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PM for transparency in implementing job Act
RJD, allies reach ‘complete agreement’
Bihar Assembly: SC questions govt on different stands
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JD (U) releases list of candidates
New body backs Paswan
Left to make its displeasure on Iran issue known
Full Bench to look into violence against lawyers
Farm sector serious cause of worry: PM
Canada to supply N-items for civilian use
Sculptor creates Black Taj
Sunjay, Karisma reach limited
agreement
Karnataka, TN at loggerheads over island issue
Kerala poll: BJP buoyed by performance
Bangladesh fear on river link allayed
Cong in flap over book on Sonia
Sept 29 strike to hit bank services
IA team in Manila to work out out-of-court settlement
Khushboo called for remarks on sex
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PM for transparency in implementing job Act
New Delhi, September 27 Addressing a meeting of state ministers of Rural Development on NREGA, the Prime Minister said NREGA must be a people’s programme. “Methods of estimation and measurement of works and rates of payment for each task should be made transparent. The labour that seeks work must understand what is offered, on what terms and demand its full entitlement,” he said. The meeting decided to form an inter-state advisory group to ensure proper representation of states’ viewpoints and perspectives on guidelines and rules, which are being framed by the Rural Development Ministry for the implementation of NREGA. Dr Manmohan Singh said there should be complete transparency in the maintenance of muster rolls and payment of wages. Emphasising that a guarantee imposed a legal obligation on the state unlike a scheme which is supply-driven, he said the task would require a lot of hard work by states such as creating perspective plans, setting up institutions for monitoring and technical support, designing smooth financial flows and providing accountability to the entire process. “A task of this nature has never been attempted before and hence, the importance of a serious effort in this regard,” he said. Dr Manmohan Singh said the Act was a unique social safety net because its beneficiaries were not passive recipients of doles, but will become active participants in the creation of rural assets. “While we are committed to extend NREGA to the entire country, our focus is presently on the 200 most backward districts. Our government will ensure a complete non-partisan choice of districts,” he said. Pointing out that the implementation of the Act in 200 districts would yield useful insights for extending it across the country, he said the quality of implementation of the Act in its initial phase was of critical importance. “If this legislation is to yield desired results, it is also necessary that all of us work to ensure that our economy grows at the rate of 7-8 per cent. We must create a climate for enterprise where both private and public investment can find a hospitable place,” he said. The Prime Minister said the foremost requirement was of establishing institutional mechanisms for implementing the guarantee and Panchayati Raj Institutions with the assistance of government agencies were central to it. “All agencies responsible for the implementation at all levels should know that deficiencies and deviations bear costs,” he said. Dr Manmohan Singh said the guarantee requires timely transfer of resources to the implementing agencies so that works could start on demand. “States will have to ensure that wage employment is given within 15 days of demand for work. If this does not happen, states will be liable to pay unemployment allowance at their own cost,” he said. Union Minister for Rural Development Raghuvansh Prasad Singh later said that his ministry was having extensive consultations to frame rules and guidelines for NREGA, which would take about three months. The consultation process includes modalities such as the process of
registration, steps needed to ensure time-bound employment, social audit, fund flow system and roles and responsibilities of different agencies. The conference was also addressed by Finance Minister P. Chidambram. Giving his suggestions, Himachal Pradesh Rural Development Minister Sat Mahajan said special concessions should be given for snow-bound and difficult areas of hill states. NREGA provides at least 100 days of guaranteed employment to every household in rural areas whose adult members volunteer to do unskilled manual work. |
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RJD, allies reach ‘complete agreement’
Patna, September 27 Under the agreement, 175 seats have been allotted to RJD
followed by 51 to Congress. Other two minor partners in the alliance —
the CPM and the NCP — would contest nine and eight seats respectively,
RJD supremo Lalu Prasad announced here. The alliance seemed to have
learnt from the last assembly election’s fractured mandate, this time
firming up their ‘fragile’ electoral alliance by making more
concessions among themselves. Barring two, they have reached accord on
almost all the seats. The CPM candidate would be locked in “friendly
