CPI says it will bring amendment in Lokpal BIll

Srinagar, Jul 31 (PTI) The Communist Party of India (CPI) today said it will bring an amendment in Parliament on inclusion of Prime Minister under the ambit of Lokpal Bill.

"We will move an amendment in Parliament to include the Prime Minister in the Lokpal Bill," Secretary National Council of CPI Shameem Faizee told reporters here.

"Law can only be made in Parliament and we do not accept any parallel authority," he said while referring to Anna Hazare team.

Faizee, who along with CPI parliamentarian Aziz Pasha are on a visit to the Kashmir Valley, said CPI welcomed the talks between India and Pakistan and expressed the hope that it will pave the way for "resumption of the process of comprehensive dialogue between the two countries".

"Concentration on taking more and more confidence building measures is always welcome as means for enhancing mutual trust between the people of two countries," Faizee said.

The CPI leader demanded gradual removal of Armed Forces Special Powers Act from the entire state and stringent action against human rights violations by security forces.

He also demanded greater autonomy for all the regions of the state.

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Ready to go to jail, says Anna Hazare

Dissatisfied with the government version of the anti-graft Lokpal bill and determined to go on an indefinite fast from Aug 16, Gandhian Anna Hazare says he is prepared go to jail if needed.

"We will be prepared to go to jail," Hazare said Sunday at a public meeting here.

"They give breakfast and lunch there," he said in jest.

Hazare, who wants to sit on a fast at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, has been asked to look for an alternative site if more than 2,000 supporters are to gather with him.

The Delhi Police Thursday said that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, banning any gathering of five or more people, will be imposed in various places of the capital, including Jantar Mantar, for the duration of the monsoon session of parliament beginning Monday. The curbs were Friday withdrawn from Jantar Mantar and India Gate.

"How do we know how many people will come? I will meet the police and we will also go to the (Delhi) high court. If they implement (Section) 144 we will protest nationwide," Hazare said.

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Corruption charge on Congress

Siwan, July 30: Deputy chief minister Sushil Kumar Modi today launched an attack on the Congress by accusing the party of having become synonymous with corruption.

"Corruption has become the biggest issue in the country but Congress has taken an ostrich-like attitude. Congress has kept the Prime Minister out of the purview of the Lokpal Bill against the request of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. What is this? Congress is befooling the country," Modi said. He was addressing a press conference here today.

Modi told that in the capacity of the president of parliamentary board in 2001, Pranab Mukherjeehad advocated keeping the Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal but he too has gone back on his words.

Modi said BJP has been advocating to keep the Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal for the past 40 years and the party it supports any individual or organisation who stands up against corruption. Modi said BJP opposes the promulgation of Section 144 at places where Anna Hazare and Baba Ramdeo have proposed to stage dharna against issues related to corruption and Lokpal Bill.

"This is autocratic and against the norms of democracy," he added. Modi was here to attend the three-day training camp of BJP workers at Mahabiri Saraswati Vidya Mandir.

Life term

Additional district and sessions judge S.K. Pandey today awarded life imprisonment to three persons on the charge of killing a person in 1991. The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 each and imprisonment of an additional three years under the Arms Act. The incident had occurred at Basopali village under Mufassil police station. The accused persons ' Ajay Kumar, alias Munna Chaudhry,Dinesh Singh and Sipahi Sah ' had stabbed one Muni Lal Manjhi who succumbed to injuries after lodging the FIR.

Murder

One Heera Lal Manjhi was hacked to death on Friday night. Sources said the deceased was serving as night guard in the farmhouse of Srideo Narayan Singh at Bala village under Basantpurpolice station. Srideo Narayan is relative of former minister Tarkeshwari Sinha. Police have sent the corpse for post-mortem and are investigating the case.