IK Gujral, the former Prime Minister of India passed away on Friday

Govt. declares 7-day mourning on IK Gujral's death, cremation today at 3 pm

Former Prime Minister I K Gujral, who headed a rickety coalition government in the late 1990s, died on Friday after a brief illness.

Gujral, 92, breathed his last at 3.27 PM in a private hospital after a multi-organ failure. He was admitted to the hospital on November 19 with a lung infection, family sources said.
The former Prime Minister, who was ventilator support, had been unwell for sometime. He was on dialysis for over a year and suffered a serious chest infection some days ago.

He will be cremated in nearby Delhi tomorrow.

IK Gujral with Chandrashekhar and the then Delhi Chief Minister Sushma Swaraj in May 1998.

Gujral, who migrated from Pakistan after partition, rose to become the Prime Minister with a big slice of luck after he came up through the ranks - starting as Vice President in NDMC in the '50s to later become a Union Minister and then India's Ambassador to the USSR.

Gujral, an intellectual who propounded the 'Gujral Doctrine' of five principles for maintaining good neighbourly relations, left the Congress to join the Janata Dal in the late-1980s.

He became Minister of External Affairs in the V P Singh-led National Front government in 1989. As the External Affairs Minister he handled the fallout of the Kuwait crisis following Iraqi invasion that displaced thousands of Indians.

Gujral had a second stint as External Affairs Minister in the United Front government under H D Deve Gowda, whom he later replaced as Prime Minister after the Congress withdrew support in the summer of 1997.

He emerged as the consensus candidate after serious differences developed among the UF leaders including Lalu Prasad Yadav, Mulayam Singh and others as to who will become the Prime Minister.

It was another matter that his government survived only for a few months as Congress again became restive in the wake of Jain Commission report on Rajiv Gandhi's assassination.

Born on December 4, 1919 in Jhelum town now in Pakistan, Gujral belonged to a family of freedom fighters and had actively participated in the freedom struggle at a young age and was jailed in 1942 during the Quit India Movement.

Educated at DAV College, Haily College of Commerce and Forman Christian College, Lahore (now in Pakistan), Gujral took active part in student politics.

He became a member of the Rajya Sabha in April 1964 and was considered part of the 'coterie' that helped Indira Gandhi become Prime Minister in 1966.

He was the Information and Broadcasting Minister when Emergency was imposed (on June 25, 1975), which brought in arbitrary press censorship, but was soon removed.

Gujral was a Rajya Sabha Member twice between 1964 and 1976, a member of the Lok Sabha from 1989 to 1991. With Lalu Prasad's help, he became a member of Rajya Sabha in 1992 after his election from Patna Lok Sabha constituency was countermanded.

He was re-elected to Lok Sabha in 1998 from Jalandhar in Punjab as an independent with help from Akali Dal.

A controversial decision of his government was its recommendation for President's rule in Uttar Pradesh in 1997, which the then President K R Narayanan refused to sign and sent it back to the government for reconsideration.

His wife, Sheila, who died in 2011, was a poet and author and his brother Satish Gujral is a prominent painter and architect. He leaves behind two sons, one of whom Naresh Gujral is a Rajya Sabha MP and now an Akali Dal leader.

Aam Aadmi Party launched

New Delhi, November 26
The latest entrant on Indian political scene, Arvind Kejriwal’s Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) was formally launched today in the presence of thousands of supporters amid voluntary donations and offers of premises for party offices by newly-inducted members.

Kejriwal was accorded traditional felicitations by supporters from across India, a siropa and kirpan from Punjab, a Jaapi (traditional Assamese headgear) and a folk dance from Karnataka at the first public rally at the Sansad Marg here.

The venue with an impressive turnout of people from all walks of life reverberated with slogans of “Bharat Mata ki Jai” and fluttering Tricolours. Kejriwal declared the party “result of struggle against corruption”. He administered four oaths to his supporters -- I will never give or take bribe; I will never sell my vote for a liquor bottle, money or saree; I will exercise my franchise in every election and I will not vote according to my caste or religion.

