Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) on Thursday decided to contest the biennial elections to the Legislative Council from five graduate and teacher constituencies, where the term of sitting MLCs will expire on July 19.
The five retiring members include senior BJP leader Nitin Gadkari.
The decision was taken at a meeting of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and MPCC chief Manikrao Thakare along with senior leaders this morning.
The retiring MLCs are – Satish Chavan (NCP) from Aurangabad (graduate constituency), Chandrakant Patil (BJP) from Pune (graduates), Nitin Gadkari (BJP) from Nagpur (graduates) and independents Bhagwan Salunke from Pune (teachers) and Vasant Khotere from Amravati (teachers) constituency.
MPCC spokesman Sachin Sawant said, earlier the policy of the party was to support individuals or organisations in the teachers and graduates constituency but this time the party will contest on its own.
“Senior leaders will be deputed to visit the constituencies as co-ordinators and finalise the candidates. A meeting of the co-ordinators will be convened soon,” he said.
The Congress is of the view that opportunity should be given to the youth from the party to contest these elections to strengthen its base. Congress feels that supporting independents does not help it politically.
In the 78-member Legislative Council, NCP has more MLCs than the Congress.
Therefore, the Congress has decided to contest the election this time on its own, party sources said.
The Bombay High Court today reserved its order on a PIL seeking CBI probe into the murder of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar last year.
The order was reserved by a bench headed by Justice PV Hardas after CBI lawyer contended that there was no need to transfer the probe to the investigating agency as no allegations had been levelled against the State or police for shoddy investigations.
CBI counsel Rebecca Gonsalves cited a Supreme Court judgement which said that if no allegations were levelled against the authorities then there was no need to transfer investigations in a criminal case.
The petitioner Ketan Tirodkar pleaded that even if no allegations were made against authorities, the probe in a criminal case could be transferred to CBI if it has national or international ramifications.
In this case, he said, the probe was spread over to two other states, Madhya Pradesh and Goa, besides Maharashtra.
Police also had information that accused had fled to Dubai and were hiding there, he claimed.
Tirodkar, a former journalist, also cited judgement in the case of NCP leader Padamsinh Patil who is accused in a murder case, saying the probe was transferred to CBI by the court which did not comment about the role of police.
Dabholkar was shot dead by unknown assailants in Pune on August 20, 2013.
On last occasion, CBI had told the court that it was considering taking over the probe in this case and sought time to file a reply. However, today, CBI counsel said there was no need to transfer the probe to the agency as there were no allegations against authorities concerned.
Pune police had earlier submitted case diaries and confidential reports to the court. After going through them, the judges sought to know the status of the probe, and asked CBI what was its stand.
The government had also informed that so far the main conspirators had not been arrested, and those, who were arrested, had got bail.
Dabholkar’s daughter Mukta, who has been allowed to intervene, said the family wanted the High Court to monitor the probe.
She had earlier demanded formation of a Special Investigating Team (SIT) as police were not making any headway.
She had said that her family felt the need for precaution against political interference in the investigation.
Sanjaya Baru, former media advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday said he was advised to release his book before the general elections as it would not have any significance later.
“A lot of my friends whom I consulted told me that Manmohan Singh will be history after the elections. Nobody will be interested in him then,” Mr Baru said, at the launch of the book “The Accidental Prime Minister” in Mumbai.
In reply to a question, Mr Baru said that former Prime Minister Narsimha Rao “believed that the Congress should have a life beyond the (Gandhi) family” which “went against him” (in the eyes of Congress president Sonia Gandhi).”
“I feel Narsimha Rao deserved a memorial in Delhi. It was a vendetta against him,” Mr Baru added.
He also said Congress President Sonia Gandhi did not become Prime Minister (in 2004) as the Congress’ allies would have never accepted her, so she chose Dr Manmohan Singh.
“She couldn’t make another political person the Prime Minister because she had burnt her fingers with Narsimha Rao,” Mr Baru added.
When asked if he would take up a job in the Prime Minister’s Office if offered by BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi, Mr Baru said, “There is no way I will go back to politics. I have no political ambitions but will keep writing books. I have never gone back to a job I have left. It would be insulting for me.”
To the question why Dr Singh did not take a stand against the wrongdoings on his watch, as he took one in the case of Indo-US nuclear deal, Mr Baru said his (Dr Singh’s) legacy was at stake on the nuclear deal, while it was not the same case on other issues.
“Indo-US deal was approved by the Cabinet and India’s reputation was at stake then. None would have taken India seriously had that deal not gone through. Singh viewed that it was only this decision for which he would be remembered,” Mr Baru said.
