We are not against congress but for Lokpal

Today News: Team Anna Member refused to comment if they were from Congress or any particular political party.

On Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal being attacked, the PM said, "In a democracy there is no place for violence. Therefore any act of violence is to be condemned and on that point I am clear that nothing is gained by pursuit of violence." The PM said, "I would hope that he would not use language at times which appears to be intemperate. I think in politics it is better to avoid harsh words."  

Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday blamed corrupt political parties for the attack on him during a public gathering in Lucknow. However he refused to comment if they were from Congress or any particular political party.

Why Team Anna was campaigning against the Congress in UP instead of the Mayawati government, which had not spoken in support of Jan Lokpal Bill, Kejriwal reiterated that the team was not anti-Congress.  

He said that the campaign was not against the Congress, but was to ensure a strong Lokpal Bill, adding that everything was being done to put pressure on the ruling party. Kejriwal further said that putting such pressure was very legitimate in a democracy.

Backing the yatra taken up by Team Anna, he said that there was no harm in taking it up, clarifying that they were not asking people go against the Congress. He further said that the team would wait for the winter session, following which Anna Hazare would himself request to the people in December or January.

Government bows to Anna Hazare

News Today: On Monday Law minister Salman Khurshid said Team Anna's proposal was being looked into by the government. Anna's next course of action, which the Gandhian has already said would be to press for electoral reforms.

Khurshid said the proposal could be placed for consultation at an all-party forum on electoral reforms. The minister, however, admitted the right to recall was a difficult provision but said the government was working on that, indicating it has not been put in cold storage because of opposition.

"We have a strong lobby that is questioning us on the need to introduce the right to reject," Khurshid said at the Asian forum for global governance.

A number of other proposals of electoral reforms were also up for discussion. Among it is a suggestion to introduce a provision wherein voters can reject a candidate and decide not to cast a vote.

But Quraishi said it would lead to frequent elections. " Our main fear is that if we start rejecting all candidates, we will have another election.

"The CEC said efforts should be taken so that tainted candidates do not take part in elections. But the proposal was met with stiff resistance from political parties on the grounds that false cases are often framed against politicians.

"We are only saying that at least those candidates be barred, who have serious charges like rape, kidnapping, murder and dacoity against them which would lead to imprisonment of more than five years and cases against whom are pending for more than six months prior to elections and against whom charges have already been framed by the court," Quraishi said.

Kashmir is inseparable part of India - Anna Hazare

Today's Current News: Anti-corruption crusader Anna Hazare told that we did not support the words which told by Prashant Bhushan. He did not ask anyone in the team before making the statement. And he told that it is his personal view alone and i am not agree with that point.

Mr. Hazare said "If anyone needs to be removed form the team, the core committee will decide together." He pointed the eradication of corruption and fighting for the Jan Lokpal Bill were his team's sole agenda. "We will not talk about any other issue."

Kashmir is an important, inseparable part of India, and having any other opinion about his is not acceptable. I am ready to give my life for kashmir.

Why no action on PM's 2G letter to Raja: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court Thursday asked why no action was taken on a letter from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to his then telecom minister A. Raja on award of airwaves and felt that the severity of the case in question otherwise could have been different.

Two corporate executives accused in the second generation (2G) spectrum case, Justice G.S. Singhvi and Justice H.L. Dattu also observed that the gravity of the alleged crime could have been different if action had been taken on the letter.

The letter written Nov 3, 2007 had raised several questions on the manner in which Raja was proposing to allocate the precious airwaves to telecom players and had also conveyed the industry's apprehensions in this regard. The letter favoured auction of airwaves.

But a reply the next day from Raja, now in judicial custody as the prime accused in the case, clearly said he will not change the policy of first-come-first-served to allocate the scarce resource but assured full transparency in the process.

Both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said the apex court's observations were serious and demanded a full explanation on the matter from the government.

Appearing for the prosecution, Additional Solicitor General Haren Rawal sought to draw a line of distinction between the action of Raja and the suggested inaction on the content of the letter written by the prime minister, which had favoured transparent auction.

Congress Core Group discusses Telangana

News Today: The Congress top leadership is still not fully convinced that creating a new state of  Telangana is the best option for it. On Tuesday meeting of the Congress core Group at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's residence ended without any change in the situation even as reports form Hyderabad suggested that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy had taken a stern line with striking government servants. Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, briefed Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Singh on the consultations they had over the last few days with party leaders from both sides of the divide in Andhra Pradesh.

Telangana Congress leaders saw a pattern in the appeal. A senior leader claimed that the Chief Minister, having drawn flak for allegedly doing little to restore normality in the wake of the general strike, had gotten into an overdrive. In fact, Mr. Reddy and APCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana had gone all out to woo the RTC union leaders to end the strike. 

