.

Parties field tableaux to do the trick for them at hustings

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: As they endeavour to capture power in Delhi in the December 1 assembly elections, ruling Congress and opposition BJP are ......more

HC asks SIT to continue with investigations

MUMBAI, Nov 27: The Bombay High Court today asked the Special Investigating Team (SIT) to continue with the investigations into the...more

Septuagenarian
‘sadhu’ abstains from
food for 66 years

AHMEDABAD, Nov 27: It’s no fast-unto-death, it’s no hunger strike ... But a Septuagenarian sadhu’s apparently simple decision to switch off food since ...more

Jogi says he shunned
populism and
strengthened state

BILHA, Nov 27: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has said that his Government had restrained...more

Will Tarantino kill the bill?

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: What do you get when you combine different genres like femme fatale fight flicks, the traditional style Kung Fu films and classic ....more

Interesting tussle for
council polls from
Mumbai and Nagpur

MUMBAI, Nov 27: An interesting tussle is on the cards for the December 1 biennial polls to Maharashtra legislative council from the Mumbai and ....more

Electronic media misintepreting Assam violence: Students body

GUWAHATI, Nov 27: A sit-in demonstration was held by a leading students union .....more

Leaders parody film
songs, serials in poll
campaign

INDORE, Nov 27: Parodies of popular film songs and television serials, Sarcasm and Satire were the handy Weapons of Mass Discourses (WMDs) ......more

Orissa Govt urged to reconsider new regulation on tribal land ......

Police have challenge on hand as parties fight out poll battle .....

Assam Govt failed to contain violence effectively: Swami .....

Karunanidhi recieves charge sheet in TESMA case .....

Parties field tableaux to do the trick for them at hustings

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: As they endeavour to capture power in Delhi in the December 1 assembly elections, ruling Congress and opposition BJP are engaged in a battle of tableaux to lure voters and if numbers matter then BJP has won it.

BJP has prepared four types of tableaux, each for all the 70 constituencies, through which it highlights "misrule" of the Congress. But the ruling party has deployed a huge inflated rubber replica of metro train as a symbol of Sheila Dikshit Government’s developmental works.

One BJP tableau depicts the Government’s "failure" in checking the outbreak of dengue recently, two display problems in power sector while the fourth showcases the infamous `Tandoor’ murder case in which a former Delhi youth Congress leader killed his wife, chopped her into pieces and tried to burn her in an oven.

"Jo Machchar Nahi Maar Sakte, Woh Raj Kya Karenge (what kind of rule will be provided by those who cannot kill mosquitoes," shouts a banner atop the tableaux on dengue showing a replica of aedes mosquito.

An accompanying tableau shows a large oven with two artificial women’s legs emerging out is meant to remind people about the 1994 incident in which youth Congress leader Sushil Sharma was held while trying to burn the body of his wife Naina Sahani after killing her.

"Mangte Hain Congressi Bar Bar Satta, Jis Se Kar Sake Khulkar Hatya (Congressmen want power again and again to facilitate them to indulge in killings)," says the banner perched atop the tableau.

"Jinhone in Par Vishwas Kiya, Un Par Hi Congressiyon Ne Aghaat Kiya (Congressmen have stabbed those who reposed trust in them)," adds a supplementary banner referring to Naina Sahani who was a member of Congress.

Highlighting the Congress Government’s "failures" on power and water fronts, a tableau shows darkness with the accompanying slogan saying "Bijli Chahiye, Generator Lao, Paani Chahiye, Khud Mangwao Aur Vote Mujhe Dekar Apne Jarooratoon Ko Bhool Jao (if you want power, get the generator, if you want water, manage it on your own and vote for me and forget about your needs)."

On power privatisation, yet another tableau depicts an electricity meter along with a slogan "Kabhi Tez Bhagte Meter To Kabhi Galat Bill Ke Sang, Congress Ke Thekedaron Ne Lootne Ke Nikale Naye Naye Dhang (sometimes fast meters, sometimes wrong readings, congress’ contractors have evolved new ways of looting people)."

Congress, which is trying to retain power, has its own way of saying things through the of metro train replica.

The inflatable 60-feet grey-coloured ‘train, currently making rounds of all the constituencies of Delhi, has been fielded as a symbol of Government’s developmental works.

