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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Jayalalithaa files case against Stalin

Tamil Nadu chief minister J. Jayalalithaa on Thursday filed a defamation complaint before a sessions court against DMK treasurer and MLA M.K. Stalin and party organ Murasoli for an article published in the Tamil daily dated August 9.

City public prosecutor M.L. Jagan, who filed the complaint on behalf of the chief minister, said that the statement that the chief minister was on vacation for months together was fallacious, defamatory and without any basis.

The chief minister was in Kodanad only for a certain period and all official and constitutional duties were being continuously discharged by her, he said. The chief minister was discharging duties even on Sundays, Jagan said.

The defamation complaint filed before the principal sessions court sought to punish the publisher, printer and editor of Murasoli for offences under section 500 and 501 of IPC and Stalin under section 500 of IPC.

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Jayalalithaa cracks whip on party posters

Aiming at preventing factionalism, AIADMK supremo and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday warned partymen against printing pictures of anyone on posters and other publicity material other than those of her, late EVR Periyar, CN Annadurai and party founder MG Ramachandran.

According to a party headquarters statement, Ramachandran, fondly known as MGR, had made it clear that only his pictures and those of rationalist leader Periyar and former chief minister Annadurai be used in posters, banners and other publicity material. Since Jayalalithaa took over as General Secretary, her photos are also used.

“When a (AIADMK) minister attends a programme, only his picture is carried in posters by some office-bearers, leaving out the rest. As a result, some others leave out the picture of the minister and print those of others, leading to clashes between party workers,” the release said.

Reports had suggested rival camps even damaged publicity material of each other, it said, adding that this had set a “bad precedent” and damaged the party’s reputation.

“There has been no practice of using pictures of ministers, MLAs and MPs attending government and party functions in posters and banners and there is no approval from the party too,” the release said.

Henceforth, party workers should use only pictures of Periyar, Annadurai, MGR and Ms. Jayalalithaa. “It is enough to print the names of (other) participants,” the release said, warning disciplinary action against violators. 

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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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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Stalin arrested in Chennai for leading protest, released

MK Stalin, former Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, was released after being in police custody for a brief spell in Chennai for leading a demonstration attended by nearly 3000 people. The police say that Mr Stalin did not have permission for his gathering.

Several other party leaders including actor Khushboo were also arrested with Mr Stalin and were subsequently released.

The DMK is holding protests across the state against what it describes as the government's vendetta. In the last few weeks, several politicians close to DMK chief M Karunanidhi have been arrested on charges that include land-grabbing.

"Let the Tamil Nadu government probe from 2001. Land grabbing by AIADMK leaders will come to light," said Mr Stalin who is Mr Karunanidhi's younger son.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, meanwhile, denied the charge that she had unleashed "vendetta politics" against Mr Karunanidhi's partymen, saying that police were acting on "genuine complaints filed by persons with no political backing."

"Land grab complaints had been filed during previous DMK regime also by affected persons but no action was taken then.

After AIADMK government took over, victims began thronging police stations and seeing cases swelling in this connection, a special cell was formed to handle them," she said.

"Therefore, this cannot be described as vendetta politics," she said.

"We are not avenging anyone. The police are taking action on complaints," she said.

The DMK lost the elections in May, which led to Mr Karunanidhi being replaced as Chief Minister by J Jayalalithaa.

Last week, senior police officers seen as DMK loyalists were raided.

The DMK and Jayalalithaa's AIADMK share a long and vicious history of political rivalry, manifested regularly through court and police cases against each other.

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CM announces incentives for IAS aspirants

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today announced scholarship, incentive and travelling allowance to IAS aspirants from the State, who are being trained at the State government training institute at Anna Nagar in Chennai.

According to an official release, the Chief Minister announced increasing the monthly stipend from Rs 1200 to Rs 2000 for the trainees of the institute, besides directing that it be revised by five per cent annually in the coming years.

Jayalalithaa also announced Rs 3000 as incentive for 200 students for three months to encourage them do well in their preparation for Central services, exams for which are conducted by the Union Public Service Commission.

