Arvind Kejriwal will have to wait to hear Varanasi’s advice on Narendra Modi

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March 18, 2014

Arvind Kejriwal, who wanted Varanasi to let him know whether he should take on Narendra Modi, will have to wait for two days longer than he had anticipated. His rally in the city has been refused permission for the 23rd of this month because of local elections; he has been told he can hold it on March 25 instead.

Mr. Kejriwal, the 45-year-old chief of the Aam Aadmi Party, had said that he would ask Varanasi to decide for him on whether he should stand against Mr. Modi, who was announced over the weekend as the BJP’s candidate from the city. Mr. Kejriwal did not indicate the mechanism that his referendum would employ.

Mr. Modi, 64, may also run for Parliament from his home state of Gujarat. A decision by the BJP is expected soon.

For weeks, the BJP prevaricated over whether to allocate Varanasi to its prime ministerial candidate because of blowback from Muril Manohar Joshi, its 80-year-old leader who currently represents Varanasi in the Lok Sabha. He has now been announced as the candidate from Kanpur.

23-year-old woman constable found dead in Delhi guest house; fiance arrested

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Afternoon Voice

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March 18, 2014

A 23-year-old police constable Priyanka Kumari was found dead at a guest house in Delhi on Monday morning. Her fiance, former Navy officer Mohit Sharma, has been arrested in connection with the case.

Mohit was on the run since Priyanka’s death, but was arrested from his village in Haryana.

According to the police, Mohit had booked a room at the Neel Gagan Guest House in Sagar Pur area of South West Delhi on Sunday and had told the manager that Priyanka is his wife. Later that evening, Mohit was seen leaving the guest house.

Next morning, when the guest house manager called the room, no one answered. He then broke open the door with the help of the staff, the police said. Priyanka’s body was found lying on the bed, they added.

The police said that Mohit and Priyanka got engaged last year, but it was called off after her family found out that Mohit was allegedly an alcoholic and had behavioural issues.

He was reportedly discharged from the Navy because of the same reason. Mohit remained in touch with Priyanka but soon realised that marriage was off the cards.

According to police, he started hatching the plot to kill her when he reached Delhi three months back from Goa where he was posted while serving in the Navy. “There was some marriage related dispute between them,” said Suman Goel, DCP, Delhi South West.

After months of incestuous rape, minor girl pregnant with brother’s child

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Afternoon Voice

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March 18, 2014

In a shocking incident reported from Korba district of Chhattisgarh, a man was booked after he raped his own minor sister repeatedly and got her pregnant.

The incident took place in Bango police station area in Korba on Monday. Fed up of being exploited, she complained to the parents after which she was immediately admitted to the hospital.

Shockingly, her parents learnt that she was 4 months pregnant. The girl had been repeatedly raped for months but had not disclosed it to her parents. She was bearing the child of her own brother.

No preliminary enquiry against Modi’s ministers, CBI clarifies

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Afternoon Voice

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March 18, 2014

Just hours after it was reported that the CBI had filed a preliminary enquiry against his top ministers of BJP’s PM candidate Narendra Modi based on new evidence in the Ishrat Jahan encounter case, the CBI issued a denial. The CBI claimed that no such preliminary enquiry had been registered.

Initial reports said that the CBI had reportedly recovered a CD which had recordings of discussions between top Gujarat leaders and policemen on derailing the probe into the case.

The conversations on the CD reportedly dated to November 2011 and took place a day before a SIT appointed by the Gujarat High Court was to submit its report in the case.

The meetings were said to have been held between Modi’s personal secretary GC Murmu, AK Sharma and a few other ministers and police officials. Murmu and Sharma have also been questioned over the matter in September 2013.

Prakash Ambedkar will have to form alliance with Congress

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Afternoon Voice

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March 18, 2014

Since 1991, the Bharatiya Janata Party is having a strong foothold over the Akola constituency. If the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh doesn’t form an alliance with the Congress from this constituency then Prakash Ambedkar might have to face defeat. If the Congress nominates their candidates still Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh will have to work along with them.

