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Paswan to go it alone in
Bihar
Trinamool protests against price hike,
corruption
One-fourth of total HIV infected in India is women:
report
Battle for kursi may revolve around Rahul,
Varun
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CM non-committal on Telangana statehood issue
Heritage fest wraps up in Dehra
Dun
BJP raps UPA on Soren
re-induction
Jharkhand all set for keen
contest
Three-year ban on 65
doctors
Putin to visit India from Dec
3
French Embassy introduces new visa procedure
Foreign investment in media opposed
BJP identifies Hinduism with Hindutva: CPM
BJP sans Uma fares better
civic body elections
BJP, 6 parties told to file poll expenses
statement by Nov 30
APHC may meet PoK leaders in
Nepal
Mulayam-Governor rift
widens
Rajasthan asks Haryana to release Yamuna
waters
Draft plan on Panchayati Raj
soon
Tobacco ban around
schools
Sukh Ram case hearing adjourned
Chaos marks Taj’s first night viewing
Siddiqui to head panel on minority
education
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Paswan to go it alone in
Bihar
Patna, November 27 “We will contest 243 seats in Bihar and 80 in Jharkhand all alone,”, Mr Paswan declared at the “Bihar bachao Bihar banao” rally of his party here. The comments come amid attempts by JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar to cobble together an anti-RJD “grand alliance” headed by Mr Paswan. In what is indicative of his souring relations with the Congress, Mr Paswan ruled out the possibility of an electoral tie-up with it in the two states saying: “I told Sonia Gandhi that if her party was intent on committing political suicide then she was free to continue the alliance with Laloo Prasad’s RJD.” Mr Paswan charged the RJD government with repression saying that the premises of two LJP MLAs — Rajan Tiwari and Munna Shukla — were raided several times in connection with the kidnapping of two NHPC technocrats. Referring to the RJD leader and Union Minister Raghuvansh Prasad Singh’s charge that he was leading a party of “dacoits” Mr Paswan said: “When Pappu Yadav was with us, the RJD called him a criminal. Now that he has joined the RJD and become MP from Madhepura, he has become a saint”, he said. Referring to Nitish Kumar’s offer to project him as the chief ministerial candidate of the anti-RJD “grand alliance”, Mr Paswan said: “I told him bluntly that I cannot betray the Muslims. I had resigned from the NDA government following the Gujarat riots and I cannot align with JD(U) as long as it is a constituent of the BJP-led NDA.”
— PTI |
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Trinamool protests against price hike,
corruption
Kolkata, November 27 The police resorted to blank fire and lathi charge to disperse the angry demonstrators before arresting about 300 workers and supporters of the TMC, who were protesting against the hike in oil and diesel prices and the Left Front government’s corruption, misuse of power and other anti-people activities. The TMC leader, Ms Mamata Banerjee, who was present at the demonstration, appealed to the people to observe the 12-hour Bangla bandh on December 3. Incidentally, the CPM also held a separate rally at the same time on Rani Rashmoni Road and called upon the people to foil the proposed bandh by the TMC. Addressing the rally there, the Sports Minister, Mr Subhas Chakraborty, justified the UPA government’s recent hike in oil and LPG prices. He blamed the Bush government for the hike in the international market and also in India and other under-developed countries. He asked the people to protest against the Bush administration, instead of observing a Bangla bandh against the Centre. Ms Banerjee later alleged that the police had lathicharged on the peaceful
demonstrators. |
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One-fourth of total HIV infected in
New Delhi, November 27 A far cry from the early days of the epidemic, when men outnumbered women. In 1998, women constituted 41 per cent of the adults living with HIV. Today, in some parts of the world, they have even outnumbered men. According to the latest AIDS epidemic update, released by the UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation, ahead of the World AIDS Day on December 1, states that their increasing vulnerability can be attributed to several factors, including the fact that women are more physically susceptible to the HIV infection than men. As per the report, the male-to-female transmission is about twice as likely to occur as compared to female-to-male transmission. “As the epidemic’s toll grows, more grandmothers are now caring for orphans than they did a decade ago,” it says. Ms Purnima Mane, Director, Social Mobilisation and Information, UNAIDS, says the world over, the AIDS epidemic is affecting women and girls in increasing