of Indian pressmen approaching him.

Indians were upset that Harper made at least three critical errors against India and three in favour of West Indies during the match.

"Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh and Dhoni himself for done in; (Darren) Bravo twice and once (Shivnarine) Chanderpaul benefitted," chimed in another Indian cricketer, bristling with aggression.

Raina was given out caught in the leg-trap off Devendra Bishoo and television replays suggested no edge from either bat or gloves of the batsman.

Harbhajan Singh was ruled out leg before wicket when the ball clearly was seen going way above the height of the stumps.

Dhoni was cleanly caught at point region off Bishoo but the bowler had cut the return crease in his bowling run-up and the delivery should have been called a no-ball.

All three decisions in question were given by Harper in India's second innings.

Then, when West Indies batted for the last time, there were confident appeals against Bravo and Chanderpaul which were not upheld.

The controversial Australian umpire is regarded worldwide as the worst umpire in the ICC list of elite umpires.

After being on the panel for nine years, between 2002 and 2011, the ICC too has come round to the general perception and declared that Harper will stand down after the termination of his contract in July 2011.

Harper also needled the Indians by banning Praveen Kumar from bowling for treading on to the 'danger area' of the pitch in his follow-through in the first innings.

Indians are not contesting the decision in private but feel Harper could have cautioned the debutant in a friendly way before taking the strong step.

Indian cricketers have little doubt umpire Harper has been clearly biased against them over the years.

"Remember, it was Harper who gave Sachin Tendulkar out lbw in a Test when the batsmen had ducked and was hit on his shoulder," remarked a cricketer.

During a Test of the 1999-2000 tour to Australia, a short delivery from Glenn McGrath had Tendulkar looking to duck under it but it hit him on the shoulders.

Umpire Harper promptly gave Tendulkar out though he was to say later 'the one (decision) that I would like the world to forget is the Sachin one.'

The shocking decision was the reason the International Cricket Council (ICC) introduced neutral umpires for both ends in Test matches.

Justified as the Indians are, it only underlines the reason why they should give their sanction to Umpires Decision Review System (UDRS).

The Board of Control for Cricket in India ( BCCI) has been steadfastly refusing the usage of UDRS technology even though worldwide it's acceptance is a norm.

The UDRS technology, because of BCCI's insistence, is not being used either in the present series or the one in England which follows next month.

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This Surat businessman bought Sachin's red Ferrari

Surat:  The '360 Modena Ferrari', which once occupied a pride of place in batting icon Sachin Tendulkar's fleet of premium cars, is now a prized possession of a city businessman.

Jayesh Desai, Chairman of Raj Hans group, said he purchased the car a fortnight ago.

"I have bought the 360 Modena Ferrari car directly from Sachin Tendulkar with all legal documents," Desai told PTI, but declined to reveal the price.

"It was my dream to drive a Ferrari and now my dream has come true," Desai, who has a passion for driving luxury cars, said.

The Ferrari, which was presented to Tendulkar by racing legend Michael Schumacher, will be the first racing car in his fleet of luxury vehicles, Desai said, adding that his latest acquisition was a prized possession as it was owned by the batting great.

"Kindly ask me only about the car and nothing about Sachin," he said when asked if he and Tendulkar were friends or had known each other.

The Ferrari had got mired in a controversy in 2003 after it was reported that Tendulkar had requested for a customs duty waiver despite getting it as a gift and not winning it as a prize in a tournament.

In August 2003, the finance ministry had exempted Tendulkar from paying around Rs. 1.13 crore (approximately USD 245,000) towards import duty for the vehicle, valued at Rs. 75 lakh (approximately USD 162,600).

The car was gifted to him by FIAT, which manufactures the premium Ferrari cars and endorsed by Tendulkar, after the Indian batting legend equalled Don Bradman's tally of 29 Test centuries.

Ferrari's Formula One driver Schumacher presented the car on behalf of the company to Tendulkar when the two met in 2002 at Silverstone, England.

Tendulkar has taken a break from cricket after playing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and is away on a vacation in England with family.

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We are ready to face bullets for Lokpal Bill: Hazare

Pune:  Anna Hazare today said he was not afraid of death and dared the government to fire bullets in the event of his going on fast to press for a strong Lokpal bill.

"Anna is not afraid of death. They can fire bullets and not just use lathis to repress our agitation and the people of this country will decide whether India has a democratic rule or a dictatorship," said Anna.

The anti-corruption crusader said this in Pune when asked to comment on Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh's remarks on his plans to go on a fast from August 16.

Digvijaya Singh, however, denied saying that the social activist would be given a treatment similar to yoga guru Ramdev if he goes on fast unto death.

"I am surprised and pained at reports in today's newspapers which quoted me as saying that the treatment given to Ramdev would also be meted out to Anna Hazare," said the Congress General Secretary.

Singh said that during his interaction with reporters in Jabalpur what he said was that the Congress had nothing to do with the manner in which either Hazare or Ramdev will be treated.

He said Congress had nothing to do with how the two were treated as it is always decided by the local administration after assessing the prevailing situation at that moment.

The outspoken leader maintained that if there was a need for holding a fast, the younger activists of civil society like Arvind Kejriwal or Prashant Bhushan should do it instead of Hazare.

Hazare, who was on his way to his native village Ralegaon in Ahmednagar district, also wondered whether the present Congress party was the same that had links with Mahatma Gandhi and leaders like Kamraj.

Asserting that to protest is the democratic right of every citizen, Hazare said, "Congress seems determined to crush our agitation for a strong Lokpal. But it should be remembered now that it is not just Anna Hazare but the entire country that is supporting this agitation and the people will teach them a lesson".

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