US court asks Indian diplomat to pay $1.5m to 'tortured' maid

NEW YORK/DELHI: Holding a senior Indian diplomat guilty of subjecting her maid to slavery, a US court has ruled that the victim be awarded a compensation of $1.5 million. The diplomat, Neena Malhotra, was press counsellor withIndia's consulate in New York and is currently working as director with MEA's southern division in South Block.

The judge held that the victim, Shanti Gurung, be awarded the money for having suffered "barbaric treatment" at the hands of her employers, Malhotra and her husband Jogesh. The proposed award includes $500,000 for the "emotional distress" inflicted on Gurung by the couple, The New York Post said.

The ruling by Manhattan federal magistrate Judge Frank Maas, though, is subject to approval by another judge who is overseeing the case. Gurung had come to New York City in 2006 to work as a domestic help, according to court documents.

After Gurung claimed exploitation, the foreign ministry had said media reports on allegations against the senior diplomat "did not appear to be in conformity with facts".

Maas said Gurung, who is now in her early twenties, was a victim of "outrageous and shocking conduct". Her "documents were seized, her travel was restricted, and she was not permitted to telephone her family".

"Significantly, Gurung was also deprived of food, which caused her to lose more than sixty pounds in just over three years and was subjected to physical and mental abuse," Maas said, adding that Gurung's compensation should also include $500,000 as damages for "emotional distress".

According to the court papers, Gurung came to the US at the "behest" of Neena and Jogesh Malhotra and was promised a monthly salary of approximately $108 in exchange for "light cooking, light cleaning, and staffing the occasional house party". However, Gurung's work from the outset was "far more arduous" than the Malhotras had represented it would be.

She was made to work 16 hours a day and in addition to her cooking and cleaning duties, was "required to give Neena Malhotra daily massages, a chore that made her extremely uncomfortable", the court papers said.

Amitabh Bachchan discharged after abdominal surgery

Posted by webmaster on February 23, 2012

Megastar Amitabh Bachchan, who was recuperating in hospital since his abdominalsurgery and follow-up treatment, has been discharged today. He was discharged at 9.30 p.m. and was accompanied home by his wife Jaya Bachchan.

“He is doing absolutely fine and finally he is going back home,” a source from the hospital said.

The 69-year-old actor too was eagerly awaiting his “moment of freedom”. “Freedom !!! free from central line, free from all kites, free to sleep without precaution….Now await to be free from hospital !! (sic),” Bachchan wrote on twitter.

On Tuesday, Big B had tweeted: “Looks like a few more days… before they set me free… but recovery at home will be another few months. Getting independent gradually… a careful shower avoiding the cuts and needles and ‘kites’… pretty dexterous exercise,” he wrote.

Earlier this week, hospital sources said that as his health is improving he might get discharged in a day or two, something which has now been ruled out.

Mr Bachchan said in his recent blog post that the doctors seem to be satisfied with his recent improvement in health.

“The meetings of the morning with the team of doctors.. the most trying for the patient. As you await results of their assessment, you wonder what new discovery they may have found that would immerse you in further treatment. But happy to note that they seemed satisfied with the progress and after a few closed doordiscussions, came back with a few points that would bring relief to any sufferer.”

“A welcome day! many aspects improving, many reports positive, smiling satisfied faces all around… your prayers work so well… Hunger pangs swell for the first time… docs say its good sign… hope so,” Bachchan had tweeted.

“The ‘kites’ gradually and slowly disappear… ‘kites’? Yes, the various drips and tubes stuck into the body… I used to tell this to Abhishek and Shweta when they showed dismay and fear in 1982 hospital visits… ‘kites’!!,” he added further.

The actor even watched the India-Australia match on Sunday (February 19, 2012). “Saw some Tv… the India-Australia match! Sad we lost, but some bizarre moments by the umpires…! pressed wrong button?,” Mr Bachchan had said.

On Saturday (February 18, 2012) Big B showed signs of improvement and the doctors at Seven Hills Hospital decided against another surgery on him.

“He was supposed to undergo second surgery as he had developed pain post the first surgery. However, there is no hassle as such…he is not critical but under observation,” sources from the hospital had said.