Six assembly seats exists in the Akola constituency viz Akot, Balapur, Akola (E), Akola (W) and Murtijapur. The Congress has failed to get elected from this constituency since 1991. The performance of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh too was not good from this constituency. The BJP has sweeped polls in the year 1991, 1996, 2004 and 2009 respectively from this constituency. BJP candidate Pandurang Fundkar had won the election in 1991,1996, 2004 and 2006. Sanjay Dhotre from BJP had won election in the year 2009. He had become an MLA prior to becoming an MP. He is an educated person and also had won the confidence of the people. While Prakash Ambedkar led Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh emerged victorious in 1998 and 1999.

Prakash Ambedkar has been contesting polls from the Akola constituency since 1989. The Congress used to secure third place. The Congress had invited Prakash Ambedkar to form an alliance to contest the 2014 Lok Sabha election. However, Ambedkar didn’t respond to the letter sent by Congress and instead fielded his own candidate.

Therefore, the Congress fielded Muslim candidate Hidayat Patel against Ambedkar. Since there is sizeable number of Muslim population in this constituency hence votes will swing in favour of Congress and Ambedkar might have to face defeat. Traditionally, Muslims have voted in favour of Congress in Akola constituency. There is less possibility of Hidayat Patel and Prakash Ambedkar to win election from this constituency. Prakash Ambedkar will have to form alliance with Congress if he wants to emerge victorious from Akola.

2009 Lok Sabha election statistics

Sanjay Dhotre BJP – 2,89,526

Prakash Ambedkar – BRP- 2,22,678

Babasaheb Dhabekar – 1, 82,776

Parvez Khan

THE RADA LEGACY CONTINUE

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Afternoon Voice

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March 18, 2014

After Uddhavlieutenant Rahul Narvekar quit the party to join NCP Shiv sainiks attack RashtravadiBhavan at Nariman Point.

In an election year political leaders often shift loyalities to join rival party. Shiv Senaspokeperson and YuvaSena leader Rahul Narvekar has quit Sena to join Nationalist Congress Party. Sena activists who were unhappy with Narvekar’s exit from the party gathered outside NCP party office at Nariman Point and protested against the party. According to political observers Narvekar’s decision to join NCP is a huge setback for the Shiv Sena which has been trying to regain its lost foothold in the state. In the past several leaders like ChhaganBhujbal, Narayan Rane, AbhijitPhanse, AnandParanjpe had quit Shiv Sena while Raj Thackeray formed his own party Maharashtra NavnirmanSena.

The NCP and Shiv Sena workers were involved in a scuffle after a heated argument erupted between them afterNarvekar bid adieu to Sena.According to the sources, NCP leader JitendraAhwad and Shiv Sena leader PandurangSakpal were involved in a tussle.Later, Shiv Sainikspresent at the spot started chanting their party slogans and began protesting against NCP.

Shiv Sena leader and South Mumbai president PandurangSapkal spoke to AV and said,“Rahul Narvekar betrayed Shiv Sena hence we had protested outsidethe NCP office. JitendraAhwad intervened as we warned him against issuing comments against our party.Subsequently, a quarrel erupted between him and me. We won’t tolerate anybody who works against the interests of Shiv Sena.”

The CuffeParade police lathicharged against party workers protestor outside NCP office and detained six persons.Later, they weregranted bail.

Even as rumours were abuzz about the Shiv Sena leader joining the NCP, it was made official on Monday in a press conference where Narvekar was flanked by Deputy CM and senior party leader AjitPawar.

Narvekar had on Sunday met NCP supremoSharadPawar. Narvekar, son-in-law of senior NCP leader RamrajeNaikNimbalkar, was the spokesman of Youth Wing of Shiv Sena, which is headed by party president Uddhav Thackeray’s son Aditya.

Narvekar was upset with the Shiv Sena as he was asked by the party high command to withdraw his candidature from the legislative council elections. It is being reported that the NCP will be fielding Narvekar from Maval constituency in Pune.

His withdrawal from the fray of legislative council elections had paved the way for nine candidates getting elected to the Legislative Council unopposed.

Rahul Narvekar who quit Shiv Sena to join NCP says he was being humiliated in the party. He said, “It was a painful decision to leave Shiv Sena. I was being humiliated by Shiv Sena hence I quit the party.”

‘Can’t blame Narendra Modi for 2002 riots’: Sharad Pawar keeps UPA guessing

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Afternoon Voice

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March 17, 2014

Sharad Pawar, chief of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and an old UPA ally, continued to leave room for doubt over his proximity to Narendra Modi and the BJP.

