L A T E S T      N E W S

Rahul launches Cong's poll campaign in UP

PHULPUR (UP): Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today launched his party's election campaign in Uttar Pradesh by attacking the Mayawati-led BSP government, saying it is corrupt, has siphoned-off central funds and is insensitive to the poor.

In a symbolic move, Gandhi began his party's poll campaign from Phulpur which was his grandfather Jawaharlal Nehru's Lok Sabha constituency. The day also marks Nehru's 123rd birth anniversary.

"Uttar Pradesh has been going backwards. Nehru was an MP from here...There has been no progress in this state. I have been in politics for seven years. In these years, I have learnt the most from the people of Uttar Pradesh," Gandhi said. Phulpur is about 30 km from Allahabad.

Attacking the Mayawati government, Gandhi alleged that during his visit to Bundelkhand region of the state a few years ago, he had seen drought and poverty.

"The government in Delhi made MNREGA which says every individual should get work. But in Bundelkhand, it was not the case.... Crores of rupees which we sent vanished....The BSP workers, contractors profited from them while the poor were left gaping," Gandhi said.

He said Chief Minister Mayawati had not visited Bundelkhand and the economic package for the region sent by the Centre was not used for the people.

"I had gone to meet the Prime Minister and told him there was drought and poverty in the area. He sanctioned a special package of Rs 7,000 crore but the money did not reach the poor," Gandhi said.

He also mentioned Bhatta-Parsaul, saying agitating farmers were fired at by the police. He alleged that the UP government had grabbed their land and women in the area were assaulted during the agitation. — PTI

Trade talks begin; Pak asks India to have “trust and faith”

NEW DELHI: Amidst high expectations by India on the MFN issue, Pakistan today asked New Delhi to have "trust and faith" in it as "times have changed", and Islamabad wants complete normalisation of the bilateral trade.

India said, there is a clear political desire to "walk the talk" with its neighbouring country.

The mutual assurances were handed out by Commerce Secretaries of the two countries, who began their two-day talks for ensuring normal bilateral trade.

Armed with a "political backing and mandate”, Pakistan Commerce Secretary Zafar Mahmood said in his opening remarks, "I want to assure you that please have trust and faith in the process (normalisation of trade). Times have changed. World is coming closer".

Mahmood, who is having a second round of talks with his Indian counterpart in the last six months said, he was looking forward to the official level discussions "in a spirit of mutual cooperation and confidence". “In Pakistan, besides common people and businessmen, political leadership wants normalisation of bilateral trade,” he added.

The Indian Commerce Secretary, while welcoming the Pakistan's decision to grant the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India, said, "expectations from these talks are running high..." as the people, including business communities and politicians, want a breakthrough and lay a foundation for preferential trading arrangements.

"With such clear political vision, we are now obliged to walk the talk," Khullar said.

India granted the MFN status to Pakistan way back in 1996. Islamabad had announced to grant the crucial WTO-compliant regime for New Delhi on November 2. But confusions followed. At present, Pakistan allows import of only about 1900 items from India. — PTI

SBI asks Kingfisher to raise fresh equity

MUMBAI: The State Bank of India, which has the largest exposure to crisis-ridden Kingfisher Airlines, today said it had asked the carrier to raise fresh equity to the tune of Rs 800-1,000 crore if banks were to consider a second restructuring of existing debt or extend fresh advances.

On whether the bank will consider making fresh advances to Kingfisher, SBI Managing Director Hemant Contractor said, "We have to be satisfied about the viability of the company. There is no point restructuring if the company's operations are not going to be viable.

"We have asked them to come up with some fresh funds if the banks are to at all consider their request for restructuring. We want to see more funds coming from the company itself... ." The amount that the carrier should raise is about Rs 800-1,000 crore, Contractor told reporters on the sidelines of the WEF-CII organised India Economic Summit here.

When asked whether banks have asked the airline to sell some of its assets to reduce its debt of over Rs 7,000 crore, Contractor said, "One thing that is being discussed is selling some of its assets. If they do, it is good, or they would have to find some other means." He also informed that SBI has Rs 1,400 crore exposure to the airline and that is a standard asset as of now. He was quick to add, "If the restructuring is successful, we will be able to maintain the current status."

Omar meets PM over AFSPA issue

NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh amid the on-going controversy over the issue of withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from some parts of the state.

Abdullah, who is pitching for removal of the AFSPA from those areas where normalcy has returned, discussed the issue during his half-an-hour-long meeting with the Prime Minister, sources said.

The two leaders also discussed the security situation in the state, they said.

After his meeting with Singh, Omar met Home Minister P. Chidambaram.

The meeting with the Prime Minister comes a day after Omar had discussions with Defence Minister A. K. Antony and Army Chief V. K. Singh to press for the early removal of the Act from certain parts of the state.

At the meeting with Antony, Omar had presented his case for removal of AFSPA from at least four districts — two each in Kashmir and Jammu.

While Antony conveyed the reservations of the Army over such a move, Omar emphasised the need to translate the promises made by the National Conference-Congress alliance on ground and reward the people of the state for maintaining a peaceful year.

Omar had noted that the state has seen a boom in the tourism industry with nearly 13 lakh tourists visiting it till October this year.

The Army has voiced its serious reservations over withdrawal of AFSPA from certain parts citing security concerns.

After meeting the Defence Minister, Omar had tweeted yesterday, "Yes, I have just finished meeting the Defence Minister & no, I don't intend to speak to the media for the time being." Omar will also be meeting Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on the AFSPA issue.

The Jammu and Kashmir government has been pressing for partial removal of AFSPA and suggested that it could be removed from Srinagar and Budgam areas besides Jammu city and Sambha. — PTI

Jessica case: HC reserves order on Manu Sharma's parole plea

New Delhi: Ramp model Jessica Lall's killer Manu Sharma may be allowed parole to attend his brother's marriage on an undertaking that he would not leave Karnal and Ambala, where two key ceremonies are slated to be held, the city police told the Delhi High Court on Monday.

The police, which had been opposing his plea, took a U-turn before a single-judge bench of Justice V. K. Shali Sharma.

Justice Shali reserved his order on Sharma's plea after hearing arguments.

Delhi government's standing counsel (criminal) Pawan Sharma told Justice Shali that the police will have no objection to the grant of parole to Sharma, if he gives an undertaking to the court that he will not leave Karnal and Ambala where the marriage ceremony and the reception is slated respectively on November 22 and November 24.

In an affidavit submitted to the court last week, the police had objected to Sharma's plea for parole, saying his past conduct did not entitle him to it as he was found indulging in brawl in a discotheque, when out on parole to visit his ailing mother in Chandigarh and to attend the last rites of his grandmother.

Earlier, appearing for Sharma, the son of an influential Congress leader Venod Sharma, senior counsel Ram Jethmalani sought parole for him asserting that visiting discotheque, when out on parole, is not illegal and not a crime.