Himachal Pradesh: Varsity Vice Chancellor accused of producing fake documents for post

"Dr Katoch has never written any of the 6 books which he claimed to be an author of and produced this false fact to grab this post," Kumar, an MP from Kangra constituency said.

    

"It is a big academic fraud and the Chief Minister is also a party in it as he (CM) is one of the appointing authorities to this post," he alleged.

    

We have asked Governor Urmila Singh for an independent inquiry in this regard and Dr K K Katoch should be sent on leave till the charges against him are investigated upon, he said.

The BJP MP also called for a "revival" of rules pertaining to the appointment of Vice Chancellors in the different universities of the country.

    

Himanshu Mishra, an advocate of Palampur, had last month, in his complaint addressed the Prime Minister on the issue. The advocate had complained that Katoch submitted a wrong bio-data before then Chancellor Urmila Singh, while applying for the post of VC in 2013 but no action was taken.

In his complaint Mishra said that Katoch in his bio-data at serial number 17 to 24 had claimed that he had authored articles in the journals of Indian Society for Soil Sciences in 1983 and a book 'Kheti of ICAR' in 1984, 1985 and 1986, but these articles never appeared in these journals.

    

Dr Katoch also claimed to have written eight books, whereas in six books, he was just a patron, he was neither the author nor a publisher, the complaint said.

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Delhi polls 2015: An acerbic campaign where no one was spared

Prime Minister Narendra Modi set the tone for the election battle by making a veiled reference to Arvind Kejriwal as an "anarchist" in the first BJP rally at Ramlila Maidan.

"We need development here, not anarchy. They are good at dharnas. We are good at running government," the Prime Minister said

After Kiran Bedi decided to make her political debut by joining the BJP, Congress came down hard on her terming it as "gross political opportunism".

Arvind Kejriwal welcomed his former comrades-in-arms with a politically correct tweet saying "I have been fond of Kiran Bediji. I always tried to convince her that she should join politics. I am happy she did it today".

However, the AAP niceties disappeared as soon as Shazia Ilmi followed Bedi and the verbal slugfest broke loose.

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BJP vs AAP: Battle for Delhi goes down to the wire as campaigning nears end

With just hours left before campaigning ends in Delhi, political parties have gone all out to convince voters in their favour, Thursday. As suggested by various opinion polls, the fight appears to be largely between the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) with the Congress relegated to the third place.

The battle for Delhi has reached a crescendo with parties conducting road shows and rallies across the city.

For the BJP, the polls have turned into a matter of prestige as the party is keen to maintain its winning streak.

Speaking to reporters today, party’s CM candidate Kiran Bedi said that she was in the race to win it and promised good governance in the city if voted to power.

 

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Arvind Kejriwal trying to create blackmoney into white: BJP

Union Minister and senior BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad asked Kejriwal to answer to the queries posed to him for accepting funds from "dummy" companies which "have fictitious addresses, have common directors and no business to show and are making no profits."

"All his claims to be the sole custodian of propriety, of probity, of morality, of standards of polity in India stand completely exposed because of his conspicuous silence to squarely face these searching questions.

"The political conduct has been completely contradictory to the standards Kejriwal set for himself," Prasad said.

He asked the AAP leader as to why he was running away from the truth and accused him of turning blackmoney into white. "I strongly condemn this," Prasad said.

"Mr Kejriwal please answer. You took money from such a company which does not have any business, any profit, whose directors are in many dummy companies with fictitious addresses. We want answers to these questions.

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Kiran Bedi Missing From Posters as BJP's Big Guns Campaign for Delhi Polls

The BJP's chief ministerial candidate Kiran Bedi is missing from posters and some election speeches as the party changes the pitch of its campaign in Delhi dramatically. With seven days to go for polling, party president and chief strategist Amit Shah has deployed the BJP's biggest guns to take on Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party.

Many BJP posters in Delhi constituencies now feature only Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Mr Shah and the local party candidate.

While Ms Bedi - who joined the party just days ago and was immediately announced presumptive CM - continued to criss-cross Delhi with her roadshows, the party's focused attack on her main rival Arvind Kejriwal is being fronted by senior party leaders.

Two central ministers posed a second installment of five questions to Mr Kejriwal.

Tomorrow, PM Modi will address a rally at CBD Ground in East Delhi. Today, Mr Shah spoke at a rally in Janakpuri and made not a mention of Kiran Bedi. Union minister Smriti Irani addressed another rally and she too did not mention Ms Bedi.

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BJP aims to win 300 seats in UP Assembly polls: Bajpai

Bajpai said, "We have decided to win 300 seats in 2017 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. To achieve the target, the party has already started working at the booth level".
  
The BJP chief showed confidence that the party's Lok Sabha performance, where it had taken a lead in 376 assembly constituencies last year, will be repeated in the assembly polls.
  
