Will protect panchayat members, says Omar Abdullah

Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Wednesday promised security to sarpanches and panches amid reports of mounting resignations by them in the wake of attacks by militants.

The government will not remain a silent spectator to these attacks and would take all necessary measures to ensure their safety and security, particularly in vulnerable areas, he told reporters in Srinagar.

Referring to the killing of three panchayat members this year, Mr Abdullah said the state government would not allow the ultras to disrupt ongoing efforts to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system in the state.


Dubbing militants as cowards for attacking panches and sarpanches, Mr Abdullah dared the ultras to target him, saying they would not do so fearing a befitting reply. He also asserted that attempts to derail the Panchayat process by the militants would be thwarted.

"These (militants) cowards are attacking defenseless people. If they have the courage let them carry out an attack on me. But they will not do it as they know they will get a befitting reply," Mr Abdullah said.

In the aftermath of the killing of a panch in north Kashmir's Baramulla district on Sunday, reports said that nearly 100 panchayat members wanted to opt out fearing for their life.

Militants have targeted several panches and sarpanches since the landmark panchayat polls were held in the state last year after a gap of 30 years.

Posters have surfaced in many areas of Kashmir since early this year, asking the panches and sarpanches to resign from their posts or face dire consequences.

"So far, we have only received 50 resignations since the panchayat elections were held last year," Mr Abdullah said, adding "none of these resignations had been accepted so far."

"I have convened a meeting on October 1st to discuss this issue. We have to increase the deployment of security forces or change the deployment pattern according to the threat perception," he said.

He said devolution of power to the panchayats had not gone down well with a section of politicians and bureaucrats.

"Many MLAs and even two ministers from our coalition partner have come to me asking not to transfer block level powers to panchayats," in an obvious reference to Congress.

Opposition PDP lashed out at the state government accusing it of failing to provide security to Panchayat members. 

Ajit Pawar's resignation must be accepted, says Arvind Kejriwal

Mumbai: Appealing Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to accept the resignation of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, anti-corruption activist Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday also demanded sacking of state Water Resource Minister Sunil Tatkare.

He also said that India Against Corruption would take to the streets if Vijay Pandhare, Chief Engineer in state irrigation department, who blew whistle on the alleged irrigation scam, was harassed.

"Chavan is going through a test at the moment. He is facing a lot of pressure. The question is will he succumb to pressure and save his government by not accepting Ajit Pawar's resignation, or will he accept the resignation and pass the test," Mr Kejriwal said while addressing a press conference in Mumbai.

"His (Pawar's) resignation should be accepted, even if the Chief Minister is facing pressure from (Congress) High Command (not to accept it)."

"Even Tatkare should be asked to resign as his name has surfaced in the irrigation scam," said Mr Kejriwal, the former Team Anna member. Both Mr Pawar and Mr Tatkare belong to NCP.

Mr Kejriwal also said that resigning was not equivalent to undergoing a punishment. "They are exerting pressure by submitting resignations...they are blackmailing the people in the country. Resignation is not a punishment," he said.

Mr Kejriwal alleged that both CBI and state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) were controlled by the government.
 
"Scams take place but nobody goes to jail. Instead they are granted bail. Even in this current scam of Rs. 70,000 crore, who will investigate? Both CBI and ACB are in the hands of the government."

This man was the whistle-blower in Maharashtra's irrigation scam

Nashik: Vijay Pandhare, chief engineer in Maharashtra's irrigation department, has been given police protection for serving as a whistle-blower.

Mr Pandhare had in writing tipped off Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan to massive financial irregularities in the irrigation department.  Ajit Pawar, Mr Chavan's deputy, quit on Tuesday over allegations that placed him at the heart of the swindle. Mr Pawar belongs to the Nationalist Congress Party or NCP which has governed Maharashtra for 13 years in partnership with the Congress.

Mr Pawar served as Water Resources Minister from 1999 to 2009.  The state's last economic survey said that against an expenditure of 40,000 cores, an additional 0.1% of land had been brought under irrigation.

Mr Pandhare had written to Governor K Sankaranarayanan and
Mr Chavan, drawing their attention to the "poor quality" of irrigation projects, inflated budget and irregularities in purchase of materials.

"I have drawn the government's attention to violation of norms and pointed out faults in the projects," Mr Pandhare, a member of the Maharashtra Engineering Research Institute and chief of Maharashtra Engineering Training Academy, said.

Meanwhile, supporters of social activist Anna Hazare have backed Mr Pandhare and assured him of their cooperation.

