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Hazare softens stand on Lokpal, says move ahead with the Bill

December 14, 2013

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Ralegan Siddhi, Dec 14: Softening his stand on the Lokpal issue, Anna Hazare today suggested moving ahead with the amended Bill presented in the Rajya Sabha and said improvements in the legislation could be brought through amendments later.

"Time has came to move (ahead) with the present draft of Lokpal Bill and get it passed. Improvements can be made later through amendments once it becomes a Constitutional reality," Hazare told PTI as his indefinite fast for a citizen's ombudsman entered the fifth day today.

The government had yesterday introduced the amended Lokpal Bill for consideration by the Rajya Sabha but it could not be taken up due to disruptions by various parties including Samajwadi Party, which supports the UPA dispensation from outside.

The amended Lokpal Bill delinks setting up of Lokayuktas in the states and transfers the powers of sanction of prosecution against public servant to the ombudsman.

The amendments were made after the Union Cabinet accepted 14 of the 16 recommendations made by the Rajya Sabha Select Committee, set up in May last year amid sharp differences among political parties because of which the legislation remained stuck in the Upper House since December 2011.

An indication of softening of Team Anna's stand on the Bill had come yesterday when former Army Chief General V K Singh said,"if a person is naked, he should at least get undergarments, a three-piece suit can follow."

Meanwhile, the fast has started impacting the 76-year-old anti-corruption crusader's health. He has lost 3.68 kgs and his blood pressure is on the higher side, doctors who examined him, said.

Meanwhile, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi, a close aide of the veteran social activist, has reached Ralegan Siddhi in Ahmednagar district of Western Maharashtra, and joined the hunger strike to press for the passage of a strong anti-graft law.

"I am on hunger strike for the first time in life and determined to continue as long as Anna carries on his fast," the 64-year-old Ramon Magsaysay Award winning activist said.

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News Network
January 12,2020

Kolkata, Jan 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday announced that Kolkata Port Trust will be renamed as Syama Prasad Mukherjee Port.

Addressing the gathering at the inauguration of 150th anniversary celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust, he said: "I announce the renaming of the Kolkata Port Trust to Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Port. He is a living legend who was a leader for development and fought on the forefront for the idea of One Nation, One Constitution."

"This port represents industrial, spiritual and self-sufficiency aspirations of India. Today, when the port is celebrating its 150th anniversary, it is our responsibility to make it a powerful symbol of New India," Modi said.

The Prime Minister said that the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder had set the stone for industrialization in India. "Chittaranjan Locomotive Factory, Hindustan Aircraft Factory, Damodar Valley Corporation and several others saw active participation from him," he said.

The Prime Minister also felicitated the two oldest pensioners of the Kolkata Port Trust, Nagina Bhagat and Naresh Chandra Chakraborty.

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Agencies
March 16,2020

New Delhi, Mar 16: Chief Justice of India Sharad Arvind Bobde on Monday said that rules for preventing overcrowding in the courts to avoid the spread of coronavirus cannot be relaxed for journalists alone on the basis of profession.

"Can't make an exception on the basis of profession," CJI Bobde said while asking journalists to share information and notes and suggesting that a system can be put in place to facilitate daily media briefing by Secretary-General.

Video conferencing facility being contemplated may be brought into place but not sooner than one week from now and reporters may take turns to attend hearings, CJI Bobde said.

He said that the court does not wish to prevent any reportage.

Attorney General KK Venugopal and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Chief Justice of India about the crowded corridors on account of restricted entry inside courtrooms.

CJI Bobde said that he himself wishes to assess and take stock of the situation and may do so tomorrow at 10.30 am.

This comes after the top court introduced several precautionary measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus and allowed only restricted entry of lawyers, litigants, and journalists in the courtroom.

Thermal-screening of the lawyers, litigants, and media persons were also conducted in the Supreme Court on Monday amid coronavirus fears.

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News Network
January 1,2020

New Delhi, Jan 1: Newly-appointed Chief of the Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Wednesday said the armed forces stay away from politics and work as per the directives of the government of the day, remarks that come amid allegations that the forces were being politicised.

Gen Rawat also said that his focus as CDS will be to integrate the efforts of the three services and to work as a team.

"We keep ourselves away from politics. We act according to the directives of the government of the day," he said.

Gen Rawat said his focus will be to ensure best and optimal use of resources allocated to the three services.

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