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Monday,
April 1, 2002, Chandigarh, India  
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Market to determine petro prices from today ‘Rail roko’ hits Orissa;
100 Cong men held
Bihar jail toll 6 |
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BSP ‘willing’ to ally
with any party
Highway to link India, Myanmar,
Thailand on anvil Rail travel costlier Bardhan re-elected CPI Gen Secy
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Market to determine petro prices from today New Delhi, March 31 However, it is unlikely that the consumers will feel the pinch of the violent fluctuations in the immediate future as the Centre has indicated that an excise duty cut could be used an instrument to cushion the volatility. “In extreme volatilities (surge in prices) of global crude prices, change in excise duties could be used as an instrument naturally as a sector watchdog, I would be moving the Finance Minister as and when the situation demands,” Petroleum Minister, Ram Naik had told newspersons a couple of days ago. Although the government has notified the specifications for private players to enter the retail marketing arena, only oil public sector undertakings (PSUs) are marketing petroleum products in the country presently. According to M.S. Ramachandran, who takes over as Chairman of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) from tomorrow, an increase of $ 4 a barrel in the international price of crude would involve an impact of Rs 400 to Rs 500 crore annually to the company. “It will be difficult to maintain the prices at the current level... we have told the government what will be the impact and what relief is required”, he said adding that IOC was in talks with the government to adjust excise and other duties following the increase in crude prices. All petroleum products will be sold at market prices except kerosene under the public distribution system (PDS) and LPG cylinders used for domestic cooking. PDS kerosene and domestic LPG will carry subsidy at a specified flat rate basis which will be borne by the Consolidated Fund of India. After adjusting the flat rate of subsidy, the retail prices of these subsidised products will vary with the price of oil in the international market. The Oil Coordination Committee will stand abolished and the oil pool account will be wound up. The outstanding dues of the oil companies against the oil pool account will be liquidated by issuance of government bonds to the companies concerned to the tune of Rs 9000 crore immediately; and for the balance amount after the settlement of the pending claims and completion of audit by C&AG. A cell by the name “Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell” under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas would be set up to assist the Ministry. Private parties will be permitted to market petrol, diesel and aviation turbine fuel subject to their meeting the specified guidelines notified by the government. |
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‘Rail roko’ hits Orissa; 100 Cong men held Cuttack, March 31 Prominent among those taken into custody were senior Congress leader and former MP Jayanti Patnaik, Orissa Pradesh Congress committee Vice-President Gurupada Nanda, Cuttack district party President Suresh Mohapatra and former Ministers Mustafiz Ahmed and Bijaylaxmi Sahoo. The police managed to clear the tracks in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Ganjam districts, five hours after the agitation commenced this morning. The New Delhi-Rajdhani Express, scheduled to leave Bhubaneswar at 9.10 a.m. was delayed by more than three hours. The sources said the Howrah-Puri Express and Nizamudin-Puri Express were detained at Cuttack, Bangalore-Guwahati at the Khurda road.
UNI |
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Bihar jail toll 6
Chapra, March 31 Saran SP Kundan Krishna, said Akshawat Singh succumbed to bullet injuries in government hospital this morning. Four other prisoners, whom the state government ordered to be shifted along with Akshawat Singh were killed in the commando operations launched by the CRPF, Bihar Military Police and the state police to end the four-day siege by the inmates. Another prisoner was killed while eight inmates and 15 policemen were injured in the operation. The situation in the jail was under total control, Mr Krishna said. The SP said Akshawat Singh was the main accused in the killing of five members of a family in the district two years back. PATNA:
Meanwhile, the Bihar Government has ordered an inquiry into the jail siege. |
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BSP ‘willing’ to ally with any party Nagpur, March 31 Speaking to newspersons here, Mr Kanshiram said his party had the numbers to dictate and would naturally lead any coalition in the formation of a government in UP, where President’s rule was declared after none of the parties won a majority in the recently-concluded Assembly elections. Stating that President’s rule was yet to be ratified by the Rajya Sabha after it was passed by the Lok Sabha, he said the BSP did not want the state to go to poll again if the ratification did not come through and his party was ready to partner with any political party that shares his sentiment. To a question, the BSP chief said he did not find anything wrong with the National Democratic Alliance government calling a joint session of the Parliament for the passage of the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Bill after it was rejected by the Rajya Sabha. The Congress, too, did the same when it was in power.
UNI |
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Anand Bakshi cremated
Mumbai, March 31 The 72-year-old lyricist died yesterday at a hospital here after a protracted illness. The villa of the Bakshis wore a sombre look today as relatives and admirers of the famous lyricist poured in to pay their last respects to him. Dressed in pristine white, the film industry was represented by several celebrities, including Yash Chopra, Rajesh Khanna, Shakti Samanta, Subhash Ghai, Gulzar, Shashi Kapoor, Rishi Kapoor and Randhir Kapoor, who offered floral tributes to Bakshi. The poet, who had penned over 4,000 songs, rose into fame with his lyrics in super hit films like “Milan”, “Do Raste”, “Himalaya ki Godh Mein”, “Jeevan Mrityu” and “Khilona”. His latest hits included “Mohabatten” and “Yaddein”. The feeling of first love in songs “Sawan ka
mahina, pawan kare sor” or “Bade acche lagate hai”, and his philosophical touch in “Aadmi musafir hai”, “Diye jalte hai phool khilte hai”, made Bakshi an instant hit.
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Highway to link India, Myanmar,
Thailand on anvil New Delhi, March 31 External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh’s upcoming visit to Myanmar will focus on this unprecedented road-link project when he visits that country from April 5 to 7. Trilateral talks among India, Myanmar and Thailand are going to be held during his Myanmar visit. |
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Rail travel costlier New Delhi, March 31 However, there will be no change in the existing fare structure for the Rajdhani and Shatabdi Express trains. Also, there will be no change in the existing rates for booking of parcel and luggage, including newspapers and magazines. The new tariffs have been proposed in the Railway Budget for 2002/2003, which was approved by Parliament last week.
PTI |
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Bardhan re-elected CPI Gen Secy Thiruvananthapuram, March 31 Mr Bardhan, who had been steering the affairs of the CPI for the past three years, was unanimously re-elected for another three years on the concluding day of the 18th party congress of the CPI here. Mr K.C. Bansal is treasurer.
UNI |
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Mumbai, March 31
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