2G relief for Tata, Ambani and Radia

NEW DELHI: The Delhi high court on Wednesday refused to hear a plea seeking direction to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to include industrialists Ratan Tata and Anil Ambani along with lobbyist Niira Radia as co-accused in the 2G telecom spectrum case. The court termed it a “rubbish plea”.

“I will not pass any order. You argue at your own peril,” Justice Ajit Bharihoke warned, asking Delhi-based journalist M Furquan to withdraw the petition, which also sought prosecution of DMK chief M Karunanidhi's wife, Dayalu Ammal. “I may impose a fine for filing a rubbish plea,” the judge told Furquan when the petitioner said he intended to argue the case. “I will notallow you to approach anywhere. Withdraw your petition.”

Furquan agreed to withdraw the petition but requested the court to give him the liberty to approach the Supreme Court. The judge told him he could go wherever he wanted but the HC would not entertain his plea.

Furquan approached the HC after the sp

ecial CBI court rejected his application seeking a similar order. Special Judge O P Saini had said no third party would be permitted to “alter or interfere” with the ongoing CBI probe in the case.

The court had noted that both the applications—one of them by Furquan and the other by a Delhi-based businessman—had failed to put forth any new evidence warranting the need for the inclusion of these persons as accused in the case.

“Cognizance of the police case has already been taken and no further investigation can be ordered by the court at the instance of third parties, who are not even remotely connected with the issue,” the special court had remarked.

“The police case can't be altered beyond recognition at the instance of third parties, whose motives are unknown and (who) are also not in possession of any new evidence,” the special court said and imposed a Rs 10,000 fine each on the petitioners. “The applications are not only devoid of substance but contrary to law and deserve to be dismissed with heavy cost as applications after applications of this nature are being filed by third parties, resulting into loss of precious time of the court,” it noted while dismissing the case.

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Monsoon hits India’s southern coast: weather office

(Reuters) – Monsoon rains, vital for farm output in India’s trillion-dollar economy, have hit the country’s southern coast as scheduled, the chief of the weather office said on Monday.

Green Business

Good rainfall after last year’s drought would help boost the country’s output of grain and oilseeds, help calm inflation that has triggered widespread protests and prompt the government to relax curbs on export of wheat and rice.

“The monsoon has hit the Kerala coast,” Ajit Tyagi, director general of the India Meteorological Department, told Reuters.

The four-month monsoon season has begun sooner than the usual date of June 1, in line with the weather office’s forecast that it would hit the mainland on May 30.

“It’s raining here,” D. Sivananda Pai, director of the weather office, said by phone from Cochin, now widely called Kochi.

Widespread rains/thundershowers would fall across Kerala, the weather office said in its outlook for this week.

The monsoon rains are vital for the soybean, cane and rice crops in India, the world’s top buyer of edible oils and the biggest consumer of sugar.

The timely onset would help rein in double-digit food inflation by improving production prospects for summer-sown crops, said S. Raghuraman, a senior analyst with Delhi-based consulting firm Agriwatch.

“The start is good,” he added.

After last year’s driest season in nearly four decades, the June-September rains this year are expected to be 98 percent of the long-term average.

Last year, monsoon rains had hit the Kerala coast on May 23, a week ahead of the usual date, but actual rainfall was 23 percent below normal for the full season.

(Editing by Clarence Fernandez)

Air India register easy win in GG Dutt, enter quarters

Air India beat South Delhi Colts by four wickets to enter the quarter-finals of the ongoing All-India Goswami Ganesh Dutt memorial cricket tournament on Tuesday. Set a target of 230, Air India completed the formalities with five balls to spare at the St Stephen’s ground.

At one point, Air India were in danger of losing the grip on the match, when they were three down with only 51 on the board. But the timely 125-run partnership for the fourth wicket between skipper Shafiq Khan and Reetinder Singh Sodhi got them closer to the target, before both the set batsmen were dismissed.

