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Modi-baiter Jairam to head special group in Rahul’s panel
Jairam Ramesh
Address Rahul with respect: Cong to Gujarat CM
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Modi set to roar in Nitish Kumar’s bastion today
IAF launches own 3G cellular network
Travelling with Ansari — Nirmal Sandhu
Indo-B’desh treaty raises hopes of ULFA leader’s extradition
Andhra flood toll 32; Met says more rain coming
Deluge in
Kolkata: Shopkeepers stand on a waterlogged road during heavy rains on Saturday. PTI
‘Files contain reasons for choosing Hindalco’
Jagan presses for AP unity, slams Sonia
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Modi-baiter Jairam to head special group in Rahul’s panel
New Delhi, October 26 Ramesh has been named convener of a small group of Congress workers which will assist the party’s all-powerful election coordination committee — set up last year to prepare for elections — headed by vice-president Rahul Gandhi. The Rural Development Minister, whose recent showdowns with BJP’s prime ministerial candidate have been in sharp focus, will run a secretariat to assist the Rahul-led Congress poll panel which will play a key role in picking winnable candidates for next year’s General Election to the 16th Lok Sabha. Ramesh will operate from 15, Gurdwara Rakabganj Road, in the capital, the erstwhile Congress war room which the party today renamed as its “Election Coordination Centre.” Ramesh is a member of the Congress election coordination committee and will now coordinate all its activities as convener of the “special group” which Congress president Sonia Gandhi approved today. “The group will facilitate coordination of various activities with respect to Lok Sabha elections and will serve as a sort of secretariat to the existing Congress election coordination committee,” Janardan Dwivedi, Congress general secretary in charge of organisation, said. Ramesh is likely to quit from his position in the Cabinet in deference to the existing Congress policy of one person holding one post — either in the party or the government. Party sources said he might stay on until the winter session and resign later. It may be recalled that Ramesh had been called in by the Congress high command to help with party work ahead of the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and had resigned from the minister’s position. Presently, Jairam is heading the UPA election manifesto implementation committees in Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram and Jharkhand. In the Congress, Jairam is seen as a major Modi baiter who had recently attacked the Gujarat Chief Minister for saying that toilets should come before temples.
Readying for LS poll
* Jairam Ramesh has been named convener of the “special group” of Congress workers *
The group will assist the party’s all-powerful election coordination committee headed by vice-president Rahul Gandhi
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Address Rahul with respect: Cong to Gujarat CM
New Delhi, October 26 “There is no space in a democracy for such undignified remarks. The use of such words is against democratic traditions. Congress workers are silent because they respect laws and the Model Code of Conduct which is in force. Otherwise the usage of such words can be stopped in two days. Others should address our leader in the same dignified and patient way in which our leader addresses them,” senior Congress leader and general secretary Janardan Dwivedi said today. Dwivedi, party’s Rajya Sabha MP, also threw his weight behind Rahul in context with the latter’s recent remarks that the BJP has been fanning communal hatred and the ISI is in touch with riot hit Muslim youth in UP’s Muzaffarnagar. Dwivedi said this a day after the BJP petitioned the EC against Rahul’s speeches saying their content sought to divide people along religious lines in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
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Modi set to roar in Nitish Kumar’s bastion today
New Delhi, October 26 The BJP is leaving no stone unturned to ensure that the event (which it claims Nitish tried its best to scuttle) turns out to be a gigantic affair, both in terms of proportions and outcome in the state that sends 40 MPs to the Lok Sabha. Bihar, along with UP, holds the key for the BJP to the next Lok Sabha. The party will have to bring down JD-U’s 2009 stock of 20 seats and better its tally of 12 seats to maximise gains to add to the count from the 80 UP constituencies. All Bihar-based leaders have been camping in the state for weeks now to ensure that the Sunday rally sounds the right message to Nitish, also believed to be a PM candidate in the scenario of the Third Front becoming a reality. For the JD-U, parting with the BJP has been hard. It is believed that several of its members are warming towards the saffron party. It is yet to be seen if any of those are inducted in the public show of the “BJP’s might” tomorrow. Apart from the usual “shahzada”, Congress tirade and Gujarat versus Bihar model of development, it is quite possible that Modi’s debut rally in Bihar will see him hawking his OBC credentials more blatantly than he has ever done before. Sources say Modi is expected to prominently display his OBC (other backward class) credentials to target the substantial vote bank, currently in hold of leaders like Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad Yadav, and tell the crowds that he is one of them. Party leaders claim Modi has never tried too hard to encash on his OBC lineage because of his RSS background where he was taught not to play up his caste affiliations. But the situation is different now and what better place than Patna to showcase his status. The Gujarat CM belongs to an OBC segment (ghanchi community of oil-pressers (teli) and he is expected to relate the story about his humble background along with Gujarat’s development to maximise gains in caste sensitive regions of the country, for instance Uttar Pradesh and Bihar where electoral politics is guided by caste combinations. In most of his rallies so far, Modi has reveled in his humble background but refrained from wearing his caste badge too blatantly.
