Vijay Bahuguna to be new Uttarakhand Chief Minister

New Delhi/ Dehradun:  After nearly a week of deadlock, Uttarakhand will get a chief minister with the Congress naming its Tehri-Garhwal MP Vijay Bahuguna as the leader of its legislative party.

Bahuguna's name was announced by party leader and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad in New Delhi."It was decided by the MLAs and all the party leaders that Vijay Bahuguna will be the chief minister," Mr Azad announced.He also recalled that the party MLAs had, in their meeting after the results were out, authorised Congress president Sonia Gandhi to name the chief minister.

Congress, with 32 seats in a house of 70, had staked its claim to form a government in the Himalayan state late last week after the results on March 6 threw up a hung assembly.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has 31 seats in the Uttarakhand assembly. The Congress has won the support of three Bahujan Samaj Party MLAs, apart from three independents and the lone MLA from the Uttarakhand Kranti Dal.

"A decision has been taken that Vijay Bahuguna will be the leader of the legislature party in Uttarkhand and the new chief minister," Mr Azad said in the presence of Bahuguna and Congress general secretary Chaudhary Birender Singh, who is in charge of party affairs in Uttarakhand.

Soon after his name was declared for chief ministership, Mr Bahuguna, 65, thanked Sonia Gandhi and her son Rahul Gandhi and said, "I will take all sections of the party along and there will be no break up,"

Mr Bahuguna is the son of former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna and brother of present Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Rita Bahuguna-Joshi. He is a vice president in the Uttarakhand Congress unit. An advocate by profession, He has served as a judge of the Allahabad and Bombay High Courts. He also served as the vice chairman of the Uttarakhand Planning Commission.

The decision comes a day after Union Minister from the state Harish Rawat and Bahuguna held a two-hour meeting with Azad and Birender Singh.The two central leaders had submitted their report on the views of the party's 32 MLAs on legislative party leadership to Sonia Gandhi Sunday.

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Alleged gang rape victim from Gurgaon refuses medical test

Gurgaon:  A 23-year-old girl who worked at a pub at a Gurgaon mall near Delhi says she was gang-raped last night. The police says the alleged victim was reportedly hired by the pub to engage with male customers.

However, the girl has refused to undergo medical test.

In her statement to the police, she has blamed a co-worker for her rape. She says that after she fought with him, he persuaded a group of six men at the pub to assault her.

She says she was with her brother and driver outside the Sahara Mall when six men overpowered her companions and forced her into their Maruti. She says she was taken to a flat nearby where she was raped. Then the men left her outside the Chhattarpur metro station.

Her brother and the driver are eye-witnesses to the alleged crime. Based on their description of the attackers, the police is preparing sketches that will be released soon. The police will also scan CCTV footage from the mall and the pub.

The cops have tracked down the car, but are still looking for the alleged kidnappers.

This incident though, is not an isolated one. On February 17, a 17-year-old girl was gangraped by five of her neighbours in a moving car in Noida, near Delhi. In January this year, a 20-year-old girl from Manipur was raped in Dwarka by a man who offered her a lift.

According to National Crime Records Bureau statistics, Delhi reported 414 rape cases in 2010 - numbers that make life in the National Capital Region very unsafe, especially for women.

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Fate of national anti-terror body remains uncertain

New Delhi:  After spending an entire day to convince states that the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) as proposed by the Union Home Minister P Chidambaram wouldn't infringe on the powers of the individual states, the Union Home Ministry issued a short press brief claiming "almost all states in principle agreed on the need to have an effective anti-terrorism mechanism like National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC)." And, yet it is clear that the NCTC, the dream project of the Union Home Minister, is unlikely to go through in its present shape and form.

The NCTC is structured to be a pre-emptive anti-terrorist strike task force. It is empowered to demand information from all bodies and organizations across the country, collate such information and carry out stealthy counter terrorist operations on its own without keeping the local government or the local police in the loop till the operation is over. This didn't go done well with the states. Several states including the UPA's ally Mamata Banerjee wrote to the Prime Minister in protest. It forced the government to stop operationalizing the NCTC.

Today's meeting with the Chief Secretary's, Director General of Police and heads of states anti- terror units was aimed at defusing this opposition. The result of consultation, however, seems to be contrary to expectations. States like Bihar and Orissa are understood to have told the Centre that formation of a body as powerful the NCTC without political consultations is unacceptable. They are also understood to have said that the NCTC with unbridled powers to raid, search, seizure and arrest cannot be placed under the Intelligence Bureau which is not accountable before the courts and even out of the purview of the RTI act. BJP ruled Madhya Pradesh has told the Centre that NCTC should be kept separate of the Intelligence Bureau and counter terrorist operations should be carried out jointly with the state police organizations instead of the NCTC carrying out counter-terrorist operations on its own.

And, it is not only non-Congress ruled states that have raised an alarm.  Congress ruled Kerala while accepting the NCTC has pointed out that powers of NCTC and its functioning needs to be clarified as does the role and scope of the local police organizations.

The Union Home Ministry, on the other hand, is understood to have told the states that the Centre is well within its powers to form a body like the NCTC. Union Home Secretary R K Singh is believed to have told the anxious state representatives that Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act as amended in 2008 allows the Centre to have a body that can search, seize and arrest.

Clearly, therefore, the fate of NCTC remains uncertain with neither the Centre nor the states willing to budge.  In the United States, economist Jagdish Bhagwati writes in his book "In Defense of Globalization", tax laws are made very tough to please the Democrats and the loopholes introduced to please republicans. Perhaps this applies to the Centre as well, because hard-nosed politics is better suited to cover nations, not law books.

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PM invites allies to dinner amid Third Front chatter, Rahul is abroad

New Delhi:  One of the big challenges for the Congress in the new budget session that has begun today will be keeping its flock together - a flock that has increasingly appeared headed in different political directions. Mamata Banerjee, in particular, has been reported to be straying towards enemy lines. She has also often accused the Congress of taking allies like her for granted, and of not consulting them before announcing big-ticket policy changes.

The Prime Minister will host a dinner tomorrow night to build unity and perhaps more importantly, morale. UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi is likely to attend. Her son, Rahul, who accepted the responsibility for the Congress' horror story in the UP elections has travelled abroad. It is expected to be an al fresco affair at 7 Race Course Road, catered to by the ITDC, which runs Delhi's five-star Ashoka Hotel.

Since the Congress' whipping in the elections in Punjab and UP, the speculation about a Third Front that would include Ms Banerjee has reached fever pitch. Parties like Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Naveen Patnaik's BJD have reportedly begun coveting Ms Banerjee's political support as leaders have begun contemplating the possibility of early general elections. Today, however, Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar and high on the most-wanted list for a Third Front said he does not believe mid-term polls will take place.

Ms Banerjee was invited by the Akalis to the swearing-in of their government in Punjab. She was also asked to attend Akhilesh Yadav's swearing-in as chief minister of UP. After initially indicating that she would go to both ceremonies, her party said that because the Assembly session in West Bwngal begins this week. Ms Banerjee will remain in Kolkata but will send representatives to Lucknow and Chandigarh. Her changed itinerary followed a warning from the Congress which spelled out its displeasure. Allies are expected not to cross the "Lakshman Rekha," said the Congress.

If Ms Banerjee and her 19 MPs decide to exit the UPA - she has repeatedly said that's not on her agenda - the Congress could look for more support to Mulayam Singh Yadav, whose 22 MPs have often bailed out the government by voting with the Congress on key matters.  But his total sweep of UP has gifted Mr Yadav and his young son, Akhilesh, much cachet and leverage.  Akhilesh said today that talk of a Third Front is "a good thing."

The Congress also has to contend with partners like the DMK who have vowed to reject any policy or legislation that violates federalism or the authority of state governments. 

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Home boards should do more to crack down on fixing: Ex-ICC Chief

New Delhi: Former ICC President Ehsan Mani on Monday said that reports of match-fixing should be taken seriously and home boards should do more to crack down on fixing.

"Ultimately the responsibility for a player is that of his board and that's where I think the boards are letting themselves down," said Mani in an exclusive chat with NDTV.

"This cancer has spread and it's spread viciously and it needs to be dealt with, and the lead for this should be coming from the home board and not from the ICC. The ICC should be there to provide the overall framework but the work should be done by the individual board," added Mani.  

The game of cricket has once again come under the match-fixing cloud after a report in the 'Sunday Times' claimed that Indian bookmakers are fixing the results of England county games and international fixtures. (Also read: Match-fixing: Bookies using Bollywood honey traps to lure cricketers?)

Mani also said the ICC needs to work with law-enforcement agencies to curb match-fixing in the sport. He also suggested that legalising cricket betting could be looked at as an option to help curb fixing.

"Everyone looks at the illness and not the root cause of the illness, which are the bookies. There has been no action against the bookies. ICC should talk to these governments (countries where bookies operate) and bring some sort of control over the activities of these people.

"You cannot stab out illegal booking so how you bring it into this area where you can regulate their activities, because unless that happens it's going to be impossible to stop match-fixing," said Mani.

The Sunday Times' investigation has suggested that the bookmakers offer thousands of pounds to the players. About 44,000 pounds to batsmen for slow scoring, 50,000 pounds for bowlers who concede runs and 750,000 pounds for a player or official who can guarantee a match outcome.