Nitish Kumar takes the lead, drops diesel prices in Bihar

Patna: Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has decided to cut local taxes in Bihar to make diesel prices 85 paise cheaper. Last week, in an attempt to reduce fuel subsidies, the centre increased the price of diesel by Rs. 5, excluding Value-Added Tax (VAT). The price hike was part of a series of big-bang reforms that included limiting the supply of subsidised cooking gas to households and opening up the retail sector to foreign super-market chains like Wal-Mart.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has quit the PM's coalition over these economic measures, citing them as "anti-people" policies. Sources in the Congress say the government is leaning towards a 50-paise rollback in diesel prices, and increasing subsidised gas cylinders from six to nine per household. The party has also suggested that Ms Banerjee could drop state taxes to lower the price of diesel. She has angrily rejected that option on the grounds that her state is broke.

Diesel prices had shot upto Rs. 50.80 per litre in Bihar. With the discount he has thrown in today, Mr Kumar has stolen the centre's thunder should it decided to drop prices soon. The chief minister is on a tour of the state to highlight his campaign to get "special status" for Bihar, a petition rejected by the centre earlier this year. His decision to make diesel cheaper will be used at rallies to claim that his government intervenes when the centre ignores the needs of the aam admi or common man. Due to the VAT reduction, the total loss to state exchequer will be Rs. 118 crore.

Without Ms Banerjee, the UPA is in a minority. Mr Kumar belongs to the opposing coalition, the NDA, which is led by his partner in Bihar, the BJP. Yesterday, he declared that his support in the next general election will extend to whoever promises "special status" for Bihar, which would make it eligible for special financial packages from the centre along with assistance in attracting private investment. The chief minister, who has 22 of Bihar's 40 Lok Sabha seats, said Bihar will be a major player in deciding who comes to power next in Delhi. Mr Kumar's remarks - which suggested he is up for grabs - shook up the BJP, which insists that he remains anti-Congress. But if Mr Kumar is open to wooing, the Congress has shown it's interested. "Several states including UP, Bihar need special packages, so we will have to discuss," Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh told NDTV. 

From: NDTV

Meeting over Cauvery dispute fails; Tamil Nadu will move Supreme Court, says Jayalalithaa

New Delhi: The meeting to discuss the long-standing water-sharing dispute over the Cauvery river has ended without a solution. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, whose state has been involved in a protracted legal battle with neigbouring Karnataka over the contentious issue, today described the outcome of the meeting as "disappointing".

The meeting of the Cauvery River Authority (CRA), the first in nine years, was attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh - who also heads the group - as well as the Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Puducherry. The session came after Ms Jayalalithaa demanded that a meeting of the CRA be convened to discuss the state's water problem while flagging the need for immediate release of water from the Cauvery to save standing crops. Karnataka, on the other hand, has refused to release water to Tamil Nadu, insisting on a new formula to share the water when monsoon fails.

Terming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's advice to Karnataka to release 9,000 cusecs of water to her state as "unacceptable", Ms Jayalalithaa said "Tamil Nadiu is left with no option but to approach the Supreme Court...I have registered my protest against PM's award."

Tamil Nadu had earlier complained to the Supreme Court about non-convening of such a meeting prompting the top court to pull up officials of the Prime Minister's Office on September 3 for the inordinate delay. CRA, set up in 1997, met for the first time today after the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) came to power in 2004. The last meeting was held in February, 2003 when AB Vajpayee was the Prime Minister.

Karnataka has refused to release water to Tamil Nadu and other riparian states on a formula announced by Cauvery River Tribunal in 2007 citing failed monsoon.

The dispute between Tamil Nadu and Karnataka over sharing of Cauvery water dates back to 1990s.

(With inputs from PTI)

Congress-led Kerala rejects 51% FDI in multi-brand retail

Kochi: Congress-ruled Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy today said the Centre's decision to allow 51 per cent foreign investment in multi-brand retail business would not be implemented in the state.

"Kerala government has already informed its position to the central leadership. We are not in favour of that. We will not implement it in Kerala," Mr Chandy told reporters.

"The central government has given freedom to each state on whether it is to be implemented or not. So, at any cost, we will not proceed with this," the Chief Minister said.

Announcing some major economic reforms, the Centre today announced operationalisation of 51 per cent Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail, despite opposition from certain states, including those ruled by the Congress and its allies including Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC).

The decisions, which have prompted angry reactions from its key ally TMC, as well as BJP and Left parties, came a day after the government announced a hike in diesel prices and capping supply of subsidised LPG cylinders to cut oil subsidies.

"Let us not confuse consensus with unanimity. For unanimity, we will have to wait in eternity. This (today's decision) has consensus," Commerce Minister Anand Sharma told reporters in the national capital, while conveying the message that the Centre has decided to go ahead with the reforms notwithstanding opposition.

Goa mining scam: Will two former chief ministers face arrest?

Panaji: After the Goa government ordered shutdown of all 90 iron ore mines in the state, a crackdown is likely against two former Chief Ministers who have been indicted in the Shah Commission report on illegal iron mining in the state.