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IAF launches own 3G cellular network
Chandigarh, October 26 Called AFCEL (Air Force Cellular), it will form a crucial component of the IAF’s network centric operations and facilitate real time exchange of information across the country in a dynamic operational environment. The AFCEL nodes will cover a number of fixed locations and Mobile Base Transmitting Stations (MBTs) will extend connectivity to remote areas as well. These MBTs will provide critical secure communications support for voice, SMS and data exchange and have a force multiplication effect in the conduct of operations. The IAF, through AFCEL, aims at bringing all its units and stations under the overarching umbrella of 3G connectivity. The project’s first phase that has just been launched will ensure mobile connectivity to all air warriors in the national capital region. The phase—II will cover the rest of the bases.
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Travelling with Ansari — Nirmal Sandhu Onboard Air India One, October 26Vice President Hamid Ansari who embarked on a three-nation visit on Friday said India is looking closely at the rich mineral deposits in Peru. “Peru, on the west coast of South America, increasingly is a major factor in global economy — I think it is somewhere 5th or 6th in terms of its GDP and other things, and an important source of minerals, something that we are looking at closely,” Ansari said. Vice President Ansari will also call on President Ollanta Humala during his time in Peru. — ANI ‘Enjoy your stay’ “When I took over as the High Commissioner of Australia, my predecessor gave a piece of advice: “Neither substance nor prospect, enjoy your stay”, said Ansari in a lighter vein. But the situation has changed now. Traffic chaos in Frankfurt
The stopover at the German city of Frankfurt is a compulsion since the aircraft crew needs rest and so do the travellers. While Air India plane arrived at Frankfurt on time, the traffic jam outside the airport led many to recall Delhi’s traffic (mis)management. But there was a difference: no noise, no horns. Everyone patiently waited for his or her turn. Bicycles are more popular than motorcycles and scooters apart from cars. Neat & clean city
The city is neat and clean with eight to 10-lane highways though artery roads are small and an accident can result in a long traffic blockade. The media team accompanying the Vice-President was taken for a sight-seeing in the evening. Germany’s ‘Manhattan’
Frankfurt has a skyline of steel-and-glass towers, which has earned it the nickname of Germany’s “Manhattan”. The city is a model of architecture, which came up after it was completely destroyed during World War II. It is also called “Bankfurt” due to the presence of too many banks, numbering 300, according to one estimate.
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Indo-B’desh treaty raises hopes of ULFA leader’s extradition
Guwahati, October 26 Under the treaty, the two countries will be able to request extradition of criminals detained in each other’s jails and exchange criminals or prisoners convicted for over a year. According to a home ministry source, both nations signed the treaty was on January 28 last and the Bangladesh Cabinet approved its ratification on October 7. ULFA leader Anup Chetia’s handover to India is expected to be decided at the home secretaries’ level of both countries. Chetia had earlier withdrawn his petition seeking political asylum in Bangladesh so that he could be deported to India without further delay. He was arrested in Dhaka in December, 1997, for entering the country without valid documents and served seven-year jail.
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Andhra flood toll 32; Met says more rain coming
Hyderabad, October 26 The situation is likely to remain grim with the weatherman forecasting more rains over the next 48 hours. The rain-related deaths were reported from the districts of Prakasam (six), Guntur (5), Mahabubnagar (four), Hyderabad and Kurnool (three each), Vizianagaram, East Godavari, Nalgonda and Warangal (2 each). Over 72,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas to 178 relief camps spread over nine districts. As many as 15,000 houses were damaged in the heavy downpour and crops spread over 5.64 lakh hectares were damaged as per the preliminary estimates, officials said. Over 4,000 villages in 16 districts were badly affected due to incessant rains. Besides, 405 minor irrigation tanks were breached. Several teams of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are involved in the rescue and relief operations in Srikakulam, West Godavari, Prakasam, Guntur, Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar districts. Hundreds of villages across the state continued to remain submerged, while road and rail routes were affected. The traffic movement on the Vijayawada-Hyderabad Highway was badly affected with long stretches of the key road submerged in floodwaters. The railway track at Bommayipalli on the Secunderabad-Guntur section was damaged and repairs were being carried out. All important trains on this route are being diverted via Warangal and Vijayawada, official sources said.