The Chief Minister had also begun consultations with his own party leaders and there was a perceptible change in the ground-level situation. The political JAC had deferred its three-day rail roko agitation while Director General of Police V. Dinesh Reddy and Police Commissioner A.K. Khan had gone round the city inspecting bus depots and railway stations. 

CM briefs Governor

The Chief Minister drove to Raj Bhavan late in the evening to brief Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan about the prevailing law and order situation and the efforts made by the APSRTC to put more buses into operation from Wednesday morning.

CBI raids Dayanidhi Maran's Premises

Today News: "Dayanidhi as Telecom Minister misused office in Aircel deal"

The CBI on monday conducted simultaenous searches on the premises of the former Union Minister, Dayanidhi Maranm and his elder brother and Sun Network managing director, Kalanithi Maran, in connection with a case arising out of the Aircel-Maxis deal.

The special team conducted the searches in New Delhi. CBI registered a case against the Maran brothers as well as against Ralph Marshall and T.Ananda Krishnan of Maxis Communications, in the FIR. Raids were conducted at the homes of the Marans in the Boat Club area and Murasoli Maran Towers that houses the Sun Network in Chennai. When search was took place Mr. Dayanadhi Maran was away and Mr. kalanithi Maran was at home.

The CBI has alleged that in return Ananda Krishnan invested clost to Rs.800 crore in Sun Network through a sister concern of the Maxis group. The CBI also searched the premises of Chairperson of Aircel, Suneeta Reddy and invested in it. The CBI official said that they seized documents pertaining to the Aircel-Maxis deal.

Going gets tough for state parties as EC hikes minimum votes limit

Today News: Getting recognition as a ‘state party’ is all set to become more difficult. The Election Commission of India (ECI) has raised the cap of minimum votes a political party must secure in an election to get the status of a state party or maintain it further. 

The new minimum limit is eight per cent of total valid votes polled in state Assembly or Lok Sabha polls. Earlier, the limit was six per cent. 

To make this change, the ECI has amended its Election Symbols (Reservations and Allotment) Order, 1968 and issued a new order on September 16, the Election Symbols (Reservations and Allotment) (Amendment) Order, 2011. 

The order, issued by K F Wilfred, Principal Secretary to the ECI, has been sent to all states and Union Territories. In UP, the Chief Electoral officer has communicated the amendment to all district magistrates and registered parties in the state.

Parties play politics over eviction notice

Today News: The eviction notice served by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) to thousands of families living in Tughlaqabad village since the 14th century is slowly snowballing into a political issue. While the ASI takes the plea that the villagers have “encroached upon” the government land, the two prominent parties of Delhi — the Congress and the BJP — with their eyes set on upcoming Municipal elections, have openly come out in support of the villagers. 

A delegation of Congress leaders — south Delhi Member of Parliament Ramesh Kumar and Chhatarpur MLA Balram Tanwar among others — met chief minister Sheila Dikshit to reflect the tension prevailing in the village. 

The move came just two days after a BJP delegation, led by leader of the Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Vijay Kumar Malhotra, and area MLA Ramesh Bidhuri met Lieutenant Governor Tejendra Khanna “to bring the matter to his notice”.

Yet another group of local leaders with west Delhi MP Mahabal Misra also met union culture minister Kumari Selja to request her to intervene into the matter. Senior political leaders accept that if municipal elections had not been around the corner, the issue would not have seen so much political frenzy. The issue has been in Court for quite some time now, but never managed to gather so much political support. 

“Tughlaqabad is among several Gujjar villages that are spread in south, south west and west Delhi. The elections in these areas are fought and won with the support of Gujjar votes. The political leaders know that lending their support to the cause would help them get some support and votes in the municipal elections next year,”said a senior Congress leader.


With the Congress facing dual problems of Corruption and inflation at the Centre, the local leaders are making efforts get some support at the grassroot level. On the other hand, Tughlaqabad is one of two Assembly segments in Delhi where BJP managed to get more votes than the Congress could in the 2009 Parliament elections.

Hisar witnesses political colours of Dussehra

The Vijaya Dashami here saw political colours, as supporters of Anna Hazare and members of India Against Corruption, Congress workers and INLD activists reached the venue of  Ravana Dahan at old college ground to spread their respective messages.

Interestingly, Congress candidate Jai Prakash, had arranged high-tech gadgets here by installing big LCD screens and DJ sound to canvass votes for Congress, while INLD supporters distributed pamphlets in support of Ajay Singh Chautala.

High drama was witnessed when the audience tried to stop them from doing this, but they did not pay any heed and continued their work. Soon, the `'Anna factor'' came into play when IAC members were welcomed by the audience.

