Sting operation row: AAP files criminal defamation complaint
New Delhi: Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) on Monday filed a criminal defamation complaint in a Delhi court against the CEO of news portal “Media Sarkar” for releasing a “doctored” video allegedly showing some AAP candidates accepting funds through illegal means. Besides Anuranjan Jha, CEO of Media Sarkar, AAP has also named two Officials of a private news channel as accused saying they constantly carried the story based on the alleged sting operation without verifying its “veracity”. The plea, which was filed by AAP and Dinesh Mohania who is contesting the upcoming Delhi assembly polls from Sangam Vihar constituency on AAP’s ticket and was shown in the sting operation, is expected to come up for hearing on November 27. In its plea, AAP claimed Jha had released the “edited CD” which “appears to be doctored” and it was damaging for the party as it lowers their image in the eyes of general public. “Although even the edited version of the CD which has been released to media by accused number one (Jha) failed to show any of those (party’s) candidates doing anything illegal or accepting black money for the party, promising anything which is illegal or unethical, still the CD released by accused number one projects AAP in its commentary as a corrupt political party whose candidates are ready to accept donation in cash without giving receipt….,” it said. It claimed the news portal released a 48-minute video on November 21 containing “so-called sting operations” done by its reporters on eight AAP members, including seven of its candidates. (PTI)
BJP hits out at Rahul over infrastructure development remarks
Jaipur: The BJP on Monday hit out at Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi for his claims of better performance in infrastructure sector by UPA, and said that it was the NDA which had a much sound performance. BJP leader Smirti Irani, who is in the city to address public meetings in support of party candidates, today said, “In an affidavit to the court, Congress has admitted that the NDA government’s performance in the infrastructure sector and road construction was best for a five year plan. “During the NDA regime, 11 kms of roads were constructed per day but it shrunk to 3-km a day in the UPA rule,” Irani claimed. The UPA government, in July this year, had admitted before the Supreme Court that the NDA, in five years’ regime, had constructed nearly half the total length of National Highways laid in last 32 years. She said that Rahul during his meeting in the state today misled people over the performance of the UPA government. “In the last economic survey, there was mention about poor performance in the infrastructure sector,” Irani pointed out, adding further, “It’s all because of policy paralysis of the UPA government.” She also alleged that the Congress ignores poor and talks about them only during elections. “If they really care about the poor, then why the Prime Minister has failed to fulfill his commitment of bringing down the inflation within 100 days in 2009,” she questioned. (PTI)
Bahuguna for creation of smaller administrative units
Dehradun: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna has favoured creation of smaller administrative units in the state for rapid redressal of people’s grievances. Unveiling a statue of his father Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna, along with Governor Aziz Qureshi, at Srinagar yesterday, the Chief Minister said efforts are afoot to create smaller administrative units in the state as it will pave the way for quicker resolution of people’s grievances. He announced that Rs 50 crore would shortly be released for flood control measures in Srinagar and the foundation stone of an NIT in Sumadi would soon be laid. (PTI)