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Will quit politics if charges are proved: Rajnath
NEW DELHI: The government was faced with an embarrassing situation today over reports which claimed that Rajnath Singh's son Pankaj had been ticked off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for an alleged "misconduct", prompting the Home Minister as well as the PMO to issue strong denials.
Scotching the "rumours", Singh asserted that he would quit politics if even "prima facie" it is proved that any of his family member had been involved in any misconduct.
His statement came in the wake of a report which said he was upset with stories that claimed his son was pulled up by Modi for an alleged "misconduct".
Singh said rumours about alleged wrong doings by his family members have been floating around for the last fortnight.
"In the last 15-20 days, there have been continuous rumours in the air about me and my family. I thought rumours have no basis and these will end in some days.
"But I am seeing that these rumours are gaining momentum day-by-day. I want to assure the nation that the day allegations, even prima facie or even small, are proven against me or my family, I will quit politics and public life and sit at home," he said in a hurriedly called interaction with journalists outside his office at the North Block.
The Home Minister said he has talked to Modi and BJP president Amit Shah about it and both of them expressed surprise and termed the rumours as completely baseless.
Simultaneously, the PMO also issued a statement, rubbishing the reports and dubbing them as "plain lies, motivated and malicious attempt" to tarnish the image of the government.
"This has reference to reports appearing in a section of the media over the past several weeks, mentioning the Prime Minister, and referring to the conduct of some Union Ministers, and alleged misconduct of the Home Minister's son," said statement.
"The reports are plain lies, motivated and constitute a malicious attempt at character assassination and tarnishing the image of the Government," it said. — PTI
People facing criminal, corruption charges should
not be made ministers: SC
NEW DELHI: Sending a strong message that people against whom criminal and corruption charges have been framed be not inducted as ministers, the Supreme Court today said Prime Minister and Chief Ministers should desist from making such appointments and act in "national interest".
A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice R.M. Lodha, however, stopped short of prescribing disqualification for such people from becoming ministers, leaving it to the wisdom of the PM and CMs not to recommend such names to the President and Governor.
Observing that it cannot add disqualification in Article 75 (1) (appointment of PM and Council of Ministers), the Bench, however, said the PM and CMs should not consider people with criminal antecedents and against whom charges have been framed in serious offences, including corruption, for appointment as ministers.
It further said the Constitution reposes immense trust in the PM and CMs and they are expected to act with constitutional responsibility and morality.
It said that the PM has been regarded repository of constitutional trust and he should act in national interest.
"We are saying nothing more, nothing less and it is left on the wisdom of the PM to decide," the Bench said, adding this is also applicable to CMs.
The PM and CMs will be well advised not to include such people in their ministry, it said.
The Bench passed the order on a PIL seeking its direction restraining the Centre and State governments from appointing people with criminal background as ministers.
The Bench also comprising justices Dipak Misra, Madan B. Lokur, Kurian Joseph and S A Bobde passed unanimous verdict in the matter with two judges giving separate opinions.
In the 123-page verdict, Justice Dipak Mishra said it is also expected that the Prime Minister should act in the interest of the national polity of the nation-state.
"He (PM) has to bear in mind that unwarranted elements or persons who are facing charge in certain category of offences may thwart or hinder the canons of constitutional morality or principles of good governance and eventually diminish the constitutional trust.
"We have already held that prohibition cannot be brought in within the province of 'advice' but indubitably, the concepts, especially the constitutional trust, can be allowed to be perceived in the act of such advice," the Bench said.
It also said while interpreting Article 75(1), definitely a disqualification cannot be added.
"However, it can always be legitimately expected, regard being had to the role of a Minister in the Council of Ministers and keeping in view the sanctity of oath he takes, the Prime Minister, while living up to the trust reposed in him, would consider not choosing a person with criminal antecedents against whom charges have been framed for heinous or serious criminal offences or charges of corruption to become a Minister of the Council of Ministers.
"This is what the Constitution suggests and that is the constitutional expectation from the Prime Minister. Rest has to be left to the wisdom of the Prime Minister. We say nothing more, nothing less," the Bench said.
Justice Kurian Joseph said, "Hence, I am of the firm view, that the PM and the CM of the State, who themselves have taken oath to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of India and to discharge their duties faithfully and conscientiously, will be well advised to consider avoiding any person in the Council of Ministers, against whom charges have been framed by a criminal court in respect of offences involving moral turpitude and also offences specifically referred to in Chapter III of The Representation of the People Act, 1951".
