Kolkata, July 1
The decision to nominate two “outsiders” for the Rajya Sabha election from West Bengal sparked off controversies in the CPM state committee as a section in the leadership is of the opinion that the decision is bound to demoralise the party’s rank and file in the state.

According to party sources, Mr Jyoti Basu also did not like the idea of nominating two non-domiciled candidates at a time, depriving the claims of the state people but he had to ultimately endorse the proposal following the persuasion of Mr Anil Biswas and Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

The CPM selected Ms Brinda Karat, Mr Sitaram Yechuri and Mr Chittabrata Majumdar as their Rajya Sabha candidates from West Bengal. The election will be held on July 14. Both Ms Karat and Mr Yechuri are non-domiciled candidates — Mr Yechuri hails from Andhra Pradesh and Ms Karat, though a Bengali by birth, spends most of her time outside Bengal.

For Mr Majumdar, trade unionist, a berth in the Rajya Sabha had been decided much earlier when he was sent to Delhi to take over as CITU general secretary.

Of the six Rajya Sabha seats falling vacant, the RSP will fill their lone post by renominating Mr Abani Roy. But while the Congress’ post will go to Dr Arjun Sengupta, former Economic Adviser to the late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, who will need the Left Front’s 12 surplus votes to win, Ms Mamata Banerjee has decided to send Mr Swapan Sadhan Bose (known as Tutu Bose), a businessman and owner of a popular Bengal newspaper in the city.

According to committee sources, some leaders like Mr Benoy Konar, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, State Transport Minister, Mr Amitava Nandi, MP, and Mr Abdul Rezzek Mollah are not much happy that Ms Karat and Mr Yechuri had been selected bypassing the claims of the state aspirants.

But the aggrieved leadership had been told that the induction of Ms Karat and Mr Yechuri would serve the better interest of the West Bengal government. Mr Biswas assured them that next time when more seats would fall vacant for them after six months, these would be filled by the “sons of the soil”.

Jaipur, July 1
Rajasthan can take pride that out of 91 women nominated for Nobel Peace Prize, five belong to this state. Those who have been recommended for the world’s most coveted award include Magsaysay Award Winner and social activists Aruna Roy, who fought for the welfare of the women labourers and also advocated for the right to information in the State. Ms Roy resigned from the IAS about two-and-a-half decades back to serve the weaker sections and downtrodden classes of the society.

Another incumbent, Ms Kavita Srivastava, has led several agitations against inflicting atrocities and violence on the weaker sections in the name of colour, caste and religion. Associated with the PUCL, she has been combating against the violation of human rights and for upholding constitutional and democratic values.

The third one, Ms Komal Srivastava, was instrumental in establishing the Rajasthan chapter of the Gyan-Vigyan Samiti which has a membership of about 3,00,000 women engaged in creating awareness and scientific temper in various parts of the state.

Another nominee, Chhagi Bhai, from Ajmer not only fought against torture by her husband but also made it a mission to undertake a movement against the exploitation of tribal women.

Besides the four, Ms Jini Srivastava of the Canadian origin has been working for the uplift of rural women for the past 35 years in Rajasthan.

New Delhi, July 1
The Congress today announced that Ms Priya Dutt, daughter of late Union Minister Sunil Dutt, will be fielded by the party in the byelection to the Mumbai North-West Lok Sabha seat, whenever it is held.

The announcement was made by party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi after the Congress President Sonia Gandhi had a meeting with Priya and her actor brother Sanjay Dutt.

The Election Commission is yet to announce the date for the byelection to this seat, which fell vacant after the death of Sunil Dutt on May 25.

Today’s formal declaration put an end to all speculation that the party might field former Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Nirupam, who was defeated by Dutt in a bitter election from the same constituency, and then went on to join the Congress. In fact, Nirupam’s induction had upset the late minister who had even gone public with his displeasure.

MUMBAI: Priya Dutt is a familiar face with the Congress workers of Mumbai North-West parliamentary constituency from where her father won five times.

As a campaign manager of her father, Priya has been interacting with party leaders of Maharashtra for more than a decade. Even earlier, she hit the limelight in the 1980s when she accompanied her father on his padyatra across Punjab when terrorism was at its peak there.

Her good equation with senior leaders of the Congress in Maharashtra as well as in Delhi finally helped her bag the party nomination from her father’s seat even though she formally joined the party only last year.

On the other hand, the Shiv Sena is expected to field Madhukar Sarpotdar who was elected from this seat when Sunil Dutt took a break from his political career to defend his son Sanjay Dutt. 