The newspaper's report also alleged that corruption tainted last year's World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan.

The fixers claimed to have recruited players from countries, including England, using a Bollywood actress as a honeytrap.

A Delhi bookmaker has told the newspaper that county cricket "is a good market" as it involves "low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle".

The paper has passed on all the informations it gathered from its investigation to the ICC, who said it would investigate into these "serious allegations".

"We are grateful for the information you have provided and will launch an inquiry into these serious allegations.

"Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars being bet on every match, the threat of corrupters seeking to influence the game has not gone away," an ICC spokesperson said.

Just a few weeks ago former Essex bowler Mervyn Westfield became the first English cricketer to be jailed for corruption after he admitted taking money to fix a match against Durham in September 2009.

Last year, three Pakistan players - Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir - were also jailed in Britain for 'spot-fixing' in a 2010 Test match against England.

(With Inputs from PTI)

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Sri Lankan High Commissioner on Channel 4 documentary

New Delhi:  A new documentary to air on Channel 4 this week has created an international human rights controversy - the film purportedly shows the 12-year-old son of LTTE leader Prabhkaran lying dead with five bullets in his chest. Sri Lanka has said the allegations in the film about war crime are malicious. The High Commissioner, Prasad Kariyawasam, talked to NDTV's Nitin Gokhale.

Nitin Gokhale: Nearly three years after the Sri Lankan forces decimated the LTTE militarily, fresh human rights violations allegations have resurfaced in the West against the Sri Lankan forces. How does Sri Lanka intend to tackle these allegations and how does it intend to take resolution that is being sought to be moved by the United States in the UNHRC at Geneva  later this month alleging human right violations in Sri Lanka. To answer those questions we are fortunate to have with us, Sri Lanka's High Commissioner to India Prasad Kariyawasam.
Sri Lanka is once again facing these allegations how does Sri Lanka intend to tackle these fresh allegations about human rights violation.
Prasad Kariyawasam: Well, it is very surprising why such things are coming up because after defeating this abominable terrorist group three years ago, we want a path of reconciliation, reconstruction and rehabilitation and for that purpose we were looking at what we call restorative justice not retributive justice. Retribution is not in our grain and for that purpose we set up for what we call Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, an independent commission with lot of good credentials to come up with ideas to search for all the solutions as well as address the context of the conflict and to come up with the recommendations. And as we expected, they have now come with the report which has lot of good elements commended by international community themselves and we want time to work on those matters. And in time like that international non-governmental and some governments in the west seek to intervene and try to force of hand in Sri Lanka is something to my mind is misplaced and ill-judged. It does not help in our path of step by step reconciliation.
Nitin Gokhale: What do you think of these new allegations that Prabhakaran's 12-year old son was killed in cold blood by the Sri Lankan forces?
Prasad Kariyawasam: That is by Channel 4, this is the second time channel 4 in UK has come up with such allegations. Like the first set of productions, this is also unsubstantiated, uncorroborated and not been checked by any authority and we think is concoction. And we would not welcome it because that part of the war was unclear, it was incomplete and to that purpose to set up some examination of what happened, Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission has made some recommendations and government and our parliament is now in the process of looking at those things and take step by step measures as they are recommended and we want home grown solutions. We are a democracy for the last sixty years. We are responsible government, and our government leaders have to be elected, so they will take this thing step by step like other democracies like say India. And we don't need this extra regional intervention in our region. We can very well work with India and other friendly nations. We will find solutions, this is what uncalled for.
Nitin Gokhale: What about the UNHRC resolution that is being moved by the United states against Sri Lanka. What do you think is going to happen there and what is going to be Sri Lankan stand there?
Prasad Kariyawasam: Sri Lanka does not welcome UN involvement in our reconciliation process at this point. I think we are on a right path, we think we have to come up with a home grown solution. We need to talk to our own political parties, own people and have to come up with a understanding that will serve us for the future. UN by trying to force or hand, or US trying to use force to speed up the process is counter-productive. We want to do it at our own pace, we need time and space, that is all we are asking. LLRC has recommended some things, the government is in the process of looking at it and come up with an idea as to how to.... already some recommendations have been implemented. We have been looking at other things as well, and to our mind, this whole effort is to satisfy a particular lobby and that lobby is Tamil expatriate lobby who used to support LTTE  who are stunned by the defeat of the LTTE and are now using western electoral power at their hand to force our hand.

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Kandahar massacre: Afghan lawmakers demand US soldier's public trial

Kabul:  The Afghan Parliament demanded on Monday that a US soldier who went on a shooting spree and killed 16 villagers in their homes should be put on public trial in Afghanistan.

"We seriously demand and expect that the government of the United States punish the culprits and try them in a public trial before the people of Afghanistan," the lower house of Parliament said in statement.

The US soldier walked off his base, heavily armed and with night vision equipment, and broke into three village homes before dawn on Sunday, killing 16 people including women and children, according to Western and Afghan sources.

Condemning the killings as "brutal and inhuman", Parliament declared that "people are running out of patience over the ignorance of foreign forces".

President Barack Obama telephoned Afghan President Hamid Karzai to promise a speedy investigation into the killings, which fanned already smoldering anger among Afghans over the burning of Qurans at a US military base last month.

Sunday's massacre poses an acute test of the US-Afghan alliance, as the two countries pursue difficult talks on securing a strategic pact to govern their partnership once foreign combat troops leave Afghanistan in 2014.

"When Afghan people are killed deliberately by US forces, this action is murder and terror and an unforgivable action," Mr Karzai said.

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Dreamliner lands in India; to be showcased in India Aviation

New Delhi:  The much-awaited Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is likely to be inducted by Air India in May, today landed here after flying non-stop 14 hours from Seattle, the company said.
The Dreamliner would help significantly reduce fuel consumption as it would "provide both long distance capabilities with mid-size capacity", Boeing claimed.
The 787 would be on static display in New Delhi before debuting at India Aviation 2012 in Hyderabad on March 14.
"We're proud to bring the world's most advanced commercial airplane to India, especially when it proudly displays the colours of national flag carrier Air India," Dinesh Keskar, senior vice president of Asia Pacific and India Sales for Boeing Commercial Airplanes, said in a statement.
According to sources, the first Dreamliner plane is likely to be inducted only in May after it gets operational and technical certifications from the US Federal Aviation Administration, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and other agencies. Air India has ordered a total of 27 of these aircraft.
The delivery of the Dreamliner has been delayed for almost three years for which Air India has sought a hefty compensation from the manufacturing company.
The government wants the compensation issue to be sorted out before Air India starts inducting them.
Facing financial trouble, Air India has decided to sell and leaseback the first seven of the 27 planes it has ordered and is looking for bridge financing worth USD 230 million.
Under leaseback arrangement, one party sells a property to a buyer who immediately leases it back to the seller, allowing the initial buyer to make full use of the asset while not having capital tied up in it.

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We have the numbers that are needed, says PM on Budget Session

New Delhi:  The Budget Session began today with an address by the President. And as the government gets ready to face a belligerent Opposition, the Prime Minister told reporters that his government has the numbers that are needed to push through important legislation. When asked about the stress of managing a coalition greatly enervated by the recent state elections, he said that "the pressure is part of the job." He's certainly to feel enough of it; the talk of a Third Front building between leaders like Odisha's Naveen Patnaik and Mulayam Singh Yadav's Samajwadi Party has been escalating, with speculation that Mamata Banerjee will move toward it. Ms Banerjee has 19 MPs, making her essential to the survival of the UPA in its current form. Lately, she has shown a restlessness with the government and its policies that suggests she may be searching for an exit. Though the Samajwadi Party could then help save the government, its young leader Akhilesh Yadav today said that though he is focussed on UP, where he will take over as chief minister later this week, "if a Third Front is formed, it will be good."
The Budget Session is expected to be a gruelling one for the government.  It comes less than a week after the Congress was whiplashed in states like UP and Punjab. On Wednesday, the government will present the Railway Budget; on Friday, it will share the Union Budget. The Opposition, sensing the government's weakness, is likely to be at its aggressive best. More worrying for the government is how to ensure its allies, especially Ms Banerjee, don't challenge the government on key policy. But with its house in disorder, the government is unlikely to push for any big-ticket reforms. So, for example, the permission for more Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in retail, recently suspended after Ms Banerjee's fierce criticism, will remain in limbo. Ms Banerjee has 19 MPs, making her essential to the survival of the UPA in its current form. New laws and policies for mining and land acquisition are also likely to remain untouched.
A major flashpoint for Ms Banerjee, who is the second-largest member of the UPA after the Congress, is the design of the National Counter Terrorism Centre or NCTC. The new hub, meant to coordinate security needs and arrangements, has infuriated state governments because they find it encroaches upon their turf. The NCTC has powers that over-ride their right to handle law and order, say ten chief ministers, including Ms Banerjee, all of them from non-Congress states.
To help resolve the issues, Home Secretary RK Singh is meeting today with senior police officers and bureaucrats from all states to share the centre's vision and to collect feedback from states. The NCTC, meant to be operational on March 1, has been delayed after Ms Banerjee led the Group of 10 that sent letters to the PM, sharing their objections.
Ms Banerjee gave the Congress a sleepless weekend. Her party first said she would attend the swearing in of the new governments in Punjab and UP.  Then, as the Congress issued a strict warning against allies crossing the "laxman rekha" by being unnecessarily supportive of non-UPA parties, Ms Banerjee's party members said she would stay in Bengal but would send representatives to the ceremonies.

