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Sunday, February 15, 2009

Eight-year ban on Satyam can be reviewed, says World Bank

Giving some hope to crisis-ridden Satyam, the World Bank has said it could review the eight-year ban imposed on the company provided
the software exporter takes "corrective action".

A World Bank official said Satyam has to show it has again become a responsible vendor to do business
with, when asked whether the multilateral lending agency would relax the ban on the software exporter.

"The vendor would have to demonstrate (that) corrective action had been taken to address the original causes of the ... ineligibility," a World Bank official from Washington said in an emailed statement.

The official further said action should substantiate that Satyam is "again a responsible vendor with whom the Bank can do business".
The World Bank banned Satyam Computer Services for eight years in 2008 for providing "improper benefits" to Bank staff and for failing to maintain records relating to fees charged for sub-contractors.

Satyam has a strong case for a review of the ban since its old board and management have been changed after its disgraced founder Chairman B Ramalinga Raju admitted to fudging accounts to the tune of Rs 7,800 crore.

Read more...

MEA computers hacked again

The ministry of external affairs on Sunday said that no classified information has been stolen, after over 600 of its computers were
hacked. ( Watch )

According to Times Now, the machines were infected by spyware — a bug that gets into a computer taking control of the user's actions.

The infected computers include those in the ministry's sensitive Pakistan section.

However, the MEA insists that no national secrets have been breached.

They said that each senior official has two computers, one that connects to the Internet and the other for classified work, which is not connected to the net.

This is not the first such instance of hacking.

In May 2008, the MEA’s internal communication network was said to have been broken into by Chinese hackers.

In fact, a series of intrusions into secure systems in the MEA were then traced to China.

Read more...

Pak to grill 26/11 'mastermind' Lakhvi

The judge issued the order after reviewing evidence produced by investigative agency against them, the sources were quoted as saying, PTI reported.

The judge recorded the suspects' statements before sending them to physical remand, the report said.

Meanwhile, 'Dawn' on Sunday reported, quoting an unnamed security official, that the suspects, including Lakhvi, were produced before judge Sakhi Mohammed Kahut of the anti-terrorism court at an undisclosed location.

The FIA is expected to submit a chargesheet against the suspects at the end of the remand, it said. The agency has already conducted preliminary investigations into the case.

Lakhvi, the alleged mastermind of the Mumbai attacks, was arrested in December near Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Both Lakhvi and Shah, another accused named in the FIR is Hamad Ameen Sadiq, a key militant linked to the Lashkar-e-Taiba, western diplomatic sources told news agencies.

Pakistan on Saturday briefed foreign envoys on the steps taken by it to cooperate with India in bringing the perpetrators of the Mumbai attacks to justice and to eliminate terrorism and militancy.

The heads of diplomatic missions in Islamabad were also briefed by foreign secretary Salman Bashir on Pakistan's perspective on "peace, security and stability, with particular emphasis on the situation in South Asia".

Meanwhile, Pakistan interior minister Rehman Malik on Saturday said that his country may demand from India the custody of Ajmal Kasab, the lone survivor among the accused of the Mumbai terror attacks.

"So far, we have not asked India for the custody of Kasab. But we may seek it if the investigation demands," Rehman Malik said in the southern port city of Karachi, adding that at the moment, it would be premature to say anything else in the matter.

India was quick to react, saying there was no way this could happen.

"The crime was committed in India. There is no question of handing Kasab to them. In fact, Pakistan should hand over to India the other suspects they've arrested because they were responsible for this terror attack. It can't be the other way around," sources in the Indian external affairs ministry said in New Delhi.

"On what basis do we send Kasab out there? The crime was committed out here (in Mumbai), therefore logic and reasoning demands that the suspects who they've rounded up be sent here (to India)," the sources told IANS.

Special public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam said the state had gathered enough evidence to show that Kasab, the only surviving November 26 Mumbai terror suspect, had been a part of the criminal conspiracy hatched in Pakistan to orchestrate the terror strikes at pre-decided sites in Mumbai.

