Rahul targets NRHM fund misuse in UP, party files RTI plea

LUCKNOW, April 27: In a surprise move, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday visited the family of murdered Lucknow chief medical officer B P Singh and the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) office.

At the office, state Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, who accompanied him, filed RTI applications seeking information on implementation of NRHM and the Janani Suraksha Yojna for the last five years.

After submitting the applications, Rahul told mediapersons, “I have come here to file an RTI application with Ritaji. There is gross misappropriation of NRHM funds here, that is why we have asked many questions in our application like where funds are going, how are they are being utilised.”

Rahul assured Singh’s family that he would pursue their demand for a CBI inquiry into the murder.

Singh was shot dead on April 2. His predecessor Vinod Arya was killed in similar manner six months before. Both crimes remain unsolved and there are allegations of involvement of politically influential criminals who control the business of tenders and supplies in the Departments of Health and Family Welfare.

Cong, DMK slam PAC chief, demand resignation

NEW DELHI, April 27: Slamming PAC chairman MM Joshi over the draft report on 2G scam, Congress and DMK members of the panel on Wednesday accused him of having "malafide intention" of destabilising the government and demanded his resignation.

Soon after the draft report leaked, members of Congress and DMK went into a huddle and made it clear that they would not allow the adoption of the report in tomorrow's meeting.

They said that they had got no time to study thoroughly the voluminous report of 280-odd pages and would like to study it properly besides calling more key witnesses like former Telecom Minister A Raja before the committee.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Congress members KS Rao, Saifuddin Soz and Navin Jindal and DMK member T Siva attacked PAC chief for "hurriedly" pushing the report for "political mileage".

Alleging that Joshi had wanted to "destabilise" and "defame the cabinet and government", Rao said the draft report seems to have been prepared in a "pre-determined manner with biased mind and malafide intention."

He said that members had no idea that tomorrow's meeting was to discuss the report and were "shocked" to learn about it through the media.

"We did not know Joshi was in hurry to present report by April 30," Rao said.

Apprehending that Joshi might table the report in Parliament without views of members of ruling party, he demanded resignation of Joshi as head of PAC.

Contending that Joshi would throughout the meetings force the witnesses to toe a particular line and even "put words" in their mouth, Rao said, "We all are for unanimous report.

But why is he in a hurry? What is the intention? Do we have to say everything that the chairman says?

Jindal alleged several things mentioned in report are wrong and they would raise these issues one by one in tomorrow's meeting.

The meeting on April 16 did not take place and so the evidence of Principal Secretary to Prime Minister TKA Nair and Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrasekar could not appear but the report states that they had appeared, Jindal said adding that it suggests that the report has been prepared before April 15.

The Congress and DMK members said they had wanted Raja to appear before the committee as per the principle of natural justice as he was the main accused but the chairman rejected it.

Sathya Sai Baba interred with State honours

PUTTAPARTHI, April 27: The mortal remains of the 85-year-old spiritual guru, Sathya Sai Baba, were interred amid State honours at the same spot in the Sai Kulwant Hall from where he used to deliver his message to his devotees for decades.

Vedic rituals were performed as the body was laid to rest while Christian, Muslim, Buddhist and Jewish priests recited their scriptures. The last rites were performed by the Sai Baba's nephew R.J. Ratnakar, who is also a member of the Central Trust, amid chants by a group of scholars led by Kandakuri Kondavadhani from East Godavari district.

The ceremony commenced behind the large maroon screen which was lifted once the religious rites were completed as the audience watched the ceremony, fighting emotions.

A guard of honour was given by policemen who came in slow march, draped the national tri-colour on the glass casket and removed it after a while as the buglers sounded the Last Post.

Half a platoon of policemen fired three shots in the air in a gun salute. A general salute was also offered by the men in uniform.

Among the VIPs present were Governors E.S.L. Narasimhan (Andhra Pradesh) and Shivraj Patil (Rajasthan), Chief Ministers N. Kiran Kumar Reddy (AP) and B.S. Yeddyurappa (Karnataka), former Chief Ministers N. Chandrababu Naidu (AP) and Ashok Chavan (Maharashtra) and Andhra Pradesh Ministers N. Raghuveera Reddy (Revenue) and J. Geetha Reddy (Major Industries).

The actual process of laying the mortal remains to rest began after the rituals were completed.

The vault had a foundation and a layer of the finest marble, said to have been sourced from Rajasthan.

Water from sacred rivers and soil from every State in the country were sprinkled on the memorial.

