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Telecast of seer inquiry video:
NHRC issues notice to TN

What is India News Service, Thursday, 13 January 2005, 2000 hrs IST

Several television channels, notably Sun TV, showed excerpts on Wednesday from the video recording of the custodial interrogation of the Kanchi Sankaracharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, by the police in November 2004. 

The Acharya was heard complaining that the junior Sankaracharya, Sri Vijayendra Saraswathi, did not show any concern for him when he was arrested in the Sankararaman murder case. Sri Vijayendra only wanted to make sure that neither he nor his brother would be arrested in the case and that he had failed to show solicitude for his elderly guru, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi said. 

During the videographed interrogation, the Kanchi Acharya also revealed that he had knowledge of and agonised over the letters written by Sankararaman against him. The Acharya said he had only spoken of his anguish at the letters written by Sankararaman and that he had not asked that Sankararaman be beaten, stabbed or slashed. Even for this, there was a "reaction." 

Sun TV, which telecast a 10-minute clip, announced that a compact disc was delivered at its office on Wednesday afternoon. Although the channel wrote to the Director-General of Police and the City Police Commissioner about the compact disc and enquired whether it could be telecast, no objection was received.

NHRC issues notice to TN Govt: The National Human Rights Council issued a notice to the Tamil Nadu Government on the circumstances of the arrest of Junior Sankaracharya of Kanchi Mutt Vijayendra Saraswathi, and the "selective leakage" of excerpts of police interrogation of Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi to TV channels. The Commission asked the State Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to furnish a "factual report" within two weeks.

Seer accuses SIT of damaging his reputation: ''The telecast of the video clippings, manipulated by the police under the guise of interrogation, has not only wounded his feelings but also his devotees' sentiments,'' Mr A Shanmugam, counsel for the Acharya, said.

CD begins a whodunnit debate: Why was Seer's interrogation footage aired on DMK-allied Sun TV instead of Jaya TV?

Acharya won't be arrested till January 20: The Tamil Nadu Government today gave an undertaking in a sessions court here that it would not arrest the Kanchi Acharya, Sri Jayendra Saraswathi, in the `Thirukottiyur Madhavan assault case' till January 20.

PM announces knowledge panel: India will pursue its policy of seeking partnership for development with China and Pakistan along with the other countries, but there will be no compromise on the nation\92s security aspect, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh declared today while inaugurating the three-day 10th partnership summit of the CII held on the National Library premises here this morning.

SC fiat on admission to professional courses: The states have been warned that any violation of the stipulations would invite punitive action.

Supreme Court bars convicted legislators from contesting polls: If a Member of Parliament or the Legislative Assembly is convicted by a court during his tenure, he or she cannot contest the next elections at the expiry of the term, taking advantage of the "exception" clause.

Centre announces pension for more freedom fighters: The government also lifted recruitment restrictions for the health sector and hiked the minimum support price for copra by Rs 70 among other things.

Advani slams dual citizenship announcement: BJP leader L K Advani said national security was not taken into consideration by the Centre in its all-inclusive offer of dual citizenship. 

J.N. Dixit Memorial Lecture: The External Affairs Minister, K. Natwar Singh, told The Hindu today that he has decided to institute the J.N. Dixit Memorial Lecture in recognition of the late Foreign Secretary's services to the nation.

Centre rejects Geelani\92s plea to visit Pak: The Centre has denied permission to hardline Kashmiri separatist leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani from attending a conference in Islamabad.

States

Survivors back on street as camps shut down: Relief camps for over 82,000 tsunami survivors are closing down as owners want their buildings back from govt ahead of a festival.

Punjab cuts power of junior officers: Junior officers cannot issue arrest warrants to farmers on recovery of cooperative loans, the Punjab Government has said.

RJD, Left, NCP to fight jointly in Bihar: In a clear game of oneupmanship, the RJD, Left parties and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) today said they would contest next month\92s Bihar and Jharkhand elections together and announce their seat-sharing arrangement in Patna on January 14.

Delhi Lt Governor for action plan to tackle calamities: 
The Disaster Management Authority would formulate policyand build infrastructure to mitigate damage of all kinds of natural and man-made disasters.