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Flight attendant 's rant about 9/11, safety rattles passengers

Dallas:  Passengers on American Airlines Flight 2332 were settling in for a trip to Chicago on Friday when they say a flight attendant took over the public-address system and launched into a rant that included references to 9-11 and the safety of their plane.

At first puzzled, and then frightened, several passengers wrestled the flight attendant into a seat while the plane was still on the ground at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.

The pilot returned the plane to the gate, where it was met by airport police and the FBI. After a delay of more than an hour, the plane finally took off.

A federal law enforcement official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the investigation was continuing said that airport police determined the incident was a medical issue and not a security threat.

The official said the flight attendant was taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas for evaluation. American said two crew members went to hospitals after the incident.

Bethany Christakos of Dallas, seated toward the rear of the plane, said passengers started "freaking out" as one of the flight attendants launched into a rambling, 15-minute speech.

"She said, I'm not responsible for this plane crashing," Christakos said.

Another passenger, Stephen Tremunde, said, "We were pretty frightened. She made two comments that if we didn't go back to the gate we would crash."

"The last thing I heard her say before someone pulled the mic out of her hand was, 'Hey pilot, I'm not going to be responsible for your crash,'" said Greg Lozano of Elmhurst, Ill.

Brad LeClear of Fox Lake, Ill., said he was one of several passengers who restrained the flight attendant. She said something about 9-11 - that she wished she could have stopped the terror attacks that used hijacked jetliners, he said.

"She mentioned being bipolar, and I asked her if she had taken her medicine, and she said, no," he said.
LeClear said he felt sorry for the flight attendant, but was glad to land safely in Chicago. If an incident like that happened in flight, he said, "She could have opened the door and done something to jeopardize the safety of all the passengers."

Other passengers stood at their seats to see what was happening in the front of the economy-class section. Some called 911.

In a passenger's video obtained by The Associated Press, a woman can be heard sobbing while another woman reassures her, "It's OK ... thank goodness we're on the ground."

The pilot radioed air traffic controllers for permission to return to the gate and to be met by airport police.

American Airlines spokesman Ed Martelle confirmed that "an incident occurred involving some of the cabin crew," and that two flight attendants were taken to local hospitals for treatment. He declined to provide their names or information about their injuries or conditions.

Martelle said the cabin crew was replaced before the plane took off for Chicago's O'Hare Airport behind schedule. He said customers were not in danger at any time.

A spokesman for Dallas Fort Worth Airport said no state criminal charges were being considered.

FBI spokeswoman Lydia Maese said agents responded as they routinely do when there is a report of a possible crime on a jetliner, but they decided that there was no need to investigate further.

Airline industry officials said incidents such as Friday's are extremely rare. A JetBlue Airways flight attendant, Steven Slater, made a flamboyant exit from his job in 2010 when he took over the Public Address system, cursed a passenger, snatched a beer, pulled the emergency chute and slid to the tarmac. Slater said he cracked under the pressure of health and family problems.

The Federal Aviation Administration requires pilots to pass medical and psychological tests, but it doesn't require the same for flight attendants. American declined to say whether it screens applicants for mental health.

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New technology to drive Internet faster

Lightning-quick net speeds, more robust connections and a big increase in network capacity at little extra cost may now be possible, thanks to the ground-breaking fibre-optic technology, under a new project.

The project, known as Sardana, involving a consortium of European universities and research institutes, has demonstrated speeds of up to 10 Gigabits per second (Gbps), around 2,000 times quicker than the fastest Internet speed today.

Researchers also showed that such speeds can be achieved at relatively little extra cost using existing fibre infrastructure. Though still in the experimental stages, the fully optical technology would mark a giant leap forward in fibre network performance.

"We are proposing a new access network architecture using fibre to the home that provides new functionalities and extended performance," said Josep Prat, researcher in optical communications, Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC) Spain and scientific coordinator of the Sardana project.

According to some estimates, yearly global Internet traffic will need to be measured in Zettabytes (one trillion Gigabytes) within the next three years, a four-fold increase from today and the data equivalent of all the movies ever made passing through operators' networks every five minutes, according to an university statement.

Streaming video from sites such as YouTube and Netflix will account for most of the traffic, alongside more widespread use of similarly bandwidth-demanding video conferencing and telepresence applications.

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Talk of Third Front is a good idea: Akhilesh

New Delhi:  Akhilesh Yadav, who will soon be the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister riding a tidal wave that swept his Samajwadi Party to power, says that a Third Front is a good idea.
The 38-year-old, who won UP on a forward-looking agenda, said today that all the recent debate about a political Third Front was a good beginning. Only yesterday, his father and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had said that there was no talk of a Third Front yet.
Mulayam Singh has been one of the pivots of efforts over the years to consolidate smaller parties of the country and the Left into a non-Congress, non-BJP front as an electoral option at the Centre. Speculation about a Third Front has gained momentum ever since the Congress, which heads a troubled coalition at the Centre, got a drubbing in the assembly elections in Punjab and UP, with talk that UPA allies like Mamata Banerjee might not be averse to walking over to such a third front. This amid reports that regional parties that rule states or that sense a chance to do well in their states are now are looking at the possibility of new alignments and early general elections. Parties like the BJP and its Punjab ally Akali Dal have talked openly about early elections.

Akhilesh Yadav is not looking at early general elections. He said today that, "The chances of a mid-term poll happening doesn't look likely." Mr Yadav was also at pains to explain that his focus was UP and only that.
The SP leader did however extend an invitation to UPA partner Mamata Banerjee to attend his swearing-in ceremony. He also invited J Jayalalithaa, AIADMK chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister. After initially indicating that she would go attend both Mr Yadav's swearing-in and that of the Akalis in Punjab, Ms Banerjee's party said that because the Assembly session in West Bengal begins this week, Ms Banerjee will remain in Kolkata but will send representatives to Lucknow and Chandigarh. Her changed itinerary followed a warning from the Congress which spelled out its displeasure. There are reports that Ms Banerjee is being looked upon reportedly being wooed as a possible partner is there is a move to launch Third Front.
Now there are reports that Mamata Banerjee is not going to Chandigarh for the Akali swearing in, but NCP chief and another Congress ally Sharad Pawar is likely to attend.  
The Congress though can take heart from words from Bihar. Both sides of the political spectrum in the state - Lalu Prasad Yadav of the RJD and Nitish Kumar of the JD(U) - rule out the possibility of a Third Front in the near future.  Nitish Kumar who is Chief Minister of  Bihar and runs a government in partnership with the BJP said, "We can't see anything shaping up in the form of a third front right now."
Lalu Prasad was more eloquent. "It is a closed chapter. I have a bitter-sweet experience of the third front. But I see no signs of it," he said. Lalu Prasad also said he did not see the possibility of mid-term elections.

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DMK wants India to vote against Sri Lanka for alleged war crimes

Chennai/New Delhi:  The DMK, a senior partner in the UPA, has said that India must vote against Sri Lanka next week in Geneva at a session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. The resolution has been moved by the US and India had hinted that it would support its neighbour. The DMK wants both Houses of Parliament to discuss this tomorrow and commit to a vote against Sri Lanka.
That's largely due to excerpts from a documentary shot in Sri Lanka that will be aired on Channel 4 this week in the UK. The film shows a 12-year-old lying dead with five bullet holes in his chest. "The boy's name is Balachandran Prabhakaran; he is the son of the LTTE leader, Vellupillai Prabakaran. He has been executed in cold blood," said the documentary's maker, Callum Macrae, in an interview to the Independent newspaper. In the same paper, Mr. Macrae says the video "seems to have been shot [as] a grotesque trophy video by Sri Lankan forces."
TKS Elangovan of the DMK said that party chief M Karunanidhi has seen the video and has made it clear that India cannot support Sri Lanka, or abstain during the Geneva vote. He said the party will consider later whether to exit the UPA if it's demand is not met. Sri Lanka has rejected the claims made by the documentary about alleged war crimes. "The Lankan Government is in the process of reconciliation and taking steps to bridge gaps. We don't need extra regional intervention in our region. It's uncalled for," said Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India.

The 60-minute documentary titled Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished corrodes Sri Lanka's opposition to the resolution moved by the US. What America has asked for is an inquiry into human rights violations and the alleged execution of civilians by Sri Lankan soldiers. The DMK, a major ally in the UPA, wants a discussion tomorrow morning in the Rajya Sabha on whether India will vote against Sri Lanka. In Chennai,  DMK leader M Karunanidhi said, "India should support the US resolution against Lanka in UNHRC...lots of human rights violations have taken place in Sri Lanka." India had hinted earlier that it would support its neighbor during the vote but the new documentary may provoke a reassessment.
Sri Lankan officials have rejected the claims - both in the new documentary and in another last year that also aired on Channel 4 - that the end of their country's 26-year-long civil war included atrocities that catalogue unimaginable war crimes against the island's Tamils.

"The UN reported that over 40,000 people died in weeks. This is appalling. India has a great opportunity to raise this at UN General Assembly. India as a neighbour must act at least now," said Suren Surendiran, a spokesperson for the Global Tamil Forum.

