Kingfisher has not sought govt bailout: Vijay Mallya

Mumbai, November 15
Battling financial crisis, Kingfisher Airlines Chairman Vijay Mallya today said he has not asked for a bailout from the government but wants the lenders to help with Rs 700-800 crore working capital as short-term need and interest concessions.

Facing all-round attack from political parties which are opposing any bailout for his airline, Mallya said, "We have not asked for any bailout from government. We have not asked the government to dip into the taxpayers' money. We have never done it, we will never do it." After announcing the second quarter results, which showed a loss of Rs 468.66 crore, he told a press conference that "we are in dialogue with banks to open Letters of Credit which can help us recover debt and repay our high cost rupee loans." "We have not asked for a concession. We have not asked for a hair-cut. Our demands with the banks are mainly two-folds. One is to meet short-term capital needs which have gone up and concession on interest," he said.

The banks have not told him formally that "we should infuse capital. If there is requirement of recapitalisation or infusion of additional equity, we will consider it." Mallya also said he has not sought any restructuring of the loan. — PTI

Maya: Divide UP into 4 states

Lucknow, November 15
With state assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh a little over six months away, Chief Minister Mayawati on Tuesday announced that the state cabinet has approved a proposal to split the state into four regions. Addressing a press conference here, Mayawati announced that Uttar Pradesh would be reorganised into four smaller states - Bundelkhand, Awadh Pradesh, Poorvanchal and Paschim Pradesh.

She further revealed that the resolution for a division of the state into four parts would be formally passed during the state assembly session that is to begin from November 21.

Poorvanchal comprises of 22 eastern districts of the state, including Gorakhpur and Balia. The current capital Lucknow would fall in Awadh Pradesh, which comprises of 14 districts.

Bundelkhand has seven districts, including Jhansi, while Paschim Pradesh would have 22 districts, comprising Meerut, Ghaziabad and Gutam Buddh Nagar among others.

Further emphasizing that the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) has always worked for the betterment of weaker sections of society, Mayawati said: "The Uttar Pradesh government had asked the Centre to provide more funds for development but the Prime Minister didn't respond."—ANI

India declares first innings at 631/7

Kolkata, November 15
India today declared their first innings at 631 for seven against West Indies on the second day of the second cricket Test at the Eden Gardens here today.

Resuming at 346/5, VVS Laxman was unbeaten at 176 and R Ashwin was not out at four. Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni scored 144.

Brief Score: India first innings: 631 for seven decl (R Dravid 119, VVS Laxman 176 not out, MS Dhoni 144; K Roach 2/106). PTI

Bhanwari case: CBI search at house of Malkan's brother

Jodhpur (Raj), Nov 15 (PTI) CBI today searched the house of Congress MLA Malkhan Singh's brother Parasram Bishnoi in Rajasthan's Bilada town in connection with the Bhanwari Devi missing case.

Parasram was questioned for five hours yesterday by the probe agency at the circuit house here. A CBI team today reached Bilada, 80 km from here, and conducted the search at his residence, officials said.

Meanwhile, sacked Rajasthan Minister Mahipal Maderna who had skipped questioning on "health grounds" yesterday, continued to be in Mathura Das Mathur government hospital here.

Maderna is a key suspect in the case and has been questioned by the CBI two times last week and after that he was admitted to the hospital where he is undergoing treatment for "marginal blood pressure and mild chest pain" since Saturday night.

A CD allegedly showing Maderna and Malkhan in compromising position with 36-year-old Bhanwari, an auxiliary nurse midwife at a sub-centre in Jaliwada village - around 120 km from here, had come to light after which she went missing from Bilara on September 1.

Her husband Amarchand had alleged she was abducted at the behest of Maderna.

Sources said it is believed that Bhanwari was introduced to Maderna some years back by Malkhan, who had already admitted to CBI that he knew her. — PTI

India to match Chinese military infra buildup: Antony

New Delhi, Nov 15 (PTI) Expressing concern over Chinese military infrastructure buildup, Defence Minister A K Antony today said India was working to match it to protect the country's territory and build an effective deterrence.

"China is expanding its military capabilities and their infrastructure in the border area is also increasing substantially and we are concerned about that," he said.

The Minister made these remarks when asked about India's response to Chinese military modernization in the Eastern and Northern sectors.

"We have been improving our infrastructure and military capabilities in the eastern sector. We are strengthening our military capability and infrastructure not for confrontation, but to protect our territory and also to build an effective deterrence...so that we can protect every inch of Indian territory," Antony said.

India has been deploying its frontline fighter aircraft Sukhoi-30 MKIs on its airbases along the Chinese border in the North-East and has raised two Mountain Divisions there.

Ultra light howitzers and tanks under new armoured formations are also planned to be deployed in the region.

Asked about the existing defence ties with China, Antony said the Defence Secretary-level talks between the two sides will be held next year.

"Defence exchanges with China are again resuming. I hope the defence dialogue (between the two nations) at the Defence Secretary-level will again resume next years," Antony told reporters here on the sidelines of Fifth South Asia Conference here.

India and China will hold the Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) in January next year during which the two sides are expected to discuss resumption of their joint army exercise and the pending border issues between them. — PTI

Bring lower bureaucracy, judiciary under Lokpal: Team Anna

New Delhi, Nov 15
Team Anna today appealed to Parliamentary Standing Committee looking into Lokpal Bill not to exclude lower bureaucracy and judiciary from the ambit of the anti-corruption ombdusman.

The reaction came amidst reports that the Committee is likely to recommend bringing Group 'B' officers also under the purview of Lokpal besides ensuring setting up of Lokayuktas in states under a central law.

In a statement, Team Anna said it welcomed the suggestions for providing Lokayuktas in states through the same Bill as well as bringing Group B officials within its ambit.

"However, we would appeal to the Standing Committee to reconsider their decision to keep Group 'C' and Group 'D' officials out. Where would a poor person, whose ration has been siphoned off, go? Almost Rs 30,000 crores worth of rations are siphoned off every year," it said.

"And it is Group C and Group D officials who are involved in it. A postman demands ten per cent bribe to give your money order. Postman is a Group D official. Where should victim of postman’s corruption go? Anna has been concerned about the corruption of a common man," a statement said.

Holding that corruption with regard to judges has not been included in the Judicial Accountability Bill, it said the issue is now proposed to be kept out of Lokpal Bill. "Then where should we complain about the corruption of a high Court or Supreme Court judge?" it asked. — PTI