As speaker after speaker forwarded support to the newly found party, Kejriwal’s colleague Kumar Vishwas kept the rally alive with references to corporate connections and Swiss bank accounts of other parties vis-à-vis AAP’s dependence of public support. Allegations were also made by some AAP members of the government’s “gag orders” on media against the coverage of the rally.

Kejriwal, Pankaj Gupta and Krishna Kanth were appointed as the national convener, the national secretary and the national treasurer of the AAP, respectively. The constitution of the new party was released by former Law Minister Shanti Bhushan, while Manish Sisodia declared the name of the party and announced the names of the other 23 members of the national executive body, which includes Sisodia along with Prashant Bhushan, Dinesh Waghela, Sanjay Singh, Gopal Rai and Vishwas.

Kejriwal said he would tour the country for the next year to "expose" the Congress and the BJP while trying to convince people why they should support his outfit.

Dehradun: Travel

DEHRADUN
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Dehradun, also known as the 'Abode of Drona' is the capital of newly created state of Uttaranchal or Uttarakhand. Set amidst the Great Indian Himalayan ranges, the charming city of Dehradun attracts thousands of tourists from Indian and abroad as well. Situated in north-west corner of the state, Dehradun is bounded on the north and north-west by Uttarkashi district, on the east by Tehri Garhwal and Pauri-Garhwal districts and in the south by Saharnpur district (Uttar Pradesh).

One of the oldest cities of India, Dehradun had been mentioned in Ashoka's inscriptions that dates back to 250 BC, which you can even today find outside the city. Dehradun remained an important centre for Garhwal rulers later the British captured the area and developed it as a hill station. Apart from a hill resort, Dehradun is also the headquarters of several National Institutes and Organizations such as ONGC, Forest Research Institute, Survey of India etc. Dehradun is home to some of India's noted educational and training institutes like Indian Military Academy, Indira Gandhi National Forest Academy (IGNFA), Rashtriya Indian Military College (RIMC) etc.

Whether you are an adventure seeker, a common traveller or looking for a spiritual vacation, Dehradun offers everything according to your choice. So, visit the beautiful hill station of Dehradun this vacation to surrender yourself completely to mother nature and enjoy a holiday of lifetime.

POPULAR PLACE

Tapowan
Tapowan is located 5 kms away from the city bus stand on the Dehradun - Rajpur Road. Set amidst the beautiful natural surroundings, this place has an interesting legend linked to Guru Dronacharya.

Tapkeshawar Shiv Temple
Situated in the Garhi Cantt. area, Tapkeshawar Temple is an ancient place of worship. Just 5.5. kms away from city bus stand, the temple is easily accessible by road. Large number of people visit the temple during the occasion of Shivratri to participate in the fair and pay their obeisance to the presiding deity.

Chandrabani
A famous temple, Chadrabani Temple (Gautam Kund) is situated at a distance of 7 kms from Dehradun on the Dehradun - Delhi road. Legend has it that this place was inhabited by Maharishi Gautam, his wife and daughter who are even today worshipped by the people. Every year thousands of devotees visit this temple to take a holy dip in the Kund.

Indian Military Academy
Indian Military Academy is situated at a distance of 8 kms from the city centre on Dehradun-Chakrata Road. A premier training institute for Army Officer, the Indian Military Academy is functional from 1st October 1932. Main tourist attractions include War Memorial, Museum, Library. Shooting Demonstration Room, 18 holes Golf Course and Arms and ammunition.

Tibetan Temple (Buddha Temple)
Just adjacent to the Sai Darbar Temple is the Tibetan Temple. Dedicated to Lord Buddha this temple is also visited by tourists and locals in large number.

Robber's Cave (Guchhupani)
Located 8 kms away from the bus terminal, the Robber's Cave is a perfect picnic spot. To visit this place you have to take local bus up to Anarwala village, from where a trek of one kilometre will take you to this spot.

Malsi Deer Park
Just 10 kms away from Dehradun, Malsi Deer Park is a beautifully developed mini-zoological park. Set at the foothills of the Shivalik range, Malsi Deer Park also has a children's park flanked by splendid natural surroundings.

Sai Darbar Temple
Sai Darbar Temple is located 8 kms away from the town along the Clock Tower on Rajpur Road. Due to high cultural and spiritual importance, Sai Darbar attracts large number of tourists from India and the world as well.