"I am sure the success of the last Lok Sabha elections will be repeated in the assembly polls," Bajpai said, adding, the party is aiming to reach out to maximum people in the state.
  
"Uttar Pradesh BJP has achieved a good success in the membership drive and is leading in the campaign. Against the target of enrolling 1.5 crore new members, we have enrolled around 1 crore members so far and the target will be achieved by March," he said.
  
According to him, BJP through its seven wings conducted camps in the state and its members have reached to 1.04 out of 1.40 lakh booths across the state.
  
Attacking the Samajwadi Party government led by Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, Bajpai said that the government has failed in providing governance to people and law and order situation was deteriorating in the state.

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'No political motive' behind Foreign Secretary removal: BJP

"I don't see any reason for hue and cry. A government is within its rights to decide how it would like to appoint what officers and with what responsibilities. And this is not the first time..... Preceding governments have taken (such) decisions," BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said.

Singh was removed late night on Wednesday from the crucial post of Foreign Secretary eight months before her tenure was to end and replaced by S Jaishankar, Ambassador to the US.

"I do not see any reason that anyone can attribute any political motives. This is the right of the government," Kohli said.

Taking on the Congress for raising questions on the decision, the BJP leader said, "The Congress party spokesperson can try to do politics or anything. In any case it does not appear that they are inspired by their leadership. That's why their constant method seems to be trying to raise a hue and cry on issues also where there is no scope to do so." 

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BJP kicks off membership drive in Kashmir

"We wanted to start this drive earlier but it got delayed because of the floods and the elections. Our aim is to reach every household in the Valley and connect them with the party," Munish Sharma, BJP state secretary and incharge of the membership drive for Jammu and Kashmir, told reporters here.

Sharma said BJP aimed to add at least three lakh new members in the Valley.

"Ours in the only cadre-based party in the country. We are connected to the people at the grassroot-level," he said. He said the party had added around 65,000 new members in the state without any effort and before a proper membership drive was launched.

The membership drive would continue till March 31, Sharma said.

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Delhi polls: Kejriwal alleges conspiracy to defame candidates, to move Election Commission

Terming it as a "desperate attempt" by the opposition, the AAP chief claimed that such attempts were made in the past as well.

"Last yr, farzi (fake) stings were shown against 6 of our candidates a few days before elections to defame us (sic)," Kejriwal said in a series of tweets.

He expressed apprehension that "similar conspiracies" are being planned to malign the party before the upcoming elections.  

"A senior leader, famous 4 planting stories, has hatched conspiracy against some AAP candidates n they will plant farzi stories in media (sic)," he said.

Kejriwal also said the party was lodging a complaint with the Election Commission over the issue. "But Delhiites won't believe it. They know this is last desperate attempt of our opponents who r losing badly...We are making a complaint to EC also," he tweeted.

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Sushil Kumar Modi counters Nitish's 'conspiracy' charge in Azizpur arson

"Kumar has a habit of sniffing conspiracy in everything ...if there indeed was conspiracy behind Azizpur arson incident, then the state government must expose those people involved in it," he told reporters here.

Attacking the former chief minister for implicitly pointing to the BJP's involvement in arson incident in Azizpur village last week in which four persons were killed, Modi said that instead of indulging in blame game the state government should get the incident thoroughly probed and bring the culprits to book.
  
Taking potshot at the senior JD(U) leader for visiting Azizpur village, the former deputy chief minister said that it was the lone instance during nearly decade-long rule by his party that he had visited any strife-torn village and that too out of compulsion as his new-found ally and the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad had paid visit to that village a day earlier.

Modi also took a dig at the former chief minister's proposed visit to the national capital to campaign for the Aam Admi Party (AAP) in Delhi Assembly polls and said that Kumar's reported decision pointed to division in the Janata Parivar splinter groups amid buzz over merger as the RJD supremo had committed to campaign for the Congress.
  
Exuding confidence that the campaigning against BJP's rivals by the senior JD(U) leader and the RJD supremo will have no bearing on the outcome in the Delhi assembly polls, he claimed that former IPS officer Kiran Bedi-led BJP would sweep the Assembly polls and form government in Delhi.

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Delhi polls: Bedi sends legal notice to Kejriwal for using her photograph in AAP posters

"Yes, she has sent a notice to Kejriwal. He has been asked to ensure that the posters are removed," BJP's media convener Praveen Shankar Kapoor said.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has recently put up posters on numerous auto-rickshaws plying in the national capital, asking the people of Delhi to choose between Kejriwal and Bedi for the post of chief minister.

In the posters, the picture of Kejriwal has the word "imandar" (honest) printed below it while that of Bedi has "avsarvadi" (opportunist). Earlier, fellow party leader Jagdish Mukhi, too, had sent a notice to Kejriwal for using his photograph in similar posters, before the BJP declared Bedi as their chief ministerial candidate.

