Tendulkar denies blood-in-book report

Sachin Tendulkar has denied a report that his blood will be used in a special pictorial "celebration" book on the career of the Indian cricket legend. The mammoth book slated to appear in February is designed to be the "ultimate tribute to a living sporting legend" and "the definitive work on hislife and career", publishers Kraken said.

The 37-year-old Tendulkar, who is in Sri Lanka playing a Test series, denied reports which appeared last week in British newspaper The Guardian that his blood would used on the book's signature page.

"There is no truth in my blood being part of the book," Tendulkar told The Times of India in comments published on Saturday.

Kraken chief executive Karl Fowler was quoted by the British broadsheet as saying 10 copies of the book would be printed using Tendulkar's blood.

Fowler, who had been earlier cited as saying Sachin's blood would be "mixed into the paper pulp so it's a red resin" told the Times of India that his comments had been "misunderstood."

"The Opus will not carry any blood as mentioned in the several articles/TV reports that have appeared over the past few days," The Times quoted Fowler as saying.

"I believe my thoughts on this matter have been misunderstood," the publisher added.
News reports say around 1,000 Opus copies, each numbered and personally signed, will go on sale at 2,000 to 3,000 dollars.

Each of the 852 pages are 50 centimetres (20 inches) square and edged in gold leaf. The publication weighs 37 kilograms (82 pounds) and contains around 1,500 images and more than 300,000 words.

Tendulkar is the first cricketer to be given the Opus treatment. Previous works have been published on Ferrari, Manchester United, Diego Maradona, Michael Jackson and the Burj Khalifa.

Source : Hindustan Times

Arrest warrants against Preity Zinta, Ness

Indian Premier League (IPL) team Kings XI Punjab ended up on the wrong side of the law on Saturday when a court here issued bailable arrest warrants to its three owners - actress Priety Zinta, industrialist Ness Wadia and businessman Mohit Burman.

The arrest warrants were issued by Chief

Judicial Magistrate J.S. Sidhu after the three owners failed to appear before the court in a case against them.

The case against the Kings XI Punjab owners was filed by the Registrar of Companies (ROC) office in April, accusing them of not submitting their balance sheet and returns.

However, the fourth owner of the team, businessman Karan Paul, was not issued the arrest warrant since his counsel appeared before the court on Saturday.

The court has fixed October 4 as the next date of hearing in this matter.

The three Kings XI Punjab owners, against whom the arrest warrants were issued, will have to appear before the court at the next hearing.

The team has its headquarters at the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) stadium in Mohali town in Punjab, 10 km from here.

The team has not been doing well in the last three editions of the IPL despite having big names like Yuvraj Singh, Kumara Sanghakara, Bret Lee and Irfan Pathan in its ranks.

Source : Hindustan Times

Onus is on the star studded batting line-up

As a staunch believer in India's batting might I admit I am baffled by the defeat at Galle. What is even more perplexing is that Sri Lanka won by ten wickets with a day to spare following the second day's washout.

I am well aware that Sri Lanka at home are a difficult side to beat and I also know that India has won three Tests to Sri Lanka's five in matches played in the island nation and that India has lost the last two contests away in 2001 and 2008. But then, India were not the No 1 Test playing nation.

I always trace India's climb to the top which they attained last year following a series of fine performances to the memorable victory over Australia at Kolkata in 2001. For me that match underlined India's batting strength, for after following on they scored 657 for seven declared, thanks mainly to the record 376-run fifth wicket partnership between Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman.

Since then, Indian batting has frequently touched dizzy heights and going into the Galle Test we had the top four having career averages of fifty plus and the fifth an average in the mid 40s. I am not too sure this has happened before in the long, rich history of Test cricket.

These Himalayan figures were achieved purely on merit for over the years the quintet of Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman had performed breathtaking feats both at home and away. Every one of them had at least one double century with Sehwag leading the pack with a round half a dozen including two triple hundreds.

In the process Indian totals hit the ceiling as 675 for five declared was notched up in Pakistan, 705 for seven declared in Australia, 664 in England and 726 for nine declared in India. Naturally enough the Indian line up was acknowledged in cricketing circles as the most lustrous in the game.

So admirably did the batsmen perform that they frequently covered up for the weaker link - the bowling - and they had the arsenal to come good in any situation. At Napier last year for example, when they were pushed to the wall by New Zealand and made to follow on 314 runs behind they batted over two days in a classic rearguard action to save the Test easily with a closing total of 476 for four in 180 overs. They proved that they were not only strokeplayers but also stonewallers.