"We have all the evidence required. The chargesheet will be filed within a couple of days," Nikam said.

"He is not educated and (is) poor and the concept of religion was wrongly projected to him," he said.

IANS reported that Nikam said while victims of such systematic brainwashing by extremist forces needed proper handling, there was a need to distinguish between a freedom fighter and a terrorist.

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Recession-hit BPO employees 'on the bench'

BPO employees
were once thriving with so many job opportunities, but are now feeling the heat of the economic slowdown, as call centres have begun cutting back on jobs.

In the NCR region - Noida and Gurgaon - worried about actually laying off people, some companies are resorting to putting them on the bench.

For three months, Anshul Kumar has not reported to the call centre where he has worked for two years. Officially, he hasn't been sacked. He's been told he's "on the bench" and his id card has been taken back. He can't show up at work and he doesn't get paid.

"The process we moved to after spending more than two years in the programme faced a lot of issues due to recession. It was downsizing at that time so they decided to put us on bench. Like any other employee, I wanted to grow with the company and get recognition but it didn't go that way. It really feels bad," said Anshul Kumar.

Putting young workers on the bench is one way of controlling costs. Here's another.

A Noida-based BPO no longer offers transport to employees who live further than 45 km away. So employees in Gurgaon and Faridabad, or parts of Delhi like Rithala, need to assemble at a pick-up point even at 3 am.

"Cost cutting is essential today. It's important to be more productive and reduce all the wastages we are living with. When four cabs are going to the same location, you can get a bus to do the same job," said Deepak Ohlyan, president, Business Process.

With the deepening financial crisis in the US, that accounts for 70 per cent of the BPO business, cost reduction and productivity improvement are the two most commonly heard words in call centres in the past few months.

In simple English, that means longer and tougher hours.

Those who answer phones have to spend nine hours instead of eight taking calls, which means longer shifts for answering calls. Administrative and support staff also have to take calls now and vacation time has been shortened.

"Stopping free meals or deducting money for transport, that is still ok. We are still earning, but if we loose our jobs after that due to recession, it really hurts because you don't know what's going to happen to you after that," said Anshul.

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Amar-Pawar meet: Is poll alliance on the cards?

In a bid to tie-up a seat-sharing formula in Maharashtra for the coming Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh on Sunday met Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on New Delhi.

The interaction was followed by a meeting Pawar had with national office bearers of his party, including Praful Patel, Deepti Tripathi and Tariq Anwar, NCP sources said.

NCP leaders from the state, who have been touring various districts, had met Pawar on Saturday in New Delhi and conveyed their assessment of the party's strengths and weaknesses ahead of the polls.

"We are in favour of taking along the RPI factions and the Samajwadi Party with the Congress-NCP alliance," NCP leader and state Power Minister Sunil Tatkare had told reporters after the meeting.

The negotiating teams of the Congress and the NCP are expected to meet next week to discuss the seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha polls. NCP leaders have been demanding an equal share in the 48 Parliamentary constituencies in the state.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Congress had fielded nominees in 27 Parliamentary seats while NCP put up candidates in 21 constituencies. Congress had won 13 seats while NCP was victorious on nine.

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Amar Singh meets Pawar on tie-up in Maha for LS polls

In a bid to tie-up a seat-sharing formula in Maharashtra for the coming Lok Sabha polls, Samajwadi Party general secretary Amar Singh on Sunday met NCP chief Sharad Pawar here.


NCP leaders from the state, who have been touring various districts, had met Pawar yesterday here and conveyed their assessment of the party's strengths and weaknesses ahead of the polls.

"We are in favour of taking along the RPI factions and the Samajwadi Party with the Congress-NCP alliance," NCP leader and state Power Minister Sunil Tatkare had told reporters after the meeting.

The negotiating teams of the Congress and the NCP are expected to meet next week to discuss the seat-sharing formula for the Lok Sabha polls. NCP leaders have been demanding an equal share in the 48 Parliamentary constituencies in the state.