The report, which was tabled in Parliament last week, exposed a scam to the tune of Rs. 35,000 crore in Goa's iron ore mines. The enquiry commission, headed by Justice MB Shah, also blamed two former chief ministers, Digambar Kamat and Pratapsinh Rane, and other bureaucrats linked to the mining ministry for their alleged involvement in the scam.

Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar had told reporters in Panjim on Saturday that in the next 15 days, FIRs will be filed against Mr Kamat and Mr Rane and a number of bureaucrats and officials from the Indian Bureau of Mines and the Ministry of Environment and Forests.

"The FIRs would be based on the findings of the Shah Commission which has pegged illegal mining in Goa to the tune of Rs. 35,000 crore," said Mr. Parrikar. Mr Rane was the Chief Minister from June 2005 to June 2007, while Mr Kamat was the Chief Minister between 2007 and 2012. Mr Kamat held the mining portfolio for over nine years.

Yesterday, the Goa government temporarily suspended operations of all the working mines in the state, pending verification of documents relating to mining activity and environmental clearances.

"It is necessary in order to scrutinise clearances obtained by the mining lease holders and allowing continuation of mining without proper scrutiny and verification of requisite approval," Principal Secretary (Mining) RK Verma said in his order.

The order by the state's mines and geology department specifies that the suspension of mining operation "shall not affect trade and transportation of ore already mined and existing in the lease hold area, in transit or stored or stocked on jetties".

From: NDTV

Jal satyagraha: Govt agrees to protesters' demand, will lower water level in dam

Khandwa: Fifty one villagers have stood in neck-deep water - their bodies shriveled, covered with rashes and with their skin peeling - for 17 days, forcing the Madhya Pradesh government to accept their demands. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan today agreed to lower the water level in the Omkareshwar dam, one of the key demands of the protesters in Ghogalgaon village of the state's Khandwa district.

"We have agreed to bring down the water level of the dam to 189 metres and to compensate the farmers with land for their land. We will also form a three-member ministerial panel to look into the matter," Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said today. He said the benefit of land for land compensation would be available only to those who returned the monetary compensation paid to them in 2008 for their land.

But the CM also made it clear that, "The Supreme Court had given the go ahead to increase the water level to 196.5 metres, but we will not do so now. It will, however, affect irrigation in 20,000 hectares of land and generation of 120 megawatts electricity."

The protesters call it a "partial victory" and are still standing in water, in straight rows. They say they will wait for the water level to actually recede before they call off their "jal satyagraha" or "water protest," which they began on August 25, when the government raised the water level of the Omkareshwar dam by two meters.

A similar protest was launched by villagers near the Indira Sagar dam too to demand that water level in that dam be brought down from 262 meters to 260 meters. There was no word today from the CM on the Indira Sagar demand. Both dams are built across the Narmada river and are part of the Indira Sagar Project.

The water protests were launched with the help of the Narmada Bachao Andolan to demand proper rehabilitation for land that the villagers have lost and a reduction in the water level of the dam. The villagers say if the Omkareshwar dam is filled to its full height of 196.5 metres, its expanding reservoir will submerge even more of their land than is already under water. They say they have complained several times about incomplete and inadequate rehabilitation. They also allege corruption in handing out compensation for the land that was acquired from them for the Omkareshwar hydel project and say that there has been a singular lack of concern from the government in considering their demands.

The government's point is that it needed to raise the water level to capacity so that there would more water for irrigation as well as for generating hydro-electric power. The Omkareshwar project has a capacity to generate 520 megawatt of power. Dams in Madhya Pradesh are also overflowing due to excess late rain this monsoon.

A farmer on protest said, "My family has seven acres of farmland and it supports our family of 20-25 people. But it is submerged in the water, and our life will become useless and we will have no money," said a farmer on protest. The villagers have been demanding that they be given land for land. They also point out that according to Supreme Court directives, rehabilitation work should have been completed at least six months before water flowed on to the land in their village.

The unusual protest was highlighted by the media and brought widespread attention to the villagers sitting in water. The photograph of the shriveled, bruised feet of a woman protestor went viral on social networking sites.

Under extreme pressure to act, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan deputed ministers Kailash Vijaywargia and Vijay Shah to visit Ghogalgaon village on Saturday and meet the agitators. The ministers had assured them that an early decision would be taken to protect their rights.

(With inputs from PTI) 

Supreme Court issues notice to Stalin, son on land grab charges

Chennai/New Delhi: The Supreme Court today issued a notice to former Tamil Nadu deputy Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi among others on land grab charges.

The Jayalalithaa-led government in Tamil Nadu had approached the Supreme Court against the Madras High Order which had quashed the land grab case against Mr Stalin.