But a faction also warns India that the consequences of voting against Sri Lanka could be grave.

"Support for such adventurist resolutions will make India vulnerable to future resolutions on Kashmir and Manipur," said Subramanian Swamy, the Janata Party President who is from Tamil Nadu.

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India vs Pakistan semi-final not under investigation: ICC

New Delhi: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday dismissed the claim made by a newspaper that it is investigating the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan.

In a statement, the ICC Chief Executive Mr Haroon Lorgat said: "The story carried by the newspaper, in which it has claimed that the ICC is investigating the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 semi-final between India and Pakistan, is baseless and misleading. The ICC has no reason or evidence to require an investigation into this match.

"It is indeed sad for spurious claims to be made which only serve to cause doubt on the semi-final of one of the most successful ICC Cricket World Cups ever," added the release.

The ICC statement comes on the back of reports in The Sunday Times which suggested that bookmakers offer thousands of pounds to the players. About 44,000 pounds to batsmen for slow scoring, 50,000 pounds for bowlers who concede runs and 750,000 pounds for a player or official who can guarantee a match outcome.

The newspaper's report also alleged that corruption tainted last year's World Cup semi-final between India and Pakistan.

The fixers claimed to have recruited players from countries, including England, using a Bollywood actress as a honeytrap. (Also read: Match-fixing: Bookies using Bollywood honey traps to lure cricketers?)

A Delhi bookmaker has told the newspaper that county cricket "is a good market" as it involves "low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle".

The paper said it had passed on all the informations it gathered from its investigation to the ICC, who said it would investigate into these "serious allegations".

"We are grateful for the information you have provided and will launch an inquiry into these serious allegations.

"Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars being bet on every match, the threat of corrupters seeking to influence the game has not gone away," an ICC spokesperson had been quoted as saying.

In its release the ICC added that "In keeping with its policy, the ICC will make no further comment on matters pertaining to the Anti-Corruption and Safety Unit (ACSU)."

(With Inputs from PTI)

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Rahul Dravid's superstitions and his moment of anger

New Delhi: Rahul Dravid's wife, Vijeeta, always kept a low-profile and played the role of his support system to perfection, but when he chose to call it a day, she revealed how cricket shaped up his life.

In her tribute column for ESPNcricinfo, Vijeeta said: "I am his wife, not a fan, and the reason I am writing this is to give you an insight into the role cricket has played in his life, and to take that in for myself at the end of his 16-year international career."

"Just after we got married, I remember him saying to me that he hoped to play for 'the next three or four years', and that he would need me there to support him in that time. Now that he has retired, I think: 'Not bad. We've done far better than the three or four years we thought about in May 2003'," she said.

Vijeeta also wrote at length about how Rahul prepared for his match. "Cricket has been the centre of Rahul's world and his approach to every season and series has been consistent in all the time we have been married. Methodical, thoughtful and very, very organised. When I travelled with him for the first time, in Australia in 2003-04, I began to notice how he would prepare for games - the importance of routines, and his obsession with shadow practice at odd hours of day or night. I found that weird. Once, I actually thought he was sleepwalking," she wrote.

Vijeeta revealed that on match days, Rahul wanted his space and his silence. He didn't like being rushed, not for the bus, not to the crease.

She also disclosed the superstitious side of Rahul. "Like all players, Rahul has his superstitions. He doesn't try a new bat out for a series, and puts his right thigh pad on first. Last year before the Lord's Test, he made sure to sit in the same space Tillakaratne Dilshan had occupied in the visitors' dressing room when he scored nearly a double-hundred earlier in the season. Rahul scored his first hundred at Lord's in that game," she revealed.

No cricket fan as ever seen Monk-like Dravid lose his cool, but Vijeeta said that though only dropped catches upset him, he once got angry because the team lost badly. "Only once, I remember, he returned from a Test and said, 'I got a bit angry today. I lost my temper. Shouldn't have done that.' He wouldn't say more. Many months later, Viru (Sehwag) told me that he'd actually thrown a chair after a defeat to England in Mumbai. He'd thrown the chair, Viru said, not because the team had lost but because they had lost very badly."

She said cricket has made Dravid a person that he is. "Cricket has made Rahul who he is, and I can say that he was able to get the absolute maximum out of his abilities as an international cricketer."

"What next for him? I know he likes his routine and he's in a good zone when he is in his routine, so we will have to create one at home for him. Getting the groceries could be part of that. A cup of tea in the morning for his wife would be a lovely bonus, I would think, particularly now that he doesn't have to take off for the gym or for training at the KSCA at the crack of dawn," she said.

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BJP wants discussion on Lokpal Bill in Rajya Sabha tomorrow

New Delhi:  Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has asked the Opposition to allow Parliament to function in the Budget Session that began today, but the BJP is working to its own plan. On Day 2 of the session, tomorrow, it wants Question Hour suspended for a discussion on the Lokpal Bill in the Rajya Sabha. A demand that puts it on collision course with the government, which would like to discuss the Bill only later in the session. Will there be another Lokpal logjam?
The Opposition had stalled much of the Winter Session three months ago on the Lokpal Bill issue. The anti-graft Bill was finally passed by the Lok Sabha in an extended Winter Session last December, but the one day allotted for discussion and voting in the Rajya Sabha was not enough and the government threw up its hands at the midnight hour on December 29, saying there were too many amendments for it to be passed in that session. The Opposition cried foul and has carried over its angst to the Budget Session.     
The BJP's Arun Jaitley, who is the Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, gave an early indication of what to expect from an aggressive Opposition when he told NDTV on Sunday, "The last session ended on a terrible note. When the government, in order to avoid a vote in the Rajya Sabha on the amendments to the Lokpal Bill, disturbed the session and had it adjourned. Logically, since they wanted time to consider those amendments. I'm sure they've had more than sufficient time. Logically, therefore, the session must take off from where it ended last time. We want the Lokpal Bill to be taken up first."
The government has said it is committed to passing the Bill this time and has promised to list it for discussion in the second half of the Budget Session. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal said, "All the amendment notices from the last session have lapsed. New notices will have to be given and they have started coming in. The government will then have to review and analyze these. The government is hoping to produce a comprehensive Lokpal bill that will prove a barrier to corruption."
The BJP says it is ready with its fresh notices for amendment and it is not ready to push the discussion to another day. Or, at the very least, it wants an action plan on the Lokpal Bill spelt out by the government before other business can begin in this session.
For the government, the priority right now is the vote on account and Parliament's Business Advisory Committee has also listed an early discussion on Centre-State relations in view of the protests from many regional parties that rule states, which say that the proposed National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) is against the very tenets of federalism.
That discussion would be key to the Congress-led UPA government's political plans as well. For the Lokpal Bill it needs ally Trinamool Congress and parties like the Samajwadi Party and the BSP firmly by its side. It hopes to that by taking up the NCTC issue; one of the main opponents to the NCTC is the Trinamool Congress. Mamata Banerjee has assured the government that she will not rock the boat, but Opposition leaders have hinted that they will reach out to her and other UPA allies on the issue of federalism. As an ally Ms Banerjee does not have the best record for sticking by the UPA on all issues. She has also often accused the Congress of taking allies like her for granted, and of not consulting them before announcing big-ticket policy changes.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today that he was confident of his government's numbers - he has been called upon to make that assertion after the Congress fared poorly in assembly elections held in five states, including UP, recently. The UP results put paid to the Congress's hopes of an easing of coalition equations at the Centre. The whipping the Congress got has also led to much speculation about a Third Front that would include Ms Banerjee. Parties like Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Naveen Patnaik's BJD have reportedly begun coveting Ms Banerjee's political support as leaders have begun talking about early elections. Dr Singh will host a dinner for his allies tomorrow.
And as the government attempts to keep its UPA flock together through statements of hope and diplomacy dinners, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who will present the Union Budget on March 16 and Mr Bansal also met senior BJP leaders Sushma Jaitley and LK Advani to get their support for the smooth running of the Budget Session.
In this session, the government has its hands full. It has to deftly push important legislation and attempt a reform-oriented General Budget with an aggressive Opposition and allies with a populist agenda never failing to remind it of the tenuous majority it has in the Lok Sabha and its lack of numbers in the Rajya Sabha.
On the first day of the session, it used President Pratibha Patil's address to detail its strategy on the several big challenges it faces. The Presidential address, lasting over an hour, to a joint sitting of Parliament, saw five disruptions as Opposition parties and allies got up in protest on various issues.

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LTTE chief's son executed, claims documentary; will India vote against Lanka?

Colombo:  A documentary shot in Sri Lanka, to be aired on Channel 4 this week, shows a 12-year-old lying dead with five bullet holes in his chest. "The boy's name is Balachandran Prabhakaran; he is the son of the LTTE leader, Vellupillai Prabakaran. He has been executed in cold blood," said the documentary's maker, Callum Macrae, in an interview to the Independent newspaper. In the same paper, Mr. Macrae says the video "seems to have been shot [as] a grotesque trophy video by Sri Lankan forces."

The 60-minute documentary titled Sri Lanka's Killing Fields: War Crimes Unpunished corrodes Sri Lanka's opposition to a resolution moved by the US at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) session in Geneva. What America has asked for is an inquiry into human rights violations and the alleged execution of civilians by Sri Lankan soldiers. India's vote on the resolution will be closely watched.

