BJP fuelling J-K agitation for political gain : Mehbooba
Srinagar, Aug 19 : Advising BJP not to "fish in troubled waters" in violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir
by fomenting trouble, PDP today said elections were no priority for the party at a time when "our
people are engaged in a battle for survival.
"Elections are no priority (for the party) at a time when our people are engaged in a battle for
survival," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said in a statement here.
Referring to BJP's demand for de-registration of PDP, Mehbooba said her party would continue its
struggle against forces of "chauvinism and communalism.
"Not deterred by the threats of police action and de-registration, we will continue our struggle
against forces of chauvinism and communalism," she said adding "it was immaterial if her party was
allowed to fight elections or not.
"L K Advani and his cohorts have turned Jammu into a cockpit of communal intrigue which could
destabilise not only Jammu and Kashmir, but the entire south Asian region," Mehbooba said.
She said "Advani's pronouncement to lead the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS) rally in
Jammu on August 25 has uncovered the concealed nexus of the Samiti with the Sangh Parivar.
"It is now clear that BJP is fuelling the Jammu agitation only for political purposes," she said, adding
BJP's open support to communalists might be understandable in view of Advani's prime ministerial
ambitions but it can cost the country very heavy.
Ahmedabad tense after more communal skirmishes
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : Tension continued in parts of Ahmedabad Tuesday morning after clashes
between Hindu and Muslim groups went on till late the previous night and police had to lob teargas
shells to disperse mobs, officials said.
Police were forced to fire over 100 tear gas shells in the lanes and by-lanes of the city's Shahpur
area late Monday night to bring the situation under control, an official said.
At least 30 people, including five policemen, have been injured in rioting in Shahpur since Sunday
night. According to the police, more than 25 people from different parts of east Ahmedabad have
been detained for rioting.
The violence began late Sunday night, when Hindu and Muslim groups clashed over a minor road
accident in Delhi Darwaza area and police had to lob 72 teargas shells and fire one round in the air
to disperse the mobs. Four people were injured in the skirmish.
The warring groups threw stones at each other for more than an hour Monday morning in Dariapur,
Shahpur and Delhi Darwaza areas. There was panic in the neighbourhood and shops quickly
downed shutters as people ran helter-skelter.
The mobs from the two communities clashed again Monday afternoon after a boy returning from
school was attacked while passing through the Shahpur-Nagariwad area in the walled city.
Police sources said the recent arrests following the July 26 serial blasts here may have added fuel to
the fire. Muslims have alleged that innocent people have been detained since Sunday.
Mastermind of Ahd blasts confesses involvement, claims police
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : Mufti Abu Bashir, the alleged mastermind of Ahmedabad blasts, has
"confessed" to his involvement, Gujarat police claimed today, adding top SIMI leader Safdar
Nagori was allegedly a key conspirator and may be also involved in Jaipur and Hyderabad terror
attacks.
Bashir, whose arrest from Uttar Pradesh was announced on August 16, is currently in 14-day
police custody and being grilled by the city Crime Branch officials.
"So far in his interrogation, he has confessed to his involvement in the Ahmedabad blasts," the
officials claimed. The July 26 explosions left 55 pesons dead.
"Though Bashir is cooperating in interrogation he is not revealing much details. He is just giving
short replies to the questions asked by the officials. Most of his replies are in yes and nos," they
said.
Bashir, it seems, is trained in how to handle police interrogations, sources said. Bashir was a
madrasa teacher in Hyderabad, where he came in contact with the hardline SIMI faction led by
Nagori. After Nagori's arrest in March, Bashir took up the task of carrying out the Ahmedabad
blasts, police claimed.
Throwing fresh light on the probe, police alleged that Nagori and his brother Karimuddin were the
main trainers during SIMI's training camps in Kerala (December 2007) and Halol in Gujarat
(January 2008).
SIMI leader Safdar Nagori to be brought to Ahmedabad: police
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : Police investigating the July 26 serial blasts case has decided to seek
custody of SIMI leader Safdar Nagori from Madhya Pradesh police and is likely to bring him here
for questioning, a crime branch official said.
"Nagori along with his brother Karimuddin were the key trainers during the SIMI training camp
held in Kerala (December 2007) and Halol in Gujarat (January 2008)," said Joint Commissioner of
Police (crime branch) Ashish Bhatia.
"They are also key conspirators who designed and planned the terror attacks in Ahmedabad. They
may also be involved in Jaipur and Hyderabad blasts," Bhatia said.
Nagori and his associates were arrested in March from Indore in Madhya Pradesh. "We are
presently concentrating on interrogation of those arrested by us. Later we will bring Nagori for
further interrogation. We believe he was instrumental in planning the blasts in Ahmedabad. He may
have also arranged for funds to procure explosives and other materials," Bhatia added.
