The Bombay High Court issued a notice to Qatar Consulate in response to a petition filed by a city resident alleging foul play in the death of his brother in the west Asian country last year.
Jitender Singh (38) moved to Qatar in September last after getting a job as a clerk with J M Mehta and Company and Qatar Engineering and Constructions.
According to his brother and the petitioner Dilipsingh Khalsa, on November 26, 2013 his family was informed by Qatar authorities that Jitender had died due to heart and respiratory failure, and the body would be sent to India after the relatives sent a No Objection Certificate.
The family however suspects foul play and wants an independent inquiry into his death by the Indian authorities, the petition says.
The family has also sought a compensation of Rs. 70 lakh from the employer company, and unconditional hand-over of his body.
The High Court posted the next hearing to April 11.
The Election Commission of India (EC) on Tuesday made a statement before the Bombay High Court that it would not take coercive steps against teachers of unaided schools who refused to work on election duty.
The statement was made in response to a petition filed by Unaided Schools Forum seeking directions to EC not to force teachers of private unaided schools and minority institutions to do election duty.
A bench of Justice V M Kanade asked Election Commission to file a reply on April 10.
The petition contended that the EC had declared the election schedule on March 5 but the Forum had written to the State Election Commission on January 11 itself, relying on a Supreme Court (SC) judgment which barred teachers from doing non-education duty.
However, some institutions in the city such as the Chembur-based General Education Academy and Children’s Academy were asked to furnish details of their teaching staff for election duty.
The schools replied to EC stating that since they were permanent unaided schools and examinations were being conducted by them, their staff would not be available for election duty.
However, the Commission told the schools that they had delayed in submitting the sought information and thus they should show cause as to why action under section 134 of the Representation of People Act not be invoked.
Attributing Congress’ poor show in Delhi Assembly polls to losing touch with common people, Rahul Gandhi accepted that the party has deeply understood this and promised to include people from the grass-root level in the party after Lok Sabha Elections. In one of the rallies in the poll period in Delhi, when Rahul reached four hour late after scheduled time and begun his speech, the crowd had started leaving the place, then Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, who was sharing the dais with Rahul, was recorded on camera asking people not to leave the ground. People of Delhi has seen 15 years of Congress rule of development and also seen 49 days of “anarchist” rule where the government made false promises. They have also seen eight years of “corrupt” BJP-led MCD rule. The party, which has failed in removing corruption from a small organisation like MCD, is talking about removing corruption from the country. Rahul is maturing with time, and it is good to see his brighter side. He has come out of all inhibitions to take the lead but still he needs to learn a lot.
This time voting would be cast between rural and urban population, between traditional voters and educated voters, between Hindu and secular voters. Rahul Gandhi cannot be future Prime Minister of this country because Congress has always sidelined important, popular and fair leaders who have public following. People really respect some of the senior Congress leaders irrespective of party liking and disliking, whereas they find Modi as an alternative, now. Those who really dislike BJP are now willing to vote for the party, just because of Modi. BJP is zero without Modi and Congress is zero without the Gandhi family. They follow because of their loyalties towards that particular family. Probably, Congress is committing the biggest mistake by promoting Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate.
Rahul Gandhi is in his learning stage and he has to learn many things about politics from his Gurus, Sonia Gandhi (she walked the political path with Indira and Rajiv Gandhi) and Manmohan Singh as he claimed that he has two gurus in politics. He is saying that the most important quality in a politician is intent. If the intent is not correct then nothing can be achieved, but unfortunately none of the Congress ministers including Manmohan Singh and Sonia Gandhi have a clear intention towards this country. Whenever Rahul reaches to deliver speeches in different states, he changes his Gurus. Sometimes he claims to follow Mahatma Gandhi and sometime he says he follows his mother and Manmohan Singh. He was in Punjab and recently he insulted Prime Minister over the ordinance aimed to protect the interests of convicted MPs and MLAs, may be this is the reason he tried making it up by parsing MMS. Mother is every child’s teacher; Sonia can be his teacher by birth but as such in Indian politics, there is nothing much that Sonia has contributed to set an example. Rahul needs to grow; he has just began to approach people by addressing masses without reading his script. Just being an angry man or using harsh terms, he cannot be proved to be an aggressive Prime Ministerial Candidate. He and his family members are being followed by secular Hindus.
