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CPM opposes US defence deal
Cong seeks CBI probe against Naidu
Gujarat in grip of power crisis
PCG voices concern over DGP’s statement
Now women can register complaints online
Advani condemns terrorism on 9/11 day
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Potbellied cops to be sent to police lines
‘Math’ builds homes for tsunami-hit
More train berths to handle puja rush
Ganpati revellers in trouble over noise pollution
Land acquisition: Pataudi to
move court
Arjun finds another stick to beat Modi
‘Kulhars’ may
make it to Britain
Ghai on Emmy Awards jury
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CPM opposes US defence deal
New Delhi, September 11 This is being seen as a subtle caution to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh indicating that he should not enter into any partnership with Washington, which could undermine the strategic interest of New Delhi, during his foreign tour. The party released the “Report on Political Developments” that was adopted by the CPM central committee at its meeting earlier this week. It has reiterated its stand on the defence agreement. Dr Manmohan Singh leaves for France and New York to attend the UN Millennium Development Summit and is expected to hold talks with US President George Bush during his stay in New York. With the Communists boycotting the UPA-Left Coordination Committee due to the Cabinet decision to disinvest 10 per cent stakes in the BHEL, the Marxists have no option but to air their views openly to express their opposition and caution the Congress-led coalition government. The report said the Defence Minister visited the USA as part of the preparations for the Prime Minister’s first visit to that country. He announced before his departure that it was an “exploratory” visit. But the India-US Defence Framework Agreement for the next 10 years was signed while he was there. “We view this agreement with serious concern as it drags India further into the US global strategy,” it said. The party criticised the agreement on four counts. The first being that the agreement talks of both sides conducting multinational operations by their troops in other countries without the mention of the UN auspices. This will mean that joint operations would be under the US command. Secondly, the agreement states that both sides would “expand collaboration relating to missile defence”. This is connected with the US effort to get India to be part of its missile defence system. Thirdly, there is a proposal for co-production of defence equipment. This is clearly meant to lure India to buy F16 fighter planes and open the market for US weapons. Fourthly, India has agreed to ensure the security of the sea lanes in the region. Moreover, the agreement comes at a time when the USA is actively working to prevent China from enhancing its defence potential. Following this agreement, a joint statement was issued during the Prime Minister’s visit, which the CPM is of the view is a continuation of the trend of India being accommodated as a strategic ally of the USA. As far as nuclear cooperation is concerned the USA has agreed to supply nuclear fuel to India provided Indian nuclear reactors come under the IAEA safeguards. |
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Cong seeks CBI probe against Naidu
Hyderabad, September 11 Addressing a press conference here today, Congress Chief Whip Kiran Kumar Reddy and former Minister G Venkat Reddy charged the TDP chief with entering into a questionable deal with the US-based IMG Bharata Academy to acquire illegal funds during the TDP rule. The International Management Group (IMG), which was said to specialise in sporting related activities and runs several sports academies across the world, had in 2003 entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Andhra Pradesh Government to set up an academy both to promote sports activities and create world-class training facilities. A year after in 2004, when he was the care taker Chief Minister, Naidu gave away 850 acres of prime land at Gachibowli, the hub of IT and sports activity in the city at a price of Rs 50,000 an acre. “We have documentary proof to show that Naidu sold off 3.14 acres of his family land in this area for a sum of Rs 3.3 crore around the same time. This shows that the TDP president had benefited from the deal with the IMG,” the Congress leaders alleged. The allegations have been levelled against the former CM on the eve of the municipal poll in the state scheduled for September 24. The Florida-based sports event management, training-cum-entertainment related activities facilitator, announced plans to invest Rs 700 crore in the land allotted to it to develop and support sports activities and create world-class golf course and related projects including a theme park. But nothing came up after the change of the government in the state. The Congress leaders charged that the IMG promoters had cases of fraud registered against them in the USA and some of them even served prison sentences. They demanded that Naidu should be prosecuted for the fraud committed against the state and for misappropriation of the state’s assets. |