She also said Rs 2000 would be given as travel allowance to those aspirants who had underwent training at the institute and cleared the exams to appear for the personal interview in New Delhi.

www.gbssystems.com

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Karunanidhi to leave for Delhi tomorrow

With the Supreme Court rejecting the bail plea of DMK MP Kanimozhi, her father and DMK chief M Karunanidhi will leave for New Delhi on Tuesday morning to meet her in Tihar Jail, where she has been lodged. 

DMK sources said a visibly upset Karunanidhi had decided to call on his daughter at the prison to console her.

Kanimozhi’s mother Rajathi Ammal is already in New Delhi.

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Supreme Court denies bail to Kanimozhi

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed DMK Member of Parliament Kanimozhi's bail plea in the 2G spectrum allocation case and questioned the Central Bureau of Investigation for its failure to interrogate the accused for recovering certain documents. 

However, the court offered her some hope, saying she could approach the trial court for bail once charges are framed. It said she shall be entitled to invoke Section 437 of the Criminal Procedure Code (“when bail may be taken in case of non-bailable offence”), which provides for, among other things, grant of bail if the person is under the age of 16 or is a woman or is sick or infirm. 

The CBI is likely to file soon a third charge sheet soon after which the special CBI court is expected to frame charges. 

A Bench of Justices G.S. Singhvi and B.S. Chauhan ticked off counsel for Kanimozhi and co-accused Sharad Kumar (Kalaignar TV managing Director) when they claimed that the two were innocent and were not hungry for money. 

“Hungry people neither take bribe nor do they come to the courts. None of them [accused] is a hungry person,” the Bench said when senior counsel Altaf Ahmed argued that the accused were “not hungry for money,” and the Rs. 200 crore transferred to Kalaignar TV was part of a loan amount.

The court order came as a surprise for the lawyers and family members of the two accused as they were hopeful of getting relief from the Bench. 

Defence argument that Ms. Kanimozhi and Mr. Kumar, whose bail plea was also rejected, were no longer required for investigation as the CBI had so far not interrogated them prompted the Bench to ask the agency why it failed to interrogate her. 

It also asked senior counsel A.S. Chandiok, appearing for the CBI, what prevented the investigating agency from recovering certain documents. 

“What is preventing you from recovering the documents? Why did you not interrogate them? Have they been interrogated? Why were they not questioned?”

Mr. Chandiok replied the probe was on. 

The Bench was not impressed with defence plea that the accused were willing to abide by any condition for bail and even the former International Monetary Fund chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn was granted bail in a sexual molestation case. 

“Let us keep the media discussions outside. It tends to blur our thinking,” the Bench said.

It did not agree with the plea of senior counsel Sushil Kumar that Ms. Kanimozhi should be granted bail as she has a 10-year-old child to look after and that she was being denied his company. “That happens to all other women,” it said. 

Mr. Sushil Kumar pleaded that since Ms. Kanimozhi was not charged with any IPC offence, the maximum sentence that she could face in the event of her conviction was six years and hence she should be granted bail.

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UPA ‘playing tricks’ with people on Lokpal: Hazare

Accusing the UPA of “playing tricks” with the people of the country, Anna Hazare on Thursday questioned the rationale behind sending two versions of Lokpal Bill to the Cabinet for consideration.

Mr. Hazare also said he would have to restart the protest at Jantar Mantar if a “weak” anti-corruption legislation is cleared by the government, which he alleged was going back on its promises. 

A day after the “deadlocked” meeting of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill, the Gandhian said, “If you want to have two drafts, then what was the need for setting up a joint committee? 

“They (government) have wasted our time. We had our draft ready earlier and they too had theirs. They why did they not bring this to the Cabinet earlier. The government is playing tricks,” Mr. Hazare alleged.

After the government and civil society failed to achieve any common ground at the sixth meeting yesterday, it was decided to forward two versions of the Bill to the Cabinet for its consideration. 

While the government maintained that a single draft along with a note on issues of divergence will be forwarded to the Cabinet, the civil society side insisted that the Council of Ministers should deliberate on two draft Bills. 

Mr. Hazare alleged that the government did not have the “will” to enact a strong Lokpal Bill which has provisions to send corrupt people to jail. 

“What is the point of according sanction to a weak bill? If a weak bill is passed, then we will have to protest.

If it is a weak bill, then there is no gain for the people,” he said.

Mr. Hazare alleged that the government was wasting time.