numbers. “The number of women living with the HIV virus has increased significantly in each region of the world during the past two years with the steepest increase in East Asia, followed by eastern Europe and central Asia,” she adds. In India, the trend is equally disturbing with more than 5.1 million persons living with the virus in 2003. As per National Aids Control Organisation Joint Director Mohammed Shaukat, at present nearly one out of every fourth person living with the HIV virus in India was a woman. The UNAIDS report says that in Tamil Nadu, HIV prevalence of 50 per cent has been found among sex workers. HIV has been rising steadily among pregnant women and in Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Nagaland, it has crossed the one per cent mark among pregnant women. The HIV prevalence in antenatal clinics in Imphal and Churachand in Manipur has risen from below 1 per cent to over 5 per cent with many of the women testing positive appearing to be the sex partners of male drug addicts. Ms Mane says marriage and long-term monogamous relationships do not necessarily protect women from HIV. Often the fear of violence prevents women from accessing information about HIV, getting tested and seeking treatment. Women’s vulnerability to HIV is further exacerbated by unequal property and inheritance rights. For many women in developing countries, the “ABC” prevention approach -abstinence, being faithful and condom use-is insufficient. Social norms often impose a dangerous ignorance on girls and young women are expected to know little about sex and sexuality. That lack of knowledge magnifies their risk of infection. Many times, most young women do not know how to protect themselves against the HIV infection. Knowledge about sex is also generally quite low. According to the UNAIDS report, a recent study in Utter Pradesh found that 71 per cent of the women, all of whom had married before puberty, knew nothing about sex when they began cohabiting with their husbands and 83 per cent did not know how a woman could become pregnant. |
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Battle for kursi may revolve around Rahul,
Varun
Guwahati, November 27 They are Rahul Gandhi, MP from Amethi, yet a political non-starter in terms of contesting elections and Varun Gandhi. A close aide of Mrs Sonia Gandhi, who was in Guwahati today to attend a seminer on Panchayati Raj, told this correspondent that Mr Rahul Gandhi would be sent to various parts of the country in the coming four years to understand the diverse culture of the country. Ten days back Mr Rahul Gandhi was on four-day tour of Assam and Meghalaya. He interacted with leading intellectuals, NGOs, social celebrities and economists. He reportedly submitted a detailed report to her mother back in Delhi. Knowledgeable sources in the Congress say Mrs Sonia Gandhi is following the same style of grooming for Mr Rahul Gandhi as once done by the late Jawaharlal Nehru for Indira Gandhi. The sources did not rule out the possibility of Ms Priyanka Gandhi being elected to a senior slot of the party, in all probability as Youth Congress chief or even party President — subject to the discretion of Mrs Sonia Gandhi in consultation with Mr Pranab Mukherjee, Mr Manmohan Singh, Mr Manishankar Aiyar and few more trusted hands of the Nehru-Gandhi family — before the next Lok Sabha poll. Mr L.K. Advani, in a clever move, recently included Mr Varun Gandhi in his team. In the process, even after 57 years of Independence, the nerve centre of Indian politics, willy nilly, is likely to be linked to the Nehru-Gandhi family once again. |
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CM non-committal on Telangana statehood issue
Hyderabad, November 27 “An exercise has begun to elicit views of various political parties (on formation of Telangana state). Let there be a consensus on the issue,” Mr Reddy said in an informal chat with reporters here. In tune with the ruling Congress’ known position on Telangana, the Chief Minister said the constitution of a subcommittee was part of an initiative to examine the statehood issue on the basis of political consensus. “If there is a consensus among people and all political parties (on carving out Telangana state), it is fine,” he said. The Chief Minister’s observations come against the backdrop of friction between the Congress and its pre-poll ally Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) on the statehood issue. While the TRS had set December deadline for commencement of process for creation of Telangana state, the state Congress leaders have been contending that a second States’ Re-organisation Commission (SRC) should be constituted to go into demands for smaller states including Telangana. The ruling party leaders have also been arguing that Telangana state could be formed only when there is a broad political consensus on the issue. The CPI and the CPM, which are playing a key role in the Congress-led central coalition, have been consistently opposing Telangana demand and bifurcation of the state. Though TRS is part of the coalition governments at the Centre and in Andhra Pradesh, it has been maintaining a strident stand on statehood issue and is at loggerheads with state Congress leaders. Meanwhile, the TRS welcomed constitution of sub-committee and said it was the “first significant step” towards eventual formation of Telangana state. —