After the casket was lowered and the ‘samadhi' made ready, VIPs walked upto it and sprinkling sacred ash, prayed and paid their last respects. The ceremony that started at 8.45 a.m. came to a close with a traditional ‘harathi' after which entry into the Sai Kulwant Hall was barred for a while. Devotees were allowed to have darshan and pay their respects from noon. Interestingly, media attention peaked when Sai Baba's personal caregiver Satyajit, who has been provided security by the police, made an appearance the first time after Sunday when Sai Baba passed away.

He was seen seated near the body throughout the whole two-hour long ceremony that started at 8.45 a.m. and came to a close by about 11 a.m.

Sathya Sai Baba passes away

HYDERABAD, April 24: Iconic spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba passed away at Puttaparthi in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday morning, leaving behind millions of mourning devotees in India and abroad, and a sprawling system of educational, medical and philanthropic services that has huge resources at its command. He was 85.

He had bravely battled complications of the heart, lung and kidney for four weeks. The end came at 7.40 a.m., after 28 days of intense anxiety among his followers and frenetic activity by doctors of the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (SSIHMS). The medical team gave him expert care but could not save his life as multi-organ failure set in. After his admission to the hospital on March 30, a cardiac pacemaker was implanted. As his condition deteriorated, doctors put him on a ventilator system and on dialysis.

The formal announcement was made by SSIHMS Director Dr. A.N. Safaya. He declared in a statement that the spiritual leader “is no more with us physically. He left his earthly body due to cardio-respiratory failure.”

A few hours later, the body was shifted in an ambulance from the hospital to the Sai Kulwant Hall in Prashanthi Nilayam, about 7 km away. The mortal remains will be kept in this huge and ornately decorated hall, regularly used for congregations and for Sai Baba's elaborate birthday celebrations, on Monday and Tuesday for devotees to pay their final respects.

The body will be interred in the hall on Wednesday, April 27, around 8 a.m.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who flew into Puttaparthi along with Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, declared State mourning for four days and a holiday in Anantapur district on Wednesday. He said Sai Baba would be given State honours at the funeral.

As news of the demise spread, thousands of devotees began thronging Puttaparthi. There was chaos on the narrow Gopuram Street leading to Prashanthi Nilayam. Police personnel had a tough time controlling the surging crowd at the gates of the ashram.

It became apparent after some time to the authorities that the decision to keep the body in the Sai Kulwant Hall instead of at the 50,000-capacity stadium in the town would pose difficulties in managing the crowds whose number during the next three days is expected to reach nearly five lakhs.

A host of national and State leaders, including Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Vice-President Hamid Ansari, BJP leader L.K. Advani, and several Governors and Chief Ministers condoled the death of Sai Baba.

A steady stream of leaders, including Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, BJP president Nitin Gadkari, Punjab Governor Shivraj Patil, former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Telugu Desam Party president N. Chandrababu Naidu and Praja Rajyam president K. Chiranjeevi, reached Puttaparthi to pay their respects.

After the passing of Sai Baba, a vast empire spread across Puttaparthi, Bangalore, Kodaikanal, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai, and overseas centres, needs to be administered as effectively as before. The spiritual guru was the Chairman of the Sathya Sai Central Trust that manages funds pouring in from devotees across the globe, as well as the affairs of a string of service and spiritual organisations.

The Trust, which has as its members well-known persons such as the former Chief Justice of India, P.N. Bhagwati; the former Central Vigilance Commissioner, S.V. Giri; former IAS officer K. Chakravarthi, who is the Trust Secretary since 1994; and the former CII president, V. Srinivasan, has now to select an eminent person acceptable to the devotees to chair the Trust.

This is no mean task, considering numerous reports of internal differences between Sai Baba's relatives, particularly his nephew R.J. Ratnakar, a member of the Trust, and some other Trustees.

“Baba's words, actions have lit lamp of love in devotees' hearts”

NEW DELHI, April 24: The Vice-President, the Lok Sabha Speaker, the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition and the Congress president were among those who condoled the death of Sri Sathya Sai Baba at Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh on Sunday morning.

Lauding the work done by various institutions set up by the Baba to promote egalitarian values, education, and public health, they said the Baba's “words and actions have lit the lamp of love in the hearts of devotees.”

In his message, Vice-President Hamid Ansari said the Baba's message of love should be the guiding light in this trying hour.

Expressing “deep and profound sadness” over the death of the 86-year-old Baba, the Prime Minister said he was a spiritual leader who inspired millions to lead a moral and meaningful life even as they followed the religion of their choice.

“Sri Sathya Sai Baba, as a preacher of the highest human values, was an iconic figure for over five decades. He endeared himself to the people through various institutions, with headquarters at Prashanthi Nilayam, that promoted egalitarian values, education and public health,” Dr. Singh said.