SRP posted at house of Imran Sheikh
Vadodara, Aug 19 : The State Reserve Police (SRP) has been posted outside the rented house of
Imran Sheikh, arrested in connection with the serial blasts in Ahmedabad, at Bhavanpura locality of
the city.
The Special Operation Group (SOG) sealed the house at Akhmal Apartment yesterday and
officers of both the SRP and SOG were posted there.
A team from Ahmedabad crime branch along with a Forensic Science Laboratory team is likely to
visit the premises to look for clues.
Mumbai-based computer engineer Abdul Subhan Alias Taifique Bilal, the most wanted man in this
case, allegedly had used the house for putting together the bombs planted in Ahmedabad and Surat
city on July 26 last.
Taufique allegedly provided all technical support to SIMI's terror module. Meanwhile, police have
been trying to find out the details of a training camp held by SIMI activists between Halol and
Pavagadh earlier this year. About 25 to 30 activists, including Bashir, the mastermind behind this
terror module, allegedly had attended the camp.
Centre seeks extension of stay on tribunal order on SIMI ban
New Delhi, Aug 6 : The Centre today urged the apex court to extend its stay on a tribunal's order
lifting the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) charged with indulging in
terrorist activities, including the recent Ahmedabad and Bangalore blasts.
Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam who made an impromptu mention of the issue
before a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal, G S Singhvi and J M Panchal, submitted that the matter
which was scheduled to be heard on August 22 was not listed in the cause list (which carries details
of cases scheduled to be taken up by a court on a particular day).
The ASG submitted that the "matter was of great importance" and the stay, if not extended, would
adversely affect the country's interests.
However, the air was cleared after the registry officials informed the bench that the matter was
listed for hearing on August 25.
On August 6, a bench headed by the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan stayed a special tribunal
order that had earlier ordered lifting restrictions on its activities. The apex court had also issued
notice to SIMI and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.
Valley life limps to normalcy, Jammu protesters court arrest
Srinagar/Jammu, Aug 19 : With separatists suspending their strike call for three days, life in
Kashmir Valley, disrupted for over a week due to the agitation over "economic blockade", limped
back towards normalcy today.
But in Jammu region, thousands of protesters, including women in good numbers, courted arrest in
various police station areas for the second day to press their demand for return of 100 acres of
land to Amarnath shrine board.
Schools, shops, business establishments and offices opened in the Valley as the Coordination
Committee -- an amalgam of separatists, social organisations, traders' and employees' bodies --
decided to suspend the strike for three days beginning today.
Vehicles were plying in Srinagar and other areas on city and inter-district routes, official sources
said.
The separatists had on Saturday announced the suspension of the strike call to provide relief to
students, labourers and other sections of the society who were hit by the shutdown.
However, vehicles and business establishments perched black flags atop their buildings as a mark
of protest and in support of the demands of the separatist groups.
Soren confident of UPA support in trust vote
Giridih (Jharkhand), Aug 19 : Dismissing talks with BJP or NDA to enlist their support during the
August 25 trust vote in Jharkhand Assembly, JMM supremo Sibu Soren today said he is confident
that all UPA allies would support him.
"Be it RJD or Congress, all UPA allies are with me," claimed Soren in the background of Congress
saying that it would not mind supporting him with a vacant seat if he mustered the required figure in
the 82-member House during the trust vote.
"Mati ka laal mujhe madad karega (sons of the soil will help me)", he told reporters after appearing
before a local court in connection with a 33-year-old double murder case.
He termed as 'baseless' earlier reports that NDA had offered to make him the chief minister of
Jharkhand if the JMM voted against the UPA in the July 22 trust vote in Parliament.
On Governor Syed Sibtey Razi giving a week's time to the 23-month-old Madhu Koda
government to prove its majority on the floor of the House after JMM withdrew support, Soren, a
Lok Sabha member, said the Governor had acted as per constitutional norms.
Koda to seek trust vote on Aug 25, JMM explores govt formation
Ranchi, Aug 19 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda today said he would seek the trust vote in
the Assembly on August 25 and try to mend fences with JMM supremo Shibu Soren whose party
explored the possibilities of forming an alternative government.
The fresh bout of political uncertainty in the mineral-rich state triggered claims and counter claims of
support with embattled Koda saying he has the numbers to prove his majority. Soren on his part
said he had the required backing to vote out the coalition government reduced to a minority after
the 17-member JMM withdrew support on Sunday.
The scene of political activities in the state is likely to shift to New Delhi with both Koda and Soren
planning to go there to lobby for support.
Koda was directed by Governor Syed Sibtey Razi to prove his majority on the floor of the House
on or before Aug 25.