In the 2004 Lok Sabha elections, Congress had fielded nominees in 27 Parliamentary seats while NCP put up candidates in 21 constituencies. Congress had won 13 seats while NCP was victorious on nine.

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26/11 suspects in Pak FIA’s custody

A court here on Sunday sent six accused in the November 26 Mumbai terror attacks to 14-day police remand. All the accused, including prime suspect LeT leader Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, will now be in the custody of Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) which is probing the 26/11 strikes.

FIA officials had on Friday tried to obtain physical remand of the suspects "without producing them in the court, but their efforts proved unproductive".

Officials at Pakistan's foreign office said Saturday that the Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court has issued a 14-day physical remand of the six alleged suspects, into the custody of Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).

The judge gave the order after reviewing the evidences produced by the agency against them, officials said, adding that the suspects' statements were also recorded in the court.

Admitting that part of the Mumbai attacks conspiracy was planned in Pakistan, Interior Minister Rehman Malik had on Thursday said that a first information report (FIR) had been registered with FIA's Special Investigation Unit. The minister also admitted that the lone terrorist caught in Mumbai, Ajmal Amir Kasab, was a Pakistani.

Eight suspects had been identified in the FIR, six of whom have been arrested. Two are still at large.

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Saturday, February 14, 2009

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Saturday, February 7, 2009

Check out my Facebook profile

facebook

Check out my Facebook profile


Hi Abhiuppi1011.news,

I set up a Facebook profile where I can post my pictures, videos and events and I want to add you as a friend so you can see it. First, you need to join Facebook! Once you join, you can also create your own profile.

Thanks,
Abhishek

To sign up for Facebook, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/p.php?i=1413724328&k=4ZLU5ZPZ45VM5AEGVBZUTV&r
This e-mail may contain promotional materials. If you do not wish to receive future commercial mailings from Facebook, please opt out. Facebook's offices are located at 156 University Ave., Palo Alto, CA 94301.

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Monday, February 2, 2009

Grand Slam winners return home

Grand Slam winners return home

The winning pair of Mahesh Bhupathi and Sania Mirza returned home amidst a rousing welcome at the mumbai Airport on Monday.

"It's a great way to come back, especially what happened in the last six-seven months," Sania, the first Indian woman to win a Grand Slam title, said after landing in Mumbai with Bhupathi.

While the mixed doubles champions arrived in Mumbai, Australian Open boys' singles winner Yuki Bhambri reached New Delhi.

Asked about her future plans, an elated Sania said: "I am happy to win my first Grand Slam and there are many more to go."

Sania will now fly down to her hometown Hyderabad.

Bhambri won the singles title in the boys' junior event. He is only the fifth Indian to win a junior Grand Slam title.

Bhupathi and Sania won their first Grand Slam together, crushing Andy Ram and Natalie Dechy in straight sets in the mixed doubles final of the Australian Open on Sunday.

The Indian wildcard pair thrashed the Israeli-French duo 6-3, 6-1.

The win gave Bhupathi his 11th Grand Slam title and the seventh in mixed doubles. This was also Bhupathi's second mixed doubles title at the Australian Open, following his 2006 triumph with Martina Hingis. For Sania, it was her maiden Grand Slam title.

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Sania Mirza to miss Fed Cup tie

Sania Mirza to miss Fed Cup tie
In a big setback to the Indian Fed Cup team, Sania Mirza will miss the upcoming Group I Asia/Oceania zone tie, citing an abdominal injury.

The Fed Cup tie will begin in Perth, Australia from Wednesday and the Indian team has been reduced to three members now.

No replacement can be sent to the event as the last date for sending the substitute has lapsed.

Sania suffered the injury during her Australian Open campaign, an All India Tennis Association official said. "We were told yesterday that she will not play. Her father spoke to me and informed," said an AITA official.

Last year also, Sania did not play the Fed Cup matches though she was part of the team.

The Indian team comprises Ankita and Sanaa Bhambri and Rushmi Chakravarthi.