It was left to Naman Sharma, who struck 23 in quick time, to see the 11-time champions home. Khan made a run-a-ball 79, including nine hits to the fence, while Sodhi contributed 47 to the total. For South Delhi Colts, Manish Bhatia struck thrice and Gaurav Gambhir took two wickets, in a losing cause.

Earlier, put into bat, the Colts were reeling at 89 for 6 in only 22.2 overs. And only a late-order burst by Nischal Gaur and Gaurav Gambhir, ensured that they put on a fighting total of 228 after the end of their innings. They put on 140-run partnership for the seventh wicket.

Gaur struck six boundaries and four sixes in his 57-ball 81, while Gambhir made 54. Mohammad Arif, who made 32 and Amarjeet Singh (23), also contributed to the South Delhi Colts total.

For Air India, Sachin Rana was pick of the bowlers with figures of 2/57), while Amit Bakshi, Iresh Saxena and Ajit Chandela shared a wicket apiece.

Brief scores: South Delhi Colts 229 for 8 in 40 overs (Nishchal Gaur 81, Gaurav Gambhir 54, Mohammad Arif 32, Sachin Rana 2/57, Amit Bakshi 1/22, Iresh Saxena 1/44, Ajit Chandela 1/41); Air India 233 for 6 in 39.1 overs (Shafiq Khan 79, Chandan Madan 27, Reetinder Singh Sodhi 47, Naman Sharma 23 not out, Manish Bhatia 3/50, Gaurav Gambhir 2/39, Parveen Thapar 1/40)

Lucknow to face Varanasi in state hockey final

Lucknow Division beat Allahabad Division by 5-4 while Varanasi Division outclassed Gorakhpur Division by 2-0 in their respective semi-final matches to set-up a title clash against each other in the State Level Boys’ Hockey Tournament being held at KD Singh ‘Babu’ Stadium, Lucknow.

The match between Lucknow and Allahabad proved to be a real thriller. Owais (14th minute) netted the first goal through a penalty-corner awarded to Lucknow in the 14th minute.

Thereafter, Salman sounded the boards twice— in the 31st and 42nd minute to impart a 3-0 lead to the team. Lalit Nishad succeeded in bringing down the margin through a well-timed goal in the 47th minute. Owais netted another goal in the 51st minute to make the score 4-1.

Thereafter, Allahabad players Ajit Yadav (52nd minute), Manoj Kumar (62nd minute) and Salman (67th minute) scored apiece each to level the scores.

However, Rohit Pandey of Lucknow netted a beautiful goal in the dying moments of the play to pave the way for a 5-4 win for the team.

In the second semi-final of the same tourney, Varanasi beat Gorakhpur by 2-0.

The goal scorers were Robins Jaiswal (6th minute) and Sumit Kumar (33rd minute). The final match will be played at 6.30 am on Saturday.

Supreme Court quashes bail granted to Pappu Yadav

New Delhi, May 3 (ANI): The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the bail granted to former MP and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav in connection with the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) MLA Ajit Sarkar murder case

A bench of Justices Markandey Katju and A K Patnaik pronounced the verdict and said the High Court”s decision amounted to contempt of the apex court, which had clearly restrained any court in the country from granting bail to Yadav.

“It is a matter of regret that despite clear order passed by this court in 2007 that no bail should be granted by any court, the High Court has gone ahead and granted bail,” the bench observed while allowing an appeal filed by the CBI seeking cancellation of the bail.

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) had on March 26 approached the apex court challenging the order of the Patna High Court that had granted bail to Yadav.

The Patna High Court had earlier on February 18, 2009 granted bail to the 43-year-old RJD leader undergoing life imprisonment in the murder case.

The Supreme Court said that it is general rule that when the apex court rejects the bail, the High Courts or the subordinate courts cannot in any manner grant bail to the accused or the convicts.

Similarly, when the High Court rejects a bail, the Sessions courts or the magistrates do not have any power to grant bail, it said.

But in the present case, the bench regretted that the High Court granted bail to Yadav despite an injunction by the apex court.

