No decision on Cong-JD(U) tie-up yet: joshi
Patna: Contrary to popular belief that the Congress will lose no time in embracing its new “secular” friend, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, after he snapped his 17-year-old ties with the BJP, there seems to be no rush.
After interacting with local leaders in Patna on Saturday, AICC general secretary and in-charge of Bihar CP Joshi told mediapersons that his party has yet to take any decision.
Joshi said, “The Congress is a political party and extended support to the Nitish Kumar government as a part of strategy. The Congress took a tactical line while supporting the government at the time of voting.” He added, “Congresspersons have a common view that the party can be revived in Bihar and hence efforts should be made in this direction,” hinting at the Congress’ gameplan to first strengthen the party at the ground level before any alliance with JD(U) or its old ally, RJD.
Joshi also remarked, “I am not authenticated to give a qualified reply to a question, who is a better secular person — Nitish or lalu.”
Joshi asked Congresspersons to perform for the growth of the party in their respective areas instead of indulging in any sort of sycophancy. “Do not worry about the party’s future alliance with this party or that party, just work hard,” he said.
Meanwhile, chief of State Congress media cell, Prem Chandra Mishra clarified that the matter of alliance was not discussed.
magistrate held for dumping lady inspector!
CHENNAI: Hardly a week after Justice CS Karnan of the Madras High Court ruled that any couple who sleeps together is considered married; the law took a curious turn on Saturday with the judiciary and police finding them in an unenviable position. Thangaraj, judicial magistrate, Coonoor, was arrested by Tirupur police on Saturday for dumping a woman police inspector attached to the Palladam police station in the district after a two year long live-in relationship.
It has all the features mentioned by Justice Karnan in his controversial judgment which ruled that live-in relation is equivalent to marriage. He had also ruled mandatory rituals and customs stipulated for marriages are irrelevant. Thangaraj, the magistrate and Uma Maheswari, the inspector (both in their early 30s) had a live-in relation for the last three years. Uma Maheswari in her complaint to the police had charged that the judicial magistrate had promised her that he would marry her soon.
But last week, Thangaraj got married with a bride selected by his parents and walked out of Uma Maheswari’s life. The hapless lady inspector was left with no other choice but to complain to the police about her fate and Thangaraj.
A team of police officials led by Suresh Kumar, deputy superintendent of police arrested Thangaraj on Saturday and was produced before the district judicial magistrate, Tirupur. Thangaraj was remanded to judicial custody. (puthu maappilai) the new bridegroom complained of chest pain and has been admitted to the general hospital for check-up. Kumar, declined to elaborate on the arrest.
What makes the incident interesting is the scenario drawn out by Justice Karnan who ruled that in the eventuality of the man ditching his live-in partner and marries another woman; he should have obtained the divorce decree from the partner. “If after having a sexual relationship, the couple decides to separate due to difference of opinion, the husband could not marry without getting a decree of divorce from the wife,” said Justice Karnan in his verdict in a case dealing with disbursal of alimony to the live-in partner.
Justice Karnan’s verdict stirred a hornet’s nest with one of the leading US dailies saying ‘mating means marriage. “Indian court rules that any couple who sleeps together is considered married,” reported Washington Post.