Black money: RBI to share FDI-related information with IB, RAW

NEW DELHI: The Reserve Bank of India will share FDI-related information with country's intelligence agencies IB and RAW to check black money from entering the country.

The decision was taken during a recent meeting of a government group, headed by Revenue Secretary, to check economic crimes. The move comes after Cabinet Secretariat -- under whose administrative control Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) functions -- expressed concern over companies in tax havens investing in the country, official sources said.Emphasising on the need to keep a track of such companies' source of funding, the Cabinet Secretariat suggested that Central Economic Intelligence Bureau (CEIB) under the Finance Ministry should maintain a database of such entities and investments, a move which was later rejected, they said.

During the meeting of "Working Group on Intelligence Apparatus", representatives of Intelligence Bureau felt that it is important to have the information. It was decided that RBI should share with IB and Cabinet Secretariat, information on FDI which actually enters the country, the sources said.The move assumes significance as the government expects rise in FDI inflow to the country owing to its attempts to liberalise trade and promote ease of doing business.

The FDI comes either through automatic route (which gets recorded by RBI) or through Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)--an inter-ministerial body under the Department of Economic Affairs, which is responsible for processing of FDI proposals and making recommendations for government approval.

Want to sell my wife for Rs 1 lakh: Debt-ridden man's FB post

ORE: In a bizarre incident, a 30-year-old man from the neighbouring Khargone district allegedly posted a 'status update' on social networking site Facebook seeking to sell his wife for Rs 1 lakh, in order to clear his debts.

The woman has lodged a police complaint over the objectionable post, following which a case has been registered against her husband Dilip Mali under IPC section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), an official at the Aerodrome police station said today.

A search is on to nab him, he said.

In his Facebook post in Hindi, the man has also uploaded a photo of his wife and two-year-old daughter and mentioned his mobile number for "interested" people to "contact me".

"I want to return the money I have borrowed from various persons. Therefore, I'm selling my wife for Rs 1 lakh. Anybody interested in buying her can contact me on my mobile number," he wrote in the post.

When the woman came to know about it from her relatives on Sunday, she filed a police complaint against her husband alleging he deliberately posted the objectionable content to defame her and her family members.

She got married to the accused about three years back.

After the marriage, the couple settled in Indore where he borrowed money from some people and was unable to return it.

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This heaven for cows is run by Muslims

JAIPUR: No sooner does the Zohar Nawaz (afternoon prayers) gets over at a mosque in the central bazaar at Jodhpur, trim bearded educationist Haji Mohammad Atique dressed in a white kurta, pyjama and a skull cap rushed to the outskirts of the city in his SUV. He spends the next hour feeding cows at the Adarsh Muslim Goshala (cow shelter) on Bikaner Road.

The cow shelter is the region's biggest and is operated by the Muslim Educational and Welfare Society of Jodhpur. Over 200 cows, most of them old and sick, are taken care off here by a team of veterinarian doctors. Rendering a strong message of peace and harmony since the last eight years, the goshala is run in complete anonymity. Mohammad Atique, general secretary of the society, says that taking care of cow is like take care of mothers and is a part of the shared culture of Everyday, a truck load of fresh green fodder from Luni Tehsil in Jodhpur feed these cows. Cows are brought here from across the city by the goshala team in their specially designed vehicle. Most of the cows are those abandon by their owners after they stop lactating. "Our team members who live in the city monitor stray cows and shift those who are injured or those are old enough who are no longer able to fend for themselves," said Atique, who visit the goshala for feeding cows' everyday after Asar (late afternoon prayers).

On auspicious days like Eid and Eid-e-Milad, they treat cows with kheer. They have been engaged in vaccination and treatment of cows in nearby villages. Every week mobile vans visits nearby villages to treat cows, goats and buffaloes for free. They spend little over a lakh on these cows per month and are planning to double the strength. Spread on a portion of 56 acres of Maulana Azad University campus, Atique is developing a cow research Centre under the department of agriculture in his university. Initially, fringe elements raised objection on how can a Muslim open goshala. They were accused of running a cow meat business in a guise of a goshala.But over the years, they won the admiration of the people and many of those who raised objection have publicly appreciated their efforts. As the area is vast, three guards patrol the area round the clock to save cows from the attack of wild animals. "Many of our university students have volunteered to serve at the goshala. I am overwhelemed by the concern shown by our students for cows," said Atique who finds it absurd that how cows, an animal whose milk is best after mother's milk is being used as tool to spark communal passions.