He said that while he is very much with the Congress-led UPA, now and after the elections, he also shared a good equation with Mr. Modi, just as he does with leaders of all political parties. Mr. Pawar said that he didn’t believe in the politics of enmity.

He also said that Mr. Modi, who is the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate, should not be held responsible for the 2002 riots in Gujarat, when the court had exonerated him.

“When the court has said something, we have to accept it so why raise the issue,” the 73-year-old said.

When asked whether this differed from the stance taken by Rahul Gandhi, who only recently in an interview, held Mr. Modi culpable for the communal violence in Gujarat, Mr. Pawar said, “If they (the Congress) have some difference information, I do not know about it. I am only going by what the court said.”

He also accepted meeting with Mr. Modi in January, saying that it was not a secret meeting, but that the two were present at an official event of the Agriculture Ministry, which he heads. It was just a “chit-chat over tea and coffee,” Mr. Pawar said, adding, “I don’t see why so much importance is given to it.”

Cong-NCP Form Panel to Sort Out Possible Differences

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Afternoon Voice

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March 17, 2014

With a view to minimise the risk of rebellion and sabotage within the alliance in all the 48 Lok Sabha constituencies in Maharashtra, the ruling Congress and NCP have set up a ten-member committee to resolve differences as and when they crop up.

Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar told that Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, state Congress president Manikrao Thackeray, senior Congress leader Harshvardhan Patil and two party ministers will represent the Congress.

From the NCP, besides Pawar himself, state NCP chief Bhaskar Jadhav, working president Jitendra Awhad, and two NCP ministers will be a part of the panel.

“The committee has been tasked with the job of resolving difficulties and differences between the two allies in each of the 48 constituencies. A helpline number with office-bearers will be set up soon and if anyone wishes to speak to the Chief Minister or me, they will be connected,” he said.

“Chief Minister and Thakre have sent letters to each of the district units of Congress, where NCP is contesting to co-operate with the official candidate of the alliance. Similarly, myself and Bhaskar Jadhav have written to our state units to campaign wholeheartedly for the Congress nominees,” Pawar said.

He expressed confidence that the NCP will do well and better its previous tally. “This time, we have declared our candidates much earlier and have given them enough time to prepare the groundwork for elections,” Pawar said.

However, he said the public meetings have been delayed because of the destruction due to hailstorm.

Azmi seeks suspension of police who led midnight raid on Muslims

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Afternoon Voice

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March 17, 2014

Samajwadi Party leader Abu Asim Azmi has demanded suspension of the police personnel who allegedly led a midnight raid in Rashid Compound of Muslim-dominated Mumbra, and said they will “gherao” Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan over the issue on Tuesday.
“I am seriously concerned over the manner in which police harassed the innocent and law abiding citizens of Rashid Compound at midnight and dragged them to police station as if they are criminals… This highhandedness by police is unwarranted,” said Mr. Azmi, who is also the president of state unit of SP.
In a “combing operation” apparently to nab chain snatchers launched by Thane police in the wee hours of Thursday, more than 80 Muslim men were allegedly detained at the Mumbra police station for over four hours.
“This is not the manner in which the combing operation is carried out and police had even broken doors of some of the houses and created terror,” he said.
The detainees were released only after local NCP MLA Jitendra Avhad intervened into the matter.
However, Mr. Azmi alleged that Mr. Avhad knew of the combing operation in advance.
Mr. Azmi said he wanted policemen who participated in the action suspended and will “gherao” the Chief Minister to press for this demand.
After an uproar over the issue, Thane Police Commissioner Vijay Kamble has ordered an inquiry into the incident and the concerned ACP has been sent on leave.

Two killed after two-storey warehouse collapses

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Afternoon Voice

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March 17, 2014

Two people were killed and one was injured when a two-storey warehouse collapsed in Mumbai collapsed at 5 am on Sunday, officials said.

The accident occurred in the Sakinaka, Andheri east area when the warehouse came crashing down, said the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation Disaster Control unit. The three people were sleeping at the time of the collapse, they added.

Two of them – Ismail Anwar, 20, and Amit, 25 – lost their lives, while one person was injured and rushed to the Rajawadi Hospital where his condition is reported to be stable.

The cause of the collapse and the type of goods stored in the warehouse is not known, officials said.