Modi speaks extempore and always talks about national issues addressing the growth of his state. Most of the time, he attacks Congress for its political errors. He informs the masses keeping them ahead. Nowadays, Rahul tries to talk without paper but somewhere lacks the vocabulary to make his voice reach out to people, though Congress has a solid vote bank. Modi could win by the strong Hindu votes; Hindus can’t be vote bank but definitely are in majority. There are many published poll surveys, but these surveys do not sound relevant as Indian election process is indirect. Main stream media talk about Modi as a leading candidature of Prime ministerial job but getting taking prediction for granted would be foolishness. As we all know, BJP might be a single largest party but without alliance, it cannot form government at the centre and many alliance parties already sidelined themselves over Modi’s elevation. He might be the best choice, but BJP doesn’t have strong foothold. BJP has its grip over restricted states like Gujarat, MP, Punjab, Chhattisgarh and Bihar. It has no faithful collaborator other than Shiv Sena in Maharashtra and Akali Dal in Punjab. The fact is that, it would not be very difficult to predict Modi, besides Gandhi does not have India’s approval. Both are projected big by their keyboard samurais on social network. Moreover, there is no comparison between Modi and Gandhi. One is a seasoned politician who has seen decades here and another one is born into a political family and just took his baby steps here. Choice between these two is not much complex or even easy for common people.
Rahul was connected with Congress as he has been a part of UPA-I & II. Till today in last ten years, he failed to bring changes in the party. How he will create magic now? How can an intelligent Indian trust Congress or Rahul who in spite of being in power made only fake promises? They separated states, look at burning Andhra Pradesh. They divided society in the name of minority appeasement; recently he addressed Dalits. Every time they divide people over caste, creed, religion and state. Rahul or his Guru ‘Maiyya’ has not given any remarkable contribution towards this country. They passed many bills, but when times came for execution, then files landed in disaster. Aadhar card is one of the greatest examples. Crores of rupees were wasted on these projects. Name any one party which has done extraordinarily for this country on national and state level? The 2014 General Election is very vital for the nation.
Recently, Rahul spoke about Food Security Bill, Right to Education and Right to Information Act. But, whenever the RTI was filed against Sonia Gandhi and Robert Vadra, same Congress refused to co-operate. Taking decision and actually executing it are two different aspects. In India, many people starve even today. No food, shelter or security are provided to them. Streets are overcrowded with beggars and poor people. Women are abused, young girls are getting raped, and lots of corruption is practiced in almost every government sectors. God knows, what Congress has actually done for people than keeping the bills in files!
Rahul not only lacks experience but also promotes dynasty politics. A majority of people are looking for a clean and capable government. Narendra Modi has proved himself. Modi scores on merits, he did his best for economy, clean government and comprehensive leadership. Gandhi has one quality and that is dynasty. It is up to you people to choose your leader.
Citing security concerns, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has refused to provide a copy of her passport to a US court as evidence in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
Sonia Gandhi wrote a letter to the US court and said that the Indian government has denied her permission for the same due to security concerns.
The court had issued directions to the Congress chief after a Sikh group, Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), registered the complaint against the Congress chief that it had served summons to Sonia Gandhi when she was allegedly visiting Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Centre in New York for treatment.
The lawsuit against Gandhi hinges on the issue of whether she was served summons on September 9 as the group claims or whether she was not present in the US during that time as per her assertion.
The SFJ has sought compensatory and punitive damages from Gandhi for her alleged role in “shielding and protecting” Congress party leaders including Kamal Nath, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler from prosecution for their alleged role in the 1984 riots.
Gandhi’s attorney Ravi Batra on Monday submitted before the court that his client has “nothing to hide”.
Batra handed over to court as exhibit a letter dated April 5 signed by Gandhi to him in which she states that “in matters of disclosure of my travels, which are contained in the passport document, the Government of India has informed me that they would not permit such a disclosure.
“However, as I have nothing to hide, I voluntarily relinquish the plea of lack of personal jurisdiction. I may add that the present submission is without prejudice to the plea of want of jurisdiction in relation to the subject matter.”
Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal said on Tuesday that there may be more attacks on him in future and that he might also get killed.
He questioned as to why only he was being attacked and wondered as to who was the mastermind behind them. “In coming days I apprehend more attacks on me. I might also be killed,” he said.
However, he added that he had forgiven all those who had attacked him. “The solution is in talks, not in violence.”