Air India operates world's longest all-women flight

NEW DELHI: National carrier Air India on Monday said it flew the "world's longest" all-women operated and supported flight from the national capital to San Francisco.

The flight, which travelled a distance of around 14,500 kilometre in close to 17 hours, was operated as part of International Women's Day celebrations.

The non-stop flight to San Francisco took off from New Delhi on March 6.This year for the first time, on the world's longest non-stop flight, entire flight operations from cockpit crew to cabin crew, check-in staff, doctor, customer care staff, ATC (air traffic control) and the entire ground-handling... were handled by women," Air India said in a release.

Air India CMD Ashwani Lohani said it was a historic flight and "the longest operated by all-women crew". "The airline has immense respect for women and it is a symbol of women empowerment," he added.

The flight was under the command of Kshamta Bajpayee and Shubhangi Singh, along with First Officers Ramya Kirti Gupta and Amrit Namdhari.

The carrier has about 3,800 women employees, including pilots, cabin crew, engineers, technicians, doctors, security personnel and executives.

Raipur church vandalised during Sunday service

RAIPUIR: Claiming it to be a function for religious conversion, alleged right-wing activists attacked and vandalized a Church in Chhattisgarh during Sunday prayer, injuring five people including two women.

Situated in Kachana colony of the state capital, a group of youth stormed the prayer hall, raising "Jai Sriram" slogans, and began attacking the worshippers. An FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons under serious sections.

According to eye witnesses, around 15 people on 8-9 bikes arrived at the spot while the Sunday prayer was going-on in the church, a red-coloured small room situated at the end of the road which further had just barren fields.

Chanting the name of Lord Ram (Jai Shree Ram), the men entered inside the church, attacked women, ripped their clothes off and also thrashed infants. Furniture and fans were also vandalized by the miscreants who warned the people who were taking part in the prayer to become Hindu.

"They began alleging that people were being converted here. They fled before police could reach at the spot. However the cops could recover three of the bikes. They desecrated the Bible and some of the pictures that were hung on the wall," informed Chhattisgarh Christian Forum President Arun Pannalal.

While the people who were observing the prayer left the spot after police's interrogation, the locals of the area seemed irritated with rounds of questions put-up by cops and media.

"Humko kuch nahi pata. Hum ghar p nahi the," rued a woman who was living in the house neighbouring the church and left inside.

There were few pair of slippers which could be seen scattered outside the single roomed-church which the locals claimed didn't belonged to either Protestant or Catholic Christians. The view of the room from the broken window pane was enough to prove that the disturbing elements were in large numbers.

The locals however praised the role of police in the incident as the cops who reached at the spot immediately after attack asked the churchgoers to continue their prayers before interrogating them.

Claiming it to be an attack on their religion, Pannalal said that it was a matter of shame for the government that minorities were being constantly attacked in Chhattisgarh. The attacks are almost half of a dozen in numbers in past two months.

North Korea threatens nuclear attack as US and South Korea begin military drills

SEOUL: North Korea on Monday threatened to launch nuclear strikes at the United States and its military bases in Northeast Asia as the United States and South Korea began one of their annual large-scale joint military exercises.

Thousands of American Marines and other troops arrived in South Korea in the past week for the exercises, which will involve 17,000 American and 300,000 South Korean troops. The drills test the allies' ability to respond to North Korean attacks on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korea has made similar threats before, characterizing the exercises as rehearsals for an invasion. But this year, tensions are raised even higher because of the North's recent nuclear test and the ensuing international condemnations.

Last month, after the North launched a long-range rocket to put a satellite into orbit, the South Korean Defense Ministry announced that this year's drills would be the largest ever. The nuclear-powered aircraft carrier John C. Stennis will join the exercises, the American and South Korean militaries said in a joint statement on Monday.

In its statement, North Korea threatened to launch "all-out offensive" and "pre-emptive" nuclear strikes against "US imperialist aggressor forces bases in the Asia-Pacific region and the US mainland," the North's top governing agency, the National Defense Commission, said in the statement.

The statement was carried by the North's official Korean Central News Agency.

"If we push the buttons to annihilate the enemies even right now, all bases of provocations will be reduced to seas in flames and ashes in a moment," the statement said.