He said the Baba believed that it was the duty of every person to ensure that all people had access to the basic requirements for sustenance of life.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi said the news greatly pained her. “He was a spiritual person in whom lakhs of people had faith. In his lifetime, he inspired the people of this country and those abroad towards spiritualism and religion,” she said in her condolence message.

Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani and Nitin Gadkari, in separate messages, expressed their grief and sorrow at the passing away of the Baba.

Mr. Advani said that in modern times stalwarts like Swami Ramakrishna Paramhans, Swami Vivekananda, Swami Dayanand and Mahatma Gandhi were reckoned as ideals for the country, and of the titans in the spiritual field in present day India, few had had the phenomenal following the Baba had.

Mr. Gadkari, who condoled the Baba's death said, “The departure of such a great cultural and social icon of global fame from the spiritual world has left a void, which will remain unfulfilled for a long time to come.”

In his condolence message, External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna said he had the “unique privilege” of knowing the spiritual leader for a number of years. “The most impressive part of his personality was the love and compassion that he always brought into his endeavours,” he said.

Expressing her deep sadness, Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar said: “I am pained to know about the sad demise of Sathya Sai Baba.”

“Baba's inspirational presence and his eternal message of love and compassion have enlightened the people across the world,” she said in her message.

I am working to improve a rotten system: Rahul Gandhi

NEW DELHI, April 17: The very day Anna Hazare broke his fast, Rahul Gandhi wrote that though he was concerned about corruption ``like most right thinking Indian people'', he was working quietly on that problem as he had ``absolutely no interest'' in becoming a hero.

The provocation was a sharply-worded letter he had received the same day, April 9, from former Supreme Court judge V R Krishna Iyer asking, "Why should the Hazare phenomenon occur at all? Only because so many evils and no action from Delhi!."

In his response to Iyer, Rahul said: "Like most right thinking Indian people I feel exactly the way you do. I spend a lot of my waking hours thinking and working to improve what I see as a rotten system. The difference is that I cannot get away simply with writing letters and complaining as you can. I am faced with the reality of changing things which requires much more than the periodic release of emotion.''

If Rahul took such pains to convey his commitment to combating corruption, it is because Iyer had accused him of indifference as well as presumptuousness: ``If you are sensitive about the people's needs and aspirations, you must attack the big corrupt persons in power. Why are you silent? You are a young man and can rise to be a great nationalist, (but) not by ambitiously aspiring to be Prime Minister because you are of the Nehru family. That would be anti-democratic and oligarchic.''

The Gandhi scion also reacted sarcastically to the left-leaning jurist's suggestion that he could become a hero if he took up the challenge of turning India into ``an egalitarian society, a Gandhian India, a Nehruvian India, NOT nuclear India. Please be great so that the people may have a better tomorrow.''

Rahul's response: ``As far as becoming a hero is concerned, unfortunately that is of absolutely no interest to me. I work because I believe in working to improve a system that is rotten and not to be glorified.''

But he accepted 95-year-old Iyer's counsel that he must read Jawaharlal Nehru's autobiography to understand socialism and patriotism. ``Thank you for your very impassioned and well meaning advice. I appreciate it. I have read JN's autobiography. I will do so again as you suggest.''

In this exchange on corruption and related issues, Rahul was however silent on Iyer's criticism of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Iyer had written, ``Your Prime Minister has become known for inaction. He does not touch the former CJI K G Balakrishnan or any other corrupt VIP. When public power is vested in anyone for the purpose of giving clean governance to the country, to be silent and inactive is breach of trust.''

It seems significant that while conveying his shared concerns, Rahul did not clarify whether his agreement with Iyer extended to his criticism of the Prime Minister as well.

India activist Anna Hazare ends hunger strike

NEW DELHI, April 9: Indian corruption activist Anna Hazare has ended a 96-hour hunger strike, after ministers agreed to all of his demands. The 72-year-old campaigner is is pushing for tough anti-corruption laws, and has gained huge public support.

He demanded that the committee drafting the new law be made up of activists as well as politicians. The government said it had agreed to the request.

In recent months India has been rocked by a string of corruption scandals.

A former telecom minister is awaiting trial after being accused of siphoning off billions of dollars from fraudulent sales of telecom licences.

And Indians were shocked when allegations emerged that apartments in Mumbai intended for war widows were in fact given to civil servants.

Last month the head of the country's anti-corruption watchdog was forced to resign by the Supreme Court on the grounds that he himself faced corruption charges.