"The train is a symbol of modern society and depicts the solidity of the Congress that brought the metro to Delhi," sums up a Congress leader. (PTI)

HC asks SIT to continue with investigations

MUMBAI, Nov 27: The Bombay High Court today asked the Special Investigating Team (SIT) to continue with the investigations into the multi-crore counterfeit stamp paper scandal, while refusing to hand over the probe to the CBI "at the moment".

A division bench comprising Chief Justice C K Thakker and Justice Abhay Oak said, "we may hand over the investigations to the CBI at an appropriate time".

This is not the right time to hand over the investigations to the CBI, the Court observed and said the SIT should cooperate with the central agency.

Though the High Court had asked the SIT, headed by Special Director General of Police S S Puri, to continue with investigations, it has not closed the options of handing over the case to the CBI.

Most of the petitioners had their reservations over the probe being handed over to the CBI as the "SIT was doing a good". If transferred, it could lead to a delay as the CBI would need three to four months to go through the files, they contended.

The SIT during the past three months had been working well having arrested a few police officers, including an Inspector General of Police (IGP), said advocate Majid Memon, counsel for anti-corruption crusader Mr Anna Hazare,

Citing a 1998 case in which there has been no progress so far, advocate V N Thorat, counsel for another petitioner, said the move to hand over the case to the CBI is politically motivated.

He said diary of mastermind and prime accused in the scam Abdul Karim Telgi contained the names of 19 politicians and police officers.

Earlier, the CBI, through Additional Solicitor General Shirish Gupte, informed the High Court that it was willing to take over the investigations provided the Court issued directives.

Advocate General of Maharashtra Goolam Vahanvati tabled the status report in the Court and said there was no need to suspend former Mumbai Police Commissioner R S Sharma as the SIT had already charge-sheeted him.

He said Chief Minister Sushilkumar Shinde was of the opinion that charges against Mr Sharma were serious and his Government had no objection to the CBI taking over the inquiry into the scam, provided the Court gives a direction in this regard.

Meanwhile, the SIT, which had submitted its preliminary report on November 12, today submitted the second part of its report on culpability of police officials in the scam. (UNI)

Septuagenarian ‘sadhu’ abstains from food for 66 years

AHMEDABAD, Nov 27: It’s no fast-unto-death, it’s no hunger strike ... But a Septuagenarian sadhu’s apparently simple decision to switch off food since the age of ten after being "blessed by the Goddess" that has left scientists perplexed.

Prahllad jani, the 76-year-old ‘sadhu’ from the pilgrim town of Ambaji in north Gujarat, has scientifically proved that he neither ate nor drank anything for the past 66 years.

Jani claims that he has managed to fight hunger and thirst after he was blessed by "Mataji" (Ambaji Deity) at the age of 10 years.

The medical fraternity did not believe it prima facie, but after a close 10-day observation, including sonography twice a day, at the neuro ICCU of sterling hospital, medicos had to admit that Jani has the ability to survive without food and water.

Hospital authorities confirmed that Jani not only refrained intake through mouth or any other route but he also did not excrete, while under observation.

"No doubt, his bladder produced 400 Ml urine during the day, but the next day it was absorbed by the bladder itself", Dinesh Desai, a doctor at the sterling hospital said.

"Mataji blessed me at the age of 10 with energy in the form of `Amrut’ from my upper jaw to sustain me and since then I have never felt the need for food nor water nor have I fallen ill," Jani claimed.

"I will continue to live like this till she commands," he added.

"Though no normal person can continue without passing stool or urine for more than seven days, Jani is absolutely normal and shows the same physiological process like any other person. He is fit and fine," Dr V N Shah, a member of the Association of Physicians of Ahmedabad (APA), said.

The panel formed by APA, which took it upon itself to verify the authenticity of Jani’s claim to observe him included a physician, cardiologist, neurologist, neurosurgeon, gastoenterologist, diabetologist and an ENT surgeon.

The Defence Institute of Physiology and Allied Sciences (DIPAS), New Delhi would be conducting further research on him, Shah added.

Jani has now been discharged from the hospital but doctors intend to keep a track of him as this could result into new findings. (PTI)

Jogi says he shunned populism and strengthened state

BILHA, Nov 27: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Ajit Jogi has said that his Government had restrained itself from doling out largesse to any sections but worked to lay a strong foundation for the new state during the past three years.

