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Long way to ensure transparency: PM
UP POlls 2012
Priyanka camps in Amethi
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Bribe charge in Canadian daily
SC notice to CBI on Talwars’ plea for shifting trial to Delhi
SC admits Gujarat plea against Lokayukta appointment
Russian choppers to combat Red terror
Bihar MLAs’ guards to get small weapons only
Parties field gangsters’ kin
Cong MPs miffed at denial of ticket
Bihar farmers to help govt formulate agri roadmap
Centre announces development projects for
Naxal-hit areas
Painting of Christ at CPM exhibition sparks debate
Sasikala’s brother held for demolishing house
11 of Ponty Chadha’s bank lockers sealed
19 more babies die in two Bengal dists
Google plans
country-specific
content filtering
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Long way to ensure transparency: PM
New Delhi, February 3 Even as he listed the steps taken by his government to fight graft during the past one year, he said there was still a long way to go in the efforts to ensure transparency, accountability and probity in public life. He spoke about the government's initiatives such as the Right to Information Act, the Judicial Accountability Bill and the Whistle Blowers’ Bill. Addressing a conference of Chief Secretaries here, he said the Centre and the states would have to work together to achieve the goal of better governance. Recalling that at the meeting of the Chief Secretaries last year, he had stated that his government was committed to taking all legal and administrative measures to curb corruption in public life, the PM said he had also desired that both the Centre and the states should make full use of advances in modern technology to improve the delivery of the public services system. ''Let me say that we have moved substantially forward in these areas in the past one year. We have introduced in Parliament a Bill on Citizens’ Charter which will empower citizens to demand services with appropriate standards from various government departments.'' The Electronic Delivery of Services Bill has also been introduced in Parliament to provide electronic delivery of public services to the citizens. The government was also moving forward on framing a law for regulating public procurement. Talking about fiscal management, Singh said the latest data showed that the economy grew at the rate of 8.4 per cent in 2010-11. This was a creditable performance when seen in the background of a crisis-ridden world economy. But growth in the current fiscal year was likely to be lower, between 7 and 7.5 per cent, in a large measure due to the continuing uncertainty in the global economic environment. Inflation, he noted, was a persistent problem during the course of the last year, particularly regarding food items.
Key Challenges
NEW DELHI: PM Manmohan Singh on Thursday termed Maoist violence, cross-border terrorism and religious fundamentalism as key internal security challenges and favoured dealing them with firm hands. He promised all possible assistance to the states in their efforts to deal with all internal security challenges. The Prime Minister said the internal security situation in the past one year was by and large peaceful and lauded the states in their efforts in maintaining peace.
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UP POlls 2012
Lucknow, February 3 Two lakh such houses were officially constructed and handed over to the needy. The quality of construction is uneven and debatable but the beneficiaries are not complaining. Tahirun works as a housemaid to feed her family of seven long after her husband deserted her. Ask her who she will vote for and the answer is predictable. She is not aware of the promises in various manifestoes for Muslims. The 4.5, 9 or 18 percent sub quota in the OBC category does not mean anything to her. She is not bothered about which way the Ayodhya verdict will finally go or if Aligarh Muslim University would get its minority status or what is the future of Urdu in Uttar Pradesh. But she feels she must show her gratitude to Mayawati. Muslims constitute 19% of the state?s population with 20 districts having Muslim concentration above 20%. Uttar Pradesh also hosts 22% of India?s Muslim population, the highest among all states and union territories. But out of the 90 districts of the country, identified as backward and with minority concentration, 21 are in U.P. After delimitation there are 74 Assembly seats, where Muslim voters are more than 30 per cent and around 70 seats where their percentage is between 20 to 29 percent. In 144 more seats their percentage is just about 1/5th of the total voters. That explains the scramble among political parties to win over the ?Muslim vote?. In the absence of any wave or real big issue in play, the voters, including the Muslim voters, seem to be looking at several factors, including the party?s past record as well as the kind of candidates they have chosen. The 15th Vidhan Sabha, which was elected in 2007, had 57 (14 per cent) Muslim members. As many as 31 of them were from the BSP, 20 from SP, 3 from RLD, 1 from UP United Democratic Front, which subsequently merged with the BSP and two Independents.
