Uttar Pradesh government to enact law to protect neglected parents

LUCKNOW: Here comes a good news for aging parents neglected by their children. The state government is mulling over a proposal to enact a law to punish with jail terms those found guilty of not taking care of their elderly parents. Such people would also made duty bound to pay a fixed sum on monthly basis to their parents and can even go to jail.

Disclosing this here social welfare minister Awadhesh Prasad said : "The children who would harass their parents or deny taking their responsibility at old age might be entitled to pay Rs 10,000 per month to them." As for the punishment, he said it could even extend to three months imprisonment.

All the sub-divisional magistrates have been authorised to ensure that the elderlies are getting the fixed amount, he asserted.

Meanwhile, some rules are being laid down in this connection and are being presently scrutinised by the law department of the state, the minister apprised.

Mr Prasad further said that a central law of 2007 in this connection has been enforced by the Akhilesh Yadav government in UP in September last.

In the Act the state government has been asked to construct old-age homes for the elders who are not cared by their children and are financially weak. He also added that further to make the rules effective, suggestions are also being sought from different voluntary organisations and those individuals already engaged in running old-age homes.

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J&K assembly adjourned after furore over Afzal issue

JAMMU: The Jammu and Kashmir assembly was rocked by repeated disruptions on Friday, which ultimately led to the House being adjourned for the day, as various parties demanded that Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru's mortal remains be handed over to his family.

Cutting across party lines, members of the House from the ruling National Conference as well as opposition PDP and CPM had moved adjournment motions seeking discussion on the situation in the aftermath of Guru's execution and handing over of his mortal remains to his family.

Led by the leader of the opposition Mehbooba Mufti, PDP legislators flashed placards and demanded suspension of the business of the House to discuss the issue, with CPM member MY Tarigami, too joining in urging the speaker Mubarak Gul to accept their demand.

But when the speaker tried to pacify them saying that a discussion would be held in due course, PDP members raised slogans like 'Guru ki body ko wapas karoo, wapas karoo' (Return Guru's body).

"If there is a serious issue, (then) you have to suspend the normal business and discuss (it). But I fail to understand the attitude of this government (since yesterday)," Mehbooba Mufti later told reporters here.

The protests continued for over 15 minutes, forcing the speaker to adjourn the House for 45 minutes.

As the House reassembled after the adjournment, the speaker said that he had received adjournment motions of five members of NC besides those from PDP and CPIM and that he would take a view on them.

However, PDP members continued their protest even as the speaker started discussion on the governor's address.

With noisy scenes continuing in the House, the speaker adjourned the House for a second time around noon and later for the day.

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Left returns to power in Tripura for 5th consecutive time; Congress retains Meghalaya

AGARTALA: The Left Front in Tripura today retained power for the fifth consecutive time since 1993 with the coalition securing a three-fourths majority by winning 50 of the 60 Assembly seats.

While CPM, which contested in 55 seats, secured win in 49 seats, coalition partner CPI won one seat of the two it had contested. However, RSP which fought in two seats and Forward Bloc in one, failed to open their accounts.

The Left Front also increased its tally from 49 seats in 2008 and 42 seats in 2003, paving the way for the seventh Left Front government since 1978 in the Northeast state.

The Congress managed to retain 10 seats of the 48 in which it had contested, while allies Indigenous Nationalist Party of Tripura and National Conference of Tripura were unable to win a single seat. The INPT and the NCT had contested in 10 and one seats, respectively.

All ministers of the outgoing ministry except science and technology minister Joy Gobinda Debroy of RSP were re-elected.

Chief minister Manik Sarkar won from the Dhanpur constituency where he defeated his nearest rival -- Congress' Shah Alam -- by 6,017 votes. Sarkar had won by 4,000 votes in the last Assembly elections.

Finance minister Badal Chowdhury made electoral history by defeating his nearest rival, a Congress candidate, by 12,429 votes in the Hrishyamukh constituency.

Other prominent Front leaders who won are Agriculture Minister Aghore Debbarma (Asharambari constituency), Industries Minister Jitendra Chowdhury (Manu) and Jail Minister Manindra Reang (Shantirbazar; ST).

Among Congress winners were Leader of the Opposition Ratan Lal Nath (Mohanpur constituency) and TPCC President Sudip Roy Burman (Agartala).

INPT president Bijoy Hrankhawl (Ambassa) and former TPCC president Surajit Dutta (Ramnagar) were among prominent candidates who lost in electoral battle.

CPM state party secretary Bijan Dhar said: "It is a victory of the people of the state, and a victory of peace and development and good governance of the sixth Left Front government."

Leader of the opposition Ratan Lal Nath said, "We accept defeat and will review the causes for it.

