Mumbai Effect
Navy gets charge of coastal security
Kochi, February 28
Aiming to project a tough image ahead of the polls, the government today redefined the role of the Navy and put the command and control of the entire coastal and maritime security under its umbrella. Normally, the Navy is given such a ‘complete charge’ during wartime. At present, the Navy was responsible for areas beyond 200 nautical miles from the coast.

India joins elite club

Grab LTTE’s truce offer, India tells Lanka
New Delhi, February 27
India today appealed to the Sri Lankan government to seize the Tamil Tigers rebels’ ceasefire offer and facilitate the movement of Tamil population out of the war-affected areas to secure locations, where they can get humanitarian aid. “While this (ceasefire offer by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam - LTTE) may fall short of a declaration of willingness to lay down arms, it is our view that the Government of Sri Lanka should seize the opportunity presented by the offer to bring about a pause in the hostilities,” External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee said in a statement.

Jai Rup is VC of Punjab central varsity
Amritsar, February 28
Internationally renowned geneticist Dr Jai Rup Singh, Vice-Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev (GND) University, is one of the 15 academicians who have been appointed Vice-Chancellor of new Central universities of the country. He will be the V-C of the Central university to be opened in Punjab.

Gujarat riots: Missing to be declared dead

Ahmedabad, February 28 Those who are missing since the 2002 post-Godhra communal riots in Gujarat are soon to be declared dead by the authorities with the expiry of seven years’ stipulated time. (Details in Nation page) IN MEMORY: A riot victim lights a candle inside a burnt house in Ahmedabad. Survivors marked on Saturday the anniversary of the 2002 Gujarat communal riots by praying and visiting homes that remain charred and empty after they were attacked by mobs. — Reuters

MPs: Link judges’ salary to accountability
New Delhi, February 28
A Parliamentary panel has suggested the constitution of a National Judicial Service Commission with powers to revise judges’ salaries according to the service conditions and accountability on the lines of the practice in advanced countries. “The government should immediately examine the feasibility of introducing the pattern of allowances and salary, applicable to the judges of some advanced countries of the world, by setting up such a commission,” the Standing Committee on Law and Justice said in its 34th report tabled in Parliament.

Pak navy head does an about-turn
Karachi, February 28
Distancing himself from the controversy over his remarks that there was no evidence of Ajmal Amir Kasab taking the sea route to India to launch terror strikes, Pakistan’s navy chief today said he had not contradicted Interior Ministry’s findings on Mumbai attacks. “We have not been directly involved in the investigation, which is under the domain of the Interior Ministry. Therefore they are better equipped, they have better knowledge and information,” Admiral Noman Bashir said. — PTI

‘Chalo Badal pind chalo’ is farmers’ chant Talks with Chief Minister fail Chandigarh, February 28 A one-point agenda for members of two major organisations of farmers is to reach Badal, native village of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, on March 10 for “Niberra Karro” (settle once-and-for-all) dharna in support of their demands. The Bharti Kisan Union (Ekta) and the Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union will organise a massive rally at Bathinda on March 5 to mobilise farmers and farm workers for the March 10 Niberra Karro rally at Badal village. On March 8 and 9, farmers and farm workers from all over the state will start converging at Badal village where they will stay put in a peaceful dharna till their demands are conceded.