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New Delhi, May 20 Barely a mile away from 7, Race Course Road, the official residence of the Prime Minister, the bungalow of Prime Minister-designate Manmohan Singh has assumed an equally powerful air of importance.
BJP greets Manmohan, takes a dig at
Sonia
CPM welcomes statement of Manmohan
Singh
Denied Home, Laloo fumes,
rethinks
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Manmohan has a look-alike too
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Race for Cabinet berths hots up
GRAPHIC:
Women Members of Lok Sabha Decision on CDS
govt prerogative, says Naval chief Punjabi teachers for Delhi govt schools Delhi-Manali deluxe bus
service
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Manmohan’s bungalow abuzz with activity
New Delhi, May 20 No sooner than news broke out yesterday that the diminutive Sikh leader would be the country’s next Prime Minister, 19, Safdarjung Road—the bungalow where he currently resides—became one of the most important destinations for mediapersons, eager to catch on camera anything related with the leader. Also, a small crowd in front of the bungalow, mostly of Sikhs, gradually increased in numbers, forcing security agencies to barricade the whole area and even construct a new reception to take care of visitors for the Prime Minister-designate. Long branches of trees around the bungalow have been chopped off, while scores of halogen bulbs dot the interior and exterior portions of Dr Manmohan Singh’s residence. The bungalow, which was not long ago being manned by just a handful of Delhi Police personnel, has now been surrounded and guarded by a mix of agencies which includes the CRPF, the Rapid Action Force, Delhi Police and personnel of the Special Protection Group (SPG). A new side gate has come up in front of the bungalow and to ensure better view for the ever-increasing television news cameras and still photographers, a special area has been earmarked. Such has been the activity around the bungalow that it is difficult for any passer-by to cross the road without taking note of the flurry of activities around. Many stop their vehicles, mostly inquisitive after looking at the large number of OB vans of various television channels. However, security personnel ensure that they quickly move away from the high-profile road, one side of which has been closed for public use. Whether inside or outside the bungalow, one cannot move around without bumping into one or the other ‘relative or old friend’ of Dr Manmohan Singh, most of whom claim to know him for years. “I know him from the days he used to teach at Delhi School of Economics. Dr Manmohan is a very hard-working man and I am sure he will do wonders for the country and the economy,” says one of the well wishers of the Prime Minister-designate after being unable to go inside because of the tight security arrangements. For the moment, people can be seen at the entrance of the bungalow, bouquet of flowers in tow. While some are busy distributing sweets, others try to convince securitymen that they are ‘genuine relatives’ and thus be allowed to proceed in to greet Dr Manmohan Singh’s immediate family in person. —
PTI |
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Vajpayee congratulates Manmohan
New Delhi, May 20 “The Prime Minister telephoned Dr Manmohan Singh last night, soon after the President appointed him as the new Prime Minister and congratulated him,” an official said on Thursday. —
IANS |
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Every Indian proud of Singh as PM: Amarinder
New Delhi, May 20 In a statement here, the Chief Minister said every Indian was proud to have a Prime Minister-Designate who is a world-renowned economist. “It is only because of Ms Sonia Gandhi’s sagacity and wisdom that India is today poised to realise Rajiv Gandhi’s dream of becoming a superpower in the 21st century,” he said. The Chief Minister said the process of consolidation of secular and progressive forces under the leadership of Ms Sonia Gandhi had begun after the Lok Sabha elections. In a separate statement, Punjab Congress vice-president M. M. S. Cheema described Dr Manmohan Singh as “the pride of Punjab.” He said Dr Manmohan Singh had pulled the country out of economic difficulties in his tenure as Finance Minister. Mr Cheema, who is also a trade union leader, hoped that the new government would protect the interests of the working class and employment opportunities would be given a boost. |
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Kyrgyz President to invite Manmohan
New Delhi, May 20 If Dr Manmohan Singh were to attend the conference this will provide him with an opportunity to interact with the leaders of Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Iran, France and Japan, who are likely to attend the conference. The conference will discuss new and multi-dimensional threats to global peace and security. It is being supported by UNESCO. Mr Akaev has also invited representatives of the United Nations, Shanghai Group, OIC and experts from the USA, Europe and Russia, according to an official press note of the Kyrgyz Embassay. |
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Manmohan has a look-alike too