South Korea responded quickly to the North's threats. "North Korea must stop its rash and reckless behavior," Moon Sang-gyun, a spokesman for the Defense Ministry, said. "We will respond resolutely and mercilessly if the North ignores our warning and attempts a provocation."

South Korean officials and analysts say the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, is using the threats of war to consolidate support around his leadership and extract concessions from the North's adversaries.

North Korea is widely believed to have a small number of nuclear weapons, and it claims to have the ability to strike the United States with nuclear weapons. But it is unclear how close the country has come to acquiring the technologies needed to build an intercontinental ballistic missile and a nuclear warhead small enough to be mounted on a missile.North Korea conducted its fourth nuclear test in January and launched its long-range rocket a month later. Last week, the United Nations Security Council adopted a new round of tougher sanctions aimed at curbing the North's nuclear program.

North Korea has conducted four nuclear tests since 2006. It has also placed two satellites into orbit since late 2012. Washington said the North's satellite program was a cover for developing a long-range ballistic missile in defiance of a Security Council ban.

Girl jumps from second floor to escape rape attempt on her

KOLKATA: A young girl jumped from the second floor of a building, allegedly to escape rape. She is a resident of Liluah in Howrah.The girl has sustained grave injuries on her head and face, and has been admitted to the Howrah General Hospital. She has complained that she was chatting with a few friends Sunday evening when she was drugged. The drink that she was given by her friends was laced with intoxicants. She says she was then attacked by her male friends who tried to gang rape her. She further says that while she was drowsy, she was in her senses and in a desperate attempt to escape her rapists, ran to the second floor roof and jumped from there.A mound of sand on the ground floor saved her life.

Three boys have been accused of rape and arrested. Doctors have said that the girl did escape rape and the police has filed a sexual harassment case against her three friends. They will be produced at the Howrah court on Monday. The girl has not yet given any written statement to the police.

Delhi on high alert for Shivratri terror strike

NEW DELHI: Delhi Police has stepped up security around temples, iconic buildings, malls and markets, and military installations in Delhi and NCR after an Intelligence Bureau alert that terrorists might strike today, on the occasion of Shivratri.

The alert warns that 10 operatives of Lashkar-e-Taiba or Jaish-e-Mohammed have entered India through the Gujarat border and may attack Delhi, particulary since Parliament is in session.

The National Security Guard (NSG), which has sent a taskforce comprising 120 commandos to Gujarat, is also keeping other taskforces on standby at its headquarters in Manesar, near Delhi.

On Thursday, an abandoned boat was found in Gujarat. Subsequently, police chiefs from all states were asked to beef up security.

In Delhi, all DCPs have been briefed, and asked to monitor activities of elements with suspected terror links. The police are also ensuring that CCTV cameras at all places with high footfalls — like popular markets and metro stations — are functional. Patrolling across the city has been intensified.

The police brass has asked all units to ensure that personnel have long and short-range weapons ready during patrolling. The orders may be extended, given that a number of festivals like Holi are round the corner.
The police has asked railway police and staff at stations and tracks to maintain vigil. Gangmen and linemen have been asked to keep watch over their areas and patrol the tracks through the day. Bus stands will also be under security cover.

On Monday, there will be special patrolling in crowded markets. Cops will also activate the "eyes and ears scheme", involving locals in policing. Police chiefs of neighbouring states have been asked to keep watch on vehicles entering the city from western India. Special surveillance would be mounted on devotees at temples. Traffic cops have been asked to stop non-destined vehicles from entering the city over the next few days.

Mikhail killed Sheena, I was only shielding him, Indrani Mukerjea told Peter in jail

Indrani Mukerjea was in denial after her arrest in August last year on the charge of murdering her daughter, Sheena Bora.

So much so that when Peter Mukerjea met her in jail, the only time he would do so, she reportedly told him: "I have been framed. I didn't do it. Mikhail did it. I only disposed of the body." The snatch of conversation occurred at Byculla jail in October and Peter was stunned by the web of lies.On Sunday evening, Peter's brother Gautam Mukerjea had an exclusive tete-a-tete with Mumbai Mirror, while sipping Earl Grey tea at a restaurant in the heart of the city. He was accompanied by his twin sister, Shagun Mukerjea. They were both essaying to convey the point that by suspecting Peter's involvement in the conspiracy, the investigators were barking up the wrong tree.


