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Protect rights of
poor children, PM for action
plan for informal sector
Scribes get
support from Dhindsa, all over
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India to develop thermal torpedoes India to stay out
of Lanka’s ‘fluid situation’ Switzerland,
India ink 2 pacts Indo-Swiss
‘brain exchange’ plan mooted Ministers arrive for SAARC conference Cong announces
192 candidates for Rajasthan Jhabak to take on
Gehlot in Rajasthan Discontent in
BJP over ticket issue India against
new commitment on climate change SIT questions
two cops in Telgi case SC admits appeal
against TDSAT order on unified licence SC seeks
progress report on river interlinking No Indian died
in Riyadh, says ministry
7-yr RI for Cong
leader
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Protect rights of poor children, says PM New Delhi, November 10 The three-day conference has been organised by the UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) and the Union Human Resource Development Ministry. The Prime Minister said that the difference between the poor man’s school and the rich man’s school was becoming starker with each passing year. “Since quality education is crucial for capturing opportunities in the emerging knowledge economy, this difference will further widen the already unacceptable divide between the haves and the have-nots,” Mr Vajpayee said. Mr Vajpayee said that the poor were right in demanding not just ‘education for all’ but ‘quality education for all’. He said that realisation of this right was becoming increasingly difficult in the fast changing economic scenario. He observed that market forces were shaping the growth of all layers of education, including elementary education. “The rights of the poor children have to be protected from the working of market forces. I would like this meet to deliberate on how best to achieve this objective,” he said. Mr Vajpayee said that India had taken a revolutionary step by making free and compulsory education a fundamental right of all children between 6 to 14 years of age. It had also launched a comprehensive programme ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’ to educate all children in this age group. “But, all programmes aimed at spreading education require funds. I am afraid, the fast track initiative started by the international funding agencies in 2002 has so far been neither fast nor adequate.” The Prime Minister reminded the gathering of the pledge announced at Dakar in 2000 that no country, seriously committed to basic education, would be thwarted in the achievement of this goal due to lack of resources. “We need to accelerate the process if we wish to ensure that we do not slip on the deadline set at Dakar. Now is the time to redeem this pledge”, he said. |
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PM for action plan for informal sector New Delhi, November 10 Inaugurating the Gender Poverty Summit here, Mr Vajpayee said gender issues should be the specific focus of this action plan and the successful experience of other countries in this regard should be suitably incorporated. He pointed out that 93 per cent of India’s total workforce was now in the informal sector and one third of them were women, including those working as vendors of fruits and vegetables, bamboo workers and makers and sellers of diyas during
Divali. “We have not yet paid sufficient attention to the wealth and assets being created in this sector,’’ he said. Stressing the need for a holistic approach towards
realising the poverty alleviation potential of the informal sector, Mr Vajpayee said that the best of plans will work only when those who implement them have a little care and compassion for the poor. The Prime Minister said neither the government sector nor the organised industry today could generate a significant number of employment opportunities. “The informal sector should not be viewed as a marginal or short-term phenomenon. It is here to stay,’’ he asserted. Mr Vajpayee, however, asserted that the poverty level in the country had reduced significantly as a result of economic reforms. “I have observed that excellent results are achieved
wherever the local administration, banks, NGOs, self-help groups and small entrepreneurs have worked closely together”, he said. |
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Scribes get support from Dhindsa, all over
New Delhi, November 10 CHENNAI: Over 60 journalist and non-journalist staff of Theekathir, the mouthpiece of CPI-M, observed a day's fast in front of their office in the city, condemning the arrest warrants issued against six scribes by the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker K. Kalimuthu. LUCKNOW: Journalists from all over Uttar Pradesh took out a protest march here against the decision of the Tamil Nadu Assembly. The journalists, who also boycotted the Press galleries of both Houses of the state legislature for an hour on the first day of the Budget session today, assembled at the Vidhan Sabha . INDORE: A large number of journalists took out a silent protest march against the Tamil Nadu Speaker's order. DEHRA DUN: Journalists today held a symbolic dharna against the Tamil Nadu Assembly Speaker. Holding placards inscribed with “down with the repression of the press”, they raised slogans against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa for her “dictatorial policies” against the fourth estate. IMPHAL: Over 100 journalists from print and electronic media in Manipur launched a day-long sit-in protest here against the Tamil Nadu Assembly's decision. Official reports said the journalists also put up placards, saying “Don't try to gag the press, leave the media personnel to work freely”. MUZAFFARNAGAR: Journalists of the district today observed a “black day” and took out a procession against the order. Wearing black badges, they burnt an effigy of Ms J. Jayalalithaa and later took out a procession. TIRUCHIRAPPALLI:
The Reporters Guild, here, condemned the Tamil Nadu Assembly's decision and expressed hope the issue would be resolved amicably by the apex court “as it deemed fit”.