Doctors treating the superstar went into a huddle when he suffered fresh pain in the abdomen.

The superstar went through two abdominal surgeries on Saturday (February 11, 2012). He was taken to the Operation Theatre where doctors inserted a “central line” through an incision on the neck.

“The night started off with great apprehensions, what with the temperature of the fever going up – always a dangerous signal. But the mercury fell during the night, or in todays terminology the digital reading in these modern contraptions, showed improvement and by the morning there was a freshness and hope of repair. Soon after wards though, the additional pain that has developed in the abdomen, apart from the surgical, kept doctors busy and going into a huddle. When ever they do that I always surmise there is something more than normal in the patient. Heavy dosages of even more antibiotics were pumped in, and to facilitate this operation they had to wheel me in to the OT again to put a ‘central line’, through an incision on the neck, “he posted on his blog.

Amitabh Bachchan is a voracious social networker. He keeps his fans up-to-date on his health through his tweets and blog posts.

The Big B recent visitors included actress Tabu. “The wonderful Tabu visited today and spent sizable time, talking of many connected and unconnected issues. Of film and nature, of quality and appreciation and of course her own considerations on the kind of films she wanted to be associated with. A joy always to be with her,” he posted on his blog.

Earlier, Anupam Kher and wife Kirron, Sanjay Dutt and wife Maanyata and other industry colleagues have visited the hospital too. In the early hours of Wednesday (February 15, 2012), Amitabh Bachchan daughter-in-law Aishwarya brought her three-month old daughter to the hospital too. Undoubtedly, she would have been the grandfather’s most special visitor yet.

Amitabh Bachchan From His Childhood

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q967SFzBq10

Big B discharged from hospital

MUMBAI: After 13 days of hospital stay, actor Amitabh Bachchan went home on Thursday late evening. He was recuperating at Seven Hills Hospital in Marol after being operated upon for hernia.
Doctors treating the superstar said he was "doing well" and after a few days of rest he should be back on his feet. Bachchan was operated for bilateral inguinal hernia, a condition where soft tissues protrude through weak spots in the abdominal wall and cause pain. Bachchan's son Abhishek and wife Jaya accompanied him on his way home.
Bachchan had to undergo back-to-back surgeries to repair the dual hernia he was diagnosed with. During the hospital stay, the actor was also administered mild doses of antibiotics and protein intravenously owing to his liver's vulnerable condition. He could have gone home few days after the hernia surgery but doctors kept him under observation for a few days as his liver functions were "little weak".
He tweeted on Thursday, "The beauty of taking a shower without the tapes and wires and bandages .. it's like being reborn". Earlier, Bachchan had blogged about the pangs of living with a 6 inch needle entrenched in his neck vein.
Doctors relieved him of tubes on Wednesday after which he could walk around comfortably. He was allowed to take discharge on Wednesday itself when doctors figured he was healing well. Bachchan, in his blog, had said how there were two incisions on the lower belly. "They (the incisions) look clean and neat, but obviously a presence you would rather not have among the already rather congested stomach," he blogged. The actor may not have to visit the hospital for follow-ups as it will be taken care of at his residence.
This was the fourth surgery Bachchan had to undergo since his near-fatal intestinal injury in 1982. He was gravely injured during the filming of Coolie in one of the fight scenes. The accident had ruptured his spleen and had caused significant blood loss and eventually gave rise to serious liver problems. He had remained critically ill in hospital for many months, at a few times close to death.

Amitabh Bachchan denies Beti B's name is Abhilasha

Mumbai - Rumours that the three-month-old baby daughter of Aishwarya Rai and Abhishek Bachchan is to be named Abhilasha have been squashed by doting grandfather Amitach Bachman.

Since Abhishek Bachchan revealed that three-month-old baby Beti B has in fact been given a name, speculation is rife amongst Bollywood fans as to the name. Now Amitabh Bachchan has broken one rumour by denying that the baby's name is Abhilasha.

The Times of India reported the rumour gained popular ground when Shobha De sent this message on Twitter: "Beti B to be named Abhilasha?That's a stroke of genius.Well done,parents.Abhi and Ash.Truly inspired, if true." Big B was quick to quell the rumour when he sent his own Twitter message simply saying "DeShobhaa not true...."