New Delhi, July 1
The UPA government has sought views of the Supreme Court Chief Justice R C Lahoti on the proposed law to probe allegations of misbehaviour and incapacity against the Judges of the Supreme Court and the High Courts by the National Judicial Commission (NJC).

The law pertaining to accountability of the judges of the higher judiciary will be given final shape after receiving the suggestions of the CJI.

Official sources said the NJC would comprise the CJI and two senior most judges of the Supreme Court having wide powers to investigate complaints against judges. It can also call for the assistance of investigating agencies.

The proposed law is seen as a precursor to initiating impeachment proceedings in Parliament against judges for their misbehaviour and incapacity. It seeks to bring in its ambit even the CJI.

The draft noted that when a reference regarding misbehaviour or incapacity is received from the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, then the President will nominate the seniormost judge of the Supreme Court as the chairperson of the NJC for making an inquiry.

However, a majority of the Cabinet is in favour of keeping the President, the Prime Minister and the CJI out of the purview of the proposed Lokpal Act to investigate the charges of corruption.

According to the draft, the NJC can entertain a complaint from any source. Anyone can make a complaint in writing involving allegations of misbehaviour or incapacity about a judge to the NJC.

Jaipur, July 1
Release of books, periodicals and souvenirs by VVIPs will no longer be easy in Rajasthan.

The state Chief Secretary, Mr Anil Vaish, has issued orders enjoining upon all secretaries and heads of departments to have every publication reviewed by a competent specialist before recommending the request for release.

The decision follows recent controversies over a few books and articles including the much-debated treaties titled, "Rajasthan Ke Lok Devi-Devta", written by Dr Mahendra Bhanawat and published by the State Devasthan Department.

It was alleged that several excerpts of the book amounted to glorification of sati, which was a cognizable offence punishable under the Prevention of Sati Act.

Women activists have already moved the matter in a court of law. Another book titled, "Rajputi Kathayen", issued by a Delhi publisher and released by the Gujarat Governor, Mr Naval Kishore Sharma, also came in for a sharp criticism for some of its portions supposedly glorifying sati.

However, the police refused to register any FIR in both cases.

The historicity of the contents of an article carried by the government bi-monthly, "Sujas", about Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje's ancestral connection with Rajasthan was also questioned by scholars some time back.

Hitherto, there has hardly been a day when some sort of printed material have not been formally released by VVIPs.

New Delhi, July 1
National Commission for Women Chairperson Girija Vyas has written to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to ensure justice to 28- year-old Imrana who was allegedy wronged by her father-in-law.

Ms Vyas, who led a team to Muzaffarnagar to meet Imrana on Thursday, told The Tribune: “I had a 45-minute meeting with Imrana and am convinced that she should get justice and adequate compensation. She has stated very clearly that she does not want to live with her father-in-law.”

“There are so many Imaranas who have been wronged. We will submit a report to the government to ameliorate the condition of women.”

Sources in the NCW said Ms Vyas had urged Mulayam Singh Yadav to ensure that Imarana’s case was heard in a fast-track court and justice was done expeditiously.

The sources said the Chairperson had said in her letter that Imrana be paid Rs 5 lakh as compensation immediately and her case be viewed in a humanitarian manner.

New Delhi, July 1
RJD chief and Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav yesterday said that he took controversies in his stride and would not suffer ‘’a brain-haemorrhage’’ because of the malicious attacks by his detractors.

“They have tried to poke fun at me in several ways. Dolls have come out in the market resembling me. Comic strips and cartoons showing me as a batsman fielding balls from a buffalo on a cricket pitch have also made rounds when I was elected President of the Bihar Cricket Association,” said Lalu who is known to be thick-skinned.

Addressing a seminar organised by ASSOCHAM here, Lalu said he had also been lampooned in a TV show but was least affected by the tirade of campaigns against him.

“I fail to understand why I am always dragged into an unending series of controversies,’’ he said.

About the dolls resembling Mr Lalu and carrying a lantern, the symbol of the RJD, he said he had been accused of bringing them in the market with an eye on the coming Bihar Assembly elections.

“I am not behind the marketing of such dolls, which have been manufactured by a Mumbai-based businessman who is not even known to me,” he clarified. 

New Delhi, July 1
Admitting that it did not expect the rains to arrive in the north-west as early as June 27, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), in a joint presentation with the National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF) on the current status of the monsoon and predictions for the next week today, predicted heavy rainfall in Gujarat to continue till July 4 and an increase in the rainfall over north-west.