Security advisor to visit Kashmir valley tomorrow
New Delhi, Aug 19 : National Security Advisor M K Narayanan will visit Kashmir valley
tomorrow, two days after the separatists held a mammoth rally and petitioned the United Nations
office there.
Narayanan will be meeting senior police officials and bureaucrats to discuss the present security
situation in the valley arising due to the Amarnath land row, official sources said.
He will be accompanied by Intelligence Bureau Director P C Haldar and other officials from the
Union Home Ministry, they said.
During their meetings, they would discuss the proposed march by the separatists to Idgah on Friday.
Narayanan's visit comes two days after thousands of Kashmiri people gathered near the UN office
demanding an intervention from the international body.
Illegals must go but don't harass Indian Muslims: Jamiat chief
Guwahati, Aug 19 : Illegal migrants from Bangladesh must be expelled from the country, says
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, while cautioning the government against
harassing Muslim citizens of India in the process.
"Illegal migrants, whether Muslims or Hindus, must be detected and expelled in accordance with
the due process of law. But hounding out people just because they are Muslims and (sport) a beard
cannot be accepted. Care must be taken to make sure that genuine citizens are not humiliated
during the detection process," Maulana Madani told.
The Maulana, known for his tough stand against terrorism, is here to participate in a conclave
organised by the Assam unit of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Tuesday. It is being held in the backdrop
of a sudden intensification of the movement against illegal Bangladeshi migration and charges that
genuine Muslim citizens are being harassed.
"There have been many instances of student and youth activists rounding up suspected illegal
migrants. This amounts to taking the law into one's own hands. Illegal migrants must go but not a
single genuine citizen can be thrown out," said the Maulana, who teaches at the Darul Uloom
seminary at Deoband.
RAW officer attempts suicide outside PMO
New Delhi, Aug 19 : A woman officer of India's external intelligence agency, apparently suffering
from what officials claimed a "disturbed state of mind", Tuesday attempted suicide outside the
Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
A senior police official said a police control room (PCR) van rushed Nisha Priya Bhatia, a
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official and director in the Cabinet Secretariat, from the South
Block complex to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital around 2.30 p.m. after being alerted about her
attempted suicide.
"We are not sure what substance she consumed. According to doctors, she is out of danger but is
not fit to make any statement. We will register a case only after recording her version," added the
official who did not want to be identified by name or designation. A sample of her stomach wash
has been sent for forensic tests.
According to a Cabinet Secretariat press statement issued by the PMO in the evening, Bhatia had
lodged a complaint last year alleging sexual harassment by her joint secretary.
Govt pulls up oil firms, orders clearing of LPG waitlist
New Delhi, Aug 19 : Government today took state-run oil firms to task for reported shortages in
fuel supplies in some parts of the country and asked them to clear the waitlist for new domestic
cooking gas (LPG) connections in 60 days.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora reviewed the supply and distribution of essential petroleum
products in the country at a meeting with heads of oil companies and issued instructions for ensuring
adequate supplies in the coming festive season.
"LPG connections will be available on demand," Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey told reporters
after the meeting.
Pandey did some hard-talking with the CEOs of oil firms who had gone slow on issuing new LPG
connections and restricted auto fuel supplies in view of mounting losses, and asked Indian Oil,
Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum to liquidate the waitlist for new domestic gas
connections in two months.
"Wait time for LPG connections will not be allowed to exceed two months," he said while also
announcing opening up of a Grievance Cell in the his ministry to address complaints.
Papa, why don't you leave politics? Rahul once asked father
New Delhi, Aug 19 : Rahul Gandhi had once asked his father Rajiv Gandhi why he was not giving
up politics but the former prime minister told him he was not doing so as he "believed in the people
of the country".
Recalling this here today, the young Nehru-Gandhi scion said it was good that his father did not
leave politics as otherwise many of the developmental programmes would not have been launched
at all.
An emotional Rahul was speaking at a programme organised for release of two books on Rajiv
Gandhi, including one written by Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.
While the translated version of Aiyar's book -- "Rajiv ki Smritiyan" (Rajiv's memories) -- was
released by Rahul, the other book titled "Rajiv Gandhi: Takniki Vikash aur Bharat Unnayan",
written by Congress activist from Amethi Jagdish Piyush, was released by Aiyar.
"One day I asked him -- 'papa why don't you leave this (politics). You always wanted to become a
pilot'. He said 'no'. 'I never thought of leaving it because I believe in the people of India," Rahul said.
Haywood departure suspicious: activist
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : The departure of US national Kenneth Haywood, whose computer was
allegedly hacked to send out a threat mail before the Ahmedabad serial bombings, is suspicious,
Teesta Setalvad of the Citizens for Justice and Peace said Tuesday.