Additional Solicitor General Haren Raval complained that the High Court granted bail to the RJD leader without passing any reasoned order after initially rejecting his two bail applications.

A special CBI court in Patna had earlier on February 14, 2008, awarded life imprisonment to Pappu Yadav.

The court also awarded life imprisonment to Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav in connection with the case.

Sarkar, who had a feud with Yadav over issues related to farm labourers, was shot dead in Bihar”s Purnea District on June 14, 1998. (ANI)

Jharkhand residents protest against police over civilian death

Bendi (Jharkhand), May 3 (ANI): Inhabitants of Bendi village in Jharkhand”s Latehar District on Sunday blocked railway traffic on the Barwadih-Barkakana route and staged a demonstration against police over a civilian”s death.

The protestors claimed that the police killed a woman named Jayanti Devi and injured another villager during a gunfight with suspected Maoist rebels on Tuesday.

They shouted slogans against the police and demanded an explanation from authorities on the incident.

“Police have killed a woman of Ladi village and we are protesting and blocking the track against the killing… Innocent people must not be victimised. We know that the police is fighting Maoist rebels, but why do they kill innocent people and we need an explanation from them,” said Rajdeo Singh.

The police refuted the charges.

“When we receive any information, then we go for investigations…but the police never target or fire at any innocent villager,” said Ajit Peter Dungdung, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Latehar.

Jharkhand is one of the Indian states badly affected by Maoist violence.

Thousands of paramilitary troops have been scouring the jungles in east and central India to take on Maoist rebels, who say that they are crusading against the establishment for the poor. (ANI)

ONGC Lost Rs 9 cr 400 Tonne Of Crude Oil During Strike

ONGC Lost Rs 9 cr 400 Tonne Of Crude Oil During Strike

Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has lost Rs 9 crore and 400 tonne of crude oil production in the last three days due to the 96-hour ONGC bandh called by the All Assam Students Union (AASU) from Monday in upper Assam.

According to an ONGC spokesman here, oil drilling, transportation and production operations were severely hit following the bandh causing the PSU oil firm to lose Rs 3 crore a day and 400 tonne of crude in the last three days.

Drilling operations and production in the Rudrasagar, Geleky, Lakwa and other oil fields in the district had almost come to a standstill even as an attempt was being made to maintain production from the safety point of view, the spokesman said.

ONGC Onshore Director Ajit Hazarika told PTI that this halt in the oil flow during winter has caused loss in terms of both money and natural resources.

“There is a danger of wax formation in the oil wells which will negatively affect oil exploration,” he said.

Stating there was no proposal to separate ONGC-Assam Assets from ONGC, Hazarika said AASU should withdraw its bandh in the interest of the people of the state as ONGC-Assam Assets would be exclusively for the state and will not be privatised.

-Business Standard.

J and K Govt seeks Center’s clearance to construct concrete huts along LAC

Srinagar, Sep 16 (ANI): The Jammu and Kashmir Government has sought clearance from the Ministry of Defence to construct huts like along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) bordering China.

According to sources the State Government forwarded this proposal with the aim of strengthening the Indian presence along the LAC.

State Revenue Minister Raman Bhalla, said concrete huts would also help the nomadic shepherds to stay.

Nomadic shepherds are currently using mobile tents.

Recently Leh’s Deputy Commissioner Ajit Kumar Sahu said, the Chinese had threatened some shepherds in the remote regions of the district.

The State Government is also reportedly planning to house revenue officials and guards to monitor Chinese activities along the Pangong Lake, sources said.

Meanwhile, National Security Advisor M.K.Narayanan has called a meeting of the China Study Group of the Union Government on Wednesday, to discuss the situation along Indo-China border.

Cabinet Secretary K.M. Chandrasekhar, Defence Secretary Pradeep Kumar, Home Secretary G. K. Pillai, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, Senior officials of the Army, the Air Force and the Navy, officials from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) would also attend the meeting. (ANI)

Oxford University in land-grabbing row for its Indian campus

London, Aug 30 (ANI): Oxford University’s first overseas campus in India, which is going to be set up in Lavasa near Pune, has been embroiled in a land grabbing row, with accusations of human rights violations against the land developers.