Nagaland for NPF and Congress wins Meghalaya

The Left Front stormed back to power in Tripura and the Naga People's Front (NPF) in Nagaland, while the Congress, which fared poorly in both states, emerged as the single largest party in Meghalaya with two seats short of absolute majority in the assembly election results declared today.

The three outgoing chief ministers of Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya, Manik Sarkar, Neiphu Rio and Mukul Sangma respectively were victorious.

The Left Front, which has won for the fifth consecutive term in Tripura, secured a three fourths majority with 50 of the 60 seats, with major partner CPM itself securing 49.

In Nagaland, NPF swept back to power for the third consecutive time winning absolute majority securing 38 of the 59 seats. Election in one seat was countermanded following the death of a candidate.

Congress could win only 10 of the 48 seats it contested in Tripura while it could manage to win only eight seats compared to the 18 it clinched last time in Nagaland.

In Meghalaya, the Congress bagged 29 of the 60 seats, falling two short of an absolute majority.

But the Congress improved its tally by securing four more than its tally in 2008.

The results were a shot in the arm of Congress chief minister Mukul Sangma who faced stiff opposition from old warhorse P A Sangma whose National People's Party managed to win just two seats.

In Tripura, the Left Front increased its tally from 49 seats in 2008 and 42 seats in 2003 paving the way for the installation of the seventh Left Front government since 1967.

Congress allies INPT and National Conference of Tripura, which had virtually revolted over allocation of seats before being pacified, drew a blank.

All ministers of the outgoing ministry except Science and Technology minister Joy Gobinda Debroy of RSP were re-elected.

Finance minister Badal Chowdhury made electoral history by defeating his nearest Congress rival by 12,429 votes in the Hrishyamukh constituency.

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House panel against considering mercy plea of rape-murder convicts

NEW DELHI: Two months after questioning the rationale behind commuting death sentences of five rape-murder convicts to life imprisonment during then President Pratibha Patil's tenure, a Parliamentary committee has now suggested that the mercy petitions should not be by and large considered for such criminals.

Though the Committee is not in favour of completely knocking out the provision of mercy plea for convicts like those on death row, it wants the government to spell out reasons for grant of pardon.

The Parliament Standing Committee on home affairs - which finalized its report on the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2012 on Tuesday - also recommended the government to expeditiously dispose off any mercy petition.

Besides, the panel has favoured death sentence for rapists in case the victim dies or is left comatose. It has also agreed to replace the word 'rape' with 'sexual assault' - in sync with the Ordinance on criminal law that was promulgated by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 3 - and suggested including all clauses on capital punishment in the new Bill.

Sources in the home ministry said that the government will withdraw the pending Bill and introduce new Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2013, in Parliament next month. The new Bill, replacing the Ordinance, will incorporate these provisions.

Though the matter concerning mercy pleas was not part of the panel's mandate, it is learnt to have suggested in the wake of strong objections raised by a few members over commutation of death sentence of five rapist-murderers to life imprisonment by President Patil between 2010 and 2012.

Members of the Committee - headed by BJP Rajya Sabha member M Venkaiah Naidu - had on December 27, 2012, referred to four cases involving five rapist-murderers while questioning the government's decision.

The cases include that of Uttar Pradesh's Bantu, who was convicted for raping and killing a five-year-old girl. His mercy petition was disposed off in his favour by President Patil last June. Among others whose death sentences were commuted include Moloi Ram and Santosh Yadav of Madhya Pradesh in February 2011, Satish of UP (May, 2012) and Dharmender Singh (June, 2010).

The last such criminal was hanged in the country was West Bengal's Dhananjoy Chatterjee in August, 2004. He was found guilty of raping and killing a 14-year-old girl in 1990.

Under Article 72 of the Constitution, the President's clemency powers can only be exercised under the government's advice. "The President shall have the power to grant pardons, reprieves, respites or remissions of punishment or to suspend, remit or commute the sentence of any person convicted of any offence," the Article says.

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Afzal Guru 'justified' Parliament attack in letter written four years ago

SRINAGAR: Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru had in a letter, purportedly written by him over four years ago, said that there was no need to be ashamed of the December 13 attack on Parliament, but had stopped short of owning any responsibility for it.

In the letter written to editor of a local Urdu weekly, Guru, who was hanged in Delhi's Tihar jail on February 9, asked Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin not to be "ashamed of December 13" and stop terming the attack as a "conspiracy".

Editor of the Urdu weekly Shabnum Qayoom said that he had been receiving Guru's letters and articles and is sure that this letter was written by him.

"I used to receive his (Guru's) letters and articles, so this was nothing new. The handwriting is the same as the previous letters and articles. I do not care if people believe it to be authentic or not," he said.

Asked why he did not publish the letter for four years, he said he did not deem it appropriate.

"I believe he was swept by emotions. He was not involved but he thought that as there was no way for escape, why not accept and achieve martyrdom. I did not think it was appropriate to publish the letter that time as it would have been taken as an evidence against him, but now that he is no more, I went ahead with it," he said.