A court here today remanded Financial Technologies and Multi Commodities Exchange (MCX) promoter Jignesh Shah and former managing director and chief executive of the exchange Shreekant Javalgekar in police custody till May 15 in the Rs 5,600-crore National Spot Exchange Limited payment scam.
The Economic Offences Wing of the Mumbai police, which arrested Shah and Javalgekar, told the sessions court that Shah was the “financial controller” of the Financial Technologies (FTIL) and there was a huge transfer of funds from NSEL to FTIL. Profits of NSEL were siphoned off so that FTIL may benefit, it said.
Shah had in the past blamed Anjani Sinha, former CEO of NSEL, for the entire scam and feigned ignorance, it added.
The investigating agency also told the court that it wanted to unravel the entire chain of events in the scam by interrogating Shah and Javalgekar.
Shah’s lawyer, advocate Mahesh Jethmalani, said the FIR was registered last year and Shah had visited EOW office 21 times to record his statement. EOW, in an earlier affidavit, had said Shah was cooperating with the probe, contrary to its present claim, he pointed out.
Shah had even set up a server of his company in EOW’s office and provided expert staff to facilitate the probe. His arrest would be a set-back to the recovery of investors’ money as “sitting inside (jail) he can’t manage money but sitting out he can”, Jethmalani argued.
Javalgekar’s lawyer, advocate Aabad Ponda, said there could not be a case of forgery against his client as he had not forged any paper.
Shah came under the scanner of EOW and other agencies last year when his group company NSEL faced a payment crisis and nearly 18,000 investors allegedly lost their money.
Besides being the founder-chairman and group chief executive of Financial Technologies Group, Shah is also the founder of MCX. A first-generation entrepreneur, he founded the FTIL Group in 1999.
The Bombay High Court reserved order until May 12 after arguments concluded on a bunch of PILs challenging deletion of names of the electoral college from voters’ list in Mumbai and Pune.
The order was reserved by Justices Abhay Oka and M S Sonak after arguments concluded today.
Actor Amol Palekar and his wife had intervened in the PILs as their names were also found missing from the voters’ list for the April 17 Lok Sabha elections in Pune.
The court had two days ago asked Palekar and his wife why they had not complained or appealed to the authorities when they realised that their names were missing from the electoral rolls.
The judges had asked, “Is it your case that your complaint was not redressed by the Election Commission? Even after realising that your name was not there, you sat on it.”
According to the PILs, more than 2 lakh voters could not cast the ballot after their names were deleted from the rolls. The PILs, filed by non-governmental organisations AGNI and Birthright, argued that people were not made aware about the final voters’ list and no proper procedure was followed by the Election Commission in deleting the names.
Appearing for Palekar and his wife, Rajshekar Govilkar argued that voters’ whose names were wrongly deleted, but have a voter’s identification card as well as proof that they have not shifted their residence, should be allowed to vote before declaration of results on May 16.
The Election Commission and Maharashtra government opposed the petitions on the ground that due procedure was followed and that the final voters’ list was advertised in newspapers as well as put up on the election website, besides the collector’s website for the general public.
Advocate General Darius Khambata informed the court that “The Election Commission has done an excellent job and proper process has been followed.
Modi has been denied permission for one of the two rallies in Varanasi city, the BJP terming the move as “unprecedented” and “unheard of”. Modi was supposed to hold two rallies in the constituency but permission for one of the rallies has been not given. Looking at the way BJP and its supporters are reacting, one can say that we are waiting for disaster to happen. Modi as prime minister can bring such threats even in future. I wonder how this one rally can make difference to his life or fate in forthcoming elections which is due on May 12. Why they are making so much chaos over the issue? Moreover, Modi wave is overhyped by the media and paid campaigns. If his wave is everywhere then why he is doing so much drama? Is he wreaking somewhere or Kejriwal has really challenged his existence in Varanasi?
BJP did the roadshow, the highlight of its protests against the Election Commission, in scorching heat, party workers have been shouting slogans and protesting at the Lanka Gate outside the historic Banaras Hindu University, led by top leaders Arun Jaitley and Amit Shah, demanding the removal of Returning Officer Pranjal Yadav, who reportedly denied permission for Modi’s proposed rally at Benia Bagh in Varanasi. Permission for two other events – prayers on the banks of the Ganga and a meet with 150 citizens at a local hotel – was sanctioned. Last time, Modi visited Varanasi but he forgot to visit Ganga and pray there. Social media randomly attacked Modi’s arrogance for not praying to “Gangaji”. May be to avoid this or answer such attacks this time “Ganga Pooja” become his priority. Why so much show off?