The AAP pitted Kejriwal against Mukhi, even though the BJP had said that they would contest the Delhi election under Prime Minister Narendra Modi without naming a CM candidate the BJP, however, later named Bedi for the post after she joined the party earlier this month.

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Kiran Bedi dodges Kejriwal's debate challenge, Maken ready

Throwing the challenge to Bedi, Kejriwal said such a debate will be a "good initiative" as people will know about plans and policies of the two main parties for the city which will help them in understanding various issues.

65-year-old Bedi, who had joined BJP last week and was named its chief ministerial nominee last night, said she "accepted" the challenge but will only debate with him on the floor of Delhi Assembly and not during the campaign.

"I accept the challenge. I will do it in the Assembly and before that I am focusing on delivery rather than on debates because that's what he's been doing. He's only been debating. What I am doing is delivery of goals, services, programmes," said Bedi.

When told that Congress' Maken has also welcomed the move, Bedi, who will contest from BJP's traditional stronghold of Krishna Nagar in East Delhi, retorted, "While they are into drama, I am focused on work. These two have been indulging in drama. They have been doing it together also. I am focusing on work at this point."

Earlier, Kejriwal, who had worked with Bedi as part of Anna Hazare's Jan Lokpal movement before they parted ways, said both the leaders can debate on "concrete issues" for 1-2 hours.

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Government sanctions Rs 10 crore to CRRI for mapping accident spots in Delhi

Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari said, "The CRRI will identify the regular accident spots in the capital and find out road infrastructure deficiencies which are major cause of recurring of accidents at same spots, as per a statement from CRRI.
   
It will also suggest  engineering interventions for implementation of appropriate improvement measures to curtail accidents at the same spots, he said.
   
Gadkari said though a some black spots have already been identified, accident spots keep changing.
   
"Many spots or road sections that have similar features show a high frequency of accidents. This means that the particular road environment instigates inappropriate driver responses leading to accidents," he said, adding to identify and examine these locations and to characterise the safety deficiencies are a challenge for road engineers.
   
He said similar funds will be offered to various states in the country to identify black spots and find engineering measures to rectify them. The Road Ministry will provide 50 percent of the cost for road engineering measures to the states.

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After Kiran Bedi, Shazia Ilmi officially joins BJP

Earlier in the Friday morning, Shazia Ilmi met BJP president Amit Shah at his residence here and said she will soon be joining the party.

During her meeting with Shah, Shazia was accompanied by BJP general secretary (organisation) Ram Lal and Delhi BJP chief Satish Upadhayay, among others.

"I had a very good meeting with Amit bhai and he welcomed me in the party. I will be joining the party soon," she said after the meeting.

Her meeting comes a day after former Team Anna member Kiran Bedi joined BJP. Shazia had earlier said that she will "expose" AAP. The BJP will use the two former associates of AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal against him in the elections.

While Bedi is a former founder member of Team Anna, Shazia unsuccessfully contested on the AAP tickets in last Delhi Assembly polls and Parliamentary polls. She later quit AAP.

Elections to Delhi Assembly are slated for February 7 and results will be out on February 10.

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Will fight against Kejriwal, if party wants: BJP leader Kiran Bedi

She rebutted AAP's criticism over changing her stand on not joining politics, saying she was free to make her own choices and her "aversion" was gone due to Modi's leadership.

"The constituency selection is always a decision of party. I will go by their decision. If they want me to fight against him, I will do so. Because they know better than I do. They haven't brought me to lose, they have brought me to win," the former IPS officer said when asked whether she is likely to be pitted against Kejriwal in the upcoming polls.

The AAP had yesterday termed her joining BJP as "shocking".

"It is sad and shocking that Bedi who had been maintaining that she will always remain apolitical and keep raising the issues of people has joined the BJP. Our best wishes are with her," party leader Sanjay Singh had said. AAP Chief Arvind Kejriwal had also taken a subtle dig at Bedi saying that he had also tried to convince her to take a plunge into politics.

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Kejriwal to present fresh evidence against Delhi BJP chief

The former chief minister had alleged a nexus between Upadhyay and certain power distribution companies, saying firms owned by him were installing and repairing meters for the discoms in the national capital.

On Wednesday, Upadhyay had said, "If Kejriwal fails to prove, I will file a criminal defamation case against him. If Kejriwal's allegations are found to be true, I will quit politics."

Taking a jibe at Upadhyay, Kejriwal on Thursday wondered whether the Delhi BJP chief would keep his words of quitting politics.

"Satish Upadhyay said he wud quit politucs if we present evidence. Today we will present evidence. Hope he keeps his word," Kejriwal tweeted.