The proud grandfather will be spending more time with the light of his life, as doctors have advised him to take a long rest when he is discharged from hospital. According to Bollywood Life Big B will have to stay at home until at least the end of May. He is looking forward to spending quality time with his baby granddaughter.

NRI Beating Case

Strong case against actor Saif Ali Khan, say police
MUMBAI: A day after he allegedly beat up aSouth African businessman at a five-star restaurant, actor Saif Ali Khan insisted he was attacked first and that the episode was not a publicity stunt for an upcoming film. At a press conference on the strategic alliance of his new film Agent Vinod with World Series Hockey, the actor said, "I have already said there are two sides to the story. I have complete faith in the court of law and they will best decide about the case."

Police sources said there was a "strong case" against the actor and his friends, businessmanShakeel Ladak and producer Bilal Amrohi. The three were arrested on Wednesday for assaulting businessman Iqbal Sharma and his father-in-law Raman Patel. They were granted bail at Colaba police station within an hour.

"We have questioned eyewitnesses, including the hotel staff and management. Their statements have corroborated Sharma's version. This is a simple case so far and we will file a chargesheet very soon," said a senior officer involved in the probe.

Saif had filed an application through his lawyer on Wednesday, levelling charges against Sharma. The actor alleged that Sharma and his father-in-law came to his table and started abusing the ladies with him, and started the fight. The application said he was later approached by Sharma's mother-in-law who requested him to forget the matter, saying no one was in their right mind. "We have registered a non-cognizable offence in this matter. However, currently there is no strong evidence in his case. If he gets medical documents to prove he was hurt and assaulted, we will register an FIR," the cop said.

The officer added there was no CCTV footage available as the five-star restaurant had not installed cameras in order to respect the privacy of their guests. "We have no recorded footage of the incident. We have interrogated the hotel staff and taken down their statements. There were only these two parties present in the restaurant at that point so the management and staff are our sole witnesses," said the officer.

Denying the incident was a publicity stunt, Saif said, "I never publicize my film in a negative manner. Whoever does that, it depends on the mentality of the production house and their class."

While Saif is sticking to his stand, saying he has full faith in the law and has filed a complaint with the police alleging he was hit first, so is the complainant. Iqbal Sharma visited the Colaba police station on Thursday evening along with his wife to give a statement to the police. Sources said he left the station by 8pm. Terming Saif's allegation that he was attacked first as "rubbish", Sharma said, "Police have recorded my family's statement in the case." Reiterating that he couldn't say if Saif was under the influence of alcohol, Sharma said, "I can't really say, but the action of Saif that night was definitely not of a person in a sober state of mind." Sharma returns to South Africa on Thursday night but will be back soon.

Asked if he thought the cops have gone easy on the actor, Sharma said, "Not at all, the right thing was done according to the section under which the case was registered." He added police are definitely taking the case seriously and expressed satisfaction with its progress. Senior police inspector Vinod Sawant too denied charges of being lenient towards the actor and his friends. He said Khan had been treated like any ordinary citizen and the police had followed all protocol in his arrest. "We brought him to the police station in a police van, fingerprinted him and took down his statement. There is no question of partiality", He Said.

