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Bush visits Hyderabad
Cong hails Indo-US nuclear pact
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Uproar in Houses over sniffer dogs at Rajghat
Fernandes, Naqvi take exception to entry of dogs
Bhattacharjee vows to implement ban on wall writings
Karunanidhi serves ultimatum on MDMK
Babbar for probe into Amar Singh’s tapes
BJP terms Godhra fire report absurd
Speaker issues threat to defecting MLAs
Uma’s brother wanted in dacoity case
Govt firms up proposal to reschedule Budget session
Poll for scam-vacated seats only with SC nod
SC to hear UP BSP MLAs’ plea on Monday
Jaya case: SC gives 2 months to trial court
SC may reopen Bhopal gas settlement case
UPA deviating from Nehru’s ideology: Basu
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Bush visits Hyderabad
Hyderabad, March 3 He soaked in the rural experience of Andhra Pradesh and interacted with some bright young minds during his four-hour visit. What marked the visit was the spirit of informality and bonhomie that Mr Bush displayed throughout his short stay. Hyderabad also gained from the visit in the form of a new US consulate office for issuing visas. Looking relaxed in a blue shirt with sleeves rolled up, the US President, on his arrival from Delhi by Air Force One shortly before 10 am, set out for a walk through the rural setting specially put up for him on the campus of the Acharya N.G. Ranga Agriculture University. Looking closely at each of the exhibits showcasing village life and economy, Mr Bush mixed freely with women members of self-help groups. He learnt about threaded weaving loom, keenly examined many handicrafts and spices and had a first-hand look at a Murra buffalo that was brought from Haryana. The US President, who was all ears at the university, shared his ideas about globalisation at the International School of Business, where he interacted with young entrepreneurs, who included Mr Teja Byrraju, Managing Director of the Mytas Group and son of Satyam Computers Chairman B. Ramalinga Raju. Mr Bush spoke of the need to provide easy access for Indian students to US universities and schools. He came out in favour of outsourcing and ruled out protectionist measures to address domestic concerns on losing out on jobs to India. “The US will reject protectionism. We will not fear competition. We welcome competition,” he said. Losing jobs was painful, but a way to tackle the problem was to educate people about finding jobs in the 21st century, he explained. He also called for pro-growth economic policies, which would result in low taxes, fewer regulations, fewer lawsuits and wise energy policies. Mr Bush, along with wife Laura and senior US officials, including Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, left for New Delhi around 1:30 pm. Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy later told reporters that the US and India had agreed on the setting up of a US consulate in Hyderabad. This had been a long-standing demand as 40 per cent of the applications received by the consulate in Chennai were from Andhra Pradesh. Left parties and some Muslim organisations held protests in the city throughout the day against the Bush visit. The old city remained tense as restive crowds gathered at the Jama Masjid for Friday prayers, throwing stones at policemen stationed in and around the Charminar area. |
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Cong hails Indo-US nuclear pact
New Delhi, March 3 “We welcome the historic agreement between India and the US in civilian nuclear energy cooperation,” the statement said, adding that the party hopes this agreement will provide a strong foundation for a more wide-ranging cooperation between the two countries in economic and social sectors. The statement also addressed the fears expressed by the Congress members privately and others publicly that the nuclear pact had compromised India’s security. The party especially congratulated the Prime Minister for having “assiduously kept to his commitment made in both Houses of Parliament to protect India’s strategic interests”. It hailed Dr Singh for his vision in steering such a far-reaching agreement. |
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Uproar in Houses over sniffer dogs at Rajghat
New Delhi, March 3 Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Suresh Pachouri said in the Rajya Sabha that it was part of the normal security drill. Former Gandhi Samadhi Committee secretary N. Vasudevan dismissed the claim that the use of sniffer dogs at the Rajghat was a standard security drill. Raising the issue in the Lok Sabha, Mr Shailendra Kumar of the SP said the incident was tantamount to utter disregard to the dignity of the nation. Mr Rajiv Ranjan Singh of the JD-U said the government had lowered national prestige. Mr Ram Kirpal Yadav of the RJD and members from the BSP supported him. In the Rajya Sabha, the issue was raised by Mr Kripal Parmar of the BJP. Mr Pachouri said the normal security drill was followed and this was done whenever a VIP visited the samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi. This was rubbished by Mr Vasudevan, who was the committee secretary when former US President Bill Clinton visited the Rajghat in 2000. |
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Fernandes, Naqvi take exception to entry of dogs
New Delhi, March 3 BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi took exception to US security personnel taking
their sniffer dogs on the pathway around Mahatma Gandhi’s samadhi, saying it
had hurt the sentiments of the people. |
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Bhattacharjee vows to implement ban on wall writings
