Congress runs in my blood but this isn't the party I knew: Satyavrat Chaturvedi

Satyavrat Chaturvedi is a Member of Parliament (MP) and a seasoned Congress leader who has risen from the ranks. He was first elected for the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly way back in 1980 and since then, on several occasions, he has been elected as MLA, MP to both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha, and has held several important positions in the party.

He is one of the most articulate voices in Congress and is known for his original thoughts. He comes from a family of freedom fighters and thinks that Congress is in his blood. In a candid chat with Sanjay Singh of Firstpost, he eloquently spoke of what ails the present day Congress, what is the way forward, and the way he perceives the leadership of Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

FP: The pictures out in your office is of the Congress’ who’s who. There is much talk of an old guard versus new guard conflict in Congress. If an organisational change is done accordingly, giving primacy of position to young guards, most leaders seen in those pictures will become history. Do you agree?
Chaturvedi: It never happens that way. In any party, there is always a mix of youthful energy and elderly experience. That combination is always needed. The old guard vs new guard debate is nothing new, this is not happening for the first time. This debate happened even during the times of Jawaharlal Nehru, Indiraji, Rajivji, and it so happened that both the groups had been adequately represented in the leadership. This trend will continue in the future as well.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com

Mathura violence: DM, SSP transferred; SC to hear plea demanding CBI probe tomorrow

Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday transferred the District Magistrate and the Senior Superintendent of Police of Mathura four days after a deadly clash left 29 people dead and several others injured.

UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's office confirmed the development through a tweet on its official Twitter handle.

District Magistrate and SSP of Mathura have been transferred. New incumbents will join soon, it said.

The development came days after violence had erupted in Mathura on June 2 during an operation to evict members of a religious group 'Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi' from government land.

The deadly clash between police and a cult group claimed at least 29 lives and left hundreds other injured.

Meanwhile, the Congress party today called on the Akhilesh Yadav led-Uttar Pradesh Government to form a special team under the supervision of the High Court and run a fair trial in the recent Mathura violence, saying the CBI does not need to intervene right now as it will only delay the investigation.

Congress Leader Pramod Tiwari told ANI that the Samajwadi Party led state government should ask for a CBI probe only if they are not satisfied with the investigation of the special team.

"I believe the Mathura incident is a heart wrenching and painful episode where two of our vigorous soldiers have been killed. There should be a fair investigation .the culprits must be punished," he said.

"A special team can be formed in Uttar Pradesh itself. And I believe it will be much better if this is coordinated under the supervision of the High Court," he added.

Taking potshots at Chief Minister Akhikesh Yadav and his family, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said on Sunday that the Centre was ready for a CBI probe into the matter provided the Uttar Pradesh Government demands the same in writing.

The Home Minister said it seems there is something hidden in the entire episode.

BJP president Amit Shah on Saturday asked Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav to demand the resignation of his younger brother and state PWD Minister Shivpal Yadav, squarely holding him responsible for the Mathura violence.

It also came to light that Uttar Pradesh government had disregarded 40 intelligence reports indicating presence of a large number of licensed and unlicensed firearms inside Jawahar Bagh – the site of the deadly clash.

Source: http://zeenews.india.com

No objection in making driver approver in Sheena murder case: CBI to court

The CBI told a special court in Mumbai that it does not have any objection in making key accused Indrani Mukerjea’s former driver Shyamvar Rai an approver in the sensational Sheena Bora murder case.

“We have filed our reply and have said that we don’t have any objection in making Rai an approver provided that he reveals all the truth in connection with the case,” said a CBI official.

Special CBI prosecutor Kavita Patil, on May 17, had sought more time to file its reply on the desire expressed by Rai to turn approver in the case. Special Judge HS Majahan had then adjourned the case until June 6.

Earlier, on May 11, Rai sought to turn approver, saying he wants to “disclose all truths” as he had taken part in Sheena’s killing by strangulation and was present at the time of the murder in 2012.

Recording his statement before a special CBI court then, Rai said he was under “no pressure, threat or coercion” to reveal the facts in the case and was “repentant” about his act.

The development came after Rai wrote a two-page letter to the court last month seeking pardon in the case while stating that he wants to tell all.

Rai was the first accused to be arrested in the case in August 2015.

The killing came to light after Rai was picked up in connection with an arms case and later spilled the beans.

Rai last year had recorded his confessional statement before the magistrate under the provisions of section 164, which unlike the police statement, is admissible in the trial.

Indrani, her former husband Sanjeev Khanna and Rai allegedly strangled Sheena (24), Indrani’s daughter from an earlier relationship, inside a car in April 2012. Her body was found in a forest in Raigad. The crime, which came to light in August last year, is allegedly linked to certain financial dealings.

The trio were arrested in August last year while Indrani’s husband and former media baron Peter Mukerjea was arrested in November. According to CBI, Peter was part of the murder conspiracy.

While Peter (59) and Khanna are lodged in Arthur Road prison, Indrani (43) is in Byculla womens’ jail.

Source: http://www.hindustantimes.com

Dadri lynchying: Mohammad Akhlaq's village put on high alert

The administration and police in Greater Noida in Uttar Pradesh has been put in a state of high alert as a 'panchayat' has been called on Monday afternoon in Bisahada village, an official said.

This is the village where a Muslim named Mohammad Akhlaq was lynched on 28 September last year on the charge that he and his family consumed cow's meat.

A government forensic lab in Mathura said in its report released last week that the meat in question was of "cow or its progeny".
Family of Mohammad Akhlaq. Getty images

Family of Mohammad Akhlaq. Getty images

The report has revived the controversy over the legal and moral issues surrounding the lynching.

An official, however, informed IANS that the accused would be produced before a fast-track court on Monday where charges would be fixed on them. A juvenile has already been granted bail by the high court.

