YEH MERA INDIA
Anti-corruption bursts put top cop in netas’ bad books
Over 100 Bihar MLAs are ‘criminals': Survey
Stranded Indian maid dies at Muscat
Dubai: An Indian women, stranded at Muscat airport for five days after losing her passport, died due to possible cardiac arrest which doctors felt was caused by severe trauma.
Beebi Lumada, 40, a housemaid traveling from Muscat to Chennai via Doha by Qatar Airways, lost her passport, ‘Gulf news’ reported.
When her passport was not found, she was sent back to Muscat. The woman, who died on the way to hospital, cancelled her Oman visa and since she did not carry her passport was not allowed to re-enter Muscat.
"We informed immigration about the situation and also intimated the Indian embassy," the report quoted an official as saying.
"We were given repeated assurances that the embassy officials would visit the passenger but there was no visit even after requests from airport police," airline officials said.
An official said that since Muscat airport does not have a transit hotel, Qatar Airways provided food, drinks, and all help to make her comfortable. But the report said she apparently began to get delusional. A government doctor said it’s possible that severe mental trauma caused a cardiac arrest.
Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa told the newspaper that it was sad that Lumada lost her life before an exit pass could be issued. "It is sad that procedural delay delayed help for the stranded passenger," he said.
Embattled Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has knocked on the doors of home minister R R Patil to get high-profile anti-corruption sleuth Harish Baijal’s wings clipped. Ever since Baijal took over the reins of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Nashik,the hometown of not only Bhujbal, but his MP nephew Sameer and legislator son Pankaj, he has rocked the township. In less than a year, Baijal has successfully trapped a record number of 99 officials, belonging to the home, public health, revenue and public works departments, the latter portfolio being held by Bhujbal.
Baijal did not stop here. He said a series of meetings with leading social workers and anti-corruption crusaders to encourage complaints against erring officials. Baijal’s efforts had a positive impact; as a result, now aggrieved employees are approaching Baijal directly. Simultaneously, the entire city is witnessing larger-than-life portraits and hoardings displaying the photographs of not only the persons who helped the ACB nab the corrupt officials, but Baijal too.
Not only politicians of the ruling Congress and NCP, but even the elected representatives of the saffron combine have expressed displeasure over the manner in which the ACB has launched a publicity campaign.
Meanwhile, leading politicians feel that Baijal and his men are targeting only those employees who have political links. In fact, if a top PWD engineer is to be believed, then the ACB is targeting NCP affiliated officials. Aparently a section of top NCP and Congress leaders have asked R R Patil to clip Baijal’s wings in the larger political interests of both the ruling and opposition parties.
As head of the Mumbai traffic branch, Baijal was instrumental in taking on erring drivers. In fact, it was during his tenure that drunken drivers were sent to jail, for terms raging from one day to a week. Whether to encourage Baijal’s anti-corruption drive or make him a paper tiger is in the hands of R R Patil.
Baijal did not stop here. He said a series of meetings with leading social workers and anti-corruption crusaders to encourage complaints against erring officials. Baijal’s efforts had a positive impact; as a result, now aggrieved employees are approaching Baijal directly. Simultaneously, the entire city is witnessing larger-than-life portraits and hoardings displaying the photographs of not only the persons who helped the ACB nab the corrupt officials, but Baijal too.
Not only politicians of the ruling Congress and NCP, but even the elected representatives of the saffron combine have expressed displeasure over the manner in which the ACB has launched a publicity campaign.
Meanwhile, leading politicians feel that Baijal and his men are targeting only those employees who have political links. In fact, if a top PWD engineer is to be believed, then the ACB is targeting NCP affiliated officials. Aparently a section of top NCP and Congress leaders have asked R R Patil to clip Baijal’s wings in the larger political interests of both the ruling and opposition parties.
As head of the Mumbai traffic branch, Baijal was instrumental in taking on erring drivers. In fact, it was during his tenure that drunken drivers were sent to jail, for terms raging from one day to a week. Whether to encourage Baijal’s anti-corruption drive or make him a paper tiger is in the hands of R R Patil.
Over 100 Bihar MLAs are ‘criminals': Survey
New Delhi: About 110 members of Bihar Legislative Assembly have pending criminal cases against them, including for serious crimes, such as murder, kidnapping and extortion, says a new survey.
According to a latest survey conducted by Association of Democratic reforms and National Election Watch, an umbrella body of about 1,000 NGOs across the country, a total of 109 MLAs in the 243-member Assembly have criminal cases pending against them.
Out of these, 64 members have serious criminal charges pending against them, according to the data.
The analysis was done on the basis of affidavits submitted by a total of 919 candidates for contesting Bihar Assembly elections in 2005. Out of which, 358 had declared pending criminal cases against them and 213 had serious criminal cases pending against them.
The ADR-NEW analysed affidavits of 233 MLAs and found that 109 had pending criminal cases against them when elected. A highest of 39 MLAs were from JD(U), followed by 32 from BJP and 19 from RJD among others.