Kolkata, March 3 Accordingly, the political parties had been given three days to erase all wall writings in the city and elsewhere and rebrush and repaint walls. Otherwise, the police would be asked to act. In fact, yesterday six youths belonging to the Trinamool Congress were arrested at Suri town in Birbhum district while writing on the walls in favour of their candidate. However, the police did not act anywhere in Kolkata where the CPM, the Trinamool Congress and the Congress workers were busy through out the day writing on the walls in favour of their respective candidates. The CPM secretary, Mr Biswas, reiterated today they would continue with wall writings and graffiti campaigns till no clarifications from the Election Commission were received. He said he had written to the Chief Election Commissioner, Mr B.B. Tandon, four days ago seeking certain clarifications on the “ban orders”, but so far there was no response. He admitted that the CPM had started wall writings everywhere, including in the Chief Minister’s constituency at Jadavpore, from February 22 when the list of candidates was announced. Calling it a “black Act”, the Trinamool leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, not only declared they would ignore the ban order, but she also encouraged her party workers to publicly burn the copies of the orders served on them by the Home Department. Forward Bloc secretary Asoke Ghose and leaders of the RSP and the CPI also declared to carry out with the wall writings. The Chief Minister admitted that he was much embarrassed about the prevailing situation. He said he did not go through the provisions of the 1976 Act before deciding on their implementation. “If I knew it earlier, I could have taken necessary steps for its abrogation”, he remarked. |
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Karunanidhi serves ultimatum on MDMK
Chennai, March 3 Following this ultimatum, the alliance seems to be in serious trouble as the ruling All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) had been wooing Mr Vaiko for the past few weeks to leave the alliance and join hands with it. Mr Karunanidhi told reporters at Tiruchi, where the three-day DMK conference began today, “MDMK leader Vaiko spoke to me over telephone and I told him that the DMK could not go beyond 22 seats for the MDMK.” Asked if Mr Vaiko would remain in the alliance, Mr Karunanidhi categorically stated, “If he accepts our offer of 22 seats, he will.” Taking a dig at Mr Vaiko, he even went to the extent of saying, “Hard bargaining by the MDMK is delaying the finalisation of seat-sharing arrangement among the allies.” The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also made it clear that the DMK would single-handedly want to form its own government if it won the elections and hence contest at least 130 seats instead of less number and form a coalition government. He pointed out that the AIADMK had contested 140 seats as the alliance leader in the 2001 election and won 132 seats. At that time, the MDMK was not a part of any alliance while the Congress, PMK and Left parties, who are now in the DPA were with the AIADMK . Mr Karunanidhi admitted that his party was yet to finalise the seat- sharing arrangement with other DPA constituents. |
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Babbar for probe into Amar Singh’s tapes
Lucknow, March 3 Demanding a CBI inquiry into Amar Singh tape controversy, Babbar said the tapes contained matters related to national security. He hinted that it even mentioned creating civil strife in UP if the state government faced any crisis. When Babbar came to meet governor T.V. Rajeswar yesterday, he had brought with him an out of the ordinary present — a set of 24 audio CDs having approximately 20 hours of conversation reportedly between SP national general secretary Amar Singh and various influential people, including Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav. “If one of the voices is of Amar Singh as it claims and the other of Mulayam Singh Yadav, then it is a very serious matter as the tapes refer to many controversial matters including the meeting with the RSS chief before the Mau riots, the surreptitious visit of the Israel ambassador to Lucknow,” claimed Babbar. |
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BJP terms Godhra fire report absurd
New Delhi, March 3 Justice
U.C. Banerjee’s findings ruled out what the BJP claimed was an arson attack on the kar sevaks when they arrived at Godhra in the Sabarmati Express four years ago. “Even if it is assumed for a moment that the fire was accidental, the kar sevaks in that case could have fled the coach,” he added. He also accused the Railway Minister of having unsuccessfully used the same interim report ahead of the Bihar elections last year. “The committee was constituted with political motives by Mr Yadav, whose party used the Gujarat incidents as its main election plank. The results of the report are politically motivated,” he said. |
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Speaker issues threat to defecting MLAs
Lucknow, March 3 Mr Pandey said if he received a petition, he would initiate proceedings against the four deserters. After keeping the media waiting for hours, the Speaker emerged from his chamber after going through the bulky HC judgment. Ostensibly, he had hurriedly called the press to announce interim orders on the seating arrangement of the 38 MLAs in question. Hinting at a long road ahead in disposing of the matter, the Speaker said, “They will remain seated as they are (in the treasury benches) till the matter is finally disposed of”. Earlier in the day, the BSP leader in the House, Swami Prasad Maurya, and his party MLAs staged a walkout after the Speaker refused to make fresh seating arrangements for the BSP MLAs concerned, in the light of the High Court order. |
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Uma’s brother wanted in dacoity case