This provision deals with disqualification of membership to Parliament and state legislatures. — PTI
First American jihadi dies fighting for ISIL in Syria
Washington: California-born Douglas McAuthur McCain has become the first American jihadi to have died in Syria while fighting for the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), a terrorist outfit that has gained control of large parts of Syria and Iraq.
The death of the 33-year-old American has left many top US officials seriously concerned.
"We were aware of US citizen Douglas McAuthur McCain's presence in Syria and can confirm his death. We continue to use every tool we possess to disrupt and dissuade individuals from travelling abroad for violent jihad and to track and engage those who return," Caitlin Hayden, Spokesperson of the National Security Council, the White House said.
According to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, McCain died in a battle between rival extremist groups in the suburbs of Aleppo, the commercial capital and largest city of Syria.
His uncle, Ken McCain told the CNN that Douglas McCain converted from Christianity to Islam several years ago.
The fact that he became a jihadi left his family "devastated" and "just as surprised as the country," the uncle said.
The US intelligence agencies had been warning about such involvements for the past several years, particularly after the Mumbai terrorist attack in 2008, in which an American jihadi David Headley played a key role.
The US estimates say that there are about 100 American passport holders who are fighting for ISIL in Syria and Iraq.
The US intelligence agencies and security experts have cautioned the national leadership against the increasing threat posed by home grown terrorists.
While McCain is the first American jihadi to have died fighting for ISIL in Syria, he is not the only one.
Moner Mohammad Abu-alha, 22, who grew up and went to school in Florida died in a northern Syria suicide bombing.
Born in Southern California in January 1981, McCain moved with his family to Minnesota where he attended school. — PTI
Phagwara: 1 killed, 5 injured as factory shed caves in
PHAGWARA (Punjab): A 52-year-old worker was buried alive while five others sustained injuries when a shed caved in after the chimney of a factory fell over it in Baba Gadhiya locality here, the police said today.
The deceased has been identified as Jagan Nath, a resident of local Santokhpura. The injured were rushed to the local civil hospital, the police said.
A chimney accidentally fell down over the adjacent shed of the factory last night and the shed caved in, they said, adding that half a dozen workers were sitting under the shed when the incident took place. — PTI
Ceasefire violations: India, Pakistan to hold flag meeting
JAMMU: A day after India lodged a protest with Pakistan over escalating ceasefire violations, the two sides will hold sector commander-level flag meeting today to defuse the situation on the border.
"The flag meeting between the BSF and Pakistan Rangers is scheduled for today along the International Border (IB) in Pargwal forward belt in Akhnoor sector of Jammu", a BSF officer said.
The BSF will lodge a formal protest with Pakistan Rangers over the ceasefire violations, firing and shelling on border out posts and civilian areas, he said.
The meeting is scheduled to be held at Nikowal Border Out Post (BOP).
In the meeting, the BSF team is likely give Pakistan Rangers proof of their involvement in the firing and shelling on civilian areas in Arnia, R.S. Pura, Ramgarh, Akhnoor and Kanachak forward areas along IB in Jammu and Samba district during the last 45 days.
Two civilians were killed 17 others, including 4 BSF jawans, were injured in the firing and shelling by Pakistani troops during the period.
India had yesterday lodged a protest with Pakistan over escalating border ceasefire violations.
The protest was lodged during telephonic talks between the DGMOs (Director General Military Operations) of the two countries.
During the talks, the Indian side is believed to have raised the issue of increasing ceasefire violations and lodged a protest over the issue, Army sources had said.
The two sides had also agreed to hold flag meetings at field levels by both the Army and BSF to defuse the situation.
The DGMOs — Lt Gen PR Kumar from India and Major General Amir Riaz from Pakistan — discussed the border situation during their talks on the hotline which takes place every Tuesday.
The BSF had said the firing by Pakistani forces in the last 45 days was possibly the "heaviest" since the 1971 war.
"Yes it is (the heaviest firing) for last so many years — I think may be after the 1971 war. 45 days is a very long period for this kind of thing to happen", BSF Director General D.K. Pathak had said yesterday.
Asked about the decision to hold flag meetings at field levels by both the Army and BSF to defuse the situation, Pathak had said, "I hope peace prevails". — PTI
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