New Delhi, October 29
The Supreme Court today issued notices to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi, union minister T.R. Balu, state transport minister K.N. Nehru and three top officers of the state government for the alleged contempt of the apex court in defying its order banning the October 1 bandh in the state on the Ram Setu issue.

The three top officers issued notices by a Bench of Justices B.N. Agrawal and P.P. Naolekar are Tamil Nadu chief secretary L.K. Tripathi, DGP P. Rajendran and transport secretary Debendranath Sarangi. All respondents were directed to submit replies to the contempt charges levelled by the AIADMK in its petition.

The court, however, exempted all of them from personal appearance till further order. Any decision for their personal appearance would be taken only after examining their replies when the case is listed for further hearing, it said.

The notices were issued by the court after examining in details the evidence produced by AIADMK counsel Guru Krishnakumar, who also cited media reports of a strongly worded speech made by Balu on October 1 at the venue of the fast by Karunanidhi and other DMK leaders against the judiciary in general and the Supreme Court in particular, casting “imputation” on it and its judges for issuing order to ban the bandh.

Before issuing notices, the Bench grilled Krishnakumar by putting specific queries as how it could be established that the top political and administrative functionaries of the state had failed to implement the court order and how inference could be drawn whether there was a “deliberate inaction” on their part not to allow it to be implemented.

Krishnakumar said he had with him CDs to show how the bandh was enforced by DMK activists and how public transport staff and workers of private transport companies, who wanted to run the buses, were not allowed to do so.

He said it was apparently clear that Chief Minister Karunanidhi, state transport minister K.N. Nehru did not “deliberately” enforce the court order, though as the top executive functionaries in the state they were duty bound to do so under the Constitution for upholding of which they had taken oath.

Since they showed an “apparent inaction” not to enforce the court order, the top officers also toed their line and thus committed the contempt while as public servants they were bound to implement it letter and spirit.

Moreover, it was the duty of the Chief Minister, who also holds the home portfolio, to ensure that the police was deployed in all vintage positions to ensure that the normal life was not disrupted due to the bandh declared illegal by the court, AIADMK counsel argued.

On the face of “prima facie” sufficient evidence to take cognizance of the contempt petition, the court rejected the plea of senior advocate T.R. Andhyarujina and additional solicitor general Vikas Singh, appearing for Karunanidhi and the chief secretary, respectively, to let the replies come first and only then consider the issuing notices.

Bangalore, October 29
The BJP-Janata Dal (Secular) combine today paraded 129 legislators before Governor Rameshwar Thakur in a show of strength in Raj Bhawan here to give a clear signal that it alone had the numbers to form a government in Karnataka even as dissident JD (S) leader M.P. Prakash as well as the Congress continued to make out a case for the dissolution of the assembly.

The BJP-JD (S) combine also presented a united face by holding a joint legislative party meeting to elect B.S. Yediyurappa as its nominee for the post of Chief Minister. It also submitted individual letters of support of 80 BJP supporters, including one Independent, and 49 JD (S) supporters, including three JD (U) and five Independents, earlier in the day to the Governor before conducting a physical verification parade.

The paraded legislators are more than the 113 needed for a simple majority in the 225-member assembly.

The BJP carried on its exercise to prevail upon Governor Rameshwar Thakur to accept its claim to form a government by accusing the Governor of stalling the installation of a popular government in the state.

Senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu requested the Governor to send his report to the union government so that a cabinet meeting could be convened to revoke President’s rule in the state and the BJP-JD (S) government is installed. Naidu said there was no other alternative before the Governor and that he could at best stall the decision for a few days only.

The day also saw the complete collapse of the initiative by dissident JD (S) leader M.P. Prakash to wean away enough legislators to break the party and present his claim to form a government in league with the Congress. Prakash is left with only four legislators on his side besides enjoying the support of eight legislators of the Siddaramaiah group in the JD (S) as well as the support of JD (S) dissident P.G.R. Sindhia.

Prakash, during an interaction with newsmen before meeting the Governor, admitted he did not have the appropriate numbers to stake claim to form a government “as of now” but said the channels of communications with the Congress were still open.

