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Bring President, PM under Lokpal’s purview, moots Kalam
Congress expels five rebels
PM to address Plan panel issue on return Cong to move EC over BJP’s pamphlets
It was different, special, yet simple
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Defer poll in 2 states, says disabled group
Job guarantee legislation under cloud
DMK leader’s son accused of bigamy
Sops for TN film industry
Discussion on investment panel likely tomorrow
I don’t like celebrating b’days: Lata
Conversions lead to strife
in Tamil Nadu
SC dismisses PIL for abrogation of Article 370
Jet airways expands low
night fare scheme
Outsourcing of catering on trains
Former minister Maurya dead
Salman’s brother faces trial
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Bring President, PM under Lokpal’s purview,
Dehra Dun, September 27 Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Eighth All-India Lokayuktas conference, President Kalam backed the power plea by the Lokayuktas, urging all states that still do not have the office of Lokayukta to set it up within three months. Opening the three-day conference under way at the Forest Research Institute here, President Kalam recognised the need for a uniform Act for the Lokayuktas in the country and setting up of the apex office of Lokpal. Surprised at the fact that the MLAs and Chief Ministers do not fall in the purview of Lokayuktas in most states, he said the jurists and Lokayuktas at the conference must debate the issue and make appropriate recommendations to the government in this regard. The MLAs and Chief Ministers were kept out of the Lokayukta purview on the plea that they did not fall in the category of public servants, he said. It is high time for the government to sit up and take the office of Lokayuktas seriously, he said, adding that the institution existed only in 17 states. Pointing at the identity crisis of the office in certain states, he said in states like Rajasthan, the Lokayukta had no more than ornamental value while in Punjab and
Himachal, the office was vacant. Expressing concern over a general suspicion setting in among people about corruption in the political and administrative system, he said this confidence would have to be revived. Sound functioning of the institution could clear the common belief that people in high offices were above the law, he said. There was a growing feeling among people that crimes committed by people in high offices went unpunished. Underscoring the necessity for keeping this independent institution outside the system, insulated from any political meddling, the President said its jurisdiction should be expanded. He, however, added that expansion should be riveted with inbuilt checks and balances. The Lokayuktas ought to ensure that no one ridiculed these high offices by victimising people for vested interests. Emphasizing the importance of making justice visible to the common man, he said if the Lokayuktas sent the message that whatever is wrong, unlawful and unethical would not be exonerated, the institution would become a household name to ensure transparency. The President said if no action was taken on the report of the Lokayukta in cases of corruption and abuse of power within three months the Lokayukta sent it to the Governor who might place it in the Legislative Assembly. Dr Kalam cited the example of Karnataka where the Lokayukta had been instrumental in seizure of 2.5 crores of assets disproportionate to known means, to drive home the point of Lokayuktas’ proactive role in cleansing public offices of corruption. He said a uniform system for appointment of Lokayuktas was long overdue. Addressing the conference earlier, Uttaranchal Lokayukta Justice MHA Raza said corruption was the main factor, which retarded our growth. He said the office was well equipped with required powers, it could introduce transparency in the system. The President later met leprosy and TB patients supported by a voluntary organisation in Dehradun after which he left for Mussoorie to attend a function at a private school. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will attend the closing ceremony of the three-day conference tomorrow. |
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Congress expels five rebels
Mumbai, September 27 According to a statement released here, the expelled candidates are Madan Bhosle from Wai, Sanjay Patil from Tasgaon, Harbans Singh from Navi Mumbai, Bimrao Dhos from Srigonda and Bhimrao Dhonde from Beed. Of the rebels, Bhosle has already resigned from the party. His father, Mr Prataprao Bhosle, a former Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President, also quit the party last week. The Congress and the NCP are likely to release their election manifestoes by Wednesday. |
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PM to address Plan panel issue on return New Delhi, September 27 The Left in their critique, however, seem to be offering a wayout to the Prime Minister to resolve the entangle. Although the solution being suggested will be a comedown for the UPA government, which unilaterally took the decision to appoint experts from multilateral agencies like the World Bank, the Asian Development Bank and consultancy firms McKinsey, Boston Consultancy Group to the panel set up to review the mid-term appraisal of the 10th Five Year Plan. “Discuss with them, consult them, but do not accord them the status of being a part of the functioning of a sovereign state,” CPM leaders said. “Association of foreign organisations in the process of a mid-term appraisal constitutes an affront,” they said. They said, “All these agencies, as is known and accepted, have their own agendas. More often than not, these agendas, far from converging with India’s interest, are contrary to our economic