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Cong clueless on Indo-US nuclear agreements Vajpayee flays N-pacts
Bomb experts in J&K
Noise not right, rules Supreme Court |
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HC notice to trustees of Victoria Memorial
Hurdles in Dabhol project cleared
Nanavati report to be
tabled in Parliament “Mission jehad” lands bankmen in lock-up
Smart cards for NRIs soon: Tytler
Rane storms Sena bastions, attracts crowds
Amit Jogi hatched plan to frame Judev: CBI
Uttaranchal Raj Bhavan to be shifted
Curfew in Dhar after violence, 2 dead
I will never leave MP politics: Uma
MLA gets life term
Portugal court
rejects Abu Salem’s appeal
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Cong clueless on Indo-US nuclear agreements New Delhi, July 20 Although the agreement has generally been received positively, there is disquiet among security experts and nuclear scientists that India has resiled from its earlier positions. In particular, there is concern about India’s commitment to segregate its civilian and military installations and allow inspection of its civilian faciliies by international experts. Some concern has already been voiced about India giving in to US conditonalities. However, this debate is bound to pick up in the coming days once details are made available. The Congress, however, appeared completely ill-prepared to pre-empt any criticism primarily because of any feedback from the government. Admitting as much, Congress leaders said they were completely in the dark about the “fine print” because of which they were hard-pressed to respond to queries or clarify any doubts. They pointed out that it was important for the government to brief the party on such sensitive issues to ensure that the two spoke the same language. They recalled how even a seasoned and senior leader like Pranab Mukherjee slipped up when briefing the press on the party’s nuclear policy a few years ago. He was subsequently contradicted by a party spokespman as Mr Mukherjee’s formulation was contrary to the party’s position as articulated by the Rajiv Gandhi government. With no hard information, the Congress daily press briefing today dwelt more on rhetoric than anything substantive. Predictably, party spokesperson Jayanti Natarajan hailed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s US visit, describing it as “historic and extremely successful”. She was, however, unable to counter the criticism about the nuclear deal by Mr Brajesh Mishra, National Security Adviser in the Vajpayee government. She instead rubbished it as a case of “frustration and despair.” The agreement as well as the Indo-US defence pact are bound to get top billing when the monsoon session of Parliament opens next Monday. The Left parties have already expressed their strong reservations about the defence deal and will be studying the fine print of Indo-US declaration signed by Dr Manmohan Singh and President George Bush before confronting the government. UPA sources said the Prime Minister would first brief the Cabinet on these twin issues after which he will explain these in Parliament. The debate on these two agreements will predictably be stormy.
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Vajpayee flays N-pacts New Delhi, July 20 “The Bush Administration may have recognised India as a responsible state with advanced nuclear technology but it is far from recognising India as a legitimate and responsible nuclear weapon state,” Mr Vajpayee said in a statement reacting to the Indo-US Joint Statement issued after discussions between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and US President George W. Bush on Monday. “The first and the foremost is India’s offer to identify and separate its civilian and military nuclear facilities and programmes. This offer has long-term national security implications...The costs involved will also be prohibitive. It will also deny us any flexibility in determining the size of our nuclear deterrent,” Mr Vajpayee said. “By effecting a separation between civilian and military facilities, we have also accepted a crucial provision of a future fissile material cut-off treaty even before such an international treaty has been fully negotiated and put into force by other nuclear weapon states,” Mr Vajpayee said. Former Prime Minister futher said that the offer to sign and adhere to an Additional Protocol with respect to civilian nuclear facilities was also fraught with dangers. “Such an Additional Protocol will, by its very nature, be more intrusive since it will have to allow international inspectors free access to our nuclear facilities anywhere anytime.”