"We have kept ourselves aloof from all those activities due to which several other states have plunged into financial crisis", he told UNI during the hectic electioneering for the December 1 assembly elections.

"Like other states, we also could have taken populist decisions, doled out largesse to appease various sections of the society but would have proved detrimental to the state’s financial health", he added.

"Besides, people are also aware about the politics of such appeasement", he said adding that Chhattisgarh was among the very few states having sound financial health in the country.

"We want to make Chhattisgarh a prosperous state by judicious exploitation of mineral resources and curtailing expenditure", he said adding that his Government had already achieved to keep the establishment cost below 40 per cent of the state’s total revenue.

Stating that his Government has been successful in building up confidence among the dalits and Other Backward Classes (OBCs), Mr Jogi said Congress had always made efforts for the upliftment of these sections so that they could also comeforward and participate in the process of development.

Asked about the graft scandal, linking the name of BJP leader and former Union Minister Dilip Singh Judeo, the Chief Minister said the recent developments has demoralised the BJP’s rank and file.

He said senior BJP leaders were now trying to defend Mr Judeo by unleashing a propaganda that the former Union Minister had fell victim to a conspiracy.

Mr Jogi did not not agree with a perception that the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) could emerge as a third force saying that there was no no space for any third political party in the state’s bipolar politics. " The contest is between the Congress and the BJP, eyeball to eyeball", he added.

About the BSP’s decision not to field its candidates in 35 out of the 90 constituencies, the Chief Minister said it would benefit the Congress. " The BSP aim is to keep the BJP out of power. It will benefit the congress", he claimed. (UNI)

Will Tarantino kill the bill?

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: What do you get when you combine different genres like femme fatale fight flicks, the traditional style Kung Fu films and classic tales of revenge, all mixed up and served as a refreshing new meal courtesy Mr Tarantino?

You get something called "Kill Bill". Hollywood master film maker Quentin Tarantino’s action flick "kill bill" is releasing in Indian cinemas on an instalment plan.

Instead of what would be roughly a three-hour film, distributor Miramax has decided to split "Kill Bill" into two parts of about 90 minutes each.

Miramax has been known to have feuded with directors in the past on film edits, including Martin scorsese on ‘’Gangs Of New York" and Billy Bob Thornton on "All The Pretty Horses".

"The move allows writer-director tarantino to get his full story before audiences and avoid potential cuts to get it down to a more viewer-friendly length," Miramax vice president Michael Rothstein told reporters here on Tuesday.

Announcing the plans for India, Mr Rothstein said "Kill Bill" also marks the end of a six-year-long wait for Tarantino fans who have been enthralled by the Oscar winner "Pulp Fiction" in 1994.

"There is no doubt that "Kill Bill" is a virtuoso piece of film making. No one combines tension, violence, humour, dialogue and action the way Tarantino does," he added.

Part one was released on October 10 in the US. It is scheduled to hit Indian theatres on December 12. "A date for the second instalment hasn’t been determined, though it could come two to six months later," Mr Rothstein said.

"Kill Bill", Tarantino’s first film since 1997’s "Jackie Brown", stars Uma Thurman as an assassin out for revenge against a hit man who tried to kill her.

Apart from her, the films cast includes Lucy Liu, Michael Madsen, Michael Jai White, Sonny Chiba, Gordon Liu, and David Carradine.

"Miramax wanted to be accommodating with Tarantino, whose 1994 crime romp, pulp fiction, a US dollars 100 million hit, helped establish the disney-owned distributor as a major Hollywood player," Mr Rothstein said.

Cutting Kill Bill in two carries risks for Miramax, which will have to pay advertising and distribution costs on two movies instead of one.

Moreover, in a country like India where foreign movies do not get an easy audience, releasing a movie in two parts involves huge risks. "But if Kill Bill succeeds, Miramax stands to profit because viewers will be paying twice to see the film’s two parts," Mr Rothstein explained.

"As anybody who’s seen his previous work knows, Tarantino can certainly deliver a hell of a movie, and if the script of Kill Bill and what we’ve seen on the set are anything to go by, this is going to be bigger and better than anything he’s done previously," he added.