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India eye series win, SL look to hit back

Bolstered by two consecutive victories, a confident India will aim to wrap up the five-match series when they take on Sri Lanka in the third one-dayer on Tuesday.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men have been on target in the first two matches but the Indian captain would be taking no chance under floodlights after India just about managed a close 15-run win in a nail-biting day-night affair at the Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Dhoni, who has led the team to seven successive ODI wins, ha swarned his teammates against dropping their guards before the series was claimed.

A few chinks were seen in the Indian armour in the second match when bowlers looked confused in the powerplay overs and Dhoni wants a more disciplined show by his bowlers.

The batting has also not fired but to be fair, the Indians have been hit hard by a few dubious umpiring decisions. But the top order batsmen have to get into the act quickly if they hope to clinch the series on Tuesday itself.

Sachin Tendulkar has been a victim of poor umpiring decisions in both the matches and the maestro will be hoping that he gets the chance to make amends on Tuesday.

In bowling dapertment, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma have a big role to play since India do not have any experienced spinners in their ranks.

Dhoni, who is known for his calm composure in anxious moments, lost his cool when he saw bowlers clueless in the powerplay overs.

"It was tough and we did not have such a game for a long time," Dhoni said.

Although Indian batsmen did not fall prey to Sri Lankan spin wizards Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis, they struggled to hit boundaries against the duo.

"We have to be careful as such wins often make us relaxed a bit. We should remember that the series is yet to be won. We want to win the series and for that each of us have to give 100 per cent," Dhoni said.

For a jaded looking Sri Lanka, it is a must win situation and they would be desparate to keep the series alive by clinching a win on Tuesday.

The hosts are struggling to find a steady opening pair even as an unimpressive middle order and blunted striking weapons leave them in a desparate position.

Muralitharan and Mendis are not as dangerous as their captain Mahela Jayawardene would want them to be. The home team's fielding is also looking dispirited.

"I would be lying if I say that we are not tired," Jayawardene said.

"During India innings we gave away too many runs when we were in control. We have to minimise mistakes and raise our game in the remaining matches," he added.

He got back among the runs with his first 50 in 14 games and that goes back a long way to the tour of Zimbabwe in November.

Murali has failed to capture in two games the two wickets required to become the greatest ODI bowler in the game's history.

It is pretty much back to basics for Sri Lanka. Consistency at the top order, restore the killer instinct to make use of the batting skills to optimum, tight fielding and bowlers doing the job.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Gautam Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Pragyan Ojha, Munaf Patel, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh.

Sri Lanka: Mahela Jaywardene (capt), Kumar Sangakkara (wk), Sanath Jayasuriya, Upul Tharanga, Chamara Kapugedera, Jehan Mubarak, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Thilina Kandamby, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Farveez Maharoof, Dilhara Fernando, Nuwan Kulasekera, Thilina Thushara and Angelo Mathews.

Read more...

SEBI seeks SC nod to gain access to Raju brothers

With Ramalinga Raju continuing to elude SEBI even after spending weeks behind bars, the market regulator on Monday moved the Supreme Court seeking permission to interrogate the tainted Satyam-founder on the Rs 7,800 crore fraud in the IT major.

In its request, SEBI said that it was constrained to approach the apex court for urgent relief related to the most serious financial scam that had large-scale national and international ramifications.

A bench headed by Chief Justice KG Balakrishnan allowed SEBI to mention the matter tomorrow after Solicitor General GE Vahanvati and counsel Pratap Venugopal submitted the market regulator’s request.

Meanwhile, in another significant development that may help Satyam Computers' potential suitor to get control of the IT company at an affordable price, SEBI today said that it would amend regulations governing open offer to ensure transparent pricing.

The SEBI move followed a request from Satyam Board in this regard to relax the norm of 26-week average price to make an open offer.

"It was decided to appropriately amend the regulations to enable a transparent process for arriving at the price for such acquisition," SEBI Chairman CB Bhave told reporters in Mumbai after the Board meeting.

