Snoopgate: Shah rejects Cong demand
Varanasi: Brushing aside Priyanka Gandhi’s attack on Narendra Modi on the ‘Snoopgate’ controversy, his close aide Amit Shah has said a judicial commission was investigating the case and people should wait for its report. Shah also rejected Congress’ demand for a detailed probe into the controversy saying no fresh enquiry committee was necessary as a judicial probe was already on. “It does not matter what Priyanka Gandhi says. There is a probe panel which is investigating into it. Wait for the report of the panel,” Shah said.
Punjab Minister declared apostate
Mumbai: Punjab Minister Bikram Singh Majithia has been declared ‘Tankhaiya’ (apostate) by the Jathedar of Takht Sachkhand Hazur Sahib, one of the five seats of Temporal authority in Sikhism, for distorting the Gurbani while seeking victory for BJP’s Amritsar candidate Arun Jaitley. “Yes, Majithia has been declared ‘Tankhaiya’ for showing disrespect to the sacred compositions of the Sikh Gurus,” sources at the Takht at Nanded, where Sikhism’s 10th guru Gobind Singh had breathed his last, said on Monday. A major controversy had erupted after Majithia had at an election rally distorted a hymn in Gurbani, compositions of the Sikh gurus and inserted Jaitley’s name to wish his victory. The Minister had later tendered an apology to Giani Gurbachan Singh, Jathedar of Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhism. Majithia would be required to appear before Sikh priests at the Takht following which religious atonement would be pronounced upon him, sources said.
Akhilesh’s chopper grounded after bird hit
lucknow: UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and his wife Dimple Yadav had a narrow escape after their chopper was hit by a bird, forcing it to make an emergency landing. The incident occurred on Sunday evening when Akhilesh along with Dimple, MP from Kannauj, was returning from Saifai after the last rites of his uncle Ratan Singh Yadav, official sources said. The helicopter, which was initially scheduled to land at la Martiniere college near the CM’s residence, had to make an emergency landing at Amausi airport.
‘Generational change in Cong after poll’
Hyderabad: Irrespective of whether it wins or loses, there would be a generational change in Congress after the lok Sabha elections, says Union Minister Jairam Ramesh who himself wishes to pursue his other passions in life. “We have to nurture youth. We have to get youngsters in and I think whatever the result of 2014, the face of the Congress is bound to change,” Ramesh told PTI here.
Vote for Amarinder, BKU tells farmers
Amritsar: The Bharatiya Kisan Union on Monday appealed to farmers to vote for Congress candidate Amarinder Singh, contesting from Amritsar lok Sabha constituency, saying he had always given top priority to interests of farmers. Amarinder enjoys a great reputation among farmers and is known as their messiah, BKU chief Rakesh Tikait, who is son of farmer leader late Mahendra Singh Tikait, told a press conference here.
“I wish other leaders can learn some lessons from him,” he said. Tikait alleged Punjab Cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia’s family owned a number of mills in Uttar Pradesh and owed Rs 51 crore to sugarcane farmers. He said in case they did not make immediate payment to the farmers, they would seize their factories. Majithia has denied the allegations levelled by Tikait.