Sahastradhara
A major tourist attraction, Sahastradhara is located 11 kms away from Dehradun. Sahastradhara is an ideal picnic spot and it is thronged by people in large number. The waterfall at Sahastradhara is 9 mts high, the river Baldi and caves provide it a spectacular view. The Sulphur spring is another attraction here, people believe that the water of the spring possess medicinal properties and cure skin infections.

Laxman Siddh
Laxman Siddh is a popular temple which lies 12 kms away from Dehradun. According to a legend a sage underwent penance over the temple site. Large number of people visit this temple, especially on Sundays.

Santala Devi Temple
A popular tourist destination, Santala Devi Temple is situated at a distance of 15 kms from Dehradun. You can take a bus till Jaitunwala, then take a jeep drive to Punjabiwala, from where you have to take a trek of 2 kms to reach the temple. Santala Devi Temple is a place of religious and cultural significance and it draws people from far and near.

Forest Research Institute
One of the biggest forest based training institute in India, Forest Research Institute is located 7 kms away from Clock Tower on the Dehradun-Chakrata road. Established in the year 1906, the Forest Research Institute is one of the oldest institute of its kind and highly acclaimed all over the world. Situated in a lush green estate of over 450 hactres, the Forest Research Institute houses a Botanical Museum for the tourists.

How to Reach

By Air
Dehradun has its own domestic airport, Jolly Grant Airport which is 25 kms away from the city centre. Flights are available to and from Delhi airport, which is the nearest international airport. Delhi airport has flights from major Indian cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai etc and foreign countries.

By Train
Dehradun railway station in the main railhead which has trains from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata. A number of important trains also connect Dehradun with Varanasi, Lucknow and Mussoorie. If you are visiting Dehradun from Delhi then Shatabdi Express is the best option for you, other good option is the Mussorie Express.

By Bus
National Highways, State Highways and good motorable roads connect Dehradun with rest of the country. Regular buses ply to Dehradun from Delhi and other important cities of Uttaranchal. Distances of few major cities from Dehradun are Delhi (235 km), Agra (381 km), Jaipur (493 km) and Lucknow (582 km).

Kasab executed at Pune's Yerwada jail after President rejects mercy petition

Pune 21 November, 2012 - Ajmal Kasab was hanged at Yerwada jail in Pune at 7.30am on Wednesday after President Pranab Mukherjee rejected his mercy petition, according to reports. President Pranab Mukherjee on Wednesday rejected the mercy petition filed by the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist Ajmal Kasab, sentenced to death for the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack, according  to reports.

The decision came two months after the Home ministry rejected Kasab's mercy petition addressed to the President. Venu Rajamony, press secretary of the president confirmed the decision.

Home minister Sushilkumar Shinde's recommendation to the President was in line with the recommendation of Maharashtra governor K Sankaranarayan and the no-mercy-for-terrorists principle laid down by his predecessor P Chidambaram.
Ajmal Kasab and nine fellow Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists had sailed into Mumbai on November 26, 2008 from Karachi and gone on a shooting spree that killed 166 people. Kasab was the only one captured alive by security forces.

Fearing defeat, Sheila delaying DSGMC poll: Badal

Jalandhar/Chandigarh, November 18
Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today hit back at his Delhi counterpart Sheila Dixit saying that she was deliberately delaying elections to the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC). Talking to newsmen at Khiala village near Jalandhar, Badal accused the Delhi Chief Minister of helping DSGMC president Paramjit Singh Sarna whose defeat in the next DSGMC poll was inevitable. He said that as it would have an impact on the Delhi Assembly elections, Sheila wanted to delay elections to the Sikh institution. In a separate statement, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) took a strong note of the remarks of the Delhi Chief Minister asking her Punjab counterpart Parkash Singh Badal to “keep off Delhi gurdwara affairs”. The SAD described her reaction as irrational and indicative of the fact that Dixit was not aware of the history of the DSGMC. The SAD said that it was strange that the Congress leader was asking the founding fathers of the DSGMC to become mute spectators to the denigration of the management committee responsible for the maintenance of historic Sikh shrines in the national capital. SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal said, “Will someone please go and tell her that Sikh affairs are very much a business of the Sikhs, and of the Sikhs alone, and that she or her government should stay away from the internal religious matters of the Sikh community. “Let her instead use her position to ensure better law and order in Delhi. By openly talking about an issue which concerns our shrines, Dixit has only confirmed Parkash Singh Badal’s observation that the Congress government in Delhi is indeed interfering in the religious affairs of the Sikhs,” he said.
Party spokesman Dr Daljit Singh Cheema reminded the Congress leader that it was in 1970 that the then SAD president Sant Fateh Singh led a ‘morcha’ in Delhi demanding a similar democratic body on the pattern of the SGPC for the management of Sikh shrines in Delhi.
“Parkash Singh Badal, all his senior colleagues and 16,000 other SAD leaders and workers went to jail in this morcha,” added Cheema.
“So the present DSGMC came into being in 1971 as a result of the sacrifices made by the Sant Fateh Singh, Parkash Singh Badal and other SAD workers,” he said.