Correspondents say Mr Hazare has rallied people across the country disillusioned with the recent spate of scandals - he is highly respected as a social activist with an untarnished reputation.

On Saturday, Mr Hazare broke his fast symbolically with a sip of lemonade.

Senior politicians including the governing Congress party leader Sonia Gandhi had urged Mr Hazare to give up his fast.

But he kept on going, and eventually persuaded the government to give in to his demands.

Thousands turned up to support Mr Hazare's campaign The sticking point had been the make-up of a committee in charge of drafting the law.

The government had agreed to a 50-50 split between politicians and activists.

But Mr Hazare wanted the committee to be co-chaired, rather than just having an individual politician in charge.

Kapil Sibal, a federal minister who negotiated on behalf of the government, said a formal order would now be issued setting up the committee as Mr Hazare demanded.

"Whatever is required to be done will be done by June 30 so that the draft legislation is introduced in parliament," he said.

Govt intends to introduce Lokpal Bill in Monsoon Session: PM

NEW DELHI, April 9: Terming the joining of hands of civil society and government on the Lokpal Bill issue as a step that augurs well for democracy, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said the government intends to introduce the "historic legislation" in the Monsoon Session of Parliament.

"I am happy that the government and representatives of civil society have reached an agreement in our mutual resolve to combat corruption. I am pleased that Anna Hazare has agreed to give up his fast," he said in a statement in New Delhi.

Describing corruption a scourge that confronts all of us, the Prime Minister said, "The fact that the civil society and the government have joined hands to evolve a consensus to move this historic legislation augurs well for our democracy."

He said the interaction between the government and the representatives of Hazare were productive.

"I hope that process to prepare this legislation will move forward in a constructive mode so that after consultation with a wide spectrum of stake holders, this legislation is placed before the Cabinet for introduction during the Monsoon Session," the Prime Minister said.

Government had Friday night agreed to issue a formal order to set up a 10-member joint committee for drafting a strong Lokpal Bill.

The announcement of an agreement came from both sides after four days of Hazare's fast-unto-death that evoked a nationwide support cutting across the society.

"Government has accepted all our demands and I will end my fast tomorrow at 10:30 A.M. This is a victory for the entire nation," Hazare had said Friday night.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be the Chairman of the committee that will also include Law Minister Veerappa Moily, Telecom Minister Sibal, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Water Resources Minister Salman Khurshid as members.

Besides Hazare, those representing the civil society in the joint committee will be eminent lawyers Shanti Bhushan, Prasant Bhushan, retired Supreme Court Judge Santosh Hegde and RTI activist Arvind Kejriwal.

Shanti Bhushan will be the co-Chairman.

It's the victory of democracy: Sibal

NEW DELHI, April 8: "It is a victory of the democracy," said India's Human resources development minister Kapil Sibal on Friday night of the accord that had been reached on forming a joint committee of ministers and civil society leaders to draft an anti-graft legislation that had prompted social reformer Anna Hazare to announce that he would end Saturday morning his fast-unto-death undertaken for the measure.

"I thank the generosity of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA (United Progressive Alliance) chairperson Sonia Gandhi. I thank Anna Hazare too," Sibal, who had represented the government in the talks with civil society leaders to persuade Hazare to end the fast he had begun on Tuesday.

Asked whether the government had not deviated from precedent by agreeing to have non-governmental persons in the drafting of legislation, Sibal said: "The important thing is whether it is good for the country."

Indian Govt open to suggestions on Lokpal, never said no to JC: Moily

NEW DELHI, April 6: A day after social activist Anna Hazare launched his fast-unto-death on the Lokpal Bill issue, Government on Wednesday said it was was open to any suggestion on the proposed legislation and had not turned down his demand for a joint committee.

Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said that the government was open to suggestions even though it was "anxious to introduce the Bill in the next session".

He said the government "did not say no" on demand for a Joint Committee to draft the bill after a sub-committee of the Group of Ministers (GoM) on corruption held discussions with representatives of Hazare and other members of civil society.

"Even on the demand for joint committee, we said we were open. We never closed our mind even on the formation of joint committee...In principle we did not say no," Moily said adding, that the Prime Minister was open to all suggestions on the bill.

He said though the bill has already been drafted, it will not "find a finality" unless it goes to Parliamentary Standing Committee.

"The Standing Committee can always throw it open to discussions and deliberations with everyone. No bill is passed in hide and seek manner. Parliament has the most transparent way of functioning in our country," Moily said.

72-year-old Hazare is observing a fast-unto-death demanding enactment of an anti-corruption bill to give wider powers to the Ombudsman.

He is pressing for formation of a joint committee comprising 50 per cent officials and the remaining citizens and intellectuals to draft the Bill.