SEBI at SC

The market regulator moved SC today seeking permission to interrogate Ramalinga Raju on the Satyam fraud after the Andhra Pradesh High Court last week deferred to February 9, hearing on its request to quiz the tainted ex-chairman and his brother Rama Raju.

SEBI had moved the High Court challenging a lower court order, which denied it permission to interrogate the Raju brothers, who were arrested by the state police on January 9 -- the day a SEBI probe team had summoned them to appear before it in Hyderabad.

The Raju brothers, along with Satyam's former CFO Vadlamani Srinivas, are now in judicial custody.

The 6th Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad, had refused permission on the ground that SEBI was not an investigating agency and there was no provision in law under which it could interrogate the Raju brothers.

A probe team from SEBI had landed in Hyderabad on January 8, a day after Ramalinga Raju disclosed the massive accounting fraud in the IT company.

Challenging the High Court order, SEBI said that it had appointed an investigator after Raju confessed to accounting irregularities in a letter to Satyam's Board of Directors.

According to the market regulator, the High Court should have seen that the Raju brothers cannot use judicial custody as a shield to avoid probe by expert agencies.

SEBI further said that just as police apply for custody, any other agency can also apply for access or custody and the same can be granted and the refusal to permit SEBI even to record the statements of the accused while in the custody was "arbitrary, unreasonable and perverse".

According to SEBI, merely because investigations by different agencies like CID, Enforcement Directorate, Serious Frauds Investigation Office, Registrar of Companies etc may overlap, it cannot be said that they cannot investigate simultaneously pursuant to the power conferred on them under their respective statutes.

Stating that the scam in the NYSE-listed Satyam Computers was the worst in the country's history, the advocates said that the company's market capitalisation has fallen from Rs 15,000 crores to Rs 2,000 crores.

SEBI to amend open offer rules

Even as SEBI announced the move to amend regulations governing open offer, its chairman Bhave said that the amendments will be made not only for the Satyam case, but for all similar situations that may arise in the future.

The Board recognises that the issue needs to be dealt with in a general context and not as a specific case, Bhave said, referring to the Satyam request.

Though Bhave declined to give any timeframe for the amendments in pricing rule, he said: "We are aware about the urgency of the situation."

Engineering major Larsen & Toubro has increased its stake in Satyam to over 12 percent. If it crosses 15 percent, the company would have to make an open offer to purchase another 20 percent from the market.

Among the other decisions taken today, SEBI made it mandatory for listed companies to declare dividend on per share basis instead of percentage basis followed at present.

Besides, the regulator has reduced the timeline for the completion of bonus issue to 15 days if the shareholder approval is not required and to 60 days where the approval is required. At present, the timeline for this procedure is six months.

SEBI also decided to shorten the timeframe to announce the price band for IPO in today's Board meeting. With this, the price band should be declared two days prior to the opening of IPO.

The regulator has also upped the up-front margin to be paid by allottees of warrants to 25 percent as against 10 percent at present.

Read more...

Obama should not link Kashmir with Pak problems: NSA

Coming out strongly against any attempt to link Kashmir issue with turmoil in Pakistan's tribal areas, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan has said that US President Barack Obama would be "barking up the wrong tree" if he holds such views.
Narayanan said India had made it known to the Obama team at the outset that it would not like Indo-Pak relations to be on the agenda of Richard Holbrooke, special envoy of the US for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"References made by President Obama did seem to suggest that there is some kind of a link between the settlement on Pakistan's western border and the Kashmir issue. Certainly that had caused concern," he told audience in a programme.

He was responding to reported suggestions by Obama during his campaign that Pakistan's fight against Taliban on the western front is linked to resolution of Kashmir issue.

The NSA pointed out that Obama made such references when he was in the campaign mode or when he was president-elect.

"We tend to sort of say lets wait and see what he does when he come into office," Narayanan said, adding "I don't think we had any major exchanges with members of the Obama administration later on" though the US President had made courtesy call and discussed bilateral ties.