The case relates to leasing of land by Mr Stalin's son Udhayanidhi for his film unit in 2008. When the Jayalalithaa government came to power in 2011, the owner of the property complained that he was threatened to part with the land and implicated Mr Stalin and his son.

He later withdrew his complaint after an out-of-court settlement. The Madras High Court had then quashed the criminal case.

The Tamil Nadu government, however, had appealed against this order saying mere withdrawal of the complaint would not obliterate the criminality of the action and  the trial to proceed further to reach its logical conclusion.

Odisha clashes: Congress leader Jadgish Tytler booked for criminal conspiracy

Bhubaneswar: Congress leader Jadgish Tytler, who is the party's in-charge of Odisha, has been booked for criminal conspiracy for the clashes that broke out outside the state Assembly during a protest by Congress workers in Bhubaneswar on Thursday. Several protesters as well as 60 police personnel were injured in these clashes. And a woman cop was beaten up by a mob on the rampage. So far, 35 people have been arrested in this connection.

Pramila Padhi, the 39-year-old from the Bhubaneswar City Police who was thrashed by the mob, has alleged that she was attacked after Mr Tytler called for barricades to be broken. "I was trying to persuade people to stay calm when 30 to 40 of them caught hold of me, dragged me along and even molested me. They kicked and beat me up. They attacked me as soon as Jagdish Tytler called on party workers to break the barricades," the woman cop reportedly told the Press Trust of India.

Ms Padhi is currently at a private hospital battling shock and trauma apart from bruises all over.

Yesterday, the Congress apologised for the assault on the woman cop, but insisted that not all the thousands of people present during the protest were Congressmen.

"We are sorry that the woman cop got injured," Mr Tytler said, but quickly added that "there are two sides to the story. Our people have also been injured. The cops attacked us first. "

On Thursday, a crowd of more than 25,000 protesters - who Congress MLA Bhupinder Singh now says were not all party workers but also "included unemployed youth, agitating teachers and auto-rickshaw drivers unhappy with new rules" - tried to storm the Assembly to demand the resignation of Chief Minister Navin Patnaik for what they allege is his involvement in the coal block allocation scam that has rocked Parliament as well.

Prohibitory orders had been imposed which the protesters defied. As the mob broke through one of the barricades, the cops used tear gas to control the situation. Several protesters as well as 60 policemen were injured in the clashes that followed.

Ms Padhi, in uniform, was on duty near the Congress Bhavan when the clashes began; she was a deployed to guard a woman Congress leader, and not to control the crowd. Local TV channels showed footage of protesters thrashing Ms Padhi with bamboo sticks as she lay on the ground trying to protect herself. Eyewitnesses said she fell on to the ground after people surrounded her during the clashes and then one of the men kicked her.

Various police organisations had yesterday demanded that Congress leaders Jagadish Tytler, who was leading the protest, and Niranjan Patnaik be arrested within 48 hours for provoking the violence. "We will be otherwise forced to go for a ceasework agitation," they had warned. Along with Mr Tytler, Mr Patnaik and several others have also been booked others for criminal conspiracy under Section 120 ( B ) of the Indian Penal Code.


The Congress has accused the police of violating the law by hitting people on their heads. "They should have targeted only those who jumped over the barricade instead of launching attacks on the stage erected for the rally," Bhupinder Singh said.

But Bhubaneswar Police Commissioner Sunil Roy said television footage clearly shows that the protesters threw stones at policemen around the time the last speeches were delivered by Congress leaders. The police, he said, used utmost restraint in using water canons and tear gas shells to disperse the crowd. But the mob kept coming back to attack the policemen and it was then that they decided to chase them away, he said. Mr Roy said the Congress leaders who had organised the rally would be taken to task for violating the conditions of the licence granted to them to hold a "peaceful rally and demonstration".

From: NDTV

Nitish Kumar strikes back at Uddhav Thackeray

Patna: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today said he was amazed by Uddhav Thackeray's remarks that Shiv Sena will not support Mr Kumar as NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate for protesting the arrest of an accused by the Mumbai police from Bihar and asked who has sought Sena's support and for what.

"Ek adbhut bayan ek neta ka aya hai (an amazing statement has come from a leader)," he said referring to Mr Thackeray's rant against him for expressing disapproval of the manner of arrest of an accused from Bihar by the Mumbai police without informing the local police last week.

"Bina soche samjhe bolne ki paripari ban gayi hai (a trend has been set up for speaking without applying mind)....kabhi kabhi hansi aati hai (one at times wants to laugh at such things)," he said.

"Kaun samarthan mang raha hai (who is asking for support)," Mr Kumar asked, referring to Uddhav Thackeray's comments.

"I am not in the fray for NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate," the Chief Minister said and slammed the Shiv Sena leader for saying that his party will not support Mr Kumar for supporting a "traitor".