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Priyanka camps in Amethi
Lucknow, February 3 Amidst slogans like “ Priyanka vikas ki aandhi hai/ doosri Indira Gandhi hai”, she disarmed her audience by admitting that she too, like others, had come seeking their votes at election time. She attended rallies as well as addressed street-side meetings. Affectionately describing Rahul Gandhi as “ dheeth” (stubborn), Priyanka recalled that in 2007 she had asked why he was working so hard when the results were so uncertain. She remembered Rahul telling her that he was not concerned so much with election results as with a turn-around for the state. Chiding the gathering she said? I had sought your support in 2007 too, but you did not honour my request. What did you get in five years? The roads you see were built by the Centre. The facilities for water also were given by the Centre. What did your MLA do? Definitely he did one thing; he built a luxurious bungalow for himself and that too with your money. This state of affairs is not the case of your place only; the entire U.P is like this.?
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Bribe charge in Canadian daily
Even as Patel wrote to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pleading innocence and seeking his intervention and an inquiry, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh sprang to his predecessor’s defence. Ajit Singh ruled out an investigation by Air India into the bribe-taking charges by a Canadian daily against Patel and officials of the national carrier. Ajit Singh said Air India would not initiate a probe merely on the basis of a media report. “Anyone can write anything in a newspaper, but for an investigation there should be some substantial reason” while playing rather safe on the sensitive issue concerning key UPA ally - the NCP. “Unless there are facts, it is wrong to make allegations about a minister. The minister has already written to the PM about an inquiry. If some facts come up, action will be taken accordingly,” party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said. While Ajit Singh ruled out an inquiry, sources said as an investigation related to India was going on in Canada, queries, at some point in time, would be made from the authorities here. For now, the Ministry of External Affairs may talk to the Canadian authorities to check the veracity of charges against the now Heavy Industries Minister. Coming just weeks before crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh and Goa, the latest embarrassment is a source of more trouble for the UPA. Opposition parties, including the BJP, Left and BSP, have already asked for a detailed investigation into the corruption case against Patel. The Congress is playing safe, keeping a distance from the controversy involving its key ally the NCP. Party sources said with Trinamool’s regular tantrums, the Congress can ill afford another hostile ally. Therefore, it will follow the plea given by Patel that no contract was awarded and therefore, there could be no question of any bribe.
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SC notice to CBI on Talwars’ plea for shifting trial to Delhi
New Delhi, February 3 The dentist couple has sought the transfer of the trial, contending that they were facing threats in Ghaziabad. Also, holding the trial in Delhi would be convenient for the witnesses as most of them lived in the Capital. A Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and JS Khehar issued notice to the CBI to enable the agency to give its views on the petition. Aarushi, the only child of the Talwars, was found dead with her throat slit, while the body of their domestic help, Hemraj, was noticed lying on the terrace the next day.
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SC admits Gujarat plea against Lokayukta appointment
New Delhi, February 3 Acknowledging that the petition had raised serious questions of law, which were of public importance, a Bench comprising Justices BS Chauhan and JS Khehar said it would hear the matter for three days from February 20. On January 18, the Gujarat HC had upheld the appointment of Justice Mehta as the Lokayukta and dismissed the state government petition. The HC had also criticised Chief Minister Narendra Modi for creating a mini Constitutional crisis.