PTI |
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Heritage fest wraps up in Dehra
Dun
Dehra Dun, November 27 However, the most sought after presence that swept in hordes of cheering audience to the ONGC grounds, where the fest was held, remained that of ghazal maestro Ghulam Ali from across the border. The Pakistani singer had ghazal connoisseurs swooning over the sublime lyrics of vintage Ghulam Ali gazals. The city wowed the quwaali rendition by Wadali brothers, yesterday. The duo began the concert with Gurbani on the eve of Gurpurb. The fest displayed the hill arts and crafts at a crafts bazaar where the buyers flocked to pick up a little bit of everything from exotic Himalayan spices to the fine Chanderis from MP. The evenings were packed with folk performances from all over the country. Pt Vishwa Mohan Bhatt’s Mohan Veena recital captivated a large number of audiences. Organised by a city-based voluntary organisation, REACH, the festival was held with the idea to showcase the rich folk art forms of the state, said Mr R.K. Singh of REACH. Over 200 craftspersons from the far-flung villages came together to make the festival what it was. |
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BJP raps UPA on Soren
re-induction
New Delhi, November 27 "This only reaffirms that being tainted is no disqualification for being inducted into this government," BJP general secretary and spokesperson Arun Jaitley said here. Asked about BJP strategy in view of the development, Mr Jaitley said the party had already made its stand clear on the "tainted" ministers' issue. He, however, hoped Parliament will function normally during the upcoming session and its proceedings will not be affected by this development. In an all-party meeting called by Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, leaders of all political parties had emphasised on the need for smooth functioning of Parliament. |
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Jharkhand all set for keen
contest
Ranchi, November 27 But in the Lok Sabha elections this year, the BJP and JD (U) lost 13 seats to the Congress and JMM. The lone seat that the BJP managed to corner was won by none other than Mr Babulal Marandi who had been removed as the Chief Minister of the predominantly tribal state. After creation of Jharkhand four years ago, the BJP had chosen Babulal Marandi as its Chief Minister but he was removed by the BJP high command as he alienated himself among the middle classes of the state by his controversial domicile decision which made a large population of the state unemployable for state government jobs. Mr Marandi was replaced by a rather unknown and uncharishmatic Arjun Munda whose over 18 months tenure has failed to evoke a favourable cord among the party cadres and the electorate. A Taxi driver Subodh Jaiswal said that Mr Marandi was able to build roads and get street lamps installed but Mr Mr Munda has failed to either control law and order situation in the state or quicken the pace of development in the state. While Mr Munda proved his mettle to the BJP high command by organising a fairly large rally on the opening day of the national executive meeting in the state capital but general refrain here is that if anyone can give a tough fight to the JMM-Congress-RJD alliance is Mr Marandi. But the BJP is not prepared to enter the political fray in the leadership of Mr Marandi. On the other hand the party’s main political opponent has consolidated its position by bringing back JMM leader Shibu Soren in the Union Cabinet. |
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Three-year ban on 65
doctors
Madurai, November 27 The MCI had earlier conducted inspections in various private and government colleges. The decision to ban these doctors was taken after finding them guilty of claiming employment benefits as teachers in more than one medical college at the same point of time, the official said. They had been issued a ban on practising till December 31, 2007, he said. Earlier, the MCI had issued show-cause notice to all the 65 doctors and sought their explanation for giving false declaration regarding their employment. The inspection team had also recommended that the names of the 65 doctors should be removed from the registry of the MCI.