The Communalism Combat (a journal co-edited by the rights activist) strongly condemns the laxity
shown by central intelligence agencies for letting the US national to leave the country when the
Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had served a lookout notice against him and he was still
under investigation, Setalwad said in a release.
Haywood's sudden departure while investigations were still on into the July 26 bombings raises
suspicions, she said.
The threat email sent to media organisations minutes before the blasts allegedly used the Internet
protocol of Haywood, who was living in Navi Mumbai. He left for the US along with his family on
Sunday.
Nobel Laureate tames 'talaq-friendly' Bangladeshi men
Bangalore, Aug 19 : Nobel laureate Md Yunus today said he induced men in Bangladesh to
transfer land to their wives by insisting that women own land to avail housing loans from his
'Grameen Bank.
Describing how he tackled this issue in Bangladesh where divorces occur in the spur of the moment
and in a fit of rage, Prof Yunus, the brain behind Micro Finance, said the Bank disbursed housing
loans only to women who had property in their name.
''To get the loans, the husbands ultimately relented and changed the 'khata' in the wife's names. This
made it difficult for the men to divorce their wives though it could be easily done in Muslim society
by just uttering the word 'talaq' three times,'' he said.
He said ''talaq'' menace would no longer work against lakhs of Bangladeshi women, who have
availed housing loans from the Bank as it would be the husband who has to get out of the house if
he divorced his wife.
Stressing the need to empower women in very poor families, the Nobel Laureate, delivering his
speech at the launch of SBI ''Hrudaya Suraksha'' Scheme here, said the bank had disbursed
600,000 housing loans to help them get a roof of their own.
Curfew imposed in Jammu as protests rage
Jammu, Aug 19 : As violent protests raged in various parts of this Jammu and Kashmir winter
capital till late Tuesday evening, the authorities clamped curfew on the entire walled city.
Violent protests erupted Tuesday evening at Canal Road, Jewel Chowk, Bakshi Nagar, New Plot
and Janipur over the Amarnath land row.
The police and Rapid Action Force had to fire in air and fired rubber bullets besides lobbying
several dozen tear-gas shells to disperse the mob that pelted stones on the security forces.
Officials said that 40 people, including about a dozen policemen, were injured in the clashes that
continued in many parts of the city till late Tuesday night.
Passage of time cannot dilute gravity of crime: SC
New Delhi, Aug 19 : Persons involved in heinous offences like murder and dacoity cannot be
shown any leniency by merely because of passage of time from the date of the incident, the
Supreme Court has said.
"It is a serious case of dacoity, any leniency in sentence would not only be undesirable but also
would be improper. The passage of time cannot wash away gravity of offence," a bench of Justices
Arijit Pasayat and Mukundakam Sharma observed.
The apex court passed the observation while dismissing an appeal filed by convicts held guilty for
committing a dacoity and murder on March 15, 1983 at Khaira village in Bihar's Gaya district.
According to the prosecution, the accused Arjun Mahto and others entered the house of Mohd
Asfaque Ali and ransacked the house during which they shot dead Nausher Ali Khan one of the
residents, besides injuring others.
Jade Goody diagnosed with cancer, leaves `Bigg Boss-II'
Mumbai, Aug 19 : Reality show `Bigg Brother' star and participant of the Indian version `Bigg
Boss', Jade Goody has been diagnosed with "cancer of the womb" and been withdrawn from the
telvision show, a UK based tabloid has reported.
Goody recieved the news yesterday and is flying back to London for treatment, The Sun, UK has
reported.
She had undergone hospital tests earlier this month after she collapsed four times, it is said. "But she
decided to get into Bigg Boss to try to make amends after being accused of racism on last years
Celebrity Big Brother," the report states.
Bigg Boss, Season II, is being hosted by Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, who was allegedly racially
abused by Goody in the 2007 series of Big Brother in UK.
Jade, from Upshire, Essex, was tested for bowel cancer in 2006 and ovarian cancer in 2004, but
was given all-clear both times.
Habib Mian, possibly country's oldest man, dies
Jaipur, August 19 : Grand old Habib Mian, perhaps the longest surviving man in the country,
passed away here today at the age of 139.
Born on May 28, 1870 at Rajgarh in Rajasthan's Alwar district, Habib Mian, who had fever and a
bout of dysentery, died here at 3 am today.
He had joined the band of the erstwhile Jaipur Royal family as a clarinet player and retired from
service in 1938. At that time, he received a pension of just Rs 1.46 which was later increased to Rs
2698.
Srinagar, Aug 19 : Advising BJP not to "fish in troubled waters" in violence-hit Jammu and Kashmir
by fomenting trouble, PDP today said elections were no priority for the party at a time when "our
people are engaged in a battle for survival.
