The Tribune – SAD to meet President on Sajjan’s acquittal today

Tribune News Service

Bathinda, May 7. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today said they would impress upon President Pranab Mukherjee to form a special investigation team (SIT) to re-investigate the role of Congress leader Sajjan Kumar, acquitted recently in a 1984 anti-Sikh riots case.

Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and his deputy Sukhbir Badal would be leading a delegation of SAD-BJP coalition MLAs and MPs to meet the President in Delhi tomorrow.

“Surely someone was behind the attack that killed over 3,000 Sikhs in the capital. For, Delhi was not hit by any calamity,” Sukhbir said in a sarcastic remark targeted at the Congress.

“Nevertheless, we will fight for justice till it is done. We will seek the President’s intervention for forming a SIT under the supervision of the Chief Justice of India,” he said. The Deputy Chief Minister was here to attend the 290th birth anniversary function of Maharaja Jassa Singh Ramgarhia. While paying tributes to the legendary warrior, he assured the Ramgarhia community that the government was committed for its
welfare.

“We should propagate the legacy of Ramgarhia who fought the Mughals valiantly to safeguard the moral and ethical values of humanity based on the tenets of Sikhism,” he said.

Hitting out at the UPA government, he alleged that in the country’s history never had the central cabinet comprised so many “tainted” ministers.

Sukhbir also dared the Congress leadership to put up a fight so that it was not against a “one-sided affair in the zila parishad and block samiti elections”.

“In fact, it will be a litmus test for (Punjab Congress chief) Partap Bajwa and test his political acumen and popularity at the grassroots level,” he said.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2013/20130508/punjab.htm#3

The Hindu – Supreme Court stays execution of eight death row convicts

J. Venkatesan

New Delhi, 7 April 2013. The Supreme Court on Saturday night stayed the execution of eight death row convicts whose mercy petitions were rejected by President Pranab Mukherjee earlier this week.

A Bench of Justices P. Sathasivam and M.Y. Eqbal stayed the execution after hearing senior counsel Colin Gonsalves appearing for the convicts, who filed petitions challenging the rejection of their mercy petitions.

The convicts are: Suresh, Ramji and Gurmeet Singh in Naini Central Prison, Allahabad; Praveen Kumar in Belgaum prison in Karnataka; Sonia, daughter of the former Haryana MLA, Ralu Ram Punia, and her husband Sanjeev in Ambala Central Prison in Haryana; Sundar Singh in Nainital, Uttaranchal and Jaffer Ali serving the sentence in a jail in Uttar Pradesh.

Sonia and Sanjeev were convicted in 2007 of killing eight members of her family, including her father, over a property dispute in 2001. Gurmeet Singh was convicted of killing 13 of his family members in 1986. Jaffer Ali murdered his wife and five daughters. Suresh and Ramji killed five of their relatives.

In a brief order, the Bench said: “There shall be stay of execution of the death sentence in respect of the eight petitioners. Notice to the States concerned returnable in four weeks.”

The petitioners apprehended that they would be executed following the rejection of their mercy petitions. In particular, the convict in Nainital jail feared that he would be executed on Sunday morning.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-stays-execution-of-eight-death-row-convicts/article4589007.ece

The Hindu – The role of Pranab Mukherjee in Afzal Guru’s hanging

In a record of sorts, two convicts have been executed in less than 3 months

Smita Gupta

New Delhi, 10 February 2013.  The execution of two convicts on charges of terror in less than three months — a record of sorts in recent times — has unwittingly put the spotlight on President Pranab Mukherjee, who took office last July. His quick rejection of the mercy petitions of Ajmal Kasab, the only survivor among the perpetrators of 26/11, and Mohammad Afzal Guru, the main accused in the case of attack on Parliament in 2001, has helped the Congress-led UPA government neutralise its critics who say this is an administration that is soft on terror.

Of course, publicly, through the day, government managers sought to delink the hanging of Afzal Guru from any politics. “Unlike the Bharatiya Janata Party, we don’t politicise decisions that pertain to national security,” Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari said, adding, “When you are dealing with a process under criminal jurisprudence, you see that the law is followed rigorously.”

Union Minister of State for Home R.P.N. Singh’s tone was equally sombre: “This is not a time for politics but calm, restraint and sobriety.”

But government sources told The Hindu that their task had been made easier by having a Home Minister — Sushilkumar Shinde — and a President who were agreed on speedy disposal of the Afzal Guru case. They pointed out that A.P.J Abdul Kalam, during his tenure as President, indicated to the then Home Minister Shivraj Patil — shortly after he cleared Dhananjoy Chatterjee’s execution in 2004 — his lack of enthusiasm for the death penalty. His successor, Pratibha Patil, commuted as many as 35 death sentences to life imprisonment before she demitted office — and was seen as opposing the death penalty in principle.