He maintained that complaint is not needed from his side for the police to find out as to who was behind repeated attacks on him. “The police if it wants can investigate on its own. The police knows everything,” he said.
He also said that attacks on him may be due to the fact that he had disturbed the setting of the BJP and the Congress.
Hours before campaigning was to end in Delhi, the AAP was once again in the news after an auto driver slapped Arvind Kejriwal during a roadshow in the city on Tuesday. The AAP leader then sat in silent prayer at Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi Rajghat, where his supporters equated the repeated attacks on him with the killing of Mahatma Gandhi with Nathuram Godse.
The attacker was reportedly upset with Kejriwal for going back on promises and abandoning the Delhi government after 49 days in power.
Kejriwal was campaigning for party heavyweight Rakhi Birla in Sultanpuri in Northwest Delhi, when the attacker climbed up his jeep under the guise of wanting to garland him. The attacker did garland Kejriwal but then, suddenly, slapped him with full force.
Unconfirmed reports identified the attacker as an autorickshaw driver named Lalli, resident of Aman Vihar in Delhi. Ironically, autorickshaw drivers are said to be a key support base of the AAP and had campaigned extensively for the party in the Delhi polls.
The attacker was cornered by AAP supporters and thrashed before handing over to the police. While the party appears disinclined to press charges against him the police may go ahead and book him under the IPC.
Kejriwal had faced a similar attack while campaigning in south Delhi, last week.
Kejriwal has famously avoided security cover and claimed that he faces threat from none. However, he does enjoy a cordon of security by the Delhi Police. Reports now claim, quoting sources in the police, that Kejriwal routinely breaches the security cordon against their advice. After the last incident in Dakshinpuri, Kejriwal had accused the opposition parties, especially the BJP of orchestrating attacks on him.
The attacker was later identified as Abdul Wahid, a resident of Jamia Nagar in south Delhi.
Wahid told the police that he was unhappy over Kejriwal’s silence on Muzaffarnagar riots.
However, opposition leader alleged that Arvind Kejriwal is planning these attacks himself to gain sympathy from voters who are upset with him for resigning as Delhi CM after just 49 days in power.
On March 28, he was attacked by a man, who claimed to be a supporter of anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare, during his election rally in Haryana.
He was also targeted in Gujarat, and Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.
The West Bengal government, Tuesday, wrote to the Election Commission urging it to reconsider its decision on transfer officials ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.
“Contending that the removal of the officers would create law and order problems, Chief Secretary Sanjay Mitra wrote to the EC urging it to reconsider its decision to transfer the officers,” a news agency quoted a source in the office of the chief electoral officer as saying.
The response was sent by the state chief secretary ahead of the noon deadline set by the poll panel for transfer of five SPs and one DM.
Later, a report suggested that the state government has said it was prepared to release the officials from their current posts, but refused to accept those named by the EC as their replacements.
Mamata Banerjee government’s move came amid indications that that the EC may be forced to take tough action. Reports claimed that the EC may go to the extent of cancelling elections in the districts where the TMC government is acting adamant against transfer orders issued by the poll panel.
Reports also claimed that the full bench of the Election Commission will meet over the issue and decide on appropriate action given the open defiance by the state government against the constitutional authority.
The Chief Election Commissioner had ordered transfer of five superintendents of police (SPs) – Malda, Birbhum, Burdwan, West Midnapore and Mushidabad – and one district magistrate (North 24-Parganas) after opposition parties complained against these officers, accusing them of being biased.
The Election Commission operated within its rights by ordering the transfers of the senior officials as the poll panel is constitutionally empowered to do so after the model code of conduct comes into force. And, it is the same constitution she swore to abide by when she took the oath of office as the Chief Minister.
However, Mamata would have none of it and has openly turned defiant against the EC. She declared, “I challenge the Election Commission to remove anybody while I am in charge.”
“How can the Election Commission transfer and name new officers without consulting the state government?” Banerjee asked.
“You will only listen to the Congress…to make the Congress win, BJP win. You will have to take my resignation. I will not remove anybody,” she said.
The Uttar Pradesh government led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has appealed to courts to cancel bail of at least 50 persons accused of playing a role in the last year’s Muzaffarnagar riots, claiming that they could try to disturb peace during elections.