"There are over 250 witnesses in the case but not one statement indicts Peter. He was as taken aback by these disclosures about Indrani as anyone," says Gautam. The siblings break their silence to defend Peter, caught in a storm not of his making, they believe.

On the fateful April day in 2012 when Indrani is alleged to have killed Sheena, Peter was in London. Murdering her daughter was the farthest thing from Indrani's mind, as she was keener to have a "dirty weekend" with her ex-husband, Sanjeev Khanna, who was in town, conversations with the family reveal. Mikhail had gone out with driver Shyamvar Rai and Sheena, and when he returned, Indrani asked him about Sheena's whereabouts and he told her he had murdered her. Mikhail, who had a substance abuse problem, was under Dr Yusuf Matcheswalla's psychiatric care, in Pune.Soon after her arrest, Peter discovered she and Khanna were still lovers. "Pete's trust has been misused," says Gautam, a media baron in Goa. "When I met him in court, Pete told me, 'What pains me most is how Indrani cheated me for 15 years. She could have taken everything, my money, property everything, but why betray me'?" "Vidhie, Rahul and I had gathered at the CBI office in Nariman Point on November 19, as we all wanted to celebrate Pete's 60th birthday which falls on November 21. As we were preparing to leave, we were told the sleuths needed to arrest him for just one day because they had got orders from higher-ups," says Shagun.

The family has no clue who these "higherups" are. "Peter was helping the CBI for almost 40 days now. One day in custody seemed liked a ludicrous thing," a relative said. Indrani was arrested on August 25. She was on her way to donate money to an old-age home — it was Vidhie's 18th birthday — when the cops brought her back to her Worli residence. Both Peter, who was at the gym, and Vidhie, at college, rushed home.As she was being bundled into the police jeep, Peter got in, telling her: "Why don't you call Sheena? I can get her to fly back from Los Angeles tonight," according to Gautam. "Much later, when I visited Khar police station along with Pete, I was told am quite fortunate to see my brother alive. 'After Sheena, it would have been Mikhail and then your brother' I was told," Gautam says. "Indrani had spread a web of lies. For three years she said Sheena was alive, pretending she was in LA, or married to a diamond merchant," says Shagun.

For a while, Peter thought it was all a misunderstanding that could be solved by Sheena's return from the US. It was much later that he understood that Indrani was booked under section 302 of the IPC. "When Peter called his friend (joint commissioner, law and order) Deven Bharti, he was advised to get a lawyer," says Gautam.

Hyderabadi women raise a toastto confident women

International Women's Day might still be a few days away but that doesn't stop the ladies here from celebrating. As a part of the celebrations prior to the main day, ladies got together to speak about their self-esteem issues and what they can do to bolster their confidence and being independent. The guests also took a quiz to find out their signature style and took notes about what kind of clothes suit their personality and body type. Post the talk, they caught up their their friends over some tea and savoury dishes. A day well-spent!

Shah Rukh Khan keen to visit Egypt again

Shah Rukh Khan is yearning to pack his bags and jet off to Egypt, which left him smitten with its historical landmarks and food on a past visit.Time to make a visit again and do 'Suraj hua madham'. The Sphinx the pyramids falafel, koshari and Cleo. Thanks Egypt," SRK tweeted. The actor expressed his desire to go to the foreign countryafter a Twitter page - SRK EGYPT FAN CLUB - shared a video from the 'Dilwale' discussion.The actor, who has earned epithets like Bollywood's 'Badshah' and 'King of romance', also said that he will soon turn into a teacher, and give how to walk After seeing a video of Aryan doing a cartwheel, he shared: "My boy, tall dark and hands! Need to teach him to start using his legs and walk normally soon."On the film front, the superstar is ready to be back on the silver screen with a power-packed performance in 'Fan'.

Bumrah's ability to bowl yorkers impressive: Waqar

"Amir is a changed man. All he wants to do is go out on the cricket field, express himself and win matches for Pakistan." © AFP

Waqar Younis is one of the greatest pacers ever to have played the game. The Pakistan team might have been knocked out early from the Asia Cup, but the coach is still happy with the performance of comeback man Mohammad Amir. During an exclusive chat with TOI, he spoke about all these and much more.Excerpts:

Were you surprised that wickets in Bangladesh helped the pacers in the Asia Cup?