Modi is scheduled to land by helicopter to address a rally on the outskirts of Varanasi before driving through the city to his party’s headquarters in a large roadshow which will be larger than any rally. Last month, a sea of saffron had surged in Varanasi as Modi took out a roadshow before filing his nomination papers. Irony is that the crowd which is seen in Modi’s rallies is almost same everywhere, hardly any local crowd engage in rallies. All are supporters from other states. All paid crowd!
His challenger, Arvind Kejriwal, retorted, “If you only want to do Ganga arti, you don’t need permission. You need EC’s permission for political activities.” Varanasi votes on May 12 on the final day of the staggered national election. Ajay Rai of the Congress is against Modi and Kejriwal. This issue is unnecessarily aggravated by BJP for their political mileage. Modi’s supporters playing dirty politics over ‘Maa Ganga’. I wonder what we have to go through to see Modi leading our nation. Words like integrity, humane and dignity are certainly not what the BJP or Modi seem to have in their dictionary. People don’t want to see such a party or a leader who thinks like a Hitler but want leaders like Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi, for leading the nation. Now, EC should take some action against Modi. He plays his communal card again in the name of Maa Ganga, when in day ten Modi is harping on his false Chaiwala claim and playing emotional card, then what option is left for Rahul? Now, media wants to convey that BJP is free to say whatever they want to.
Except for some lame talk on Gujarat model, Modi has failed in every speech he has given about development. The only thing which he has successfully done is to get a feeling that he is the lesser evil than electing Congress for another 5 years which will eventually end poverty in India because all will be dead. His whole campaign stinks with double speak and contradictions. What is the use of distancing himself from his true roots, when there is always the second in command like Amit Shah who spews enough vitriol on a daily basis? At the heart of it, Modi is no better than Amit Shah, products of the same system. Modi has always called Kejriwal as a “bhagoda” because he refused to continue in power when he could not pass the Jan Lokpal Bill. However, many of us remember the real “bhagoda” which is Modi who ran away from Karan Thapar’s interview when he was posed a question regarding the 2002 riots. Would they still call him that if he wrote something in support of Modi?
Religion and caste are the reality of India. Every political party takes mileage of caste and religious groups. In our democracy, pressure groups are made on the basis of caste and religion. On one hand, brand Modi is developed intentionally to confuse legal and official machinery, while on the other hand to take on the UPA and family generated corruption. In fact, this is three pronged strategy- Modi cries for country and development, BJP fills in the blanks and rest will be done by other forces. This election is an absolute eye opener about the problems of liberal democracy in a backward society. It is an eye opener about what the valorisation of ‘greed and animal spirits’ can do to the aspirations of people at large.
Quashing allegations of bias levelled upon it by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Election Commission on Thursday assured the nation that the 2014 General Elections were being held in a strict non-partisan manner.
Talking to scribes here, Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath said, “We want to reassure the nation that election management is being done properly.”
Sampath said that despite the Herculean task at its hand, the EC has strictly enforced the model code of conduct and set the stage for ‘one of the cleanest contests ever.’
Despite that the EC has been accused of bias, Sampath said, “Many statements by party spokespersons have questioned the neutrality of the EC.”
Prising the scribes about the allegations levied by the BJP, Sampath averred, “The BJP delegation met us this morning and was conducted in a very cordial manner.” The Chief Election Commissioner added that he was disappointed that a national party should embark on a protest against the EC.
The CEC also said that it had asked for a factual report on Rahul Gandhi visiting the EVM enclosure and action would be taken based on the report.
Sampath sternly asked political leaders to use proper discourse while referring to constitutional body like the EC in future and added that he was aware that the refusal of permission for BJP PM candidate Narendra Modi’s Varanasi rally has become a bone of contention.
Informing about the reason behind such a move, Sampath said, “Competent local authorities, for security reasons, were unable to give permission for (Modi’s) public meeting in Beniyabagh.”
“Where security issues are involved, the EC goes by expertise given by local administration,” he added.
Addressing the parties, Sampath quipped, “Political parties must understand that issues relating to permission for campaign purposes should be asked with due notice.” And added that the EC was not ‘scared of anyone — any political parties or entity.’
“The commission is not afraid of any party or entity in discharging its duty,” he summed up saying.
Earlier in the day, BJP leader Arun Jaitley had expressed “disappointment” with the EC stand on Narendra Modi’s rally in Varanasi and said that polls should not be conducted in the country if security cannot be ensured.
“By condoning the returning officer’s stand on ‘No-Modi rally’ in Varanasi city, the Election Commission has used the security card to prevent Narendra Modi’s right to campaign in his constituency. If you can’t ensure security, don’t hold the polls in the country,” Jaitley wrote in his blog.
His comments follow the poll panel denying permission to the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial nominee to hold rallies in Varanasi, stating security concerns.