"Elections are no priority (for the party) at a time when our people are engaged in a battle for
survival," PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said in a statement here.
Referring to BJP's demand for de-registration of PDP, Mehbooba said her party would continue its
struggle against forces of "chauvinism and communalism.
"Not deterred by the threats of police action and de-registration, we will continue our struggle
against forces of chauvinism and communalism," she said adding "it was immaterial if her party was
allowed to fight elections or not.
"L K Advani and his cohorts have turned Jammu into a cockpit of communal intrigue which could
destabilise not only Jammu and Kashmir, but the entire south Asian region," Mehbooba said.
She said "Advani's pronouncement to lead the Shri Amarnath Sangarsh Samiti (SASS) rally in
Jammu on August 25 has uncovered the concealed nexus of the Samiti with the Sangh Parivar.
"It is now clear that BJP is fuelling the Jammu agitation only for political purposes," she said, adding
BJP's open support to communalists might be understandable in view of Advani's prime ministerial
ambitions but it can cost the country very heavy.
Ahmedabad tense after more communal skirmishes
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : Tension continued in parts of Ahmedabad Tuesday morning after clashes
between Hindu and Muslim groups went on till late the previous night and police had to lob teargas
shells to disperse mobs, officials said.
Police were forced to fire over 100 tear gas shells in the lanes and by-lanes of the city's Shahpur
area late Monday night to bring the situation under control, an official said.
At least 30 people, including five policemen, have been injured in rioting in Shahpur since Sunday
night. According to the police, more than 25 people from different parts of east Ahmedabad have
been detained for rioting.
The violence began late Sunday night, when Hindu and Muslim groups clashed over a minor road
accident in Delhi Darwaza area and police had to lob 72 teargas shells and fire one round in the air
to disperse the mobs. Four people were injured in the skirmish.
The warring groups threw stones at each other for more than an hour Monday morning in Dariapur,
Shahpur and Delhi Darwaza areas. There was panic in the neighbourhood and shops quickly
downed shutters as people ran helter-skelter.
The mobs from the two communities clashed again Monday afternoon after a boy returning from
school was attacked while passing through the Shahpur-Nagariwad area in the walled city.
Police sources said the recent arrests following the July 26 serial blasts here may have added fuel to
the fire. Muslims have alleged that innocent people have been detained since Sunday.
Mastermind of Ahd blasts confesses involvement, claims police
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : Mufti Abu Bashir, the alleged mastermind of Ahmedabad blasts, has
"confessed" to his involvement, Gujarat police claimed today, adding top SIMI leader Safdar
Nagori was allegedly a key conspirator and may be also involved in Jaipur and Hyderabad terror
attacks.
Bashir, whose arrest from Uttar Pradesh was announced on August 16, is currently in 14-day
police custody and being grilled by the city Crime Branch officials.
"So far in his interrogation, he has confessed to his involvement in the Ahmedabad blasts," the
officials claimed. The July 26 explosions left 55 pesons dead.
"Though Bashir is cooperating in interrogation he is not revealing much details. He is just giving
short replies to the questions asked by the officials. Most of his replies are in yes and nos," they
said.
Bashir, it seems, is trained in how to handle police interrogations, sources said. Bashir was a
madrasa teacher in Hyderabad, where he came in contact with the hardline SIMI faction led by
Nagori. After Nagori's arrest in March, Bashir took up the task of carrying out the Ahmedabad
blasts, police claimed.
Throwing fresh light on the probe, police alleged that Nagori and his brother Karimuddin were the
main trainers during SIMI's training camps in Kerala (December 2007) and Halol in Gujarat
(January 2008).
SIMI leader Safdar Nagori to be brought to Ahmedabad: police
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : Police investigating the July 26 serial blasts case has decided to seek
custody of SIMI leader Safdar Nagori from Madhya Pradesh police and is likely to bring him here
for questioning, a crime branch official said.
"Nagori along with his brother Karimuddin were the key trainers during the SIMI training camp
held in Kerala (December 2007) and Halol in Gujarat (January 2008)," said Joint Commissioner of
Police (crime branch) Ashish Bhatia.
"They are also key conspirators who designed and planned the terror attacks in Ahmedabad. They
may also be involved in Jaipur and Hyderabad blasts," Bhatia said.
Nagori and his associates were arrested in March from Indore in Madhya Pradesh. "We are
presently concentrating on interrogation of those arrested by us. Later we will bring Nagori for
further interrogation. We believe he was instrumental in planning the blasts in Ahmedabad. He may
have also arranged for funds to procure explosives and other materials," Bhatia added.