PVR pictures, the distribution wing of PVR limited, is optimistic about the film. Vice president, pictures, PVR, Kamal Gianchandani said, "we have been receiving enthusiatic queries from across the country. Given Tarantino’s popularity here, we are sure that "Kill Bill" volume one will receive huge audiences in India."

"We are going for high decibel exposure. We have tied up with a few English channels and also the print media for promoting the film," he said. "Tarantino’s last movie "pulp fiction" was released in a shabby manner. But this time we are not taking any chances. We are trying to make it as big as possible," he added. (UNI)

Interesting tussle for council polls from Mumbai and Nagpur

MUMBAI, Nov 27: An interesting tussle is on the cards for the December 1 biennial polls to Maharashtra legislative council from the Mumbai and Nagpur local bodies segment where the ruling Congress-NCP and opposition Shiv Sena-BJP combines are locked in a close fight.

Eight council seats are falling vacant, which include two seats from Mumbai and one each at Nagpur, Solapur, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar, Akola-Washim-Buldhana, Dhule-Nandurbar. Sena had held one seat in Mumbai and another one in Akola, BJP had Solapur and Nagpur while Congress had one seat from Mumbai, Kolhapur, Ahmednagar and Dhule.

Congress has already retained Kolhapur and Dhule, while NCP’s Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil has been elected unopposed from Solapur.

Among others there are two seats at stake from the Mumbai local self-governing body constituency and one from Nagpur.

All eyes are on the elections in Mumbai and Nagpur, the capital city of the state and the second capital of Maharashtra respectively.

The Congress is banking on the support of the Samajwadi Party (SP) to bail it out from the Mumbai self-governing body constituency.

The warring factions in the city unit of the Congress have bought peace and are presenting a united picture to get Kamrrudin merchant, a close aide of the lone party Lok Sabha MP from Mumbai Sunil Dutt, elected.

All the 59 party corporators in the BMC were present at a meeting convened by city Congress Chief Guru Das Kamat yesterday where they resolved to work together to ensure their candidate’s victory. Besides them, two nominated corporators are backing the Congress. Four independents have also thrown their weight behind Mr Merchant.

Mumbai Regional Congress Committee (MRCC) spokesman Ajit Sawant said the Congress has appealed to the SP to support Mr Merchant.

"With 10 corporators, Samajwadi Party cannot get its candidate elected. Instead of dividing secular votes, it should stand by the Congress candidate.

Talking to UNI, opposition leader in the Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation Gunvant Seth said talks were on with the SP leaders and the Congress is considering their several demands. But, even if Samajwadi Party backs out, Congress can sail through with the help of 13 NCP and four independents. The first preference votes are 77.

In the 228 member Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Shiv Sena has 103, BJP 36 in the Mumbai civic body while in Nagpur Congress has 117, NCP 82, BJP 107 and Shiv Sena 43.

Congress is confident of victory if their corporators remain united irrespective of Samajwadi Party’s support. While the Sena-BJP are confident of taking advantage of the simmering infighting within the Congress.

In Nagpur, there are 443 voters which include 139 from Nagpur Municipal Corporation, 72 from the Nagpur Zilla Parishad, 13 chairmen of the Panchayat Samitis and members of ten Municipal councils. There are three candidates in fray Sagar Meghe (BJP), Avinash Pande (Cong) and Vijay Dangre (independent). Sources say that the result in Nagpur will decide the fate of political equations in Vidarbha.

Meghe, son of veteran NCP leader and Sharad Pawar confidante Datta Meghe joined BJP recently. BJP suffered a setback when Shiv Sena has already declared that it will not support Meghe’s candidature.

However, Shiv Sena is yet to decide whether it would abstain from voting. BJP had fielded Pratap Singh Mohite-Patil, younger brother of NCP strongman and state PWD minister Vijaysinh Mohite Patil in the Solapur Lok Sabha by-election where the Congress candidate was defeated by a massive margin. Congress alleges that NCP supported the BJP candidate resulting in its defeat.

Interestingly, BJP has forgone the Solapur local bodies seat to the legislative council held by it earlier to enable unopposed election of Ranjitsinh Mohite-Patil, son of Vijay Singh. While NCP did not demand Nagpur seat in the seat sharing adjustment against Sagar Meghe and decided to support the Congress candidate. (UNI)

Electronic media misintepreting Assam violence: Students body

GUWAHATI, Nov 27: A sit-in demonstration was held by a leading students union here today to protest the alleged misintepretation by electronic media of the situation in Assam, where anti-Bihari violence claimed 56 lives.