Oxford’s outgoing vice-chancellor, John Hood, has been a strong backer of the Lavasa venture, described by the university as its first overseas campus.

Oxford has struck a preliminary deal with Ajit Gulab-chand, chairman of the company that controls Lavasa, to endow a chair at the Said Business School in Oxford for a reported 7.4 million pounds, The Times reported.

The Indian developers of the 12,500-acre Lavasa site have been accused of forcing farmers into selling their land and of pressing them to accept low prices. They have also been accused of worsening deforestation by cutting down millions of trees.

Medha Patkar, a human rights activist at the forefront of villagers’ campaign, described Lavasa as a “land grab”.

“People are threatened … made to feel like criminals. They cannot survive there unless they submit so they sell their land for the prices offered. They are continually asking them to leave. They say, ‘Give away your land, give away your land’.”

Oxford plans to offer courses for Indian executives in an education centre in Lavasa, a privately managed city modelled on hill stations built during the British rule,The Times reported.

Lavasa is to be home to 200,000 middle-class Indians and include resorts, educational and sports facilities including a golf course designed by Nick Faldo. The first of its four settlements, Dasve, is due to open next year.

Oxford will not offer degrees in the planned 15-20 million pounds education center, but Rajgopal Nogja, president of Lavasa Corporation, said he hoped 5,000 students would study there in its first five years.

He said Lord Patten, Oxford’s chancellor, had been enthusiastic about the plan in a visit two years ago. “It’s going to be the best building in my city, timeless architecture for the best university in the world,” the paper quoted Nogja, as saying. (ANI)

Delhi HC quashes PIL against airport development fee

New Delhi, Aug 26 (ANI): The Delhi High Court on Wednesday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) challenging the imposition of airport development fee (ADF) on passengers by the airport service providers.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation directed the all airlines flying out of Delhi to collect a development fee from the passengers while issuing tickets from March this year.

Accordingly the air service providers are charging Rs 200 from domestic passengers and Rs 1300 from international passengers in the airfare for airport development.

Dismissing the petition the two-judge bench of the High Court comprising of Chief Justice Ajit Prakash Shah and Justice Manmohan, said, “We find that no irregularities are attached to the imposition of development charges.”

Referring to the section of the Airport Authority Act, in its judgment the court states, “Section 12 (4), if the act construed as sans without the power of imposing the levy of development charges then the lesse would not be entitled to recover any fees from the passengers for the other facilities.”

The judges opined that if the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had to carry out the development of the airport for the welfare of passengers, it is right to charge the ADF from them.

The PIL argued that the money being charged for airport development work was placing undue burden on traveling public, and in return for the payment airpoort service providers are not offering the passenger any extra facility or value.

Earlier, last week the bench reserved the order, after hearing the arguments from the AAI, Delhi International Authority Limited (DIAL) and Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL). (ANI)

Manipuri traditional dance form Goura Leela staged in Imphal

Imphal, July 12 (ANI): Goura Leela, a traditional performing art form was recently staged in Imphal.

The objective of this gala show, performed over four days, was to promote and conserve the unique dance from going into the oblivion.

Goura Leela, a traditional performing art of Manipur is based on the events that took place in the life of Gauranga Mahaprabhu, an ardent devotee of Lord Krishna and who lived in Nadia region of West Bengal, singing the praises of God and propagating Bhakti Yoga (devotion based worship).

Today, many Hindus in Bengal and Manipur revere him as a reincarnation of Lord Vishnu.

And the entire Goura Leela is based on the life and works of Gaurnaga Mahaprabhu.

Organised under the aegis of International Society of Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Manipur chapter, the programme also aimed at infusing the ethos cultural understanding and love among the present day youth.

Many enthusiastic audiences from far-flung places came to witness the performance, which in the recent past had lost popular patronage.