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Bomb experts in J&K
New Delhi, July 20 Revealing this here, Special Secretary (Internal Security) in Union Home Ministry Anil Chowdhry said the NSG and forensic team had been sent to assist the security forces in investigations. In a related development, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal will visit Kashmir from July 22 to 24 to review the security situation in the wake of a spurt in terrorist activities. He will also visit Baltal and Panchtarni on the Amarnath shrine route to review security arrangements. Taking serious note of the pattern of attacks in the recent past, where the militants use explosive-laden vehicles to trigger blasts, the Centre has directed the state police to carry out search operations of vehicles moving in or out of VIP areas in Srinagar City. “Militants were desperate to make their presence felt,” Mr Chowdhry said referring to the sudden rise in car-bomb attacks in the state. Referring to infiltration from across the border, the Special Secretary said the level had come down by 60 per cent as compared to the last year but it had definitely gone up “if the trend was compared to the previous months.” “The snow is melting and the passes are opening up. So, militants will try to sneak in,” he said. Mr Chowdhry said preliminary information from the local police suggests that militants rammed an explosive-laden car into an Army jeep, killing three Army personnel, and one civilian and left 14 others injured. To a question whether the police had been able to find the bodies of suspected suicide attackers, the official merely said the impact of the blast was too huge. He further said there could be a possibility that militants had parked their cars near the explosive-laden car, which could have been detonated after spotting the Army convoy. Meanwhile, it is understood that the Central security agencies have submitted a report to Union Home Ministry, alleging shortcomings of the Jammu and Kashmir police in “anti-militancy operations” in Srinagar City. While blaming the local police for not carrying out any anti-militancy operation within the city for the past several months, the report has also accused it of not responding adequately to intelligence inputs suggesting a possible spurt in terrorist attacks in Srinagar City, sources said. |
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Noise not right, rules Supreme Court New Delhi, July 20 Detailing with anguish the background of the filing of the petition on ill effect of the noise on an individual and a society as a whole, the court said it was moved by Anil Mittal, in the background of a painful incident relating to the rape of a 13-year-old girl on January 3, 1998 in the Capital when her cries for help had sunk in the blaring sound of loudspeakers in the neighbourhood and ended her life when she could not withstand the humiliation. Taking note of the submissions of various experts called by the court and the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), a Bench of Chief Justice R.C. Lahoti and Mr Justice Ashok Bhan said main source of noise pollution in big cities were pressure horns, loudspeakers at religious places, denting and painting of cars in small shops in residential areas and of course bursting of firecrackers during festivals like Divali and other occasions like marriage celebrations, which created noise far exceeding to the permitted decibles (DBA) limit. Also banning use of loudspeakers at public places between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., the court said even otherwise where loudspeakers or any public address system or any other noise source was being used, the sound “shall not exceed 10 DBA above the ambient noise standards for the area or 75 DBA whichever is lower.” It restricted the noise level for any privately owned sound system to 5 DBA with strict direction to authorities to taken action against those who use pressure horns in residential areas between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., except when it became extremely necessary in exceptional circumstances. The court also directed the union and state governments to incorporate chapters in school text books, especially for those in early classes to make children aware of the ill effects of the noise pollution and the steps to overcome them. Such awareness should be spread among people through residential welfare associations also, it said. “The states shall make provision for seizure and confiscation of loudspeakers, amplifires and such other equipment as are found to be creating noise beyond the permissible limit,” the Bench said directing the state governments to adhere to the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, providing for laying down the noise standards for different areas and zones according to their needs. The court made it clear that no one could be allowed to take shelter under Article 19(1) of the Constitution which deals with freedom of speech and right to expression specially in the context of use of loudspeakers, saying “no body can claim a fundamental right to create noise by amplifying the sound and his speech.” As per the scientific study the noise pollution “creates tiredness, irritation, impairs brain activities so as to reduce thinking, affect blood vessels, cause hypertension, cardiac disease, digestive disorders, ulcers and biochemical disorders,” the court said.