I had this superb showing in mind when the Indians started their second innings at Galle. So strong was my faith in the Indian batting that I was sure they would save the match given the fact that the same six were on duty.   

Looking at the scorebook and trying to analyze how a formidable batting line up could be bowled out for 276 and 338 it can quickly be seen that whereas they were no real failures - except one real disaster in Gambhir - the batsmen did not perform up to their lofty reputation. Sehwag got a century, Tendulkar a near hundred, Laxman and Yuvraj half centuries and Dravid a forty but certainly bigger contributions were expected from a line up with so much experience and such superb credentials.

Even with the presence of a world record holder the Lankans did not seem to have an attack capable of bowling out India twice and yet that's precisely what happened. As for Gambhir he was brought down to earth with a sickening thud after flying high for a while.

Perhaps, I expected too much from the Indian batting line up and should have taken a closer look at India's record abroad. In the last nine years India have lost a series in the West Indies (2002), New Zealand (2002-03), Pakistan (2006), South Africa (2006-07), Australia (2007-08) and Sri Lanka twice as I mentioned earlier.

Like Sri Lanka, India are quite unbeatable at home and over the same period India have lost just one series at home against Australia in 2004. So, is this a case of tigers at home and lambs abroad? Not exactly, but all the same, I guess we had better temper our expectations when the team plays abroad and this includes the strong batting line up.

However, if the batting has to take the blame the bowling was not entirely blameless. For me, the figures against the spin duo of Pragyan Ojha and Harbhajan Singh sum up the whole sorry show - 58 overs, 213 runs, no wickets. To be candid the Indians had things under control when the home team were 393 for seven.

In retrospect, the major turning point of the match was the eighth wicket partnership of 115 runs between Lasith Malinga and Rangana Herath. From that moment on Sri Lanka were almost always calling the shots.

So what can India do to alter things in the second Test at Colombo? They will no doubt be encouraged by the fact that they have come back to win the second Test after losing the first on both their previous visits.

But, for that to happen they will have to raise the level of their performance and play like the No 1 team that they are, otherwise they will again be outplayed by a team placed three rungs below them in the ICC rankings.

The greater onus is perhaps on the star studded batting line-up but the bowlers especially the experienced if enigmatic Harbhajan Singh should also be alive to their responsibilities.

Source : Yahoo

I like only my movies: Aamir Khan

Actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan says he enjoys his own movies because they have universal appeal, something that other films lack.

'I only like my movies, which are universal like '3 Idiots', 'Lagaan' or 'Tare Zameen Par'. Other people do not believe in making anymore films which are universal. According to me, the only director who caters to the non-multiplex audience is Raju Hirani, others make cinema for cities,' Aamir said in an interview on Zee News Celebrity chat show 'Kahiye Janab' to be aired Saturday.

The 45-year-old, who has produced 'Peepli Live', a satire on farmer's suicides and subsequent media and political response in the country, rues filmmakers ignore rural India.

'There is a clear divide between Bharat (Hindustan) and India. If I were to go to Hollywood to earn my living, I would feel much cut off from my roots, my home in Mumbai. Filmmakers these days no longer care about rural India,' he added.

Aamir, who is playing one of the lead actors in 'Dhobi Ghaat', says getting the role in his wife Kiran Rao's directorial debut was not a cakewalk.

'Kiran is a fantastic director. People think that I am a perfectionist, but I had to go through an audition, to help her decide that I am good for the role and then she cast me. I am one of the four lead actors in the movie'. 

Source : Yahoo

Paul the Octopus 'to become silver screen legend'

Paul the Octopus, who rose to fame with its incredibly accurate predictions of World Cup 2010 match results, is all set to become a part of the showbiz.

Filming of 'The Murder of Paul the Octopus' has already finished in South Africa and post-production work is well under way.

The film, which is expected to be hit theatres in August, has been produced by China Film Group Corporation and Beijing Filmblog Media Company.

However, Paul, who has gone into retirement, was not available to star in the movie so the director used a body double.

According to Sky News, the film will focus on Paul's amazing winning streak and explore "how the octopus acquires the ability and discuss his possible fates".

Source : Times of India

Kumar Sangakkara feels ICC ranking system not "fair"

  Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara has criticised the ICC ranking system as "unfair" even though the island nation was in the sight of becoming the top Test side after they spanked India in the first match.

