Cong, JD(U) slam Modi for EC attack, call it outrageous
New Delhi: Narendra Modi’s fierce attack on Election Commission on Thursday drew sharp condemnation from Congress and JD(U) which dubbed the criticism as “outrageous and unjustified” and an indication of its “desperation”. The BJP Prime Ministerial candidate escalated his attack on the EC, questioning the institution’s neutrality and accusing it of “not being impartial”. “I have a feeling that the BJP is getting a bit desperate. That is why it is making these outrageous attacks on the EC. The EC has allowed them to carry out their other events, then why should they take umbrage because just one event is denied”, Congress leader and Finance Minister P Chidambaram told reporters at the AICC headquarters here. Hitting out at Modi, he said when the Prime Ministerial candidate of a political party makes “outrageous comments against the EC, it speaks more about him rather than the EC.” “I don’t think it diminishes the authority of the EC, rather it reveals the character of the person making the allegations”, he said, adding that the authority of the EC must be measured by the outcome of the polls, the turnout, violence or absence of it and not by the allegations levelled by somebody. Holding that by and large, the elections have taken place peacefully, he said the EC has done a “tremendous job, a splendid job”. At the same time, he said there are some aspects of rules and regulations which people can disagree with, but the overall job done by the EC is tremendous. Chidambaram’s remarks came as BJP mounted an all- out attack on the EC over refusal of permission to Modi for holding a rally in Varanasi. JD(U) also hit out at BJP and Modi, saying it would be difficult for the country to function if institutions like EC are made a poll issue for political gains. (PTI)
UPA asks ministries to prepare ‘handover documents’ for new govt
Delhi: With the UPA-II government on the verge of completing its term, the cabinet secretariat is busy preparing a comprehensive “handover of works on agenda” for the new government. The cabinet secretariat has asked various ministries to prepare “handover” documents to help the next government know the tasks at hand which will need attention over the next three months, a senior official in the Prime Minister’s Office told IANS on Thursday. “These documents would detail the tasks which need to be done in May and next three months by the new government,” said the official who did not want to be quoted. “There are senior posts where incumbents would retire over the next three months and new appointments have to be made. “In the case of the external affairs ministry, there would be international conferences lined up or some international commitment to be fulfilled in the three months,” the official said. The process of “handover documents” is an initiative of the United Progressive Alliance government, the official said. The results of the Lok Sabha elections will be declared May 16, setting in motion the process for formation of the next government of this country. (IANS)
BJP, TMC workers clash in Varanasi
Varanasi: A scuffle on Thursday broke out between Trinamool congress and BJP workers in front of Banaras Hindu University (BHU) where the saffron party staged a protest over the refusal of permission for Narendra Modi’s rally here. The incident took place when Trinamool congress candidate Indra Tiwari was canvassing in the area and reached near the BHU main gate, where BJP leader Arun Jaitley, Amit Shah and BJP workers were staging a protest, police sources said. When Tiwari was passing from through the crowd where dharna was going on, some of BJP supporters handed her party pamphlets, which she torn enraging them. This was followed by heated arguments between BJP supporters and TMC candidate and her supporters leading to a scuffle. TMC workers alleged that they and Indira were beaten by BJP supporters. However, police said that no formal complaint has been received so far in this regard. Modi was yesterday denied permission for holding a public meeting at a venue of its choice here following which the party announced protests while cancelling all his programmes here on Thursday. (PTI)
2 held for rape, murder of folk singer
Chhattarpur(MP): Two persons were on Thursday arrested here in connection with the alleged rape and murder of a Panna-based woman folk singer. A body was found buried under bricks in a room at a field in Gurraiya village of the district on May 3, Chhattarpur Superintendent of Police Lalit Shakyawar said. Later, the deceased was identified as the 32-year-old folk singer from Panna district. Acting on the leads, police picked up one of her singing team members Rahul Nagar, with whom she was last seen. When police interrogated Nagar on the basis of suspicion, he admitted that he took the woman on his motorcycle to Gurraiya village, where he along with two others – Aslam Mansoori and Abid Musalman – first raped her at gunpoint and later looted her valuables amounting Rs 3,500, Shakyawar said. Nagar also admitted that they later killed her by hitting her on head with a stone and fled from the spot after hiding the body under the bricks. Police also recovered valuables including gold ornaments, damaged SIM card, purse, make-up articles and a brick with blood stains from the accused. A motorcycle and a country made revolver were also seized from them, the SP said. While Nagar and Mansoori were arrested today, search was on to nab Abid Musalman, he added. (PTI)
Puri temple faces wood scarcity for chariots
Puri: Sri Jagannath Temple Administration (SJTA) is facing acute shortage of big logs of wood required for construction of three chariots for the Lord’s Annual Rath Yatra, scheduled on June 29. The issue was discussed at the first coordination committee meeting held here on Thursday under the chairmanship of Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Central range, S K Vasist. “We require at least 42 big logs for making of Tumba (the middle of the wheels). But, so far the state government could supply only 28 pieces of logs of required dimension,” said an official after the meeting. As the required log size is not available in the forests under Nayagarh Division, arrangement will be made to procure such big logs from nearby forests at Daspalla and Boudh areas. Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Nayagarh has assured the meeting that big logs would be provided soon, he said. Sources said that about 13,000 cubic feet of wood worth Rs 60 lakh is required every year for construction of three temple size chariots. Therefore, about 1,000 trees of 862 species need to be cut annually for construction of Lord’s chariots. (PTI)