Sri Lankan officials have rejected the claims - both in the new documentary and in another last year that also aired on Channel 4 - that the end of their country's 26-year-long civil war included atrocities that catalogue unimaginable war crimes against the island's Tamils.

"The Lankan Government is in the process of reconciliation and taking steps to bridge gaps. We don't need extra regional intervention in our region. It's uncalled for," said
Prasad Kariyawasam, the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in India, about the resolution in Geneva that will be put to vote soon.
India had hinted that it would support its neighbor during the vote but the new documentary may provoke a reassessment.

"The UN reported that over 40,000 people died in weeks. This is appalling. India has a great opportunity to raise this at UN General Assembly. India as a neighbour must act at least now," said Suren Surendiran, a spokesperson for the Global Tamil Forum.
The DMK, which is a senior partner in the coalition at the Centre, has begun urging the government to support the rights of the Tamil people. The DMK has given notice in the Rajya Sabha for the suspension of question hour tomorrow  for discussing India's stand on the matter. In Parliament today, as the budget session commenced, MPs from the party shouted loudly, referring to the Geneva resolution. "India should support US resolution against Lanka in UNHRC...lots of human rights violations have taken place in Sri Lanka," DMK chief M Karunanidhi said today.
But a faction also warns India that the consequences of voting against Sri Lanka could be grave.  

"Support for such adventurist resolutions will make India vulnerable to future resolutions on Kashmir and Manipur," said Subramanian Swamy, the Janata Party President who is from Tamil Nadu.

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Seven-year-old boy dragged 100 metres in an accident

Mumbai:  In a horrific incident, a seven-year-old boy was dragged 100 meters in an accident by a man driving a car.

The incident occurred on March 9 in the Kharghar area of Navi Mumbai. The car was being driven by 31-year-old Rohit Katake, a resident of the area.

As a result of the accident, the skin on the boy's forehead got peeled off. He will now have to undergo skin grafting. A plastic surgery will be performed on him tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a case of rash driving and negligence has been registered against Mr Katake.

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January IIP: Industry beats gloomy forecast, grows 6.8%

India’s industrial output, measured by the index of industrial output or IIP, registered a brisk growth of 6.8 per cent for January 2012, a rate much higher than the expected 2.1 per cent by experts, as well as the 1.8 per cent expansion in December 2011.

However, data released on Monday showed that manufacturing grew at a feisty 8.5 per cent and electricity at 3.2 per cent over the corresponding period in the previous year. Mining, which has been hit in multiple states by bans, registered negative growth of 2.7 per cent.

Capital goods recorded a negative growth of 1.5 per cent while consumer goods grew at a rapid 20.2 per cent. In fact, consumer goods were dragged by negative growth in consumer durables of 6.8 per cent over the corresponding period last year.

The IIP numbers are encouraging, said C. Rangarajan, the chairman of the Prime Minister’s Economic Advisory Council, and a former governor of the Reserve Bank of India, but added that the “behavior of consumer durables was disappointing”.

The growth in IIP is particularly welcome, given that GDP growth has also been slow: numbers for the quarter ended December 2011 showed that the Indian economy grew at a leisurely 6.1 per cent, the slowest pace of growth since 2008.

However, indicators of an uptick in manufacturing were to indicated in the manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), which jumped to an 8-month high of 57.5 in January.

The February PMI survey showed continued healthy expansion. Though the headline pace slowed slightly to 56.6, new orders touched a 10-month high.

IIP was widely expected to be dragged down by weak growth in the core sector – comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity – which slowed to a mere 0.5 per cent growth in January.

Earlier data showed that core sector growth – comprising coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity -- slowed to 3.1 per cent in December 2011, from 6.3 per cent in the year-ago period.

The decline in both capital goods and consumer durables, however, reveal critical chinks in the growth story. A growth in capital goods, such as machinery and equipment, that are key inputs for industry, suggests investment by industry and is an important measure of confidence in the economy.

The slowdown in January indicates that corporates are still cagey about demand and are therefore unwilling to invest in capital goods at this point, as well as an unwillingness to take on high-interest debt to fund such expansion.

Similarly, the slowdown in consumer durables – usually big ticket, one-time purchases that household make and are typically lifestyle choices – shows demand on the part of consumers who are also likely holding on to their capital. Additionally, rising inflation at the retail level has meant that there is less money left over for expensive buys, especially at the beginning of the year when prices have returned to a full level.

Industry bodies have been calling for cuts in interest rates, demands that have acquired stridency despite a 0.75 per cent cut in the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), or the portion of deposits banks must keep with the Reserve Bank, on Friday.

The CRR cut is expected to release Rs48,000 crore into the system, but with a liquidity deficit of over Rs 1 trillion, experts say interest cuts are still the need of the day to boost investment and expansion in industry.

The Year So Far: IIP in Fiscal 2012

January 2012 (forecast)            2.1%

 December                                1.8%

 November                                5.9%

 October                                  -4.7%

September                                2%

August                                      3.6%

July                                           3.8%

June                                          9.5%

May                                           6.2% 

April 2011                                 5.3%

(With inputs from Thomson Reuters 2012)

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Wake up, sleepyhead! On camera, a reporter snoozes

All in a day's work for this TV reporter in the US apparently involves long naps. The camera cut live to him for his input on the Republican race for the presidential candidacy. Presumably, a raise this year isn't likely.

Video courtesy: youtube.com/user/Duffy1025

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Documents allegedly link Farooq Abdullah to J&K cricket scam

Srinagar:  Amidst allegations of his complicity in what is being called as the Jammu & Kashmir cricket scam, Union Minister and senior National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah today denied that there was "any embezzlement of funds." NDTV has, in its possession, documents that purportedly show that Mr Abdullah, who also heads the J&K Cricket Association (JKCA), recommended a loan of almost Rs. 2 crore in favour of his close aide Ehsan Mirza, who has been sacked on charges of embezzlement.

The documents comprise copies of bank account statements and a letter purportedly signed by Mr Abdullah recommending that Mr Mirza, a former treasurer of the state's cricket association, be given a loan of Rs. 1.90 crore against deposits of the cricket association at the Khanyar Branch of J&K Bank. The account in this branch is allegedly one of the many bogus accounts being operated from four banks by Mr Mirza. Most of the money, which had been sent by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for the promotion of the sport in the state, was landing in the 'shadow' accounts of the cricket association.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Abdullah clarified that Mr Mirza had extended an interest-free loan to the cricket association during the time its accounts had been sealed by the courts. It was this amount, to the tune of Rs. 1.91 crore, which was cleared by the association through a resolution to pay back Mr Mirza. "I have never taken a penny from the Jammu & Kashmir Cricket Association in any form," he said.

Mr Mirza is accused of defrauding the association of over Rs. 30 crore after allegedly opening bogus bank accounts on its behalf. The money was meant for promoting cricket in the state. Mr Mirza has since been sacked and an FIR has been registered against him and another office-bearer of the association.

Mr Abdullah's clarification comes after the main opposition party in the state, PDP, today demanded an FIR against Mr Abdullah and a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the scam. Raising the issue in the state Assembly today, PDP leader Mehooba Mufti said, "Every young man in the state wants to play cricket, wants to be Sachin Tendulkar. We have several crores available in the JKCA, which is headed by Farooq Abdullah. Money from the association is being embezzled."

In response, Mr Abdullah said, "I'm too clean for Mehbooba Mufti to rub dirt on me," adding that the "law will take its own course". But despite his clarifications, questions are being  raised as to how he could recommend the loan against the JKCA deposits in a bank running a 'shadow' account.

It was Mr Abdullah's political advisor, Mohd Aslam Gone, who had recently told reporters about the alleged embezzlement and had accused Mr Mirza of executing the scam. Farooq Abdullah's National Conference rules Jammu and Kashmir and his son Omar Abdullah is the chief minister of the state.

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Match-fixing: Bookies using Bollywood honey traps to lure cricketers?

New Delhi: Illegal Indian bookmakers remain uncowed by successful prosecutions against professional cricketers involved in match-fixing judging by an undercover investigation by the Sunday Times. The UK newspaper has brought yet more claims that corruption opportunities remain rife and have again brought into question the ability of the ICC to police the game without concerted support from the authorities worldwide. (Also read: Home boards should do more to crack down on fixing: Ex-ICC Chief)

The ICC has routinely promised that it will investigate the claims uncovered by the newspaper's investigation. An Indian bookmaker boasted that he and his associates could fix games worldwide, but no specific players or matches were mentioned. (Also Read: ICC to probe county match-fixing charges)

The bookmaker repeated claims that a match in the later stages of the World Cup last year was fixed, but offered no evidence to substantiate rumours that first surfaced on internet websites even as the match was taking place. (Also Read: Was India vs Pakistan World Cup semi-final fixed?)

Among the most startling claims is that bookmakers have now resorted to honey traps by using Bollywood actresses to tempt cricketers into corruption. Players holding discussions with unidentified businessmen are now immediately under suspicion, but beautiful girls have tracked cricketers on tour since the game began and the tactic could prove harder for the ICC to monitor and control.

