Special News in Detail

Police file FIR against Varun Gandhi

NEW DELHI: UP police on Tuesday registered a FIR against BJP's Varun Gandhi in Pilibhit under section 153A for allegedly making inflammatory
remarks with communal overtones.

Earlier, the Election Commission on Tuesday filed a criminal case under non-bailable law against BJP candidate in the Lok Sabha Varun Gandhi for allegedly making inflammatory remarks with communal overtones and served notice to the party seeking its explanation. ( Watch )

The three-member commission directed the Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer to file a case under Indian Penal Code and Representation of the People Act against Gandhi, PTI reported.

The EC ordered issue of notice to BJP and Gandhi for alleged violation of Model Code of Conduct. The EC also ordered transfer of district officials and suspended two others for alleged dereliction of duty.

Earlier in the day, Varun Gandhi claimed that the CD containing his speech has been tampered with. "I know it has been (tampered with)", he told TV channels while replying to a question.

"All I want to say is that tomorrow I will be addressing a press conference in Delhi and I will be clarifying my stand on every single issue....I will be addressing from a proper party forum," the young scion of the estranged Gandhi family said.

At a recent election meeting in Pilibhit from where he is being fielded, Varun had said "this is not a 'Hand' (Congress symbol), it is the power of the 'Lotus' (BJP symbol). It will cut the head of ....... Jai Shri Ram."

Continuing in the same vein, the grandson of Indira Gandhi and son of the late Sanjay Gandhi and Maneka told another meeting "If anyone raises a finger towards Hindus or if someone thinks that Hindus are weak and leaderless, if someone thinks that these leaders lick our boots for votes, if anyone raises a finger towards Hindus, then I swear on Gita that I will cut that hand.”

On a complaint from the Congress party, Varun was slapped with a notice by the Election Commission charging him with violation of the model code of conduct for elections for allegedly making communal remarks during a rally held on March 6 in Pilibhit.

Varun has also come under attack from within the party and its allies. Terming the comments as "shocking", BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain demanded an unconditional apology from him while the party asked all its poll nominees to "practice caution" in their speech.

We have advised all our candidates to practise caution and restrain in their speeches," party spokesperson Siddarth Nath Singh said.

Asked if his party would initiate any action against its candidate from Pilibhit for his alleged inflammatory speech, Singh said "that is to be seen but we do not subscribe to such views and this is sure."

Varun had faced criticism from BJP vice president Mukthar Abbas Naqvi yesterday who said his remarks were a manifestation of his Congress past.

BJP's ally and JD (U) leader Shivanand Tiwari said that the Election Commission should take cognisance of Gandhi's speech and that there should be a "legitimate" inquiry.

In his reply submitted to the District Magistrate M P Agarwal, the BJP candidate had denied the charge.

source From :http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Police-file-FIR-against-Varun-Gandhi/articleshow/4275065.cms


Telstra ends 32m-Aus dollar contract with Satyam: Report

MELBOURNE: Australian telecom giant Telstra has reportedly dropped outsourcing partner Satyam Computer Services from an applications support
contract worth 32 million Aus dollar annually.

The troubled Indian outsourcing firm's IT contracts with Telstra will be passed on to EDS, according to sources that were quoted by a 'The Australian' daily here today.

Telstra Chief Executive Sol Trujillo, who leaves the company on June 30, sat on the board of EDS before joining the telco in 2005, the report said.

According to the daily, Telstra refused to comment on the report of dumping Satyam and said the decision about its supply arrangements with individual vendors was not for media release.

'The Australian' further said that new Satyam Chief Executive A S Murty is understood to have flown to Australia last week in a last-ditch bid to retain the Telstra contract and the Indian IT company placed a compelling case to continue with Telstra.

The recent fraud at Satyam is believed to have led to the fallout, but a source close to the deal denied that the IT firm's scandal was responsible for Telstra's decision to tear up its contract, saying it was instead linked to the Indian outsourcer's performance.

The decision was taken by a Telstra advisory board, which was advised by a US tender management company, sources said.

Outsourcing contracts held by Satyam, EDS, IBM Global Services and Infosys could be trimmed as Telstra is in the process to reduce the list of major IT suppliers, from four to two, to reduce costs and streamline its providers.

The new contracts on offer, internally codenamed SSSP, require each of Telstra's suppliers to bid for application maintenance work on its legacy systems.

The total worth of the contracts is estimated to be up to 200 million Aus dollar annually over five years.

The decision follows moves by Telstra classifieds subsidiary Sensis dropping multinationals IBM and EDS from its software testing and application development panel.

"Late last year we announced a number of our major IT contracts across four major suppliers -- EDS, IBM GS, Infosys and Satyam -- were up for renewal," Telstra spokesperson Martin Barr said, adding, "...We are taking this opportunity to consolidate all legacy IT work and we are planning to divide the applications between two companies."

Losing the Telstra account is a major blow for the struggling Satyam, as Telstra represents about 35 per cent of its Australian revenue.

The accounting scandal at India's fourth largest IT firm also led to National Australia Bank re-evaluating its relationship with it. NAB has delayed plans to send several core technology functions to Satyam's Indian operations.

Source From: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Business/Telstra-ends-contract-with-Satyam/articleshow/4274729.cms

ICC ban venue after farcical Test abandonment

The International Cricket Council has banned the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in Antigua from hosting international matches for at least 12 months until extensive remedial work is carried out and it passes an inspection by the game's apex body.

The stadium was scheduled to host the second Test between England and the West Indies in February this year but the match was abandoned after just 10 balls due to an unfit outfield.

The matter was reported to the ICC which also warned the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) for not preparing the ground properly.

"Appropriate work must now be carried out and monitored by the WICB before the inspection can take place. Such inspection will be conducted no earlier than 12 months from yesterday, the day the ICC informed the WICB of its decision," the ICC said in a statement.

Speaking about the decision, ICC General Manager (Cricket) David Richardson said, "We have come to the decision that the outfield was, in fact, unfit for play and of an unacceptable standard for international cricket."

Richardson observed that the abandoned match in Antigua was an embarrassment to the game.

"The abandoned Test match was an embarrassment to the local authorities in Antigua, to West Indies cricket in general and to the international game as a whole. The image of the game and the integrity of our sport cannot afford to have such farcical scenes play out as they did on the first morning of the match. Steps must be taken to ensure that it never happens again," he said.

Source From: http://cricket.ndtv.com/cricket/ndtvcricket/storypage/ndtv/id/SPOEN20090087872/story.html