After committing a faux-pas in his reaction to the attack on Union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar, Anna Hazare said tonight that he was ready to apologize if his remark was perceived to be "wrong".
"He got slapped! Only one slap?" Hazare had said to a group of journalists at Ralegan Siddhi when he learnt about the attack today. But later he condemned the attack.
Explaining what he meant by his remark, Hazare, talking to a Marathi news-channel, was at pains to explain the faux pas saying "I was addressing a daily gathering of people when someone sent me a note informing about the attack. I wanted to know whether it was just a slap or there was some other kind of violence."
The social activist said he did not say or mean anything inappropriate when he said "ek hi mara?". He always believed in non-violent method of agitation, Hazare said.
"However, if it is perceived that I have said something wrong, I am ready to apologise," he said.
Pawar was slapped by Harvinder Singh, a transporter in his thirties, at a public auditorium in Delhi today.
24, నవంబర్ 2011, గురువారం
23, నవంబర్ 2011, బుధవారం
India beats China in UN election
In a keenly watched election in the United Nations General Assembly, India has squarely beaten China to win a seat on the Joint Inspection Unit, the UN's oversight body, for a five-year term starting Jan 1, 2013.
India's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, A. Gopinathan, Tuesday defeated Zhang Yan, the controversial Chinese ambassador to India by 106 votes to 77 in a straight contest.
China, which has held the Asian seat without a break for the last 10 years, had put up Zhang, who has another claim to fame in India. A few weeks ago, he is reported to have told a journalist in New Delhi to "shut up" about cartographic aggression on India by commercial entities in Beijing.
India has served only once on the JIU, 35 years ago, from 1968 to 1977. Japan is the only other Asian country on the powerful body that has the responsibility for the oversight of the UN.
Although the contest between India, an aspirant for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, and China, one of the "Big Five" in the council, is seen as "historic", diplomats suggested that New Delhi had only chosen to contest on the assumption that China would not seek re-election as per convention.
But China, which is serving a second five-year term ending Dec 31, 2012 instead of bowing out in favour of another state from the same geographical area, sought re-election for the third time at the last minute and New Delhi decided to stay in the contest.
Earlier, Gopinathan was India's deputy permanent representative in New York from January 2002 to September 2005. He has also served as joint secretary (UN) from August 1997 to December 2001 at the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi.
The JIU is a standing subsidiary organ of the General Assembly with a mandate covering the United Nations, its separately administered Funds and Programmes, and the Specialised Agencies that have accepted its Statute. It is composed of not more than eleven Inspectors serving for a term of five years, renewable once.
India's permanent representative to the UN in Geneva, A. Gopinathan, Tuesday defeated Zhang Yan, the controversial Chinese ambassador to India by 106 votes to 77 in a straight contest.
China, which has held the Asian seat without a break for the last 10 years, had put up Zhang, who has another claim to fame in India. A few weeks ago, he is reported to have told a journalist in New Delhi to "shut up" about cartographic aggression on India by commercial entities in Beijing.
India has served only once on the JIU, 35 years ago, from 1968 to 1977. Japan is the only other Asian country on the powerful body that has the responsibility for the oversight of the UN.
Although the contest between India, an aspirant for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, and China, one of the "Big Five" in the council, is seen as "historic", diplomats suggested that New Delhi had only chosen to contest on the assumption that China would not seek re-election as per convention.
But China, which is serving a second five-year term ending Dec 31, 2012 instead of bowing out in favour of another state from the same geographical area, sought re-election for the third time at the last minute and New Delhi decided to stay in the contest.
Earlier, Gopinathan was India's deputy permanent representative in New York from January 2002 to September 2005. He has also served as joint secretary (UN) from August 1997 to December 2001 at the ministry of external affairs in New Delhi.
The JIU is a standing subsidiary organ of the General Assembly with a mandate covering the United Nations, its separately administered Funds and Programmes, and the Specialised Agencies that have accepted its Statute. It is composed of not more than eleven Inspectors serving for a term of five years, renewable once.