I wouldn't say surprised, but it was a good test for the batsmen from all teams since bowlers did have a say in the proceedings. Pitches such as these make the contest more interesting. Generally in T20s, we have seen batsmen taking charge, but games in the Asia Cup did provide a good test between bat and ball.

While Pakistan's batting didn't fire, how happy were you with the bowling?

We bowled our hearts out, and we have one of the finest bowling line-ups in the business. While the three left-arm pacers - Mohammad Amir, Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Irfan - bowled well, the others such as Mohammad Sami complemented them well.

In your opinion, how has Amir handled his comeback, and how comfortable were you when he returned to the side?

Amir has been magnificent with the way he has handled rough comments made about him by a section of the crowd during a game at Wellington. Amir is a changed man. All he wants to do is go out on the cricket field, express himself and win matches for Pakistan. I didn't have any issues with Amir making a comeback. He committed a mistake, served the punishment, and has now come back.

Considering the way fast bowlers are managed these days, you reckon they are more protected now?

Today, you have a host of Level 3 and Level 4 coaches giving a lot of importance on what needs to be done so that the bowler remains in the best of shape. However, I have always been someone who believed in making the bowler play with his body, allow him to know how his body functions and what is best suited for him.

Who were the pacers who you enjoyed watching during your playing days? Among the current crop of pacers, who according to you is the best and why?

During my time, Malcolm Marshall and Glenn McGrath were some of the best I saw. They were able to rattle the batsmen and single-handedly turned matches in their sides' favour. Apart from them, Wasim Akram was outstanding and did amazingly well for Pakistan. Currently, Dale Steyn is the man for all conditions. He tests the batsmen and never gives up. James Anderson has done the job for England for a long time.

I would rate Zaheer Khan too very highly since he bowled well with both the new and old ball. Among the latest bowlers, Jasprit Bumrah looks quite promising for India.What has impressed me about him is his ability to bowl yorkers.

Pakistan should not play in Dharamsala: Imran Khan

"I don't believe the Pakistan team should play at Himachal Pradesh," said Imran Khan. © AFP

Imran Khan, the former Pakistan skipper, has said that his national side should not play the highly-anticipated World T20 clash against India in Dharamsala, which is scheduled for March 19 following "hateful statements and resistance" shown by Virbhadra Singh, the Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh.

Imran said on Sunday (March 6) that the statements issues by the minister were disappointing, according to Dawn News. "The statement by the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister is an irresponsible one and is totally against the standards of hospitality and hosting. The Chief Minister's statements clearly promote hate," said Imran.

"Amid this situation, I don't believe the Pakistan team should play at Himachal Pradesh," he added, also fearing that the crowds will be too hostile which could lead to security concerns.

In the aftermath of objections raised by Kangra-based families of martyrs and ex-servicemen that considered hosting Pakistan an insult to the sacrifice made by the soldiers who had lost their lives in the Pathankot airbase terror attacks in January, the minister, in his letter to the union home minister, expressed his inability to provide security for the match between the two sides.

"They are not opposing the holding of matches. They are against the Pakistan team playing in Himachal Pradesh," Virbhadra had said.

However, Rajnath Singh, India's home minister, said that amidst all the uncertainty, central paramilitary forces will be provided to ensure security for the clash. "If the [Himachal Pradesh] chief minister asks for security forces, we will provide," he said.

Shahid Afridi opposes Salman Butt's international return

Afridi, who was more than supportive of Mohammad Amir's return to the side, is reportedly starkly against giving Butt a second chance. © AFP

Shahid Afridi, Pakistan's Twenty20 International (T20I) captain, didn't seem too thrilled with the idea of Salman Butt making a return to the national squad, a source in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed. 

Butt was in contention for a return to international cricket after completing a five-year ban for spot-fixing last September. 

"Butt met with chief selector Haroon Rasheed last night in Lahore," said the source on Sunday (March 6) "The situation is that members of the Pakistan team have also indicated they have no problems with Butt joining the team but Afridi is not in favour of his inclusion." 

The source also revealed that Butt was being considered for the World T20 after Pakistan's dismal outing in the Asia Cup with the bat. 

"The selectors are desperate to find a solution to the opening problem in the Pakistan team and will also certainly recall experienced opener Ahmed Shehzad. Salman Butt is also under consideration," the source said.