— PTI |
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Putin to visit India from Dec
3
New Delhi, November 27 The two sides are expected to sign accords on defence cooperation and other areas of strategic concern to both the countries. An official announcement on President Putin’s visit was made here by the External Affairs Ministry spokesman today. The importance which was being attached to the visit of President Putin could be gauged from the fact that just three days ahead of the official visit of the Russian President, Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov would be in New Delhi to hold crucial talks with Defence Ministry officials on various accords which would be signed during the visit. India and Russia were also working together on the aircraft carrier Admiral Gorshkov and Moscow was keen that New Delhi should purchase more equipment from it for the refurbishment of the carrier which would serve as the mainstay of the Indian Navy in the coming years. The issue of India purchasing more equipment for Admiral Gorshkov might also come up during the discussions. The Russian Defence Minister was also expected to hold crucial discussions on military and technical cooperation, including working out an agreement to safeguard military technology being jointly developed. The Russian Defence Minister would arrives here on November 30 and would stay on for President Putin’s visit. Incidentally, the two countries had together developed the futuristic supersonic cruise missile Brahmos, which could be fired from any platform on land, sea or air. The development of the missile was of importance to both the countries and an accord would be signed between them to prevent transfer of technology to any third nation. Brahmos, the 300-km multi-faceted missile was a joint venture between New Delhi and Moscow with each side having a 50 per cent stake. The broader agreement would also cover mutual protection of intellectual property rights on joint weapons projects. Moscow had offered India an equity stake in the development of fifth generation fighter aircraft. The Russian Defence Minister, who would be heading a high-level military delegation, would also hold talks with his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee. One of the important points for discussion would be of the Russian army officers undergoing training at the high altitude warfare school and undertaking high altitude exercises with Indian army. Though India had started deploying the Brahmos missile in its frontline warships, with its surface to surface and air to ground versions undergoing flight tests, the signing of the agreement, would enable the two countries to explore markets overseas for the missile. According to reports here another issue which was likely to be taken up during the Russian President’s visit would be the resolving of the rupee-rouble. Russia wanted the issue to be resolved in a mutually-beneficial manner and the pending rupees worth $ 3 billion re-invested on concrete projects either on Indian soil or in Russia. Moscow was keen that India extended its support to Russia joining the WTO. A document in this regard might be signed during President Putin’s visit. Power and energy would be some other topics of discussion during the visit as both India and Russia could successfully cooperate in these areas.Moscow had already indicated its willingness to talk to other members of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) for easing certain restrictions so that India could benefit from cooperation with Russia in nuclear power. |
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French Embassy introduces new visa procedure
New Delhi, November 27 Under the new procedure, applicants for an Schengen Visa or France National Visa, who are residing in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Jharkhand, Orissa, all seven north-eastern states, Sikkim and Union Territory of Chandigarh, may apply in New Delhi. Appointments can be taken online at www.vfs-france.co.in or by telephoning the France Visa Call Centre in Delhi. |
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Foreign investment in media opposed
New Delhi, November 27 In a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, All-India Newspaper Employees Federation, the UNI Workers Union and the Federation of PTI Employees said the 1955 Cabinet decision, taken under the Prime Ministership of Jawaharlal Nehru, to keep the FDI out of Indian media should be given the sanctity of law through an act of Parliament. They said “imperialist powers” had been putting pressure on successive governments to accept FDI in the print media. |
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BJP identifies Hinduism with Hindutva: CPM