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Russian choppers to combat Red terror
New Delhi, February 3 Equipped with night flying capability, advanced sensors and electronic equipment, each such chopper can airdrop up to 20 armed troops in any area at a short notice. It can hover over a spot for considerable period, thereby enabling troops to slither down in a selected area. The MHA has opted that it will not use the Dhruv choppers produced by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and operated successfully by the Army aviation corps and the IAF. The MHA opted out after a few crashes and also due to the small size of Dhruv which cannot carry more than five troops. The MHA could have opted for the latest version of Dhruv - the Mark-II - which is much more powerful and fitted with France-built Turmomeca engine. The MHA has now asked the Ministry of Defence that its demand of six choppers may be clubbed with the existing purchase of 80 Mi-17 V-5 choppers being made by the MoD at the cost of $1.35 billion (Rs 7,500 crore). The first lot of around 20 choppers has already arrived and will be formally inducted over the next few weeks in Punjab for IAF operations. The MHA demand will be addition to the IAF demand and the BSF may get its choppers when the next lot arrives from Russia in the coming months. This not that the MHA is seeking choppers on lease for the IAF, said sources while adding that this was the first time that the MHA is inducting such high-end machines. The Mi-17 is also being used by US-led NATO troops in Afghanistan. Sources said the MHA found it wise to have the Mi-17 type of choppers. The latest variant Mi-17 V5 variant will have the ability to allow the pilots to start the engines at altitudes of 6,000 m (about 21,000 ft). Each of the two engines can generate 2,200 hp of power. This is a significant improvement over the previous version - Mi-17-IV-which has two engines of 1,950 hp each. The IAF aims to utilise the Mi-17-V5 helicopters for special heli-borne operations, air-maintenance, transportation of troops and equipment, search and rescue, casualty evacuation and in armed helicopter roles. Such versatility will now also be at the command of the MHA. The IAF has been operating various types on ‘Mi’ series choppers over the past 40 years. This includes the famous heli-borne operations to drop guns and troops in East Pakistan and also its use during the initial stages of the Kargil war in 1999. The chopper is considered a workhorse in the far-flung areas of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh in the Himalayas.
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Bihar MLAs’ guards to get small weapons only
Patna, February 3 It had become a common practice among the legislators here to move around with bodyguards carrying sophisticated weapons for the apparent consideration that it would enhance their social status. Intelligence agencies of the state as well as the Centre had been issuing warnings to the concerned authorities not to allot automatic weapons to the security guards of politicians as the naxals or criminal gangs operating in that area may snatch them. Quite a few such incidents did happen in Bihar as well as the neighbouring Jharkhand. But the MLAs and MPs were able to influence the local Superintendent of Police and get such arms allotted to their security guards. Finally, the Director-General of Police had to issue a strong directive recently to the SPs of all districts to ensure that the automatic weapons issued to the body guards of all MLAs, MLCs and MPs were immediately replaced by revolvers and pistols which was easy to carry. Many of the SPs had already taken instant cognizance of this directive. The ruling party (JD-U) MLA from Sahebganj (Muzaffarpur) Raj Kumar Singh admitted to The Tribune that his body guard had received a letter from the SP on January 25 this year to deposit his AK-47 with the District Police armoury and he had already complied with the order. Now he had been given a revolver, the MLA said. Many other MLAs and MLCs affected by this order were quite critical of the Police top brass for the sudden withdrawal of automatic weapons from their security and put their lives at risk. However, Additional Director-General of Police (HQ), Ravindra Kumar said the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) had issued a guideline to all the state governments with regard to allotment of firearms to the security guards of legislators, Members of Parliament and other people representatives. “We are only following the guidelines issued by the MHA”, he said. There are 243 MLAs , 75 MLCs and 40 Lok Sabha Members in the state. Each of them had been provided two armed bodyguards each under normal practice. However, many of them had been given additional security cover and also house guards based on their individual threat perception.
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Parties field gangsters’ kin
The Samajwadi Party (SP), having influence in just a few pockets of the city, has fielded Soban Ahmed Parvin, 33, whose father Tariq Parvin is said to be close to Dawood Ibrahim. The senior Parvin, who was deported from Dubai some years ago, is now out on bail. Shadow of Dawood’s rival Chotta Rajan also looms large over the Mumbai civic elections. His sister Sunita Chavan and nephew Satish Chavan are candidates of the Republican Party of India, which is contesting elections in alliance with the Shiv Sena and the BJP. The RPI has also fielded Saba Reddy Bora, whose brother DK Rao is a member of the Rajan gang. “Why should these people be denied an opportunity to be in politics only because their relatives have underworld links,” Ramdas Athavale, who heads the RPI, told reporters after announcing their candidature. On their part, the RPI candidates have distanced themselves from their notorious kin. “I have nothing to do with my brother,” Bora told reporters after being introduced as a candidate of the party. The BMC elections will also see gangster Arun Gawli’s daughter Geeta in the fray. Even the elder Gawli had managed to win a seat in the Maharashtra legislature some time ago. His daughter is a corporater in the outgoing civic body. Gawli’s sister-in-law Vandana is also in the fray. In all, Gawli’s Akhil Bharatiya Sena has fielded 26 candidates in the Mumbai civic elections.