In fact, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal warned of the possibility of the situation becoming grimmer in Gujarat over the next two-three days.

“There are indications of weakening of mid-tropospheric circulation over Gujarat after July 4 that will lead to a decrease in heavy rainfall activity and ease out the flood situation over the region,” he added.

A met office spokesperson said the monsoon had been on variance this time. “On June 23, the monsoon was still in east Utter Pradesh. Normally it takes at least 12 days to travel from east Utter Pradesh to Delhi. But the pre-monsoon breaking over the north-west on June 26, followed by monsoon showers on June 27. It certainly took us by complete surprise.”

Floods in Gujarat and Orissa notwithstanding, the average rainfall, at present deficient by 15 per cent, is expected to make up by the first week of July. In the last four days of June, the monsoon had made up for about 30 per cent rain deficiency.

“The monsoon had a late start this year. But the country will receive near normal rainfall. We expect 98 per cent rainfall this season as the model shows that monsoon will make up for the 15 per cent rainfall deficiency by July 5 itself,” Mr Sibal said.

Agriculture would also not suffer, Mr Sibal said, adding that though the monsoon was delayed by four days, it gathered strength covering the entire country and during the sowing season, which extends till July 20, the cumulative rainfall deficiency would be made up.

While central India witnessed good rainfall, some states in the north-east had received below-normal rains and the situation is not likely to change much in the nest week.

New Delhi, July 1
In wide ranging appointments and reshuffle at the level of secretaries, Mr J. Sreedhara Sarma has been promoted Telecom Secretary even as Mr Brijesh Kumar, holding additional charge of this ministry, returns to his erstwhile charge as Secretary of Information Technology.

Chemicals and Petrochemicals Secretary Pratush Sinha has been moved to the Rural Development Ministry as Secretary in place of Mr M. Shankar, who has superannuated.

Secretary in the Department of Official Language in the Ministry of Home Affairs Baleshwar Rai will take over as Secretary, Coordination and Public Grievances, in the Cabinet Secretariat in place of Mr P. C. Rawal. Mrs Satwant Reddy has been moved as Secretary, Chemicals and Petrochemicals, from the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

Director of Enforcement in the Ministry of Finance Rabi Narayan Das has been made Secretary of Food and Public Distribution in the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution following the retirement of Mr S. K. Tuteja.

Additional Secretary and Financial Adviser in Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution Dhirendra Nath Padhi has been appointed Special Secretary in the Ministry of Power. He will assume charge on July 31 in succession to Ms Gouri Chatterjee, who has been appointed Secretary in the Ministry of Development of the North-Eastern region.

Secretary, North Eastern Council in the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region Kamal Taori has been made the Director-General of the Council for Advancement of Peoples Action and Rural Technology.

The Director-General of the Employees State Insurance Corporation in the Ministry of Labour and Employment Ajay K. Dua has been shifted as Secretary of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion in place of A. K. Jha who has been made Secretary, Department of Economic Affairs in the Finance Ministry.

Additional Secretary in the Home Ministry K. P. Singh has been appointed Special Secretary in the same ministry. Additional Secretary in the ministry of HRD Sudeep K. Banerjee has been elevated as Secretary following Mr B. S. Baswan’s retirement. Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Law and Justice Devdas Chhotray has been appointed Secretary of the Department of Official Language in the Home Ministry.

Madurai, July 1
The Sethusamudram Ship Channel project is all set to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh tomorrow amidst controversies as it was yet to obtain the mandatory no-objection certificate from the Tamil Nadu State Pollution Control Board.

While the chief guest for the function in this temple town, 600 km from the state capital, will be Governor Surjit Singh Barnala, United Progressive Alliance Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) President M. Karunanidhi, will grace the occasion.

Talking to reporters here today, Union Shipping Minister T. R. Baalu said the project would enhance India’s security as Indian Navy ships would be easily able to reach the eastern coast without going around the Sri Lankan coast.

He said, “The issue of no-objection certificate is old and I can say that I do not require any such certificate from the state government.”

He said, “Real fishermen welcome the project and I have met with them in six districts of Tamil Nadu. All they want is more fishing harbours which the project will provide.”

He said intelligence agencies had got information that tomorrow’s function might be disrupted and the state police should step up security.

New Delhi, July 1
As the international community just started fastening the nuts and bolts of the futuristic International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) project, India today advocated its case before the European Union (EU) for its inclusion in the strategic project.