New Delhi, May 20 TV cameras foucssed on the 58-year-old Congress worker who has been a regular visitor to the AICC office. Mr Sethi, who campaigned for the former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister, Mr Ajit Jogi, in the Lok Sabha elections, was at the Safdarjung Road residence of Dr Manmohan Singh today. As inquisitive journalists surrounded him, Mr Gurmeet Singh Sethi, who has also worked in election campaign of Dr Manmohan Singh, narrated anecdotes linked to his resemblance to the Prime Minister-to-be. |
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BJP greets Manmohan, takes a dig at
Sonia
New Delhi, May 20 “We greet Dr Manmohan Singh and hope that he would strengthen the nation. We also hope that he would carry forward the good work done by the previous NDA government,” BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitley told newspersons. Stating that the BJP shares the sense of relief of a large section of people, after Ms Gandhi turned down Prime Ministership, Mr Jaitley took a dig at the Congress President saying “had the reason given in the end been understood in 1999 when she staked claim to form government, there would have been no need of what had taken place now.” Asserting that the BJP has been firm and consistent on its stand that a person of foreign origin should not occupy the Prime Minister’s post, Mr Jaitley said the NDA government could not bring a legislation in this regard due to “lack of numbers” in Parliament. He, however, dugged the question on why the BJP did not adopt the same principle of calling a joint session of Parliament as it did to pass POTA Bill. Emphasising that it was BJP’s democratic right to protest any attempt to make a person of foreign origin a Prime Minister, Mr Jaitley
condemned attack on BJP offices allegedly by Congress workers. Asked to react on the comment made by Rahul Gandhi that he pittied the BJP, Mr Jaitley said “he (Mr Rahul Gandhi) said much more than that...He is a young man probably willing to grow in politics. |
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CPM welcomes statement of Manmohan
Singh
New Delhi, May 20 Stating that there was no pressure from the Left, CPM spokesperson and Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said: “We welcome Dr Manmohan Singh’s statement. There is no pressure from the Left. We also want public good and a strong nation.” “Our friends in the Left have a different perception of past economic policies but they are also great patriots and that patriotism and burning desire to make this century the Indian century is something I see common to all Indians,” Dr Manmohan Singh said. Mr Yechury said “sweet heart deals for public sector companies, in which there were allegations that some people close to certain political parties were favoured, should be probed. We leave it to the next government to clean up the area of disinvestment and other areas where news and evidence of scam had surfaced.” “The nature of the probe should be decided by the government,” he said when asked whether his party favoured a probe by Joint Parliamentary Committee or the market regulator Securities and Exchange Board of India. The statement comes after CPM’s repeated demands for a probe into “bear cartel”, referred to by the outgoing Disinvestment Minister Arun Shourie, during the public offer of six state-owned companies. Asked about his party’s stand on disinvestment, Mr Yechury said the CPM was against privatisation of Navaratna companies but the mid-sized profit-making government entities could go to the markets for raising capital. On the loss-making PSUs, he said efforts should be first made to revive them, failing which, they could be disposed of but only after consultations with the management and the workers. |
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Denied Home, Laloo fumes, rethinks
New Delhi, May 20 RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav voiced second thoughts about joining the government after reportedly being denied the price of his loyalty — the prestigious ministry to be vacated by outgoing Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani. The Congress has reportedly refused to oblige Yadav. Yadav, who has staunchly backed Congress and its president Sonia Gandhi, said he would announce on Friday whether he would participate in the government or back it from outside. “I make ministers and prime ministers — I am not bargaining for any post or portfolio in the government,” Yadav said after meeting a delegation of senior Congress leaders. Yadav, a former Bihar Chief Minister whose wife Rabri Devi now rules the state, insisted he was keen on a special consideration for his state Bihar and was not angling for any post. But he asserted whatever his decision, he would attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-elect Manmohan Singh likely on Saturday. “We are the largest group (among Congress allies) and we can support the government from outside like the Telugu Desam Party backed the previous government. Our aim is not ministerial berths. “We only want progress and development of Bihar. We want work.” Stating that his options were open, Yadav insisted he was not trying to send a wrong message. “I am a democrat. We are committed to the Congress-led government. I am committed to Bihar. There is no suspense.” Senior Congress leaders downplayed Yadav’s sudden turnaround, claiming there was no dispute and no bargaining for portfolios. “RJD is our oldest ally and has been with us through thick and thin — if there are differences they will be sorted out,” said Congress leader Arjun Singh. “It is a part of the process. Consultations will carry on.” —