— PTI |
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India to develop thermal torpedoes New Delhi, November 10 India and Kyrgystan on the other hand are exploring the possibility of testing the torpedoes from the facility available in the Central Asian Republic. The two issues were discussed during the four-day recent visit of Defence Minister George Fernandes to Kazakhstan and
Kyrgyzstan. Mr Fernandes returned from the two nation tour only yesterday. An official release
issued here today said that India and Kazakhstan would explore the possibilities of joint research and development in the field of thermal torpedoes. The torpedoes thus developed would work on the heat seeking formula and would possibly be fired with the help of thermal imagers. Sources here said that the scientists from the country’s Defence Research Development Organisation
(DRDO) and from Kazakhstan would work out the further arrangements for the joint research and development. The two countries would also undertake joint cooperation in the field of naval armaments. In Kazakhstan, Mr Fernandes also held talks on bilateral cooperation in areas of joint exercises, military training, jungle warfare and information technology. The Defence Minister met the Prime Minister, Defence Minister and the Industry Minister of Kazakhstan. In Kyrgyzstan also Mr Fernandes held talks on bilateral cooperation in
military training, information technology. |
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India to stay out of Lanka’s ‘fluid situation’ New Delhi, November 10 Mr Sibal made this remark in response to repeated questions from reporters at a news briefing about Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's week-long three-nation visit, beginning tomorrow. “It is a fluid situation. Everyday we are seeing statements which have significant implications. Everybody wants peace and the preservation of the peace process, Mr Sibal said. He was asked to comment on the reported statement of former Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, who is now a Political Adviser to President Chandrika Kumaratunga, that India was the only country which could mediate between the LTTE and the government. Mr Sibal expressed hope that Sinhala groups in the island nation would resolve all matters amicably through dialogue so that the peace process could be put back on the rails. |
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Switzerland, India ink 2 pacts New Delhi, November 10 President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam hosted a banquet in Rashtrapati Bhavan in honour of Mr Couchepin. The Foreign Office here said the agreement on science and technology cooperation would help combine Indo-Swiss strengths in research for mutually beneficial spin-offs and enable explore new avenues of cooperation in bio-technology, life sciences, genome research and environmental technologies. Besides, India would also be able to draw from the commendable research done by the Swiss in nano-technology, an area of deep interest for India. Earlier in the day, the Swiss President proposed a "brain exchange" programme with an "important country" like India. Talking to reporters after he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning, the visiting dignitary said: "Instead of ‘doing brain drain" like others are trying, we want to have a 'brain exchange' with India so that the movement is not in one direction but in both directions. Mr Couchepin said India was an important country of which the world had to take note of in all negotiations including the WTO. He said: “It is important to know what is happening in India and what the leadership of this country thinks". The Swiss President is accompanied by a high-level delegation. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and senior civil and defence officials were among others present for the welcome ceremony. The last presidential visit from Switzerland was by Flavio Cotti in 1998. |
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Indo-Swiss ‘brain exchange’ plan mooted New Delhi, November 10 Talking to reporters after he was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning, the visiting dignitary said: “Instead of ‘doing brain drain’ like others are trying, we want to have a 'brain exchange' with India so that the movement is not in one direction but in both directions. Mr Couchepin said India was an important country of which the world had to take note of in all negotiations, including the WTO. He said: “It is important to know what is happening in India and what the leadership of this country thinks”. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha, Human Resource Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi and senior civil and defence officials were among others present for the welcome ceremony. |
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Ministers arrive for SAARC conference New Delhi, November 10 Barring Sri Lanka, Information Ministers of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Pakistan, Sri Lanka are attending the Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to India, Mangala Moonesinghe will represent the country at the conference as Sri Lankan Information Minister Imtiaz Bakeer was fired by President Chandrika Kumaratunga last week. Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ravi Shankar Prasad told mediapersons here yesterday that free movement of mediapersons within the region and framing of model guidelines for transnational satellite broadcasters were key issues that had been listed on the proposed agenda. Secretaries of SAARC countries assembled here today to reach an official consensus on the agenda. Mr Prasad said the proposed agenda also included training of mediapersons of SAARC countries, feasibility of He said Doordarshan had overtaken other SAARC countries in bringing out |