Sources close to Mr. Mukherjee take a more nuanced view of his rejection of these two mercy petitions: they say he viewed the two cases differently — while he felt that there were no two views on Kasab’s guilt, he was aware that in Afzal Guru’s case, there had always been a question mark on the extent of his involvement in the attack on Parliament — and made that distinction in private conversations after the execution of the 26/11 accused last November. However, these sources added, Mr. Mukherjee also believed that the attack on Parliament was an attack on Indian democracy and a message needed to be sent out that such assaults would not be tolerated.

Though Afzal Guru’s mercy petition file came to Rashtrapati Bhavan on August 4, 2011 (when Ms. Patil was in office), Mr. Mukherjee, after taking charge, sent the file back on November 15, 2012 to the Home Ministry for a fresh look.

The Home Ministry returned the file to the President on January 23 this year, and he sent it back, rejecting the petition, on February 3, paving the way for Saturday’s execution.

In short, Mr. Mukherjee did send back the file for reconsideration once. However, he could have sat on the file — as there is no time limit for the President to take a decision.

The Congress line for a while has been that the Supreme Court verdict must be executed. General secretary Digvijay Singh, while articulating this view last year, cited two reasons: that the attack on Parliament was a serious terror attack and that the highest court in the land had handed the death penalty to Afzal Guru.

Repeating that view on Saturday to The Hindu, he said, “Any kind of mercy shown to the perpetrator of a terror attack on Parliament would not have been the right thing to do.” To a question on the timing of the hanging, he said, “The timing had to be decided by the government, keeping the ground situation in mind and ensuring that all the reports were ready… the Home Ministry had not recommended the case earlier as it had to consult the State [J&K] government.”

Finally, Mr. Singh said, the President took the decision. Could the President not have sat on the file? “Yes, you can’t cap the time,” Mr. Singh agreed, concluding: “That was his call.”

A ministerial source told The Hindu that the timing of the Afzal Guru execution was virtually taken after the execution of Kasab in November 2012: “When we took out Kasab,” he said, “it was clear Afzal Guru was in line. After the Kasab hanging, there was no negative fallout in the country. Two, there was a perceptible change in Kashmir — so then the only thing left was to complete the procedural formalities, and convince the President.”

With these two executions, government sources said, the Congress-led UPA sent out a signal that it was prepared to take the harshest possible steps to deal with acts of terror. This would also strengthen Mr. Shinde’s hands, they added, in dealing with acts of terror committed by Hindu organisations.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/the-role-of-pranab-mukherjee-in-afzal-gurus-hanging/article4397765.ece?homepage=true

The Hindu – Will talk to Mamata when she is ready, says Pranab Mukherjee’s

All UPA partners but one have endorsed my candidature

Shiv Sahay Singh

Kolkata, 9 July 2012. Amid reservations of the Trinamool Congress to his candidature, UPA presidential nominee Pranab Mukherjee made it clear here on Monday that he will approach Mamata Banerjee for support, only if she is willing to speak to him.

“I am ready to talk to her as and when she is ready. Since my candidature was announced, I have expressed my desire to have the support of the Trinamool,” Mr. Mukherjee said here.

Mr. Mukherjee was speaking to journalists after meeting the MPs and MLAs of the Congress, the Communist Party of India (Marxist), the Forward Bloc, the Samajwadi Party and the Democratic Socialist Party at two separate meetings. Mr. Mukherjee said all partners of the UPA had endorsed his candidature “except one.”

He emphasised that parties in the National Democratic Alliance and several regional parties were supporting his candidature.

“I understand that they [Trinamool Congress] have not yet taken a decision. When they will take the decision, I hope she will support my candidature,” he said.

Mr. Mukherjee’s comments are seen as a hardening of stand by the Congress, increasingly averse to going out of its way to seek the Trinamool’s support even though it would welcome it.

Mamata’s silence

So far Ms. Banerjee has maintained a studied silence on whom her party will support in the presidential contest. After her nominee, the former President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, had opted out of the race, she had asserted the “game was not yet over.” Later she told her party MPs and MLAs she would take a final call on the matter three days before the July 19 election.

There has been a shift in the position of the Congress. Earlier, it had urged its bigger ally in the State to support Mr. Mukherjee’s candidature. However, at a meeting with him during the day, some of its senior State leaders were critical of the line taken by the Trinamool.

The Congress is confident of Mr. Mukherjee’s victory even without the support of the Trinamool Congress. Last week, during a visit here, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram and Minister for Human Resource Development Kapil Sibal asserted that the UPA nominee would win the polls with at least 65 per cent of the votes.

This was irrespective of how the Trinamool decided on its stand regarding the election.

‘Initiative should come from candidate’

Special Correspondent reports:

In the ongoing war of nerves between the Congress and its biggest ally at the Centre over the presidential polls, the Trinamool Congress indicated on Monday that the first move on a dialogue should come from the ‘other side’.