SRP posted at house of Imran Sheikh
Vadodara, Aug 19 : The State Reserve Police (SRP) has been posted outside the rented house of
Imran Sheikh, arrested in connection with the serial blasts in Ahmedabad, at Bhavanpura locality of
the city.
The Special Operation Group (SOG) sealed the house at Akhmal Apartment yesterday and
officers of both the SRP and SOG were posted there.
A team from Ahmedabad crime branch along with a Forensic Science Laboratory team is likely to
visit the premises to look for clues.
Mumbai-based computer engineer Abdul Subhan Alias Taifique Bilal, the most wanted man in this
case, allegedly had used the house for putting together the bombs planted in Ahmedabad and Surat
city on July 26 last.
Taufique allegedly provided all technical support to SIMI's terror module. Meanwhile, police have
been trying to find out the details of a training camp held by SIMI activists between Halol and
Pavagadh earlier this year. About 25 to 30 activists, including Bashir, the mastermind behind this
terror module, allegedly had attended the camp.
Centre seeks extension of stay on tribunal order on SIMI ban
New Delhi, Aug 6 : The Centre today urged the apex court to extend its stay on a tribunal's order
lifting the ban imposed on Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) charged with indulging in
terrorist activities, including the recent Ahmedabad and Bangalore blasts.
Additional Solicitor General Gopal Subramaniam who made an impromptu mention of the issue
before a bench of Justices B N Aggrawal, G S Singhvi and J M Panchal, submitted that the matter
which was scheduled to be heard on August 22 was not listed in the cause list (which carries details
of cases scheduled to be taken up by a court on a particular day).
The ASG submitted that the "matter was of great importance" and the stay, if not extended, would
adversely affect the country's interests.
However, the air was cleared after the registry officials informed the bench that the matter was
listed for hearing on August 25.
On August 6, a bench headed by the Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan stayed a special tribunal
order that had earlier ordered lifting restrictions on its activities. The apex court had also issued
notice to SIMI and posted the matter for hearing after three weeks.
Valley life limps to normalcy, Jammu protesters court arrest
Srinagar/Jammu, Aug 19 : With separatists suspending their strike call for three days, life in
Kashmir Valley, disrupted for over a week due to the agitation over "economic blockade", limped
back towards normalcy today.
But in Jammu region, thousands of protesters, including women in good numbers, courted arrest in
various police station areas for the second day to press their demand for return of 100 acres of
land to Amarnath shrine board.
Schools, shops, business establishments and offices opened in the Valley as the Coordination
Committee -- an amalgam of separatists, social organisations, traders' and employees' bodies --
decided to suspend the strike for three days beginning today.
Vehicles were plying in Srinagar and other areas on city and inter-district routes, official sources
said.
The separatists had on Saturday announced the suspension of the strike call to provide relief to
students, labourers and other sections of the society who were hit by the shutdown.
However, vehicles and business establishments perched black flags atop their buildings as a mark
of protest and in support of the demands of the separatist groups.
Soren confident of UPA support in trust vote
Giridih (Jharkhand), Aug 19 : Dismissing talks with BJP or NDA to enlist their support during the
August 25 trust vote in Jharkhand Assembly, JMM supremo Sibu Soren today said he is confident
that all UPA allies would support him.
"Be it RJD or Congress, all UPA allies are with me," claimed Soren in the background of Congress
saying that it would not mind supporting him with a vacant seat if he mustered the required figure in
the 82-member House during the trust vote.
"Mati ka laal mujhe madad karega (sons of the soil will help me)", he told reporters after appearing
before a local court in connection with a 33-year-old double murder case.
He termed as 'baseless' earlier reports that NDA had offered to make him the chief minister of
Jharkhand if the JMM voted against the UPA in the July 22 trust vote in Parliament.
On Governor Syed Sibtey Razi giving a week's time to the 23-month-old Madhu Koda
government to prove its majority on the floor of the House after JMM withdrew support, Soren, a
Lok Sabha member, said the Governor had acted as per constitutional norms.
Koda to seek trust vote on Aug 25, JMM explores govt formation
Ranchi, Aug 19 : Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda today said he would seek the trust vote in
the Assembly on August 25 and try to mend fences with JMM supremo Shibu Soren whose party
explored the possibilities of forming an alternative government.
The fresh bout of political uncertainty in the mineral-rich state triggered claims and counter claims of
support with embattled Koda saying he has the numbers to prove his majority. Soren on his part
said he had the required backing to vote out the coalition government reduced to a minority after
the 17-member JMM withdrew support on Sunday.
The scene of political activities in the state is likely to shift to New Delhi with both Koda and Soren
planning to go there to lobby for support.
Koda was directed by Governor Syed Sibtey Razi to prove his majority on the floor of the House
on or before Aug 25.