Guru had said in the letter, "I request Salahuddin to not call the attack of December 13 as a conspiracy. It pains my heart. The attacks are related to Kashmir issue. If the attack was a conspiracy, then the whole struggle is a conspiracy. We should not be ashamed of December 13".

He said as long as the Kashmir issue is kept unresolved, India and its rulers will have "temporary peace".

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Chopper scam: CBI names ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi as suspect

NEW DELHI: Armed with documents from Italy, CBI today named former Air Force Chief S P Tyagi in its preliminary enquiry (PE) into allegations of kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP chopper deal, the second former defence services chief to figure in a scam probe.

Besides the former IAF chief, 10 others including his cousins — Julie, Docsa and Sandeep Tyagi have also been named along with four companies in the PE, CBI sources said here.

CBI has registered the PE to probe allegations that some "middlemen have influenced the deal in favour" of the Italian company AgustaWestland for the supply of 12 AW-101 VVIP/VIP helicopters.

It is also learnt that parent company Finmeccanica paid a commission of seven million Euros (about Rs 50 crore) to the middlemen out of which huge sums were transferred to seven Indian nationals through Tunisia and Mauritius, the PE said.

The money was sent in the garb of engineering contracts with two Indian companies — IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix, it said.

This is the second instance when a former services chief figures in a CBI inquiry. Former Admiral Sushil Kumar was named in a CBI case to probe alleged kickbacks in the purchase of Barak missiles in early 2000.

The sources said suspected European middlemen Carlo Gerosa, Christian Michel and Guido Haschkhe, advocate Gautam Khaitan formerly associated with Aeromatrix and its CEO Praveen Bakshi, former Finmeccanica chairman Giuseppe Orsi, former AgustaWestland CEO Bruno Spagnolini have also been named.

Besides Finmeccanica and AgustaWestland, IDS Infotech and Aeromatrix also figure in the PE, they said.

The team of CBI officials, which returned from Italy with some documents from Finmeccanica and public prosecutor, found enough material in them to start its probe in the alleged payoffs of Rs 362 crore in the helicopter deal, they said.

All the suspects named by the CBI in its PE have denied allegations of receiving or giving kickbacks in the deal.

The sources said the they are likely to be called for questioning in connection with the case.

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Hyderabad blasts: Cops get 'clear clues', question 30 people

HYDERABAD: Investigators are believed to have obtained certain "clear clues" based on CCTV footage at the site of the twin blasts in Hyderabad and questioning of some jailed terror suspects here even as a letter purportedly written by Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) claimed responsibility.

Sources said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh while being briefed by state DGP V Dinesh Reddy here about the progress in the investigations so far was told certain "clear clues" were obtained based on footage of the CCTV cameras at the scene and also questioning of some terror suspects lodged in jails here.

According to the sources, the video footage obtained from the site of blasts showed that three people were found moving suspiciously near bicycles strapped with explosives, just minutes before the explosions. Help of experts were being taken to enhance the footage for clarity.

"We are working in close coordination with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and are hopeful of cracking the case soon," the DGP was said to have told the Prime Minister.

'Lashkar letter'

As multi-probe teams including from NIA analysed the footage and sought details of cycles bought locally, BJP's Andhra Pradesh unit president G Kishan Reddy said he received a threat letter purportedly written by Pakistan-based terror outfit LeT in which it claimed responsibility for the Dilsukhnagar bomb blast on Thursday night.

Police have questioned nearly 30 people in connection with the explosions but yet to make any arrest. 16 people were killed and over 100 injured when two bombs placed on bicycles went off within minutes of each other in which the handiwork of banned militant outfit Indian Mujahideen, which has links with LeT, is being increasingly suspected.

Reddy told reporters he received a letter by post yesterday written in Urdu and English languages.

However, he refused to give a copy of the letter saying he has handed it over to Abids police station. In the letter, the LeT purportedly stated that their next target is Begaumbazar, Reddy claimed. Begumbazar is another crowded wholesale market in the city.

When contacted, Abids police said "we have received a letter from Kishan Reddy today and it is being verified."

Somali, Hyderabadi questioned in Bihar

In a related development, 30-year-old Somalian national Abdullah Umran Makran and a Hyderabad youth Mohammad Adam arrested in Motihari in Bihar on Saturday while trying to sneak into Nepal were subjected to questioning by security agencies on Sunday in the eastern state connection with the blasts.

The Hyderabad police said Adam obtained his driving licence allegedly on fake residential address and they are verifying his antecedents.

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Montek's plane waits in air as cows invade airstrip

DHANBAD: A plane carrying Planning Commission deputy chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia cound not land for quite some time on Saturday due to a cow herd grazing on the airstrip near here and it touched down only after officials stepped in and shooed the cattle away.

