NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): Law Minister HR Bhardwaj, on whom Sanjay Dutt is suspected to have carried out a sting operation, on Thursday said the actor had met him a few days back to seek his "blessings" and denied issuing any threat as "we treat him like our family member".
Dutt, on his part, refrained from speaking further on the issue, a day after claiming that he had conducted the sting operation on "a Union Minister".
Sanjay appointed SP general secretaryWith his name cropping up as the minister on whom Dutt is suspected to have conducted the sting, Bhardwaj told reporters, "I don't think I threatened anybody, much less Sanjay Dutt." Claiming that there was "nothing acrimonious" between him and Dutt who is now Samajwadi Party's National General Secretary, the Law Minister said: "What is a threat or what a sting means I don't know.
You better ask him what is the sting he has done." Bhardwaj said Dutt "simply came for a cup of tea and sought my blessing as usual....
We (have) treated him always like our own family member, and on that day also I received him just like a family member." When Dutt was asked by reporters to speak on the issue today, he said he had not taken anybody's name.
"I have already commented on it yesterday...
I have already said what I had to say..
You ask Amar Singh ji, he is the right person," the actor-turned-politician said when pressed by media persons to speak on the issue.
EC asks cabinet to avoid media briefings NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): The Election Commission on Thursday directed the Cabinet to refrain from conducting media briefings after its meetings.
In a statement issued here, the poll panel told the cabinet secretary to avoid such briefings.
"Now that the model code of conduct is in force throughout India in view of the current general elections to the Lok Sabha and the legislative assemblies of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Sikkim, the Commission would like to advise that such press conferences should be avoided, as far as possible, and the practice of issuing press releases may be resorted to in such cases," the statement said.
The panel said they are aware of the normal practice of union ministers addressing press conferences after meetings of the council of ministers or when any issue of public importance relating to the ministry concerned needs to be brought to the attention of the people.
Given this, it said if the cabinet finds that holding a press conference becomes unavoidable in public interest, "then preferably an appropriate official may address the press conference".
The commission said they should be "urgently" informed what action is being taken in this regard.
SC issues notices to EC, Praja Rajyam Party on symbol issue NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Election Commission and Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's party Praja Rajyam on the poll body's decision to allot the rail engine symbol to the southern party.
A Bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice P Sathasivam sought response from the Election Commission on a petition filed by Rashtriya Krantikari Samajwadi Party (RKSP).
In its petition, the RKSP claimed it was an unrecognized national party with influence in states like Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Jharkhand, J&K, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka besides Andhra Pradesh and most of its candidates had been fighting the earlier elections on the rail engine symbol.
The party claimed since its candidates were already using the symbol, the same cannot be allotted to Praja Rajyam.
The EC has allotted the rail engine symbol to Praja Rajyam on the directions of the apex court which had clarified that the allotment of the symbol would only be restricted to the present election.
Patna HC rejects Pappu Yadav plea to contest polls PATNA, Apr 2 (Agencies): The Patna High Court on Thursday rejected the plea of tainted RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav who is seeking suspension of conviction in Ajit Sarkar murder case to enable him to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
A division bench comprising Justices Shiva Kirti Singh and Dharnidhar Jha, while dismissing his request, refused to compare his case with BJP MP and well known cricketer Navjot Singh Siddhu's case, who was allowed to contest the elections despite a criminal case slapped against him.
Senior Supreme Court advocate R K Anand and Majid Memon while appearing for Pappu Yadav, had contended before the bench that Pappu had been convicted in Sarkar murder case on the basis of retracted confessional statement of Rajan Tiwari, a co-accused, which is not admissible under the law.
However, the CBI counsel Bipin Kumar Sinha had refuted Pappu's submissions saying that the two cases could not be equated with.
Meanwhile, reacting to the court's decision, Yadav told Zee News, "I respect the court's decision.
However, I must say that there are no grave charges against me.
The charges have not proved yet." On his next course of action, Yadav said, "I am consulting with my lawyers.