In the past six months, jail sentences have been meted out to three Pakistan players - Salman Butt, captain at the time, and two fast bowlers, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif; Meryvn Westfield has become the first player to receive a custodial sentence for fixing in English county cricket; and, in the High Court in London, Chris Cairns' libel action against the former IPL commissioner, Lalit Modi, has brought allegations about corruption in the now-defunct Indian Cricket League into focus.

Add barely concealed concerns within the international players' association (FICA) about the potential for corruption in Bangladesh's new Twenty20 league and the ICC's anti-corruption unit will be keenly aware that it has reached a pivotal point in its worldwide attempts to clean up the game.

The Sunday Times investigation reported the bookmaker's claims that "tens of thousands of pounds are on offer to fix matches, typically £44,000 ($70,000) to batsmen for slow scoring; £50,000 ($80,000) for bowlers who concede runs; and as much as £750,000 ($1.2m) to players or officials who can guarantee the outcome of a match."

The bookmaker, surreptitiously captured on low-quality video, boasted that he could fix big international events such as Test matches, Twenty20s, games in both the Indian Premier League and Bangladesh Premier League, and county matches in England. The person reportedly told the paper that English county cricket was a growing market for fixing since the matches were low profile.

Suggestions that English county matches are particularly vulnerable "because nobody monitors them" accentuates the belief that county cricket faces one of the most crucial seasons in its history.

A Delhi bookmaker was reported as saying: "English county cricket is a good new market. They are low-profile matches and nobody monitors them. That's why good money can be made there without any hassle if we can get the players to play for us."

The ECB has already strengthened its anti-corruption education programme in the wake of the Westfield affair with all players instructed to complete an awareness course before the start of the 2012 season and the establishment of a hotline at Lord's to report suspicious activities.

Another bookmaker claimed that he had worked with players from most of the main cricketing nations to fix games, but that he had turned down the chance to work with New Zealand players because it was not worthwhile with more lucrative match-fixing opportunities on offer in the IPL. "I was invited to strike a deal with some New Zealanders but I didn't go," he said. "The IPL starts on April 4; then everyone will be doing it." (Also Read: New Zealand Cricket slams 'baseless' fixing claims)

The newspaper quoted an ICC spokesman as saying: "Betting on cricket in the legal and illegal markets continues to grow rapidly and, with many, many millions of dollars being bet on every match, the threat of corrupters seeking to influence the game has not gone away."

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12-year-old shot dead by drunk Delhi police officer

New Delhi:  A 12-year-old boy was shot dead by a drunk Delhi police constable, who opened fire during a marriage ceremony in the capital, police said on Monday.

The incident took place around 11.15 pm on Sunday at Dhaka village in north Delhi's Mukherjee Nagar.

Tarun Chauhan, a class 7th student studying in a government school, received a bullet in his chest when the accused opened celebratory fire at the marriage ceremony.

"He was rushed to Sushruta Trauma Centre in the Civil Lines area where doctors declared him brought dead," said a senior police officer.

The accused, identified as Jai Baba, 35, is deputed as a constable in the Delhi Police crime branch. He has been arrested and a case registered against him.

Manmeet, a cousin of the bride, had invited Baba and Sanjay, a constable deputed in west Delhi's Subhash Place police station, to the ceremony.

The accused had consumed alcohol during the ceremony along with Sanjay and three-four other friends.

"After consuming alcohol, they were on the dance floor where Baba took out his service revolver and fired two shots in the air. He then fired a straight shot. The bullet pierced the victim's chest who was also dancing on the stage," said the official.

The enraged relatives of the victim beat up the accused and handed him over to police, said the official.

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Rakhi Sawant visits Parliament with advice for Pranab and Ramdev

New Delhi:  Publicity queen Rakhi Sawant never misses an opportunity to hog the limelight. And she has done it again.

The actor was at Parliament at the start of the Budget Session. "No one invited me, I just came randomly, just to meet parliamentarians."

"I am here to know the Budget. I want to see how leaders are working," she said. "I want to request Sonia Gandhi that there should be something for the women too," she added.

Rakhi had some words of appreciation for the Finance Minister. "I have full confidence that Pranab Mukherjee would make a good Budget," she said.

She also had some words of advice for yoga guru Baba Ramdev. "I respect Baba Ramdev. He should do yoga and keep quiet."

Last year, Rakhi created a stir when she expressed her desire to marry Baba Ramdev. She also spoke about how she admired Rahul Gandhi.

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Seems like mid-term polls are around the corner: Sukhbir Singh Badal

Chandigarh:  Ahead of its swearing-in ceremony in Punjab, Akali Dal's leader Sukhbir Singh Badal added to the mid-term polls clamour by saying that they are around the corner because the UPA government has failed to make policy decisions.

"It seems like it (mid-term polls are around the corner). If you look through the country, the Congress party is being wiped out because their performance has been so bad. I have been talking to a lot of industrialists and they want an immediate change. The country and the government of India has come to a standstill," Mr Badal told NDTV.

"The growth rate has gone down, and inflation has gone up; there is financial chaos in this country," he added.

He also said that he has invited West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to the swearing-in ceremony on March 15, but Mr Badal is not sure if she will attend. (Read: Mamata keeps Congress on the edge)

"We are all Indians, we are a part of a family. Personal relations are above party lines.  It's a wrong projection by the media. It doesn't mean that somebody in Congress is our enemy. But I am not sure if she (Ms Banerjee) is attending" Mr Badal said.

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Cabinet defers decision on presidential reference to Supreme Court on 2G cases

New Delhi:  The Cabinet today deferred a decision on the presidential reference to the Supreme Court on the issue of telecom licences in view of the court's verdict in the 2G scam case. In a meeting that lasted nearly two hours this evening, the Cabinet decided that Solicitor General Rohinton Nariman will brief it on the presidential reference and the Cabinet will only take a final decision after the Solicitor General's briefing.
In January, the Supreme Court cancelled 122 licenses granted in 2008 by then Telecom Minister A Raja for mobile network licenses and accompanying second generation or 2G spectrum; the two judges who delivered the verdict said all national resources must be distributed only through an auction. The licenses revoked by the court had been allocated on a first-come-first-serve basis by A Raja and the judges said this policy was "fundamentally flawed" partly because it presented an advantage to anyone with access to the "corridors of power."
The government has said that while it in no way challenges the verdict of the court, it needs answers on how natural resources should be distributed hereon. The Prime Minister had in February sanctioned a Presidential reference on the matter - which means that the government will formally request President Pratibha Patil to ask the Supreme Court if its order applies to all natural resources.
NDTV has learnt that these are the seven questions that the government is likely to pose to the Supreme Court through the presidential reference:
1) Whether licenses, other than the ones auctioned, were granted illegally?
2) Were all licenses granted on a first-come-first-served basis, upto 2007 granted illegally?
3) If yes, then what steps should be taken by the government to deal with those licenses?
4) If no, is the Government of India obligated to ensure a level-playing field in granting licenses and whether it is required to withdraw spectrum allocated to all existing licenses? Also, should it be with retrospective effect and be charged and at what price and what date?
5) Is dual technology licences illegal and is the government of India required to make a level-playing field and withdraw all spectrum allocated to licensees in 2008? Should they be charged, and at what price and from what date?
6) Does the 3G spectrum auction allotted in 2010 to entities whose licenses have been quashed in the judgement referred to in the above stand withdrawn?
7) Is allocation of spectrum through auction the only legitimate mode even when it is inadequate or there is no competition?
The President can, under Article 143 of the Constitution, refer matters of public interest to the Supreme Court.  The Supreme Court will then set up a bench of either three or five judges to provide clarifications requested by the President. These judges could talk to parties involved with the case or to experts; regular hearings will be held before they share their conclusions. 
The last time such a presidential referral was made was in 2004 for a dispute between Punjab and Haryana over water-sharing.
The 122 licenses that were cancelled in January are at the heart of what's believed to be India's biggest scam. As Telecom Minister, Mr Raja, now in jail for over a year, allegedly granted sweetheart deals to companies who conspired with him - not only did he give them licenses at throwaway prices, but the spectrum they needed was free. Many of the executives of these companies were arrested last year and spent several months in jail before being granted bail.

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Wherever Rahul Gandhi goes, Congress loses: Sukhbir Singh Badal

Chandigarh:  For the first time in the last forty years, Punjab gave a second consecutive term to a party in power. Shiromani Akali Dal's (SAD) Parkash Singh Badal will take oath as the Chief Minister of Punjab for a fifth time on March 14. Today, his son Sukhbir Singh Badal taking a dig at Rahul Gandhi said he will encourage the Congress General Secretary to campaign more.
"Wherever Rahul Gandhi goes, Congress loses...we will encourage him to campaign more," said the SAD president.
The Congress, in Uttar Pradesh, where Rahul had turned the revival of his party into his personal mission, could only add six seats to its earlier total of 22. The added insult comes from Rae Bareli and Amethi - the constituencies of Mr Gandhi and his mother - where the Congress took just two of the 10 assembly seats at stake. Priyanka Gandhi had campaigned extensively in this area and had promised her mother publicly that she would deliver all 10 seats.
Not just UP, Punjab was a disaster for the Congress too. The Congress, which had hoped that the anti-incumbency habit in the state would push it into government, was, however, left with just 46 out of 117 seats. The Congress candidate for chief minister, Captain Amarinder Singh, had predicted his party would defeat the Akalis. He won his seat, but his son, Raninder Singh, lost his constituency.
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Manyata takes over Sanjay Dutt's finances!