During his meeting with the Governor, Prakash demanded the assembly be dissolved claiming the JD (S)-BJP combine could not provide political stability in the state. He also brought to the notice of the Governor that a petition seeking disqualification of 36 JD (S) legislators was pending before the Speaker and that in case they were disqualified there would be another round of political instability. Prakash also bought up the issue of the letter written by H.D. Deve Gowda demanding dissolution of the assembly on October 24.

The JD (S) tried even today to bring back Prakash to the party fold with Kumaraswamy’s elder brother H.D. Balakrishna and former transport minister Cheluvaraya Swamy meeting Prakash.

New Delhi, October 29
The Congress today officially asked the Centre to dissolve the Karnataka Assembly and called for an early election to prevent the formation of a new government through horse- trading.

Privately, however, Congress leaders admit they may not be able to prevent the BJP and Janata Dal (S) from coming to power again as JD(S) rebel leader M.P Prakash appears to have lost the numbers game. They said if the two alliance partners have the requisite numbers, it will be difficult for Governor Rameshwar Thakur to say no to them since there is no constitutional bar to prevent them from forming a government.

Having been outfoxed by the fast-paced developments in Bangalore, Congress sources put the blame on a section within their own party which was actively exploring the possibility of splitting the JD(S) and forming a government with the support of the rebel legislators.

“By doing so, we have pushed the JD(S) to join hands with the BJP once again,” remarked an angry Karnataka Congress leader. JD(S) rebel leader M.P Prakash had met several senior Congress leaders, including AICC general-secretary Prithviraj Chavan and Ahmed Patel, party president’s political secretary, but they were unable to move ahead because of resistance from within and Prakash’s inability to muster the requisite numbers.

Putting up a brave face, embarrassed Congress leaders maintained the BJP-JD(S) government is unlikely to last more than six months given the nature of their bitter relations. “It will be good for the Congress. ...both the parties would have lost their credibility by then,” said an optimistic AICC office-bearer.

For the record, however, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi made a strong pitch for the dissolution of the Assembly and early elections on the plea that the proposed government would be formed through horse-trading. He buttressed his case by pointing to the JD(S) leader H.D Deve Gowda’s recent letter to the Governor, President and Prime Minister in which he expressed apprehensions about horse-trading, supported elections as the only way out of the impasse.

Coming down hard on the BJP and the JD(S) for changing their stand on an hourly basis, Singhvi said what was being witnessed in Karnataka was nothing but a “sorry saga of corruption, horse-trading, mismanagement, political opportunism, hypocrisy and unholy alliances.”

Singhvi said the Centre was entitled to dissolve the Assembly in the first instance but had placed it under suspended animation in deference to the “spirit and not letter’’ of the Bommai judgement. The situation, he said, has now changed as all parties concerned have told the Governor that elections is the only option. “Just because the unholy alliance partners have a rethink and want to make a majority through horse-trading cannot become the basis of the negation of the spirit of the Bommai judgement,” he added. 

Guwahati, October 29
Two ULFA militants were killed in an encounter with the Army inside a forest area in Arunachal Pradesh bordering upper Assam while 11 revellers were injured in a blast triggered by unidentified militants at a Lakshmi Puja fair at Orang in Udalguri district of Assam today.

The security sources informed that two hardcore ULFA militants were killed in a gun battle with troops of 11 Sikh Light Regiment at Raglu Reserve Forest area in Arunachal Pradesh today. The slain militants were identified as senior ULFA cadre Nitul Sonowal and Muleswar Sonowal.

The Army recovered on the US made carbine from the site of encounter. The slain Nitul Sonowal had joined the ULFA way back in 1997 while the other killed militant had joined in 2005.

Meanwhile, in another incident 11 persons were injured when suspected militants triggered an explosion at a fair at Dhansirimukh under the Orang police outpost in Udalguri district of Assam today.

The police informed that unidentified militants detonated a crude bomb injuring 11 revellers who were enjoying their time at the fair that is held every year in the aftermath of Lakashmi Puja.

The senior police officials of Udalguri district rushed to the spot this morning to launch an operation in the area to nab the culprits. Tension prevailed in the area after the explosion at the religious fair.

Assam police chief public relation officer (CPRO), Bhaben Bez informed that all the injured were rushed to the nearest government civil hospital in Mangaldoi. The condition of all injured was stated to be out of danger.