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Cong MPs miffed at denial of ticket
Mumbai, February 3 Members of Parliament Priya Dutt and Sanjay Nirupam who are pretty miffed at their supporters being denied tickets to contest the civic polls have complained to the party's central leadership. In a rare public display of outrage, both leaders, who don't see eye to eye themselves, hit out at the local leadership of the Congress in respective media interactions. “Till the end, I tried my best (to ensure) that the right candidates got tickets. I am angry that an MP has not even been revealed a name. If you're going to insult a Member of Parliament like this, then don't involve that MP in the process at all," Dutt told reporters. Several supporters of Dutt who were upset at not getting tickets held protests outside party offices. Some have even filed their nominations as Independent candidates though many of them were persuaded to withdraw their candidature today. On Thursday evening, Dutt scotched rumours that she would resign from the Congress. “That will be an easy option. I intend to take up the matter with the party leadership," Dutt said. Sanjay Nirupam, Congress MP from North Mumbai, also accused the party's local leadership at not paying heed to the demands of the elected representatives. “Due weightage has not been given to the MPs while finalising candidates," Nirupam said. The Congress, which is aggressively wooing North Indian migrants who account for more than 30 per cent of voters in Mumbai, is facing a power tussle.
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Bihar farmers to help govt formulate agri roadmap
Patna, February 3 As per the decision of the Cabinet, the views of experienced and expert farmers would be incorporated in the roadmap, which is to be debated in the state legislature during the ensuing budget session. “The state government is committed to implement the next roadmap on agriculture from April 1,” said Agriculture Production Commissioner Ashok Kumar Sinha. Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would personally be present at the “Kisan Samagam”(farmers’ conference) scheduled to take place in the state capital on February 4. The agriculture department had invited two farmers each from the 38 districts for this conference where they would air their views and experience in matters pertaining to availability and distribution of quality seeds, fertilisers, use of bio-fertilisers, irrigation, shortage of labourers, problems faced by them in procuring loan from the banks and non- availability of power in the rural areas. The department had already sent copies of the draft roadmap to every block across the state, which is to be perused and discussed by the farming community during the statewide block-level farmers’ meet to be held on February 2. The block-level meetings would select two nominees from each district for the state-level meeting. A top official in Agriculture department said that the Chief Minister was expected to spend the whole day with the farmers listening to their views and experience during their state-level congregation on this topic and take an on the spot decision regarding inclusion of relevant points in the roadmap. After incorporating the farmer’s views, the agriculture roadmap would be placed in the state legislative Assembly for discussion and debate during the ensuing budget session and thereafter it would be debated in the Upper House of the legislature before it is formally enforced from day one of the next financial year.
Grassroots Initiative
n The state government is committed to implement the next roadmap on agriculture from April 1 n
The views of experienced and expert farmers would be incorporated in the roadmap, which is to be debated in the state legislature during the ensuing budget session
n A farmers’ conference will be held in Patna on February 4 for the purpose. Two farmers each from the 38 districts have been invited for this conference where they would air their views and experience
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Centre announces development projects for
Naxal-hit areas
New Delhi, February 3 Speaking at a National Conference on the non-timber forest products (NTFP), Rural Development Minister Jairam Ramesh said the projects in lac, gum, medicinal plants, tassar, bamboo and non-edible oil seeds like neem and mahua would maximise the return for tribals engaged in collection of these forest products. Expansion of market and regeneration of the NTFP in a sustainable manner are the other two challenges facing this sector, he added The projects would be part of the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) focusing primarily on livelihood generation and value additional in the non-timber forest products in the Naxal-affected areas.The ministry will also explore whether the MGNREGA can be used as a convergence in the implementation of the projects. The NRLM is planning a special intervention to promote the NTFP collectives to increase the income of the tribal NTFP collectors through sustainable harvest and scientific post-harvest practices for higher returns. Tribals will be able to negotiate better with market forces and also take up various value addition activities at appropriate levels.