sovereignty.” The meeting of Left leaders with Dr Manmohan Singh before he left for the USA had assuaged the Marxists not to raise the issue till he returned after wooing the international community to invest in India. However, the critical remark by Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia in London resulted in Left-oriented economists in the panel to threaten to resign, if the foreign experts continued to be part of it. The threat resulted in most of the foreign experts offering to resign from the panel. Left leaders said the argument being extended in certain quarters that most of the ‘foreign’ experts were actually Indians and their presence would not undermine the sovereignty of the nation, was unsubstantiated. They said the party was not against any individual, but was against the organisations they represented. “These organisations, votaries of globalisation, whose omnipotent god is the market, have consistently stood against any effort of planned economic development,” they said. On the argument that lender would have a say on the way the funds should to be used, they said, “It is like saying if one borrows from a moneylender for the marriage of his daughter, the moneylender must be consulted on the choice of the groom! Merely borrowing from some agencies does not require that they be granted a role in the decision-making process on sovereign economic matters,” they said. |
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Cong to move EC over BJP’s pamphlets New Delhi, September 27 Party spokesman Anand Sharma accused the BJP and the Sangh Parivar of trying to resort to “communalism” ahead of the Maharashtra Assembly polls. “With the commencement of campaign for the Maharashtra polls, the BJP and its affiliate organisations are distributing books and pamphlets that call upon the majority community to vote for them,” he said. Mr Sharma said the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee has lodged a strong objection with the state Election Commission against the BJP and its sister organisations and the AICC will approach the Central Election Commission soon. “The pamphlets, seeking to make distinction between the majority community and others were being distributed all over the state,” he said.
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It was different, special, yet simple
On board PM’s special flight, September 27 This was bound to happen when the birthday boy happens to be the country’s Prime Minister and the venue the special Air India flight coming back from the USA, cruising at 32,000 ft above the Atlantic Ocean yesterday. Had it been back home, hordes of well-wishers would have reached Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s residence with flowers and sweets. If the shy and intensely private Prime Minister thought he would be able to spend a quiet 72nd birthday by choosing to fly back from his nine-day visit to the UK and the USA on this day, it was clearly not to be. The usual crowds of obsequious courtiers might have been missing but this lack of numbers was made up by the presence of enthusiastic mediapersons accompanying the PM on this visit. In fact, there was a protest when his glum-faced aides, who had organised a small “birthday bash” aboard, disclosed that the Prime Minister was embarrassed about all this fuss and would not cut the special fruit cake brought by the Air India crew. He would instead join them later, they said, and the airline crew then proceeded to serve the cake. Matters, however, did not rest there as the Press refused to eat it, insisting that Dr Manmohan Singh share a slice with them. The Prime Minister eventually gave in and reluctantly emerged from his special cabin where he had been sharing a few private moments with his two grandsons. In keeping with his personality, the Prime Minister looked distinctly uneasy and could even be seen blushing when mediapersons greeted him with an off-key birthday song. He accepted their wishes with his trademark namaste and when presented with a balloon, he bounced it up and down almost as if he was going to release it in the air. After the initial exchange of greetings, the birthday party was soon converted into an impromptu press conference with Dr Manmohan Singh taking questions on issues as varied as his proposed birthday resolution to his one-to-one talk with Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. He stated rather shyly that Congress president Sonia Gandhi and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam had called to greet him but insisted that he normally does not celebrate his birthday and does not encourage others to celebrate it either. When asked about any birthday resolutions for the coming year, the Prime Minister replied by quoting late British Prime Minister Harold Wilson: “A week in politics is a long time,” he said, adding that a year was too long to plan ahead and that he had a huge task ahead to improve the dynamics of India’s infrastructure. He said India was already the world’s fourth largest economy but that was not good enough as it had a huge potential to grow further. And how was this day different from his last birthday. “You can see the changes. Last year, I was leader of Opposition and today I am the Prime Minister...this is a reflection of the revolution of our times,” he stated disarmingly. No conversation with Dr Manmohan Singh is complete these days without the mandatory questions on his recent meeting with President Pervez Musharraf and the perennial carping by the Left. On both counts the Prime Ministers response was correct and diplomatic. A one-to-one meeting with the Pakistan President was thought to be an ideal opportunity to understand each other and he was “greatly encouraged” by this meeting. “General Musharraf is a person with whom we can do business with,” he observed. He said he has no problems with the Left parties. “Despite our differences when the chips are down, we will be able to work out a programme of action,” he said. |