“Bringing Lokpal Bill is not in government’s mind. We are not getting any personal benefit from this. What is the point of having such a draft that cannot help India get rid of corruption,” he said.

Mr. Hazare said a strong anti-corruption regime will benefit the poor of the country.

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Jayalalithaa wants Chidambaram to quit, asks PM to drop Maran

Accusing Home Minister P. Chidambaram of getting himself elected to Parliament through “fraudulent” means, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa on Tuesday said his continuance in the Union Council of Ministers was untenable and sought his resignation.

“Our party has always maintained that Mr. Chidambaram’s victory was through fraudulent means...his continuance in the Union Council of Minsters is untenable,” Ms. Jayalalithaa told reporters at her maiden press conference in New Delhi after assuming office last month.

“Mr. Chidambaram was never elected to Parliament in 2009. He has played a fraud on the nation. Our party candidate won the election,” she said when pressed further on the issue.

The Chief Minister alleged that Mr. Chidambaram was announced the successful candidate because of a fraud committed by a data entry operator. 

On Maran

She also said that Dayanidhi Maran should step down from the Union Cabinet over allegations of quid pro quo in the 2G scam and if he does not do on his own, the Prime Minister should drop him.

On whether there was a possibility of Congress and AIADMK coming together again, Ms. Jayalalithaa said the DMK and Congress continue to be partners and both parties have been maintaining their alliance.

Asked whether she was open to the idea of aligning with the Congress in the event of the DMK walking out, she said, “I cannot answer hypothetical questions.”

To a question whether she would meet Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, she said as of today, Congress still has an alliance with the DMK and Congress and DMK continue to be partners in the coalition government at the Centre.

“In such a situation, it would not be appropriate for me to call on Sonia Gandhi.”

To a volley of questions on whether Congress and AIADMK could come together again and whether her offer of support to Congress made in November, 2010 is still open, she said the situation has completely changed since then.

“Much water has flown down the bridge. The offer was made in a different situation,” she said.

 

Discusses Sri Lankan issue with Manmohan

Earlier, during her meeting with the Prime Minister, she proposed sending a delegation of Tamil Nadu MLAs to Sri Lanka to see for themselves the condition in which Sri Lankan Tamils displaced due to the decades-old civil war are living.

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Jayalalitha in Delhi today to meet PM

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa will be in Delhi on Monday on a two-day politically significant visit with both the Congress and DMK, not on the best of terms, keenly watching her signals.

On her first visit to the capital after assuming office, Jayalalithaa will meet the PM and is expected to discuss issues like Sri Lankan Tamils and various developmental projects in her state.

The visit comes at a time when there are growing strains in the seven-year-old ties between the two parties after the drubbing in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry . Jayalalithaa has been avoiding questions on whether she will meet Sonia.

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Congress launches campaign against Hazare, Ramdev

New Delhi, June 12: Congress, campaign, Anna Hazare, Baba Ramdev7 Kolkata: The Congress on Sunday launched a campaign to counter the anti-graft movement by Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdev and accused a section of civil society of trying to weaken democratic institutions.

"The Constitution has given the power to legislate only to Parliament and the state Assemblies. If 5,000 or 6,000 people dictate from outside what the Parliament ought to do, this will weaken democracy," Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a press conference.

Mukherjee, who released a document in English containing his party's views on the issue, said the Congress was launching an awareness campaign all over the country.

"The documents will be made available in other languages. Debates, discussions and seminars would be organised right from the district to the block levels to put forth our views," he said.

Referring to Hazare's deadline of August 15 for passing the Lokpal Bill, Mukherjee said the Centre had suggested that the Lok Pal Bill would be placed during the monsoon session of the Parliament.

It was not possible, however, to give a timeframe by when the bill would be passed, he said.

--Agencies

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Baba Ramdev ends his fast after 9 days

Dehradun:  Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has finally ended his hunger-strike after nine days. The breakthrough came after a galaxy of religious and political leaders met him at the Himalayan Hospital in Dehradun and convinced him to end his fast.

Doctors said he will be discharged from hospital in two-three days though his condition is "stable".

The man who played a pivotal role in convincing Baba Ramdev is Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravishankar who met him at the hospital for the third time today.

