Illegal Assets
Sukh Ram convicted
Faces a maximum of seven years in jail
New Delhi, February 20
Thirteen years after Rs 2.45 crore in cash was seized from his residence here, former Union Communications Minister Sukh Ram was today convicted on charges of amassing Rs 4.25 crore disproportionate assets during his tenure in PV Narasimha Rao’s cabinet.

Protect jobs, Pranab tells industry
‘Signs of protectionism by US worrying’
New Delhi, February 20
India will oppose any move toward protectionism in the US as the country spends more through fiscal stimulus to stimulate demand to counter a drop in exports and factory output. Protectionism of American workers, leading to elbowing out of Indian workers, in government bailout-aided US workplace are showing signs of pain and worry in India.

Job losses could cross 5 lakh: Govt

Speaker makes up with MPs
New Delhi, February 20
Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee today made up with Lok Sabha members, whom he had yesterday wished defeat in the forthcoming LS elections. Returning to House in a jovial mood this morning, the Speaker said, “Yesterday I made some comments out of little frustration. I want all of you, who were standing here, to come back if people support you.”

2 killed, 42 hurt in Tiger bomb attacks
Colombo, February 20
In a stunning attack, two light aircraft of the beleaguered LTTE tonight bombed Colombo hitting Sri Lanka’s main revenue department building near the Air Force Headquarters killing at least two persons before they were brought down by the military.

58 MPs seek removal of ‘tainted’ judge
New Delhi, February 20
As many as 58 Upper House members on Friday signed a petition to initiate impeachment proceedings against Justice Soumitra Sen of Calcutta High Court. The MPs from BJP, TDP, CPM, CPI, NCP and JDU, cutting across party lines, said they were forced to initiate the move against Justice Sen — who is accused of embezzling a large sum of money — as the UPA government had failed to take action in the case.

Govt mulls lifting ban on wheat export
New Delhi, February 20
Foodgrain crisis that had forced import of wheat just two years ago is a thing of the past. The government, in a turn around, today claimed that it had surplus wheat stocks and a decision would be taken in the next 10 days to lift the ban on export of wheat products and also to increase the limit of wheat stocks a trader can hold.

Court fines Amar Singh Rs 5,000
New Delhi, February 20
Rs 5,000 was imposed on SP leader Amar Singh by a Delhi Court today for his failure to appear before it in a two-year-old cheating case registered on his complaint. Chief metropolitan magistrate Kaweri Baweja allowed a plea of the Rajya Sabha MP seeking exemption from appearance after imposing Rs 5,000 and adjourned the matter for February 25 and 26.

100 MLAs evicted in TN
Chennai, February 20
About 100 members belonging to the Opposition as well as the PMK, the estranged ally of the ruling DMK, were evicted en masse from the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly, when they persisted with their demand for discussing the unprecedented violence in the Madras High Court yesterday.

Punjab Cabinet okays legislation to check water depletion Chandigarh, February 20 The state Cabinet today accorded approval for the enactment of the Punjab Preservation of Sub Soil Water Act, 2009, in order to stop the depletion of water level. Ground water is depleted on account of early sowing of paddy in the months of April and May. This will now be checked by the conversion of an ordinance into an Act and the presentation of a Bill will come up in the forthcoming session of the state Vidhan Sabha.