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Cong announces 192 candidates for Rajasthan New Delhi, November 10 The party has denied ticket to 20 MLAs and a minister. The Congress had 153 MLAs in the outgoing Assembly. Sons and relatives of five Congress leaders, including Natwar Singh, Nawal Kishore Sharma and Paras Ram Madherna, Chandan Mal and Sis Ram Ola have been given ticket. Two Members of Parliament, Amaduddin Ahmed "Durru Miyan" and Tara Chand Bagora, figure in the list of 192 candidates which was declared today at the AICC by the Congress general secretary Ambika Soni in the presence of state Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and PCC chief Girja Vyas. |
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Jhabak to take on Gehlot
in Rajasthan New Delhi, November 10 The second list of 73 candidates, released by the party for Rajasthan, clearly reflected the central leadership conscious attempt to give more weightage to caste equation and accommodate senior state leaders. Mr Jhabak, who belongs to Vaishnav Samaj, according to party sources is expected to give a good run for the Rajasthan Chief Minister due to his immense popularity among his community, which has a sizeable vote. Today’s list contained nine women, 14 Scheduled Castes and 7 Scheduled Tribes candidates. The first list, released earlier, contained 93 candidates. With this list, the party has finalised candidates for 527 of the total 590 assembly seats in the four states going to the polls next month. It still has to select 14 candidates in Delhi, four in Chhattisgarh, 11 in MP and Rajasthan 34. While Mayor of Jaipur Ms Sheel Dhabhai has been given ticket from Kotputli, Ms Pushpa Gupta has been fielded from the Alwar constituency, for which BJP’s national treasurer and senior BJP leader in Rajasthan Ram Das Aggarwal was one of the strong contenders. The party has decided to field Surendra Parik from the Hawa Mahal constituency in place of Pradesh President Mohan Lal Sharma, apparently keeping in mind caste equation and winnability. The rejection of ticket to Deepa Singh, who had won from the Nadbai constituency two consecutive time, clearly reflected the party high command’s move to accommodate influential and senior leaders. The party has given ticket to Dr Jitendra Singh, a Mandal president, who is close to Lok Sabha MP from Bharatpur Vishwender Singh. Mr Singh had resigned a couple of days back allegedly “improper” distribution of ticket in his LS Constituency, which also includes Nadbai. Four former ministers, Kalu Lal Gujar, Jogeshwar Garg, Ganga Ram and Ram Narayan Vishnoi also find place in the second list. While Gujar will contest from Mandal, Ganga Ram has been fielded from Chohtan seat, Garg from Jalore (SC) and Vishnoi from Phalodi. Ganga Ram, a former Congress man, is an influential Jat leader. |
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Discontent in BJP over ticket issue Bhopal, November 10 Dhar is Union Sports Minister Vikram Verma’s traditional Assembly constituency and Dr Vijayvargiya is his nominee. Mr
Patidar, Mr Muvel and Ms Baghel have accused Mr Verma of forcing most of the selections for the Malwa region in consultation with Chief Minister Digvijay Singh. BJP’s Vice-President and former Union Minister Sartaj Singh had resigned from the party post yesterday in protest against the neglect of wishes of party workers in Hoshangabad district. Mr Ramesh Sharma Guttu Bhaiya, a former MLA from Bhopal (north), today declared his intention to resign from the BJP’s executive committee in protest against the ticket distribution in Bhopal. Several office-bearers of the Bhopal district unit have also decided to follow Guttu Bhaiya. Union Minister of State Sumitra Mahajan’s house at Indore was gheraoed by irate party workers in protest against ticket distribution in
Indore. A large number of BJP workers held a demonstration at
Tikamgarh, home district of the BJP’s chief ministerial candidate, Ms Uma Bharati, in protest against ticket distribution in the district. They announced publicly that they would not work for BJP candidates. |
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India against new commitment on climate change New Delhi, November 10 “The existing equilibrium of commitments and differentiation between developed and developing nations has to be maintained,” Mr L K Advani said, adding that no new commitment should be introduced for developing countries. Inaugurating Technology Bazaar and a conference on climate change here, Mr Advani pointed out that adaptation to climate change by developing countries would not be automatic as it entailed considerable costs to them. Developed countries need to address the declining proportion of official development assistance to developing countries, he added. |
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SIT questions two cops in Telgi case Mumbai, November 10 Mr Padwal, ACP (Crime), and Senior Inspector Anil Deshmukh were summoned by the SIT and grilled for over one and a half hours, SIT sources said. Their questioning comes a day after Mumbai Police Commissioner R.S. Sharma was quizzed on the same matter. Inspector Anil Deshmukh is attached to the Narpule police station in Bhiwandi town of nearby Thane district. He was understood to have been questioned in connection with the seizure of fake stamp papers worth Rs 850 crore in Bhiwandi on January 16. According to SIT sources, the seizure was ‘stage-managed’ as it was done allegedly at the instance of Telgi but the ‘panchnama’ showed that it was made on a tip-off by Telgi’s aide.