21, నవంబర్ 2011, సోమవారం
Target Chidambaram: NDA to boycott him in Parliament
In a move to put pressure on the Congress-led government on the eve of Parliament's winter session, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on Monday demanded the resignation of home minister P Chidambaram for his alleged role in the 2G spectrum allocation and said it will boycott him till he
related stories
Cong appeals Opp to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament
quits.
Reacting to the move, law minister Salman Khurshid described it as "uncharitable" and "unkind."
The move, which came as a surprise to the government which is aiming to pass some landmark legislation, including the Lokpal Bill, in the winter session, came after the meeting of the NDA at the residence of BJP veteran LK Advani.
BJP's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha SS Ahluwalia said in a hard-hitting remark that Chidambaram is as much to be blamed for the 2G scam as former communications minister A Raja, who is now in jail.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accepted the resignation of Raja because he was from an allied party. But he (prime minister) didn't seek his (Chidambaram's) resignation," he told reporters.
"So, till the time Chidambaram's resignation is not accepted, BJP will boycott Chidambaram. We will not allow him to speak," he said.
The decision came a day after BJP leaders vented their anger over the arrest of its members in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam at the rally Sunday to mark the completion of Advani's 40-day Jan Chetna Yatra.
The party is also seemingly angry over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registering a case in the allocation of additional spectrum to private telecom firms when the late Pramod Mahajan was telecommunications minister in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
The decision to boycott Chidambaram could see a return of scenes witnessed in parliament when Congress decided to boycott former defence minister George Fernandes over his re-induction in the BJP-led NDA cabinet before a probe panel looking into alleged irregularities in defence deals gave its report.
The NDA move also revived memories of the last winter session, which was washed out due to opposition insistence on a joint parliamentary committee to probe 2G spectrum scam.
Congress described it as "unfortunate".
Khurshid said : "If they (NDA) have a problem, they should just ask him to share it with them. He has friends on the other side of the house as well.
"It will be uncharitable and unkind if those friends don't give him a chance to at least to explain what he wants to say," he told NDTV.
Said Congress spokesperson Raashid Alvi: "It is very unfortunate. Parliament is a place for debate and not for decisions like this. Government is ready to for discussion on any issue. Such decisions affect dignity of Parliament. It seems the BJP does not respect parliament."
He also said that the move could not be compared with Fernandes episode as at that time the government had formed a commission and he was re-inducted without the commission giving its report.
"In the case of Chidambaram there is neither a commission or investigation or a court verdict," Alvi told IANS.
The BJP has been insisting that Chidambaram's role be probed in the scam as he was finance minister in 2008 during the allocation of scarce spectrum.
Apart from Congress-party ally DMK's Raja and his party colleague Kanimozhi, there are 12 others, including corporate bigwigs in jail for their alleged role in the 2G scam.
Upping its ante against the Congress government, the NDA has also decided to support Left's motion on price rise and blackmoney.
"The Left and NDA will support each other's motions on price rise and blackmoney," Ahluwalia said.
He added they will also oppose the FDI in retail and civil nuclear liability bill. "We want to make a strong nuclear liability bill," he added.
"We will bring adjournment motion on black money stocked in foreign banks. We want the government to table in parliament the list of 782 people whose money is deposited in Swiss banks," he said.
He said the entire opposition has agreed on issues of black money and price rise
related stories
Cong appeals Opp to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament
quits.
Reacting to the move, law minister Salman Khurshid described it as "uncharitable" and "unkind."
The move, which came as a surprise to the government which is aiming to pass some landmark legislation, including the Lokpal Bill, in the winter session, came after the meeting of the NDA at the residence of BJP veteran LK Advani.
BJP's deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha SS Ahluwalia said in a hard-hitting remark that Chidambaram is as much to be blamed for the 2G scam as former communications minister A Raja, who is now in jail.
"Prime Minister Manmohan Singh accepted the resignation of Raja because he was from an allied party. But he (prime minister) didn't seek his (Chidambaram's) resignation," he told reporters.
"So, till the time Chidambaram's resignation is not accepted, BJP will boycott Chidambaram. We will not allow him to speak," he said.