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Gujarat in grip of power crisis
Gandhinagar, September 11 Gujarat which put out big advertisements in newspapers in the neighbouring states to lure industry to the power plenty haven here is out to buy power from the eastern grid now. With the last leg of the rains playing truant farmers are demanding power fearing crop failure. Ruling party legislators have virtually flooded the government with calls for stepped-up power supply to the rural areas. Talala legislator Govind Parmar had a wordy duel with the Energy Minister Saurabh Dalal in his chamber on the issue. In Jasdan, the local legislator Kunwarji Bawaria himself led a farmers’ rally to the local electricity authority office demanding power. Dalal has gone on record stating that extra power from the eastern grid worth Rs 100 crore is being purchased. About 1 crore units of power will be purchased daily from the Power Trading Corporation and some others this month and at Rs 3 to Rs 3.25 per unit. This was expected to cost the state Rs 100 crore, he added. The state government has announced a three-day power cut on the industry from September 1. If it still does not rain the cuts will be
extended. The agricultural sector is now being supplied with 10 hours of power daily against the earlier eight to meet the demand which has shot up from 2400 MW to 3000 MW. During the current kharif season, the state had witnessed heavy floods in south and central Gujarat but ran short of water in the post sowing period at a time when almost 83 lakh hectares of land is under cultivation. However, this diversion of power has the industry up in arms. Mr Amresh Dhawan, chairman of the Gujarat council of the Confederation of Indian Industry(CII) told mediapersons that approximately 50 per cent of Gujarat’s industrial production which stands at around Rs 250 crore per day is likely to be affected by the decision. According to Dilip Chasmawala, president of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Surat, said the diamond industry would be the worst
affected." The general industrial loss is expected to be about 20 per cent while the diamond industry would see production hit by about 10 per cent,” he added pointing out that for a state still recovering from the cruel blow of the floods this constituted a double whammy. |
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PCG voices concern over DGP’s statement
Guwahati, September 11 At its first meeting after being nominated by ULFA to go ahead with the modalities for talks, the group criticised the recent statement of state Director General of Police
P.V. Sumant that operations against the outfit would continue. “This statement is not welcome because it comes at a time when process is on to bring the ULFA to the
negotiating table to settle the age-old insurgency problem”, one of the members of the group Lachit Bordoloi said. The meeting, held at the Manab Adhikar Sangram Samiti (MASS), a human rights organisation office at the Jyotinagar area of the city, welcomed the move of Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi to support the peace process. The group members decided to meet Gogoi soon to expedite the talks process. The meeting also decided to invite opinions from the public and political parties, prominent individuals and organisations on the modalities for the proposed talks with
ULFA. Two members of the group Dr Brojen Gogoi and Ajit Bhuyan did not attend the meeting as they were outside the state. The others who attended the meeting were Mukul
Mahanta, Hyder Hussain, Arup Borbora, Dilip Patgiri, Diganta Konwar, Hiranya Saikia and Lachit Bordoloi and facilitator Rebati
Phukan. The ULFA had announced formation of the consultative group to prepare the ground work for talks. — PTI |
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Now women can register complaints online
New Delhi, September 11 Inaugurating the website of the National Resource Centre for Women (www.nrcw.nic.in) and facility for online registration of complaints on the commission’s website (www.ncw.nic.in), the minister said these would serve as a helpful tool in the fight for women’s rights. Expressed concern over the condition of the National Commission for Women, he said it was not getting the resources and opportunities it needed. He promised to introduce a scheme aimed at regularising the NCW employees, most of whom are temporary. Mr Arjun Singh stressed the need for affirming the credibility of the commission and tapping its work potential. The commission has proposed to the government creation of 50 posts in all ranks. Sources in the commission said in the absence of permanent staff, the commission had to rely heavily upon Central Government employees who served on deputation in the