Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday took potshots at the Congress appointing Priyanka Gandhi as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East, saying it was a step that took forward dynastic politics.
“It was an appointment based on family,” which showed that dynastic politics has gone two steps forward,” she told reporters here when asked about the matter.
Although there were a multitude of party workers, the appointment of Priyanka Gandhi demonstrated that Congress party gave importance to one family, she said.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that the special NIA court should not have accepted photocopies of the statements of witnesses and confessions of accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case as secondary evidence.
A bench of Justices A S Oka and A S Gadkari observed that the photocopies had been produced and submitted by the National Investigating Agency (NIA).
But, the NIA had not been asked by the special court to prove that the photocopies were copies of original documents that the probe agency claims have been lost forever, the court said.
“The question is, who took these copies? Have you (NIA) examined the person who took these photocopies? How do you know these copies are that of the original documents? The special court should not have accepted the copies as secondary evidence when their authenticity is not confirmed,” it said.
In January 2017, the special NIA court had permitted the use of photocopies after the probe agency submitted that some files containing original statements of witnesses and confessions of accused under Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) Section 164 had gone missing and could not be traced.
The NIA had pleaded that since these statements were not traceable and the proceedings of the case were conducted on a regular basis, the secondary copies of the original statements be taken on record.
The court had then permitted the use of such photocopies as secondary evidence.
One of the accused in the case, Sameer Kulkarni, however, filed an appeal in the Bombay High Court saying that the special court should not have permitted the use of photocopies since there was no evidence to prove that these documents were authentic copies of the original statements.
The bench is likely to conduct a detailed final hearing on the appeal from February 5.
Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from here in North Maharashtra, on September 29, 2008.
In October last year, the special court had framed charges under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act against Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit and some other accused in the case.
The Centre on Wednesday approved an agreement between India and Japan for cooperation in the food processing sector.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given its approval to the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) between India and Japan in the field of food processing sector, an official statement said.
The bilateral cooperation in the field of food processing would be mutually beneficial for both countries, the statement said.
This move will promote understanding of best practices in food processing in the two countries and also improve market access.
“The MoC will lead to betterment of the food processing sector in the country by introducing innovative techniques and processes. It will help in increasing food processing in the country by getting access to best practices and better markets,” it said.
In a show of camaraderie by bickering allies, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Shiv Sena president Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesday jointly took part in rituals marking the start of construction of a memorial for Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray.
The move assumes significance as the Shiv Sena, an ally of the BJP at the Centre and in Maharashtra, has been at loggerheads with its senior partner and critical of various policies of the governments.
The Maharashtra Cabinet had on Tuesday approved Rs 100 crore for the construction of the Thackeray memorial, a move seen as an attempt to reach out to the ally ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
On Wednesday, on the occasion of the 93rd birth anniversary of Bal Thackeray, Fadnavis and Thackeray jointly conducted the ‘Ganesh pujan’ (offering prayers to Lord Ganesh) and ‘vastu pujan’ at the memorial site, located at Shivaji Park at Dadar in central Mumbai.
At the event, the land earmarked for the memorial was officially transferred by the city civic body to the trust set up to oversee the structure’s construction.
The prime sea-facing property built in 1928, measuring around 11,500 sq m, currently houses Mumbai mayor’s bungalow.
A number of BJP and Shiv Sena leaders, city Mayor Vishwanath Mahadeshwar, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Ajoy Mehta and members of ‘Balasaheb Thackeray Rashtriya Smarak Nyas’ (trust), including BJP MP Poonam Mahajan, were present at the event.
Both Fadnavis and Thackeray were seen shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries.
A Sena leader, who was present at the event, said both the leaders also had a brief meeting over tea. “However, there were no political discussions,” he said.
“The Chief Minister and other BJP leaders were very comfortable in the presence of Uddhavji and his family. It did not seem to be an event that had leaders of two parties but (appeared) as if between members of one family,” he said.
With the modalities for handing over the land earmarked for the project being completed, the construction of the memorial is expected to begin from next month.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to be invited for the formal ‘bhoomi pujan’ ceremony, a source said.
The Sena had last year announced to go solo in future elections and a party leader on Tuesday said the state government’s decision to approve funds for the Thackeray memorial would have no bearing on alliance prospects between the two parties for the upcoming polls.
Meanwhile, the Sena, in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’, continued its anti-BJP tirade, saying Bal Thackeray was of the view that only ‘Hindutva’ can save the country and this thought of his led the BJP to come to power.
“The present condition and the path of the country is not right. Today, the nation needs to be ruled by ‘men’. Even today, borders are being attacked by Pakistanis, soldiers are dying in Kashmir, however, we are showing our ‘josh’ by taking credit for surgical strike,” it said in sarcastic remarks.
The Sena was established for protecting the rights of “sons of the soil”. During its conception, political parties like the Congress had said Bal Thackeray wanted to break the nation, that he was creating a division between castes and regions and that there was no place for a regional political party, the publication noted.
“The Sena, as a regional political party has been shining on the national front. Today, the country’s politics has gone in the hands of regional parties and national parties like the BJP and the Congress are trying to increase their stature in states with the help of regional satraps,” it said.
Recently, 22 anti-BJP regional parties came together in West Bengal. When attempts to “swallow” these parties failed, bids were being made to woo them, the Marathi daily said.
Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan on Wednesday hailed Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s formal entry into politics saying her appointment as an AICC general secretary augurs well for the party in politically crucial Uttar Pradesh.
In a significant move, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi appointed his sister Priyanka as the general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East. She will take over her new assignment from the first week of February.
Terming the development as a “heartening moment” for Congress workers, Chavan also welcomed appointment of Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Jyotiraditya Scindia as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh West.
“Priyanka Gandhi Vadra is a good administrator and experienced leader,” the former Maharashtra chif minister said while referring to her role in handling parliamentary constituencies of Raebarelli and Amethi over the last few years.
He said that Priyanka’s contribution was also instrumental in the Congress’ successive victories in the two seats – the pocket-boroughs of UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
“We are happy Priyanka is given a wider responsibility in Uttar Pradesh politics. It is a heartening moment for all Congress workers. Under her able leadership, Congress will definitely register an outstanding victory in UP,” he said.
Skandan Krishnan, a retired IAS officer of 1982 batch was Wednesday appointed as the fourth advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, an official spokesman said.
“Sanction is hereby accorded to the appointment of Skandan Krishanan, IAS (retired) as advisor to the governor of Jammu and Kashmir with effect from the date he assumes charge,” the spokesman said, quoting an order issued by the General Administration Department.
Former IAS officers Khurshid Ahmad Ganai and Kewal Krishan Sharma and former IPS officer K Vijay Kumar are the other three advisors to the J-K governor.
The appointment of Krishnan comes over a month after B B Vyas resigned from the post in December last year on the eve of his appointment as the member of the Union Public Service Commission (UPSC).
The Union Home Ministry had on Tuesday conveyed approval of the Competent Authority for the appointment of Krishnan as an advisor to the J-K governor, the spokesman said.
Krishnan joined the IAS in 1982 and was allotted Tamil Nadu cadre.
He held various senior level positions in Tamil Nadu and served for 25 years before joining the Government of India.
Krishnan was in-charge of Kashmir division from 2007 to 2012.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday said appointments of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia as general secretaries will give a big boost to the party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
“This (Priyanka’s appointment) was long overdue and was in offing for about six months. This will be a big boost for the party in a state as important as Uttar Pradesh,” Nath told PTI in an interview.
Here to participate in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting, Nath said the party cadre will get a strong message from her appointment and it underlines the importance of Uttar Pradesh for the party.
He also said Scindia’s contribution will be key to the party’s election preparations and he was sure that the young leader would do a wonderful job in his new role.
Congratulating the two leaders, the Madhya Pradesh chief minister said the party is fully geared to go into elections with a very strong level of optimism.
Earlier in the day, Congress President Rahul Gandhi appointed his sister Priyanka as AICC general secretary for Uttar Pradesh East and Scindia as general secretary for UP West.
A Delhi court on Wednesday dismissed the bail application of journalist Upendra Rai, arrested in a money laundering case related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transactions.
Additional Sessions Judge Rakesh Syal dismissed the bail pea of the Delhi-based scribe in a case registered against him by the Enforcement Directorate.
The journalist was arrested on June 8 last year by the ED under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), at the Tihar jail here, moments after he secured bail in a CBI case related to alleged extortion and dubious financial transactions.
The Centre on Wednesday approved the extension of the Delhi Metro corridor from Dilshad Gardern to New Bus Adda in Ghaziabad, which will provide a much-needed additional public transport infrastructure to NCR.
The approval was given at a cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In a statement, the government said the total distance of the extended line will be 9.41 kilometers.
“The Union cabinet has approved the extension of Delhi Metro corridor from Dilshad Gardern to New Bus Adda Ghaziabad,” it stated.
The cabinet has also approved contribution of Rs 324.87 crore as central financial assistance for the extension at a total completion cost of Rs 1,781.21 crore, it said.
The CBI has booked former Air India Chairman-cum-Managing Director Arvind Jadhav for allegedly violating procedures while making various promotions and appointments, officials said on Wednesday.
Along with Jadhav, the CBI has also named then Executive Director (Personnel) L P Nakhwa (now retired) and former Additional General Mangers (Operations) A Kathpalia, Amitabh Singh and Rohit Bhasin in its FIR registered under IPC section related to criminal conspiracy and provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act.
The CBI alleged that Jadhav had constituted a panel in 2010 to promote officers to the rank of General Manager (operations) in violation of laid down procedure.
The three member panel included then Chief Operating Officer Gustav Baldauf, then Executive Director (operations) AS Soman and former Executive Director (Personnel) LP Nakhwa, it said.
The Bombay High Court on Wednesday said that the special NIA court should not have accepted photocopies of the statements of witnesses and confessions of accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case as secondary evidence.
Skandan Krishnan, a retired IAS officer of 1982 batch was Wednesday appointed as the fourth advisor to Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malik, an official spokesman said.
Senior Congress leader Kamal Nath on Wednesday said appointments of Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and Jyotiraditya Scindia as general secretaries will give a big boost to the party’s prospects in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The Centre on Wednesday approved the extension of the Delhi Metro corridor from Dilshad Gardern to New Bus Adda in Ghaziabad, which will provide a much-needed additional public transport infrastructure to NCR.