AAP alleges that appointments are fueled by bribes
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday accused the Central government of wanting to control the appointments of bureaucrats in the state. Suggesting that the row between the Aam Aadmi Party government and state Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung had nothing to do with the a divergence on interpreting the Constitution as is being claimed, Sisodia said that the state government was paying the price for stopping the “industry” of transfers and postings. “Lakhs of rupees are paid as bribe to get a lucrative posting and money is distributed top to bottom,” said AAP leader Ashutosh. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijender Gupta met President Pranab Mukherjee to request intervention in the “major Constitutional crisis” in Delhi. The row broke out last fortnight after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal voiced his opposition to Shakuntala Gamlin being appointed Acting Chief Secretary.
Parrikar vows to counter threats
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said that he would take “proactive steps” to counter any threat to India. Both diplomatic and “pressure tactics” would be used to ensure the country’s security, he said. He added that the Narendra Modi-led government was different from the previous United Progressive Alliance government as it had given the army a free hand to tackle terrorists through intelligence.
Geelani’s passport application rejected
The Union External Affairs Ministry on Thursday rejected Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s passport application, claiming that he had not filled in his nationality in the application form. The ministry said that he had also failed to complete some other formalities necessary for obtaining the document, including paying the application fee and submitting his biometric details and photographs. Geelani said that he had been unable to fill in his details as he was under house arrest and could not complete the formalities at a passport office. He added that he hadn't declared his nationality since he was living in an "internationally recognised disputed territory". He had applied for a passport to visit his ailing daughter in Saudi Arabia.
Complete Pachauri probe by July 17, says court
A trial court in New Delhi on Thursday told the state police to complete its investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against The Energy and Resources Institute Director-General RK Pachauri by July 17. The court was hearing a plea by Pachauri, who sought permission to enter his office. Observing that the fundamental right to livelihood could not be suspended for an indefinite period, the court said that it would pass a ruling on the matter by July 17 if no progress was made in the case. Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail in the case on March 21.
Lalu invites Manjhi to join Janata Parivar
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday invited former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to join the Janata Parivar. Yadav told reporters that he had invited Manjhi to become part of the merged group as there was a need for secular forces in the country to be united in tackling the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, Manjhi’s party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, refused the invitation.
We welcome your comments at
letters@scroll.in.
Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday accused the Central government of wanting to control the appointments of bureaucrats in the state. Suggesting that the row between the Aam Aadmi Party government and state Lieutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung had nothing to do with the a divergence on interpreting the Constitution as is being claimed, Sisodia said that the state government was paying the price for stopping the “industry” of transfers and postings. “Lakhs of rupees are paid as bribe to get a lucrative posting and money is distributed top to bottom,” said AAP leader Ashutosh. Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Vijender Gupta met President Pranab Mukherjee to request intervention in the “major Constitutional crisis” in Delhi. The row broke out last fortnight after Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal voiced his opposition to Shakuntala Gamlin being appointed Acting Chief Secretary.
Parrikar vows to counter threats
Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar on Thursday said that he would take “proactive steps” to counter any threat to India. Both diplomatic and “pressure tactics” would be used to ensure the country’s security, he said. He added that the Narendra Modi-led government was different from the previous United Progressive Alliance government as it had given the army a free hand to tackle terrorists through intelligence.
Geelani’s passport application rejected
The Union External Affairs Ministry on Thursday rejected Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani’s passport application, claiming that he had not filled in his nationality in the application form. The ministry said that he had also failed to complete some other formalities necessary for obtaining the document, including paying the application fee and submitting his biometric details and photographs. Geelani said that he had been unable to fill in his details as he was under house arrest and could not complete the formalities at a passport office. He added that he hadn't declared his nationality since he was living in an "internationally recognised disputed territory". He had applied for a passport to visit his ailing daughter in Saudi Arabia.
Complete Pachauri probe by July 17, says court
A trial court in New Delhi on Thursday told the state police to complete its investigation into the allegations of sexual harassment against The Energy and Resources Institute Director-General RK Pachauri by July 17. The court was hearing a plea by Pachauri, who sought permission to enter his office. Observing that the fundamental right to livelihood could not be suspended for an indefinite period, the court said that it would pass a ruling on the matter by July 17 if no progress was made in the case. Pachauri was granted anticipatory bail in the case on March 21.
Lalu invites Manjhi to join Janata Parivar
Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav on Thursday invited former Bihar Chief Minister Jitan Ram Manjhi to join the Janata Parivar. Yadav told reporters that he had invited Manjhi to become part of the merged group as there was a need for secular forces in the country to be united in tackling the Bharatiya Janata Party. However, Manjhi’s party, the Hindustani Awam Morcha, refused the invitation.