I will approach the Supreme Court for justice." A Patna's special CBI court on February 14, 2008 had sentenced Pappu Yadav, Rajan Tiwari and Anil Yadav to life imprisonment in slain CPI(M) legislator Ajit Sarkar murder case.
Pappu had got bail from the Patna High Court in January this year.
Recently, the Supreme Court has refused to grant permission to actor-turned-politician and Samajwadi Party member Sanjay Dutt to contest election as he was facing a six years jail term in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blast case.
Dutt was released on bail and was seeking quashing of the sentence.
President Patil leaves for Tawang ITANAGAR, Apr 2 (Agencies): President Pratibha Patil, accompanied by Governor Gen (Retd.) J J Singh left here this morning for Tawang, the district headquarters located at 9000 feet above sea level along the Sino-India border.
She will visit the 450-year-old Tawang monastery, the second largest in Asia.
The President is schedule to return here this afternoon to address women empowerment groups.
She is also likely to visit Tezu and Kibitho, a forward base along the Chinese border tomorrow before returning to New Delhi.
Notification issued for third phase of LS polls NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): Electoral process for the third phase of Lok Sabha polls covering 107 constituencies spread over 11 States and Union Territories began with President Pratibha Patil issuing a notification Thursday.
In the third phase, elections would be held on April 30 for 26 seats in Gujarat, 16 in Madhya Pradesh, 15 in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in West Bengal, 11 seats each in Bihar and Karnataka, ten in Maharashtra, one each in Jammu and Kashmir, Sikkim, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
The filing of nominations, commencing from today with the issuance of notification, would end on April nine.
The counting of votes would take place on May 16.
Chidambaram apprises Advani of threat alert NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): Home Minister P.
Chidambaram called on Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani at his residence Thursday to brief him on intelligence alerts about political leaders being targeted by terrorist groups during campaigning.
"It was basically a briefing on the safety measures that needed to be taken while campaigning," Advani's personal secretary Deepak Chopra said.
Chidambaram last week cautioned 40 VVIPs, including leaders of political parties and chief ministers, to take all precautions while campaigning and specifically detailed a list of dos and don'ts while venturing out during electioneering.
Leaders on the radar of various terror groups include Advani, AIADMK chief J Jayalalitha, Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu, union ministers Pranab Mukherjee and AK Antony and the chief ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat and West Bengal.
The advisory to some of those on the hit list instructs them to keep police in the loop about their campaign routes, not to accept garlands while campaigning, not to mingle closely with surging crowds and keep security agencies aware of a change of election roadshows.
Sanjay appointed SP general secretary NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): Despite the Supreme Court barring him from contesting the Lok Sabha polls, the Samajwadi Party on Thursday appointed Sanjay Dutt as its national general secretary.
"Our leader Mulayam Singh Yadav has appointed him (Sanjay) as the national general secretary," SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav told reporters here.
Addressing a press conference, Dutt thanked Amar Singh and Mulayam Singh for giving him the opportunity to work for the party, and vowed to work with 'his heart and for the truth'.
The Bollywood star also stood by his controversial statement about his fathers death.
Sanjay said, "My father Sunil Dutt died because of Congress' decision to induct former Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Nirupam into the party.
"My father died because of Congressthey (Congress) did not listen to him, such a senior leader and took Sanjay Nirupam in Congress, the man who accused him, the man who abused him when he (Nirupam) was in Shiv Sena.
He died because of that," Dutt had earlier told a news channel.
Asked why he campaigned for his sister Priya Dutt who is in Congress, Dutt clarified that he did not campaign for the party but for his sister.
The actor, who was the SP candidate for the prestigious Lucknow Lok Sabha seat, was denied permission to contest polls by the Supreme Court which refused to stay his conviction in connection with the 1993 Mumbai blasts case.
The SP is yet to decide on a fresh candidate for the Lucknow seat, which is at present represented by BJP leader and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
Recently, Mulayam Singh had appointed former BJP leader Kalyan Singh's son Rajveer as the national general secretary of the party.
