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India, Senegal for strong legal system against terror
UP lawyers back to work
NGO to dish out state govt report card
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Athawale’s plea referred to constitution Bench
Shibu wants Cabinet status back
Kalyan Singh stirs up a hornet’s nest
PM urged to order CBI probe into PSU scam
Indo-Bangla Home Secy-level talks on September 16-17
Maharashtra poll notification on Sept 15
Ready to discuss family planning, says Muslim board
Maoists feared hiding in Uttaranchal
Railways action against vending units
Trishul
test-firing aborted
Patil postpones visit to J&K
Panel on service tax set up
Kid dies imitating Dhananjoy’s hanging
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India, Senegal for strong legal system against terror
New Delhi, September 13 A joint statement was issued today at the end of Senegalese Foreign Minister Cheikh Tidiane Gadio’s India visit (September 8-11) wherein the two countries condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. The two sides stressed the need for strengthening the international legal system to fight terrorism by reinforcing the international legal system. They also underlined the need for the strict, total and unconditional implementation of all United Nations Security Council Resolutions on Terrorism. “The two sides expressed grave concern over the spread of international terrorism, religious intolerance, international crime, drug and arms trafficking. They considered this wave of violence as a threat to the sovereignty of States, development, stability as well as to international peace and security,” the statement said. The importance attached to Senegal by the Government of India is reflected by the fact that during this visit Dr Gadio met External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram, Communications and IT Minister Dayanidhi Maran and National Security Adviser
J.N. Dixit and discussed a range of bilateral relations with them. An important area of tactical cooperation between India and Senegal was the ongoing WTO negotiations. In this context, the two countries expressed their determination to pursue contacts initiated to ensure that the basic concerns of developing countries are taken into account in future multilateral trade talks at WTO level, particularly those relative to agricultural subsidies and market access. Both sides expressed their conviction that there was considerable untapped potential in major sectors, especially in the fields of Information Technology and knowledge products, agriculture as well as small and medium scale enterprises. Both sides agreed to convene the second session of the Joint Commission Meeting in January, 2005. Senegal offered to host the meeting in Dakar, even though it was, in principle, scheduled to be held in New Delhi. The two countries also decided to implement necessary steps towards signing of Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement and Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement. The Indian side agreed to extend assistance to the Senegalese side for the Development Programme of Urban and Inter-Urban Transport in Senegal. In this regard, the Indian side agreed to provide a line of credit for the acquisition of 350 buses from India. India told Senegal that the feasibility study and a detailed project report for the
Dakar-Tamba-Ziguinchor Railway line would be done at the earliest. Senegal expressed its desire to acquire tractors and other agricultural equipment from India, using the Indian $15 million credit line previously granted to Senegal. The two sides decided to support the strengthening of TEAM-9, a techno-economic cooperation initiative between India and some African countries. In this regard, it was decided to hold the first meeting of the Standing Committee at the earliest, and Senegal offered to host the first meeting. On the international level, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to promote the formation of an equitable multi-polar world order based on the equality of States. Dr Gadio extended an invitation to the External Affairs Minister to make an official visit to Senegal. The invitation was accepted and it was decided that the External Affairs Minister would visit Senegal in January, 2005. |
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UP lawyers back to work