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Painting of Christ at CPM exhibition sparks debate
Thiruvananthapuram, Feb 3 The party holds that there is nothing strange in displaying the painting of Christ in an exhibition, ahead of the party's 20th state conference, that aims at looking at the human history in its totality. Sections in the Catholic Church, however, view it suspiciously as an attempt by the party to shore up its support base by winning support of the believers. The show that opened earlier this week, titled "Marx is correct", has a wide range of pictures, paintings, clippings and copies of historical documents throwing light into the history of struggles for social and political emancipation through the centuries. The exhibits were chosen with special focus on the history of the Communist movement in India and the world. The picture of the crucified Christ has a snapshot below it, which, after briefly tracing his life and death, describes Jesus "as a social reformer who emancipated Jews from slavery". According to a church spokesperson, "This, in a way, exposed the party's search for new icons as their traditional heroes like Lenin, Stalin and Mao have ceased to inspire the present generation." — PTI
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Sasikala’s brother held for demolishing house
Tiruchiraappalli (TN), Feb 3 Divaharan was arrested by a police team engaged in vehicle checking at Ariyamangalam in the city. Later he was remanded to 15 days’ custody by a Judicial Magistrate in Needamangalam in Tiruvarur district, the police said. He was lodged in the central prison here early today. One Kasturi in Rishiyur village in Needamangalam had last month filed a complaint to the anti-land grabbing cell at Thiruvarur alleging that a gang at the "instigation of Divaharan" had demolished her house, constructed under the Indira Awaas Yojana, and also a thatched shed in Rishiyur on November 26 last year. In her complaint, she alleged that Divaharan was angry with her family as her husband had worked for DMK candidates during the Assembly elections and local body polls. Divaharan is second member from Sasikala's family to face police action. On January 27, Ravanan, another relative of Sasikala, was arrested in Coimbatore on charges of abduction for ransom, extortion and criminal conspiracy. He was also named as an accused in a Rs 1 crore cheating case by a Tirupur-based
HC dismisses Sasikala’s plea
Bangalore: The Karnataka High Court on Friday dismissed the petition concerning the translation process filed by Sasikala Natarajan, an accused in the disproportionate assets case filed against Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Upholding the trial court order on the petition, Justice N Ananda held that there need not be any "interference" with the lower court order and dismissed it. — PTI
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11 of Ponty Chadha’s bank lockers sealed
New Delhi/Lucknow, Feb 3 However, premises, including a mall owned by Chadha in Noida, covered during the searches were free for operation by the owners. The I-T sleuths seized two laptops that have been sent for forensic examination. A spokesperson of Chadha-owned Waves Infratech declined to get into specifics of the seizures and insisted that there was no wrongdoing by the Chadha group. The I-T department has acceded a request made by Chadha, who has returned after a visit to Dubai, that its operations be suspended in view of a family wedding on February 9. — PTI
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19 more babies die in two Bengal dists
Malda/Bankura (WB), Feb 3 Ten babies died at the Bankura Sammilani Medical College, while nine died at the Malda Medical College and Hospital, officials said today. Superintendent of the Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital Dr P Kundu said that with nine more deaths, the toll in the hospital has shot up to 125 in the past 16 days. — PTI
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Google plans country-specific content filtering
New York/New Delhi, Feb 3 Google is the latest entity to come out with the option to restrict online content amid a raging debate over moves by many countries, including India, to enforce regulations on the internet. Google, which launched its blogging service -- Blogger -- in 1999, said the rules will be applicable in many countries such as India, Brazil, Honduras, and Germany. It is understood that Google plans to roll it out the new system globally also. Google will now be able to restrict content in individual countries pursuant to requests by the local legal authority. The move will not require blocking worldwide access to a blog. — PTI
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New Delhi, February 3
New Delhi, February 3
New Delhi, February 3
Mumbai, February 3