The pilot of the plane carrying Ahluwalia noticed some cows grazing at the Tata Steel Jharia division airstrip at Bhauran, about 23km from here, at around 10.50am and made some rounds in the air before the airstrip was cleared of the cattle for the plane to land, superintendent of police of Dhanbad Ravi Kanth Dhan said.

The deputy commissioner (DC) of Dhanbad Prashant Kumar and superintendent of police (SP) were at the airstrip to receive the deputy chairman of the Planning Commission.

When the DC and the SP saw the plane hovering over the airstrip and found that some cattle were grazing, they ordered the officials to immediately clear the airstrip.

The SP said since the airstrip was not fenced, the area is completely exposed to nearby villages that use the ground for grazing their cattle heads. Ahluwalia is in Dhanbad to attend the 35th convocation ceremony at the Indian School of Mines.

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Indian Coast Guard inducts a new generation of interceptor boat

MUMBAI: The Indian Navy has added feathers to its armoury with the commission of Indian Coast Guard Ship C-154, the New Generation of Arneson Surface Drive (ASD) Interceptor Boat.

The 28 metres long Interceptor Boat with 75 tonnes displacement can achieve a maximum speed of 35 knots. This Interceptor Boat has been built by M/s Bharati Shipyard Ltd.

The vessel is fitted with state-of-the-art navigation and communication equipment and medium range armament. It is designed for high speed interception, close-coast patrol, low-intensity maritime operations, Search & Rescue and maritime surveillance.

The IB is also capable of operating in shallow water as well as in deep seas. The IB is fitted with 02 main engines of 1630 KW each and ASD system. The IB is provided with advanced navigational and communication equipment.

The Interceptor Boat ICGS C-154 is based at Mumbai under the Administrative and Operational Control of the Commander, No 2 Coast Guard District HQ, Mumbai.

The IB is commanded by Dy Comdt Arvind K Tyagi, TM with a crew of 12 Enrolled Personnel.

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2 more ministers resign, Jagadish Shettar govt safe for now

BANGALORE: With in a month after 12 of its MLAs resigned, the beleaguered ruling-BJP yet again received a jolt.

Joining the list of the ministers and MLAs to resign, forest minister CP Yogeshwar and small scale industries minister Narasimha Naik resigned from the ministry by handing the papers to chief minister Jagadish Shettar on Thursday.

As Speaker KG Bopaiah was out of the state, Yogeshwar and Naik are expected to resign their assembly membership on Friday. Both of them resigned from the ministry following assurance from Congress that they would be soon admitted to the party. With two more wickets likely to fall, the list of BJP MLAs who have resigned in last one month adds to 14. In January 12 MLAs, including ministers Shobha Karandlaje and CM Udasi, loyal to former chief minister and Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) supremo BS Yeddyurappa resigned their assembly membership.

Shettar is said to have given dressing down to Yogeshwar when he went to put his papers. Sources present in the spot told TOI that the CM expressed displeasure over MLA from Channapatana saying the BJP has given him every thing including best of the portfolios and the minister did not have gratitude. "The party was hoping that you (Yogeshwar) would be a leader in Mysore-Karnataka belt, but was quitting for the sake of chasing power," Shettar is said to have expressed. Sources said Naik too received some admonish.

Hurry to put in papers, the duo set the journey to Kodagu district, 250 km from Bangalore to reach Bopaiah. But Yogeshwar and Naik had to return midway from Mandya after Speaker communicated saying he was out of the state and could meet them only on Friday.

Reacting to resignations, Shettar said there is no loss to the party by the developments. "They utilized BJP for maximum extent and are quitting at the when elections are round the corner. There is no good future in politics for the turn coats," he said. KPCC chief G Parameshwara maintained that Congress has nothing to do with resignations of Yogeshwar and Naik. "The Pradesh unit has sent the list to high command of the people who wants to join Congress from other parties. Tickets will be given keeping in mind of the party leaders and local units," he said.

Despite the daily trickle of BJP MLAs resigning, the Jagadish Shettar government has managed to keep its head above water and is surviving. More wickets are likely to fall in the coming days. So far the resignations tally of BJP MLAs stands at 14 apart from two others, whose papers are yet to be accepted by the Speaker. The other two ministers who resigned were Shobha Karandlaje and CM Udasi.

As of now, BJP's total strength in the House of 225 with 15 vacancies is 106 including Independent member Varthur R Prakash, speaker and nominated MLA. The combined strength of the Congress and JD(S) is 96.

Polls to 208 urban local bodies including seven city corporations, which is almost the pre-finals to the assembly elections due in May are said to be the reason for those wanting to come out of the BJP hurrying up. These members are also in haste to be rehabilitated in other parties with Congress and not former CM BS Yeddyurappa's KJP being the destination. Reason being they prefer to have a say in the selection of candidates for the civic polls who in turn will support them during the assembly elections.

