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Opposition NDA begins 3-day boycott of Parliament

     New Delhi: Parliament received an expected jolt on Wednesday with the opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) formally announcing that it was going ahead with its plans to boycott the ongoing budget session for the next three days over the ruling United Progressive Alliance's (UPA's) attitude and responses. NDA convener George Fernandes told reporters in the capital after a two-hour meeting of the alliance chaired by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, that "The attitude of the Government is that they (UPA) are not bothered about the Opposition. They don't want the opposition and want to run the House on their own. We will boycott both Houses for the next three days of the week." He said that the boycott was the first step and further plans would be announced later in the day. "Railway Minister Lalu Prasad has been charged with cheating and other serious offences. We don't want such persons to be allowed to sit in Parliament," Fernandes said. Leader of the Opposition and BJP President L K Advani said the opposition had raised the issue of "tainted" Ministers when the UPA Government was formed, but now the issue has reached a climax after framing of charges against Prasad in the fodder scam case, the Supreme Court's objections to government's decision not to appeal against dismissal of income tax cases against Prasad and the flood relief scam. The NDA also informed Lok Speaker Somnath Chatterjee of its decision to boycott Parliament and the all-party meeting that he had summoned for the morning to sort differences between various factions. The Speaker predictably expressed his unhappiness over the development and is believed to have urged Opposition Leader L.K.Advani to seriously reconsider the decision on not to enter the House.

Former Ontario PM to review Kanishka trial proceedings (Go To Top)

     Toronto: The Government of Canada has appointed former Ontario Premier Rob Rae to review the trial proceedings connected with the July 1985 bombing of the Air India plane Kanishka that claimed over 300 lives off the Irish coast. The decision to review the trial again was taken after relatives of those killed in the bombing flayed the acquittal of the main accused in the case -- Ripudaman Singh Malik and Ajaib Singh Bagri. Rae will review all evidence, previous inquiry findings related to the case and actions taken by police after the bombing of Kanishka flight off the coast of Ireland, killing 329 people onboard, Public Safety Minister Anne McLellan said. "Only when we have a good understanding of any outstanding questions that can reasonably be answered now can we decide on the next steps, but I want to emphasize that I am open to all options," McLellan said in a written statement on Tuesday, according to a media report. Rae, who has been tasked with providing McLellan independent advice on the subject, will also review transportation and security measures taken by the government since 1985, the Globe and Mail reported. Last month, a British Colombia Supreme Court found both Malik, a Vancouver-based millionaire businessman, and Kamloops mill worker Bagri not guilty in the case, triggering a wave of protests from relatives of the victims. Stunned by the acquittal, relatives of the victims had termed the judgement a "second tragedy" and demanded a public inquiry into the trial, considered one of the most exhaustive and expensive trials in Canadian history.

Former MP Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait dead (Go To Top)

     Bangalore: Ibrahim Sulaiman Sait, who had represented both Houses of Parliament for 37 years died here today following a cardiac arrest. He was 83. Sait, who was a a six-time member of the Lok Sabha and represented the Rajya Sabha once, hailed from the Malabar region of Kerala. He had represented the Lok Sabha from three different constituencies in the Malabar region and was a parliamentarian since the days of Jawaharlal Nehru, his brother Abdul Sait said. Ibrahim Sait was a popular and widely respected leader.

Tainted IAF woman officer is a victim of conspiracy: Mother (Go To Top)

     Bangalore: The mother of Anjali Gupta, the first woman Indian Air Force (IAF) officer who is being court martialed, has claimed that her daughter is a victim of a larger conspiracy. "Definitely, the girl will not get justice. She will not get justice till unbiased independent women officers are not called in for the probe. She is being victimized because she raised her voice against some officers," said Uma Gupta, Anjali's mother. The court martial got underway today at the Aircraft Systems and Training Establishment (ASTE) in Bangalore. The trial, to be heard by a six-member jury, will focus on charges of indiscipline, insubordination and financial irregularities levelled against Gupta. However, Gupta's complaint of sexual harassment by senior officers will not be heard by the General Court Martial (GCM). Uma Gupta told reporters before the commencement of the trial that she wanted an external body to conduct the trial which would also have women members. Anjali Gupta is at present under 'closed detention' at the ASTE while the GCM is on. Her mother was allowed to meet her this morning for 45 minutes. Flying Officer Anjali Gupta, who was working in the administrative wing of the Aircraft Systems and Training Establishment (ASTE) in Bangalore, has in turn levelled charges of sexual harassment and corruption against two of her senior male colleagues. She has approached the Karnataka State Commission for Women and also the state High Court. The Karnataka High Court has already issued notices to the CBI and the Bangalore police on a petition by Gupta, seeking an enquiry into her charges of sexual harassment by her superiors. The Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Shashindrapal Singh Tyagi has said that Anjali's trial will be conducted in a fair and transparent manner.

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