The decision came a day after BJP leaders vented their anger over the arrest of its members in the 2008 cash-for-vote scam at the rally Sunday to mark the completion of Advani's 40-day Jan Chetna Yatra.
The party is also seemingly angry over the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) registering a case in the allocation of additional spectrum to private telecom firms when the late Pramod Mahajan was telecommunications minister in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government.
The decision to boycott Chidambaram could see a return of scenes witnessed in parliament when Congress decided to boycott former defence minister George Fernandes over his re-induction in the BJP-led NDA cabinet before a probe panel looking into alleged irregularities in defence deals gave its report.
The NDA move also revived memories of the last winter session, which was washed out due to opposition insistence on a joint parliamentary committee to probe 2G spectrum scam.
Congress described it as "unfortunate".
Khurshid said : "If they (NDA) have a problem, they should just ask him to share it with them. He has friends on the other side of the house as well.
"It will be uncharitable and unkind if those friends don't give him a chance to at least to explain what he wants to say," he told NDTV.
Said Congress spokesperson Raashid Alvi: "It is very unfortunate. Parliament is a place for debate and not for decisions like this. Government is ready to for discussion on any issue. Such decisions affect dignity of Parliament. It seems the BJP does not respect parliament."
He also said that the move could not be compared with Fernandes episode as at that time the government had formed a commission and he was re-inducted without the commission giving its report.
"In the case of Chidambaram there is neither a commission or investigation or a court verdict," Alvi told IANS.
The BJP has been insisting that Chidambaram's role be probed in the scam as he was finance minister in 2008 during the allocation of scarce spectrum.
Apart from Congress-party ally DMK's Raja and his party colleague Kanimozhi, there are 12 others, including corporate bigwigs in jail for their alleged role in the 2G scam.
Upping its ante against the Congress government, the NDA has also decided to support Left's motion on price rise and blackmoney.
"The Left and NDA will support each other's motions on price rise and blackmoney," Ahluwalia said.
He added they will also oppose the FDI in retail and civil nuclear liability bill. "We want to make a strong nuclear liability bill," he added.
"We will bring adjournment motion on black money stocked in foreign banks. We want the government to table in parliament the list of 782 people whose money is deposited in Swiss banks," he said.
He said the entire opposition has agreed on issues of black money and price rise
Maya gets 'split UP resolution' passed without debate
Amidst din, the Uttar Pradesh Assembly on Monday passed a controversial resolution on splitting the state into four parts by voice vote minutes after which the lower house was adjourned sine die. Chief minister Mayawati, who had announced the proposal recently to split the
state into Purvanchal, Paschim Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Awadh Pradesh, presented the resolution saying that it was being forwarded to the Centre.
As soon as the proposal was passed by voice vote amidst noisy scenes, Speaker Rajbhar adjourned the House sine-die.
The Opposition, which wanted to bring no confidence motion against the state government, criticised the move to pass the resolution by voice vote and then adjourning the Assembly.
Alleging that BSP government ignored Baba Saheb's (Bhim Rao Ambedkar) Constitution and adjourned the House sine-die, Leader of Opposition Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters that "The government should have discussed the no-confidence motion and go for voting".
He also accused the Speaker of acting as a BSP member.
About state's reorganisation, SP said that people of the state were against splitting the state.http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/HTEditImages/Images/16-11-11-metro1c.jpg
CLP leader Pramod Tiwari said his party favoured constitution of state reorganisation commission before taking the decision to split the state so that resources division and other issues could be considered.
In the House of 403, BSP had 220 members (after six of its members have been disqualified recently), SP had 89, BJP 48, Cong 20, RLD 10, independent 9, RSP one.
Earlier, the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly started on a stormy noted with BJP members jumping into the well of the House while SP members started slogan shouting against the government and waved placards.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma said the BSP government had full majority in the House but opposition members did pay heed to him.
Amidst din, Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar adjourned the question hour till 12.20 pm.
When the House met again, in the presence of Mayawati, who was not present during question hour, the SP and BJP members jumped into the well demanding discussion on no-confidence motion.