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5 babies die in Kolkata hospital
Kolkata, September 27 The babies, suffering from respiratory problems and other ailments were admitted to the hospital last week, and were gradually recovering, according to doctors. But last night’s prolonged power cut suddenly deteriorated their condition, leading to their death. Though the hospital is equipped with a generator, it could not be operated due to technical defects, alleged the hospital union. Immediately after the incident, the Hospital Superintendent was asked to go on leave and an official inquiry was ordered by the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. As the news of the babies’ death spread this morning, hundreds of local people and workers of political parties gathered in front of the hospital and started demonstrating. Angry people stormed the Hospital Superintendent’s office and ransacked it. However, the police soon arrived and brought situation under control. Last year some 50 babies died in the hospital owing to the negligence of doctors and nurses. |
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Defer poll in 2 states, says disabled group
New Delhi, September 27 Activists of the DRG have decided to sit on dharna in front of the Election Commission here on Tuesday to protest against the commission’s “indifferent and callous attitude” towards the disabled voters. Sources in the DRG told TNS here today that at least a dozen voluntary organisations from Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida are expected to join the
dharna. Prominent among these are the Leprosy Mission, the DeafWay, the Swawalambam, All-India Federation of the Deaf, the Society for Disability and Rehabilitation, the Sehan, the Navprerna and St Joseph’s Service Society. DRG convenor, Javed Abidi who is orthopaedically disabled has written to the CEC, T.S. Krishna Murthy, to postpone elections in the two States if they cannot protect the voting rights of the disabled. “Heavens would not fall if these elections are postponed by a month or two but you cannot defranchise lakhs of disabled voters just because your officials decided to be lazy,” the letter reads. Describing the matter as “serious and urgent”, Mr Abidi has reminded the CEC of the Election Commission’s affidavit to the Supreme Court in response to a letter petition filed by the DRG before the General Elections this year. The affidavit reads, “With a view to evolving a system which will be voter friendly for the visually challenged persons, the Election Commission proposes to consult the government in the Ministry of Social Welfare and Empowerment, the petitioner, representatives of national-level organisations engaged in the welfare if the visually challenged and technical experts from the ECIL and the BEL the two firms manufacturing the EVMs (Electronic Voting Machines). After an appropriate and satisfactory solution is arrived at, the Election Commission will take all steps to set in place this system by the time of the next general elections to the legislative Assemblies of certain states that are due towards the end of this year.” An exasperated Mr Abidi has written to the CEC “with deep anguish” that the DRG could never think that the EC would make a hollow promise to the highest court of the nation. The DRG has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) on the matter in the Mumbai High Court. The case is listed for hearing tomorrow. The DRG’s partners in the North-East Shishu Saroti plan to file a PIL in the Guwahati High Court to demand that the disabled voters be provided barrier free access to polling booths. |
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Job guarantee legislation under cloud
New Delhi, September 27 Faced with barrage of critical comments, the Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvans Prasad Singh has decided to seek second opinion on the proposed legislation. The government had proposed to introduce the legislation in the winter session of Parliament. Allaying fears, he said the state governments need not have any apprehension concerning payment in case they are not able to fulfil the guarantee of providing employment
under the proposed law. “The state government will have to provide employment and the financial aspect will be taken care by the Central Government,” he told reporters on the sidelines of a two-day conference of project directors of district rural development
agencies here. The apprehension of the ruling Left Front in West Bengal is that floodgates of litigation would be opened because of the provision that a person might move the court if he or she failed to secure employment within the stipulated timeframe. As promised in the Common Minimum Programme (CMP) of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, the proposed legislation envisages that it is mandatory for the state government to pay daily wages as unemployment dole if it failed to provide employment within 15 days of receipt of a person’s application. However, apprehensive of the legal guarantee for at least 100 days of employment, the Left parties felt that this and other provisions could create problems. Meanwhile, addressing the two-day conference, the Union Minister said he had written to the Finance Minister to consider issuing necessary directions to banks to lower rate of interest on loans extended for swarozgaris under the SGSY to keep it within a slab of 4 to 6 per cent. He also asked banks as to why those under the SGSY seeking loans had to pay a higher interest rate as compared to others. |
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DMK leader’s son accused of bigamy