Six people from LJP and three from Congress had criminal cases pending against them when they were elected, the data claimed.
A highest of 32 cases were registered against Pradip Kumar, an independent candidate who won the election from Warsalinganj constituency, followed by 25 cases against Kishore Kumar, who won the poll from Sonbarsa.
"MLAs like Rajesh Kumar Raushan(RJD) from Kesariya and Manoranjan Singh (JD-U) from Baniapur, all were charged with more than 15 IPC sections related to murder, kidnapping and robbery," the survey said. The association has demanded that upcoming Bihar assembly election should be free of candidates having criminal background and urged the political parties not to give tickets to tainted candidates.
"An attempt must be made to change the trend which existed in the Bihar Assembly election, 2005. Parties before releasing their list of candidates for the elections should make sure that they do not field any candidates with criminal background," the association said.
According to a latest survey conducted by Association of Democratic reforms and National Election Watch, an umbrella body of about 1,000 NGOs across the country, a total of 109 MLAs in the 243-member Assembly have criminal cases pending against them.
Out of these, 64 members have serious criminal charges pending against them, according to the data.
The analysis was done on the basis of affidavits submitted by a total of 919 candidates for contesting Bihar Assembly elections in 2005. Out of which, 358 had declared pending criminal cases against them and 213 had serious criminal cases pending against them.
The ADR-NEW analysed affidavits of 233 MLAs and found that 109 had pending criminal cases against them when elected. A highest of 39 MLAs were from JD(U), followed by 32 from BJP and 19 from RJD among others.
Six people from LJP and three from Congress had criminal cases pending against them when they were elected, the data claimed.
A highest of 32 cases were registered against Pradip Kumar, an independent candidate who won the election from Warsalinganj constituency, followed by 25 cases against Kishore Kumar, who won the poll from Sonbarsa.
"MLAs like Rajesh Kumar Raushan(RJD) from Kesariya and Manoranjan Singh (JD-U) from Baniapur, all were charged with more than 15 IPC sections related to murder, kidnapping and robbery," the survey said. The association has demanded that upcoming Bihar assembly election should be free of candidates having criminal background and urged the political parties not to give tickets to tainted candidates.
"An attempt must be made to change the trend which existed in the Bihar Assembly election, 2005. Parties before releasing their list of candidates for the elections should make sure that they do not field any candidates with criminal background," the association said.
Orphanage deaths: State draws HC flak
Mumbai: The Bombay High Court lambasted the State for its delayed reaction to the abuse of mentally challenged children in a government-run orphanage at Shahpur in Thane district. The division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud were hearing suo motu a public interest litigation on the plight of inmates of Satkarm Balgriha. Five died due to starvation and malnourishment.
When told by the additional government pleader Jyothi Pawar that the incident is an eye-opener for the government, Justice Shah riposted, "Is it that the eyes of the government opened for the first time? Something is seriously wrong with the system." Pawar informed the court that action has been taken against the persons in charge and also notice has been issued to Children Welfare Committee and the Child Welfare Officer: She said the children have been shifted to other homes.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences professor Dr Asha Bajpai submitted that it is a ‘collective failure’. She said the priority should be to evaluate the children’s health and provide them with basic needs.
When told by the additional government pleader Jyothi Pawar that the incident is an eye-opener for the government, Justice Shah riposted, "Is it that the eyes of the government opened for the first time? Something is seriously wrong with the system." Pawar informed the court that action has been taken against the persons in charge and also notice has been issued to Children Welfare Committee and the Child Welfare Officer: She said the children have been shifted to other homes.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences professor Dr Asha Bajpai submitted that it is a ‘collective failure’. She said the priority should be to evaluate the children’s health and provide them with basic needs.
Stranded Indian maid dies at Muscat
Dubai: An Indian women, stranded at Muscat airport for five days after losing her passport, died due to possible cardiac arrest which doctors felt was caused by severe trauma.
Beebi Lumada, 40, a housemaid traveling from Muscat to Chennai via Doha by Qatar Airways, lost her passport, ‘Gulf news’ reported.
When her passport was not found, she was sent back to Muscat. The woman, who died on the way to hospital, cancelled her Oman visa and since she did not carry her passport was not allowed to re-enter Muscat.
"We informed immigration about the situation and also intimated the Indian embassy," the report quoted an official as saying.
"We were given repeated assurances that the embassy officials would visit the passenger but there was no visit even after requests from airport police," airline officials said.
An official said that since Muscat airport does not have a transit hotel, Qatar Airways provided food, drinks, and all help to make her comfortable. But the report said she apparently began to get delusional. A government doctor said it’s possible that severe mental trauma caused a cardiac arrest.
Indian ambassador Anil Wadhwa told the newspaper that it was sad that Lumada lost her life before an exit pass could be issued. "It is sad that procedural delay delayed help for the stranded passenger," he said.
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