contests” with the RJD in Sugauli, while the CPM candidate would be
pitted against the Congress candidate in Bisfi constituency. Mr
Prasad`s announcement of seats incidentally coincided with the NDA also
striking a seat sharing deal. The JD (U) will be contesting 141 seats
and the BJP the rest 102 seats. Now the front led by Ram Vilas
Paswan’s LJP and its allies CPI, Forward Block and RSP will have to
make a formal announcement on number of seats they will contest. In
contrast to the earlier exercises for forging alliance among like minded
political parties, the RJD-led front showed political ‘maturity’ in
accommodating the other political parties in the alliance, conceding a
reasonable number of seats to them. In the last election, the RJD had
left only 10 seats for the Congress. The Congress and the LJP contested
the election by sharing seats and friendly contests had ensued between
the Congress and the RJD in nearly 70 seats. Secular parties were
engaged in friendly contests in three other seats. The Congress had
fielded its candidates on 83 seats but only won 10. |
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Bihar Assembly: SC questions govt on different stands
New Delhi, September 27 Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Gopal Supramaniam told a Constitution Bench, headed by Mr Justice Y. K. Sabharwal, hearing a batch of petitions challenging the dissolution, that the reason for keeping the assembly in suspended animation on March 7 when President rule was imposed, was only to meet the legal requirement of its ratification by Parliament within two months, as laid down by apex court in Bomai case. The statement of the government was contrary to Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s speech in Parliament while replying to the debate on imposition of President rule on March 7 after a fractured mandate. Petitioner’s counsel, former Attorney General Soli J. Sorabjee had heavily relied upon Patil’s statement, contending that the Home Minister had told Parliament in uncertain terms that the Governor should talk to all political groups in the newly elected assembly and see that a stable and viable government was formed. But the ASG today said “the assembly was not kept in suspended animation for exploring the formation of the government. It was done to apply the test of Bomai case for ratification of the proclamation by both the houses of Parliament within two months” even as the Bench reminded him that government counsel were taking “different” stand on use of the powers by the Governor under Article 356 of the Constitution. As Subramaniam contended that legally the Governor has the power to “prevent” the move to “cobble” a majority by the leader of a group in the assembly by using “illegitimate means” and even reject his claim if it was actually staked, the court asked him was not he taking a stand “different” to that of Solicitor G E Vahanvati, who had stated that once the claim was staked by a leader irrespective of the means adopted, the Governor has “no choice but to accept it.” |
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JD (U) releases list of candidates
New Delhi, September 27 The list of 70 former sitting MLAs, released by JD (U) Parliamentary Board Chairman Shard Yadav comprises 67 MLAs from JD(U) and three Independent candidates. Of these, 13 candidates were sitting MLAs of Mr Ram Vilas Paswan’s Lok Jan Shakti Party (LJP), who participated in the parade in the national Capital to prove that the NDA had the numbers to form the government in Bihar. The list also carries the names of candidates for 10 reserved Assembly constituencies, Bagaha, Chenari, Deo, Dhuraiya, Fatwha, Imamganj, Rajpur, Sakra, Sikandara and Sultanganj. Of these, Deo and Rajpur are being contested by women candidates. In the last Assembly poll, the BJP had contested 105 seats, while the JD (U) had contested 141 seats, respectively. Replying to a question on the inclusion of tainted persons with criminal antecedents in the list, Mr Yadav said no criminal would get a ministerial berth. The JD (U) is engaged in talks with five Independent candidates for other Assembly seats, namely Nawada, Govindpur, Muzaffarpur, Matihani and Sonvarsha. While the percentage of women (18.5 per cent) in the first list was well received by mediapersons, the inclusion of persons with known criminal background was frowned upon. Sources in the party said some women candidates who had got tickets had been Member of Parliament or Minister. Ms Lovely Anand, who has got a ticket for Barh for the last phase of election, has been MP from
Vaishali. Her husband, Mr Anand Mohan was the MP from Shivahar and Chairperson of the Bihar Peoples’ Party. Ms Renu Kumari, who is contesting from
Udaikishanganj, has also been MP. Ms Leshi Singh, who is contesting from Dhamdaha in the second phase, has been an MLA three times and is presently heading the Bihar Pradesh Women wing of the JD (U). Ms Sudha Srivastava, who will contest for the Nathnagar seat in the second phase, has been a minister in Bihar. The other seats where JD (U) has fielded women are
Barhara, Belsand, Gobindganj, Khagaria, Kurtha and Masaurahi.