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HC notice to trustees of Victoria Memorial Kolkata, July 20 The case came up for hearing following the PIL ( public interest litigation) filed by Mr Subhas Dutta of a social welfare organisation at Howrah in which it had been alleged that the memorial developed several cracks on its roof, which led to the constant leaking of rain water into the hall damaging several valuable articles preserved there. The hall and the library accommodate hundreds of rare and valuable historic documents and artefacts of the British Raj and the personal belongings of Queen Victoria, which attract tourists and researchers from all over the country and
abroad. The Governor, and the Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, expressed their concern and resentment that the historic monument had not been properly maintained and preserved. The historic monument had been closed to the public more than once for its repairing and renovation work conducted by the CPWD. However, even after the repairing work, there was no stoppage of the leaking of water into the hall from the cracked roof and during the recent monsoon, the rain water falling from the roof had damaged and destroyed several valuables, relics and rare documents of the Victorian era, alleged Mr Dutt in his petitition. According to the state Education (Higher) Department which looks after Victoria Memorial from the government side, the Governor has called an urgent meeting of the Broad of Trustee on July 25 when the matter will be discussed on the basis of the court’s order.
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Hurdles in Dabhol project cleared
New Delhi, July 20 A Bench of Mr Justice S.N. Variava and Mr Justice A.R. Lakshmanan allowed the parties to withdraw their petitions from the court after their counsel informed it that the US majors GE and Bechtel have reached an agreement with the Maharashtra Government over the partnership share in the Dabhol Power Company Ltd (DPCL). A new joint venture company, Ratnagri Gas and Power Private Ltd (RGPPL), has also been set up as per the agreement to go ahead with the execution of the project. The Court was informed that a settlement was arrived at between GE and Maharashtra State Electricity Bord (MSEB) on July 1, while the accord between Bechtel and MSEB was reached on July 12. The petition in the Court was moved last year by Maharashtra Power Development Corporation Ltd (MPDCL) following a dispute over the fixation of rate of power to be generated by the DPCL and partnership share among the parties. GE and Bechtel, which had bought the shares from Enron that had backed out from the project, together held 85.85 per cent share in the DPCL. The other stakeholders in the projects are the NTPC, the RGPPL and the Gas Authority of India Ltd (GAIL). The parties furnished details about how the shares in the DPCL would be transferred by the stakeholders to ensure that the corporation took off to execute the project, which had already been delayed, first due to US major Enron withdrawing from it and then the plant dogged by a controversy over the partnership share among various financial institutions. The Court said 85.85 per cent of the share held by GE and Bechtel in the DPCL be transferred to Newage Power Company Ltd (NPCL), established by the two US majors as Special Purpose vehicle (SPV) to ensure that the project takes off. GE, as per the agreement, is expected to get $145 million while Bechtel’s share would be $ 160 million from the financial institutions. The Court also cleared the way for the MPDCL to nominate two directors on the board of the NPCL. By giving clearance to agreement, the Court cleared all hurdles in the way of executing the prestigious project in which the total assets of the joint venture company were estimated to be worth 10,036 crore. The work on the project is expected to start soon with the creation of Rantnagiri Gas Ltd as per the agreement. |
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Nanavati report to be
tabled in Parliament New Delhi, July 20 “It (the report) has to be tabled in Parliament and it would be tabled along with action taken report most probably in the first week of August,” Home Ministry sources said here yesterday. The Nanavati Commis-sion had submitted its report to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil in February this year and under law the report has to be tabled in Parliament within six months of its submission. The SAD and the BJP had been demanding the immediate tabling of the report and had accused the Congress-led UPA Govern-ment of trying to delay the tabling as the report would be a “big embarrassment” for the Congress party. The NDA has already given ajournment notice to Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee over the non-tabling of the Nanavati Commission report. During the Budget session too the SAD with the support of the BJP and other NDA allies had forced the adjournment of the Lok Sabha for a day over the non-tabling of the Nanavati Commission report. |
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“Mission jehad” lands bankmen in lock-up