commission. The portal (nrcw.nic.in), designed by the National Informatics Centre as a virtual resource centre, will focus on India and provide access to national and international library collections through digital catalogue, reports of diversified nature, statistics, events of the NRCW, information about women organisations, legislations and full text search on digital documents and retrieval facility. NCW Chairperson Girija Vyas said while online complaints would initially be in English, the system would be upgraded from October 1 to receive complaints in Hindi and other Indian languages. “There has been an increase in the number of complaints received by the NCW this year. Till August, the NCW received 7,000 complaints as against 5,000 in the whole of last year,” Ms Vyas said. |
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Advani condemns terrorism on 9/11 day
Mandsaur (MP), September 11 Issuing a clarion call to the nation's youth to comprehend Independence's true price, he said that the British yoke could be thrown off after titanic sacrifices. ''The freedom fighters' sacrifices should be recalled again and again as that it strengthens the desire to do something for the country,'' the veteran leader said after unveiling a lifesize statue of martyr Hemu Kalani in the district headquarters. Pointing out that a very few persons knew about Kalani, Mr Advani said that the citizens must visit, at least once, Port Blair's Cellular Jail where Vinayak Damodar 'Veer' Savarkar was incarcerated for 20 long years. ''The small cell in which Savarkar was locked up was just above the area where the hangings took place daily,'' he narrated. Among those present were the Chief Minister Mr Babulal Gaur, the state BJP President Mr Shivraj Singh Chauhan, the Industry Minister Mr Kailash Chawla, the Health Minister Mr Rustam Singh, besides several other ministers, MPs and workers.—UNI |
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Potbellied cops to be sent to police lines
Jaipur, September 11 In the first phase, cops ranging from Constable to DSPs with a potbelly will be sent to police lines where they will be required to take rigorous physical exercises. Identification of policemen falling under this category has been made on the basis of their measurement on August 31. It may be recalled that the DGP had instructed in April that all police personnel deputed on field duty would reduce their bellies through participation in sports and yogic and other physical exercises by the end of August. Those who have failed to do so, have been shifted from field assignments and asked to ensure physical fitness as per norms. After the expiry of the stipulated period, their measurements would be taken again in October. Senior officials of the rank of ASPs and SPs would be covered in the second phase of the programme. |
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‘Math’ builds homes for tsunami-hit
CUDDALORE (TAMIL NADU): Life has never been the same for the people of Pudukuppam village in Cuddalore district of Tamil Nadu after December 26, the day the devastating tsunami waves hit the coastal belt.
More than 120 persons in this village of 350 families lost their lives. Even the hope of leading a normal life was washed away by the killer waves. But as nature would have it, life is limping back to normalcy in this remote village. Overcoming the grief of losing their near and dear ones as well as property, including the means of earning livelihood, the survivors are striving hard to rebuild their lives. Helping them in their endeavour are a number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and government agencies. Mata Amritanandamayi math is one of them. Recently, it handed over possession of 87 ‘pucca’ houses built on three acres, to the tsunami-hit families of the village. This happens to be the first-ever set of houses to be provided to such victims in Tamil Nadu. Each independent house has an area of 375 sq ft. The structures are quake and tsunami-resistant. These also have facilities for rainwater harvesting. Besides metalled roads, facilities like drinking water supply, streetlights and electricity have also been made available. The ‘math’ is building 80 more such houses in the village. It has chalked out a Rs 100-crore rehabilitation plan for those affected by tsunami in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Pondicherry and the
Andamans. Roshni Kuppu Pillai, Kumar Mariappan and Machagandhi Raju, the first three to receive the keys of their new homes, said it was the happiest moment of their lives since the disaster. “The lives lost in the disaster cannot be brought back or compensated for, but we have to live to take care of those who now depend on us”, they say. The beneficiaries were all praise for Mata
Amritanandamayi, founder of the ‘math’ and one of the most revered spiritual heads of the area, for rendering yeoman’s service to society. Whenever they pronounce her name, their heads bow in reverence. “From taking care of survivors by providing food, shelter, clothing, boats and houses, the ‘math’ has done everything for us”, they say in