Amidst din, hurling of paper balls on the Speaker and alert marshalls trying to catch them, vote on account for the first four months of 2012-13 was passed by the House.
Tiwari alleged that BSP government acted against democracy and SP and BJP had helped the party in the job.
"Both SP and BJP jumped into the well. No confidence motion could not be brought from the well. They should have stood in their place for discussion on the motion", Tiwari said.
Terming proposal of division of state as mere "election stunt", BJP Leader Om Prakash Singh said that Centre should not accept the proposal.
Advocating for a reorganisation commission, Singh said that as UP's proposal was passed without discussion and debate it should not be accepted at any cost.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Kokab Hamid said the state government was not serious about splitting the state and the way the proposal was passed showed the same.
SP and BJP will be meeting Governor BL Joshi later in the day to register their protest against the BSP government.
In a bid to outsmart rivals ahead of the Assembly elections, Mayawati had last week announced her plans to bring a resolution in the House for carving out four new states.
The Chief Minister, who had earlier written a letter for reorganisation of the state to the Prime Minister maintaining that it was not in the jurisdiction of the state, had said that the decision has been taken after proper consideration to mount pressure on the Centre.
This demand is also in keeping with the aspirations and ambitions of these regions, she had claimed.
Mayawati's move is seen as an attempt by her to cash in on the sentiments in favour of small states in the western and eastern regions and the Bundelkhand area of the state during the Assembly elections.
state into Purvanchal, Paschim Pradesh, Bundelkhand and Awadh Pradesh, presented the resolution saying that it was being forwarded to the Centre.
As soon as the proposal was passed by voice vote amidst noisy scenes, Speaker Rajbhar adjourned the House sine-die.
The Opposition, which wanted to bring no confidence motion against the state government, criticised the move to pass the resolution by voice vote and then adjourning the Assembly.
Alleging that BSP government ignored Baba Saheb's (Bhim Rao Ambedkar) Constitution and adjourned the House sine-die, Leader of Opposition Shivpal Singh Yadav told reporters that "The government should have discussed the no-confidence motion and go for voting".
He also accused the Speaker of acting as a BSP member.
About state's reorganisation, SP said that people of the state were against splitting the state.http://www.hindustantimes.com/Images/HTEditImages/Images/16-11-11-metro1c.jpg
CLP leader Pramod Tiwari said his party favoured constitution of state reorganisation commission before taking the decision to split the state so that resources division and other issues could be considered.
In the House of 403, BSP had 220 members (after six of its members have been disqualified recently), SP had 89, BJP 48, Cong 20, RLD 10, independent 9, RSP one.
Earlier, the Winter Session of the Uttar Pradesh Assembly started on a stormy noted with BJP members jumping into the well of the House while SP members started slogan shouting against the government and waved placards.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Lalji Verma said the BSP government had full majority in the House but opposition members did pay heed to him.
Amidst din, Speaker Sukhdeo Rajbhar adjourned the question hour till 12.20 pm.
When the House met again, in the presence of Mayawati, who was not present during question hour, the SP and BJP members jumped into the well demanding discussion on no-confidence motion.
Amidst din, hurling of paper balls on the Speaker and alert marshalls trying to catch them, vote on account for the first four months of 2012-13 was passed by the House.
Tiwari alleged that BSP government acted against democracy and SP and BJP had helped the party in the job.
"Both SP and BJP jumped into the well. No confidence motion could not be brought from the well. They should have stood in their place for discussion on the motion", Tiwari said.
Terming proposal of division of state as mere "election stunt", BJP Leader Om Prakash Singh said that Centre should not accept the proposal.
Advocating for a reorganisation commission, Singh said that as UP's proposal was passed without discussion and debate it should not be accepted at any cost.
Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) leader Kokab Hamid said the state government was not serious about splitting the state and the way the proposal was passed showed the same.
SP and BJP will be meeting Governor BL Joshi later in the day to register their protest against the BSP government.
In a bid to outsmart rivals ahead of the Assembly elections, Mayawati had last week announced her plans to bring a resolution in the House for carving out four new states.