India conveyed its keenness to joint the ITER project at the inaugural meeting of the India-EU Energy Panel at Brussels today. The panel was headed on the Indian side by Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and on the EU side by Mr Lamoureux, Director-General for Energy and Transport in the European Commission.

Two days ago, France had won an international competition to be the host of the world’s first nuclear fusion reactor, an estimated $10 billion project that many scientists see as a key to solving the world’s future energy needs.Japan, which had lobbied hard for the project, dropped out of the bidding. The six-member consortium, which includes the United States, Russia, China, Japan, South Korea and the European Union, agreed in Moscow to build the facility in the southern French city of Cadarache.

The June 28 agreement leaves open the possibility that still more countries may participate in the project.

The ITER is a futuristic project for alternative source of energy in view of the projections that oil and gas depletion will start in 2030 or 2035. This will force the world to turn to nuclear energy in a big way. Most experts agree that because of technical difficulties, renewable energy sources such as wind or solar power will never provide more than 15 per cent or 20 per cent of the world’s energy needs. There is enough coal on the earth to keep the world running for centuries, but at an unacceptable environmental cost.

The ITER project is based on the nuclear fusion process. Under this process, huge amounts of energy are released, as with the sun and stars or, in man-made form, the hydrogen bomb. The process has long been studied as a potential energy source that would be far cleaner than burning fossil fuels or even nuclear fission, which is used in nuclear reactors today but produces dangerous radioactive waste.

However, a major scientific challenge before the international scientific community is building a machine that will not melt in the 100 million degree Celsius temperature that will be produced inside the reactor.

The India-EU Energy Panel today decided to set up working groups in the areas of: coal and clean coal conversion technologies, energy efficiency and renewable energies, fusion energy, including India’s participation in the ITER.

New Delhi, July 1
External Affairs Minister Natwar Singh will leave on Monday to represent India at the 5th summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) being held in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana.

The summit is seen as the China-Russia-led regional grouping aimed at counter-balancing the United States and containing growing US influence in Central Asia.

The summit is crucial as it opens doors for economic and strategic relationship with the Central Asian republics and provides an opportunity for interaction with the Russian and Chinese leadership.

India, which, along with Iran and Pakistan, was accorded observer status this year, has had traditionally good ties with the Central Asian republics, but being part of the organisation offers an excellent opportunity to update and strengthen ties at a multilateral forum, officials stressed. The organisation, which was formed in Shanghai on June 15, 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, has taken several steps, including exchange and pooling of intelligence to combat international terrorism and fundamentalism.

Another area of significance is the energy cooperation as the Central Asian region is rich in oil and gas. The region, along with Russia and China, is yet to be fully tapped for its energy resources and that is where India has a role to play.

India’s participation in the organisation will also facilitate the process of setting up of a pipeline from Iran to India via Pakistan as it would not only ensure gas and oil for the country but would also contribute to its quest for energy security.

New Delhi, July 1
The European Union will welcome Indian participation in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER) and the Galileo projects, though the 25-nation body does not want to take a common view as a bloc on the G-4 framework resolution for a permanent seat in the United Nations Security Council.

This was stated by the British High Commissioner, Mr Michael Arthur, at a press briefing here today on the occasion of his country taking over the presidency of the EU.

Mr Arthur also made it clear that though his country had decided not to be a co-sponsor of the G-4 (India, Japan, Germany and Brazil) resolution, London was supportive of the G-4 resolution and would vote for it if need arose. He said if the UN were to maintain legitimacy, India should get to the sit at the UNSC high table.

He said the main priorities of the United Kingdom in its capacity as EU President would be to reflect on issues like the Doha Development Agenda, financial problems of the African nations and preparing the EU for the new global challenges in the economic field posed by the emergence of China and India.

Mr Arthur also said the UK’s focus would be to prepare a joint action plan for cooperation with India with which the EU has a strategic partnership.

New Delhi, July 1
Mr Vishwa Bandhu Gupta, editor of Daily Tej, has been re-elected the president of the All- India Newspaper Editors’ Conference (AINEC), the apex body of editors, according to a press note issued here today.

The AINEC is the oldest association of editors and has a membership of over 300 editors. It looks after the interests of newspapers, including small and medium newspapers.

Mr Gupta has been fighting for the freedom of the press for the past three decades and has been the president of the Indian Newspaper Society. He has also held positions in various government bodies, including the Press Council of India, Press Information Bureau and the Directorate of Audio Visual Publicity.