Security advisor to visit Kashmir valley tomorrow
New Delhi, Aug 19 : National Security Advisor M K Narayanan will visit Kashmir valley
tomorrow, two days after the separatists held a mammoth rally and petitioned the United Nations
office there.
Narayanan will be meeting senior police officials and bureaucrats to discuss the present security
situation in the valley arising due to the Amarnath land row, official sources said.
He will be accompanied by Intelligence Bureau Director P C Haldar and other officials from the
Union Home Ministry, they said.
During their meetings, they would discuss the proposed march by the separatists to Idgah on Friday.
Narayanan's visit comes two days after thousands of Kashmiri people gathered near the UN office
demanding an intervention from the international body.
Illegals must go but don't harass Indian Muslims: Jamiat chief
Guwahati, Aug 19 : Illegal migrants from Bangladesh must be expelled from the country, says
Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind president Maulana Arshad Madani, while cautioning the government against
harassing Muslim citizens of India in the process.
"Illegal migrants, whether Muslims or Hindus, must be detected and expelled in accordance with
the due process of law. But hounding out people just because they are Muslims and (sport) a beard
cannot be accepted. Care must be taken to make sure that genuine citizens are not humiliated
during the detection process," Maulana Madani told.
The Maulana, known for his tough stand against terrorism, is here to participate in a conclave
organised by the Assam unit of the Jamiat Ulama-i-Hind Tuesday. It is being held in the backdrop
of a sudden intensification of the movement against illegal Bangladeshi migration and charges that
genuine Muslim citizens are being harassed.
"There have been many instances of student and youth activists rounding up suspected illegal
migrants. This amounts to taking the law into one's own hands. Illegal migrants must go but not a
single genuine citizen can be thrown out," said the Maulana, who teaches at the Darul Uloom
seminary at Deoband.
RAW officer attempts suicide outside PMO
New Delhi, Aug 19 : A woman officer of India's external intelligence agency, apparently suffering
from what officials claimed a "disturbed state of mind", Tuesday attempted suicide outside the
Prime Minister's Office (PMO).
A senior police official said a police control room (PCR) van rushed Nisha Priya Bhatia, a
Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) official and director in the Cabinet Secretariat, from the South
Block complex to the Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital around 2.30 p.m. after being alerted about her
attempted suicide.
"We are not sure what substance she consumed. According to doctors, she is out of danger but is
not fit to make any statement. We will register a case only after recording her version," added the
official who did not want to be identified by name or designation. A sample of her stomach wash
has been sent for forensic tests.
According to a Cabinet Secretariat press statement issued by the PMO in the evening, Bhatia had
lodged a complaint last year alleging sexual harassment by her joint secretary.
Govt pulls up oil firms, orders clearing of LPG waitlist
New Delhi, Aug 19 : Government today took state-run oil firms to task for reported shortages in
fuel supplies in some parts of the country and asked them to clear the waitlist for new domestic
cooking gas (LPG) connections in 60 days.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora reviewed the supply and distribution of essential petroleum
products in the country at a meeting with heads of oil companies and issued instructions for ensuring
adequate supplies in the coming festive season.
"LPG connections will be available on demand," Petroleum Secretary R S Pandey told reporters
after the meeting.
Pandey did some hard-talking with the CEOs of oil firms who had gone slow on issuing new LPG
connections and restricted auto fuel supplies in view of mounting losses, and asked Indian Oil,
Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum to liquidate the waitlist for new domestic gas
connections in two months.
"Wait time for LPG connections will not be allowed to exceed two months," he said while also
announcing opening up of a Grievance Cell in the his ministry to address complaints.
Papa, why don't you leave politics? Rahul once asked father
New Delhi, Aug 19 : Rahul Gandhi had once asked his father Rajiv Gandhi why he was not giving
up politics but the former prime minister told him he was not doing so as he "believed in the people
of the country".
Recalling this here today, the young Nehru-Gandhi scion said it was good that his father did not
leave politics as otherwise many of the developmental programmes would not have been launched
at all.
An emotional Rahul was speaking at a programme organised for release of two books on Rajiv
Gandhi, including one written by Union Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar.
While the translated version of Aiyar's book -- "Rajiv ki Smritiyan" (Rajiv's memories) -- was
released by Rahul, the other book titled "Rajiv Gandhi: Takniki Vikash aur Bharat Unnayan",
written by Congress activist from Amethi Jagdish Piyush, was released by Aiyar.
"One day I asked him -- 'papa why don't you leave this (politics). You always wanted to become a
pilot'. He said 'no'. 'I never thought of leaving it because I believe in the people of India," Rahul said.