Lucknow, July 20 Obviously, taking matters a bit too far the bank had used posters of Osama bin Laden as the representative of single-minded determination. For effect posters of Kalashnikov rifles were also pasted on walls. Instead of receiving expensive crystal as incentive for boosting sales, employees now face the possibility of at least three years behind bars. The occasion was the special evening where employees were to be distributed their share of incentives under a special “Mission Jehad” scheme. The scheme was meant to seek maximum policies for the company and earn extra money through it. The news of this private function being held on the sixth floor office of the bank on Mall Road somehow leaked. Within moments activists of the Bhartiya Janata Yuva Morcha arrived on the scène, burnt the posters and furniture and demanded the arrest of the employees. Confirming the incident Additional SP City Sabharaj Singh Yadav said the five bank employees arrested on Tuesday night were Sanjeev Bhatia, the branch manager, Rohit Malhotra, Sujit Chatterjee, Gofar Kulkarni and Prabhash Singh. They have been arrested under IPC Sections 120 B and 153 B. Section 120B is for “criminal conspiracy” permitting imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment for a term of at least two years. Section 153 B meant for “imputations, assertions, prejudicial to national integration” provides for imprisonment up to three years or fine or both. The accused were presented before a magistrate on Thursday and have been sent to judicial custody, informed Mr Yadav. Calling it a “serious incident and not an isolated case” city MLA Satish Mahana said a high level enquiry should be ordered into the incident. |
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Cinema soft target for dons: Jackie
Patna, July 20 “Actors and actresses are scared of the underworld and are in the grip of terror,” he told reporters here in an admission, which assumes significance in view of the controversy about Salman tapes where he reportedly bragged about his underworld links. Describing the dons as “omnipresent,” Shroff said the cine stars were faced with the difficult situation as even though they did not want to go against the law, they were too scared to disobey the mafia lords. “We are indomitable heroes only on the screen. In real life we are as concerned about the well-being of our kids and family as anybody else,” he said. “In case we follow the commands of
underworld, the administration will be after us and if we disobey (which is next to impossible) the dons’ command we will have to face their wrath,” he explained. Shroff claimed that the stars had not been provided with proper security. Commenting on the tape controversy, Shroff said Salman might have boasted about his links with the underworld to “influence his beloved”. He, however, hastily added that both Salman and Aishwarya Rai are young and it would be better not to intervene in their relationship. On the ban on smoking in the films he said, “in such circumstances where the freedom of expression has been seized by activists, making a movie has become a rather difficult task. I wish to become an agriculturist instead of producing and directing movies.”
— UNI |
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Smart cards for NRIs soon: Tytler
New Delhi, July 20 The smart card will have a lifelong multi-entry visa, Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Jagdish Tytler told mediapersons here today. He said the special smart card would be different from the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) card, which has a fix time frame visa of six months and requires to be renewed thereafter. The minister indicated that the special smart card might be made available in the next three to four months. Mr Tytler also announced the holding of Fourth Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Hyderabad from January 7 to 9 next year. The three-day conference would be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam would present Bharatiya Sammans on the concluding day on January 9. He said Hyderabad was chosen over several other contenders like Karnataka, Kerala, Chennai and
Maharashtra because it was a leading IT, biotech and hi-tech destination. Besides, Andhra Pradesh had a large overseas Indian population consisting of both well-placed professionals and emigrant workers mostly in the Gulf who have contributed significantly to India’s socio-economic development. |
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Rane storms Sena bastions, attracts crowds