Married 2 America - Fight of a NRI Wife

Ravi Malhotra an NRI living in the US works for the mighty Larson & Jason a US based multinational which builds huge civil projects throughout the world like dams & bridges… One of its recent contracts was in India … the Dharbhanga Dam project in Bihar at District Saurabhpur...  it was planned & executed with a hundred year warranty, by their top architect & engineer Ravi Malhotra…
But within a few years three of the dam’s gates are burst open, leaving hundreds of people dead, thousands are rendered homeless & public property worth crores washed down in floods…
The Indian government is contemplating suing the company for damages worth millions…
The company sends Ravi Malhotra to India to probe & investigate what exactly caused the damage…
Ravi finds out the shocking truth & hands over the file to the concerned authorities here…
Since that night he goes missing…
The authorities & the police feel he has escaped to evade arrest as the Indian government & the law holds Ravi & his company Larsen & Jason solely responsible for the disaster…
All efforts to trace him are fruitless…
After three months his worried wife Anjali follows him to Saurabhpur… though the two of them 
were on the brink of separation…. From the moment she lands in India to eventually finding her husband, in the process rediscovering their love for each other …
forms the major part of the sensational & thrilling narrative…
 Pratap Singh is an ex dacoit who has laid down arms a few years ago but now survives on kidnapping & petty crimes…
Ravi escapes from the clutches of ex- dacoit Pratap Singh and by stroke of fate Ravi lands in the net of Bahubali Vishnu Mallah …feared even by the law a…  
Vishnu Mallah & Pratap Singh are rivals…
Vishnu Mallah protects Ravi from Pratap Singh… 
Due to a misunderstanding Vishnu feels Ravi is directly to blame for the death of his family who too has been the victims of the recent disaster…
the pressure on his conscience to avenge the death of his family mounts as Pratap Singh & the law is also on Ravi’s trail…
But when he learns of the truth he escapes with Ravi to an unknown destination… to unearth the scam based on Ravi’s findings & to make public the actual truth…
While the film flows towards it’s emotionally charged thrilling & sensational edge of the seat climax.
More on: http://www.khaskhabar.com/married2america/married2america-music-launch-party.php

Kochi fishermen killings: Italy in troubled waters

 Law of Sea

 Monday, February 20, 2012 9:45 IST

The recent incident where armed Italian naval personnel on board an Italian merchant ship, Enrica Lexie, attacked an Indian fishing vessel and killed two fishermen off the Kochi coast has resulted in a violation of international law.
The concept of state responsibility under International Law holds the Italian government responsible for these killings. As the act was committed within Indian territorial waters, India as a sovereign ‘coastal state’ can exercise its criminal jurisdiction and apply its criminal law.
The UN Convention on Law of Sea, to which both India and Italy are parties, provides that coastal states have complete authority over territorial waters up to 12 nautical miles (Article 2). India’s contiguous zone can extend up to 24 nautical miles from the base line and exclusive economic zone to 200 nm under the convention.
The rights and obligations of a coastal state and foreign vessels in territorial waters and contiguous zone vary slightly. However, a coastal state has the authority to visit and detain a foreign ship for violation of coastal state laws in both the zones.
In a zone contiguous to its territorial waters, the coastal state may exercise the necessary control to: a. prevent infringement of its customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations within its territory or territorial waters; b. punish infringement of the above laws and regulations committed within its territory or territorial waters (Article 33).
The Italian ship has right to innocent passage under Article 19. Further, coastal states have the obligation to allow origin ships by way of ‘innocent passage’ in their territorial waters. The passage is innocent so long as it is not prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal state. Such passage shall take place in conformity with UNCLOS provisions and with other rules of international law.
The passage of a foreign ship shall be considered to be prejudicial to the peace, good order or security of the coastal state if in the territorial sea it engages in any of the following activities: a. any threat or use of force against the sovereignty, territorial integrity or political independence of the coastal state, or in any other manner in violation of the principles of international law embodied in the UN charter; b. any exercise or practice with weapons of any kind; c. any act aimed at collection of information to the prejudice of the defence or security of the coastal state; d. any act of propaganda aimed at affecting the defence or security of the coastal state; e. the launching, landing or taking on board of any aircraft; f. the launching, landing or taking on board of any military device; g. the loading or unloading of any commodity, currency or person contrary to the customs, fiscal, immigration or sanitary laws and regulations of the coastal State; h. any act of wilful and serious pollution to this Convention; i. any fishing activities; j. the carrying out of research or survey activities; k. any act aimed at interfering with any systems of communication or any other facilities or installations of the coastal state; l. any other activity not having a direct bearing on passage.
Therefore, the Italian merchant ship’s claim that an Indian fishing vessel was involved in piracy fails under international law. Piracy has been defined to include any illegal acts of violence or detention, or any act of depredation, committed for private ends by the crew or the passengers of a private ship (Article 101). The mistaken claim that the Indian fishing vessel is a pirated one imposes state responsibility on Italy under international Law. To impose state responsibility there must be an international wrongful act, which can be attributed to the sovereign state. The nationality of a ship is determined by the flag it flies at the time of commission of an act. From the facts of the case it is clear that defences like force majeure, distress, necessity or self-defence are not in favour of Italy.
The criminal jurisdiction of a coastal state can be extended to acts of foreign ships in territorial waters if the crime committed has consequences for the coastal state and would disturb the peace of the country or good order of the territorial waters (Article 27). Clearly Indian courts, therefore, have the jurisdiction to try the offenders and the provisions of the Indian Penal Code are applicable.
The writer is head of the department, School of Law, Christ University, Bangalore