Lucknow, September 13 Late last night came the decision of the state to transfer Mr Som Dutt Sharma, SHO, Hazratganj police station, and Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav’s request to the Election Commission seeking permission for transferring DIG, Lucknow Range, Jagmohan Yadav. This was required as bye-elections are scheduled in the Lucknow range. The CM has also assured compensation to the lawyers injured in the September 3 encounter with the police. A judicial inquiry by retired Supreme Court judge Sagheer Ahmad was ordered on September 3 itself. With this, the major demands of the lawyers have been met. According to Dr Ashok Nigam, President of the Avadh Bar Association, the strike has been called off “temporarily” following the Chief Minister’s assurance that action would be taken against the guilty police personnel within two days. On the invitation of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav a delegation of lawyers led by Dr Nigam as the chairperson of the lawyers coordination committee, had met the CM where he gave them this assurance. However, contradictory signals emanated from another section of the lawyers who refuse to get back to work. Former Avadh Bar Association President L.P. Mishra, the accident of whose car triggered the clash with the police, denied the strike being called off even temporarily. Central Bar Association chief Shiv Saran Upadhyay and President of the High Court Bar Association C.L. Pandey went to the extent of calling the decision to call off the strike “illegal” as no general body had been held. |
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NGO to dish out state govt report card
Dehradun, September 13 Close on the heels of such a survey undertaken by the association of bureaucrats in neighboring Uttar Pradesh, the top three titles would be of ‘Maha
Bhrashta’ and the first and second runners-up in that order. The survey would empower the common man and give voice to his opinion helping him to act as a watchdog, the NGO believes. Of late the government has been making tall claims but the people of Uttaranchal are a disillusioned lot after four years of statehood, the NGO believes. Spread over months of research based on public opinion of the bureaucrats and ministers, the survey would cover the efficacy and efficiency in functioning of the government departments, said RLEK chairman Avadhesh Kaushal. What the NGO calls a citizens rating would bring into account the opinion of over a lakh people from the 13 districts. The idea is to put the government on alert to ensure that the public servants treat their work with a sense of responsibility, Mr Kaushal said, adding that they ought to be undertaken at regular intervals. The organisation has begun collating the data based on the people’s perception of public representatives and the condition of government departments. The final report of the survey, which is already under way would be released on November 8, the eve of the fourth anniversary of Uttaranchal’s statehood. The report would tap the mood of the hill state, four years into statehood attained after years of agitation resulting from issues like unemployment and laggard pace of development, the NGO believes. |
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Uma Bharti draws big crowds
Mumbai, September 13 Watched by the authorities in keeping with the code of conduct in force during the run-up to the Assembly elections in Maharastra, Ms Bharti hit out at the Congress and its President, Ms Sonia Gandhi, in particular. “I realise that I was arrested because I stopped Sonia from becoming the Prime Minister,” Ms Bharti said. She accused Congress leaders of taking pride in the sacrifice of a “foreigner” while a native’s (herself) sacrifice was demeaned, according to reports from the yatra trail. Ms Bharti will cover 1,200 km across Maharashtra before moving out of the state in another four days. |
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Athawale’s plea referred to constitution Bench
New Delhi, September 13 Mr Vahanvati said it was the Speaker’s prerogative to either prorogue the House or adjourn it sine die and the courts had been barred by the Constitution from questioning any procedural action of the Speaker in this
regard. — TNS |
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Shibu wants Cabinet status back
New Delhi, September 13 “I want my ministerial berth back. I am not going to go back on my stand as all cases against me are politically motivated and they will not spoil my chances to get back into the ministry,” he told newspersons after emerging from the courtroom, where he appeared in connection with the murder case of his former secretary Sashinath Jha. Mr Soren, who was flanked by his lawyers, said he would also meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh later in the day in this regard. Mr Soren further said he would go back to Jharkhand and start a padyatra to mobilise support for his party in the state Assembly election early next year. Mr Soren said his party would continue its alliance with the Congress, Left and RJD for the state elections. Earlier, Mr Soren, an accused in the Shivnath Jha murder case, appeared at Tis Hazari in the court of Additional Sessions Judge Indermeet Kaur
Kochchar, who posted the matter for further hearing to October 25. The CBI, meanwhile, moved an application for production of a DNA report in the case, which had suggested that the exhumed skeleton was not that of Jha. The CBI alleged that Jha was abducted from Dhaula Kuan area here on May 22, 1994, and taken to Piska Nagari village near Ranchi, where he was murdered. |
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Kalyan Singh stirs up a hornet’s nest