Reports on Tuesday said that the Samajwadi Party government is seeking cancellation of bails given to BJP MLAs Sangeet Som, Suresh Rana and BSP MLA Kadir Rana among others.
For Sangeet Som, the state government has appealed in Allahabad High Court while for others; it has sent an appeal in district court.
In its appeal, the state government has claimed that the accused could try to disturb peace during elections and are attempting to divide voters on communal lines.
Supreme Court had recently held the Uttar Pradesh government prima facie responsible for negligence in preventing communal violence in Muzaffarnagar and adjoining areas.
A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam passed a slew of directions for proper investigation in the cases and for rehabilitation of victims of the communal clashes.
“We prima facie hold the state government responsible for negligence in preventing such incidents,” it said.
The court, however, added that the state government was taking proper action and had constituted a special investigation cell for conducting a probe into various cases, so there was no need for a direction for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation and the Special Investigation Team at this juncture.
It directed the state authorities to bring to book all accused persons irrespective of their political affiliations.
It also directed that the victims and their family members be given protection by the state government till the completion of trial.
The bench passed the order on a batch of petitions filed by various people, including riot victims, seeking its direction to the state government for proper probe into the cases and for a CBI investigation.
After days of uncertainty, the Congress on Tuesday announced local MLA Ajay Rai as its candidate in Varanasi for the Lok Sabha polls 2014.
Varanasi turned into a high profile consistency after BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi chose the seat to contest from Uttar Pradesh. Modi is also in the fray from Vadodara in Gujarat.
The Varanasi tussle gained more prominence after Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal announced himself as a challenger to the Modi juggernaut.
The Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party have already announced their candidates.
Interestingly, the Congress’ announcement comes amid suggestions that discussions are on between different parties to present a unified challenge to Modi to prevent division of votes against Modi.
However, as no party would want to appear as unwilling to challenge Modi, all parties have announce candidates but as it happens in elections, they may work behind the scenes to ensure that Modi’s wish to win from the city of Lord Vishwanath remains unfulfilled.
An FIR has been registered against Union Steel Minister Beni Prasad Verma in Balrampur for calling BJP prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi the “biggest goonda” of RSS and party’s National President Rajnath Singh his “slave”.
District Magistrate Mukesh Chandra today said, “Beni had termed Modi as a goon of RSS and said that Rajnath Singh was his slave.”
Taking cognisance of the statement, the district administration has lodged an FIR at Sadullah Nagar police station for violating the Model Code of Conduct and has sent the report to the Election Commission as well.
Verma had on April 1 stoked a controversy by dubbing Narendra Modi as the “biggest goonda” (goon) of RSS as the language being used by him in elections is not normally used in democracy.
“Modi could not have become prime ministerial candidate without the nod of Rajnath Singh. This proves that Rajnath Singh is not the president of the party but Modi’s slave (ghulam),” Verma had said.
Chandra said a code of conduct would be strictly followed and those violating it would not be spared.
This is the second case of violation of the model code by the Union Minister. Another case was lodged against him on March 31 in Gonda district for organising a roadshow in Tarabganj tehsil in which the number of vehicles was beyond permissible limit.
Mulayam Singh Yadav targeted Narendra Modi’s trusted aide Amit Shah, saying it was “unfortunate” that people like that were in politics.
“It is unfortunate that people like Amit Shah are not behind bars. People like him are making divisive speeches. We will fight the BJP like we have and we will destroy Amit Shah,” the Samajwadi Party chief.
He was speaking after a senior BJP leader and former union minister Ashok Pradhan joined the Samajwadi Party.
Amit Shah is in charge of the BJP’s campaign in Uttar Pradesh, which sends 80 MPs to the Lok Sabha and is key to power at the Centre.
“Does Amit Shah have anything to do with humanity? Just look at his history. What he did in Gujarat… he was home minister,” said Mulayam Singh, whose party governs Uttar Pradesh.
Amit Shah, a controversial figure, has received an Election Commission notice for a series of hate speeches in Muzaffarnagar, where riots in September killed nearly 60 and displaced thousands from their villages.
In one such speech last week, he said, “In Uttar Pradesh, especially western Uttar Pradesh, this election is one of honour, it is an opportunity to take revenge and to teach a lesson to people who have committed injustice.”
Citing security concerns, Congress president Sonia Gandhi has refused to provide a copy of her passport to a US court as evidence in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.