“Children of our society nowadays, the freedom and happiness was taken away by the present atmosphere. So I feel in my mind immediately that … now is the right time to promote this Goura Leela, Sankirtan culture,” said Ajit Das, President, International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON), Manipur chapter, Imphal.

One of traditional performing arts of Manipur, Goura Leela is believed to have originated during the reign of King Churachand during the 18th century.

The play can be categorised as an opera and is much influenced by Natya Sankritan (devotion through dance and singing hymns). (ANI)

Bal Thackeray undergoes angiography

Bal Thackeray undergoes angiography

Mumbai, July 7 (IANS) Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray underwent an angiography on Tuesday morning and is likely to operated upon, a party insider said.

Thackeray, 83, was admitted to the Lilavati Hospital here Monday following breathing problems.

After the angiography and the medical panel’s expert advice, Thackeray may undergo a surgery later Tuesday, a party insider said, requesting anonymity.

The Lilavati Hospital had set up a five-member panel to treat him – Jaleel Parker, who has been regularly treating him; J.J. Dalal, Samuel Mathew, Ajit Menon and Prakash Jindani, who examined the senior leader to determine the course of treatment Monday.

Concerned about his advanced age and frail health, the medicos have discussed the treatment options available with Thackeray’s family.

Son Udhav has cut short his trip to the US and is expected return to Mumbai later Tuesday to be with his father, who underwent a heart surgery a few years ago.

Thackeray’s estranged nephew and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray, senior party leaders like Manohar Joshi, party MPs, legislators and senior leaders of the ally Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have been thronging the hospital to inquire after his health.

Thackeray had been admitted to the same hospital June 18 for treating similar respiratory problems, causing concern among family and party members. He was discharged after six days in hospital.

Earlier, in March this year, Thackeray had spent 11 days in Lilavati Hospital for similar health complaints.

Bandra Worli sea link – Bandra-Worli sea link Inauguration – Sonia Gandhi inaugurates Bandra-Worli sea link

Bandra Worli sea link – Bandra-Worli sea link Inauguration – Sonia Gandhi inaugurates Bandra-Worli sea link

bandra worli sea link bandra worli sea link pictures, bandra worli sea link opening, bandra worli sea link photos, bandra worli sea link project, bandra worli sea link inauguration

The Bandra-Worli sea link was inaugurated today by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, reducing the travel time between the southern part of the metropolis and its western suburbs from the present 60-90 minutes to 6-8 minutes.

The 4.8-kilometre long, eight-lane bridge will save around Rs 200-crore a year in vehicle operating cost alone.

The sea link conceived in the 1990s, would thus provide much-needed relief in the congested Mahim Causeway area which records around 1.25-lakh vehicles daily.

Work on the sea link, which has been constructed by the Ajit Gulabchand-led Hindustan Construction Company (HCC), commenced in October 2004.

The cost of illumination of the bridge would be Rs 9 crore and the height of the cable-stayed tower is equal to a 43-storey building.

- Business Standard

Grand old IAF air warrior passes away at 93

New Delhi, June 29 (ANI): Group Captain Gurdial Singh Paul, who served in the Indian Air Force from its formative years, passed away on Saturday. He was 93.

Singh was cremated near Brar Square, today. A wreath was placed on behalf of the IAF by Air Officer Commanding, Air Force Station, Race Course, Air Commodore Ajit S Bhonsle.

Born on November 3, 1916, in Chittavatni in Pakistan, Singh studied at the Khalsa College, Amritsar.He joined the Royal Air Force and was commissioned to the IAF at Air Force Station Tambram.

In 1943, he visited the UK for training, sailing from Mumbai to Durban to Southampton on the Elle de France, encountering German U-boat in the Atlantic. He spent time at various stations of the RAF in London, Cranfield, and Branham etc.

He had the privilege to serve in the same Squadron as the actor, Clark Gable. At times, Gurdial flew over occupied France and Germany on air reconnaissance flights and on more than one occasion, had close encounters with the German Messerschmitt.