"We welcome the supporters of Anna Hazare, because he is not political. Parties indulging in such kind of pomp and show during Ramleela is very strange for us and not appreciated by the public," said Umesh Pandey, a city resident. Another resident, Rameshwer Singh said, "The meaning of Ramleela has changed in this election. It's not good that they are playing politics during Vijaya Dashami."

There is a village near Delhi, which does not burn the effigy of Ravana as the residents believe that the Sri Lanka ruler spent his childhood here.

Pakistan to Afghanistan: Stop 'Playing Politics'

Today's News: Pakistan is calling on Afghanistan to refrain from "playing politics" following Afghan allegations of Pakistani involvement in recent high-profile attacks.


Afghanistan's intelligence agency has said that the assassination of the country's top peace envoy, former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, was planned in Pakistan and carried out by a Pakistani citizen.


Islamabad has denied the allegations and offered to cooperate with the probe of Rabbani's killing.  On Thursday, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua urged Afghanistan to stop making such accusations.

She told reporters in Islamabad that Afghan officials should demonstrate "maturity and responsibility" and refrain from political grandstanding.


The foreign office ministry spokeswoman also said the Pakistani government was closely studying the strategic pact Afghanistan signed this week with Islamabad's archenemy, India.

The deal looks to boost security and economic ties between both nations, with India agreeing to help train Afghan forces.


Janjua said Thursday that any such deal should take into account the fundamental principle of ensuring stability in the region.


Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani said Wednesday that both India and Afghanistan are sovereign countries and have the right to do what they want.

India’s Agreement with Afghanistan

News Today: New Delhi Oct. 4, 2011: India and Afghanistan signed a strategic partnership in Delhi Tuesday, just a few days after Afghan President Hamid Karzai’s office accused a Pakistani citizen of carrying out a suicide attack against former president and peace envoy Burhanuddin Rabbani last month.

The partnership, which was signed an agreement after Mr. Karzai met with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, involves India training Afghan security forces. This takes ties between Delhi and Kabul to a new level, beyond the economic reconstruction that India has been very careful to focus on in the last decade since the Americans returned to Afghanistan after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. It is the first such agreement Afghanistan has with any country, including the U.S.

“The people of Afghanistan have suffered enough. They deserve to live in peace and decide their future themselves, without outside interference, coercion and intimidation,” Mr. Singh told the media Tuesday evening.

This agreement is aimed at forging a “deeper understanding between the two countries, especially at a time when the region is particularly unstable,” a highly placed Indian government official with responsibility for the matter said.

Off from politics, it's puja time for Pranab

Today News: MIRITI (WEST BENGAL): The usual image of  Pranab Mukherjee is one of a seasoned politician stepping out of Parliament and facing TV cameras. On Monday, villagers at Miriti, saw the 'other' Pranab Mukherjee - a Bengali at heart, spirit and tradition.

Dressed in a 'dhoti' and an 'uttoriyo', a traditional scarf, Mukherjee performed Durga Puja rituals, keeping alive a tradition started by his forefathers decades ago. His steps were measured on Monday, Saptami, when he walked towards a canal carrying a bamboo plankton (kalabou), chanting 'mantras' with a poise that matched the delivery of a Budget speech. He had the entire village as spectators when he dipped the plankton into the canal, then sat cross-legged on the cemented steps, his hands folded in devotion. Some more mantras followed before he finally got off at the end of the half-an-hour ritual.

Not many know that the ace politician is a religious man who makes it a point to celebrate Durga Puja at his ancestral home every year.

At 8.30am, Mukherjee, accompanied by son Abhijit - a newly elected MLA - walked down to the canal from his home. Priests took a backseat as he led the ritual, occasionally taking their help.

Later, his 'Chandipath' left the small audience that comprised relatives, friends and members of the press enthralled. Then he performed the aarati, much like a professional priest. Then it was time for a break as Mukherjee finally took up a chair, chatting with relatives. "I look forward to the puja every year. Every year I try to come here. I have missed it on a couple of occasions though. This is a traditional event in our family and I try to follow it. For me, Durga Puja is very important," said Mukherjee. But he did not consider the pujas to be holidays. "This is also a duty for me," he clarified.

Security was tight but cops didn't prevent hundreds of villagers from joining the celebrations and lunch at the Mukherjee residence. Along with businessmen, bureaucrats and party leaders, poor villagers were seen strolling around the house freely. There was no show of grandeur either. An idol has been placed inside a small temple, not decorated extravagantly. No special 'prasad' was arranged for VIP guests.

Mukherjee's son Abhijit assisted his father for performing the rituals. He carried the sacred earthen pot as he followed his father to the canal in the morning.