The police has declined to identify the militant group involved in the blast. However, the needle of suspicion is pointed towards the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB), the Bodo tribal militant group that is now bounded by a ceasefire agreement with government of India.

The NDFB which has a strong presence in Udalguri district bordering Bhutan had earlier issued diktat to the local people not to go revelling in the annual Lakshmi Puja at Dhansirimukh this time. 

Patna, October 29
Both Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his bete noire railways minister Lalu Prasad today from two different platforms expressed their resolve to approach Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for justice.

Talking to the media here today after his weekly janata durbar, Nitish Kumar urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to call a meeting of the National Development Council (NDC) immediately to discuss the issue regarding the alleged misuse of central resources by RJD supremo Lalu Prasad for his party’s “Chetawani Rally” here yesterday.

A visibly angry Nitish Kumar, who is a former railway minister too, said while he was not opposed to any rally against him by his opponents in the existing democratic set-up, he took it at an offence to the way the resources of central government were grossly “misused” by Lalu Prasad in the capacity of railway minister against a democratically elected state government.

“It’s an onslaught on the federal structure of the country. I urge the Prime Minister to call an immediate meeting of the NDC,” the Chief Minister said.

He wondered to the way Lalu Prasad used the MR (Minister of Railways) special train and threw all security provisions to the wind by stopping the train at several places requesting people to come to attend his rally during a month-long campaign.

While Nitish Kumar was banking on the Prime Minister to teach Lalu Prasad a lesson, the RJD boss in a separate interaction with the media here today decided to approach Manmohan Singh not to directly target Nitish Kumar, but Gujarat CM Narendra Modi.

New Delhi, October 29
The Supreme Court today directed former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to submit his reply to the CBI application on the completion of the preliminary inquiry into his assets and seeking permission to file its report to the court instead of the Central government, as directed.

A Bench of Justices C.K. Thakker and Altamas Kabir ordered Mulayam, his two sons Akilesh Singh and Prateek, and daughter-in-law Dimple to submit their replies within four weeks while issuing notices to them.

Since their review petitions against the Supreme Court’s order for a CBI probe into their assets was still pending before the court, the Bench thought it necessary to seek their replies to the CBI’s application filed last week.

Besides Mulayam Singh Yadav, the three members of his family were also respondents in a PIL by Congress activist V.N. Chatturvedi on which the CBI probe was ordered by the court on March 1.

The CBI in its application had stated that it had completed the preliminary investigation and wanted to submit the status report in a “sealed cover” to the court instead of the Central Government, as was directed in the March 1 order.

Though the CBI application was silent whether it had found any concrete evidence against Mulayam Singh and his family members to proceed beyond the preliminary enquiry (PE) stage, an inference was being drawn from the fact that the agency had sought a direction for further action.

This was being interpreted as an apparent indication that the CBI wanted to go to the next stage, which is the registration of an FIR, as registering of a PE is only an internal procedure for investigation to establish a “prima facie” case for moving to the next step.

Mulayam and his family members in their review petitions had taken objection to the court’s direction to the CBI to submit the probe report to the Centre as they feared “persecution” by the Congress-led UPA Government. They claimed that they were bitter foes in politics and any decision by the present Central government would not be “fair and free from prejudice”.

He also had raised questions on the “impartiality” of the CBI in probing the case, alleging that the agency was being used for “fixing” political opponents by the UPA government and going soft against those leaders facing serious cases but were Congress allies.

New Delhi, October 29
The Supreme Court today sought replies from the University Grants Commission, the Medical Council of India and the All India Council for Technical Education on continuing ragging incidents in some educational institutions under their control despite a ban following the J.M. Lyngdoh committee recommendation.

They were given time till December 10 to submit their responses by a Bench of justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta after status reports from various educational institutions across the country was placed before it by amicus curiea Gopal Subramaniam.

The court rejected the contention of the National Students Union of India (NSUI), the student wing of the Congress, for making it a party in the case as it alleged that the committee headed by former Chief Election Commissioner J.M. Lyngdoh before making recommendation had not taken its views into consideration.