In 1946, he married Jaswant Kaur. The partition of India caused the personal losses of his in-laws, with Gurdial being in Lahore on his way from Peshawar.

He had served with officers of the like of Air Chief Marshal Arjan Singh, Air Chief Marshal I H Latif, Air Marshal S Mukherjee, Air Marshal Rajaram, AVM Pinto, Air Commodore Mehar Baba, Group Captain Sarkar and Wing Commander Majumdar (an ace pilot during the 40s).

After serving at the Air Force stations Jalahalli and Secunderabad, Singh worked at Air Headquarters, New Delhi for several years in the Adminstration Branch, eventually going to Air Force Station Avadi as Station Commander in 1967. Before this tenure, it was the Staff College Hyderabad and NDC, New Delhi. He retired from the Air Force in 1971, as Station Commander Race Course, New Delhi.

Singh is survived by his wife, two daughters, a son and three grand children. (ANI)

Ganga being used as swimming pool

Varanasi, Apr 27 (ANI): With water level low in Ganga River in Varanasi, it is being used as a swimming pool by the children.

Small children are being given training in swimming on the banks of Ganga instead of an artificial swimming pool.

Ajit Yadav, a trainer said that training in River Ganga would prove more beneficial and fruitful for the students as compared to the training given in artificial swimming pools.

“In River Ganga, the training for swimming is given in such a way so that the person can survive in any uncertain condition in a natural way. Whereas in swimming pools, there is an artificial compound where a particular child has to swim within a limited area. Confidence level of a person does not open up as well,” said Yadav.

River Ganga is believed to be the mother of all rivers.

Children claim to feel safe while learning swimming in the lap of their mother.

Sonali Chatterjee, who is learning swimming on the banks of Ganga said that the training in the banks of Ganga is a must for today’s generation.

“We don’t receive proper training in the swimming pools as compared to the training given in near the banks of River Ganga. Nowadays, most of the accidents happen near these banks only so I think today’s generation should learn swimming near the banks instead of the swimming pools,” said hatterjee.

The concept of swimming pools in India has been adopted from the Western and European culture which according to our climate and culture is not at all beneficial. By Girish Dubey (ANI)

Asia Society calls for strategy to avert water crisis

Washington, April 18 (IANS) Warning that decreased access to a safe, stable water supply in Asia ‘will have a profound impact on security throughout the region’, the Asia Society has sought a strategy to avert a crisis in countries like India.

The cascading set of consequences reduced access to fresh water will trigger include impaired food production, the loss of livelihood security, large-scale migration within and across borders, and increased economic and geopolitical tensions and instabilities, said a task force report of the Asia Society released in New York Friday.

The Asia Society is an international organisation dedicated to strengthening relationships and deepening understanding among the peoples of Asia and the US.

The task force on ‘Asia’s Next Challenge: Securing the Region’s Water Future’ was chaired by Singapore’s Ambassador-at-Large and Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Water Forum Tommy Koh. It included among its members Rajendra K. Pachauri, Indian chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and Ajit Gulabchand of Hindustan Construction.

The task force report highlights the fact that although Asia is home to more than half of the world’s population, the region has less freshwater per capita than any continent other than Antarctica.

It maintains that while solutions are well within reach, they will require high-level political will and significant investments. Governments need to develop policies that can address multiple problems simultaneously, with the aim of reducing security risks and vulnerabilities and providing economic benefits such as investments in infrastructure for water conservation and management.

Asian countries should forge a regional approach in which governments and other key stakeholders, including nongovernmental organisations, civil society groups, and businesses, work together to clarify responsibilities and coordination mechanisms to address water security concerns.

For instance, looking beyond India’s national borders, the transboundary river systems that cut across India will drive hydropolitics in the region as India’s water consumption rates continue to climb, the report suggests.