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New body backs Paswan
New Delhi, September 27 Dr Bhagwan Singh Sandhu, former president of the All India Sikh Students Federation, told The Tribune here that the members of the committee would visit Patna after October 2 to campaign for the LJP. Dr Sandhu said that the committee would also protect the interests of the Dalits, tribesmen and other minorities. The committee would organise a national convention of minorities, Dalits and tribesmen in February next year. The other members of the coordination committee are Mr Darshan Singh Isapur and Supreme Court advocates, Mr Feroz Khan Ghazi and Mr Mansoor Ali. |
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Left to make its displeasure on Iran issue known
Hyderabad, September 27 “The Prime Minister has called for a meeting with the Left parties to discuss the issue tomorrow,” CPM Politburo member Sitaram Yechuri said here. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the CPM State Council meeting, Mr Yechuri said the government’s decision to vote in favour of the US stand was a clear violation of the UPA’s common minimum programme. The Rajya Sabha Member said the CMP had promised an independent foreign policy in place of the previous government’s pro-US one. But ironically, the UPA government had taken pro-US stand in its decision to vote for a resolution on the Iranian nuclear issue, violating the CMP. He said that while Russia and China opposed the resolution, Pakistan and Sri Lanka took a neutral stand. But Indian Government yielded to the US pressure, which will ultimately lead to the US invasion of Iran, like the previous invasion of Iraq, Mr Yechuri pointed out. Yechuri said he was leading a five-party delegation to Nepal to study the ground realities in that country after the monarchy had taken over total control. This is the first Indian delegation visiting the mountain kingdom since democracy was suspended. Referring to the promise by the Congress and the RJD in Bihar for reservations to Muslims, the CPM leader said his party was opposed to the move, as the unilateral decision would boomerang in the courts without a constitutional amendment in place. |
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Full Bench to look into violence against lawyers
Lucknow, September 27 Treating it as a PIL, the Bench sent notices to the Allahabad Inspector General of Police, Mr A.C. Sharma, the SSP, Mr Sunil Gupta, and a host of other senior officers. At least 27 lawyers were injured, some of them seriously, in the police attack. At least 50 personal vehicles of the lawyers were set ablaze by the police, alleged the president of the High Court Bar Association, Mr C.L. Pandey. Lawyers across the state abstained from work in protest against the police violence in Allahabad. According to Mr Pandey, the bar association has been directed to furnish a list of injured lawyers and the extent of damages suffered by them when the police indiscriminately burnt vehicles. The Advocate General, Mr Virendra Bhatia, who is expected to reappear in court to furnish the official version of the incident, represented the state government. He was, however, not available either in his office or at home. The incident occurred in Allahabad when Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav along with Chief Secretary Neera Yadav and commissioners and senior police officers of the three divisions of Allahabad, Varanasi and Mirzapur were present in the city yesterday, barely a stone’s throw from the High Court premises. The Chief Minister was personally reviewing the working of these three divisions. According to Mr Pandey, there was a massive traffic jam in the city due to this high profile visit of VIPs as the police had stopped all vehicles for security reasons. Even judges and senior lawyers were put to much inconvenience. At 1 pm, an impromptu general body meeting of the bar association was convened, which decided to strike work after lunch in protest against the hardship caused by the unscheduled stoppage of traffic in the city. Meanwhile, it was noticed that a police vehicle parked outside the High Court premises was set ablaze by some anti-social elements in the garb of lawyers, asserted Mr Pandey. The IG, the DIG and the SSP arrived there immediately and the police resorted to brazen violence against the lawyers. A pitched battle continued for well over five hours with the lawyers and court employees retaliating with stones, bricks and whatever they could lay their hands on. |
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Farm sector serious cause of worry: PM