Mumbai, July 20 Braving rains and peak-hour traffic, Rane and several of his supporters have begun to hold public meetings in the Shiv Sena strongholds. Even as Rane attracts sizeable crowds, including some die-hard Shiv Sainiks, the party has uncharacteristically let the proceedings go uninterrupted. Last weekend saw Rane speak to a crowd of more than 6000 persons at Nare Park in the working class neighbourhood of Parel, for long a Shiv Sena stronghold. With hordes of local-level Shiv Sena leaders attending, Rane has decided to hold more meetings in areas like Shivaji Park, Dadar, Mazgaon and Thane. At all his meetings, Rane is hitting out at Bal Thackeray saying the party supremo is overlooking loyal workers to favour his own son, Uddhav Thackeray. On Friday, Rane has called a meeting of the members of the BEST Kamgar Sena, the largest union of the civic-run transport and power utility, BEST. Rane says most of the BEST employees, who were with the Shiv Sena, have shifted loyalities to him. However, party supremo Bal Thackeray sacked Rane and his followers from the committeeship of the BEST Kamgar Sena. Rane has now announced that the entire union would move towards his side. |
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Amit Jogi hatched plan to frame Judev: CBI
New Delhi, July 20 This has been stated by the CBI in its affidavit, filed in the Supreme Court on a petition by Bhupendra Singh Patel, a functionary of “Akash Channel” run by Amit Jogi in Chhattisgarh, which had allegedly under-taken the sting operation. Judev was seen taking a bribe of Rs 9 lakh from Patel, posing as a representative of a Australian mining company, in a meeting at Taj Man Singh Hotel in the capital. “The investigation disclosed that during July 2003, Amit Jogi, son of Ajit Jogi, the then Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, hatched a plan with Rajat Prasad, Arvind Vijaymohan and petitioner (Patel), to video-record Dilip Singh Judev, in the act of receiving the bribe. This plan was aimed to disgrace Judev (a prominent BJP leader), just prior to election to the state Assembly,” the affidavit said. “The motive was to derive political mileage in favour of Ajit Jogi, the then Chief Minister,” it contended. Patel, had moved the apex court alleging that the CBI was harassing him and had sought a thorough probe in the matter. The CBI had registered the case against Judev, Patel, Arvind Vijaymohan, Natwar Rateria, the private secretary of Judev, and some other persons in December 2003, the affidavit said, adding that the filed investigation in the case had been completed. The sting operation was undertaken on November 5, 2003 just prior to the elections. The investigation disclosed that the hotel room was booked on false name and Judev was called there and served drinks and snacks in a meeting that lasted for an hour and the issue of mining contract was discussed to trap him on taking bribe on camera as equipment were already fixed there, the affidavit said. |
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Uttaranchal Raj Bhavan to be shifted
Dehra Dun, July 20 The Raj Bhavan has been located at the Circuit House since the state came into being four years back. After Dehra Dun was made the capital of the state, several locations in Dehra Dun were considered for setting up the Raj Bhavan, including Bijapur Guest House, Rangers College building and the Circuit House. Due to space crunch at other options Circuit House was selected. |
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Curfew in Dhar after violence, 2 dead
Bhopal, July 20 A 50-year-old person succumbed to his injuries this afternoon. The violence broke out after an altercation over children’s play between two families of different communities at Gandhi Colony locality under the Kotwali police station of Dhar last evening. Thereafter, members of one community, armed with swords and spears, attacked the house of the other community, injuring several persons. The district administration promulgated prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC around midnight last night. As the victim’s funeral procession was being taken out this morning, the armed members of the victim’s community attacked the houses of the other community. |
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I will never leave MP politics: Uma
New Delhi, July 20 Dismissing media speculation that she was in the “race” for party presidentship in the event of a leadership change, the fiery sanyasin also came down heavily on former Delhi BJP strongman Madan Lal Khurana for allegedly “lying” that he had got the clearance of RSS leaders before sending a letter to party chief L.K. Advani asking him to resign from both posts. “I will never leave Madhya Pradesh politics. I have a commitment to the people of the state,” Ms Bharati said. |
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MLA gets life term
Kolkata, July 20 Earlier the Alipore Sub-Divisional magistrate had acquitted the MLA while 26 others were given life sentences in the case. But afterwards an appeal was made in the high court by the state government and the court today issued the life sentence order to Purokait. The SUCI will go to the division Bench against the judgment. |
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Portugal court
rejects Abu Salem’s appeal
New Delhi, July 20 A CBI spokesman said that the appeal of Salem against his extradition to India had been rejected by the constitutional court of Portugal. Salem, who was arrested in September 2001, is facing a four-and-a-half year jail term for entering Portugal on forged documents.
— PTI |
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