Asked to respond to the comment made by Pranab Mukherjee that he was ready to talk to Mamata Banerjee whenever she was, senior Trinamool Congress leader and Panchayat and Rural Development Minister Subrata Mukherjee said: “He will have to speak his mind if he is keen to talk … when we contest elections, we approach everybody.”

“Pranab Mukherjee could have telephoned her to ascertain that and this requires no mediator,” Mr. Subrata Mukherjee said, adding that the party had no information of his visit to the state to campaign for the elections.

In an oblique reference to Pranab Mukherjee’s meeting with MPs and MLAs of Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Forward Bloc in the Assembly seeking their support for his candidature, the Panchayat Minister said “Some people feel comfortable in the company of CPI(M). If it makes them happy, so be it.”

“It is a shame to seek support of the CPI(M), we would never do this even if we were in dire straits,” Firhad Hakim, Minister for Urban Development, said.

To a question on the Trinamool Congress candidate for the polls, Subrata Mukherjee said that while the Trinamool Congress has no candidate, but A P J Kalam was its choice as the presidential candidate.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3620078.ece

The Asian Age – Differences in NDA, decision on president’s poll deferred

New Delhi, 17 June 2012. Strong reservations from key ally JD(U) over pitting a candidate against UPA nominee Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday forced the NDA to defer its decision on the presidential election.

At a two-hour inconclusive meeting of the NDA, the JD-U is believed to have disavoured a fight against Mukherjee because of his stature but BJP is said to have been keen on backing former Speaker P.A. Sangma, who has been propped up by BJD and AIADMK with an eye on the 2014 Lok Sabha polls.

After the meeting at BJP leader L K Advani’s residence, from which BJP’s oldest ideological ally Shiv Sena kept away, NDA convener Sharad Yadav merely said more discussions were needed to arrive at a right decision.

“The NDA meeting took place today. Various leaders put forth their views in detail. More discussions are required in this regard to arrive at the right decision.”

“L.K. Advani will talk to chief ministers of NDA-ruled states and all others. NDA will meet sometime later again to take a decision in this regard. Those outside (Delhi) will also be consulted,” Tadav told reporters after the meeting.

The JD(U), which shares power with BJP in Bihar, was clear that there is no strong purpose served by contesting against Mukherjee, a tall leader with vast experience in government and Parliament, and more so when the UPA has a clear edge in the electoral college.

However, BJP leaders including Advani and Sushma Swaraj are understood to have argued that Mukherjee should not go uncontested, especially in view of the Lok Sabha polls due two years hence.

The BJP is said to be keen on supporting Sangma so that the alliance could rope in parties like BJD and AIADMK that could be valuable in thenext Lok Sabha elections. (PTI)

http://www.asianage.com/india/differences-nda-decision-prez-poll-deferred-987

The Tribune – Pranab is UPA’s choice for President

Sonia ensures allies’ support; CPM leaders call up Pranab too; Contest likely to be one-sided

Anita Katyal, Our Political Correspondent

New Delhi, June 15. After weeks of intense consultation and speculation, the UPA today finally decided that veteran Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee will be its nominee in next month’s Presidential elections.

This announcement was made by Congress president Sonia Gandhi after a brief meeting of UPA leaders who readily endorsed Mukherjee’s candidature, while a key ally Trinamool Congress leader and West Bengal Chief Minister was conspicuous by her absence at this formal show of hands.

An isolated Mamata, who had returned to Kolkata earlier in the morning, remained adamant that she would not support Mukherjee, insisting that former President APJ Abdul Kalam was her first choice for the top Constitutional post.

The Congress decision to ignore Mamata’s objections to Mukherjee’s candidature could well set the stage for a parting of ways between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress given that the two parties have been on a collision course for the past several months now.

While Mamata played spoilsport, support for Mukherjee began pouring in shortly after Sonia issued a formal appeal to all political parties to support him, thus indicating that the elections will be a one-sided affair. Sonia rang up Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav and BSP chief Mayawati as both are extending outside support to the UPA government.

The Prime Minister followed up by speaking to leaders of parties, cutting across the political spectrum, with the plea that Mukherjee be elected unopposed. The BJP-led NDA, which has been undecided about its role in the presidential election, may find it difficult to oppose Mukherjee as the senior Congress leader commands respect across party lines.

The biggest relief for the Congress came when Mulayam, who has emerged as the pivot in this election with his party’s six per cent vote share in the electoral college, backed the finance minister’s candidacy. This came two days after it appeared that Mulayam was deserting the UPA when he joined hands with Mamata in proposing former President APJ Abdul Kalam, former Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as their choices for the President’s post.