Afridi, who was more than supportive of Mohammad Amir's return to the side, is reportedly starkly against giving Butt a second chance. It is alleged that Shaharyar Khan, the PCB chairman, and Najam Sethi will meet Afridi in Lahore to try and convince him for the same. 

"Afridi blames Butt for the spot-fixing scandal that shook Pakistan cricket in England in 2010, even though the former Test captain has twice apologised to the allrounder for his misdeeds," the source said."Afridi has strong belief that Butt instigated and spoilt Amir and should not be allowed to get back into the Pakistan team soon," he added.

Butt said he was keen on reviving his international career and acknowledged his mistake, knowing well where Afridi's ire stemmed from. "I know what I did was wrong and I have served punishment for it. I am a changed person and I have apologised to the entire nation, PCB and the team members, including Afridi, for what happened in 2010," he said.

"Afridi is my senior and I have apologised to him whenever I met him. I am mentally prepared for a comeback. The rest is up to the selectors. But I am not keeping any high hopes," Butt added.

The source also added that important decisions could be expected when the board and selectors met on Monday in Lahore.

Men's WT20 warm-up fixtures moved out of Bandra-Kurla Complex ground

On the eve of the ICC World Twenty20 2016 qualifiers, three men's warm-up matches have been moved out of Mumbai Cricket Association's (MCA) Bandra-Kurla Complex ground and allotted to the Wankhede Stadium and Cricket Club of India's Brabourne Stadium.

"There are no warm-up games at BKC. One game on the 12th has been shifted to the Wankhede Stadium and the last two games on the 14th and 15th will be held at the CCI," Nitin Dalal, treasurer of Mumbai Cricket Association, told PTI on Monday (March 7).

In the first of three relocated fixtures, New Zealand will face 2010 champions England at the Wankhede on March 12. The next two will be played at the Brabourne stadium, featuring England and South Africa respectively against a local side on March 14 and 15.

The tournament proper will kick-start on March 15 with India hosting New Zealand in Nagpur.

Centre sends Punjab Rs 6cr Pathankot op bill

CHANDIGARH: Should a state government be paying the cost of deploying central forces within its territory even if they have been called in to fight Pakistani terrorists? At least the Punjab government doesn't think so and has refused to pay a bill of Rs 6.35 crore that the Centre sent as payment for the paramilitary forces deployed during the Pathankot terror attack in January.

According to the letter dated January 20, the ministry of home affairs has asked Punjab to pay for deployment of 20 companies of paramilitary forces between January 2 and January 27 in Pathankot and nearby areas.

The letter, a copy of which is with TOI, states that the expenditure for each company is Rs 1,77,143 per day. Apart from this, it has also directed the Punjab government to bear transportation charges. Eleven companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and nine companies of Border Security Force (BSF) were deployed to fortify the airbase during the terror attack.

The riled Akali Dal state government which is part of the NDA at the Centre has replied to the bill with a letter saying that the deployment of "these units was in national interest and expenditure thereon should not be billed to the state government".

"These paramilitary forces, along with Punjab Police, were used to carry out sustained search and combing operations in the area up to 10-12km around the periphery of Tibri Army cantonment, laying of night ambushes and nakas in the vicinity. Because both Pathankot Air Force base and Tibri Cantonment area are vital defence establishments and CAPF (Central Armed Police Force) was deployed for protecting these two vital installations in the national interest, it is requested that expenditure amounting to Rs 6,35,94,337 may please be waived off," a reply by Punjab's home department, headed by deputy chief minister Sukhbir Badal, said.The reply, dated February 18, further says that at least six companies provided to Punjab were not even involved in any law and order management in the state and were only used to plug those points from where infiltrators could escape.

"The deployment of these six companies of CAPF continued till mopping up operations at Pathankot Air Base was concluded by the National Security Guards (NSG)," it added.Reacting to the Centre's demand, Sukhbir said, "For 15 years of militancy in Punjab Army was here. The state government was billed for it and they even charged interest on it. If you call in the Army to handle a local issue (like the Jat reservation in Haryana) it is one thing. But if Pakistan attacks here and you ask us to pay for it, my entire budget goes awry".

