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INDIA
4 TDP MLAs, one MLC to join TRS
Hyderabad: In a major setback to the Telugu Desam Party in Telangana, four of its MLAs and an MLC have decided to cross over to the Telangana Rashtra Samiti. Former Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav (Sanatnagar), Teegala Krishna Reddy (Maheswaram), Prakash Goud (Rajendranagar) and Ch.Dharma Reddy (Parkal) and MLC Gangadhar Goud met Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao at the camp office. Emerging from the meeting, they said they decided to quit the TDP and join the TRS only to help achieve the goal of ‘Bangaru Telangana’ (golden State). The four legislators and the MLC, sources said would be joining
the TRS officially in a week at a public meeting to be organised by the TRS. Though they intended to announce their joining the TRS, the formal announcement was kept pending. It was indicated that some more TDP legislators from Telangana could join the TRS shortly.
In the house of 119 in Telangana Assembly, TDP had won 15 seats and with the latest development, its number would dwindle to 11. In the last few weeks, a number of Congress, TDP and the YSR Congress party MLAs have switched their loyalties forcing their legislature parties to file disqualification petitions with the Speaker. Srinivas Yadav regretted that the TDP president and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, was goading them to undertake a ‘Bus Yatra’ protesting against the inefficiency of the TRS Government. “We know that the Krishnapatnam thermal power station is ready for inauguration, but it appears
that Naidu does not want it to be commissioned right away simply because he would then have to give 54 per cent of the power generated to Telangana,” he charged. Yadav also referred to Naidu naming his son Lokesh to lead the party in Telangana. “He wants to make it look as if there is no TDP leadership in the new State. All this makes us feel bad and after decades of being with the TDP, we are disillusioned. We are confident Chandrasekhar Rao’s intention in transforming the fledgling state and take it to the pinnacle of development and hence we decided to throw in our lot,” he stated.
Jayalalithaa in transferring her to a prison in her home state. The issue is taking a political twist with one section of the government adamant on shifting Jayalalithaa to Tamil Nadu while another section seems disinterested. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that his government could not take a decision on the issue as several decision-making bodies were involved in it. The Karnataka law and parliamentary minister T B Jayachandra said the government would explore the possibilities of transferring Jayalalithaa to Tamil Nadu only if her home state submitted a request.
New Delhi: Probing money laundering charges in the Aircel-Maxis case, the Enforcement Directorate will soon attach properties worth over Rs 7.42 billion belonging to former telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran, his family members and associates. “The attachment of properties related to proceeds of crime allegedly received by Maran brothers and associates will be done shortly under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act,“ a source said. The attachment will equal the amount allegedly received as bribe by the Maran brothers as claimed by the CBI in its chargesheet, the source added. In its chargesheet, the CBI has accused the Maran brothers of having received Rs 7.42 billion as quid pro
quo after the then telecom minister Dayanidhi Maran “coerced entrepreneur C Sivasankaran to sell his telecom company Aircel to Malaysia-based Maxis“. The ED had earlier issued showcause notices for Rs 17.67billion in the case. CBI nailed the Marans on the basis of financial transactions of Maxis Communications. A UKbased subsidiary of Maxis had purchased shares at premium in Sun Direct Pvt Ltd, owned by the Marans, worth Rs 6.29 billon. “Any additional attachment of properties will depend on information the ED receives from Malaysia and Mauritius,” sources said. The ED is likely to send fresh letters rogatory (LRs) to Mauritius and Malaysia seeking information on entities related to Aircel and Maxis.
N Chandrababu Naidu
SC agrees to hear Jaya's bail plea on Oct 17
New Delhi: The Supreme Court of India has agreed to hear former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister's bail plea on October 17. The SC will also hear bail pleas of Jayalalithaa's co-convicts Shashikala and Sudhakaran. Jayalalithaa was convicted and sentenced to 4 years imprisonment in the Rs 650 million disproportionate assets case. She has pleaded that she has been sentenced to only four years jail in the case and is also suffering from various ailments as grounds for her immediate relief. She said as chief minister she did not misuse her powers in this case. She also cited grounds of being senior citizen and woman for getting out of jail. Transfer to TN jail in legal fix: Meanwhile, a day after the Karnataka High Court rejected her bail plea, the state government has expressed its "helplessness"
Parties using aggressive ad campaigns in Haryana
Chandigarh: The campaign by various political parties eyeing their share in the Haryana assembly elections has gained momentum, with each of them resorting to advertisements to woo voters and fire salvos at each other. Besides Congress, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), other players in the contest include former MP Kuldeep Bishnoi led Haryana Janhit Congress (HJC) and former Union Minister Venod Sharma led Jan Chetna Party (JCP). The three main contenders are using strong advertisement campaigns, especially using regional TV channels and FM radio. Former Chief Minister Om Parkash Chautala led INLD, which is eyeing a comeback after a decade in the state, released a music video featuring Honey Singh, to attract young voters in the state. INLD has been targeting Congress over alleged Change of Land Use (CLU) scams, unemployment, cor-
www.abplgroup.com - Asian Voice 18th October 2014
ruption, law and order situation in the state and even hit out at Congress government's "Haryana No 1" slogan. On the other hand, advertisements issued by state unit of Congress highlight the development work undertaken by their government during the last 10 years with its slogan 'Sach Ko Jaano Sach Ko Pehchaano, Congress Sarkar Teesri Baar'. Congress ads also launched a veiled attack on INLD, asking voters to remember the time "when ransom was sought from jails, a reign of terror persisted, industry was shifting from the state". BJP, which is contesting on all 90 assembly seats on its own for the first time, has also launched an aggressive campaign. The party is projecting itself as the only viable alternative to both the ruling Congress and INLD. Seeking a clear mandate from people, BJP's advertisements hit out at Congress government over alleged land scams, unemployment amongst other issues.