Addressing the mediapersons afterwards, Sri Sri Ravishankar said, "Baba Ramdev has ended his fast and has taken a glass of juice. We thank everyone for the support."

Sri Sri had already met Baba Ramdev twice at the hospital and had vowed to stay in Dehradun till the yoga teacher ends his fast.

Sri Sri had also expressed his willingness to mediate between the yoga guru and the government.

Other spiritual leaders who pitched in were Morari Bapu and Kripalu Maharaj.

Many NDA leaders like Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and former Haryana Chief Minister and INLD leader Om Prakash Chautala were also present at the hospital to talk Baba Ramdev out of the fast.

Janata Party president Subramanian Swamy, who also reached there, said, "I am here as a person who is fighting corruption, and not as a politician. What Baba Ramdev has done for the cause is appreciable. But this government is heartless."

He also said though the fast has ended, "the movement will continue".

As the news spread, there were cheers on the faces of his supporters who chanted victory slogans.

Baba Ramdev's close associate Acharya Balakrishna, who also ended his fast at the hospital, said, "Ramdev has considered the request of hundreds of his followers and people from the saints' fraternity".

Balakrishna, however, said, "He (Ramdev) will take this satyagraha forward till his last breath."

Earlier on Saturday, the Uttarakhand government had urged Baba Ramdev to end his fast.

"We have asked him to break his fast, his well being is very important for India and for the world as he has established India's identity in the world in all spheres. Everyone is looking upto him and it is important for him to recover to fulfill his efforts for our country," Uttarakhand Agriculture Minister Trivendra Rawat said on Saturday.

In the midst of the debate on whether Ramdev's agitation was organised by the RSS, the organisation's chief Mohan Bhagwat had issued a statement on Saturday asking Ramdev to give up his hunger strike.

Ramdev was admitted to the Himalayan Hospital in Dehradun on Friday after his condition deteriorated following his fast against corruption. There were also some concerns regarding Baba Ramdev's health as his blood pressure had dropped despite treatment. However, doctors briefed the media on Saturday and said the condition of the yoga guru is improving.

The yoga teacher was carried out of his ashram in Haridwar on a stretcher on Friday afternoon after doctors attending to him said his liver had been affected and his blood pressure was worryingly low because of his hunger strike. Ramdev was given glucose en route to the hospital, but he has refused to end his hunger strike.

The yoga icon whose followers run into lakhs started his fast last Saturday morning in Delhi at the Ramlila Maidan. 65,000 people were in attendance on Saturday night when the police broke up the camp with teargassing and a lathicharge. The Baba was evicted and flown back to Uttarakhand.

The action at Ramlila Maidan ended days of negotiation between the government and the Baba over his suggestions for how to tackle the problem of crores of untaxed money that have been shipped abroad. The late-night violence united Opposition parties who accused the government of violating citizens' right to peacefully protest. Civil activists who have declared Gandhian Anna Hazare their leader pounded the government too, with public criticism and a one-day fast at Rajghat on Wednesday.

The government has disclosed that various tax inquiries are being conducted against the Baba's business empire whose reported turnover is more than a thousand crores. Yesterday, the Baba retaliated by declaring online the balance sheets of the four trusts that he runs for charitable purposes. However, he did not share the financial records of the 34 companies that are linked to him and are run by his close aide, Acharya Balakrishna.

The Baba has also been forced to defend a controversial remark he made earlier this week - that he would recruit 11,000 young men and women who would reciprocate if attacked. Yesterday, he said his remark had been distorted and misreported. "The words should be used in the right context... I said I will make a force who will not beat anyone but they will not get beaten either," the yoga teacher said, adding, "what is the harm or wrong if I speak about shaurya (valour)".

The Baba's remark - seen as incendiary by his critics - had also provoked criticism from other social activists and a warning of legal action from the government.

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Ramdev's fast a 'nautanki', says Digvijay

BHOPAL: Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh Sunday termed yoga guru Baba Ramdev's nine-day fast against corruption a 'nautanki' (drama).

Singh was returning to Delhi on a special plane when he spoke to reporters at Raja Bhoj airport on Ramdev's fast in Haridwar.

"If he had to continue his agitation then he should not have broken his fast. And if he had kept a fast for some demands then he should not have broken it without its fulfillment. It was all a nautanki," said the Congress general secretary.