Lucknow, September 13 Atruali is considered the pocketborough of Mr Kalyan Singh that has returned him a record 10 times. Results here are now said to be a forgone conclusion with his daughter-in-law in the fray. Son Rajvir Singh is already a sitting MLA from Dibai in Bulandshahr. Detractors point out that this is not a welcome trend as preferential treatment is something the party has always stood against. Managing the ticket for his daughter-in-law is not the only decision that has angered his opponents within the party. Charging Mr Kalyan Singh of arm-twisting tactics, they say that Neera Singh getting the Iglas seat was also at his insistence. Her husband, Tel Pal Singh, till recently an active Lok Dal member and former Zila Parishad Chairman of Aligarh, recently joined the BJP and was hence rewarded. Mr Kalyan Singh’s critics within the party point out that he also managed to get the Baghra Vidhan Sabha seat for Mr Pradeep Baliyan. Again it was due to pressure from Mr Kalyan Singh that former BJP MLA Baleshwar Tyagi was denied the prestigious Ghaziabad seat which then went instead to Rajnath Singh nominee and former state BJP Secretary Sunita Dayal. The BJP announced the name of Mr Rajendra Chaudhary for the Akbarpur reserved Lok Sabha seat. Candidates for the other Lok Sabha seat of Mainpuri as well as the three Vidhan Sabha seats of Ahirauri, Milkipur and Sidhaura are yet to be finalised and will be announced on September 16. The names already announced by the BJP for nine of the 12 Vidhan Sabha seats going to the polls on October 13 are Premlata (Atrauli), Keshav Prasad Maurya (Allahabad), Pradeep Baliyan (Baghra), Sunita Dayal (Ghaziabad), Rajesh Pandey (Karchana), Sardar Singh (Mandion), Rakesh Tiwari (Mujehna), Mahendra Pandey (Saidpur) and Neera Singh (Iglas). |
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PM urged to order CBI probe into PSU scam
New Delhi, September 13 In a letter to the Prime Minister, a group of prominent citizens, including writers Krishna Sobti and Kedar Nath Singh, have urged the government to order an inquiry into the supply of coal to Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Dhanbad and Project Development India Limited (PDIL). “Before this petition, eminent public figures like Magsaysay Award-winning social activist Baba Amte, former Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray and social scientist Rajni Kothari had also complained to the government seeking action against the guilty,” the petitioners said. |
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Indo-Bangla Home Secy-level talks on September 16-17
New Delhi, September 13 The meeting, being held in a sequel to the
BSF-BDR (Bangladesh Rifles) DG-level talks in April, will be utilised by the Indian delegation to impress upon the Bangladeshi authorities to remove the 195 militant camps of North-East Insurgent groups there and also hand over to India 10 to 15 top leaders of insurgent groups
(ULFA, NDFB, etc.) residing there. The Indian delegation will be led by Union Home Secretary Dhirendra Singh and will have representatives of the BSF, West Bengal Government and Ministry of External Affairs, Joint Secretary (North-East), Home Ministry, Rajeev Aggarwal told newspersons here today. “Continuing illegal migration from Bangladesh is a matter of concern for India. The Indian delegation will urge the Bangladeshi authorities to recognise this fact and take steps to stop it,” Mr Aggarwal said. Besides, Bangladeshi authorities would be urged to allow consular access to Indians held in Bangladesh prisons, implementation of the Revised Travel Arrangements agreed to in 2001 in letter and spirit and removal of objections on developmental projects in border areas, he said. The Indian delegation will also take up the two issues, which have been discussed between the BSF and the BDR earlier, clearance for BSF water craft and simultaneous coordinated patrolling, he added. |
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Maharashtra poll notification on Sept 15
New Delhi, September 13 Formal election process will also begin on Wednesday for the by-elections to four Lok Sabha seats, Mainpuri and Akbarpur in Uttar Pradesh, Madhepura in Bihar and Bidar in Karnataka, and 40 Assembly constituencies spread over 14 states with the issue of the notification by respective state Governors. While the notification will be issued on September 15, the last date for filing nominations is September 22 to be followed by scrutiny the next day. The last date for withdrawing candidature is September 25. Polling is scheduled for October 13 and repoll, if any ordered by the Election Commission, will be held on October 15. Counting of votes will take place on October 16 and results are expected to be announced the same day as the entire state would be polling through electronic voting machines
(EVMs). In Maharashtra, the Election Commission had carried out a special revision of summary nature with January 1 as the qualifying date with effect from June 15 this year to update the rolls. These were finally published on August 18. According to the commission, further changes by way of additions, deletions, corrections or transposition with regard to registration of voters can only be carried out till the last date of nominations. |