Mulayam’s statement had come as a rude shock for the Congress as the SP leader had informally promised support for a UPA presidential candidate. Congress crisis managers immediately got into the act and began building consensus in favour of Mukherjee and isolating Mamata. Ahmad Patel, Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary, and other senior leaders, including Digvijay Singh, got in touch with Mulayam in an effort to wean him away from the Trinamool chief.

Shortly after the SP’s announcement, BSP leader Mayawati also pledged her support for Mukherjee. CPM leaders called up to congratulate Mukherjee shortly after his candidature was announced, indicating that the Left Front will also vote for him though a formal decision will be taken at their meeting slated for June 21.

Mukherjee took the declaration in his stride. While joyous supporters were busy distributing ladoos at his Talkatora Road residence, Mukherjee said he felt deeply honoured to be named as the UPA candidate for President. “I am grateful to Sonia Gandhi for her support and the nomination and I accept the offer with all humility,” he told mediapersons..

“I have been fortunate to receive the love and affection and confidence of my party colleagues, members and leaders of other political parties. I will again seek their indulgence and support over the next few weeks. We have requested all parties to support us,” Mukherjee added.

Mamata Firm on Kalam’s name

An isolated Mamata, who had returned to Kolkata, remained adamant that she would not support Mukherjee, insisting that former President APJ Abdul Kalam was her first choice for the top Constitutional post.

Congress wins over Mulayam

Mulayam backing Mamata’s claim after she met him on Thursday had come as a rude shock for the Congress. The party’s crisis managers immediately got into the act on Friday and began building consensus in favour of Mukherjee. Ahmad Patel and other senior leaders got in touch with Mulayam and were able to wean him away from the Trinamool chief.

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2012/20120616/main1.htm

The Hindu – Sangma’s entry creates a buzz in Presidential race

Congress still playing cards close to its chest

Smita Gupta

New Delhi, 18 May 2012. A day after the AIADMK and the Biju Janata Dal endorsed Purno A. Sangma’s candidature for President, the former Lok Sabha Speaker’s chances in the Rashtrapati Bhavan sweepstakes dominated informal discussions across political parties. With Parliament still in session on Friday, conversations in its corridors centred round the significance of the move.

The most credible explanation came from BJD circles: since a candidate proposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance would not find favour with Opposition parties not inclined towards the BJP, and a Left-sponsored nominee would be opposed by the NDA, a name floated by the AIADMK and the BJD — both currently unattached to any political formation — might find readier acceptance across the Opposition. The BJD sources said that of late the Chief Ministers of Odhisha and Tamil Nadu — Naveen Patnaik and Jayalalithaa — tended to be in close touch with their counterparts in West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat, Mamata Banerjee, Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi.

Would such a move succeed? Perhaps not, agreed the BJD sources, as the numbers will favour the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance, provided it stays intact and gets the backing of the Left Parties and the support of either the Samajwadi Party or the Bahujan Samaj Party. Besides, Mr Sangma’s own party, the Nationalist Congress Party, the sources pointed out, clarified on Friday that it would stay with the UPA.

On Thursday, NCP supremo and Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar told journalists that Mr. Sangma had not spoken to him on the subject; on Friday, when the former Speaker met him, Mr. Pawar told him that the NCP was part of the UPA and his stand on the issue would be consistent with it.

The BJP, on its part, has been coy about Mr. Sangma’s candidature, even though his name comes from the AIADMK, a party it has been assiduously wooing, hoping it will swell the NDA ranks before the next polls.

Meanwhile, in the Congress, no new names have emerged after those of Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Vice-President Hamid Ansari. On Friday, MPs of many non-Congress parties, including the BSP and the Left, concurred that if Mr. Mukherjee became the UPA’s official candidate, he could easily find support across Parliament and emerge as a consensus candidate, considering his stature and standing.

Most MPs of the Congress The Hindu spoke to said the possibility of Mr. Sangma emerging as a challenge to its candidate — whoever it is — was remote, as they were confident that the UPA and the parties that support it from outside had an edge in terms of numbers.

But even as the pros and cons of Mr. Sangma’s candidature were discussed, it was evident that a majority in the Congress view him with disfavour, given the manner of his exit from the party in the late 1990s. A Congress secretary Praveen Davar even issued a statement, accusing Mr. Sangma of playing the BJP’s game, and saying, “Mr. Purno Sangma lacks both the political and ethical stature expected of the nation’s Rashtrapati.”

But as Mr. Sangma continues to lobby tribal legislators, his entry into the race has begun to generate some excitement, with some MPs even saying his entry will force the Congress to declare its candidate soon.

As far as the Congress is concerned, party sources said that while the names of Mr. Mukherjee and Mr. Ansari were still on the table, it was possible that a dark horse could emerge in a couple of weeks— a name that might help the party in one of the States going to the polls over the next two years.

http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article3433370.ece?homepage=true