unison. Thailamma, a 70-year-old woman, recalls how she was able to save the lives of her family members, including her grandchildren. A fish vendor, who came on a cycle, was the first to alert them about the impending danger, she says. He was asking people at the top of his voice to flee the place. “I, like many others, heeded to his warning and rushed with my grandchildren to an elevated place. In minutes the entire area was in the grip of waves. Although we lost all our property, I am happy I was able to save my family members”, she says. About getting a new house, raising her hands towards the sky, she thanks God and Mata Amritanandamayi and says: “Happiness is back. Everybody will be happy now”. Tears trickle down her
cheeks. Murthy (56) lost his wife, daughter and two grandchildren. He said he was repairing his boat when the tragedy struck. He, somehow, managed to climb onto the rooftop of a house and was saved, but his family members were not that fortunate. Now he has only one more survivor in the family — his son. Swami Ramakrishnanand Puri, a trustee of the ‘math’ said: “The ‘math’ plans to provide 6,000 ‘pucca’ houses to the tsunami-hit all over India. Out of these, 2,500 will be built in Tamil Nadu. Till date, the ‘math’ has handed over 122 houses to victims in Kerala. It plans to hand over around 500 houses in Alappad Panchayat of Kerala before September 27, which happens to be the 52nd birthday of
Amma. Construction of 340 houses is in progress at Nagapattinam.” |
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More train berths to handle puja rush
New Delhi, September 11 The 0231 Howrah-New Superfast tri-weekly will leave Howrah every Sunday, Monday and Friday at 6.45 pm to reach New Delhi at 7.25 pm the next day. The train will run from Howrah on October 3,7,9,10,14,16,17,21,23,24,28,20 and 31 and November 4,6,7 and 11. In the return direction, the 0232 New Delhi-Howrah Superfast Special will leave New Delhi every Tuesday, Wednesday and Sunday at 7.10 am to reach Howrah at 6.20 am the next day. From New Delhi, the train will run on October 5, 9,11,12,16,18,19, 23,25,26 and 30 and November 1,2,6,8, 9 and 13. The 0231/0232 train comprising one AC three-tier, 12 general sleeper, two general second class coaches and two luggage vans, will halt at Asansol, Dhanbad, Koderma, Gaya, Mughalasarai, Mirzapur, Vindhyachal, Allahabad, Fatehpur, Kanpur and Aligarh junction stations en route. The 0233/0234 Howrah-Dehradun-Howrah (weekly via Sultanpur) will depart from Howrah every Friday at 11 am to reach Dehra Dun at 3 pm the next day. The train will run from Howrah on October 7,14, 21 and 28 and November 4. In the return direction, the 0234 Dehra Dun-Howrah Superfast Special will depart from Dehra Dun every Sunday at 9.35 am to reach Howrah at 1 pm the next day. The train will run from Dehra Dun on October 9,16, 23 and 30 and November 6. The Howrah-Dehra Dun Superfast Special comprising an AC three-tier coach, seven general sleeper, two general second class coaches and two luggage vans, will halt at Durgapur, Asansol, Dhanbad, Parasnath, Koderma, Gaya, Mughalsarai, Varanasi, Lucknow, Moradabad and Hardwar stations en route. The 0407D/0408D Hazrat Nizamuddin-Mumbai Central Special will leave from Hazrat Nizamuddin at 11.35 pm every Thursday and Sunday to reach Mumbai Central at 10.25 pm the next day. The train will run from Hazrat Nizamuddin on September 29, October 2, 6, 9, 13, 16, 20, 23, 27 and 30 and November 3,6 and 10. In the return direction, train number 0407 D from Mumbai Central to Hazrat Nizamuddin will run every Tuesday and Saturday. It will depart from Mumbai Central at 5.25 am to reach Hazrat Nizamuddin at 4.30 am the next day. It will run from Mumbai Central on October 1, 4, 8, 11, 15, 18, 22, 25 and 29 and November 1, 5, 8 and 12. Another tri-weekly special, the 0425/0426 Delhi-Rae Bareilly train will depart from Rae Bareilly at 7.25 pm every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and reach Delhi junction at 7.30 am the next day. In the return direction, the 0426 Delhi-Rae Bareilly Special will leave Delhi junction at 7.45 pm every Monday, Thursday and Saturday to reach Rae Bareilly at 7.30 am the next day. The train comprising one AC two-tier coach, two AC three-tier coaches, seven general sleeper class coaches, two general second class coaches and two brake vans, will halt at Lucknow, Tilhar, Bareilly, Moradabad and Ghaziabad en route in both directions. |
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Ganpati revellers in trouble over noise pollution