The Chief Minister, who had earlier written a letter for reorganisation of the state to the Prime Minister maintaining that it was not in the jurisdiction of the state, had said that the decision has been taken after proper consideration to mount pressure on the Centre.
This demand is also in keeping with the aspirations and ambitions of these regions, she had claimed.
Mayawati's move is seen as an attempt by her to cash in on the sentiments in favour of small states in the western and eastern regions and the Bundelkhand area of the state during the Assembly elections.
20, నవంబర్ 2011, ఆదివారం
NDA MPs will give declaration on black money: Advani
Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader LK Advani on Sunday concluded his 38-day Jan Chetna Yatra -- to draw public attention to the issues of black money and corruption -- with a public rally at the Ramlila Maidan in the capital.
While addressing a rally at Ramlila Maidan Advani said his yatra was a success but he missed ailing Atal Bihari Vajpayee on the nationwide tour. He said he has conducted six nationwide journeys in the 60 years of his joining politics. "I received overwhelming welcome in various states. But this was the first yatra when Vajpayeeji was not with me," he said.
"This yatra has been unique in many ways," Advani said.
He also said that the yatra is over but our fight against corruption h as not ended.
Advani further said that National Democratic Alliance (NDA) MPs will submit a declaration in parliament stating that they have no hidden foreign bank accounts. He said the declaration would read, "I solemnly declare that I don't have directly or indirectly any bank account or asset illegally held outside India."
Advani said the declaration would be given to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Rajya Sabha chairman Hamid Ansari within a week after the start of the winter session on Tuesday.
The rally was attended by top BJP leaders including Nitin Gadkari and Ananth Kumar and leaders of opposition in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley, respectively.
Janata Dal-United (JD-U) chief Sharad Yadav also addressed the rally and charged the Congress with being soft on its leaders accused of corruption, including in the 2G and cash-for-votes scams.
"The government lodges us in jail when we raise our voices against corruption," Yadav thundered at Advani's rally here.
Yadav, who is also convenor of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), said the government was soft on Congress leaders who are allegedly involved in corruption scams.
"There is only one Congress member in jail and that is Suresh Kalmadi. Look at the cash-for-votes scam. Not even one Congress member was arrested. And opposition leaders who blew the lid were jailed," he said.
"You (the Congress) have committed the sin and remember you will be punished for your sins. That is the intention of Advani's yatra," Yadav said, putting a united face of the NDA ahead of the winter session of parliament that begins Tuesday.
Sushma Swaraj blamed the "wrong policies" of the UpA for rising prices and accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of leading the "most corrupt" government.
In her speech at the rally Swaraj said the prime minister puts the onus of scams on his colleagues.
She said women were badly hit due to the price rise.
"Women suffer the first blow of price rise. Fuel cost is rising. (The government) cannot hear cries of women. Prices are increasing due to corruption and wrong policies of government," Swaraj said.
The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha said people had given their verdict to Manmohan Singh to lead but he had become leader of the "most corrupt government".
She said Advani had embarked on his country-wide yatra to highlight the failures of the government.
"(The) Yatra has ended but not the struggle," Sushma Swaraj said.
Advani's yatra, which started Oct 11, reached Delhi on Sunday after rolling across 22 states and five union territories.
19, నవంబర్ 2011, శనివారం
Former Telecom Minister Sukhram slapped, kicked by man in court premises
elhi: Former Telecom Minister Sukhram was today slapped and kicked by a man inside the premises of a Delhi court just moments after he was sentenced to five years rigorous imprisonment in connection with a corruption case dating back to 1996.
The assailant, identified as Harvinder Singh, was immediately nabbed and whisked away by the police. He had been thrown out of the court earlier in the day after he misbehaved with the former minister and complained about the court order taking so long.
Sukhram has been convicted yesterday by the court for taking Rs. 3 lakh as bribe to give a lucrative contract to a private firm in 1996. Apart from the five-year jail term, he will also have to pay a fine of Rs. 4 lakh.
The former Telecom Minister had earlier pleaded for leniency in the court on grounds of his old age, while the CBI called him a "habitual offender" and sought maximum punishment for him.