"I do think that we could make President Obama understand, if he does have any such views then he is barking up the wrong tree," he said.

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No choice but to wait for Pak response: Pranab

India has "hardly" any choice except to patiently wait for Pakistan to respond to the dossier given on mumbai attacks, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Monday. "We won't get anything by simply losing our patience, so hardly we have a choice," Mukherjee said here at a function of a private news channel.
He was responding when asked how long India will wait for Pakistan's response to India's demands after the Mumbai terror strikes for which Pakistan-based elements have been blamed.

India gave the dossier of evidence on January 5 and has since been waiting for Pakistan to respond officially.

Pakistan has said it is investigating the matter and would get back to India as soon as it is over.

Queried on his status now since he is discharging duties of the Prime Minister, he said, "Simply I am discharging duties, neither I am officiating nor acting, neither de-jure nor de-facto".

He said under the Constitution of the country, there can be only one Prime Minister. But "the Prime Minister can delegate some responsibility to his colleagues and I am doing exactly that".

Replying to a query on whether he had any apprehension about the Nuclear Suppliers Group giving its waiver last year, the External Affairs Minister suggested that he was not sure till it happened.

"Unless it (deal) was done, to be very frank, I was not convinced that we will be able to succeed. It was done only after the NSG waiver came on September 6," said Mukherjee who had remained awake virtually through the night as the 45-nation grouping deliberated on the issue in Vienna till early morning of September 6.

To a question on which of the many GoMs headed by him (Mukherjee) will have any lasting impact on the country, the external affairs minister said he does not take anything to his credit.

"Because in our system, we do everything in consultation and collectively. So success and failure have to be shared collectively," he said.

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CEC-EC face off: Govt tilts in Navin Chawla's favour