New Delhi, November 27 “BJP president L. K. Advani’s speech is permeated with the idea of Hindu rashtra. It mischievously seeks to identify Hindus and Hinduism with the RSS concept of Hindutva,” the party said in a statement. In order to appropriate Hinduism for the BJP’s sectarian political purposes, Mr Advani has accused the Communists and other political forces of conspiring to destroy the Hindu ethos, it added. The Left party said the BJP’s attempts to reap political advantage by converting the arrest of Shankaracharya into “a cause for Hinduism will fail just as its earlier attempts to utilise Uma Bharti’s arrest or the alleged insult to Savarkar.” “Despite Advani’s claim that the BJP is the ‘chosen instrument of the divine’, the record of the BJP as a pro-imperialist and pro-rich,” the CPM said. |
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BJP sans Uma fares better
civic body elections
Bhopal, November 27 The BJP candidates have been elected Mayors in 11 of the 13 Municipal Corporations while the Congress was able to retain the Bhopal Mayor’s post by a thin margin. Independents were elected Mayors in the remaining two Municipal Corporations. In the elections held five years ago, five Congress Mayors were elected. Mr Bhagwan Das Sabnani, much too closely associated with Ms Uma Bharati, lost the Bhopal Mayor’s post to Mr Sunil Sood of the Congress by less than 7,000 votes. Mr Sabnani resigned as the Bhopal district BJP President immediately after his defeat and blamed the state BJP leadership, particularly Chief Minister, Babulal Gaur, for engineering his defeat to humiliate Ms Uma Bharati. Though the new Bhopal Mayor belongs to the Congress, the 66-member Bhopal Municipal Corporation has been captured by the BJP by winning 39 seats. The Congress has to be satisfied with only 22 seats. The remaining five seats have gone to the BSP, the SP and independents. Of the results declared so far, the BJP has captured 25 Municipal Committees and 41 Nagar Panchayats while the Congress has gained majority in 13 Municipal Committees and 32 Nagar Panchayats. The BJP, then led by Ms Uma Bharati, had snatched power from the Congress by winning 173 seats in a House of 230 in the Assembly elections in November last year. In the Lok Sabha elections held early this year, the BJP had increased its tally from 21 to 25. The total number of Lok Sabha constituencies in Madhya Pradesh is 29. |
BJP, 6 parties told to file poll expenses
New Delhi, November 27 Though the election law stipulates submission of the election expenses by a party within two months of the poll, BJP repeatedly sought time, the sources said, adding that some state parties had also not responded to the commission’s directives. The state parties which have still not filed the statements include Pattali Makkal Katchi
(PMK), Forward Bloc, Uttarakhand Kranti Dal, United Goans Democratic Party and Nagaland People’s Front, the sources added. |
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APHC may meet PoK leaders in
Nepal
New Delhi, November 27 The conference, will deliberate on various proposals for addressing the Kashmir issue. The Hurriyat delegation for the conference will be led by its Acting Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq. It is unlikely that hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani will attend the conference, though he has also been invited, sources said. The PoK delegation is expected to comprise former Prime Minister of PoK Sardar Abdul Qayoom Khan, Farooq Aziz, Maqbool Bhat and Hyder Khan, source said. In all, at least 60 delegates from both sides of Kashmir are expected to participate in the conference. They will debate on the recent suggestion made by Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf for the demilitarisation of Jammu and Kashmir, giving them independence or putting under joint control, sources added. |
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Mulayam-Governor rift
widens
Lucknow, November 27 The war of words between Raj Bhavan and the CM reached a new low when Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav did not mince words to hit out at the constitutional head of the state at the party conference in Jhansi on November 22. In the context of the Jauhar Urdu University Bill, the CM said that it would have been passed during the last session if the Governor had not raised objections. When he (Mr Yadav) personally went to convince the Governor, he (Mr Rajeswar) allegedly used derogatory words against the legislature that were difficult to repeat, Mr Yadav informed a cheering crowd at Jhansi. The Governor’s letter acquires significance as it attempts to prevent a confrontation between Raj Bhavan and the Samajwadi Party-dominated Vidhan Sabha. The ruling alliance is set to push through the controversial Urdu University Bill in the Vidhan Sabha on November 30. The Governor has openly expressed his reservations over this Bill as it provides for Urban Development Minister Mohd. Azam Khan being appointed the life-long Pro-Chancellor. The Governor is not the only target of the CM wrath. The central government is also being targeted. This state-Centre bitterness was visible during the Union Home Minister of State Sriprakash Jaiswal’s visit to the Naxalite-affected districts of Chandauli, Mirzapur and Sonebhadra on Wednesday. The state administration was instructed to keep away from the visit. The minister was even prevented from visiting the place where the ambush killing 15 PAC policemen had taken place last week on the grounds that the visit may hamper the ongoing combing operations. |