Asked whether the players take seriously a system that has India at number one despite not having won a series in Australia, South Africa and Sri Lanka since 1993, Sangakkara said, "You should have asked that question to Haroon Lorgat (ICC chief executive) who was here."

"If rankings can't be understood by the public, the players, or the administrators, what's the use of having rankings? If you want rankings, they should count towards playing a Test championship," he said.

Sangakkara said for the ICC ranking system to be acceptable, the FTP should be "fair" with each side playing each other at least once, home or away.

"Rankings need to be fairly done. A fair FTP is the first step towards having proper rankings. Once every two years each side should play each other at least once, home or away. That's how you get a fair deal when it comes to Test cricket," he said.

Sri Lanka themselves were ranked number two last year without having won a Test in India, Australia and South Africa, a spot they lost after their away loss to India.

About his own side's dismal record in the three countries ranked higher than them, Sangakkara said, "I don't think we have played enough Test cricket away. Two Test matches here, two Test matches there, I think that's not good. We need to play Tests regularly.

"We have a very good balanced attack, pace and spin. From 2006 to 2009 we have done well. We have won in New Zealand, in England, and in Pakistan. South Africa, Australia and India are the three places that we need to win. We need to play often in those places," said the suave Lankan skipper.

Interestingly, the current Test ranking system does not give extra weightage to victories away from home. The rating points earned or conceded are calculated based on the difference between where the teams stood before the start of the series. 

Source : Times of India

Malinga rested, Mendis likely to replace Muralitharan

Sri Lanka fast bowler Lasith Malinga, who helped bowl his side to a 10-wicket victory over India in the first Test on Thursday, has been rested on medical advice for the second Test that starts from Monday.

Malinga was rested on the advice of team physiotherapist Tommy Simsek after the bowler complained of stiffness in his right knee, chairman of selectors Aravinda de Silva said.

The 26-year-old, who only returned to the Test arena at Galle after having last played a test match in December 2007 because of an injury to the knee, took five for 50 in India's second innings that helped his side to a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.

"We have to be cautious with Malinga. He was not feeling quite fit to go through a five-day Test. He complained of stiffness in his knee," said De Silva.

Malinga will be replaced by Dilhara Fernando. Ajantha Mendis who took six for 67 in a three-day game against India but was overlooked for the first Test, was named in the 16-man squad and is likely to take the now retired Muttiah Muralitharan's position.

Muralitharan retired after he took his 800th Test wicket with his final delivery at Galle.

Former captain Mahela Jayawardene was named as Kumar Sangakkara's vice-captain to replace Muralitharan.

"We want Mahela who has a good cricket brain to be part of the decision-making in the middle," said De Silva.

Sri Lanka squad: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Tharanga Paranavitana, Mahela Jayawardene, Thilan Samaraweera, Angelo Mathews, Prasanna Jayawardene, Ajantha Mendis, Dilhara Fernando, Chanaka Welegedara, Suraj Randiv, Rangana Herath, Thilina Kandamby, Dammika Prasad, Lahiru Thirimanne, Nuwan Pradeep. 

Source : Times of India

Jwala in, Bijli out of Azharuddin's life?

Indian badminton star Jwala Gutta, ranked No.7 in the world in mixed doubles, has blasted reports suggesting she was having an affair with former cricket captain Mohammed Azharuddin.


Twenty-six-year-old Jwala Gutta, the woman being blamed for Sangeeta Bijlani walking out of her 14-year-old marriage to Mohammed Azharuddin, is angry. "I am disgusted by the reports," she told TOI in a phone interview from Hyderabad. "It possibly makes a good story but everything about it is false and baseless. How am I involved if Sangeeta has gone back to Mumbai? How does it matter to me?"


Jwala said the rumours began a month ago. "I know they are being spread by people from the badminton association because I am not on good terms with them," she said. Asked if Azhar’s decision to contest the association’s polls could have led to this, she said, "Yes, that is the reason."


Azharuddin, now an MP from Moradabad, also pooh-poohed the reports, saying his bid for the badminton body was being given an unhealthy twist. He described Jwala as a "good friend" and the reports as "disgusting and in bad taste".