“I cannot conceal my disappointment with the Election Commission. Men in constitutional offices need to be bolder. Timid men can dwarf high offices,” Jaitley added.
He, however, added that if polls are held, a “level playing field” should be provided.
“But if you do hold the polls please provide a level playing field. You cannot deny the candidate the right to campaign. Rahul Gandhi can have a road show in Varanasi but Narendra Modi cannot have a rally. The security card is selectively used,” he said.
Jaitley added that his right to “satyragraha” (protest for the truth) begins if the poll panel chooses to believe the returning officer and “feels that this is not a denial of opportunity to campaign”.
Giving out advice to the Election Commission, Jaitley said: “Don’t look helpless. Don’t merely rely on the returning officer and officials of the Uttar Pradesh government. They are a nominees of the people who want to prevent Modi. There is more to a campaign than a prayer and meeting 150 people.”
The EC in its letter had said matters like granting permission for rallies, meetings are dealt with at the level of district magistrate/returning officer and not directly by the poll panel.
As the war of words continue between Mamata Banerjee and Narendra Modi, the West Bengal Chief Minister on Wednesday called the Bharatiya Janata Party’s prime ministerial candidate a “donkey”.
Taking on the Gujarat Chief Minister over his comments on Bangladeshi infiltraors, the Trinamool Congress supremo mocked at the BJP strongman by calling him a donkey and said he doesn’t knows anything about the facts.
Mamata’s reaction came after, the BJP’s PM candidate, who addressed three rallies in West Bengal on Wednesday said that she got angry with him for raising the issue of Bangladeshi infiltrators which she herself had raised in 2005.
The West Bengal CM also attacked Modi at three rallies at minority-dominated Budge Budge, Metiabruz and at Chowrashtra in Behala.
“People of Bengal were being dubbed as refugees and shamed. Some people were being called infiltrators. If they try to divide Bengal, if they try to evict anyone, I will guard you. I will not let anyone touch you. He said I respect refugees. Who is a refugee? Does he understand what it means?” she said.
On Modi’s charge that she had raised the issue of infiltrators in 2005, Banerjee said “I had raised the issue of bogus ration cards in Bengal.”
The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a plea by the Gujarat government to order probe into all fake encounters that had taken place in all states over the past 10 years.
The Gujarat government of Chief Minister Narendra Modi has itself been facing legal scrutiny over several alleged fake encounters that have taken place in the state. These include cases of Ishrat Jahan and Sohrabuddin Sheikh.
Ishrat Jahan, a 19-year-old college student, was gunned down on June 15, 2004 along with three men by a police and intelligence squad near Ahmedabad city in Gujarat. In its chargesheet, the CBI had refuted state government’s claim that Jahan and the three men were terrorists heading to assassinate Modi. The agency also claimed that the police officers abducted them four days earlier and shot them in cold blood on the early morning of June 15, 2004.
The petition by the Gujarat government came amidst data that Uttar Pradesh was the worst offender in terms of fake encounter killings between 2002 and 2013. A total of 1,788 such deaths were recorded across the country during the said period, and Uttar Pradesh topped the list with 743 fake encounter deaths.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) data further showed that Assam was number two with 273 such deaths, followed by Andhra Pradesh (101) and Maharashtra (88).
Gujarat, on the other hand, was near the bottom of the list with just 12 fake encounter deaths since 2002. The state featured well below Jharkhand (55), Uttarakhand (53), Delhi (52), Chhattisgarh (46), Karnataka (39), Odisha (39), Manipur (38), Meghalaya (33) and even Tamil Nadu (31).
Narendra Modi, the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, is driving through Varanasi, the huge crowds providing a show of strength at a time when his party has alleged that the Election Commission wrongly disallowed him from holding a rally in the heart of his constituency.
Before his drive-through, Mr. Modi gave a searing speech on the outskirts of the city and alleged that his political opponent, the Congress, is behind what his party has described as “a ban” on his campaigning in Varanasi.
“The Congress must understand. The people have defeated you, the Election Commission can’t make you win,” Mr. Modi said.
The BJP has questioned the neutrality of the Commission. “Men in constitutional offices need to be bolder. Timid men can dwarf high offices,” BJP leader Arun Jaitley said.
Along with other leaders like Amit Shah, he led protests against the Election Commission this morning at the city’s famous Banaras Hindu University.
The BJP had planned three Modi events today. While permission for the rally was denied, prayers on the banks of the Ganga and a meet with 150 citizens at a local hotel was sanctioned. But the BJP alleges the clearances came through at 2 am this morning, which forced them to cancel both programmes.
Quashing allegations of bias levelled upon it by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the Election Commission on Thursday assured the nation that the 2014 General Elections were being held in a strict non-partisan manner.