Sikhs have always voted for me: Tytler NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): With Congress's decision to field Jagdish Tytler being questioned by the opposition, the party leader accused of abetting the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, has defended his case saying the capital's Sikhs have always voted for him and it is the media that has demonized him.
Dismissing notions that Sikhs consider him a culprit, Tytler said had it not for their support he would never have been a lawmaker.
"The Sikhs have always voted for me.
I would never have been elected if they had not voted for me," Tytler said.
He said he enjoyed great support from the community in areas like Sangam Park and Sardar Nagar, which are inhabited by people who suffered in the 1984 riots.
"Even my polling agents in the Sangam Park area were those who had lost their dear ones in the riots," he claimed.
Tytler was given a clean chit by the CBI in the riots but the Supreme Court asked it to re-investigate the case.
Asked about the CBI's latest report on the case in the Supreme Court, Tytler said: "They have already cleared my name.
This is just a formality".
The standing MP, who is contesting for the North East Delhi Lok Sabha seat this time, after his Sadar Bazaar constituency was dissolved post delimitation, blamed the media for projecting him as a wrong man.
"It is the media which has projected me very wrongly.
Every statement against me was highlighted by them," he told.
HC allows suspended AIIMS doctor to conduct surgery NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): The Delhi High Court Thursday came to the rescue of a month-old baby suffering from heart ailment by allowing suspended Cardio Thoracic Surgeon A K Bisoi to operate upon the infant.
A Bench headed by Chief Justice A P Shah passed the order after taking into cognizance the plea of the child's parents that patients were suffering after Bisoi was suspended by the AIIMS authority.
The court also directed the premier hospital to provide proper treatment to all patients suffering from the problem.
The court, however, made it clear that its order will not in any way interfere with the suspension of Bisoi and he can approach the appropriate authority against his suspension.
The bench, also comprising Justice Sanjeev Khanna, had expressed concern over patients not being treated properly due to ego clashes among different groups of doctors in the premier institute.
Twenty suicide bombers enter India: Report MUMBAI, Apr 2 (Agencies): Fresh intelligence inputs have revealed that 20 suicide bombers have entered India on a terror mission, media reports claimed on Thursday.
Citing intelligence inputs, media reports said that security agencies have now been put on high alert all across the country.
Out of 20 suicide bombers, seven-eight are trained pilots and rest are women, the report added.
Hijackings and terror strikes across country are believed to be the mission of the suicide bombers.
Maharashtra police reportedly received the information six days ago.
Subsequently, security arrangements across the country have been enhanced.
The report came before the Taj Hotel in South Mumbai, one of the places targeted by terrorists during November 26 attacks, received a terror threat through an e-mail.
CBI gives clean chit to Jagdish Tytler in 1984 riots case NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): Senior Congress leader Jagdish Tytler, was on Thursday given a clean chit by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.
CBI counsel Sanjay Kumar told Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Rakesh Pandit that "We have filed the cancellation report in the matter and we want to close the investigation." Earlier, the court ordered the opening of the sealed envelope containing the final investigation report, filed on March 28 and other status reports submitted by the CBI during the probe.
The case against 65 year-old Tytler, who has been declared Congress candidate from Delhi's northeast seat for the Lok Sabha polls, relates to an incident on November one, 1984, when a mob had set afire Gurudwara Pulbangash killing three persons in the riots that had broken out after the assassination of then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
Reacting to the CBI move, Tytler said, "Right from the beginining I had said this was a frame-upI was innocent and the truth has come out.
Let people say what they want to.
I want to just close the chapter." H S Phoolka, counsel for Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee, raised objections over the alleged leak of the report on Tytler who had claimed innocence in the case.
"CBI seems to be hand in gloves with the accused who claims that he has been given clean chit," he said.
The court now fixed the matter for April nine.
Earlier, the probe agency had on September 29, 2007, sought to close the case against Tytler.