There have been reports that she and Azhar have been often spotted together and were also seen coming out together from Indian coach Pullela Gopichand’s academy. Jwala denied that as well. "I go to the academy to practice and not to meet anyone," she said. Asked about her presence at the practice session for Azhar’s son, she said: "His son is almost my age and we are friends. Besides, the last time I went for his practice session was three years ago."


Asked if she had spoken to Sangeeta about the rumours and if she knew where Azhar was presently, she said, "No, I have not spoken to anyone. Besides, I don’t keep track of where anyone is." Jwala is married to national badminton champion Chetan Anand. "These reports have affected my family, and we all are disturbed," she said.


Azhar’s brother-in-law Rehman confirmed that Sangeeta was currently in Mumbai but rubbished the rumours about a split. "There is no truth in them and there is no problem in the marriage," he said.


Meanwhile, Azharuddin told a news agency: "These reports are completely rubbish, baseless and are in bad taste. I am very hurt by all these. I know Jwala, she is a good friend of mine and to write such reports, which are completely false and fabricated, is disgusting," a livid Azharuddin said.


Azhar said these are motivated by people in the Badminton Association of India, who want to tarnish his image since he tried to contest for the presidential elections last month. "These are planted stories and motivated by people, who are against me in the Badminton Association of India. I think they should look into their homes first before casting aspersions on others and make such allegations," he said. "Jwala is a very good player and she is a great prospect for the country. She has been doing well and will win many medals for the country in future. So I just want to request everybody to just leave her alone and not get her into this cheap controversy," he added. 

Source : Times of India

We don't want nuclear liability Bill in present form: CPI(M)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Friday said the government, instead of proceeding with the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill, should bring in the Women's Reservation Bill in the Lok Sabha for adoption.

“We do not want the [Civil Nuclear Liability] Bill in the present form. It is not acceptable, as foreign suppliers will not be liable under it,” CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat said at a press conference at the end of a three-day Central Committee meeting here. The Bill neither protected the interests of people nor assured their lives and safety.

With the monsoon session of Parliament starting on Monday, the Central Committee called upon the government to bring in the Women's Reservation Bill for its passage.

“We do not want it to become part of a political manoeuvring for other consideration. Let the House decide,” he said. The Rajya Sabha had passed the historic Bill in March.

The Left parties would also raise the issue of steep increase in the prices of petrol, diesel, kerosene and cooking gas and demand rescinding of the hike and scrap the deregulation of petrol pricing.

The committee wanted the government to place its response to the recommendations of the Ranganath Misra Commission report on reservation for minorities in education and jobs.

Kashmir issue

Stating that it was highly unfortunate that the Union government did not take any worthwhile step to initiate a political dialogue with all sections in the Kashmir Valley, which was rocked by violent protests, Mr. Karat said a parliamentary delegation should visit the State immediately to hear the views of all concerned “so that the political forces can also play a role.”

Referring to the CBI charge sheet in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, he said Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah, who was charged with murder, should step down and face trial and investigation should continue “given the history of connivance of the Gujarat government in the communal pogroms.”

The committee expressed serious concern at the activities of the Popular Front of India in Kerala and other southern States. The chopping off of the hand of a lecturer in Kottayam district and the subsequent searches had unearthed the storage of bomb-making material and other weapons.

“There is an interconnection between communalism and the spawning of such terrorist activities. The CPI(M) will conduct a campaign against both Hindu and Muslim extremism and all forms of terrorism,” the party noted.

The committee decided to mobilise public opinion against the entry of Foreign Direct Investment in retail trade and accused the government of going ahead with various measures oblivious of people's livelihood with its latest push to allow multi-brand retail.

Stating that 44 members and supporters of the party were killed by Maoists and the Trinamool Congress-led combine, Mr. Karat took a dig at Home Minister P. Chidambaram, stating that while the latter talked of intelligence inputs, he was not willing to see the developments in West Bengal, as the Trinamool shared power at the Centre.

The committee finalised a draft political resolution that would be discussed at its extended meeting to be held in Vijayawada next month. It identifies the key task as the one to fight against the whole gamut of neo-liberal policies affecting the lives of the people, struggle against communalism, oppose strategic tie-up with the United States of America, work towards building an alternative for the Congress-led UPA and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. While stating that a third alternative would take time, it talks of certain intermediate measures. 

Source : The Hindu

Violence rocks Bihar legislature

67 legislators suspended; we're ready to debate any issue: Sushil Modi

Democracy took a back seat in Bihar, as Opposition legislators indulged in unruly behaviour for the second consecutive day in the Assembly on Wednesday, stalling proceedings.