The jawans of the Uttar Pradesh Provincial Armed Constabulary have been patrolling the village since Sunday evening.

Security has been increased following announcement by some Hindu frontal organisations — Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Rashtrawadi Pratap Sena, Goraksha Dal and Hindu Yuva Vahini — that they will participate in the panchayat, said officials.

Residents of Bishada village, including the kin of the accused in the September 2015 Akhlaq lynching case, on Sunday, met the Gautam Budh Nagar SSP to press their demand for registration of an FIR against Akhlaq's family after a forensic report stated that the meat found in his house was that of "cow or its progeny".

Source: http://www.firstpost.com

Live: Sensex closes 66 points lower, Nifty holds 8,200 ahead of RBI policy

Indian shares decline as investors have paused a day before the central bank’s decision on policy rates and with a number of global risk events scheduled for later this month, including a US Federal Reserve meeting and the “Brexit” referendum.

The S&P BSE Sensex closes 0.24%, or 65.58 points, lower at 26,777.45, while the Nifty closes 0.24%, or 19.75 points, lower at 8,201.05 points.

3:05pm: Indian shares are trading lower as investors have paused a day before the central bank’s decision on policy rates and with a number of global risk events scheduled for later this month, including a US Federal Reserve meeting and the “Brexit” referendum.

The S&P BSE Sensex is trading 0.33%, or 89.80 points, lower at 26,753.23, while the Nifty 50 is down 0.34%, or 28.10 points, at 8,192.70.

2:00pm: BSE Sensex is now trading lower by 24.60 points, or 0.09%, to 26,818.43, while the Nifty falls 7.80 points, or 0.09%, to 8,213.00.

1:50pm: Thyrocare Technologies Ltd falls 3% to Rs.611. The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) has alleged that Thyrocare, which is one of the leading diagsnostic centres in Mumbai, is involved in encouraging cut practice among doctors. The association has written a letter to the Maharashtra Medical Council (MMC) asking it to look into the matter and take action.

1:30pm: UB Group stocks jump on the back of higher volumes. United Breweries Holdings Ltd jumps 12% to Rs.22.50, McDowell Holdings Ltd rises 17% to Rs.27.40

1:10pm: Sugar stocks are trading higher. Shree Renuka Sugars Ltd rises 2.3%, EID Parry India Ltd rises 2.4%, Bajaj Hindusthan Sugar Ltd rises 3.6%, Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd rises 3.1%, Dhampur Sugar Mills Ltd 2.6%, Triveni Engineering and Industries Ltd 3.1%, Sakthi Sugars Ltd rises 5.8% and Mawana Sugars Ltd 10%.

Source: http://www.livemint.com

Sushil Kumar vs Narsingh Yadav: No winners, only survivors in HC battle

The court battle is finally over. Unless Sushil Kumar decides to appeal in the Supreme Court, Narsingh Yadav will be India's sole 74-kg wrestling representative at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The biggest mistake Sushil and his camp made, however, was initiating the legal process in the first place. A dharna at Jantar Mantar, yards away from the offices of the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI), would have been a better choice. I am sure that, with hindsight, Sushil and his supporters would also be thinking on these lines.
Narsingh Yadav (right) will go to Rio at the expense of Sushil Kumar (left)

Narsingh Yadav (right) will go to Rio at the expense of Sushil Kumar (left)

Besides being a top-class athlete, Sushil, as his name literally suggests, is a gentleman. He must have thought this through 10 times before going to the Delhi High Court. But then, his father-in-law Satpal, a former wrestler himself, may have pressured him to do so. Raj Singh was another one. A disgruntled vice-president of WFI, Raj Singh had filed an affidavit in court demanding a trial.

Had he sat on a dharna at Jantar Mantar, or for that matter, any other place, Sushil would have garnered a lot of support from political leaders as well. Once the matter went to court, no one came out openly in his support. It is no secret that Sushil has a massive following in political circles, even among the ruling party's leaders. But no one uttered a word in his support once the HC started hearing the case.

Narsingh has already lost a lot of precious time — both mentally and physically. Now that the legal battle is over, he can concentrate on training. He will now be under tremendous pressure to perform. After all the drama, he will be the one Indian participant from whom the entire country would expect an Olympic medal. And he knows it well. He will be seen as the one who kept out Sushil Kumar, a two-time Olympic medal winner. Having done so, if he fails to deliver, everyone will hit out  at him, especially his detractors from Sushil Kumar's camp. Sushil knows what it takes to be an Olympic medal winner. But others would not spare him so easily.

Source: http://www.firstpost.com/

Modi-Obama friendship 'unlikely', says New York Times as PM flies to US

As US President Barack Obama gets ready to host Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the White House for the second time in as many years, a New York Times report describes the bond between the two as an "unlikely friendship".

"There are few relationships between Obama and another world leader more unlikely than the one he has with Modi," The New York Times said ahead of what will be the seventh meeting between Modi and the US president.

COMMON CAUSE

The report said the two largest democracies in the world have "compelling reasons" to find common cause. For example, the US is encouraging India's rise as a regional giant for Obama's so-called "pivot to Asia" policy and counter China's global economic and military superpower ambitions.

For India, the US bond, according to the Times, is needed to "accelerate its economy with an injection of investment from American companies". But the relationship between Modi and Obama is still "unlikely".

The Times said Obama has made the protection of minorities a central pillar of his life because he believes that "criticism and dissent are core tenets of democracy".

"But Modi, by contrast, spent much of his life rising through the ranks of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, a right-wing paramilitary organisation that campaigns forcefully for India's Hindu majority," it said, recalling the Gujarat religious riots that saw some 1,000 people, most of them Muslims, killed in 2002 when Modi was the chief minister of the western Indian state.

Source: http://indiatoday.intoday.in