But the court had on December 19, 2007, asked it to file the investigation report after Jasbir Singh, a witness, surfaced and expressed his willingness to depose against the Congress leader.
A group of Sikhs demonstrated outside the court premises protesting against the clean chit given by CBI to Tytler.
During the proceedings before the court, the CBI raised objection over Phoolka's plea seeking inspection of the investigation report.
Phoolka asserted that he should be allowed to inspect the report as there was no complainant in the case and it was registered on the information of a police inspector.
The CBI, which had on September 29, 2007, sought to close the case against Tytler, had made Suresh Paniwala, a part of the the mob, an accused in the case.
The court, however, had rejected the closure report and ordered re-investigation in the case.
The case against the Congress leader was registered by the CBI on the directions of the Nanavati Commission, before whom California-based Jasbir Singh, a witness, had deposed alleging he had overheard Tytler making a comment with regard to killing of Sikhs in his erstwhile constituency (Delhi Sadar) on the night of November three, 1984.
The CBI, which had given Tytler the clean chit after it could not trace witness Singh, later sent its officials to the USA to record the statements of ten witnesses including Jasbir Singh.
The BJP has criticised the Congress over the issue.
Party spokesperson Balbir Punj said, "The clean chit was given on the directions of the Centre.
Otherwise how could the media know about it before hand?" The Congress party, on its part, has denied any hand in the probe.
"There is no political motive behind the clean chit," Congress spokesperson Veerappa Moily said.
NSA on Varun: SC issues notice to UP govt NEW DELHI, Apr 2 (Agencies): Acting on Varun Gandhi's plea seeking quashing of the National Security Act filed against him, the Supreme Court on Thursday issued notices to the Uttar Pradesh government and the District Magistrate of Pilibhit, seeking their response on the issue.
Varun in his plea had contended that the Mayawati led UP government had filed a case under the NSA only to ruin his political career.
Terming the preventive detention order as "perverse and mala fide" on the face of it, Varun in his plea said it was an attempt to deprive him of his fundamental right to personal liberty.
The court has posted the mater to April 13 for further hearing.
"We have also requested the court to release Varun Gandhi so that he can campaign and file his nomination for the Lok Sabha polls.
The court has thus posted the hearing to April 13," said Varun's counsel.
Varun has been kept under preventive detention by the Uttar Pradesh government under the National Security Act for his alleged inflammatory speech in Pilibhit.
He is currently lodged in the Etah jail under tight security following intelligence reports about threat to his life.
Varun has, reportedly, written to Home Minister P Chidambaram demanding that his security be upgraded in view of the threat perception.
BSP eyes Muslim, north Indian votes in Mumbai MUMBAI, Apr 2 (Agencies): The BSP is eyeing north Indian and Muslim votes in the metropolis, with four of its six candidates from Mumbai seats being either of the two communities.
"The party will soon declare names of the two remaining candidates, who will also be either Muslim or north Indian, in a couple days," BSP state president Vilas Garud told reporters today.
"North Indians, Muslims and Dalits form a major chunk of voters in the city.
However, these communities are being neglected.
They want somebody who is from amongst them and would serve them better.
This is the reason for giving tickets to north Indian and Muslim candidates," he said.
North Indians are upset with the treatment meted out to them while Muslims are looking for a new secular party which can serve them better, Garud added.
Meanwhile, Congress nominee from Mumbai North Sanjay Nirupam said, "BSP is contesting not to win the polls but to indirectly help communal parties by dividing votesBSP is here to eat into the Muslim and north Indian votes of Congress in Mumbai.
They are here to help BJP and Shiv Sena by dividing the votes." Muslims and north Indians constitute 40 per cent of around 80 lakh voters in Mumbai.
Marathis, Gujaratis, Marwadis and others comprise the rest, he said.
BSP has fielded Mohammed Ali Shaikh (South Mumbai), Atahar Siddique (North West), Ashok Singh (North East) and Lakhminder Khurana (North Mumbai).
Candidates for South-Central and North-Central are yet to be declared.
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