No relief for AAP leader Kumar Vishwas in 'illicit relationship' row:</br><br> Delhi High Court refused to give any interim relief to senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Kumar Vishwas on a party volunteer's complaint on alleged "rumours" about their 'illicit relationship', saying his plea challenging the Delhi women's commission summons had some "blatant" faults. Justice Rajiv Shakdher said one "defect" in the plea was that the volunteer should have been made a party in the petition as it was on her complaint that the summons were issued. The other "fault" pointed out by the court was that Delhi government need not be impleaded, as the plea has not sought removal of any member of the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW). The court refused to consider the repeated pleas of Kumar Vishwas' counsel Somnath Bharti for an interim stay on the summons, saying that grant of any relief at this stage, without the presence of the complainant, would be "like putting the cart before the horse". The court also told Bharti that he ought not have disclosed the name of the complainant during the hearing. (Express Photo) (16/05/2015) -
<b>BJP says Rahul Gandhi can't tell difference between brinjal and burger: </b> Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader launched a scathing attack on Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi here today, saying that he does not understand the difference between onion and pizza or brinjal and burger, but tries to become a leader of farmers. "Rahul, who can't understand the difference between onion and pizza or brinjal and burger, is trying to become the leader of farmers. He won't succeed," Naqvi told a media management workshop organised for Madhya Pradesh BJP's state spokespersons. (PTI) (25/05/2015)
Muslim signages blackened, AAP demands action against right wing groups: </br><br> The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) demanded "deterrent action" against miscreants belonging to a fringe right wing organisation for allegedly defacing signage boards with Muslim names in the national capital. The party also blamed the Narendra Modi government for encouraging right wing groups who have been "talibanising" the country. "The right-wing group which dared to do the horrible act undoubtedly draws its power and strength from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led coalition in power. Ever since BJP came to power at centre, several such acts of radical elements hijacking the law and playing moral police have come to the light," the party said in a statement. "The Modi government is helping right wing groups in talibanising the country," the AAP said in a statement. (16/05/2015) (Express photo by Ravi Kanojia) -
<br>No death penalty even for terrorists, says Shashi Tharoor</br><br>Unfazed by criticism, former union minister Shashi Tharoor today opposed death penalty even for terrorists saying it was an "obsolete practice" and they should instead be put behind bars for the rest of their lives without parole. "Terrorists should be put behind bars throughout their life without parole. In earlier days, there was a belief that if a person murders someone, he should be killed. Why do we need to follow the old obsolete practice…," the Congress MP said. On the recent controversy over his tweet on the execution of Mumbai terror attack convict Yakub Memon, he said: "I have not said a word on Memon case. What I tweeted was that I was not going into the merits of an individual case and it was the responsibility of the Supreme Court. I had tweeted against the death penalty which is an obsolete practice." The Congress MP from Thiruvanathapuram said not only he, but several leaders, including Sitaram Yechury, D Raja, Kanimozhi, Shatrughan Sinha and Varun Gandhi had also supported the abolition of death penalty. (PTI) (02/08/2015)</br>
Don't abuse women, says Shahrukh Khan: </br><br> Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has requested his Twitter followers to be respectful towards women, mothers, sisters and daughters. "A home is made of all different sorts in our family. So discuss with each other, contradict each other, even fight with each other. But do not abuse women, mother, sisters and daughters just because they're not your home," Shahrukh Khan said in a video post. Shah Rukh also dropped his shirt as a treat for fans. "Yes, I am wearing glares but not wearing a shirt," he joked in the end. SRK, who joined the micro-blogging site in 2010, has surpassed Salman Khan and Aamir Khan and is second only to megastar Amitabh Bachchan as far as the numbers of Twitter followers of Bollywood celebrities are concerned. (16/05/2015) (AP) -
He had made the offer to Gandhi in a letter on December 10, 2015 telling her that he had "no reason to doubt" her stand that the prosecution instituted against her and Rahul by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy is "false and malicious". (PTI)
Ads bearing Arvind Kejriwal images not removed in city, alleges Congress: </br><br> Delhi Congress alleged that advertisements bearing images of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal were still on display at public places in the city despite the Supreme Court order. "It was surprising that an elected representative, CM of a state who is a keeper and maker of law, is himself defying the court order," DPCC spokesperson Sharmishtha Mukherjee claimed. She alleged that advertisements carrying Kejriwal's photographs were "yet to be removed" from various public places in the city. "You can not expect the taxpayer to help the government. We strongly demand an audit of the money spent on advertisements for extra days (of display), after the Supreme Court order and it should be paid for by Kejriwal or the Aam Admi Party," Mukherjee said. (16/05/2015) (PTI) 
Muslim girl not allowed to wear scarf in school; DM orders probe: A Muslim girl was allegedly prohibited from attending classes in school while wearing a scarf to cover her head, following which the District Magistrate today ordered an inquiry into the incident. "I have ordered a joint magisterial inquiry into the matter by Additional City Magistrate (ACM) and District Inspector of Schools (DIOS). They have been asked to submit their report by May 19," District Magistrate Rajshekar said. Parents of a Class IX student of St Joseph Inter College had submitted a complaint to the DM that their daughter was not allowed to attend classes wearing a scarf covering the head. "Our daughter had taken admission in the college on May 6. The next day when she reached college in scarf, she was not allowed to sit in classes as the scarf was not allowed," the complaint letter said. (16/05/2015) 
<br>Narendra Modi's tough talk on religious bias not only against Hindus</br> Prime Minister Narendra Modi's straight talk on zero tolerance to religious discrimination is not only aimed at "pro-Hindutva" forces but also "bigots" converting Hindus, Shiv Sena said today as it raked up core saffron agenda including Article 370 and uniform civil code. "Prime Minister has taken a strong view against extremists by saying that communal intolerance will not be accepted. But the question is whom these comments were meant for. "Modi's statement has been projected as if it is meant for 'Hindutvavadis' in certain sections. But, we don't think that Modi had only Hindutvavadis in mind when he made those comments," Sena said in its party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. Modi had recently asserted that he will not tolerate any discrimination or violence against any community and termed anti-minority comments by some Sangh Parivar leaders as "unfortunate" and "uncalled for". (Express Photo) (04/06/2015) 
Open war between Jung and Arvind Kejriwal: </br><br> In an open confrontation, Delhi Lt Governor Najeeb Jung appointed senior bureaucrat Shakuntala Gamlin as acting Chief Secretary of the city government notwithstanding strong reservations by Delhi CM and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal dispensation which termed the decision as "unconstitutional". The Lt Governor gave the additional charge of Chief Secretary to Gamlin, a 1984-batch IAS officer, hours after she wrote a scathing letter to Jung claiming that she was pressurised by a senior bureaucrat in CM's office not to be in race for the post due to her alleged proximity to BSES discoms. Slamming the move, the AAP government said the LG cannot bypass the elected government and Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and that he acted against "the Constitution, GNCT of Delhi Act and the Transaction of Business Rules." (16/05/2015)(Express photo)
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