Bhopal, March 3 Minister of State for Home Nagendra Singh told the House that two persons, including Lodhi’s gunman, had already been arrested and three vehicles (including one with a red beacon) allegedly used in the crime had also been confiscated. Lodhi’s second gunman had been withdrawn. According to the minister’s statement, Mr Yogendra Kumar Jain had lodged an FIR at the Kotwali police station in Tikamgarh on February 20 that Lodhi and his accomplices had looted Rs 19 lakh from him that he got by selling a piece of land. The members wanted to know how Lodhi was given two gunmen and permitted to use a red beacon on his vehicle. Mr Nagendra Singh said in his reply that red beacons were being misused on a large scale in the state and government would take steps to check it. |
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Govt firms up proposal to reschedule Budget session
New Delhi, March 3 These changes have been necessitated as elections to Kerala, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Pondicherry and Assam are slated for next month. The government is awaiting the final nod of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. Since a large number of MPs will be busy with elections, Parliament may waive the provision for the scrutiny of budgets of ministries by standing committees. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan
Dasmunshi, who has consulted all political parties in this regard, said if this proposal was accepted by presiding officers of both Houses, all financial business, including passage of finance and appropriation Bills, would be completed this month. The government deferred the suggestion from the leaders that a discussion on the Home and Agriculture ministries be accommodated. The minister said in order to compensate for lost time, the Houses would transact business on two Saturdays — March 11 and 18 — while the monsoon session would be held for six weeks, instead of the usual five. Mr Dasmunshi said this proposal had the consent of political parties and had been approved by the Cabinet Committee on Parliamentary Affairs. While agreeing to the government’s suggestion, all political parties also wanted that time be made for a full discussion on US President George W. Bush’s visit, which was agreed to. |
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Poll for scam-vacated seats only with SC nod
New Delhi, March 3 Holding that the election to fill the Rajya Sabha seat falling vacant due to the dismissal of its MP Chatter Pal Singh Lodha would be subject to final outcome of the Constitution Bench verdict whether Parliament has power to expel its members, a Bench of Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice C .K. Thakker and Mr Justice R. V. Raveendran, said the permission of the court regarding byelections to the Lok Sabha was necessary in the wake of matter being heard by it. Election Commission (EC) counsel S Muralidhar told the court that it proposed to issue notification for election to fill the Rajya Sabha seat fallen vacant due to Lodha’s dismissal soon but there was no immediate plan to hold the byelection to the 10 Lok Sabha seats. When the Bench on a specific query from it was informed that no lawyer had appeared for the Lok Sabha in the wake of its notice earlier on the petition of MPs challenging their expulsion, the court issued fresh notices to the Lower House through its Secretariat, seeking its reply. This assumes significance in the wake of Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s assertion that he would not submit himself to the jurisdiction of the court on the issue of expulsion of MPs either himself or through any lawyer. |
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SC to hear UP BSP MLAs’ plea on Monday
New Delhi, March 3 After senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi made a special mention about filing of the appeals by 29 MLAs of BSP’s breakaway group that had aligned with Samajwadi Party (SP), a Bench headed by Chief Justice Y. K. Sabharwal said that it will be taken up for hearing on March 6. The High Court order asking the speaker to decide the issue afresh had come on a petition of 38 MLAs of the breakaway group. In their appeals, the petitioners have sought the setting aside of the three-judge bench judgement of the High Court, given by a two-one majority. |
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Jaya case: SC gives 2 months to trial court
New Delhi, March 3 A Bench asked the trial court, however, to go into the issue of framing of charges only after hearing the application of Jayalalithaa and other accused. |
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SC may reopen Bhopal gas settlement case
Bhopal, March 3 The settlement was for a sum of $ 470 million, presuming around 3000 deaths and nearly a lakh injured. The number of the actual deaths and the injured, however, was five to six times higher, as recorded by the claims court set up for payment of compensation under a Supreme Court scheme. Hearing a petition by the Bhopal Gas Peedit Mahila Udyog Sangathan and others, a Division Bench comprising Mr Justice B.N. Srikrishna and Mr Justice Lokesh Singh on Tuesday directed the parties concerned to file written arguments and additional documents by March 21. |
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UPA deviating from Nehru’s ideology: Basu
Kolkata, March 3 Talking to mediapersons at the Alimuddin Street party office, the veteran CPM leader alleged that the present Congress leadership had been deviating from the political ideology of the late Jawaharlal Nehru and pampering the US lobby, which he felt, was hampering the country’s national interest. |
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Hyderabad, March 3
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