The Punjab government has a debt of Rs 1.25 lakh 

31/36: SP landslide in UP legislative council elections

LUCKNOW: The ruling Samajwadi Party swept the legislative council elections, winning 31 of the 36 seats what went to polls. Mayawati's Bahujan Samaj Party won two seats, Congress one and Independents two while BJP drew a blank. With this emphatic win, SP will now have majority in the Vidhan Parishad as well and can get a bill passed easily.

The Congress candidate won in Sonia's Rae Bareli while in PM Modi's constituency Varanasi, jailed mafia don Brijesh Singh won. Representatives of local bodies formed the electorate for the polls.

Results of the Parishad polls, held on March 4, have come as a major relief for the SP after the recent debacle in the assembly bypolls held last month when the ruling party lost two of three seats it held earlier. Though Parishad elections were slated to be held on 36 seats, polling was conducted for 28 seats on March 3 after SP candidates were declared elected unopposed on eight seats.

SP won 23 out of 28 seats for which polling was held. Team Akhilesh left its mark with at least six candidates considered close to the CM making it through.

Two of them - Sunil Kumar Sajan and Anand Bhadauria - won unopposed from Lucknow-Unnao and Sitapur seats respectively.

Akhilesh's schoolmate Udaiveer Singh won from Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri-I seat. Akhilesh loyalists Rajesh Yadav, Santosh Yadav Sunny and Pushpraj Jain won from Barabanki, Basti and Etawah seats respectively.Gorakhpur was bagged by CP Chand, who was declared SP's official candidate after the results. Earlier, there was confusion about Chand's party affiliation as he was expelled from SP a week ago. Arvind Yadav -nephew of SP national general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, was declared elected unopposed from Mathura-Etah-Mainpuri-II seat.

While SP MLA from Bhadohi Vijay Misra's wife Ramlali won the Mirzapur-Sonbhadra seat, Vasudev Yadav -a retired secretary of secondary education board -won from Allahabad constituency on the SP ticket.
In Narendra Modi's Varanasi Lok Sabha constituency, jailed mafia don Brijesh Singh won as an independent candidate, defeating SP's Meena Singh. Brijesh was absconding for more than 20 years before he was arrested from Odisha in 2008.

Sitting Congress MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh managed to retain his seat in Sonia Gandhi's Rae Bareli constituency. In Ghazipur, independent Vishal Singh defeated Sanand Kumar of SP. BSP got two seats -Jaunpur and Saharanpur --where its candidates Brijesh Singh Prinshu and Mehmood Ali won. BJP and BSP claimed the ruling SP had won the elections by misusing the government machinery to influence the electorate.

Government lists 12 bills for passage this week

NEW DELHI: Encouraged by the passage of three bills in Rajya Sabha despite showdowns over contentious issues like the JNU "sedition" case, the government has listed 12 legislations in both Houses in a bid to display its businesslike intent and put the onus on Congress for any obstruction of legislative agenda.

Though bills passed by the upper House are fairly routine and some, like the election law amendment to give voting rights to new citizens of erstwhile enclaves in Bangladesh, had bipartisan support, the government has listed five bills in RS and seven in LS.

As four of the bills in Lok Sabha relate to the budget, the government does not expect any resistance to their passage. The Aadhaar bill will, however, run into some rought weather as Congress has demanded that it be scrutinised by a parliamentary committee.

But having listed it as a money bill to prevent Congress from stalling it in Rajya Sabha, government managers feel the legislation will be able to go through Lok Sabha.The bill relating to modifying the list of Scheduled Castes in three states is also expected to go through Lok Sabha if the House is not seriously disrupted or runs out oftime.

In Rajya Sabha, in addition to consideration and return of appropriaton bills, the government has listed the Bureau of Indian Standards bill that it hopes will be passed by the House. Two other bills, the national waterway and whistleblowers protection legislations, also do not face any significant resistance. The test will lie in the House functioning. "Bills will go through as long as no provocative issue crops up," said a government source.
So far, the government has been able to avoid repeated washouts, particularly in Rajya Sabha, as the opposition has differed on issues such as the income tax and Enforcement Directorate raids relating to the 2G scam that have put the spotlight on former finance minister P Chidambaram and his son Karti. The aggressive manner in which BJD and AIADMK raised the matter prevented Congress from rallying other parties on issues like a privilege notice against HRD minister Smriti Irani.

The prospects of another legislation, the real estate (development and regulation) bill have suddenly brightened with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi supporting the legislation which is seen to strengthen protections for home buyers against unscrupulous developers.