He added, "Ramdev had done his work, now government agencies will do their work."

The former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh did not forget to target the Bharatiya Janata Party for supporting the yoga guru. "The BJP which had supported Ramdev also did not get anything from it."

Singh also commented on social activist Anna Hazare on the occasion. "Anna Hazare should also not go on fast and participate constructively in the drafting committee of the Lokpal bill."

Earlier, speaking to reporters in his home town Raghogarh in Guna, he accused Ramdev of "turning secret donations into white money". He said the yoga guru should reveal the name of the person who "secretly donated" a helicopter to him.

"He is bringing secret donations under the tax-free category, making them white, and accumulating huge capital," Singh said.

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Baba Ramdev's health worsens, moved to hospital in Dehradun

Haridwar:  Yoga guru Baba Ramdev was taken on a stretcher from his ashram in Haridwar this afternoon; he will be admitted to the ICU at the Jolly Grant Hospital in Dehradun. Before that, doctors who examined him said his hunger strike, now in its seventh day, had affected his liver and caused his blood pressure to drop significantly.

So far, he has remained adamant about continuing his fast against black money and corruption. 

In Delhi, activist Swami Agnivesh met with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee to discuss the Ramdev crisis. Mr Mukherjee is expected to brief the PM on the matter in the next few hours.

The government and Baba Ramdev have been at war since Saturday night, when he was evicted from his camp in Delhi where he had combined a sit-in protest with yoga classes and the launch of his hunger strike.
  
"His blood pressure is 104/70 which is low and pulse rate is 58 per minute which is also low. If his pulse rate and BP continue to go down, it may put some pressure on his heart," Chief Medical Officer Yogesh Chandra Sharma said after examining the Baba at his ashram.

Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar was scheduled to meet Baba Ramdev on Friday afternoon to persuade him to end his fast. 

Yesterday, district administration officials suggested that they may resort to force-feeding the Baba.

The yoga icon whose followers run into lakhs started his fast in Delhi at the Ramlila Maidan.  65,000 people were in attendance on Saturday night when the police broke up the camp with teargassing and a lathicharge. The Baba was evicted and flown back to Uttarakhand.

The action at Ramlila Maidan ended days of negotiation between the government and the Baba over his suggestions for how to tackle the problem of crores of untaxed money that have been shipped abroad. The late-night violence united Opposition parties who accused the government of violating citizens' right to peacefully protest.  Civil activists who have declared Gandhian Anna Hazare their leader pounded the government too, with public criticism and a one-day fast at Rajghat on Wednesday.

The government has disclosed that various tax inquiries are being conducted against the Baba's business empire whose reported turnover is more than a thousand crores. Yesterday, the Baba retaliated by declaring online the balance sheets of the four trusts that he runs for charitable purposes.  However, he did not share the financial records of the 34 companies that are linked to him and are run by his close aide, Acharya Balakrishna.

The Baba has also been forced to defend a controversial remark he made earlier this week - that he would recruit 11,000 young men and women who would reciprocate if attacked.   Yesterday, he said his remark had been distorted and misreported. "The words should be used in the right context... I said I will make a force who will not beat anyone but they will not get beaten either," the yoga teacher said, adding, "what is the harm or wrong if I speak about shaurya (valour)"

The Baba's remark - seen as incendiary by his critics - had also provoked criticism from other social activists and a warning of legal action from the government.

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Ramdev’s business empire worth over Rs 1,100 crore

Yoga guru Ramdev, who is on an indefinite hunger strike against black money and corruption, on Thursday made public details of his business empire worth over Rs 1,100 crore, claiming everything was in order. 

On his sixth day of fast, Baba Ramdev addressed a press conference here during which his close aide Acharya Balkrishna said that the capital involving the four trusts run by him totalled Rs 426.19 crore while the expenditure incurred on them amounted to Rs 751.02 crore.

“We believe in transparency in work and in financial matters. There is proper audit of all our firms and companies.

“As per rules, government renews our trusts after every two years only when our audits are clean. What has come and what has gone, who has given it and how was it spent, is all maintained,” Acharya Balkrishna said. 

The move to make public assets followed questions raised by Digvijay Singh and other Congress leaders who wanted a thorough probe into the source of the wealth acquired by Baba Ramdev in the last five years.