Neither Yeddyurappa, who had taken a vow to topple the Shettar government nor the Congress or JD(S) are interested in unseating the BJP government. It is dying a slow death by the day. Yeddyurappa backed out of the idea after the BJP central leadership announced that Shettar would lead the party in the polls. Toppling a Lingayat headed government would have only earned him the ire of the community, whose hold he is trying to retain. The Congress did not venture as it would have led to governor HR Bhardwaj's intervention and ultimately President's rule. The JD(S) with its 25 MLAs just does not have the numbers to even consider the idea.

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Major challenge before nation is to create jobs: Anand Sharma

MUMBAI: Commerce & industry minister Anand Sharma has admitted that the creation of jobs is a major challenge before the nation.

It is necessary to go back to a high rate of economic growth rate of around 9 per cent per annum, he added.

Speaking on the issue of corruption and scams, the minister claimed India has in place an "effective mechanism in the form of free judiciary to fix the problem".

Citing the example of the Satyam scam, Sharma said the government had facilitated the transfer of ownership in a transparent manner, at the same time protecting over 20,000 jobs. He said, "Unfortunately, only the negatives get magnified and the positives are not reported by the media."

Sharma was speaking at a CII interaction titled 'Transforming India: Role of Youth' before 500 students of St Xavier's College in Mumbai. "High growth is not an option but an imperative. The larger issue is not just numbers but the social dimension. If we fail to address the issue of job creation, the social cost will be unbearable," he warned.

In order to generate more employment, he said that the share of manufacturing in the GDP must climb up to 26 per cent from the current 16 per cent. Sharma believes the National Manufacturing Policy is one of the key instruments to achieve this goal. He briefed students about the National Skill Development Mission which has set an ambitious target of imparting job skills to 500 million persons by the year 2022.

Claiming that the Centre is serious about making India a major manufacturing hub, Sharma said the government is in the process of establishing 12 stand-alone world class industrial townships across the country. Terming the upcoming Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor as the biggest industrial infrastructure project in the world at this time, Sharma said that nine of the 12 industrial townships fall under DMIC, with the 900 sq km Dholera Industrial Centre in Gujarat being the largest.

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Russia should induct BrahMos missile: Antony

NEW DELHI: Russia should induct the joint venture BrahMos supersonic cruise missile to fully appreciate its tie up with India for developing the weapon system, defence minister AK Antony said on Tuesday.

"Russia should induct BrahMos in their fleet so that the success achieved in the joint venture will be fully appreciated," he said here.

The missile is yet to be inducted into the Russian armed forces. BrahMos has been pushing for the induction of the missile on under-construction Russian warships which are similar to Indian Navy's Talwar Class frigates.

The minister was addressing a gathering on the 'Partnership Day'' marking the 15th anniversary of the signing of inter-governmental agreement (IGA) between India and Russia for the setting up of the BrahMos joint venture.

Antony said IAF will soon have BrahMos both, on land and air platforms, making it a real force multiplier for all the wings of the Indian armed forces.

"Army, Navy and Air Force consider BrahMos to be an important weapon due to its speed, precision and power. The government has also decided to expand the infrastructure at multiple centres to cater to larger production requirement of BrahMos missiles and systems," he said.

Antony said cooperation between the scientists and scientific expertise of DRDO and NPOM and many other organisations from India and Russia have proved that there is a way to do things faster and take the lead in the world.

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Over 94 per cent turnout in Tripura repoll

AGARTALA: As many as 94.24 per cent of the 516 electorate turned out to vote in Kakraban assembly constituency in southern Tripura where a repoll was ordered at a polling station after snags in electronic voting machines (EVMs) were detected, an official said.

"Altogether 475 electors, including 254 women, of the total of 516 voters cast their votes at the polling station No. 36, where the re-poll was held without any incident," Tripura Chief Electoral Officer Ashutosh Jindal said.

The Election Commission conducted the repoll after the technical snag was spotted in an EVM on the day of polling in Tripura on Feb 14.

The northeastern state of Tripura made electoral history when a record 93.57 per cent of the 23,55,446-strong electorate cast their votes in last week's election to the 60-seat assembly.

The votes will be counted on February 28. Sixty counting halls are being set up in 17 locations across the state.

As many as 249 candidates, including 15 women, were in the fray in the Feb 14 polls.

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Chopper scam: 'Middleman' Haschke 'cleaned up' documents

NEW DELHI: Alleged middleman Guido Haschke had "cleaned up" all the documents from his computer related to the VVIP chopper deal mired in allegations of kickbacks, it was revealed on Sunday, as an Indian team was set to leave for Italy tomorrow to gather evidence in the bribery case.

