AAP to form govt on Thursday

New Delhi: Belying all claims of being a 'non-actor or no factor' in the Assembly elections by the Congress and BJP, Aam Aadmi Party founder Arvind Kejriwal on Monday gave a formal 'yes’ to form a government in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. He will be meeting Leutenant-Governor Najeeb Jung about staking claim to government formation.

Sources said that Kejriwal will take over as Chief Minister on December 26. Sources close to Kejriwal said the AAP intends to hold its oath-taking ceremony either at Jantar Mantar or the Ramlila Grounds, from where it had launched its anti-corruption crusade two years ago.

Speaking to reporters, AAP leader Manish Sisodia said: "If the Lt Governor permits, oath-taking will take place at Jantar Mantar."

Reacting to the AAP decision, Sheila Dikshit said that Congress will outside support to the government and it will be an issue-based backing. "We have not promised unconditional support to AAP. It is for their programmes, let us see if they deliver," she added.

"Aam Aadmi Party has compromised with a party that is known for corruption," said BJP leader Harsh Vardhan referring to the Congress. AAP has betrayed the people of Delhi, he added.

The AAP office in Ghaziabad was swarmed by supporters ahead of a crucial meeting that began at 10 am.

The engineer-turned-bureaucrat, who was largely instrumental in ending the 15-year rule of caretaker CM Sheila Dikshit, had declared he would take a call on government formation only after getting the feedback from citizens through 'jan sabhas' (public meetings), SMSes, phone calls, Facebook and his party’s website.

Prison rules may nip Jagan Mohan Reddy's fast in the bud

Hyderabad: YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who began his indefinite hunger strike on Sunday in Chanchalguda Jail, is likely to face serious action under the Prison Act. The Prison Act and Rules says that a prisoner can be force-fed and if he commits the offence again, he can be prosecuted and punishment can amount to a year’s imprisonment.

Chanchalaguda jail superintendent K. Saidaiah confirmed that Jagan Mohan Reddy refused to take any food since morning and said that he would be dealt with according to prison rules.

The Central Industrial Security Force has been deployed outside the jail to prevent protests by YSRC activists and counter-protests by Telangana protagonists.

A jail official who does not want to be named, said Jagan Mohan Reddy had refused to eat any food throughout the day. “He gave us several reasons orally for not taking food. But he refused to give a written application on what ground he is going on strike. He will be dealt with according to Sections 302 and 593 of the AP Prison Rules 1979 and Sections 52 and 46 of the AP Prison Act 1894.”

A jail doctor checked the health condition of Jagan Mohan Reddy.

In earlier cases, when arrested Maoists went on mass hunger strikes, the prosecution sections were not invoked and only ordinary punishments like penal diet and cutting down facilities were imposed.

A jail official said, “As per Section 593, it is the duty of the prison authorities to do what they reasonably can to keep up the health of the prisoner.”

Jagan could be fed by force

Speaking on the option of YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy being force-fed after he began his indefinite hunger strike at the Chanchalguda jail, a jail official said, “In hunger strike, a prisoner is likely to cause his own death, and the medical officer at his discretion can direct that the prisoner be forcibly fed if it is the only option to keep him alive. Forcible feeding shall not be with violence.”

On Monday, jail officials will warn Jagan that as per Section 302 (treatment of hunger strikes) no redress of any alleged grievance will be allowed as long as the strike continues and he is liable to any prison punishment under Section 52 of the Prison Act. The Section also says that after sufficient warning, the prisoner can be prosecuted under this Act.

The proceedings have to be held within the prison with no delay.

Telangana govt to rule Hyderabad

Hyderabad: The administration of Hyderabad will remain with the Telangana government unless the Centre declares the city as a Union Territory for the 10 years it serves as the joint capital.
Existing rules do not permit any other arrangement which would allow a third party administration for the common capital. Highly placed sources in the Central government told this newspaper that irrespective of the UT status, protection of migrants and their assets would be given legislative backing along with their very status in the new state.

Uncertainty over limits of UT status

A senior bureaucrat involved in the process of creating Telangana state at the Centre said, “The AP Reorganisation Bill 2013 will clearly specify the number of years of stay and pursue of studies for a particular period to determine the local status of migrants in the Telangana state.”

There had been a general feeling among migrants, employees and businessmen from Andhra and Rayalaseema regions that the Centre would control the city’s administration when AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh had announced that Hyderabad would be the common capital for 10 years.

Sources, however, said that the Congress Central leadership was aware of these limitations and played it safe by buying time on the contentious issue. “They (Congress leaders) do not want the upbeat mood in Telangana to be spoiled with the declaration of a UT status,” the sources added.

As an option, the Centre is considering according UT status to the city with a specific mention of a time frame of 10 years on condition that it will be part of the Telangana state thereafter. The second option is to leave it to the Telangana government to administer.

“In such a case it is equal to living in a rented house,” said a senior state bureaucrat. Sources also said there was no clarity on whether to restrict the UT status, if accorded, to the GHMC limits or extend it to the HMDA.