This was opposed by Subramaniam, who said a statement to this effect by the NSUI was “false” as the panel had heard the student wing of the Congress in detail before laying down the guidelines for prohibiting ragging.

The judges admonished the NSUI counsel for making such a statement at this late stage when the Lyngdoh committee recommendations had even been ordered to be implemented.

“In an educational institution you are not admitted as members of a political party but sent to pursue your studies. Are you for studies or doing politics on the campus. What should be your priority,” the court asked the NSUI lawyer.

The Bench said no parents send their children to a college to participate in students’ politics or harassing fellow students as they spend their hard earned money for their education and betterment of their career and the students as well as the authorities had to keep this in mind while enforcing the order against ragging.

Since the court from the status reports and media reports found that ragging was still continuing in several institutions and many students had fallen victim to it and some of them even subjected to sever physical and mental torture, it thought it appropriate to seek replies from the UGC, the MCI and the AICTE, the statutory monitoring bodies for different types of educational institutions.

New Delhi, October 29
British Army chief Gen Richard Dannatt today began his six-day visit to India, which is aimed at further improving the military-to-military ties between the two countries.

During his visit, Gen Dannatt, who is the designated chief of the general staff, will interact with the senior military and civili defence hierarchy to discuss defence related issues and prospects for future cooperation between the two armies.

A defence ministry statement said here that defence secretary Vijay Singh, the Indian Army chief Gen Deepak Kapoor, the Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and the Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major will be among those the British Army chief will meet.

In addition, visits to the Indian Army field formations in Jaipur, Srinagar and Agra and to prestigious army establishments have also been planned. While in Jammu and Kashmir, Gen Dannatt will visit the Line of Control (LOC) for a briefing on the steps the Indian Army is taking to control the infiltration of militants from across the border.

The armies conducted their first joint war game last month during which a detachment of the Royal Marines exercised with the elite paratroopers of the Indian Army at Leh.

New Delhi, October 29
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow on a broad agenda in the framework of Bonn-New Delhi strategic partnership.

Germany is at present the Chairman of the G-8 and is going to take over the presidency of Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) next year at a time when the Indo-US nuclear deal is at a crucial stage.

Merkel’s India visit (October 29-November 1) will intensify the close political ties between both countries and further boost the thriving Indo-German economic relations, which are on a high as bilateral trade is a healthy 12 billion euros in 2007. Bilateral cooperation in the field of science and research will be another focus of the visit.

The German Chancellor and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will flag off the “Science Express”, an exhibition on wheels that will travel all over India. New initiatives such as the opening of an Indo-German Science and Technology Centre will also be announced. Science, technology and engineering, core elements for economic success, have become a key pillar of the Indo-German relations.

Merkel is accompanied by a high level delegation, including the federal minister for education and research Anette Schavan, state minister for economic cooperation Karin Kortmann, Members of the German Parliament, CEOs of top-ranking German companies and the presidents of Germany’s most important institutions for studies, science and research.

Germany is India’s most important trade partner in the European Union. German investments in India have surged dramatically.

A joint press conference of the Prime Minister and the Chancellor at Hyderabad House here is scheduled for tomorrow evening.

Dehra Dun, October 29
The fate of nearly 125 families of Chain village in Chamoli district hangs in balance as more than 30 houses located on the underground powerhouse of 400-MW Vishnuparyag Hydroelectric project have been declared unsafe due to landslides caused by the construction of the project.

Panicky residents have started shifting to nearby villages even as the district authorities offered them temporary shelter. Besides houses, a transmission tower of the Power Grid has also suffered damage and tilted probably due to underground convulsions caused by the landslides.

A team of scientists from the Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, Dehra Dun, and officials of the state disaster management cell today visited the site and took samples to ascertain the exact cause of the problem.

Meanwhile, district magistrate, Chamoli, D.S. Garbayal, has asked the state government to sent a team of the Geological Survey of India and the Indian Institute of Technology to study whether the landslides are linked to the project construction or not. Villagers said the explosives used to dig a 12-km-long powerhouse caused landslides.

Environmentalist Chandi Parsad Bhatt, who visited the village, said the landslides were the initial signs of unimaginative planning of developmental activities in the ecologically fragile Himalayan region. He claimed to have warned the union government against such projects in 1980.