Chennai, September 27 While Jayalakshmi of Sivakasi in south Tamil Nadu, described more often these days as the femme fatale who was allegedly “abused sexually” by over 16 policemen, some of them high-ranking district-level officers, is pressing her case before the CBI to bring the truth out, a little-known bigamist has hit the headlines in the state. Forty-four-year-old Thiruvalluvan hailing from the temple town of Tiruchi has been arrested for reportedly marrying four women, including a doctor, and another woman from Sri Lanka. The matter came to light when his long-suffering third wife, Saraswati, discovered that yet another woman, this time a widow from the outskirts of Chennai had “married” her husband. The other women in the life of Thiruvalluvan, the son of a prominent DMK functionary, are Dr Bhanumati of Trivandrum, Sasikala of Sri Lanka and Kala (name changed), a widow from Sriperumbudur (where Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated). Police Inspector Anarkali of the all-woman police station in Tiruchi, who arrested the accused, said she had received complaints from other women cheated by Thiruvalluvan. “There are possibly three and four other women who were taken in by the charms of this man,” she said. Meanwhile, Jayalakshmi’s case has been transferred from the Madurai Bench of the High Court to Chennai. All documents pertaining to her multi faceted life with various policemen have reached here. She had alleged in a Tamil satellite channel recently that she had bribed former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvan, who is at present a Cabinet Minister in the Jayalalithaa government. The Division Bench comprising Mr Justice N.V. Balasubramanian and Mr Justice D.V. Masilamani, who heard the arguments in Madurai, have been asked to hear the case in Chennai by Chief Justice B. Subhashan Reddy. |
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Sops for TN film industry
Chennai, September 27 Last week film producers, directors, actors, technicians and even spot boys had gone on a strike for a day and organised protest processions against video piracy. They also sent a delegation to meet Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and had earlier taken up the issue with Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting Jaipal Reddy during his visit here. Ms Jayalalithaa today also announced some more sops, including a significant reduction in the entertainment tax on films and the rates for permission to shoot films at various locations in the state. Ms Jayalaithaa said the Goondas Act would be amended to include those involved in pirating video cassettes and video compact discs to make it an “effective deterrent against the widely prevalent practice of video piracy. As part of the package to boost the Tamil film industry, she also exempted lease transactions of the film industry from sales tax for three At present, there is a 12 per cent levy on lease of outdoor units, equipment hirers, studios, laboratories and recording theatres, audio, video and satellite rights. She also revived the scheme to provide a subsidy to low-budget films, announcing that select films would be provided Rs 7 lakh each. |
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Discussion on investment panel likely tomorrow
New Delhi, September 27 The proposed commission is expected to be a non-government panel headed by a professional, sources said, adding that it would come up for approval before the Cabinet on September 29. The Prime Minister, while making a power presentation at the world’s premier bourse NYSE last week, said the investment commission will be headed by an “envoy extraordinary” to woo foreign and domestic investments. On the basis of a “stable and incrementalist” the FDI policy, Mr Manmohan Singh said that India would seek investment in high technology, manufacturing and export sectors as part of its targeted 150 billion investment, especially in infrastructure. The new panel would approach Fortune 500 companies across the world for investment. It would also have interactions with top Indian companies to step up investment. The proposed panel is in line with his promise to eliminate policy bottlenecks that stand in the way of investments. While announcing the decision to set up an investment commission in the budget, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had said the panel will headed by an “expert”. The idea behind setting up a new commission is to provide a bridge between the government and the investors, so as to clear bureaucratic hurdles and policy impediments coming in the way of investment.
— PTI |
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I don’t like celebrating b’days: Lata
Mumbai, September 27 ‘Didi’, as she is fondly called by everybody, said she goes away from Mumbai before her birthday every year because she feels ‘’scared’’. ‘’This year due to the Ganpati celebrations, I am here at home along with my family and relatives,’’ she said. The Mangeshkar
household at ‘Prabhu Kunj’ on the Peddar Road in South Mumbai celebrates the Ganesh Chaturthi for 10 days. Lata will be off to
Kolhapur this evening, after the immersion. Lata, said there was no big celebration because of her ‘diamond jubilee’ birthday. “I performed a puja, that’s it... nothing more,’’ she informed. Her sister Usha Mangeshkar said ‘Didi’ was never at home on her birthdays. ‘’Last year, Adinath, brother Pandit Hridaynath Mangeshkar’s son had organised a public programme and persuaded her to come back to Mumbai.’’ Lata, who has lent her voice to Yash Chopra’s latest love epic ‘Veer Zaara’ to the tunes of late Madan Mohan, said she had never been away from playback singing. ‘’Even though I have cut down my work. I am always singing which I will never give up,’’ she said.