Sukhram, 86, had been held guilty for misusing his official position during his tenure as Telecom Minister in P V Narasimha Rao's Cabinet in giving a contract worth Rs. 30 crore to private firm Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL) to supply 3.5 Lakh Conductor Kilometers (LCKM) of Polythene Insulated Jelly Filled (PIJF) cables to the telecom department.
Reacting to the Sukhram verdict, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said, "The way in which the court has taken the time to punish the guilty is important. The judicial system needs changes otherwise people will lose faith.''
Sukhram was charged on Thursday under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. These offences under which he has been convicted usually entail a maximum sentence of a seven-year jail term.
Appearing for Sukhram, his counsel had pleaded to Special Judge R C Pandey, "I (Sukhram) am an 86-year-old person and attending the trial for past 12 to 13 years. I suffer from old age-related ailments and have lost my wife. Therefore, a lenient view may be taken."
He also submitted that "age is a good consideration for leniency".
He said that "as such it is not a case where government has lost any money. The CBI allegation was that he (Sukhram) took a bribe but no financial loss has been caused to the government exchequer."
Responding to this, the CBI prosecutor had argued that Sukhram is a "habitual offender" as he has been sentenced in two other cases also and deserves no leniency.
On the age issue, the CBI counsel had said, "Age is always a consideration but the court should see the age of the accused at the time of committing the offence. But, at present every case is taking 10-15 years and the plea that I am an old person and, therefore, a lenient view should be taken, is not a correct proposition of law governing the sentence of the accused after he is convicted".
The CBI also said, "We should not forget that he was an MP and a minister and has betrayed the confience of the public at large."
Rebutting Sukhram's argument that no financial loss was caused to the exchequer, the CBI said under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, dealing with the misconduct of a public servant, pecuniary advantage caused to an accused tantamount to causing corresponding loss to the exchequer.
The CBI, in its chargesheet filed in 1998, had accused Sukhram of showing undue favour in awarding the cable supply contract to HTL. Sukhram had been put on trial along with HTL
chairman Devinder Singh Choudhary who died during the trial.
In 2009, Sukhram had been held guilty of possessing disproportionate assets worth Rs. 4.25 crore.
In 2002, he was awarded a three-year jail term under the Prevention of Corruption Act in a separate case relating to equipment supply for causing a loss of Rs. 1.66 crore to the state exchequer. He had allegedly caused undue benefits to Rama Rao, managing director of Hyderabad-based Advance Radio Masts. He is currently out on bail.
A seven-time MLA and three-time MP, Sukhram was expelled from the Congress even though his son Anil Sharma was a minister in the V B Singh government in Himachal Pradesh.
In 1997, he had floated Himachal Vikas Congress. He was inducted in the cabinet of BJP-HVC government led by Prem Kumar Dhumal on March 24, 1998, but had to resign when charges were framed against him in corruption cases.
The assailant, identified as Harvinder Singh, was immediately nabbed and whisked away by the police. He had been thrown out of the court earlier in the day after he misbehaved with the former minister and complained about the court order taking so long.
Sukhram has been convicted yesterday by the court for taking Rs. 3 lakh as bribe to give a lucrative contract to a private firm in 1996. Apart from the five-year jail term, he will also have to pay a fine of Rs. 4 lakh.
The former Telecom Minister had earlier pleaded for leniency in the court on grounds of his old age, while the CBI called him a "habitual offender" and sought maximum punishment for him.
Sukhram, 86, had been held guilty for misusing his official position during his tenure as Telecom Minister in P V Narasimha Rao's Cabinet in giving a contract worth Rs. 30 crore to private firm Haryana Telecom Limited (HTL) to supply 3.5 Lakh Conductor Kilometers (LCKM) of Polythene Insulated Jelly Filled (PIJF) cables to the telecom department.
Reacting to the Sukhram verdict, BJP president Nitin Gadkari said, "The way in which the court has taken the time to punish the guilty is important. The judicial system needs changes otherwise people will lose faith.''
Sukhram was charged on Thursday under various provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. These offences under which he has been convicted usually entail a maximum sentence of a seven-year jail term.