Government on Monday ticked off Chief Election Commissioner N Gopalaswami for seeking removal of his colleague Navin Chawla, saying he is not the "political boss" and hinted at Chawla becoming the next CEC in April.
"Gopalaswami should do his work in EC and not become a political boss," Law Minister H R Bharadwaj told agencies on the sidelines of a conference here.
The CEC controversy continued to generate political heat with the Government and Congress party attacking the CEC for recommending to the President removal of Chawla. Gopalaswami had sought Chawla's removal accusing him of being partisan.
"The CEC has no Constitutional authority to embarrass or comment upon his own colleague because they are all equals. He is only the administrative head of the Election Commission and he is not the boss," the minister later told reporters.
Bharadwaj said the policy of having the senior-most in the Election Commission as the successor will continue, indicating the likelihood of Chawla getting to the key slot when Gopalswami's tenure comes to an end on April 20.
Describing the present controversy as "unfortunate", Bharadwaj said it should not effect Chawla's career as appointments in the Election Commission are based on merit.
"We will begin the process to put in place a new CEC well in time" so that the name of Gopalaswami's successor is clear before he retires, he said.
Congress spokespersons Abhishek Singhvi and Manish Tiwari said the CEC has no unilateral power to recommend removal of an Election Commissioner. The CEC does not enjoy a "status superior to that of the Election Commissioner", Tiwari said.
The rift in the Election Commission also set off a war of words between the Congress, which saw motives in the timing of Gopalswami's move, and the BJP supporting him.
Hitting out at Bharadwaj, BJP party spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad said "nothing better could be expected from the Law Minister" since his ministry was already "advising" Chawla for the last so many months.
When cogent reasons for bias has been given, instead of addressing the issue, Government is attributing motive on the part of the CEC which is "grossly unfair", Prasad said.
Rebutting BJP's contention, Bharadwaj said the CEC's authority flows from the President and if the President asks for his opinion, only then he can given.
"If he (President) does not ask, how can he (CEC) do so?" he asked.
"It is unfortunate that a person of such high rank and at the end of his office has made such a recommendation and, thus, troubled the good name of the Election Commission," he said.
Noting that the country was moving towards the general election, he said the main work of the EC was to prepare voters' list. "It is unfortunate that the controversy has been started at such a time," he said.
The Law Minister said the President is the appointing and the removing authority for Election Commissioner members under the Constitution. "The role of CEC is as a measure of protection, if the government wants to remove and Election Commissioner, then CEC's opinion is sought," he said.
He said the file relating to the CEC's recommendation reached his office two days back and Law Secretary T K Viswanathan is studying it.
Describing the CEC's move against Chawla as bolt from the blue, Bharadwaj said Gopalaswami had no suo motu power to recommend the removal of an election commissioner.
He cannot initiate a move on his own it is only when the government wants to remove any election commissioner then the Law Ministry can approach the CEC, he said.
Bharadwaj termed as unfortunate BJP trying to use the Election Commission for its ends. "Why should involve itself in EC politics. They went to court (to target an EC), they did not succeed. Then you start using the very Election Commission for your ends, that's very unfortunate," Bharadwaj told reporters after a conference here.
The Law Ministry is the agency through which all transactions of the Election Commission are carried out. If there is any letter by the CEC, it is supposed to be routed through the ministry, Bharadwaj said holding Gopalaswami's action as improper.
"Without the impeachment in Parliament, the CEC cannot be removed...but if the government wants to remove any election commissioner then the ministry can approach the CEC," he said.
"It is a security of tenure enjoyed by election commissioners that they are protected against the arbitrary acts of the government and it is a protection to them and not an authority to the CEC that he can get rid of his colleagues by this method," Bharadwaj said.
There have been instances of differences among Election Commissioners. There are bound to be differences and what they do within themselves, I am not bothered, Bharadwaj said.
"But this (CEC move against Chawla) is a bolt from the blue. This is no courtesy," he said.
Bharadwaj said Gopalaswami has no primacy over his colleagues.
"He is the first among equals and they are all equals like the Chief Justice of India. Do you think he (CJI) is the boss of other judges. When they sit in the court they are three and CJI can be over-ruled by a majority of two.
"Similarly, in this EC also if his colleagues overrule him then the CEC will be in a minority, he has no overwhelming Veto," he said.
Asked about the next course of action in the matter, Bharadwaj said Navin Chawla is the senior most member of the EC...I will not hesitate in performing my duty to process the appointment of the next CEC on the precedents as are prevalent today, that is, the senior most EC gets it unless he is otherwise deprived of it.
We have to complete the three-member strength of the EC and one more proposal will be sent to add the third one, Bharadwaj said elaborating on the future configuration of the Election Commission after the CEC retires on April 20.

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8-yr-old kills 5-yr-old in petty fight

In an unfortunate incident, an eight-year-old child killed another five-year-old child in a small fight.
Two children, eight and five years old, were playing with a plastic ball. They had a small fist fight over the ball, after which the eight-year-old child picked up a kitchen knife and stabbed the younger child.
The blow hit one of the veins on the neck, which led to excessive bleeding and the child died.
The eight-year-old has been sent to child remand home.

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Don't make EC an object of public ridicule: Law Minister

In an indication of government's thinking that it may not accept the CEC's recommendation for removal of his colleague Navin Chawla, Law Minister H R Bhardwaj on Monday said N Gopalaswami should do his job in the EC and not behave like a "political boss".
Speaking to NDTV's senior managing editor Sonia Singh, the Law Minister said the Election Commission should not become an object of public ridicule due to this controversy and contended that the CEC has no powers to make a recommendation for Chawla's removal.
Bhardwaj also said that Navin Chawla will be the next Chief Election Commissioner in due course.
Bhardwaj said he had received a file on the matter. "I have to see what is new in the matter," he said, adding the internal tussle within the Election Commission has been going on ever since Chawla was appointed to the post of Election Commissioner.
"Gopalaswami should do his work in EC and not become a political boss," he said on the sidelines of a conference here.
Asked if the government had taken any decision on the Chief Election Commissioner's recommendation to remove Chawla, he said "When a decision is taken, we will inform you," adding "the EC's role is to prepare electoral rolls and not to settle scores".

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