By Hindustan Times
He may be one of the highest-paid actors in Bollywood, but when it comes to money issues, Sanjay Dutt prefers to hand over the reins to his wife. Manyata Dutt is now taking financial decisions for Super Fight League (SFL), the actor’s co-venture with Shilpa Shetty’s husband Raj Kundra.
“Since Sanjay is caught up with multiple film projects, Manyata has been making monetary decisions on his behalf. This has come as a huge breather for Sanjay, since he doesn’t get a lot of free time,” says an insider.
The Agneepath actor had admitted in a previous interview that Manyata was more adept at managing finances than him. “But Sanjay is still looking into all the creative aspects of SFL, including the first fight night (on March 11),” the insider adds.
Busy man Sanjay Dutt is currently working on several film projects including Race 2, Zilla Ghaziabad and Munnabhai Ki Aatma Katha
The league marks the entry of mixed martial arts (MMA) tournaments in India. At the launch, actor Bipasha Basu is scheduled to perform alongside singer Mika and percussionist Sivamani. A host of Bollywood stars are expected to attend. Shilpa, who is pregnant with her first child, will also be there.
When contacted, Manyata says, “SFL is our baby. So, all of us are doing our bit to make it a success. And we’ll also do whatever it takes to make the launch function one of the biggest live events India has ever witnessed.” Sanjay is currently working on several film projects including Race 2, Zilla Ghaziabad and Munnabhai Ki Aatma Katha.
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Sand mafia fires at officials probing illegal mining in Madhya Pradesh

Panna, Madhya Pradesh:  Just two days after an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer was allegedly killed by the mining mafia in Madhya Pradesh, officials probing illegal mining were fired at by the sand mafia in the state's Panna district today. The officials, however, managed to escape unhurt.
Alleged members of the sand mafia fired at the sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) and sub-divisional officer (Police). The incident took place at Chandipati village in Ajaygarh area of Panna, over 400 km from Bhopal. The area is situated on the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border.
"Along with SDOP, town inspector and some policemen, we were heading towards the area from where the mafia illegally transport sand. But soon, they started firing at us. We also fired a few rounds in retaliation. We are safe and have demanded more forces, which is reaching the spot," SDM NA Gaud told IANS from the site of the incident.
The SDM said he suspected former dacoit Kuber Singh, who now conducts illegal transportation of sand, as having led the group that fired at them.
Superintendent of police Anal Maheshwari has rushed to the spot.
On Thursday, 30-year-old IPS officer Narendra Kumar was killed when a man driving a tractor ran over him. Mr Kumar had tried to stop the tractor, which was loaded with illegally-mined stones in the Morena district. Mr Kumar spotted the tractor while he was out patrolling. When the driver refused to stop, Mr Kumar got out of his jeep and blocked the tractor's path. The driver ploughed into him. Morena district is rich in stones meant for construction and the sand here is one of the finest in the country. Mr Kumar's family has alleged that his killing was a well-planned conspiracy.
(With IANS inputs)

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Israeli car bomb attack: Man arrested a journalist or spy?

New York:  The family of Syed Mohammed Kazmi, the Indian journalist who has been arrested in connection with the attack on an Israeli diplomat last month, has said that he is an innocent man who spoke the truth and has done a lot for India.
Mr Kazmi was arrested on March 7 under the Explosive Substances Act, for attempt to murder, criminal conspiracy and was also booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.
Mr Kazmi's family feels that he is being punished for exercising his right: freedom of speech, but government sources say it is perhaps too early to come to any conclusion.
Mr Kazmi's son, Taurab Kazmi, while recalling his services to the nation said his father was innocent. "He is a journalist who spoke the truth. He did so much for the country and now he has been arrested for being an international terrorist," he said.
As evidence of his credibility, Mr Kazmi's family has a collection of his photographs with the prime minister, the former prime minister, and a range of national and international leaders.
Though Mr Kazmi had extreme views on the on-going Israel-Palestine conflict, it did not affect his work. He reported for Doordarshan News, covered the Iraq war and was also a retainer with IRNA, Iran's state news agency.
According to sources, agencies investigating the car bomb attack believe that Mr Kazmi helped the bomber, an Iranian national who stayed with him and used his vehicle to recce the Israeli embassy. Sources add the agencies don't think Mr Kazmi did not personally plant the bomb.
Reacting to these allegations, Mr. Kazmi's son Taurab says that no Iranian had ever stayed with them. "No Iranian stayed with us. The vehicle belongs to my uncle he used it go to the hospital," he said.
Sources say the operations to get Kazmi involved Research and Analysis Wing, India's external intelligence agency with support from the Israeli Mossad. His arrest was cleared at the highest levels in the home ministry.
While his family prays for his release, the Delhi Union of Journalists has written to the Delhi Commissioner and Home Minister P Chidambaram asking for Mr Kazmi to be released on bail.
Tal Yeshowa, the wife of an Israeli diplomat was injured in an attack on February 13 in Delhi's high security Race Course Road area. A motorcyclist came from behind and planted what police call a 'sticky bomb' on the vehicle in which she was travelling. Four people were injured in the incident. Ms Yeshowa was hospitalised and operated for spinal injuries before being flown back to Israel.  

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Liverpool's top-4 hopes hit by loss at Sunderland

Sunderland: Denmark striker Nicklas Bendtner scored a second-half winner as Sunderland beat Liverpool 1-0 in the Premier League on Saturday, further denting the visitors' fading hopes of qualifying for next season's Champions League.
Fraizer Campbell's low shot came off the post, hit Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina on his head and rebounded back onto the goal frame, allowing Bendtner to crash home.
Liverpool was poor throughout, barely troubling Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet, and is now 10 points adrift of fourth-place Arsenal and Chelsea, who are level on points in the fight for the final Champions League place.
Bendtner was carried off on a stretcher in the 83rd after clashing with Liverpool defender Martin Skrtel.
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Dance India Dance sets Guinness World Record!

By Hindustan Times
Mithun Chakraborty’s Dance India Dance (DID) has set a new Guinness World Record with the largest Bollywood dance ever performed. On March 1, 4,428 people, along with the masters of Zee TV’s talent hunt, Terrence Lewis and Remo D’Souza and 13 contestants of Season 3, gathered at Mumbai’s KJ Somaiya college grounds. Their aim was to break the previous record set by Terrence in 2011, where 1,336 people participated.
Says the elated Grandmaster Mithun Chakraborty, “DID broke the Guinness record and Dance Bangla Dance, with 126 uninterrupted episodes, has entered the Limca Book of Records. TV is no longer the small screen, it is far more challenging than movies because here every day is judgment day.”
The star points out that he’s always encouraged new talent, be it in the industry or outside. “It’s great to see youngsters copying my steps, particularly the Disco Dancer signature moves. You’ll see me perform the steps in Housefull 2, it’ll bring the house down,” he promises.
Meanwhile, another TV show, Dadagiri, in which he replaced cricketer Sourav Ganguly, is racing towards the century mark. “We were supposed to wrap up in January, but got an extension till March and now it will continue till May. I didn’t want to do it because Sourav was so good, but Zee, with whom I had done other shows, insisted. And now Dadagiri has redefined the concept of quiz shows, and proved that such shows can be intelligent yet entertaining.”
The 64-year-old actor is on a high, the only disappointment for his fans being he’s not got the Padma Shri despite three National Awards, numerous box-office hits and TV records. “Maybe I don’t have the qualities that are worthy of the national honour,” he says. “Also, you need political recommendations.”
The world record-breaking episode will be aired on Zee’s DID on March 20 at 8.30 pm.
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Sonam Kapoor is a big foodie!

By Hindustan Times
Bollywood actor Sonam Kapoor, who is known for her wonderful styling, however can't resist herself when it comes to food. She claims her life revolves around food.
"My whole life revolves around food. While having breakfast I think what I should have for lunch. while having lunch I think what I should eat for dinner," Sonam told IANS during the unveiling of Wassup! Andheri, a three-day art and entertainment festival in the Andheri suburb.
This glamorous actor, who belongs to a Punjabi family, loves feeding people. She said: "I am a Punjabi and the whole point is I love feeding people and I love getting fed."
Sonam had to lose oodles of weight before she starred in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya.
She is, however, giving a tough time to her dietitian.
"My dietitian has been working on me for quite some time and she has been unsuccessful," the 26-year-old said.
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'Paan Singh Tomar' team to care for former athletes

