The Tribune – Remark on Golden Temple by TV host flayed

Ashok Tuteja, Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 23. India today took exception to the remark on the Golden Temple by American television host Jay Leno and asked its envoy to the US to immediately take up the issue with the authorities concerned.

Leno, the host of The Tonight Show on NBC channel, flashed a picture of the Golden Temple in Amritsar on his programme and termed it as a possible summer home of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney. External Affairs Minister SM Krishna said Indian Ambassador Nirupama Rao was being instructed to take up the matter with the US authorities.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120124/punjab.htm#12

The Tribune – Punjab cop thrashes woman for theft

Megha Mann, Tribune News Service

Mansa, January 24. The Punjab Police today suspended a head constable for beating up a 20-year-old girl accused of stealing in the police station premises in Mansa.

A video of the incident received by mediapersons showed Head Constable Balwan Singh mercilessly raining blows on a girl from Khudal village on the orders of Bareta police SHO Sikandar Singh on Sunday. Singh can be heard egging Balwan Singh to beat her up more for committing a theft.

While Balwan Singh hit the girl, female staff stood by and watched. According to Punjab Police rules, male staff cannot handle female accused.

Bathinda DIG Paramraj Umranangal said that following the video footage, Balwan Singh had been immediately suspended and a departmental inquiry initiated against him. An inquiry has also been initiated against Bareta SHO Sikandar Singh.

Umranangal said the girl was part of an organised gang involved in vehicle-lifting. The woman and her accomplices had stolen a truck and a Canter.

“While one of the female gang members and a man named Gurnam Singh were arrested some days ago, this woman was arrested on Sunday. When the SHO asked her name, she answered inappropriately,” Umranangal said.

PTI adds: The Punjab State Human Rights Commission directed the state government to submit a report into the incident before February 24 and said the incident was “shocking”.

Bhatinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal condemned the incident and said it happened due to indiscriminate transfer of police personals by Election Commission and its inaction on Shiromani Akali Dal’s complaint against Amarinder for inciting violence.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120124/main5.htm

The Asian Age – Sports ministry uncomfortable with Kalmadi back in IOA: Maken

New Delhi, 24 January 2012. Sports minister Ajay Maken on Tuesday said the government won’t be comfortable to see Suresh Kalmadi back as the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Maken said IOA should be headed by an individual who has a clean image. The sports minister said Kalmadi can only come back after he is cleared of all the corruption charges levelled against him in cases related to the Commonwealth Games.

He said he will be uncomfortable to see Suresh Kalmadi, who was released on bail last week after nine months in jail in a corruption case related to the Commonwealth Games, back as the president of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

Maken said Kalmadi should only come back after he is cleared of all the charges. He also said that the government doesn’t want to intrude in the business of the IOA but is keeping a close watch on developments.

We are keeping a close watch on the entire issue. The ministry’s stand has always been not to be so intrusive as far as the functioning of IOA is concerned. But simultaneously, as far as this issue is concerned, the ministry is also uncomfortable with the idea of Mr. Suresh Kalmadi returning as IOA president, unless he is cleared of all the charges,” said Maken.

He said IOA should be headed by someone who has a clean image.

“I think as far as IOA is concerned it should not be headed by someone tainted of corruption charges. First of all, he should get cleared of all corruption charges and then only he should think of holding such a post. Otherwise, sports in the spirit which it is taught to be played, we will be defeating that very spirit,” he added.

Maken said it was ‘unfortunate’ that some members of the IOA still want Kalmadi back.

“It is unfortunate that the members of the IOA are still backing a person who is yet to be cleared of corruption charges.

I would appeal to them in the larger interest of the sport that they should not support such person unless he is cleared

of all the charges,” said Maken.

Kalmadi, former chairman of the Commonwealth Games organising committee, and Lalit Bhanot, IOA joint secretary

and former secretary general of the organising committee, and V.K. Verma, ex-director general of the organising

committee, were released on bail last week after nine months in jail in corruption cases related to the Commonwealth Games.

Kalmadi has asked IOA acting president V.K. Malhotra to continue in the post as he won’t be able to represent the organisation for a long time. (IANS)

http://www.asianage.com/india/sports-ministry-uncomfortable-kalmadi-back-ioa-maken-746