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Ready to discuss family planning, says Muslim board
New Delhi, September 13 AIMPLB vice-chief Maulana Syed Kalbe Sadiq told mediapersons here that the board would discuss steps to promote education and family planning among the downtrodden in the community at the board next meeting in December. Apparently referring to the ongoing controversy over the census figures, he said the literates among the Muslims understood the importance of a small family, but the illerate and the poor had to be provided with more educational opportunities by the government. Mr Sadiq dispelled notions that family planning was not encouraged in Islam saying Muslim countries like Iran had achieved almost zero per cent population growth. The board vice-chief said he had written to Shia and Sunni religious leaders urging them to discuss a model of family planning which can be implemented in India. He said according to the revised Census figures, the growth rate of Muslims had declined between 1991 to 2001. Mr Sadiq said the organisation was ready to work with the BJP and the VHP to find out solutions to the problem. |
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Maoists feared hiding in Uttaranchal
Dehradun, September 13 Security was stepped up soon after the reports of the jailbreak looking at the high probability of the Maoists escaping into Uttaranchal, said DGP Kanchan Choudhary. The border was being closely monitored and combing operations were, she added. The state government is taking up with the Centre the issue of a serious security threat from the Maoists in Uttaranchal, said Home Secretary S. Das. The government had written to the Centre yet again, underscoring the need for modernising the police and intelligence, officials said. Expressing concern over the situation in the border areas, Chief Minister N.D. Tiwari said the state government was constantly reporting to the Centre about the situation and the Centre understood the state’s security concerns. |
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Railways action against vending units
New Delhi, September 13 According to a statement issued by the Railway Ministry here today, a total number of 4,896 units were checked. However, no irregularities were noticed in the remaining 2,415 cases. The Railways took action against another 422 cases following complaints made by the public in 2003-’04. The Railways carried out surprise inspections in 5,536 catering units in 2002-’03 and took action against 2,239 units. In 2001-’02, surprise checks were made in 5932 catering units and action was taken against 2,317 units. Sources in the ministry said the Railways had taken several measures to improve the catering services. These included, introduction of three-piece casserole- packed meal instead of ‘thali’ meals, eco-friendly packaging materials, supply of curd in ‘kulhars’, ensuring quality of the packaged drinking water, the review of menu and services in Rajdhani, Shatabdi and other mail, express and super-fast
trains. |
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Trishul
test-firing aborted
Balasore (Orissa),
September 13 The missile, especially designed for the sea-skimming exercise of the Indian Navy, was scheduled to be test-fired today from a mobile launcher inside the ITR at Chandipur-on-sea, about 15 km from here. Sources said the scientists attempted thrice to fire the missile but it failed to take off. Earlier, they had stated that the missile was test-fired successfully. Launched in 1983, the missile has a triple role for the three wings of the defence. Trishul has a range of 9 km and can carry a 15-kg warhead. The trial was intended to gauge the ability of the missile in different parameters, ITR sources said.
— UNI |
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Patil postpones visit to J&K
New Delhi, September 13 The visit has been postponed as the model code of conduct was in force in the state, official sources said today. The visit is likely to take place in the last week of October. |
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Panel on service tax set up
New Delhi, September 13 The committee, set up under an accord reached between the government and transporters who had gone on a week-long strike against the service tax, will also come out with an appropriate format of “consignment note” for the tax purpose and identify “commercial concerns.”
— UNI |
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Kid dies imitating Dhananjoy’s hanging
Patna, September 13 According to the police, the child, Krishanballabh Sahay, woke up early morning when other inmates of the house were sleeping. In the course of his solitary play, he covered his head with a polythene, before hanging himself by a sari. The incident took place near Jahaji Kothi in Churi Market here. Investigations were on.
— UNI |
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