The Opposition was demanding the resignations of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi over alleged irregularities, amounting to Rs. 11,412 crore, in developmental schemes.

Hysterical scenes marred most of the afternoon session, as Opposition legislators attacked the Speaker of the Assembly and the Chairman of the Legislative Council, all under media glare.

In all, 67 legislators were suspended and marshalled out for disrupting proceedings and indulging in unparliamentary behaviour.

With violence being the order of the day, the main issue of conducting a debate on the alleged irregularities was relegated to the background. Leader of the Opposition Rabri Devi was absent for the third consecutive day.

The morning session began with the Opposition legislators, who had been sitting in dharna on the Assembly premises since last night, creating a rumpus in the well of the House.

When they refused to allow any transaction of business, Speaker Uday Narayan Chaudhary suspended the session and marshalled the entire Opposition out. Even as he did so, a legislator flung a slipper at him.

Similar scenes were witnessed in the Council; an RJD MLC hurled a microphone at Tara Kant Jha, Chairman of the House, leading to a bout of fisticuffs between Opposition and ruling party legislators. Congress member Jyoti Kumari went on the rampage outside the Council, destroying flower pots and spewing expletives at Mr. Jha.

Condemning the incident, Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi said: “We have been repeatedly telling them [the Opposition] that the State government is ready to debate any issue pertaining to the alleged irregularities, answer any question, be it on AC bills or DC bills.”

Ruling party legislators urged Mr. Jha to initiate proceedings against those who indulged in unruly behaviour, even as the Speaker urged them to show restraint.

“There was no need for the entire Opposition to be dragged out in this fashion. Sushil Modi told the Speaker that the House was in disorder, but that was not the case. We were protesting well within constitutional rules,” said RJD State president Abdul Bari Siddiqui.

Political observers, however, said the unabashed display of violence — carefully orchestrated for TV channels and the local media — would boomerang on the Opposition, which was desperately seeking an “anti-Nitish agenda” prior to the Assembly elections.

Later in the evening, Mr. Chaudhary issued a ruling that the Patna High Court had “no authority to direct a probe by any agency, including the CBI, as long as the findings of the Comptroller and Auditor-General's (CAG) report were yet to be examined by the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).” 

The ruling was issued after Mr. Modi addressed the House, emphasising that under Articles 233-239, “until the CAG report has been considered by the PAC, no question of the audit report is permitted to be read out in the House.”

The government on Monday sought a stay of the July 15 High Court directive requesting a CBI probe into the alleged irregularities. It filed an interlocutory petition asking whether a court could order any agency to conduct a probe on the basis of the CAG report.

Kapil Dev to bring home ashes of Pooran Singh after 63 years

Legendary cricketer Kapil Dev will receive the ashes of Indian immigrant Pooran Singh in Australia for relocation to his homeland 63 years after he died.

According to the Australian High Commission here, on June 24, a radio programme on June 24 revealed the story of Pooran Singh. In 1899, as a 30-year-old he left his family in Bilga, a village in Punjab, to go to Australia.

He worked as a hawker, selling goods from his horse-drawn wagon, travelling from one country town to the other.

He spent the remaining 47 years of his life in Victoria, dying in 1947 in Warrnambool, aged 77, single and childless. He left instructions to be cremated, and so a funeral home sent his body to Melbourne, the only crematorium in Victoria at that time. His ashes, contained in a plastic cylinder were mailed back to the funeral home.

As Pooran's last wish was that his ashes be returned to India and immersed in the Ganges, the funeral home kept them for 63 years in case family members came to claim them.

In the late 1980s a trust kept the ashes in a niche on its cemetery wall. Alice Guyett-Wood, the daughter of the funeral home owner told the radio show that her father Jack Guyett, who died in 1986, had expressed regret that Pooran's wish had been unfulfilled.

As well as being broadcast on radio this moving story was published in an Indian newspaper on June 25 attracting the interest of Kapil Dev who expressed his willingness to travel to Australia to collect the ashes and return them to the family.

Pooran's relatives were traced to Uppal Bhopa, a village in Punjab, where they still live in the house that was built with the money Pooran bequeathed to them.

The house in the village still bears the inscription “Pooran Singh [brother of Sultani Ram] of Australia.”

 

The story was picked up in England where Harmel Uppal, one of Pooran Singh's great-nephews, lives.