However, to Haschke's misfortune the documents were retrieved from his computer hard drive along with other papers he had hidden at his mother's home.

According to reports in the Italian media, the investigators termed the information found in his computer drives as a "Pandora's box" where he has noted details of his appointments, his meetings with Indian intermediaries, in Italy and Lugano and several international transactions including that of Finmeccanica.

These documents are being used by the prosecutors in the Italian court tribunale de Busto Arsizio to build their case in fixing responsibilities of several accused including former Finmeccanica chief Giuseppe Orsi for allegedly paying Rs 360 crore in kickbacks to bag the Rs 3,600 crore deal, reports in Italian daily Republica suggested.

"He thought he had deleted everything, buried every track on the big business on behalf of Finmeccanica. He had 'cleaned up' all his computer and he felt calm," the daily said quoting the Italian investigators' report.

It said the prosecutors in the court Busto Arsizio recovered the "computer hard drives of Haschke where the intermediary had recorded the whole story about the sale of helicopters and other business".

"Documents and files that are now on the table of the prosecutor of Busto Arsizio, Eugenio Fusco, who is trying to rebuild any responsibilities and roles of the protagonists of this 'affair'," it said.

The report said the "fate of Orsi is entrusted to its reading of the documents found in a suitcase that Haschke had hidden in his mother's house and found those files in his computer that he thought he had cleared and reset."

Haschke is alleged to have been appointed by former Finmeccanica CEO Giuseppe Orsi, who has been arrested, for clinching the deal for AgustaWestland in which 51 million euros were allegedly paid as kickbacks. Orsi has denied any kind of involvement in paying bribes for bagging the deal.

Indian team going to Italy

A team of CBI and defence ministry officials is leaving for Italy on Monday to verify allegations of kickbacks.

Official sources said the team comprises a CBI DIG, a law officer of the agency, a joint secretary-level officer of defence ministry and an official of the external affairs ministry.

The team's departure was delayed by a day due to some last-minute formalities which required to be fulfilled before travelling abroad for the purpose of investigation, they said, adding the team would try to meet Italian prosecutors to ascertain the details of the case.

The CBI's decision came after it virtually drew a blank from the defence ministry in getting some official inputs regarding alleged kickbacks of Rs 362 crore in the case.

The CBI also engaged a lawyer in Italy to represent India's case with the Italian government and the local courts to find out the role of Indians in the alleged kickbacks in the Rs 3,600 crore VVIP helicopter deal.

Official sources said the assistance of a lawyer was taken to help understand the Italian law and expedite getting documents from the helicopter company.

Engaging lawyer

The lawyer, if necessary, would be approaching the court in Italy for procurement of documents, they said.

The CBI was handed over a letter from the defence ministry seeking a probe by it in the case which has triggered a storm in the country. Attached with the letter were some Indian and Italian press clippings, which the CBI said, could not form the basis for registering a case.

CBI had sought help of Indian Mission in Rome which too has not been able to provide any authenticated court documents to the agency, the sources said.

This was followed by CBI seeking help of Interpol which also expressed inability to provide any help in the absence of any regular case not having been registered by the agency, they said.

The defence ministry had on Saturday sent a team led by joint secretary and an air commodore of Indian Air Force, who gave a presentation to the CBI about the tendering procedures and various stages while finalizing the helicopter deal with AgustaWestland.

However, when pressed by the CBI officials about the kickback allegations, the team could not provide any answers to the sleuths, the sources said.

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Supreme Court refuses to hear Veerappan's aides' plea urgently

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Saturday refused urgent hearing on the plea of four aides of sandalwood smuggler Veerappan seeking stay of execution of their death penalty reportedly fixed for Sunday, saying there was no proof about it.

The matter was mentioned before Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir but he did not give a hearing to it, said a staff from his office when contacted.

Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, who had mentioned the matter at the CJI's residence, said the Chief Justice did not hear the matter this evening on the ground that there was no proof that execution will take place tomorrow.

He said the CJI told him that the matter will be taken up for hearing in due course.

Gonsalves and his associate advocate Samik Narain said they approached the apex court after getting information that the execution of death penalty will take place tomorrow.

"Now we are hoping that the execution will not take place tomorrow," they said, adding that they will again mention the matter before the court on Monday.

Veerappan's elder brother Gnanaprakash, Simon, Meesekar Madaiah and Bilavendran were awarded death sentence in 2004 in connection with a landmine blast at Palar in Karnataka in 1993 in which 22 police personnel were killed.

Their mercy petition was rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee on February 13.

The four convicts are lodged in a jail in Belgaum in Karnataka.

A TADA court in Mysore had in 2001 sentenced them to life term which was enhanced to death sentence by the apex court.

Gang leader Veerappan was killed in an encounter with the Tamil Nadu police in October 2004.