NRI’s energy drink under lens for 13 deaths in US

WASHINGTON: A high-caffeine energy drink which has propelled an Indian-American businessman to the billionaire's club — and arguably to the top of the wealthiest NRIs in America list — is under scrutiny after being cited in 13 deaths over the last four years.
Lucknow-born Manoj Bhargava, whose "5-hour Energy" drink has a cult following in the US, particular among truckers, traders, party hoppers, students and other late-night types, is at the centre of Federal Drug Administration (FDA) filings examining links between energy drinks and serious fatalities such as convulsions and heart attacks.

Since 2009, 5-Hour Energy has been mentioned in some 90 FDA filings, according to media reports, which add that the filing of an incident report with FDA does not necessarily mean that a product was responsible for a death or an injury or contributed in any way to it.

Still, the filings have invited scrutiny of the multi-billion dollar energy booster market in which Bhargava's 5-hour Energy, introduced in 2004, got a head start and has never looked back even as other industry giants have tried to catch up. A Forbes magazine article earlier this year said that Bhargava may be the wealthiest Indian in America, and some estimate put his net worth at $4 billion.

Bhargava moved to the US with his parents as a teen and grew up in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, as his father pursued a post-graduate degree at Wharton. A math whiz, Bhargava Jr enrolled at Princeton but dropped out in his freshman year, returning to India in search of a spiritual education and living as a monk and mendicant in ashrams across India. He took on a variety of jobs, working as a construction labourer, cleaning contractor, accounting clerk, taxi driver, printing press operator and business manager, before starting a plastics raw material company in 1990 called Prime Conduit which he grew to $20 million in sales and then sold it to a private equity firm.

Early last decade, Bhargava founded the consumer products company Living Essentials, and in 2004, introduced 5-hour Energy, a caffeinated and vitaminized energy booster that he developed. Sold in two-ounce shots in stores across US, the drink became a monster hit, racking up a billion dollars in sales within seven years.

In that time, new competitors, including other established beverage giants, have tried to muscle in on the market with similar drinks (and arresting names such as Monster, Full Throttle, Relentless, Semtex etc). Bhargava has fended them off with aggressive tactics, suing imitators such as 6-Hour Power and 8-Hour for trademark infringement. Meantime, the industry itself has been under scrutiny for misstatements about the ingredients and overstating claims about its effectiveness and benefits.

At a personal level though, Bhargava has earned a reputation as a philanthropist, signing up with Bill Gates-led Giving Pledge by billionaires to donate 50% of their wealth. A minimalist who does not believe in excessive personal consumption, he plans to offload as much as $1 billion in charity in India over the next decade through a non-profit foundation he has established.

For now though, his energies are being consumed by the FDA scrutiny of the product that brought him the billions

Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray passes away; funeral on Sunday

MUMBAI: Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray, who was critically ill for the past few days, passed away at his residence 'Matoshree' in suburban Bandra today.

He was 86. "He had suffered a cardiac arrest. We could not revive him despite our best efforts. He breathed his last at around 3.30pm," Dr Jalil Parkar, who treated the Sena supremo, told reporters after emerging from Thackeray residence this evening.

Thackeray had been suffering from respiratory problems and pancreatic disease. He is survived by sons Jaidev and Uddhav, who is the Executive President of the party.