India’s control of water flow along the Ganges River compromises Bangladesh’s ability to monitor and predict floods, the report suggests noting that ‘for Bangladesh, the Ganges may be the largest and most critical source of wate, but it is only one of more than 50 rivers entering the country from India’.

‘While the Joint Ganges River Commission facilitates information sharing between the two nations, Bangladesh continues to demand greater cooperation.’

More data – including rainfall data from farther upstream – would help Bangladesh prepare vulnerable downstream populations and improve models used to predict extreme events, the report says.

Advani raises poll pitch, targets Congress

New Delhi, Apr.17 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) Prime Ministerial candidate L K Advani today demanded that the UPA Government should make efforts to bring back the black money deposited by Indians in foreign banks and also raise the issue at an upcoming G-20 meet.

Advani, who was unveiling a report of a four-member task force of the party formed to look into the issue of Indian black money in foreign banks, said it was more dangerous than the black money circulated inside the country.

He said as the National Security Advisor himself had pointed out, the black money from outside the country finds way into the Indian market as “terror money”.

He also demanded that the government should raise the issue of black money in the G-20 meet scheduled on April 25.

The four-member task force appointed by the BJP leadership to look into the issue comprises chartered accountant S Gurumurthy, Prof Vaidyanathan of IIM Bangalore, security expert Ajit Doval and lawyer and BJP Lok Sabha nominee Mahesh Jethmalani. (ANI)

Real estate executive killed because of old enmity: Cops

Gurgaon police said on Wednesday that the 28-year-old real estate firm executive had been killed as part of a well-hatched conspiracy. Parveen Chawla, assistant manager (marketing) with Jones Lang LaSalle Meghraj, was probably shot dead and his body dumped into his WagonR car and parked at Sector 29 well before 10pm on Monday, when two beat constables spotted it, Gurgaon police commissioner S.S. Deswal told HT. “So far we have not been able to reach any motive behind the murder of Parveen as it looks to be an act to settle an old enmity.

Our investigations reveal the assailants had been chasing him for long. He had stopped for drinks with friend Ajit Rathee at Machaan, a roadside eatery on Golf Course Road, around half past nine,” Deswal said.

Both left for their Sector 5 homes in Sector 5 in their respective cars, Chawla following Rathee. Chawla’s car disappeared in South City, Rathee had said.

“The murder took place between 9.30 and 10 pm,” Deswal said. He was overpowered, pushed to the front passenger’s seat, and possibly shot in the neck and shoulder from behind while being driven to a secluded place, as there were bloodstains on the front passenger seat.

He was possibly moved to the rear seat later, where he was shot again in the chest. The rear seat had many bloodstains.

He was possibly thrashed, as his body had bruises all over. His attackers also tried to strangle him with a piece of cloth.

The four bullets were fired from a 9mm pistol. Deswal ruled out ransom and robbery as motives behind Chawla’s murder.

An attacker, who had snatched the executive’s cellphone while he was talking to his fianc and #233;e, had demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh. Even Chawla’s father had been told to deposit the ransom amount in Rajasthan after he called.

Police on Wednesday also questioned Chawla’s fianc and #233;e, who was also his colleague. His cellphone was also recovered from under the seat of the car.

The police had earlier suspected the attackers of taking Chawla’s cellphone.

Water problem leads to marital woes in Bihar village

Salempur (Bihar), Apr 9 (ANI): Grooms in Salempur village of Bihar are facing a strange problem. They cannot marry because of an acute water shortage.

Young men in Salempur are a worried lot. There are no takers for them in the marriage market, not because they lack the requisite qualifications, but because their village has no water to cater to an elaborate affair like a marriage function.

Most parents refuse to marry their daughters to the village boys fearing a life of unnecessary hardship for their girls.

The villagers allege that the administration has done nothing to improve the situation and their condition is getting from bad to worse.

The condition of villagers has constantly declined and it’s become difficult for them to arrange even bare minimum water for their sustenance — providing for marriage guests is a luxury they cannot afford.

Empty wells and barren patches of land have become a common sight in the region.