IANS
RJD mounts pressure on
Cong New Delhi, May 20 Senior party leader Raghuvansh Prasad Singh said after a two-hour meeting of the RJD Parliamentary Party that Congress-led government should promise that it would give Bihar its due following the division of the state. He said unless such an assurance was given, RJD would not take part in the government. The meeting authorised RJD chief Laloo Prasad Yadav to take a decision on joining government. Amid reports that Mr Yadav was leaving for Patna, senior Congress leaders Arjun Singh and R K Dhawan drove to Mr Yadav's residence. Mr Arjun Singh later denied that differences had cropped up between the two parties over power sharing at the Centre. "There is no confusion between the two parties," he said. Mr Singh said he was hopeful that the RJD would participate in the government. He said the issue of ministerial berths did not come up at the meeting. Mr Yadav, who left for Patna for "wider consultations with party legislators," said Bihar's development was more dear to his heart than Cabinet berths. Denying reports of his eyeing Home Minister's post, Mr Yadav said his options about joining government were still open. Mr Yadav will return to the Capital before the swearing in of Dr Manmohan Singh.
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Race for Cabinet berths hots up
Hyderabad, May 20 Sources in the Congress party here say that Mr S Jaipal Reddy, Mr N. Janardhana Reddy and Mr G. Venkata Swamy have a fair chance among the aspirants in the state. Ms Renuka Chowdary, the firebrand who got elected from Khammam for the second consecutive term on Congress ticket, is another hopeful. Telugu Desam Party founder N.T. Rama Rao’s daughter Purandareswari, who fell out with Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, Chinta Mohan, the MP from Tirupati, and Mr T. Subbarami Reddy, the flamboyant Rajya Sabha member, are also making efforts for a berth. |
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Decision on CDS
govt prerogative, says Naval chief New Delhi, May 20 Speaking to the media here Admiral Singh, when asked specifically about the status of the CDS, pointed out that there were no differences within the Services over the creation of the post but said that it was the prerogative of the government. Admiral Singh, who is also the Chairman, Chiefs of Staff Committee, was talking to the media on the sidelines of a function to pat naval climbers who scaled Mount Everest. He pointed out that although many countries had a CDS but it would be a political decision here. He also said that India was on the lookout for longer range anti-sea skimming missiles and that a decision should also be taken soon on the building of new submarines. He said it would be a “matter of concern” if the country dallied on the project to build new submarines. “Most of the submarine fleet with the Navy, specially the German HDW made subs are almost 20 years old and have to be changed in the next few years”, Admiral Singh said warning that otherwise the Navy would land up in a position as with aircraft carriers with present subs being phased out without any replacements. His remarks assume significance with the NDA government, which had almost finalised the acquisition of French Scorpene submarines under technology transfer, on its way out and questions being raised about the transparency of defence deals finalised under the old regime. Admiral Singh said the new Submarine project under which Indian shipyards would build under licence six Scorpene submarines was now with the government with “all arms of administration having cleared it”. However, he made it clear that the deal had not been referred to the Cabinet Committee on Security. “By and large, it has been agreed that finances would be made available for the project with CCS”, the Naval Chief said adding any delay would cause a setback to the reopening of submarine rebuilding lines by almost one to two years. |
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Punjabi teachers for Delhi govt schools
New Delhi, May 20 He said Punjabi language translators would also be appointed in all government departments to translate the necessary official papers. The announcements are part of the Delhi Government’s commitment to promote and propagate Punjabi language, literature and culture in the capital. —
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Delhi-Manali deluxe bus
service New Delhi, May 20 HP
Transport Minister G S Bali was present at the function held to mark the start of the service. The 39-seater, Rs 50 lakh bus, has several passenger-friendly features including personalised AC control. |
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New Delhi, May 20
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