Acharya Balkrishna, however, did not give details of the companies associated with Baba Ramdev, saying it can be obtained from Registrar of Companies under the RTI Act.

“We pay tax as per government norms. TDS is deducted. We follow all rules. Details of all out associate companies can be taken from Registrar of Companies and from the government under the RTI Act. Tax details and balance sheets of trusts have been put on the web site,” he said.

While Divya Yoga Mandir Trust has a capital of Rs 249.63 crore, Patanjali Yogapeeth Trust has Rs 164.80 crore, Bharat Swabhiman Trust has Rs 9.97 crore and Acharyakul Shiksha Sansthan has Rs 1.79 crore — all totalling Rs 426.19 crore. The expenditure outlined for these trusts since their inception came to Rs 751.02 crore.

The yoga guru, who is on a fast since June 4 demanding that black money stashed away abroad be brought back, said his hunger strike will continue till his demands are met.

“Fast will continue till my objective is achieved. I do not care even if I die. The fast will go on,” Baba Ramdev said.

He also said that Patanjali Yogapeeth Trust will bear all expenses for the treatment of people injured in the police action at Ramlila grounds, especially Rajbala (the woman who received spinal injuries in the police lathicharge at Ramlila Ground) who has been grievously hurt.

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Samacheer Kalvi books “propaganda material”

The books printed under the ‘Samacheer Kalvi Thittam' (uniform school education scheme) of the DMK government were “propaganda material” made available in the name of the scheme, it was submitted before the Madras High Court on Thursday.

During arguments before the First Bench, comprising Chief Justice M.Y. Eqbal and Justice T.S. Sivagnanam, Advocate-General (AG) A. Navaneethakrishnan produced books printed under the scheme. Citing one of the contents, he said that half-a-page had been devoted to Chennai Sangamam, a cultural festival. Also, a poem of former Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi was found in the books for all classes. That was not a subject one must learn in school. Young minds could not be politicised. “They have written about themselves at the cost of the government.”

To the question that nearly Rs.200 crore had been spent for printing books under the scheme, the AG said the sum had been spent by the previous government “for their own alleged glory.”

The present government, after going through the material, prima facie found that it was inferior.

The syllabus under the Samacheer scheme was not in the interest of welfare of the students of Tamil Nadu. The present government had followed the judgment of a Division Bench (which upheld the Tamil Nadu Uniform System of Education Act) in letter and spirit. Hence, it brought in the amendment to section 3 of the Act.

The present government had postponed the implementation of the law to enable introduction of a fresh syllabus that would enrich students' knowledge. It was committed to developing children in the right way.

“Our government has not abandoned (the scheme); but our government wants to introduce the scheme with good syllabus and textbooks.”

To the Chief Justice's question as to when the work would be completed, he said, “Within a year.” Books under the old syllabus would be made ready by June 15.

P. Wilson, appearing for a petitioner who opposed the amendment to section 3 of the Act, said education policy should be a one-time policy. It could not be changed now and then. N.G.R. Prasad, senior counsel appearing for the State Platform for Common School System, said without any material, the present government could not say that the entire syllabus under the Samacheer scheme was faulty.

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Tamil Nadu moves resolution to implead itself in Katchatheevu case

The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday passed a unanimous resolution seeking the state revenue department to implead itself in a case filed by Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa for retrieval of Katchatheevu island, ceded to Sri Lanka by India in 1974 by way of an agreement.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa moved the resolution even as the DMK was absent during the debate. The resolution said the case filed by Ms. Jayalalithaa as AIADMK chief in the Supreme Court in 2008 argued that the island was ceded to Sri Lanka without the consent of the two Houses of Parliament and contended the 1974 and 1976 accords between the two countries were illegal.

All party members including DMDK opposition leader Vijayakanth spoke in support of the resolution even as DMK was not present in the House.

Congress did not speak during the debate on the resolution.

Ms. Jayalalithaa flayed DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, who was Chief Minister in 1974 when Katchatheevu was ceded to Sri Lanka, saying he had failed to stop it and alleged it had resulted in number of deaths of Tamil Nadu fishermen at the hands of the Lankan navy.

Later the Assembly passed the resolution unanimously.

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