Attacking the Congress-led UPA government for not scrapping Devas-Antrix deal even after the space commission had reservation about it, the main Opposition BJP on Sunday demanded the PM should give an explanation on the issue. The party, which alleged there is a “hidden hand trying to save the deal,” demanded immediate termination of the controversial deal.
The party also questioned why Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan, who was minister of state in the PMO when the deal was signed, did not look into the irregularities of the 2005 agreement. The party has charged PMO of not coming out with the “complete truth” on the issue.
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Ansari will move SC for Ayodhya
Lucknow, Feb. 13: Hashim Ansari, the oldest litigant in the Ayodhya title suit, on Sunday said he has decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the high court’s verdict as all efforts by him to find an out-of-the-court settlement have failed. “As all the attempts have failed, I have no options left but to file the special leave petition in Supreme Court”, 90-year-old Ansari said over phone from Ayodhya.
Asked what prompted the change, Mr Ansari, who has been in favour of an out-of-the court settlement said, “Kya karein majboori hai” (what can I do, its compulsion now)”. “I never wanted the nation to face any loss because of the Babri Masjid verdict but the parties in the Opposition want to divide the country and that I will not tolerate,” he said. —PTI
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Posco plant: Protesters destroy road
age correspondent
Bhuabenswar
Feb. 13: An uneasy calm prevailed in the proposed Posco steel plant site at Dhinkia in Orissa’s Jagatsinghpur district with irate villagers opposing the 12-million-tonne steel project preparing for yet another showdown with the state administration to oppose eviction from their homelands. Responding to a call by the Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti, a leading anti-displacement forum, villagers disconnected at least 15 entry points to the site by destroying approach roads.