RSS denies terror charges, terms it a political conspiracy
NEW DELHI: The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Thursday denied its involvement in any terror strike following allegations levelled against its chief Mohan Bhagwat by terror accused Swami Aseemanand. “This is a political conspiracy. Aseemanand has clarified he never said this. We have to see the timing,” said RSS leader Ram Madhav. “We condemn this attempt to bring back the false allegations. Such false allegations were made earlier to defame RSS leadership but they were proved to wrong,” he said. “Aseemanand, in the court and outside, denied making such statements. Questions arise on the authenticity of the interview. The timing of the interview poses a political conspiracy,” he added. Swami Aseemanand, accused in the blasts in the Samjhauta Express (February 2007), Hyderabad Mecca Masjid (May 2007) and Ajmer Dargah (October 2007), has claimed that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat had “sanctioned” the attacks. A report in The Caravan magazine quoted Aseemanand as saying that Bhagwat, then RSS general secretary, told him that the blasts should not be linked to the Sangh. ” Aseemanand told The Caravan that Bhagwat said of the violence, ‘It is very important that it be done. But you should not link it to the Sangh’,” said a press release issued by the magazine on Wednesday. (ANI)
2011 Mumbai blasts: Bhatkal, Asadullah sent in ATS custody
Mumbai: A special MCOCA court on Thursday remanded Indian Mujahideen (IM) co-founder Yasin Bhatkal and his aide Asadullah Akhtar in ATS custody till February 18 in connection with the 2011 Mumbai terror attack case. The duo was arrested yesterday by the Mumbai Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) after a Delhi court allowed its plea seeking their custody, saying their custodial interrogation was required to complete the probe. Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam told judge Y D Shinde that Bhatkal was the key conspirator of the three powerful blasts which ripped through crowded areas in Mumbai on July 13, 2011, killing at least 21 people and injuring 141. Bhatkal played a very important role in procuring explosives and making Improvised Explosive Device (IED), he said. Nikam also told the court that they want to find out how the money was routed through hawala to execute the blasts. “The court has allowed us to hand cuff the accused while being transported,” he said. However, defence lawyers told the court that since the ATS was conducting supplementary investigation, the accused should be remanded in judicial custody. They also told the court that Bhatkal and Akhtar don’t want to make any confessions to ATS about the crime. Meanwhile, before the hearing, the court appointed lawyer V D More from legal aid panel to represent Bhatkal, who wore a smile on his face during the court proceedings while Akhtar had a grim look. Akhtar’s lawyer Sherif Sheikh and More also moved an application in the court that the accused were detained illegally for a day. (PTI)
Modi’s remarks on Third Front appalling: CPI(M)
New Delhi: CPI(M) on Thursday termed as “appalling” BJP Prime Ministerial nominee Narendra Modi’s remarks that the Third Front idea was “third rate”, saying the political discourse would become “third rate under him”. “Certain people are extremely disturbed by the block formed by 11 Left and secular parties. Comments like Third Front is third rate by somebody who aspires to become the Prime Minister is truly appalling. Political discourse will be third rate under him….These (comments) are uncharitable and unsolicited,” senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here. Responding to Modi’s comments in Kolkata that Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal would work well with BJP in power at the Centre, he claimed the Trinamool Congress would not hesitate to work with BJP in the future. “The Trinamool Congress, which had left NDA (in 2001), returned to the BJP-led alliance after the 2002 Gujarat elections. That clearly meant you endorsed the Gujarat riots, because had you not, you would not have rejoined NDA,” Yechury said in reply to questions. He said, “The BJP PM candidate did not mince a word and almost said vote for Trinamool in Bengal and for BJP at the Centre. But there is no reaction from Trinamool. The Chief Minister has also not said a word on this so far.” The CPI(M) leader also said the Trinamool Congress was “more with the BJP” on opposing the Communal Violence Prevention Bill in Rajya Sabha as they opposed it only on count of the measure transgressing states’ rights and not on the “anti-communal nature” of the bill. “We made it clear that while we support the legislation which we have been demanding for long, we opposed it mainly on two grounds — on the expanded definition of communal violence in the bill to include regional, caste and even labour disputes and secondly, on the issue of transgression of federal rights,” Yechury said. (PTI)
Two Ind. MLAs turn BJD’s associate members, to vote Mohapatra
Bhubaneswar: A day before the Rajya Sabha elections in Odisha, two Independent MLAs- Jitu Patnaik from Champua and Braja Pradhan from Talcher- on Thursday announced their support to the ruling BJD which has been backing Independent candidate Raghunath Mohapatra. Both the Independent MLAs also announced that they would work as associate member of the ruling party headed by Naveen Patnaik. “We will work as associate members of the BJD,” Jitu Patnaik told reporters after meeting the Chief Minister here at Naveen Niwas. Earlier in the day, both Jitu Patnaik and Braja Pradhan had met the Chief Minister at his official chamber in the Assembly. Talcher MLA Braja Pradhan, who had earlier announced to support Congress candidate and IPL chairman Ranjib Biswal, changed his mind and said: “I will vote according to my conscience. I cannot assure you that my vote will go in favour of Biswal in the Rajya Sabha elections tomorrow.” The Chief Minister welcomed both the Independent MLAs. (PTI)
Eight gamblers arrested
Ghaziabad: With the arrest of eight persons, police on Thursday claimed to have busted a gang of gamblers active in different parts of the district. Acting on a tip-off, police officers conducted raids in a gambling den in Vijay Nagar area late last night and arrested all eight accused. The arrested have been identified as Shamsu, Gora, Ramkumar, Amit, Rahul, Surrendra Kumar, Wazid and Asif, all residents of Ghaziabad and all aged between 27 and 35 years. (PTI)