All Guwahati Students Union, a powerful unit of the All Assam Students Union (AASU), alleged that a section of the electronic media was not portraying the truth and suppressing the peace initiatives of the people of Assam.

The union said the violence followed attacks on the NE train passengers in Bihar and asked the electronic media to ‘show the truth’ and not misinterpret the situation in the state.

AGSU’s demonstration was supported among others by Guwahati press club, prominent singers Khagen Mahanta, Pulak Banerjee, Manisha Hazarika and social activist Prof Deven Dutta.

The role of the electronic media has also been flayed by Assam Congress president Paban Singh Ghatowar, who accused it of sensationalising the situation and failing to present the ‘correct picture’.

The media as a whole has also come under attack from the north east students organisation, which plans to move press council of India against "misreporting and exaggeration by a section of the electronic and print media about the violence in Assam".

Union Minister for North East Affairs Dr C P Thakur, during his recent visit to the state, and Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi had also urged the media not to sensationalise the prevailing situation.

The Tarun Nagar Unayan Samity here took exception to the ‘Aaj Tak’ news channel’s report about the security of Bihari settlers contrary to the actual situation.

In a press release the samity asserted that "in sharp contrast to the report the residents played a positive and examplary role towards the security of the Biharis during the anti-Bihari flare-up."

Despite efforts by the residents "the channel planned to deliberately ignore the positive aspect of society. On the contrary it attempted to incite passions by projecting a distorted and factually incorrect picture of insecurity prevailing in the locality," it said. (PTI)

Leaders parody film songs, serials in poll campaign

INDORE, Nov 27: Parodies of popular film songs and television serials, Sarcasm and Satire were the handy Weapons of Mass Discourses (WMDs) as leaders criss crossed Madhya Pradesh highlighting corruption and the poor condition of roads besides power and water supply.

Taking off on the popular hindi oldie ‘Phoolon Ki Rani, Baharon Ki Malka’, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi literally sang at a rally, "O Gaddon Ke Raja, O Bijli Ke Dushman, Tera Muskurana Gajab Ho Gaya. Na Bus Road Par Hai, Na Truck Road Par Hai, Kafilon Ka Yun Rukna Gajab Ho Gaya (o, king of potholes, enemy of power, your smile is indeed wonderful, for there are no buses or trucks on the road and traffic has come to a stand still)."

In Dhar, Modi recalled the name of a popular serial on freedom fighters ‘Kahan Gaye Woh Log’ (where have those people gone) and said, now when people talk about Madhya Pradesh, they ask "Kahan Gaye Woh Road" (where have those roads gone).

Pooh-poohing the Congress claims that it has fulfilled 97 per cent of promises made in its last poll manifesto, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani sarcastically remarked at a public rally, "but it left out three per cent of important promises.. Power, roads and water."

"It appears that in the 100 marks of the question paper, the Government attempted only those questions which carried 30 marks but left the important questions carrying 70 marks," Advani said referring to the issues of power, roads and water.

Hitting back, Congress president Sonia Gandhi told a poll meeting at Khargone district, "Jai Jai Shri Ram Kehne Wali Party Ke Neta Ab Jai Jai Shri Bhrastachar Ka Nara Lagate Hai."(victory to corruption is the new slogan of those who used to chant victory to lord Ram)."

A Congress advertisement highlighting the recent sting operation in Chhattisgarh described the BJP as "Bangaru Judeo Party".

Similarly, with a view to cash in on the power crisis, BJP has had put up large size ‘lanterns’ at strategic points to "warn people of Congress attempt to take the state to the dark ages.".

However, Congress leaders claim the move has backfired as the ploy has only served as an advertisement for Laloo Prasad Yadav’s Rashtriya Janata Dal, whose election symbol is the lantern.

In fact, onlookers, including journalists coming from across the country to cover the elections mistook the lanterns with the RJD symbol till they read the slogans written beneath it. (PTI)

Orissa Govt urged to reconsider new regulation on tribal land

BARIPADA, ORISSA, Nov 27: The new regulation by the Orissa Government restricting transfer and sale of tribal land has come under sharp criticism from lawyers and tribal leaders.