Appearing for Sukhram, his counsel had pleaded to Special Judge R C Pandey, "I (Sukhram) am an 86-year-old person and attending the trial for past 12 to 13 years. I suffer from old age-related ailments and have lost my wife. Therefore, a lenient view may be taken."
He also submitted that "age is a good consideration for leniency".
He said that "as such it is not a case where government has lost any money. The CBI allegation was that he (Sukhram) took a bribe but no financial loss has been caused to the government exchequer."
Responding to this, the CBI prosecutor had argued that Sukhram is a "habitual offender" as he has been sentenced in two other cases also and deserves no leniency.
On the age issue, the CBI counsel had said, "Age is always a consideration but the court should see the age of the accused at the time of committing the offence. But, at present every case is taking 10-15 years and the plea that I am an old person and, therefore, a lenient view should be taken, is not a correct proposition of law governing the sentence of the accused after he is convicted".
The CBI also said, "We should not forget that he was an MP and a minister and has betrayed the confience of the public at large."
Rebutting Sukhram's argument that no financial loss was caused to the exchequer, the CBI said under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act, dealing with the misconduct of a public servant, pecuniary advantage caused to an accused tantamount to causing corresponding loss to the exchequer.
The CBI, in its chargesheet filed in 1998, had accused Sukhram of showing undue favour in awarding the cable supply contract to HTL. Sukhram had been put on trial along with HTL
chairman Devinder Singh Choudhary who died during the trial.
In 2009, Sukhram had been held guilty of possessing disproportionate assets worth Rs. 4.25 crore.
In 2002, he was awarded a three-year jail term under the Prevention of Corruption Act in a separate case relating to equipment supply for causing a loss of Rs. 1.66 crore to the state exchequer. He had allegedly caused undue benefits to Rama Rao, managing director of Hyderabad-based Advance Radio Masts. He is currently out on bail.
A seven-time MLA and three-time MP, Sukhram was expelled from the Congress even though his son Anil Sharma was a minister in the V B Singh government in Himachal Pradesh.
In 1997, he had floated Himachal Vikas Congress. He was inducted in the cabinet of BJP-HVC government led by Prem Kumar Dhumal on March 24, 1998, but had to resign when charges were framed against him in corruption cases.
3, సెప్టెంబర్ 2011, శనివారం
Sen sends resignation letter to Prez
Justice Soumitra Sen of the Calcutta High Court appears to have succeeded in avoiding impeachment with his resignation reaching President Pratibha Patil on Saturday (September 3) and rendering the removal proceedings in Lok Sabha infructuous. Any doubts about the veracity of his resignation, which was faxed to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday, were removed with the original handwritten letter under his signature being delivered to the President's office this morning.
Justice Sen's impeachment is on the Lok Sabha schedule for Monday but constitutional experts said tonight that the resignation had rendered impeachment proceedings infructuous. The Rajya Sabha had impeached him last month. Highly placed sources confirmed tonight that the proceedings in the lower house may now be dropped enabling the judge to avoid the ignominy of being the first judicial officer to be impeached by Parliament.
Attorney General G E Vahanvati had opined yesterday that the impeachment proceedings, having already been completed in the Rajya Sabha, should be completed by the other house. This opinion appears to have been based on the premise that the resignation letter faxed by Sen to Rashtrapati Bhavan on Thursday could not be taken cognisance of since such letters must be written in the hand of the judge as per Art 217 (a) of the Constitution.
That criterion was fulfilled today and as constitutional expert P P Rao noted, "impeachment proceedings are intended to remove a judge from the post. But once he has resigned you cannot remove him. Therefore, the proceedings become infructuous." Another expert K K Venugopal said that once a High Court judge submits resignation it would operate straightaway. However, if the resignation mentions a prospective date, it is open to a judge to withdraw it before it is accepted."
However, former Lok Sabha Secretary General Subash Kashyap was of the opinion that, "if the resignation is found to be mala fide, the President may say this is only to avoid (impeachment) proceedings in which case she may allow the Lok Sabha to continue the proceedings." He also said the Speaker would have to be guided by the opinion of the Attorney General.
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