— PTI |
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SC admits appeal against TDSAT order on unified licence New Delhi, November 10 A Bench comprising Mr Justice S. Rajendra Babu, Mr Justice A.R. Lakshman and Mr Justice G.P. Mathur, while admitting the statutory appeal against the tribunal’s recent order, issued notice to the Centre, seeking its reply. The appeal was filed by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI), challenging the TDSAT’s verdict on the ground that tribunal’s chairman had not agreed with the verdict of the two other members that the government had power to give licence for mobile service to basic operators. The COAI claimed that the verdict of TDSAT Chairman Justice D P Wadhwa, who disagreed with the other two members, was in fact the correct interpretation of the National Telecom Policy (NTP) of 1999. The cellular operators said that Mr Wadhwa’s ruling was the “first definitive pronouncement” regarding the rights telecom operators given licencee to the licencee of a particular type of service provider under the NTP and the obligation of the government as a licensor. The judgement had raised a question whether the licensor had the power to “unilaterally and arbitrarily alter” the terms and conditions of the licence agreement, the COAI said. The petitioners had also questioned the findings of TDSAT on the ground whether the mobility licence was a value addition to WLL service. “What is the true meaning and effect of NTP-1999, a policy which was placed before Parliament. Can such a policy be ignored on the ground that it is non-statutory as two members of TDSAT have said,” the COAI asked in its petition said. |
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SC seeks progress report on river interlinking New Delhi, November 10 A Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice S.B. Sinha, before which the feasibility report about the Action Plan-I was placed by the government earlier, gave six weeks time to it to file an affidavit on the status of the second action plan. Centre’s counsel Sayed Naqvi told the court that the Task Force set up under the Chairmanship of former Environment Minister Suresh Prabhu had already identified 30 major points for linking of rivers, over which there was no dispute among the states concerned. Besides diverting the water from surplus zones to drought prone deficient areas, the project envisages to check floods and protect environment also. The Centre said under the Action Plan-II, two committees had been set up under K.V. Kamath to examine the feasibility and the cost factor of the massive project as various states had expressed their reservation on it. |
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No Indian died in Riyadh, says ministry New Delhi, November 10 A spokesman of the ministry said there was no truth in reports published in a section of the Press that an Indian security guard had been killed in the midnight attack in a residential compound in which at least 11 people were killed and 120 injured. While one of the injured, identified as Mohammed Rafiaq, was discharged after first aid the same day, the other, Habib-ur-Rehman Rafique, a 24-year-old driver, was admitted to a hospital with splinter injuries. |
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Dharmendra honoured New Delhi, November 10 The organisation at its 13th annual award ceremony also honoured celebrities like actor Raza Murad, singers Kumar Sanu, Penez Masani, Bhuppi, Vipin Sachdeva and veteran producer Arjun Hingorani. Union Minister of State for Home Swami Chinmayanand presented the award. The function was attended by a galaxy of noted personalities from different walks of the life, including Delhi BJP President Madan Lal Khurana and his wife.
— PTI |
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7-yr RI for Cong leader Bhopal, November 10 Prajapat had tried to kill another PCC general secretary, Manak Agrawal in the morning of July 29, 2001. He walked into the Nishat Colony bungalow of Mr Agrawal and shot at him twice with his licensed pistol and then drove to the T.T. Nagar police station, about 1 km away. While one of the bullets just grazed Mr Agrawal’s chin, the other lodged into the neck. He was rushed to the Hamidia Hospital and an emergency operation was carried on him to remove the bullet. He was later shifted to the Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai for treatment. |
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