ED to attach Maran brothers' Rs 7.42 bn assets
Modi promises to transform 'scam Haryana to skill Haryana'
Mahendergarh (Haryana): Promising to transform "scam Haryana to skill Haryana," Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked the people of the state to elect a BJP government with clear majority, saying he wants to strengthen the state's ties with Delhi to transform its fortunes. "I know that you are sad that Haryana is know as a state of scams. There are scams and then scams within scams. Our opponents are all involved in scams. Do you want a scam Haryana? I want to create a skill Haryana. You have to decided if you want a scam Haryana or a skill Haryana," he said addressing a rally. Asking people to elect a BJP government that could lead the state on the path of speedy development, Modi lamented that in the last 25 years Haryana has not developed due to dynastic politics and questioned if the past elections or governments were run democratically. "If dynastic politics continues, would your fortunes
Narendra Modi
change? If Haryana has to live with dignity, we need it to be freed from dynastic politics. For the last 25 years, four-five families have controlled Haryana and the common man's life has become difficult. "You have to decide whether you want a Haryana free from corruption. Do you want to see Haryana freed from bahubalis (musclemen) and the corrupt? Then you will have to choose a new path. The only way left now is to elect a BJP government with full majority," Modi said. Stressing on the importance of centre-state ties, Modi said till now the centre and the state stood next to each other but were not close enough.
South Brief
DMK sees an opportunity
Chennai: DMK MLA J Anbazhagan in a letter requested state assembly secretary to declare Jayalalithaa's Srirangam constituency as vacant since the former chief minister stands disqualified after her conviction. DMK chief Karunanidhi, who had been keeping a low profile so that the initial outpouring of sympathy for Jayalalithaa died down, made his move through a frontal attack. He said there would be no comeback for Jayalalithaa and asked DMK partymen to launch a vigorous campaign to destroy their opponents. After getting trounced in the Lok Sabha elections, the DMK had been lying low. Keen to clear out the gridlock brought upon by factional fights that culminated in an attempted palace coup of sorts by son and heir, Stalin, Karunanidhi raised a war cry to rev up party cadres.
Two crocodiles enter Mysore zoo, uninvited
Mysore: Two crocodiles from the Karanji lake drifted into the neighbouring Mysore zoo when excess water was released into the storm-water drain that passes through the zoo premises following heavy downpour there last week. The zoo authorities, however, managed to rescue one of the crocodiles and released it back into the lake. Efforts were on to catch the second crocodile which is believed to be inside a pond in the zoo. Excess water from the lake had to be released to prevent flooding in the nearby residential areas. As the lake harbours crocodiles, a couple of them inadvertently drifted into the zoo environs, a source said.
North Brief
Chautala surrenders at Tihar Jail New Delhi: Former Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, surrendered at Tihar Jail, after the Delhi High Court cancelled his bail and ordered him to discontinue his political rallies. He was convicted in January last year for running a graft-laden scheme to recruit teachers for government institutions when he was in office in 1999. Chautala, the chief of the Indian National Lok Dal or INLD, was sentenced to 10 years in jail. The INLD chief arrived at the jail accompanied by a number of supporters. He was sent to jail number two where he was lodged earlier. A top Tihar official said 7 pm is the "lock out time" and since Chautala came over an hour after the deadline ended, the matter would be reported to the court.
Elections keep policemen on their toes
Rewari: Security has been tightened in Haryana as the state is going to the polls on October 15. Several cases of money laundering and liquor distribution are reported during the election season. To check such notorious activities, the Election Commission has deputed policeman and district officials with cameras to ensure free and fair polls. Rewari Executive Magistrate Naresh Yadav said that checking has been on since the day polling dates were announced, ie September 12, and will continue till the evening of October 15. The police personnel work 24X7 and check each and every vehicle for liquor and cash thoroughly. The Election Commission has also deployed three flying squads for surprise checks.
Khap leaders enter poll fray
Chandigarh: Haryana’s khap panchayats, which often make headlines with their diktats on matrimony, women’s rights and personal freedom, have for the first time mobilised politically. Apart from a move to mobilise all khap panchayats to collectively support a proJat party, several heads of khaps have also individually thrown their hats into the ring. A spokesperson of the Sarv Jatt Khap Panchayat (SJKP), a powerful conglomerate of khap panchayats, tried to rally some 100 active khap panchayats behind one party, so that their votes would not get divided. These khaps command influence in the districts of Bhiwani, Hissar, Jind, Rohtak, Sonepat, Kaithal, Jhajjar, Mahendragarh, Palwal and Gurgaon among others.