“The water situation in the village is bad and the condition of the fellow villagers is deteriorating. The situation has become so alarming that no one wants to get their children, especially daughters married in this village,” said Mohammad Auranzeb, one of the villagers.

Even though the government has initiated schemes for the region, no relief has reached the villagers.

Ajit Sharma, one of the candidates in the forthcoming general elections from Bhagalpur blamed the politicians for the pathetic quandary of the people.

“Clean drinking water is not available. People vote so that their concerns are addressed in the Parliament, but the parliamentarians have failed in their duty to raise a voice for Bhagalpur and the people,” Sharma said.

While the politicians continue to play the blame game and exploit the situation, it is the poor grooms of Salempur who continue to suffer. By Ajay Sharma (ANI)

Four criminal-politicians out of election fray, thanks to courts

Patna, April 7 (IANS) They are notorious faces. But for the first time in many years, four criminals-turned-politicians from Bihar will be unable to contest the Lok Sabha elections. The electoral laws have finally caught up with them.

Locally known as ‘bahubalis’ for their muscle power, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MPs Pappu Yadav and Mohammed Shahabuddin, Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) MP Surajbhan Singh and former Janata Dal-United (JD-U) MP Anand Mohan have been disallowed by the courts from contesting .

The courts have turned down their plea that their conviction in criminal cases be suspended so that they can fight the elections. All the four were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in different cases.

‘It is a rare but positive beginning. It has never happened before that none of the four is in the fray,’ M.P. Gupta, a senior lawyer of the Patna High Court, told IANS.

Be it the working class or the elite, most people see their absence from the polls as a positive sign for Bihar and its politics although all four have managed to put up their wives as candidates.

‘It’s a right thing that criminals-turned-politicians like Shahabuddin, Pappu Yadav, Surajbhan and Anand Mohan are being kept away from elections. It will send a strong message,’ said Kamlesh Singh, a government official.

The four are among a dozen politicians, including MPs and legislators, who have been convicted and sentenced by fast track courts in Bihar after 2005, thus becoming ineligible to contest.

Any person convicted for a crime and sentenced to more than a two-year-long jail term cannot fight elections for six years after the completion of his sentence.

The Patna High Court last week rejected Pappu Yadav’s plea to suspend his conviction in a criminal case and so he can’t contest in the April-May Lok Sabha elections. He was sentenced to life imprisonment by a lower court for murdering Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) legislator Ajit Sarkar in 1998. Yadav is currently out on bail.

Last month Shahabuddin’s election hopes were finally dashed when the Patna High Court dismissed his plea to suspend his conviction in a criminal case.

Shahabuddin, who is in Siwan jail, was convicted in seven criminal cases. The electoral registration officer in Siwan district also turned down his request for inclusion in the voters’ list on the ground that he had been in jail for more than six months.

Last year Anand Mohan too was convicted and awarded the death penalty for inciting a mob that lynched Gopalganj district magistrate G. Krishnaiyah in 1994. He too is in jail.

Surajbhan Singh, MP from Balia, was sentenced to life last year for the murder of a farmer in 1992. He is out on bail.

In the 2004 polls, Shahabuddin and Pappu Yadav contested from behind bars. Surajbhan Singh was out on bail and won from Balia.

If Shahabuddin faces over three dozen criminal cases, including murder, kidnapping, extortion and loot, so does Pappu Yadav, who faces over two dozen criminal cases. Surajbhan Singh and Anand Mohan face nearly two dozen cases each.

However, they have managed to field their wives. Shahabuddin’s wife Heena Sahab is contesting from Siwan as the RJD candidate.

Veena Devi, the wife of Surajbhan Singh, is the LJP candidate from Nawada.

Lovely Anand, the wife of Anand Mohan and a former MP herself, is contesting as a Congress candidate from Sheohar. She joined the party last week.

Pappu Yadav’s wife Ranjeeta Ranjan is already an MP but she has switched parties. She is now contesting from Supaul, not for the LJP, but for the Congress party, which she joined Sunday.