Tharoor demands a probe 'without political pressure'

January 9, 2015

Guruvayur, Jan 9: Expressing concern over the way investigation was being done into the death of his wife Sunanda Pushkar, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor today demanded a professional police probe without any political pressure or consideration and pre-determined outcome.Shashi Tharoor

He also offered to face questioning by Delhi Police at an early opportunity to address the questions they may have.

Days after the Delhi Police filed a case of murder in his wife's mysterious death almost a year ago, the former Union Minister, who completed a two-week Ayurveda treatment near here, met the media to say that he will extend full cooperation in a "fair" investigation.

"I have a number of questions in my mind and concerns over the way in which the investigation had moved so far. I have written to the Police Commissioner yesterday in detail. Hope he will have discussions with the investigating officers. It is for him to do what he wants to do," he said.

In his letter to the Police Commissioner, Tharoor said he is looking for an early opportunity to address questions "his people may have".

"It is very important that it (probe) should be done professionally without any political pressure or intervention and without any pre-determined outcome," he said.

Tharoor again said that he was "taken aback" by the police decision to register a murder case as the family had no reason to believe "foul play" in Sunanda's death.

"I was completely taken aback as there is no reason to believe for any one in the family that foul play would have been involved in her passing away. Every one loved her and (there was) no question of any one having reason to harm (Sunanda)," he said.

"There was no reason for anyone who had access to her would do anything to do her any harm. But I pledge full cooperation in the investigation," he said.

"Let the police do their job. We all would like to see the matter closed and justice is done to all including Sunanda," 58-year-old Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in Lok Sabha, said.

Tharoor said many of the things coming in connection with the case were "unnecessary controversy, disinformation and sometimes outright lies".

"I have been suffering for the last one year. We will like to have this procedure to get justice to all starting with her (Sunanda), family members and myself as husband.

"I lost my wife. I am not allowed to mourn for more than an year. I have gone through a great deal of pain," he said.

Dismissing criticism that he has maintained a "sinister silence" after the fresh FIR was lodged in the case, Tharoor said, "I have been silent on this for one year as the police investigation is on. The reason is very simple. Obviously when there is a police inquiry on it is my duty not to undermine or compromise the investigation any way."

He voiced anguish over "unnecessary public controversy" and "distortion" in media reportage.

Tharoor refused to take questions saying he is not going to engage in public discussion over a very personal tragedy and asked media to have some "soul and heart" and some "human decency:" while reporting on such personal tragedies.

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Agencies
June 28,2020

New Delhi, Jun 28: Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday targeted former Congress President Rahul Gandhi, saying he was indulging in "shallow-minded" politics and making statements that make Pakistan and China happy when soldiers are fighting a spirited battle.

Shah said the government is ready for a discussion in Parliament about the situation from 1962 (when India-China war took place) and it is sad that a former president of a party making statements, which are being celebrated in Pakistan and China.

The Home Minister's comments came during an interview with ANI when he was asked about Rahul's "Surrender (Prime Minister Narendra) Modi" remarks while criticising the BJP-led government on India-China border row.

Rahul has been consistent in his criticism of the government on the handling of both Covid-19 situation and India-China border row, which escalated into a "violent face-off" earlier this month in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.

"Let there be a robust debate in Parliament. Let us have one. Let us discuss from 1962. Nobody is scared of debate. But one should not make a statement that makes Pakistan and China happy when the soldiers are fighting a spirited battle and the government is taking strong steps," he said.

Asked whether India can handle the anti-India propaganda unleashed by Rahul's 'Surrender Modi' hashtag, he said the government is capable of handling it but it is a matter of introspection for the former Congress president and his party that their remarks are being used against the country.

Modi's remarks at an all-party meeting that no one has intruded into Indian territory triggered a controversy with a section arguing that it went against the previous statement of External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

Claiming that he could not advise Rahul as it is Congress' job to do so, he said the government has fought Covid-19 well but some people have a twisted way of seeing things. He said India fought well against Covid-19 and the statistics will speak for itself as it is much better compared to the world.

Shah said under Modi's leadership, India is going to win both the battles -- Covid-19 and India-China border row.

The Home Minister also refused to be drawn into a question on whether Chinese soldiers are holding on to Indian territory on the border at present, saying the government is doing enough to address border row with China.

"I don't want to do anything that goes against my primary aim of this interview (to highlight the steps taken to fight Covid-19 pandemic in Delhi) and create headlines that keep citizens further in fear," Shah said.

When pointed out that people are also in panic due to the border situation, he said the government has taken steps to address the situation and at an appropriate time he would make comments, if needed.

Asked about his tweets on Emergency, which was targeted by Congress asking whether there is democracy in the BJP, he countered it saying that BJP has presidents L K Advani followed by Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath again, himself and now J P Nadda.

"After Indira-ji, was there any Congress President from outside Gandhi family? What democracy do they talk about? I did not do any politics during Covid-19. You look at my tweets of the past 10 years. Every June 25, I give a statement," he said.

"Emergency should be remembered by people as it attacked the roots of our democracy. No one should ever forget it. There should be awareness about it. It is not about a party but about the attack on the country's democracy," he said.

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Agencies
July 30,2020

Kochi, Jul 30: The Kerala High Court on Thursday refused to grant the extension for the stay of a 74-year-old US citizen, Johnny Paul Pierce, who had earlier said that he felt safer to remain in India than in the United States amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The single-judge bench of Justice CS Dias, which considered the writ petition, observed that the grant or extension of visa to foreign nationals fall exclusively within the domain of the Government of India (GoI) and that judicial review in such matters is minimal.

The power of the GoI to expel foreigners is absolute and unlimited, the bench said.

"In view of the categoric declaration of law by the Supreme Court, the plea of the petitioner to permit him to stay back in India cannot be accepted, as it falls within the purview of the guidelines and the discretion of the Government of India," the order said.

"The petitioner cannot be heard that the guidelines/policies/regulations formulated by the Government of India, that an American national though has been granted a visa having validity of five years has to leave India within 180 days, is irrational or unreasonable," it added.

The High Court, which was hearing a plea to permit the US citizen to stay in India for a further period of six months, said that the petitioner does not have a case that there is an infraction of Article 21 of the Constitution of India.

"The petitioner was well aware of the visa conditions when he arrived in India, and it is too late in the day for him to raise a grievance on the visa conditions," the bench said noting that the petitioner's love for India was heartening.

The High Court also directed the Foreigners Registration Officer to consider the petitioner's representation within a period of two weeks in accordance with the applicable guidelines and policies.

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News Network
May 14,2020

New Delhi, May 14: With a spike of 3,722 new cases in the last 24 hours, the COVID-19 count in India reached 78,003 on Thursday morning, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

As per the latest update by the Ministry, there are 49,219 active cases in the country while 26,235 patients have been cured and discharged, and one migrated, so far.

With 134 new deaths being reported due to the disease since yesterday, the toll due to the disease reached 2,549.

With 25,922 confirmed cases, Maharashtra is the worst affected by the infection in the country so far.

Gujarat and Tamil Nadu, with 9,267 and 9,227, cases respectively are the next worst affected by the disease.

The national capital, Delhi, is just a couple of cases behind the 8 thousand mark as per the update on Thursday morning.

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