16 districts hit
* Over 72,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas to 178 relief camps spread over nine districts. *
As many as 15,000 houses were damaged in the heavy downpour and crops spread over 5.64 lakh hectares were damaged as per the preliminary estimates, an official said *
Over 4,000 villages in 16 districts were badly affected due to incessant rains
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‘Files contain reasons for choosing Hindalco’
Hyderabad, October 26 "All those things were recorded in my noting in the file and there is nothing further to comment on that," Parakh told PTI. CBI sources had yesterday claimed that Parakh had failed to specify any "public good" on file notings when he reversed his earlier position of rejecting Hindaclo's application for coal block in Odisha. "Why did we reverse the decision, all these things have been recorded in the file," Parakh said. The CBI has registered a FIR against Hindalco Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla, Parakh and others for alleged irregularities in allocation of Talabira II and III coal blocks in Odisha in 2005. Originally, Hindalco and state-owned Neyveli Lignite Corp had applied for a coal block. The Screening Committee headed by Parakh had decided to allocate the mine to Neyveli but the decision was later reversed after Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik and Birla made separate representations to the Prime Minister. Parakh said he did not see the necessity to refer the Prime Minister's note to re-examine the Hindalco's requisition for coal block, to the Steering Committee. — PTI
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Jagan presses for AP unity, slams Sonia
Hyderabad, October 26 Braving heavy rains, massive crowds converged at LB Stadium in the heart of the city, the venue of his party’s rally christened as “Samaikya Shankaravam” (battle cry for unity). Addressing the gathering, mobilised from all over the state, Jagan made a scathing attack on Congress president Sonia Gandhi, accusing her of trying to split the state with the sole aim of making her son Rahul Gandhi the next Prime Minister. Jagan, who is positioning himself as the sole champion of the united AP cause, was released on bail last month after 16-month imprisonment in connection with disproportionate assets case. As per the bail condition, the Kadapa MP is not supposed to leave the state capital.
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Lucknow The family of BJP legislator Sangeet Som, presently in jail in connection with the Muzaffarnagar riots, has demanded security after receiving a letter threatening to kill the MLA and his kin. — PTI Mumbai Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar has received death threat over the phone from a man, who claims to be fugitive gangster Ravi Pujari, the police said on Saturday. — PTI
Kanpur A case has been lodged against ruling Samajwadi Party MLA Satish Nigam in connection with an attempted suicide by a realtor here over alleged harassment by the former, the police said. — PTI Chennai Customs officials on Saturday seized 1.5-kg gold from a passenger who had arrived from Dubai on Friday. Abdul Rasheed (40) of Kerala was arrested for allegedly smuggling the gold. — PTI
Bangalore Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) on Friday signed a Memorandum of Understanding with IIT Kanpur (IIT-K) for setting-up a faculty chair on the institute’s campus. “This is being done to promote R&D and academic work in the aerospace industry,” HAL chairman RK Tyagi said. — TNS Mumbai The Japanese film industry is looking to strengthen its ties with its Indian counterparts in the coming days. The vice-president of Nikkatsu, a Japanese movie distributor, said, “We decided to buy four representative films from Bollywood to see how they would be received in the market.” — TNS Kochi The RSS on Saturday urged the Centre to take effective steps to manage India's borders, apparently in the wake of the recent ceasefire violations by Pakistan and also to check 'jehadi radicalisation' across the country. — PTI
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New Delhi, October 26
“Hunkar rally” in Patna tomorrow is an event that the BJP has been preparing for a long time. It is the first time that the party’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi will be stepping in the domain of arch rival Nitish Kumar after its bitter parting with the JD-U.
Vice President Hamid Ansari who embarked on a three-nation visit on Friday said India is looking closely at the rich mineral deposits in Peru.
“Peru, on the west coast of South America, increasingly is a major factor in global economy — I think it is somewhere 5th or 6th in terms of its GDP and other things, and an important source of minerals, something that we are looking at closely,” Ansari said.
Torrential rains continued to wreak havoc in several parts of Andhra Pradesh for the fourth consecutive day today, leaving at least 32 persons dead, causing extensive damage to standing crops and inundating hundreds of villages in coastal districts.
The situation is likely to remain grim with the weatherman forecasting more rains over the next 48 hours.
The situation is likely to remain grim with the weatherman forecasting more rains over the next 48 hours.
Hyderabad, October 26