This week Kapil and Uppal will travel to Australia to receive Pooran's ashes.

Since the story was first broadcast many locals have come forward with personal memories of Pooran Singh. His photographs and even his horse wagon have been found, fully preserved. 

Source : The Hindu

Cong meets Bihar Governor; demands dismissal of Nitish government

Congress legislators in Bihar on Friday met Governor Devanand Konwar and handed over a memorandum demanding the immediate dismissal of the Nitish Kumar government over alleged irregularities of Rs.11,412 crore in the state.

A day after Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Lok Janshakti Party (LJP), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and Left parties legislators submitted a memorandum to the governor in this regard, Congress legislators led by state party president Mahboob Ali Qaiser also did the same.

The Congress legislators also demanded the removal of state assembly speaker Uday Narain Choudhary for his “partisan” role and decision to suspend 67 opposition legislators for unruly behaviour and taking no action against ruling legislators.

Mr. Qaiser told IANS that the governor assured them that he would look into the matter.

Mr. Qaiser said the Congress had distanced itself from other opposition parties to oppose the matter in its own way.

The 67 opposition legislators were suspended for unruly behaviour in the assembly, which witnessed violent clashes between the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and opposition members Tuesday and Wednesday.

Unruly scenes were witnessed in the assembly Wednesday as a slipper was flung at the speaker in the house and flower pots were broken in the premises by opposition legislators.

The delegation of the other opposition parties led by the RJD marched to the Raj Bhavan Thursday evening and presented a memorandum to the governor, demanding the dismissal of the Nitish Kumar government.

The Left parties, including the Communist Party of India, CPI(M) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist), have decided to stage a daylong sit-in July 23 over the scam.

Mr. Nitish Kumar and Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi are among the 47 people named in the court complaint alleging irregularities of Rs.11,412 crore during 2002-08 in Bihar.

Petitioner Arvind Kumar pointed at financial irregularities in the use of development funds.

The Patna High Court has asked the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe the complaint, a move the government has appealed against.

Source : The Hindu

Modi announces Amit Shah’s resignation

Facing charges of murder, Gujarat Minister of State for Home Amit Shah, a close associate of Chief Minister Narendra Modi, on Saturday resigned from the State Ministry.

“As I landed here in Delhi, I have information that Amit Shah’s resignation has reached my residence in Gandhinagar. On return, I will accept it and complete the formalities,” Mr. Modi, who is here to attend the National Development Council meeting, said.

Asked by reporters whether the resignation amounted to accepting that Mr. Shah was guilty, Mr. Modi said, “He was accepting it because under the Constitution, certain formalities have to be fulfilled.” 

He said Mr. Shah would fight the issue legally and expressed confidence that judiciary would provide him justice.

Mr. Shah’s resignation comes a day after CBI charged him with kidnapping and murder of alleged gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh and his wife Kauser Bi in November 2005.

Though Mr. Shah has resigned still nothing was clear about his whereabouts.

The CBI, which filed the chargesheet on Friday before a court in Ahmedabad, has already sent teams for arresting him after he refused to appear before an agency team by Friday’s 1 pm deadline for questioning.

Mr. Shah’s anticipatory bail application before the CBI court on Friday was rejected and his lawyers were planning to approach the Gujarat High Court.

Attacking the Congress, Mr. Modi said, “The case against Shah was a revenge for its loss in the 2007 Assembly polls when it had made Sohrabuddin a hero. This was a politically motivated action against Shah and the BJP government in Gujarat to corner it and to put obstacles in development work it was carrying out“. 

 

He said, “Shah is completely innocent and the charges against him are fabricated. The CBI is being misused by the Congress against its political rival“.

He said the BJP would go to the people along with those fighting the forces of terror.

Mr. Modi said the Congress and Central government had completely “failed” in all fronts in facing the challenges of Kashmir, Maoists and problems from Pakistan.

“The Congress government at the Centre was fully using the CBI to target political rivals after it failed on all fronts,” Mr. Modi said.

He said, “The government failed on the prices issue and was faced with an unprecedented bandh. Srinagar is on fire and the government came back fully beaten at the Indo-Pak dialogue in Islamabad and the Maoists were replying by bullets in the fight in which innocent people were killed.”

In Ahmedabad, officials in the Chief Minister’s Office said Mr. Shah’s resignation has been accepted by Mr. Modi. 

Source : The  Hindu