QBullet: Gambhir Dares AAP; SC to Hear Ayodhya Land Dispute Today
From Gambhir daring AAP to SC hearing the Ayodhya land dispute case, here are the top stories of the day.
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1. ‘Prove It’: Gambhir Dares AAP After Tearful Atishi Blames BJP Leader for Obscene Pamphlet
Aam Aadmi Party’s East Delhi candidate Atishi Thursday broke down while reading a pamphlet containing “obscene and derogatory” remarks against her and claimed that it has been distributed in the constituency by her BJP rival Gautam Gambhir.
Rubbishing the allegation, the cricketer-turned-politician said he would withdraw his candidature immediately if it is proven that this was done by him. “I declare that if its proven that I did it, I will withdraw my candidature right now. If not, will u quit politics?” Gambhir said in a tweet, tagging Atishi and Kejriwal.
Atishi, who was accompanied by Deputy Delhi Chief Minister Manish Sisodia during a press conference, said she had welcomed Gambhir when he entered politics but now the BJP has stooped to an unexpected level.
(Source: The Indian Express)
2. No Ships Specially Diverted for Personal Use of Gandhis: Retd Admiral on PM’s INS Viraat Remark
A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi accused the then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi of using INS Viraat for his ‘personal holiday trips’, former chief of the Naval Staff Admiral L Ramdas (retd) refuted Modi’s claim and said no ships were specially diverted for the personal use of Gandhi family.
In a press statement today, Admiral L Ramdas (retd) said: “No ships were specially diverted for the personal use of the Gandhi family. Only one small helicopter was left at Kavratti to meet any emergency medical requirements of the PM and his wife.”
“I am drawing on written responses from V Admiral Pasricha – then Capt and commanding officer INS Viraat, Admiral Arun Prakash – commanding INS Vindhyagiri, which was accompanying INS Viraat, and Vice Admiral Madanjit Singh – commanding officer of INS Ganga. I am also referring to a note from an officer who was then the Naval Officer in Charge of Lakshwadeep islands,” the statement further read.
(Source: The Indian Express)
3. ‘Prove the Charge or Do 100 Sit-Ups Holding Ears’: Mamata on PM Modi’s Coal Mafia Remark
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee’s war of words reached new heights on Thursday with PM Modi alleging that Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders in Purulia and Bankura were working as coal mafias and Banerjee hitting back by asking the Prime Minister to do 100 sit-ups holding his ears if he is proved wrong.
The latest round came after the two exchanged barbs earlier this week, with Banerjee saying on Tuesday that when PM Modi comes to Bengal and alleges tolabazi (extortion), she feels like giving him “a slap of democracy,” raising her right hand in a motion of slapping.
“Didi said she wants to slap Modi. Didi, I respect you as an elder sister. Your slap will be a blessing for me. But I would like to say that if you really had the courage to slap those who took away chit fund money, you would not have been so scared today,” PM Modi said on Thursday, while addressing an election rally in Bengal’s Bankura district.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
4. SC, Govt in Fresh Face-Off on Judges’ Appointments
For the second time in 12 months, the Supreme Court collegium has asserted itself against the executive on matters of judicial appointments and insisted on the elevation to the top court of two high court judges it has recommended, and proposed two more names, including the first Scheduled Caste nominee to the bench in a decade.
The collegium, which comprises the five senior-most judges of the Supreme Court led by the Chief Justice of India, reiterated its April recommendation that Jharkhand high court chief justice Aniruddha Bose and Gauhati chief justice AS Bopanna be appointed to the apex court.
The collegium, which met on Wednesday, recommended two more names, of Bombay high court judge BR Gavai and Himachal Pradesh high court chief justice Surya Kant, for elevation as Supreme Court judges, according to a statement posted on the Supreme Court website.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
5. Modi ‘Cracking Under Pressure’: Rahul Gandhi on PM’s Interview Spree
Congress president Rahul Gandhi Thursday in a tweet took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s interviews to several media outlets saying that his recent statement and interviews are giving the country a feeling that he is “cracking under pressure”.
The Congress chief further said that the Prime Minister is “however, certainly right to be nervous” about the upcoming Lok Sabha election results.
The war of words between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Congress has turned shriller with Modi raising the issue of alleged corruption during the tenure of Rajiv Gandhi as prime minister, saying his life had ended as “bhrashtachari no 1” (corrupt number one).
(Source: The Indian Express)
6. SC Junks Plea Questioning Rahul’s Citizenship
The Supreme Court Thursday dismissed a plea seeking direction to the Centre and the Election Commission to debar Congress President Rahul Gandhi from contesting the Lok Sabha elections till the issue of his alleged British citizenship is decided.
A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi rejected the contention of the petitioners’ lawyer who said that in a form along with the annual data of a UK-based company in 2005-06, it was allegedly mentioned that Rahul Gandhi is a British citizen.
“If some company in some form mentions his nationality as British, does he become a British citizen,” said the bench, also comprising Justices Deepak Gupta and Sanjiv Khanna.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
7. Modi Seeking Votes in Name of Fake Nationalism: Kejriwal
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of seeking votes in the name of “fake nationalism” and said he has done nothing in last five years except “jumlebaazi”.
Kejriwal’s comment came a day after Modi, in his first rally in the national capital, said the Delhi government had brought “nakampanthi” (non-performance) model of governance. Asking the PM to list out the works done in five years, AAP supremo Kejriwal said his party had addressed issues of education, health, electricity and water.
“PM Modi has done nothing in the last five years except jumlebaazi, foreign tours and lectures and that is the reason he is seeking votes in name of fake nationalism,” Kejriwal said in a tweet.
(Source: Hindustan Times)
8. Supreme Court to Hear Ayodhya Land Dispute Matter on Friday
The Supreme Court constituted three-member mediation committee, tasked with exploring the possibility of an amicable settlement in the decades-old, politically sensitive, Ayodhya's Ram Janmabhoomi-Babri Masjid land dispute case, has submitted its interim report in a sealed cover.
Sources aware of the development said the interim report was filed with the apex court Registry on 6 May, and the matter has been listed for hearing on Friday.
The apex court on 8 March had referred the matter to mediation for exploring the possibility of an amicable settlement.
(Source: PTI)
9. "What Happened, Happened": Sam Pitroda Says as BJP Cites Anti-Sikh Riots
Congress's Sam Pitroda, who is in charge of the party's overseas units, today brushed off the BJP's suggestion that the 1984 anti-Sikh riots took place on the orders of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. The party had cited the Nanavati Commission report to validate the claim, which has infuriated the Congress. The report, which came out in 2005, had contradicted any such suggestion.
Asked to respond to the BJP claim, news agency ANI quoted Mr Pitroda as saying: "I don't think so, this is also another lie. What about 1984 now? What have you done in the last five years, talk about that. What happened in 1984, happened. What have you done? (Ab kya hai''84 ka? Aapne kya kiya 5 saal mein, uski baat kariye. ''84 mein hua to hua. Aapne kya kiya?)"
(Source: NDTV)