Chiranjeevi jumps queue, voters not amused
Hyderabad: An embarrassed Union Minister K Chiranjeevi beat a hasty retreat on Wednesday after a youth objected to his jumping the queue to cast his vote in a polling booth here. Chiranjeevi, who came with his family, was escorted towards the polling booth sidestepping a long queue of voters. An agitated youth confronted Chiranjeevi asking him how he has bypassed the queue, saying that people have been waiting for more than 90 minutes for their turn. “Why do you expect special treatment on a day like this,” the youth asked. “Grave injustice”, a senior citizen complained loudly. Chiranjeevi, who is the AP Congress Campaign Committee chairman, then went to the end of the queue. The youth was lustily cheered by the people. The minister later claimed that he had gone directly to the booth to check whether his name was on the list. “I am not such a person (who will violate the law). I am a person who respects democracy,” he said when a large media contingent put posers to him on his action. (PTI)
NCW issues notice to Ramdev
New Delhi: The National Commission for Women has issued a notice to yoga guru Baba Ramdev for his ‘honeymoon remarks’ against Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi that has triggered a major controversy. Taking a suo-moto congnizance of the media reports, the Commission sent a notice to Ramdev on Monday seeking a explanation for his remarks within three days. “His remarks hurt the dignity and sentiments of Dalit women. What he said is highly condemnable,” said NCW chairperson Mamta Sharma, adding if the Yoga guru fails to reply, he will be summoned by the Commission. Sharma said that making such remarks and then apologising has become a tradition now. Seeking apology cannot be a remedy,” she said. Addressing a gathering in Lucknow recently, Ramdev had said, “He (Rahul) goes to houses of Dalits for honeymoon and picnic…” His remarks sparked off a controversy and drew flak from various quarters, especially from the Congress party and some Dalit activists. Later Ramdev apologised for his “honeymoon” remark and said he was misinterpreted. Acting on a complaint, the police has charged Ramdev under Section 171G of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for making “false statement with intent to affect the result of an election”. (PTI)
Tewari apologises to Gadkari, defamation case withdrawn
Mumbai: Congress leader Manish Tewari has tendered an unconditional apology to Nitin Gadkari in connection with his charge against him in the Adarsh Housing scam following which BJP leader withdrew a defamation case against him. “Tewari has tendered an apology after which Gadkari has now withdrawn the defamation case”, Gadkari’s lawyer Rameshwar Gite said today. In a letter to Gadkari, Tewari has said, “I understand that that by such statements you have to suffer huge disrepute and have to face uncomfortable situation within the party and the society. Therefore by this communication I tender my unconditional apology for the allegations made against you” He also said that in future he will not put Gadkari in disrepute by making any comments with regards to the Adarsh Society. Tewari also requested Gadkari to withdraw the case filed in the local magistrate’s court. Gadkari filed the case in December, 2010 when Tiwari, as Congress spokesperson, had accused him of holding a benami flat in the scam-tainted Adarsh Society here. He had contended in the complaint that this was false and defamatory and Tewari be tried for criminal defamation under the Indian Penal Code. The local court had last month taken cognizance of Gadkari’s complaint and had issued process against Tewari. In Delhi, the BJP also released Tewari’s letter to Gadkari. (PTI)