Pained at PM's attack on late Rajiv Gandhi, says Sam Pitroda
Indore: Senior Congress leader Sam Pitroda Sunday condemned Prime Minister Narendra Modi for terming former PM Rajiv Gandhi as corrupt.
Speaking at a poll rally in Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh on Saturday, PM Modi, attacking Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, accused the latter's father, former PM Rajiv Gandhi, of being corrupt.
"Your father was termed 'Mr Clean' by his courtiers, but his life ended as 'Bhrastachari number 1' (corrupt number 1)," Modi had said.
Hitting back, Pitroda Sunday said, "The baseless comments that the country's current Prime Minister has made yesterday about former premier Rajiv Gandhi makes me feel ashamed as a Gujarati. I belong to the same Gujarat where Mahatma Gandhi was born."
Speaking to reporters at the Indore Press Club, Pitroda, who is the chief of the Indian Overseas Congress, said, "I am pained to see people hailing from Gujarat (referring to PM Modi) falling to such an extent that they lie in such a way about a dead person."
Pitroda (77) was a close aide of Rajiv Gandhi.
Pitroda also asked the Election Commission to "introspect" on its clean chit to the PM and BJP president Amit Shah on some controversial statements and alleged violation of the model code of conduct.
"The Election Commissioner should ponder whether he is EC of the country or is he representing a political party," Pitroda remarked, adding that the ruling party had "hijacked" the country's democracy.
"We can see that government bodies are being taken over and their chiefs are afraid," Pitroda alleged.
"In the last five years, the Modi government has not fulfilled its poll promises. This government has only lied and not done any specific work. Despite that when youth get impressed with Modi, I am really surprised," he said.
In a reply to a query on such behaviour by the youth, Pitroda said, "It is definitely true and appropriate to accept that it is our weakness that we are unable to take our stand to the youth. But we can't spend crores of rupees like the BJP on social media.
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Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