— UNI |
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Conversions lead to strife
in Tamil Nadu
Chennai, September 27 Williams Raj (30), who converted to Hinduism and began calling himself Sangamitran a few days ago, was paraded naked in Eduthukkatti village situated in
Myladuthurai, the parliamentary constituency of Union Minister for Petroleum, Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar. Worse, his sister, Radhika (name changed), was molested publicly.
Mitran, who runs a computer centre, complained that his entire property worth close to a lakh of rupees was destroyed and village youths belonging to another community spat on him repeatedly, besides assaulting him with footwear. While return to Hinduism has done this to
Mitran, Sekar, a Dalit panchayat President in a small village in caste-sensitive Tirunelveli district in the southern tip of Tamil Nadu, has threatened to convert to Islam with 25 others if his demands, including the suspension of
Karuppiah, a Block Development Officer, are not met. Significantly, Tirunelveli district encompasses
Meenakshipuram, where an entire Dalit village had embraced Islam in 1980, triggering similar incidents in the state. The BDO had abused the Panchayat President Sekar by mentioning his caste in a derogatory manner. Hindu organisations have rushed to the spot to pacify the villagers. Tamil Nadu Human Rights’ Initiative convener
T.S.S. Mani said while various Hindu bodies claimed responsibility for several “Shuddhi” (purification) ceremonies, human rights organisations had stopped at least a few thousand families from converting to Islam in this district by stressing on the need for struggle and work within the ambit of Hinduism. |
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SC dismisses PIL for abrogation of Article 370
New Delhi, September 27 A Bench of Ms Justice Ruma Pal and Mr Justice Arun Kumar rejected the PIL, holding that the court could not issue a direction to the government to amend the Constitution. Mr Madhok had sought abrogation of Article 370 on the ground that it created a sovereign State within the Indian Union by giving special status to Jammu and Kashmir. But the court was not impressed with the argument and rejected the plea asking, “can the court order the government or Parliament to amend the Constitution.” |
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Jet airways expands low
night fare scheme
New Delhi, September 27 The special ‘Night Saver Fares’, which are already being offered on the Mumbai-Bangalore and Mumbai-Hyderabad sectors, would be sold on five levels and a passenger can buy the tickets at these rates without any condition. Observing that the initiative was announced on the World Tourism Day today, the premier private carrier said that the fares on the Delhi-Mumbai sector would be effective from October 1 and on Delhi-Bangalore from October 6. The Delhi-Mumbai fares at five levels would be Rs 1,700, Rs 2,100, Rs 2,650, Rs 3,350 and Rs 4,250, the maximum being almost 40 per cent below the normal economy fare. Similarly, the Delhi-Bangalore fares would be Rs 2,000, Rs 2,700, Rs 3,700, Rs 4,700 and Rs 5,850.
— PTI |
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Outsourcing of catering on trains
New Delhi, September 27 The ministry in a press release issued today said the private entrepreneurs were presently managing on-board catering services for 73 trains. |
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Former minister Maurya dead
New Delhi, September 27 |
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Salman’s brother faces trial
Jodhpur, September 27 Salman is already facing trial in the district in cases relating to poaching of black bucks. Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Asha Kumari ordered that a case be filed at the Mahamandir police station against Arbaaz, film producer Akbar Khan and his wife Mariam, on a lawsuit filed by Pukhraj Purohit, manager of hotel “Abha Days’’. She also ordered an inquiry into the matter. The hotel manager alleged that the film producer and members of his unit stayed in the hotel during the shooting of “Taj Mahal,’’ but left without paying bills amounting to Rs 12 lakh. Counsel for the petitioner Poonam Chand Purohit told the court that while the unit members vacated the rooms, Akbar Khan, his wife and Arbaaz left the hotel by obtaining check-out passes deceitfully, without paying the bills amounting to Rs 1.42 lakh.
— UNI |
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