New Delhi, October 29
Pointing that the face of terrorism is changing, Union home minister Shivraj Patil today asked the para-military forces and security agencies to devise new ways to counter this challenge.

“The face of terrorism is changing. Terrorists are now using new technologies to create panic. Unconventional things like cosmetics are used for making bombs, Patil said addressing the 68th raising day of the CRPF here.

The home minister said the government was actively considering increasing the strength of the CRPF as the force was burdened with a number of assignments inside the country.

Patil also announced special allowances to CRPF personnel deployed in 13 Naxal-infested states and said they were doing a commendable job in difficult terrains. The CRPF has deployed about 40,000 personnel in the Naxal-hit states.

The housing satisfaction level for the jawans of the CRPF would be increased to 40 per cent, he said.

Acknowledging the role of the CRPF in maintaining the internal security of the nation, he said all pending proposals of the CRPF for housing and infrastructure were under active consideration of the government.

Lauding the role of women in the force, Patil said given the increasingly global acceptance and accolades for the CRPF’s Mahila contingent, it was high time that their proportion was increased in the force. He expressed satisfaction that the Female Formed Unit of the CRPF on a peacekeeping mission to Liberia had proved to be a resounding success.

In his welcome address, CRPF director-general S.I.S. Ahmed said the force had notched up notable successes against the terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir this year.

He said the perceptible decline in violence had been made possible due to better intelligence-backed proactive operations. He also highlighted the varied role of the force since Independence, the sacrifices made during the Chinese and Pakistani aggressions, and the valour shown during the terror attack on Parliament and at Ayodhya.

The home minister reviewed the glittering parade and gave away medals for gallantry to the jawans and officers on the occasion. He also gave trophies to the 13th Bn for being the Best Operational Bn for Left Wing Extremism affected areas, 16th Bn for the best J&K Bn and 121 Bn for best North East Bn.

Jaipur, October 29
The suspension of senior Rajasthan cadre IPS officer M.N. Dinesh, who was allegedly involved in the fake encounter killing of Sheikh Sohrabuddin in Gujarat, was revoked today.

The suspension of Dinesh was revoked, Rajasthan Home Secretary V.S. Singh said.

The withdrawal of suspension came less than a week after a sessions court in Ahmedabad granted bail to Dinesh, former Superintendent of Alwar district of Rajasthan.

Dinesh, along with two senior IPS officers of Gujarat, D.G. Vanzara and Raj Kumar Pandian, were arrested in April this year in connection with the killing of Sohrabuddin killing. — PTI

Lucknow, October 29
Nidhi Shukla, sister of slain poetess Madhumita Shukla, today met the Governor T.V Rajeswar and Speaker Sukhdev Rajbhar seeking disqualification of Samajwadi MLA Amarmani Tripathi who has been convicted for the murder of the poetess and has been awarded life imprisonment.

All four accused in the case, Amarmani Tripathi, his wife Madhu Mani, nephew as well as another accomplice, are at present serving life imprisonment in Hardwar jail.

Nidhi Shukla, who single-handedly pursued the case to its logical end, told reporters on Monday that since Amarmani had been convicted for the murder of her sister, he had lost the right to remain a member of the UP Vidhan Sabha.

In her representation to the Governor and Speaker Nidhi has claimed that Amarmani has 26 more criminal cases pending against him and is therefore a confirmed criminal.

On October 24 when a CBI Special Court had announced the judgement Nidhi and her mother had openly expressed their apprehension of Amarmani causing them harm from even behind the bars as he wielded immense power by virtue of being an MLA and a well-connected mafia don.

New Delhi, October 29
Vivek Kumar Agnihotri, a retired IAS officer of 1968 Andhra Pradesh cadre, has been appointed the new secretary-general of the Rajya Sabha for a period of two years.

His appointment has been made by Amid Ansari Vice-President and chairperson of the Rajya Sabha.

Agnihotri had earlier served as joint director at Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration,

Mussorie and as additional secretary to the Government of India, department of administrative reforms and public grievances. He has also served as secretary in the ministries of panchayati raj and parliamentary affairs and as member (Administrative), central administrative tribunal (Principal Bench),New Delhi.