He had also asked how BJP had made Upadhyay its Delhi chief when he has alleged links with power discom BSES.

He also alleged that Upadhyay owns six companies one of which had two VAT numbers which is against law.

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BJP neglecting common people for RSS agenda: Mayawati

"... the central government is not working in the interest of the common people but is implementing the hindutva agenda of its main organisation RSS and is also benefitting the capitalists... dalits, backwards and religious minorities are being neglected", Mayawati told mediapersons here.
  
In an oblique reference to PM Narendra Modi having 'khichdi-dahi-chura' at Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan's house on Makar Sankranti, Mayawati said Modi is following in the footsteps of Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi but that would not influence the Dalits.
  
"Like the Congress yuvraj, Prime Minister Modi is visiting the dalits and having 'khichdi-chura'... but Dalits would not be influenced by all this", the Bahujan Samaj Party president said.
  
Mayawati, who is celebrating her 59th birthday on Thursday, also downplayed BJP's charges that the her party, which failed to win a single seat during last year's Lok Sabha elections, has been wiped out with the dalit vote bank parting ways with the BSP.
  
Presenting figures, she claimed that her party's core Dalit vote bank withstood BSP even in the wake of Modi wave and said there has been no decline in it.
  
Mayawati in her address said, "We supported the UPA for keeping the communal parties away," and added that her party and those supporting the UPA had to bear the brunt of Congress' shortcomings in the elections whose benefits were reaped by the BJP.

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BJP discusses plans for Delhi assembly polls

BJP president Amit Shah held a meeting with top party leaders from Delhi to evolve the party's strategies for the polls. The meeting continued till late at night. The leaders discussed probable candidates and held deliberations on fielding all its sitting MLAs.
   
Shah also told the party men to focus on polling booths and reach out to voters. The leaders, BJP sources said, have been asked to identify booth level workers as well as candidates in each of the constituencies.
   
BJP will hold a meeting of its Central Election Committee within the next two to three days and finalize some of the candidates. The filing of nominations starts on Wednesday.
   
The party expressed confidence that its victory march would continue in the national capital and it would form the next government in Delhi which can move in tandem with the Centre to ensure all-round development.
   
Buoyed by BJP's victory in the Delhi Cantonment Board elections today, where it won five of the eight seats, party leaders said it reflects the mood of the people in the city.
   
"It is clear and we hope that Delhi's mood has come out through the Delhi Cantt. results. We hope to get a good and best majority in Delhi," Delhi in-charge Prabhat Jha said.

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Shock defeat of BJP in Cantonment Board polls in Varanasi, Lucknow

In Varanasi, the Lok Sabha seat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, all the seven seats were bagged by Independents.
  
BJP had for the first time fielded or supported candidates in Cantonment Board polls. In Lucknow, the home turf of Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP lost on all eight seats to Independents.
  
Asked to comment on the party's poor performance in these elections, BJP state chief Laxmikant Bajpai said most of the candidates lost as they were not given official party symbol.
  
In Varanasi, the seven seats were won by Sangita, Shailendra Singh, Rajkumar Das, Masood Hussain, Chandra Keshav, Shahnawaz Ali and Shailja Srivastava – all Independents.
  
In Lucknow, Jagdish Prasad, Pramod Sharma, Rupa Devi, Swati Yadav, Amit Kumar Shukla, Anjum Aara, Sanjay Kumar Vaish and Reena Singhania -- all Independents -- bagged the eight seats.
  
In Agra too, the performance of BJP was not good as it won just one ward, with Independents romping home at seven seats. BJP had contested these seats on party symbol.
  
Polling was held on Sunday and results of Varanasi and Lucknow were declared on Monday. Commenting on BJP's rout, UP Cabinet Minister and Samajwadi Party leader Ambika Chowdhury said the results had proved BJP's tall claims hollow.

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Delhi Assembly Elections: Polling to be held on February 7, counting on February 10

Addressing a press conference in national capital here, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) V S Sampath said the notifications for the polls will be announced on January 14 while January 21 will be the last date for filing the notifications for the assembly elections.

The CEC said the scrutiny of the papers will be held on January 22 and the last date for withdrawing the nominations will be January 24.

Sampath said as per the latest list, there is 1.30 crore voters in Delhi.

He said altogether 11,763 polling stations will be made for the elections for 70 assembly constituencies
in the national capital.

In last assembly election held in 2013, the BJP had won 31 seats while AAP bagged 28 seats in its debut elections. Congress managed to win only eight seats while others bagged three seats.

Delhiites can now check their names in the voters' list and also know the polling officer of their area through their smartphone with the election office here launching an android app - 'Delhi Election'.

"People can find out their names in electoral roll by downloading 'Delhi Election' aap in their smartphones. Besides, they can also check application status and their constituency through this android app launched recently," said a senior official.

 

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