Italy is wrong on sea law

Published: February 23, 2012 00:08 IST

The shooting of Indian fishermen by Italian marines aboard the Enrica Lexie brings to the fore the need to understand the Law of the Sea as understood by seafaring nations in general and India in particular. It is true that Article 97 of the United Nations Conference on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), as quoted by the Italian authorities, states that “No arrest or detention of the ship, even as a measure of investigation, shall be ordered by any authorities other than those of the flag state”. In this case the flag state is Italy. But the Article quoted is out of context, as it deals with ‘Penal Jurisdiction in Matters of Collision or any other incident of Navigation'. Here neither collision nor navigational aspect is indicated.

On the contrary, in Annexure III of UNCLOS, under the heading of Convention of High Seas, 1958, Article 2 stipulates certain freedoms that are recognised by the general principles of international law, wherein freedom of fishing is a part.

To combat piracy, a modern threat to shipping, the International Maritime Organization (IMO) adopted a resolution in 1986 on the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation, then known as the Rome Convention. This was the immediate outcome of the Achille Lauro case, in which a passenger ship with Italian crew was hijacked by Palestinians in October 1985. The U.N. then requested the IMO to address the problem. The action required to be taken was against persons committing unlawful acts against ships.

In the instant case, even this does not apply as there was no unlawful act committed against the ship by the fishermen. The action by the ship's crew was on suspicion that the fishermen could be pirates.

Therefore, this case definitely does not come under any of the provisions of UNCLOS or any other convention connected with international piracy. Killing someone is a crime; the accused has to face charges. But how and where must be decided by the authorities keeping in view diplomatic conditions.

Gay sex is against the social order: ASG to SC

New Delhi, Thu, 23 Feb 2012 

"Homosexuality is highly immoral, spreads HIV and is against the social order", said Additional Solicitor General (ASG) P.P. Malhotra, on behalf of government to Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday.

Appearing from the Home ministry side, Malhotra strongly opposed the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) sexual relationship and urged the court to reverse the decision of decriminalizing Gay sex.

"Gay sex is highly immoral and against the social order and there is high chance of spreading of diseases through such acts. Our Constitution is different and our moral and social values are also different from other countries, so we cannot follow them," said ASG Malhotra.

This statement of the home ministry has broken a rage among the LGBT activists.

Later, government has to clarify its stand after Malhotra's appearance in the court.

In a hurriedly-issued press statement, the Home Ministry said, "Ministry of Home Affairs has not taken any position on homosexuality...Ministry of Home Affairs has also not given any instruction apart from conveying the decision of the Cabinet. Additional Solicitor General had been asked only to assist the apex court."

The Supreme Court had yesterday queried from anti-gay rights groups, challenging legalisation of gay sex, about the law on homosexuality prevailing in other nations.

Earlier, the bench had said that homosexuality should be seen in the context of changing society as many things which were earlier unacceptable have become acceptable with passage of time. The bench had referred to the recent phenomena of live-in relationship, single parent and surrogacy.

The apex court is hearing petitions filed by anti-gay rights activists and also by political, social and religious organisations who have opposed the high court verdict decriminalising homosexual behaviour.

Earlier, the Delhi High Court had given a landmark decision on homosexuality on July 2, 2009, and annulled Section 377 of IPC. This annulment made gay sex legal, as before this section stated, "Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life, or with imprisonment of either description for term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine".

This decision, on one side, was greeted merrily by the LGBT communities but on the other side was challenged by the social and religious group who think same sex relationship is against the law of the nature.

Ramlila Maidan crackdown: SC blames Delhi Police and Ramdev equally

New Delhi, Thu, 23 Feb 2012 - The Supreme Court of India, Thursday blamed Delhi Police and Yog Guru Baba Ramdev equally in Ramlila Maidan crackdown case and ordered them to compensate Rajbala's (a follower of Ramdev who died due to getting injuries in police action) kin a sum of 5 lakh and Rs.50,000 to those who got severe injuries.