Haywood departure suspicious: activist
Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : The departure of US national Kenneth Haywood, whose computer was
allegedly hacked to send out a threat mail before the Ahmedabad serial bombings, is suspicious,
Teesta Setalvad of the Citizens for Justice and Peace said Tuesday.
The Communalism Combat (a journal co-edited by the rights activist) strongly condemns the laxity
shown by central intelligence agencies for letting the US national to leave the country when the
Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) had served a lookout notice against him and he was still
under investigation, Setalwad said in a release.
Haywood's sudden departure while investigations were still on into the July 26 bombings raises
suspicions, she said.
The threat email sent to media organisations minutes before the blasts allegedly used the Internet
protocol of Haywood, who was living in Navi Mumbai. He left for the US along with his family on
Sunday.
Nobel Laureate tames 'talaq-friendly' Bangladeshi men
Bangalore, Aug 19 : Nobel laureate Md Yunus today said he induced men in Bangladesh to
transfer land to their wives by insisting that women own land to avail housing loans from his
'Grameen Bank.
Describing how he tackled this issue in Bangladesh where divorces occur in the spur of the moment
and in a fit of rage, Prof Yunus, the brain behind Micro Finance, said the Bank disbursed housing
loans only to women who had property in their name.
''To get the loans, the husbands ultimately relented and changed the 'khata' in the wife's names. This
made it difficult for the men to divorce their wives though it could be easily done in Muslim society
by just uttering the word 'talaq' three times,'' he said.
He said ''talaq'' menace would no longer work against lakhs of Bangladeshi women, who have
availed housing loans from the Bank as it would be the husband who has to get out of the house if
he divorced his wife.
Stressing the need to empower women in very poor families, the Nobel Laureate, delivering his
speech at the launch of SBI ''Hrudaya Suraksha'' Scheme here, said the bank had disbursed
600,000 housing loans to help them get a roof of their own.
Curfew imposed in Jammu as protests rage
Jammu, Aug 19 : As violent protests raged in various parts of this Jammu and Kashmir winter
capital till late Tuesday evening, the authorities clamped curfew on the entire walled city.
Violent protests erupted Tuesday evening at Canal Road, Jewel Chowk, Bakshi Nagar, New Plot
and Janipur over the Amarnath land row.
The police and Rapid Action Force had to fire in air and fired rubber bullets besides lobbying
several dozen tear-gas shells to disperse the mob that pelted stones on the security forces.
Officials said that 40 people, including about a dozen policemen, were injured in the clashes that
continued in many parts of the city till late Tuesday night.
Passage of time cannot dilute gravity of crime: SC
New Delhi, Aug 19 : Persons involved in heinous offences like murder and dacoity cannot be
shown any leniency by merely because of passage of time from the date of the incident, the
Supreme Court has said.
"It is a serious case of dacoity, any leniency in sentence would not only be undesirable but also
would be improper. The passage of time cannot wash away gravity of offence," a bench of Justices
Arijit Pasayat and Mukundakam Sharma observed.
The apex court passed the observation while dismissing an appeal filed by convicts held guilty for
committing a dacoity and murder on March 15, 1983 at Khaira village in Bihar's Gaya district.
According to the prosecution, the accused Arjun Mahto and others entered the house of Mohd
Asfaque Ali and ransacked the house during which they shot dead Nausher Ali Khan one of the
residents, besides injuring others.
Jade Goody diagnosed with cancer, leaves `Bigg Boss-II'
Mumbai, Aug 19 : Reality show `Bigg Brother' star and participant of the Indian version `Bigg
Boss', Jade Goody has been diagnosed with "cancer of the womb" and been withdrawn from the
telvision show, a UK based tabloid has reported.
Goody recieved the news yesterday and is flying back to London for treatment, The Sun, UK has
reported.
She had undergone hospital tests earlier this month after she collapsed four times, it is said. "But she
decided to get into Bigg Boss to try to make amends after being accused of racism on last years
Celebrity Big Brother," the report states.
Bigg Boss, Season II, is being hosted by Bollywood actor Shilpa Shetty, who was allegedly racially
abused by Goody in the 2007 series of Big Brother in UK.
Jade, from Upshire, Essex, was tested for bowel cancer in 2006 and ovarian cancer in 2004, but
was given all-clear both times.
Habib Mian, possibly country's oldest man, dies
Jaipur, August 19 : Grand old Habib Mian, perhaps the longest surviving man in the country,
passed away here today at the age of 139.
Born on May 28, 1870 at Rajgarh in Rajasthan's Alwar district, Habib Mian, who had fever and a
bout of dysentery, died here at 3 am today.
He had joined the band of the erstwhile Jaipur Royal family as a clarinet player and retired from
service in 1938. At that time, he received a pension of just Rs 1.46 which was later increased to Rs
2698.