The Lawyers’ Council for Development of Mayurbhanj (LCDM) has urged the State Government to reconsider the 2002 regulation in the greater interest of the tribals.

The regulation was aimed at protecting the tribals from being exploited and duped by land sharks in the transfer of immovable property owned by the Scheduled Tribes.

However, women tribal leaders in Mayurbhanj have reacted sharply to the regulation and described it as "too stringent, rigorous and prejudicial" in its generalities to the Scheduled Tribe people in the state.

The LCDM has said the present regulation 1 of 2002, which was an amendment to the original regulation 2 of 1956, has entailed more problems and miseries for the scheduled tribe population instead of helping them.

It said the new regulation would affect the tribals of Mayurbhanj where nearly 60 per cent of the total land holdings belonged to the tribals compared to 40 per cent in other tribal dominated districts.

Council convener Ambuja Prusty yesterday said the council had decided to meet Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Revenue Minister Biswabhusan Harichandan in a deputation to discuss with them the pitfalls in the regulation that required immediate rectification.

Former district Congress president Sushila Tiriya described the new regulation as an "oppressive black regulation" which failed to safeguard the interests of the Scheduled Tribe population.

She said such stringent regulation was not even found in the tribal areas of Jharkhand, Chhatishgarh, Gujarat, Assam, Mizoram and Manipur.

In Jharkhand, a Scheduled Tribe could mortgage his immovable property to financial institutions or Government to secure financial consideration. The land could also be gifted for public interests.

"But in Orissa the Scheduled Tribe people’s right to use their own asset according to their need and demand of situation has been squeezed in the new regulation," Ms Tiriya pointed out.

She suggested that provisions should be made in the regulation to enable the tribal people to transfer any immovable property on the grounds of defraying expenses related to treatment, educational needs, house building, for purchase of new land, or for their children’s marriage.

"Unless the pitfalls are removed, the regulation will not be able to safeguard the interests of the ST people," she added.

According to Minister of State for Fisheries and Animal Resources Department Droupadi Murmu, the act has imposed prohibition on transfer of land from ST to ST, and complete ban on transfer of land from ST to general caste.

"Such restrictions have created some discontentment in the thickly populated st areas," Ms Murmu said while endorsing the resolution of the LCDM to the Revenue and Law Minister for consideration in its proper perspective.

Ms Parvati Soren of Badjunboni village near Gangraj also criticised the new regulation stating that she could neither get a loan nor sell a part of her land for purchasing medicines even though her daughter was admitted to a hospital in a critical condition.

It was tough for her to secure life-saving drugs on credit from dispenseries to treat her daughter, she added.

Manguli Majhiani, a 70-year old tribal woman of the village narrated how she was being relegated to the state of begging to eke out a miserable living as she was not able to sell her immovable property due to the restrictions imposed in the act. (UNI)

Police have challenge on hand as parties fight out poll battle

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: While political parties fight out the electoral battle to attain power, Delhi Police has a challenge of ensuring peaceful and free polling next Monday for which the entire force would be out on the streets.

With 29 of the 2377 polling stations at 70 constituencies having been declared ‘hyper-sensitive’ and 207 as ‘sensitive’, police will be out in the maximum strength as orders have been issued to disallow and cancel leave to any cop till the poll process gets over.

Police Commissioner R S Gupta issued the orders after the Union Home Ministry sanctioned only 25 companies of Central Para-Military Forces against the requirement of 40, police officials said today.

While detailing the entire force to report for duty on December 1, the lower rung is being imparted special training in brief workshops about election-related laws to help them in performing duties properly as per the Election Commission’s instructions, they said.

Deputy Commissioners of Police of all the nine districts have been asked to monitor the training and ensure peace on the polling day besides before and after it.

The Commissioner has specified that the senior police officials should ensure that personnel deployed for poll duties are "well versed with the relevant sections of the representation of peoples’ Act, 1951."

In a circular, he has directed that cops be made aware of do’s and don’ts during the polls.

Amid apprehensions that terrorists might try to take advantage of electioneering to strike in the capital, anti-terrorist wing special cell and Crime Branch have also been involved in security paraphernelia.

While sounding a general alert, including stepping up random checking of vehicles and individuals, police has a challenge of ensuring security of highly-protected persons like Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and Congress president Sonia Gandhi besides other political functionaries as they address a series of rallies in the capital.