Commenting over the incident, a bench of Justice B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar said that it was a "glaring example of trust deficit" between the people and the government. The incident could be avoided if both had taken appropriate actions.

"It is a glaring example of trust deficit between the people governing and the people being governed," the bench said.

Slamming to Delhi Police, the bench said that the police used excess force on Baba Ramdev's followers. The police was guilty for unauthorised use of power and being insensitive towards the injured while pulling up the leg to Baba Ramdev, the apex court said, 'Ramdev should not be rigid on his state and should left the ground when Police asked him to do so.'

"Ramdev ought not to have continued with the dharna, there was legal and moral duty on the part of the trust to leave the maidan when the police had asked them to do so."

The Court has ordered the Delhi government and the Delhi Police Commissioner to register a case against officers who caused injury, and those who used lathicharge and tear gas in the crackdown.

The court also instructed to file the case against them who were present there at the time and could not mediate in calming down the situation.

Speaking over the death of Rajbala, a follower of Yog guru, who got severe injury in protecting Baba Ramdev and allegedly getting injured from police lathicharge, the Court said that a crackdown should be avoided if both had stepped up careful action. Court directed Delhi Police and Baba Ramdev to compensate the kin of Rajbala a sum of Rs.5,00,000.

Moreover, a compensation of Rs. 50,000 would be given to those who got serious injury in midnight crackdown incident. Delhi Police would give 75% of the total compensation while 25% would be given by Ramdev's trust, the court directed.

The court also alleged the nexus between Union Home ministry and the Delhi police that led the police to take action in the midnight when Ramdev's followers including women and children were sleeping.

The incident held when Baba Ramdev was sitting on the indefinite fast over the issue of rooting out the corruption from India and bringing back the black money parked in the foreign banks.

The police warned them to leave the venue, as according to government, Baba was permitted to only three days protest, which had expired on June 3. After expiring the date, the police swooped down on Baba Ramdev in order to detain him just after passing the midnight.

The police fired tear gas shells and lathi charged on his supporters to end his day-old indefinite hunger strike on black money issue. Baba jumped away from the stage and managed to escape from the venue, hiding among his followers.

He appeared three days after the incident in Haridwar, his work place in Uttarakhand and alleged the Centre government for police crack down.

Congress dares BJP to challenge SC verdict on Ramlila Maidan crackdown

New Delhi, Feb 23: Congress Party on Thursday dared the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to challenge the Supreme Court's verdict on midnight crackdown at the Ramlila Maidan last year, and said that the leaders of the opposition consider it their birthright to give running commentary on every issue.

 

"If the Bharatiya Janata Party disagrees with the decision of the Supreme Court, well they are free to go and challenge it. They can become interveners, since it was a suo motu cognizance and then go and file a review," said Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari.

 

"But the larger question which it raises is with respect to the kind of reverence the Bharatiya Janata Party has for constitutional institutions," he added.

 

Tewari alleged that the BJP is at the moment ailing with a disease.

 

"The Bharatiya Janata Party is ailing with a disease. They think it is their birthright to give running commentary on every issue. The few excerpts of the judgment of the Supreme Court that have been made public as of now, none of them carry any comments neither on the Home Ministry or the Central Government," said Tewari.

 

"So, if the BJP believes in making baseless comments then we don't have any medicine to cure them of their ailment," he added.

 

Tewari further said the BJP was now disrespecting the constitutional institutions by not agreeing with the verdict of the apex court.

 

"The Bharatiya Janata Party has been assailing and assaulting the Congress for disrespecting constitutional institutions and now you have the Bharatiya Janata Party saying that it does not agree with the Supreme Court order. May I ask who is disrespecting the constitutional institution? If the Bharatiya Janata Party does not have respect for the Supreme Court and its orders, then which other constitutional institution do they have respect for?" said Tewari.

 

"So, therefore just because something does not fall within the four corners of your political convenience, this does not mean that the Bharatiya Janata Party is licensed to go completely on tangent and even cast aspersions on an institution as august as the Supreme Court," he added.