Senior party leaders and Bal Thackeray's nephew Raj Thackeray along with family and other political leaders rushed to Matoshree.

Meanwhile, security has been stepped up in the metropolis in the wake of Thackeray's death. The police also made the mediapersons move to a distance from Matoshree.


Earlier, senior Shiv Sena leader and former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi had said: "We cannot say that he is recovering fast. It is a slow recovery, but he is slightly better now."

Sena mouthpiece 'Saamna' today said that "Thackeray is recovering and there is no need to worry. Our warrior is fighting.

Media persons and Sena workers stationed outside 'Matoshree' realized around 4 pm that there was some development as several senior leaders from Sena, BJP and other parties started arriving and police were seen to have become more alert.

As the speculation rose, Shiv Sena leaders Sanjay Raut, Diwakar Raote accompanied by Dr Jalil Parkar, who had been treating Thackeray for the last three years, came out around 5 pm to announce Thackeray's demise.

On hearing the news, a frenzied mob of Shiv sainiks tried to enter Matoshree by raising slogans "Bal Thackeray Amar Rahe' while police tried to prevent them from going inside and enhanced security allover.

Many of them in the crowd broke down on hearing the news about their leader's death.

Thackeray's health kept fluctuating since last few days with his son and party executive president Uddhav Thackeray appealing to Sainiks "to maintain calm and pray for his father" on Thursday night.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Raut appealed to people to maintain peace and harmony.

Thackeray was being treated by doctors from Lilavati Hospital — Jaleel Parkar, Prakash Jindani and Samad Ansari - with assistance from Sena MLA Dr Deepak Sawant. No medical bulletin was issued, but Sena leaders briefed the media daily.

The condition of the 86-year-old Sena patriarch worsened on Wednesday night when he had to be put on life support. He was taken off life support later after showing signs of improvement.

Liquor baron Ponty Chadha and brother killed in shooting at farmhouse in south Delhi

NEW DELHI: Liquor baron Ponty Chadha and his brother, Hardeep, were shot dead on Saturday allegedly by each other in a crossfire during a meeting which was held at their farmhouse in Mehrauli in south Delhi to sort their ongoing property dispute.

The incident was reported around 1pm when gunshots rang at Chadha's sprawling farmhouse. Sources said the meeting began peacefully but soon an argument ensued between them. The argument turned nasty after both brothers whipped out guns and so did their supporters which were with them, said a senior police officer.

Soon, they opened fire in which bullets hit both brothers in the chest area.

There were conflicting reports about the firing. Some of the witnesses told cops that Hardeep whipped out a gun after which Ponty's security guards opened fire even as Hardeep fired too. Senior cops however said it was too early to say anything as the statements had to be recorded, verified and cross-checked to ascertain the exact sequence of events.

As per witnesses, guards tried to intervene but they also suffered injuries in the incident.

Both the brothers were rushed to the hospital where they were declared dead after initial attempts to revive them failed.

Police were informed around 1.10pm and soon senior officers rushed to the spot.

The crime and FSL team rushed to the scene of crime and lifted finger prints and other evidence. Empty cartridges have been recovered and the cops are trying to ascertain the weapons used in the firing.

Investigation is in progress and a case under appropriate sections is being registered.

Gaurang Kanth, Hardeep Chadha's lawyer, in a statement said, "There was a dispute over the property after their father's demise. I don't know how to react as I spoke to Hardeep at 12.15pm where we discussed about the dispute. He told me he was anticipating he will lose control over some of the properties which were over his control."

The police is questioning the security guards and several people including the ones working at the farmhouse have been detained for questioning.

The cops will recreate the scene of crime to ascertain the exact sequence of events and to determine who fired at whom first.

Hospital sources said Ponty Chadha may have sustained at least 10-12 bullets while his brother is suspected to have been shot at least four times. Exact details will be ascertained in the post mortem.
Chadha's business empire constitutes distilleries, multiplexes, sugar and paper mills, real estate, poultry and films. He was producer of the Sunny Deol starrer Jo Bole So Nihaal.

He is one of the prominent names in liquor business in Uttar Pradesh and was granted the sole distributorship for liquor under the Mayawati regime.