Mumbai: Who says actors and films do not make a difference to the quality of our life? A biopic on the life of athlete-turned-outlaw Paan Singh Tomar has made its makers aware of their social responsibility. They are set to establish a charitable trust to look after retired, out-of-favour athletes and sportpersons.
The film's director Tigmanshu Dhulia, lead actor Irrfan Khan and producers UTV Motion Pictures are spearheading the trust, which is being called SOS - Save Our Sportspersons.
Dhulia laments the state of former athletes in the country.
"Not everyone is as fortunate as Milkha Singh. We met so many athletes and sportspersons who either died due to poverty or are living wretched lives.
"Four-time Olympics hockey gold medalist Shankar Laxman died due to lack of medical attention. K.D. Yadav, the 1952 Olympics bronze medalist, died penniless. Sarwan Singh, the 1954 Asian Games gold medalist, had to sell his medal for money.
"Asian Games gold medal winner Parduman Singh died penniless. We want to do something to help such people before it's too late," he added.
Dhulia says the move to initiate a trust for needy athletes arose from megastar Amitabh Bachchan's concern for them, after he watched 'Paan Singh Tomar'.
"He saw the film and grew very concerned about how we treat our sportspersons. We've of course been thinking about these unfortunate sportspersons all through the making of our own.
"Our initiative towards helping athletes who have fallen on hard times comes from him," he said.
Armed with the determination to get this project on the way, Dhulia and his team are set to get the SOS project going. Hopefully, Big B would be the face of the project.
Dhulia hopes to discuss the matter with the 69-year-old veteran, who is currently recuperating after two surgeries that he underwent last month.
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Didier Drogba powers Chelsea's win against Stoke

London: Didier Drogba's 100th Premier League goal was enough to beat ten-man Stoke City at Stamford Bridge and maintain Chelsea's challenge for a top four finish.
The win moved the Blues level on points with fourth-placed Arsenal who were due to face Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on Monday.
And Drogba's 68th-minute goal ensured caretaker-manager Roberto Di Matteo savoured victory in his first Premier League game since taking charge of the side following the dismissal of Andre Villas-Boas last weekend.
But Di Matteo - who also oversaw a midweek FA Cup victory at Birmingham - knows his side will have to perform better if they are to overcome a 3-1 first leg deficit when they face Napoli in the Champions League next week.
Stoke were forced to play with ten men for over an hour following the 25th minute dismissal of Ricardo Fuller for a stamp on Branislav Ivanovic.
But while Chelsea dominated possession, they struggled to break the visitors down until Drogba produced an excellent finish following good work by Juan Mata.
The margin of victory could have been greater had a late Mata free kick not struck the woodwork as Stoke tired late on.
But overall, this was a scrappy display that confirmed Chelsea's problems this season and Di Matteo faces a testing challenge if he is to revive the club's campaign.
The caretaker-manager opted to start with Mata and Daniel Sturridge on the bench, perhaps with one eye on the Napoli game.
But the absence of the two forwards did nothing to hinder Chelsea's early attacking moves with the home side quickly laying siege to the Stoke goal.
Ivanovic had clearly been given the green light to get forward at every opportunity and the Serbia defender came close with a fourth minute header from Frank Lampard's corner.
In fact the right back was his side's greatest attacking threat during the first half.
But it was Ivanovic's running tussle with Fuller that led to the decisive moment of opening 45 minutes.
The two had clashed off the ball when Stoke broke rapidly through Jonathan Walters, prompting City manager Tony Pulis to react angrily when no free kick was given.
And the incident clearly left its mark on Fuller who reacted with an ugly stamp on Ivanovic when he was tripped attempting to go past the defender.
A red card was inevitable, leaving Stoke to play with ten men for over an hour.
Already on top, Chelsea should have found it easy to step up the tempo and take control of the game.
But Di Matteo's side struggled to translate their territorial dominance into meaningful chances, even after the Chelsea manager introduced Mata for Raul Meireles after just 37 minutes.
John Terry sent a header against the bar and it took a good save from City keeper Asmir Begovic to deny Ivanovic after the Chelsea man had made a powerful run forward before exchanging a neat one-two with Lampard.
And Ivanovic came closer still four minutes from the break when he lashed a powerful volley against the bar with Begovic with the keeper beaten.
It was clear, though, that Chelsea were growing increasingly frustrated, particularly when Stoke took every opportunity to slow the game down after the break.
Lampard and Terry both fired in long range efforts but Stoke's well organised defence limited the home side's efforts to press further forward.
Chelsea needed a spark of individual quality to find a way through and it almost came in the 66th minute when Drogba curled in a free kick that Begovic did well to claw to safety.
But the keeper was unable to deny the Ivorian two minutes later when the striker was picked out by a superb reverse pass, rounded Begovic and side-footed the ball into the empty net.
Stoke had offered little going forward and, having fallen behind, were never likely to muster a reply.
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Slain IPS officer's wife demands CBI inquiry into death

Aligarh:  Two days after an Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Narendra Kumar, was killed when a man driving a tractor ran over him in Madhya Pradesh's Morena district, his wife today demanded a CBI inquiry into the incident. The 30-year-old IPS officer was apparently killed for trying to combat illegal mining in the state.
"One day you say it is a murder and the other you don't - this is not acceptable. You might as well keep your mouth shut. I expect a CBI inquiry. If this happens, I will be more than happy and obliged. If someone has done something good for the country, you can't just get hold of the driver and feel that it is enough. You need to start from the roots to eradicate this mafiasm," said Mr Kumar's wife Madhurani Tewatia, who is an IAS officer and is expecting their first child.
Ms Tewatia's comments come after the local police denied that the driver was part of a larger conspiracy to assassinate Mr Kumar, as alleged by his family. One of the senior policemen handling the case, DP Gupta, said that going by eyewitness accounts and evidences available so far, it appears that the driver had no links with the mining mafia.
"If you can't give protection to an officer, you can't expect them to protect your people and state. If this has happened with me, I will definitely follow it up. I won't let it go so easily," Ms Tewatia also said.
Ms Tewatia's demand for a CBI inquiry comes on a day the Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh ordered a judicial inquiry to investigate the murder of Mr Kumar.
Mr Kumar was killed on Thursday when a man driving a tractor ran over him.  Mr Kumar had tried to stop the tractor, which was loaded with illegally-mined stones in the Morena district. Mr Kumar spotted the tractor while he was out patrolling. When the driver refused to stop, Mr Kumar got out of his jeep and blocked the tractor's path. The driver ploughed into him. Morena district is rich in stones meant for construction and the sand here is one of the finest in the country.
Mr Kumar was posted at Banmore as a Sub Divisional Officer of Police (SDOP) a month ago and had taken on the mining mafia by cancelling several licenses and seizing a number of trucks and tractors engaged in illegal quarrying.
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Gonda: Woman set on fire for resisting rape

Lucknow:  A 22-year-old woman in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh, was burned after she resisted a rape attempt on Saturday.
As per her account, her child had gone to a nearby shop when an unknown man entered her house and started harassing her. When he moved to close the door, she ran out of the house. She returned after some time, believing that the man had left. As she was feeding her child, the man came from behind, poured kerosene over her and set her on fire. She said the man was attempting to rape her.
The woman had been hospitalised with serious burn injuries. A report has been registered by the police.
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Mamata Banerjee to attend swearing-in ceremonies of Punjab and UP chief ministers

Kolkata:  In what might be seen as a snub to the Congress, West Bengal Chief Minister and the UPA's most troublesome ally at the Centre, Mamata Banerjee, will attend the swearing-in ceremonies of the chief ministers of Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Reports earlier on Saturday suggested that Mamata would decline the invitation from Akali Dal to attend Parkash Singh Badal's swearing in on March 14.
"Just learnt that Mamatadi will be going to both Lucknow & Chandigarh for the CM swearing in ceremonies (sic)," tweeted Trinamool Congress (TMC) spokesperson Derek O'Brien on Saturday night.
In Punjab, the Akalis have been voted back to power with their partner, the BJP.  The Congress had counted on winning the state. Ms Banerjee's presence at the ceremony next week will be seen as an indication of her increasingly warm relations with Congress rivals like Naveen Patnaik of Odisha. Ms Banerjee has been a loud voice in a campaign by Chief Ministers who say the Centre is a serial offender of the principles of federalism.
Before Mamata's u-turn on her decision to skip the Akali Dal's invitation, earlier on Saturday, in no small measure of relief for the Congress, she said "she is not a traitor" and has no plans to create the need for mid-term elections. Ms Banerjee's recent decisions have led to unhappy confrontations with the UPA, of which she is an indispensable member.
Meanwhile, Mr Badal's son, Sukhbir Singh Badal, has explained that his invite to Ms Banerjee has "nothing to do with wooing." "We have invited Chief Ministers from several states because of personal relations Mr Parkash Singh Badal shares with them," he added.
While Congress leader Rashid Alvi declined to comment on the invite extended to Ms Banerjee, Congress General Secretary Shakeel Ahmed, who met Ms Banerjee on Saturday, sought to play down the matter, "Invitation extended to Mamata Banerjee for the swearing-in ceremony should not be seen as a political gesture," he said.
The BJP's Sushma Swaraj said after the recent state elections in Punjab and UP that mid-term polls are likely. Dinesh Trivedi, cabinet minister from Ms Banerjee's party, said this week that he believes his party may prefer mid-term polls to capitalize on the voter preference that gave Ms Banerjee a stunning verdict two years ago. He later said that was his personal view and Ms Banerjee has said in Kolkata that all MPs from her party have been alerted not to share private opinions.
The elections in Punjab and UP have demonstrated the political might of regional parties who their states identify with. Both national parties- the BJP and the Congress-were marginalised. In Punjab, the BJP won fewer seats than it had in the last state elections. It was saved by the strong numbers if its collaborator, the Akalis, with who it now returns to power.
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