PTI, New Delhi, 15 April : Rights activist Dr Binayak Sen was today granted bail by the Supreme Court which questioned his conviction and life sentence for sedition saying he could be a sympathiser of Maoists and nothing beyond that. "No case of sedition is made out," a bench comprising justices H S Bedi and C K Prasad observed while granting bail to 61-year-old Dr Sen, who was also held guilty by a trial court in Chhattisgarh for helping Maoists to set up a network.
The bench, which preferred not to give any reasons for granting bail, said, "We are a democratic country. He may be a sympathiser (of Maoists) but it did not make him guilty of sedition.
"He is a sympathiser. Nothing beyond that," the bench said, perusing the affidavit filed by the Chhattisgarh government opposing his bail. န Photos : PTI, AFP ALSO READ BBC REPORT
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I made a mistake in handling Singur: Chief Minister Buddha
PTI, Kolkata, 15 April : West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said he had made a mistake by relying on the "sense of responsibility" of opposition parties while dealing with the Singur issue.
He said as he does not believe in using force against demonstrations, he stayed away from using it when opposition parties were agitating against the setting up of Tata Motors' small car factory in Singur.
"I relied on the opposition parties' sense of responsibility as I believe force is not the solution in a democratic system. But they not only disrespected my faith in them, but they didn't see the interest of the state," Bhattacharjee told an interactive session with intellectuals here..... READ FULL STORY
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Bengali new year celebrated with gaiety across West Bengal
Kolkata, 15 April : People across West Bengal today celebrated the Bengali New Year with traditional fervour by visiting temples and offering sweets to friends and relatives.
For Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, the day began very early by paying a visit to Kali temple at Kalighat in the city taking a short break from her busy campaign schedule.Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee as usual began his campaign at Jadavpur in the morning.
People attired in traditional dresses were out on the streets to celebrate 'Bangabda' 1418. Long queues were seen before restaurants, serving Bengali dishes.
Traders went to Kali temple at dawn with the halkhata (new book of accounts) to seek blessings and treated old customers with refreshments.
In the backdrop of Rabindranath Tagore's 150th anniversary celebrations, many businessmen brought out calendars bearing a picture of the poet. န Photos : Demotix, Subho Das
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MFH Amini threatens to paralyze country within 10 minutes
UNB, Dhaka, 5 April : Islamic Ain Bastabayan Committee chairman Mufti Fazlul Huq Amini on Friday threatened to paralyze the country within 10 minutes to one-hour if his abducted son is not released. “April 4 hartal was a primary showdown. If the final showdown begins, the government won’t be able to survive. We’ve ability to make the country collapsed within 10 minutes by announcing a one-hour program,” Amini said at a meeting of Islamic Ain Bastabayon Committee at National Press Club today.
Dhaka city unit of the Islamic Ain Bastabayon Committee organised the meeting with its Ameer Maulana Abul Kashem in the chair. Maulana Mohammad Ishaq, Mufti Mohammad Wakkas, Moulana Abdul Latif Nizami and Moulana Sheikh Lokman Hossain also addressed the meeting. Amini, also the leader of Islami Oikya Jote, alleged that his son Abul Hasnat had been picked up by plainclothes on 9 April.
He said he believes the abduction took place following the direction of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Amini said he comes out from home everyday with preparation for arrest. “So, the threat of arrest, won’t work. I’m not afraid of such arrest threat.”
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Yechury ignores all 'opinion polls' on Left Front prospects
Kolkata, 15 April : CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury today refused to attach any importance to opinion polls conducted by several newspapers and TV channel that have gone against the Left Front and said such predictions have always proved wrong. "I have every respect for those organisations which conducted such opinion polls. But such results have always gone wrong in the past. Anyway, I admire their tenacity," the CPI(M) politburo leader said at a press conference here in Alimuddin Street.
Asked if he was confident of Left Front returning to power this time, Yechury said, "The Leftists are great fighters. We always enter the battle only to win. န Photo : PTI
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Rongali Bihu celebrations as Assam welcomed "New Year"
Guwahati, 15 April Mellifluous voice of the cuckoo, lilting Bihu songs and enchanting notes of flutes and buffalo horns heralded the spring festival of Rongali Bihu as Assam welcomed the new year with traditional gaiety today. Replacing the strident cacophonous campaigning for the assembly elections that ended on 11 April, the joyous Bihu songs with lyrics of youthful love played to the background as young men and women danced merrily.
Bihu pandals were seen at many places where cultural programmes will be held throughout the Assamese Bohag month.
Beginning with Goru Bihu yesterday when the cattle of the household were given a ceremonial bath at the village river or tank, this agrarian festival marks the new year today for the state. န Photos : AP, Demotix
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Six security men among Seven killed in Manipur ambush
PTI, Imphal, 15 April : At least seven persons including six security personnel were today killed when rebels ambushed a security party escorting an Independent MLA in Manipur's Ukhrul district, officials said.
The militants opened fire at the convoy of Independent MLA Wungnaoshing Keishing of Phungyar assembly constituency when he was returning to Imphal after attending a function at Riha village at Yaingangpokpi area in the district at around 3 pm, they said.
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