Security of Chief Ministerial candidates of Congress and BJP — Sheila Dikshit and Madan Lal Khurana respectively —has been upgraded.

A special watch is being maintained on known criminals and at least nine "musclemen" of a candidate have been arrested on charges of intimidating people and disturbing public peace.

A crackdown has also been launched against bootlegging which is resulting in seizure of large quantity of liquor almost every day. (PTI)

Assam Govt failed to contain violence effectively: Swami

NEW DELHI, Nov 27: Minister of State of Home I D Swami today said the Gogoi Government had virtually failed to contain violence in Assam despite the presence of large contingents of paramilitary forces in the state.

He told newspersons after the CRPF investiture ceremony here that the recent backlash which claimed 59 lives so far would have effectively been contained had the administration taken timely steps using paramilitary forces, instead of seeking army help. Although law and order is a state subject, the Centre extended all possible help to stop the violence from escalating further, he said.

Addressing the officers and jawans after giving away awards at the ceremony, he said the CRPF added yet another feather to its cap when the group of ministers on security had decided to entrust the force with the internal security of the country. He hoped that the CRPF would do its best to carry out its added responsibility.

Noting that internal security is equally important as that of guarding the country’s borders, Mr Swami said the people of the country had full confidence in the force which was able to maintain law and order in the face of threats posed by extremists, Naxalites and anti-social elements.

Recollecting the heroism displayed by the force in foiling the ‘fidayeen’ attack on Parliament, he said the top leadership of the country would have been eliminated had the ultras got access to the August house. He paid rich tributes to the jawans who sacrificed their lives while effectively tackling the situation from going out of control.

Praising the officers and jawans for their outstanding contribution in maintaining law and order in the country, the minister said CRPF had carved out a niche for itself by reaching out to the people in need. Wherever violence occurs, people think about the CRPF as the saviour who will protect them, he said.

Mr Swami, who gave away awards to 70 officers and men of the forces, said investiture of achievers with medal provides enough inspiration and encouragement to others to follow suit.

CRPF Director General S C Chaube and senior officers of the force were among those present. (UNI)

Karunanidhi recieves charge sheet in TESMA case

CHENNAI, Nov 27: Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president M Karunanidhi today appeared before the 14th Metropolitan Magistrate and recieved a copy of the charge sheet in connection with a case registered against him under the Tamil Nadu Essential Services Maintenance Act (TESMA) for allegedly instigating the Government employees to resort to an indefinite strike from July 2 last.

Mr Karunanidhi was furnished copies of two charge sheets, numbering 148 and 42 pages respectively, filed against him.

Mr Karunanidhi was charged with instigating the employees and teachers to strike, thereby not only violating the provisions of TESMA but also disrespecting the judgement of the High Court.

Even after the Supreme Court pronounced the strike as illegal, the conduct of Mr Karunanidhi in instigating the employees and teachers serving in notified departments falling under the essential services was in contravention of sections four and five of TESMA, the charge sheet said.

However, as Mr Karunanidhi could not climb the stairs, the Court officer served the charge sheets to him in his car. His counsel’s Ramasamy also moved a petition submitting that Mr Karunanidhi, due to old age, would not be able to climb stairs and be present before the Magistrate Arul Raj.

Therefore, Mr Karunanidhi’s presence may be recorded, he submitted.

The case was posted to December 24 for further hearing.

As Mr Karunanidhi drove into the Court complex, DMK cadres, including women, holding party flags, shouted slogans against the State Government for foisting a "false case" against their leader.

The Central Crime Branch Police had filed individual charge sheets against Mr Karunanidhi and other leaders, including Left party leaders R Nallakannu, N Varadarajan and former TNCC working president E V K S Elangovan, on October 31 last after filing an FIR in August last.

Mr Nallakannu, Mr Varadarajan and Mr Elangovan had already received the copies of the charge sheets after appearing before Mr Arulraj.

They were also charged under TESMA for instigating the employees and teachers to go on a strike with a view to paralysing the Government machinery and administration.

Under the section, "any person who instigates or incites other persons to take part in or otherwise acts in furtherance of a strike, which is illegal under this act, shall on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term that may extend up to three years or with a fine which may extend up to Rs 5,000 or both. (UNI)

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