 

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar had earlier in the day welcomed the verdict of the apex court, but said that his outfit was not in sync with the other half of the verdict in which the judicial body slammed yoga guru Baba Ramdev over negligence.

 

"We are constrained to observe that by today's directions, even the court is diluting the right to protest, which should not have happened. So we are not agreeing to that part where Ramdev Baba has been held guilty of contributing to negligence and is made to pay one fourth of compensation, so we don't agree with that part of the judgment," he said.

 

Javadekar further said the Central Government should have also been held responsible for the incident along with the Delhi Police.

 

"We will like to raise the issue where the Delhi Police is guilty. How come that the Central Government, which is directly in charge of the Delhi Police is not responsible? After all the country must know what was the interaction between the Delhi Police and the Home Minister. What was the interaction between the Congress high command Sonia Gandhi and the Home Minister and the Prime Minister?" said Javadekar.

 

"And if court has ordered an enquiry within the next three months, we hope that the court will monitor that investigation also because that is very much needed," he added.

 

The Supreme Court had earlier in the day castigated the Delhi Police and Baba Ramdev for the midnight violent incident at the Ramlila Maidan last year, and said it was a "glaring example of trust deficit" between the people and the government.

 

An apex court bench of Justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar said that incident showed the might of the state, which struck at the foundation of democracy.

 

The bench further observed that the police and the state could have avoided that tragic incident in which one person died and several others were injured.

 

Commenting on the death of a woman Rajbala during the incident, the apex court directed the state government and Baba Ramdev to pay a compensation of Rs.5 lakh to her next of kin.

 

The court directed Baba Ramdev to pay 25 percent of the compensation, while the rest 75 percent would have to be paid by the Government of Delhi.

 

The yoga guru had been on a hunger strike against corruption along with 65,000 followers when the Delhi Police on the Central Government's orders cracked down on their camp late on the night of June 5 at the Ramlila Maidan.

 

Delhi Police fired tear gas shells, when Ramdev was on his indefinite "fast-unto-death" stir to demand several radical reforms in the prevailing political system, including a death penalty for corrupt officials.

Italy regrets killings, India unmoved

New Delhi, February 22

There was no end in sight today to the diplomatic row between India and Italy over the killing of two Indian fishermen by two Italian naval personnel off the Kerala coast on February 15 with the two sides sticking to their respective positions.

Visiting Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Steffan de Mistura met Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur and insisted that the incident occurred in international waters and, therefore, the two Italians, now in the custody of the Indian authorities, could not be tried in Indian courts.

New Delhi, however, made it clear that the two Italian marines would face the Indian law since the incident involved Indian nationals and an Indian vessel.

With today's meeting ending in a stalemate, the spotlight will now be on Italian Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi's visit to India on February 28.

Emerging from the South Block after his hour-long meeting with Kaur, Mistura expressed "terrible sadness" over the incident. "We do acknowledge and recognise that two Indian fishermen died. No one doubts it, and it is terribly sad," he said, indicating that he would visit Kerala where the Italian marines are in custody. He is likely to meet members of the bereaved families also.

The Italian minister said the incident took place in international waters “and investigation will ascertain the exact position” of the Italian ship. “We are taking it seriously. We are definitely expressing terrible sadness and regret the loss of lives.”

The Indian minister clearly hinted there was no question of India making any compromise on where the trial should be held. "We will go by our law," she said. "As far as the law is concerned, they have their interpretation and we have ours." Kaur said the Italian marines "are on Indian soil" and "we have taken note of what (de Mistura) said".

Italian Govt Moves Kerala HC

The Italian Government on Wednesday moved the Kerala High Court seeking quashing of the FIR charging its two marines with murder of two Indian fishermen. In a related development, the court admitted a petition by the family of one of the deceased fishermen seeking Rs 1 crore compensation and directed the owners of Italian vessel Enrica Lexie to furnish a bank guarantee of Rs 25 lakh.

We do acknowledge and recognise that two Indian fishermen died. No one doubts it. It is terribly sad.— Steffan de Mistura , Italian Deputy Foreign Minister

We will certainly go by our law. As far as the law is concerned, they have their interpretation and we have our interpretation.— Preneet Kaur, Minister of State for External Affairs