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CBI team to visit Italy as govt set to scrap chopper deal

NEW DELHI: The government is sending a CBI team to Italy to probe the chopper deal kickback scandal where the CEOs of AgustaWestland and its parent company Finmeccanica have been arrested on charges of bribery. This comes in the wake of government's move to scrap the Rs 3,546 crore deal for 12 AgustaWestland AW-101 helicopters.

The defence ministry (MoD) on Friday initiated action for cancellation of the contract inked in February 2010. It issued a formal show-cause notice to the UK-based subsidiary of Finmeccanica to explain within a week why the contract should not be cancelled.

The Times of India had reported on Thursday that the government was fast veering around to cancelling the VVIP helicopter deal after it first put on hold all further payments to AgustaWestland since the deal was fast emerging as a test-case for defence minister AK Antony, who has built his entire political career on probity, with fingers being raised about the year-long delay in ordering a CBI probe despite allegations of huge kickbacks in the deal consistently emanating for almost an year.

"If the contracts for the Bofors howitzers and the HDW submarines in the mid-1980s could be terminated midway, even if they hit the operational readiness and modernization of the armed forces in a major way, these are just choppers meant for VVIP travel," said a top government source had said on Thursday.

Despite having inducted only three of the AW-101 helicopters till now, with the remaining nine slated for delivery in batches of three each in March, May and July, the defence ministry has earlier this week put on hold all further payments to AgustaWestland. India so far has paid a little over 50% of the total amount to this UK-based subsidiary of Italian military giant Finmeccanica.

With the budget session of Parliament fast approaching on February 21, there were indications that the MoD would not even wait for the CBI to submit a formal report. The MoD has also written to the chief executive officer of AgustaWestland to "categorically" state the "clear position" in view of the current developments, asking him to specifically indicate if any financial transaction has taken place with any Indian individual or entity.

Both the contract and integrity pact inked with AgustaWestland contain specific provisions by which "strict action including the cancellation of contract, recovery of payment, blacklisting and penal action" can be unleashed against the vendor.

Article 22 of the inked contract, for instance, deals with the penalty for the "use of undue influence". It entitles the "buyer" to cancel the contract with the "seller" and recover from him the amount of any loss arising from such cancellation.

Article 23, in turn, deals with agents and agency commission, requiring the "seller" to confirm and declare that the company has not engaged any individual or firm - Indian or foreign - to intercede or facilitate in any way with the Indian government or its officials. Any breach of the integrity pact, in turn, entitles the "buyer" to take actions against the "seller", ranging from forfeiture of the earnest money and performance bond to contract cancellation and recovery of the sum already paid with interest.

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Khurshid speaks to Maldivian foreign minister to diffuse Nasheed crisis

NEW DELHI: Foreign minister Salman Khurshid called his counterpart in the Maldives Abdul Samad Abdulla to discuss the case of former president Nasheed's refuge in the Indian mission and the September 7 elections. While details were not available, Khurshid is understood to have asked the Maldivian government to create conducive climate for all shades of political opinion to function without fear. However, Nasheed will continue to stay in the Indian mission for the time being.

Emerging from the conversation, Khurshid told journalists, "I hope that we can come to a resolution of the present situation which is to the satisfaction of everybody. But it is still an ongoing process. It is difficult to say anything right now. I think we have had a good conversation. We have understood on both sides the totality of the circumstances." Describing Maldives as "valuable friends of India", Khurshid cautioned against "inaccurate" reporting of events.

Maldivian government said Nasheed could come out because the warrant against him had lapsed. "Nasheed's arrest warrant has ceased and he won't be arrested," said Imad Masood, spokesman for President Waheed Hussain Manik. "He was asked by the court to be arrested and produced on Wednesday to appear in a case against him. But since the court case time has elapsed, the arrest warrant also has ceased automatically," he added.

"The court will now announce a fresh date for the hearing and Nasheed can appear without being arrested," Masood said. Nasheed had refused to appear for the court hearing which prompted the arrest warrant. Nasheed has stuck to his old line, saying, "An interim, caretaker government should be established that can lead the Maldives to genuinely free and fair elections, in which all candidates are freely able to compete."

Earlier, the Maldivian foreign ministry denied New Delhi's claim that Indian officials had spoken to the its government about Nasheed as claimed by the ministry of external affairs (MEA) on Wednesday. "Maldives wishes to confirm that neither the High Commission of India in Male, nor any other authority of the Government of India has had discussion with the Government of Maldives concerning former President of Maldives Mohamed Nasheed's reported request for 'refuge'." Indian officials clarified that the Indian High Commissioner, D M Mulay, had spoken to the Maldivian defence minister on Wednesday, who is by and large regarded as the most powerful figure in Waheed's government.