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Rajasthan asks Haryana to release Yamuna
waters
Jaipur, November 27 In his communication, Professor Jat has invited the Haryana Chief Minister’s attention to the agreement signed by the Governments of UP, Haryana, Rajasthan, Delhi and Himachal in May, 1994, which clearly underlines the allotment of Yamuna waters to each state. The letter also draws attention to the decision made by the Upper Yamuna Board to provide 3198 cusecs of water from Tajewala and 1281 cusecs from Okhla to Rajasthan. Professor Jat has also stated that a meeting between the Haryana and Rajasthan Chief Ministers in June, 2001, provided for joint inspection by officials of the two states and the Central Water Power Commission to take a decision on the construction of a canal system to carry the Yamuna waters to Rajasthan. Unless the MoU based on the agreement about the utilisation of Yamuna waters between Rajasthan and Haryana is signed by the latter, work on projects of the utilisation of Yamuna waters in Bharatpur, Jhunjhunu and Churu districts would be difficult to undertake, observed Professor Jat. |
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Draft plan on Panchayati Raj
soon
New Delhi, November 27 This was stated by Mr Mani Shankar Aiyar, Minister of Panchayati Raj, Petroleum and Natural Gas, while addressing a meeting of members of consultative committee attached to the Ministry of Panchayati Raj. He informed the members that a proposal had been mooted for the implementation of about 300 Centrally-sponsored schemes of the government through PRIs. A task force comprising state secretaries had been constituted for working out the modalities for the same. Commenting on the devolution of power to panchyats, Mr Aiyar said, most of the states had made considerable progress in devolving several responsibilities to PRIs without transferring the requisite staff and funds which were essential to carry out the functions entrusted to them. The panchayats should be granted appropriate powers to generate their own resources for making them self-reliant, he added. |
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Tobacco ban around
schools
New Delhi, November 27 From January next year, the ban will be strictly enforced, Mr Ramadoss said after releasing the report on “Tobacco control in India”, prepared by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, USA, and World Health Organisation. The ban will bring the Bengali Market area of Central Delhi which is just a few metres from the boundary wall of Modern High School, Barakhamba Road, under its jurisdiction. Earlier, the ban was within 100 metres from the gate of an educational institution. On the enforcement of the ban on sale of “gutka”, he said the Centre would impose it after a request from any state government. “We want state governments to come forward,” he said. — UNI |
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Sukh Ram case hearing adjourned
New Delhi, November 27 Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Reena Singh adjourned the hearing after Mr Rao’s personal assistant informed the court that the former Prime Minister had been admitted to AIIMS following a sudden deterioration in his condition. The CBI registered a case against Sukh Ram in 1996 following raids at his official residence in the Capital and Mandi and claimed to have found Rs 3.62 crore in cash. Mr Sukh Ram claimed that the money had been collected on behalf of the Congress. |
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Chaos marks Taj’s first night viewing
Agra, November 27 There was also a last minute rush tonight for securing tickets to see the monument of love. As per the Supreme Court guidelines, the ticketing procedure had to be completely computerised and the deadline for issuing tickets had been set at 24 hours before the night viewing starts. Pooja Desai from Mumbai, who had come with her husband to see the monument of love by night, said she had to wait the entire day for the tickets for tomorrow’s night viewing. — PTI
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Siddiqui to head panel on minority
education
New Delhi, November 27 An official press note said Mr Balwant Singh Ramoowalia and Mr Valson Thampu were the other two members of the commission. The tenure of the members would be for five years from the date of assuming charge. The commission will look into complaints regarding deprivation or violation of rights of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice and any dispute regarding affiliation to a scheduled university. It will report its findings to the Central Government. The commission will also be the appellate authority for resolving disputes regarding affiliation between a university and minority educational institutions.
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