Mumbai, September 11 Following the government order, the police has so far registered offenses against two Ganesh mandals here alone. The state government is yet to release information about those booked for similar offenses across the state. The police said, both mandals were located in the Antop Hill area of suburban Mumbai and were violating the ban last night. Though the organisers were booked, they were not arrested so far, it added. However, they could be arrested after the festival was over. The mandals and their office-bearers have been booked under the Noise Pollution Regulation Act 2000 and also the Environment Protection Act 1986. As per the recent Supreme Court order, use of loud speakers has been banned between 10 pm and 6 am, the police said. The SC Bench comprising CJI R. C. Lahoti and Mr Justice Ashok Bhan had, in their order, banned the use of loudspeakers after 10 pm even during festivals with the aim of ending what it termed “aural aggression”. The order provided for strict implementation of the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules 2000 at all times. It reversed the Ministry of Environment and Forests rule of 2002 that allowed state governments to permit use of loudspeakers till midnight on 15 days a year on religious grounds. Police stations in Mumbai have asked police personnel to be deputed at all Sarvajanik Ganesh mandals across the city to prevent violation of the Supreme Court directives. |
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Land acquisition: Pataudi to
move court
Raisen (MP), September 11 “The move by the Babulal Gaur government to acquire the land was wrong and unjust,” Pataudi, who is one of the heirs to the Bhopal nawab, told reporters, after offering prayers at a Dargah here. “We will move the courts of law and get back the land,” he said, declining to comment on the legal battle with his sister Sabiha Sultan, over access to the exotic outhouse, flag staff house in Bhopal, and on the poaching charges levelled against him. Besides seizing around 35 racing horses from the stud farm in the state capital, the government, on September 2, had taken over possession of the land worth Rs 200 crore and had razed down sheds constructed on it. The former Indian cricket skipper, who visited the peer Fateh-ullah dargah here, also met some shopkeepers in the area to resolve a property dispute associated with it.
— PTI |
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Arjun finds another stick to beat Modi
New Delhi, September 11 “In India Adolf Hitler cannot be a role model. It is Gandhiji who is a role model for the whole country,” he said addressing a function organised by Gandhi Samriti and Darshan Samiti here. “In Gujarat Hitler’s life and works have been glorified in school textbooks which is a very serious matter,” he said launching an INGOU sponsored awareness course ‘Gandhi and the Contemporary World’.
— PTI |
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‘Kulhars’ may
make it to Britain
Patna, September 11 Ken Hunt, a business advisor to UK Trade and Investment (UKTI)'s South Asia unit, said that Mr Lalu's kulhar is a wonderful idea and needs to get wider advocacy to popularise its use. "I have decided to take the challenge to popularise earthen cups in Britain," said Mr Hunt, currently visiting Jharkhand and Bihar on a business trip. Ken Hunt recalled that during his train journey in northern India earlier this month, he noticed people sipping tea from kulhars, quite a new thing for him. "When I inquired about it, the tea hawkers said that the earthen cups were introduced by the Railway Minister,Mr Lalu Prasad, known for his rustic ways," said Hunt. Last year, after taking over as the Railway Minister,Mr Lalu Prasad delighted potters by ordering the replacement of non-biodegradable plastic cups with kulhars for serving tea in trains. Mr Lalu had won wide acclaim from environmentalists and others for this. Indian Railways' decision to serve tea, curd, etc., only in kulhars came as a boon to the potters, whose trade had petered out to a large extent. Mr
Lalu Prasad's critics said he took the decision since it would benefit
his vote bank - the backward castes, a majority of whom are kumhars, the
potters. — IANS |
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Police remand for Preeti Jain
Mumbai, September 11 She was arrested yesterday after being questioned by the police for nearly eight hours. She is being questioned of giving a contract to one Naresh Pardesi, an accomplice of gangster-turned-MLA Arun Gawli for eliminating Bhandarkar. Jain allegedly gave an advance of Rs 50,000 to Pardesi with the promise of Rs 20,000 more after the hit job. Pardesi too has been remanded in police custody till September 16. |
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Mumbai, September 11 The annual International Emmy Awards will be presented at a glittering ceremony in New York city on November 21. “It is an honour to be part of these prestigious awards and especially to be on the panel of judges,” Ghai said. “The Emmys have been considered the equivalent of Oscars for the television industry and have been honouring technicians of the small screen who have excelled in respective fields,” he added.
— PTI |
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