When pointed out that the BJP too had embarked on a anti-corruption campaign on Wednesday, the reformist said the party was taking advantage of the nationwide movement he had begun.

"But, they are a political party and are free to do as they wish. In the past too, when I agitated against corruption in the BJP government, the Congress party supported me. Now, its the other way around", Hazare said.

On Tuesday, BJP leaders Maneka Gandhi and Prakash Javadekar visited Hazare's protest site at Jantar Mantar but did not make any speeches.

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav too sat on the dais with Hazare and offered his support for the Jan Lokpal Bill and even said he was ready to take it up in Parliament. Hazare said he would not allow politicians to sit with him on the dais anymore.

Hazare began his hunger strike at Jantar Mantar on Tuesday after paying tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at his Samadhi at Rajghat.

Swami Agnivesh, former IPS officer and activist Kiran Bedi and Magsaysay award winner Sandeep Pandey are among those who have come out in his support.

In his home state Maharashtra, anti-graft groups and activists too rooted for the cause with protesters taking to streets in Mumbai.

A rally of around 100 cars and bikes was organised from Shivaji Park in central Mumbai to Azad Maidan last morning as part of the protest.

Over one thousand members of general public and NGOs also participated in the protest.

Govt serious on issue raised by Anna Hazare: Sharma

NEW DELHI, April 6: Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma today said the corruption issue raised by social activist Anna Hazare is receiving "serious attention of the government".

"It is engaging serious attention of the government. Prime Minister himself has appealed (to Hazare)," he said in his interaction with members of the Indian Women's Press Corps here.

The 72-year-old social activist has gone on fast-unto-death demanding that the drafting committee for the Lokpal Bill to tackle corruption should include members of the civil society.

Sharma said, the government was committed to ensure transparency in public life and functioning of the institutions.

"We hope the steps put in place for firm and prompt action against corruption would eventually satisfy Anna Hazare," he said.

Sharma said, in a democracy people speak but this right comes with a sense of responsibility.

He said that while recent scams and corruption charges were a matter of concern for the government, the Central Bureau of Investigation probing the 2G scandal has been given a free hand even before the Supreme Court came into the picture.

Tarun Gogoi casts vote, confident of Congress win

GUWAHATI, April 4: Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi cast his vote in Jorhat town, where state assembly polls are on in the first phase on Monday and expressed confidence that Congress would form the government for the third straight time.

Accompanied by his wife Dolly and son Gaurav, Gogoi exercised his franchise at Debicharan Barooah Girls High School polling station where union minister Bijoy Krishna Handique and Gogoi's brother Dip Gogoi, an MLA, also exercised their chance.

As on earlier occasions, Gogoi offered prayers at a temple, mosque and church before reaching the polling station at around 10 am sporting a red vermilion mark on his forehead.

Later, he told newsmen "We (Congress) will get absolute majority of 63 seats, even more than last time. People are happy with our work ... They are supporting and blessing us as we have put the state on the path of development."

"Our prospects are very good and bright. Peoples' response is very good because of our good governance, restoration of peace and stepping up of development activities.

"We will form the government on our own this time. Our alliance with the BPF (Bodoland Peoples Front) is also there", he said in response to a question whether Congress would form government in alliance with BPF.

Asked to comment on the fight put up by opposition AGP and BJP, the chief minister "they are a confused lot and they have admitted that neither can form government on their own."

To queries whether he would head the government for the third term, Gogoi said the decision would be taken by the party high command in consultation with the elected legislators.

Union minister for Development of North East Region (DONER) Bijoy Krishna Handique after casting his ballot "It will be a hat-trick for Congress and we will form the government on our own."

Congress will come back for third term in Assam: Kalita

GUWAHATI, April 4: Congratulating the people for coming out to vote in large numbers, Assam Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Bhubaneswar Kalita today exuded confidence that the ruling party will come back to power for the third consecutive term."The high percentage of vote (around 75 per cent) indicates that the ruling Congress will come back to power with absolute majority," Kalita told reporters here."

The overwhelming response during the election rallies of Congress has proved beyond doubt that the party is coming back to power for the third term," Kalita claimed.He also congratulated the people for holding a violence-free first phase poll and hoped that they will show the same enthusiasm during the second phase on April 11.

Launching scathing attack on opposition BJP and AGP for making corruption an election issue, Kalita said the Right to Information Act (RTI) was passed by the Congress whereby common people have access to any government dealings."Our government has taken the historic step to remove corruption and so the charge of corruption against us do not stand," he said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi are scheduled to campaign for the second-phase poll in the state, he added.