Nasheed is determined to get India involved in domestic politics, having just visited here to meet with senior leaders here, including National Security Advisor (NSA) Shivsankar Menon. The Indian government is not particularly enamoured of President Waheed just now, but it is equally impatient with the petulant politics practiced by Nasheed. However, as the biggest power in the region, India is now forced to get its hands dirty in internal political troubles of the island nation.

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I was sexually abused for several years, Anoushka Shankar says

NEW DELHI: Anoushka Shankar, daughter of legendary sitarist Ravi Shankar, has thrown her weight behind an online campaign demanding an end to crime against women, in the wake of the Delhi gang rape.

The 31-year-old sitarist has invited one billion women and those who love them, via the website Change.org, to walk out, "Dance, rise up, and demand" an end to this violence this Valentine's Day, February 14.

"The campaign 'One Billion Rising' is a promise that we will rise up with women and men worldwide to say, 'Enough! The violence ends now'," the website said.

It also contains a video of Anoushka speaking out for women who have been victims of abuse and asking people to join the campaign.

"As a child I suffered sexual and emotional abuse for several years at the hands of a man my parents trusted implicitly. Growing up, like most women I know, I suffered various forms of groping, touching, verbal abuse and other things I didn't know how to deal with, I didn't know I could change," said the Indian composer, now living in London.

"As a woman I find I am frequently living in fear. Afraid to walk alone at night, afraid to answer a man who asks for the time ... and enough is enough. I am rising, for (the Delhi rape victim) and women like her. I am rising with the amazing women of my country. I am rising for the child in me, who I don't think will ever forgive and recover from what happened to her.

"So, join me, let's rise, let's dance. Dance has the power to heal, to transform. So let's transform ourselves and this world. Let's rise together," she added.

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United Insurance Company penalized for refusing insurance claim

NEW DELHI: A district consumer forum has asked the United Insurance Company Limited to compensate one of its clients with Rs 50,000 and also fulfill his vehicle insurance claim.

The order was passed after Sarojini Tiwari dragged the insurance company to the forum for refusing to pay Rs 2, 79, 879 for the repairs done to his car. In his complaint Tiwari stated that after an accident he handed over the car to Autovikas Sales and Services for repairs.

"The opposite parties agreed to pay the repair amount directly to the service center, but failed to pay the repair bill... The complainant has no alternative except to pay the amount," the order took note of the complaint.

The decision was moved ex-parte and the Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum asked the company to pay the car-repair amount along with a compensation for "harassment, tension and mental agony" to the complainant.

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Had Vajpayee been PM, Afzal's execution wouldn’t have happened: Ex-RAW chief

NEW DELHI: Calling the hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru a setback to the process of reconciliation and normalcy in Kashmir, former chief of Research & Analysis Wing (RAW) and an expert on the valley AS Dulat has said that had AB Vajpayee been the Prime Minister he would have never let Guru hang.

"Even though BJP had been demanding Guru's hanging, Atal Bihari Vajpayee would have not done it had he been heading the government," Dulat told TOI. Dulat headed RAW in 1999-2000 and was subsequently appointed as advisor to the PM (Vajpayee) on Kashmir. He was instrumental in shaping BJP's Kashmir strategy and an important player in Track II diplomacy.

Neither Congress nor BJP, which has both demanded and gloated over Guru's hanging, are likely to find the comment palatable. However, Dulat is firm in his opinion that the hanging has come at a wrong time when the valley was moving towards normalcy. "It has the potential to take the valley several years back. I was not expecting this to happen," he said.

Sentiments over Guru have been strong in the valley and as has been evident from the protests following the hanging — three civilians are reported dead in the clashes between protestors and security forces despite the latter having been told to exercise utmost restraint — things always have the potential to spiral out of control in Kashmir.

Even as the establishment has been banking on the anticipation of a good tourist season, strict but cautious policing and a youth geared more towards reaping benefits of a rising economy than causing long-drawn stir, observers say Kashmir can be unpredictable.

"Kashmiris are smart people. They can reap economic benefits and still vent their anger. They are also politically very conscious. Already the security clampdown is being called Gaza-isation of the valley. Also, while the youth is economically inclined, it is also very impatient," said an expert.

Sources also said as much of a political decision it may have been for the Congress, the party may not benefit from it in the upcoming elections. The leapfrogging to hang Guru over Beant Singh and Rajiv Gandhi killers will only hurt its secular image. In fact, it's the BJP that will be able to consolidate its support base as it has been demanding the hanging for several years, sources said.

However, according to Dulat, the biggest loser in this entire episode is J&K CM Omar Abdullah. "He has completely lost his credibility in the valley," says Dulat. Not surprisingly, Abdullah has been constantly distancing himself from the decision and has castigated Centre over it.

Dulat says the government must now devise a strategy to find a way out of the situation. "And the solution should attempt to go beyond law and order mechanisms. Militancy is not the thing to fear in the valley, but public anger is," he added.

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