New Delhi, September 27 In a marathon meeting of the Planning Commission and ministries’ concerned, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today delved upon the need for reforms in the agriculture sector to achieve the plan targets. “The agricultural development of dryland and rainfed areas, which constitute 60 per cent of the net sown area, poses a major challenge. I must emphasise that a revival in the pace of agricultural growth is a must in order to provide a sustainable basis for expansion of rural employment and for raising real wages, both of which are necessary to alleviate poverty in rural areas,” said Prime Minister while addressing the meeting. He lamented that neglect of the irrigation sector over the years had resulted in high dependence of the farm sector on rains. Setting up an agenda for the agriculture sector, Prime Minister urged the Planning Commission to deliberate and address the key issues facing the farm sector. It included, he said, “ what are the key initiatives, which can unlock the potential of the agricultural sector? Two, which are the regions where the next big breakthrough can be there in agricultural growth? Three, which are the crops where we can achieve major breakthroughs? Four, what are the institutional and organisational changes that are required to achieve the next great leap forward in agriculture?” Significantly, despite government’s claims to achieve 30 per cent annual growth rate in farm credit, the agriculture sector has failed to pick up over the past few yeas. In the mid-term appraisal of the 10th plan, the Planning Commission has already admitted that slow down of farm sector would affect the overall the growth. Prime Minister admitted that the National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme would provide temporary succor to the poor people, but ultimately agriculture would have to be revived to improve the standard of living in rural areas. “Corrective steps are urgently needed to revive agriculture support system like extension, seeds and credit. I hope that implementation of the Vaidyanathan Committee recommendations, on which a substantial consensus has already been built, would pave the way for effective and democratic functioning of the co-operatives, which will provide further boost to the credit delivery system,” said Prime Minister. He expressed the hope that the implementation of the Vaidynathan Committee recommendations would pave the way for effective and democratic functioning of the cooperatives, which would provide further boost to the credit delivery system. |
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Canada to supply N-items for civilian use
New Delhi, September 27 Canada also agreed to allow the supply of nuclear-related dual use items to Indian civilian nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards, with appropriate assurances consistent with the requirements of the Nuclear Suppliers Group Dual Use Guidelines. This followed talks between External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh and Canadian Foreign Minister Pierre Pettigrew in Ottawa. They expressed satisfaction at the progress in several key areas including economic and commercial cooperation, counter-terrorism, science and technology, and foreign policy issues. The two countries agreed on new areas for cooperation:
The two ministers agreed to continue the high-level Strategic Issues Dialogue and Foreign Policy Consultations and announced that the two countries will host a workshop on financial remittance systems and terrorism in 2006. The two sides also agreed to explore ways to enhance energy cooperation between India and Canada. Both ministers reaffirmed the importance of deepening people-to-people and academic linkages between the two countries. Minister Pettigrew confirmed Canada’s ongoing support for the work of the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, which promotes, among other things, innovative science and technology partnering between Canadian and Indian member universities. Mr Natwar Singh told Mr Pettigrew that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh looked forward to visiting Canada in 2006. |
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Sculptor creates Black Taj
Bhubaneswar,
September 27 Shahjehan’s desire to build a Black Taj Mahal to house his tomb was recorded by French traveller Travernier, who wrote “Shahjehan began to build his own tomb on the other side of Yamuna but the war with his sons interrupted his plans and Aurangzeb who reins at present is not disposed to complete it”. Mehtab Burj and the wall adjoining it opposite the Taj Mahal are generally believed by historians as the foundations and remains of Shahjehan’s proposed plan. Patnaik said “Shahjehan took 22 years for his Taj but this Black Taj of 15ft height has been created in 22 hours!” 15 students of the Golden Sand Art Institute,Puri (Orissa) helped the sculptor.” I am also very honoured to fulfil Sahajehan’s dream after 350 years in my own humble way ,”said Sudarsan The Black Sand Taj Mahal was inaugurated by the UP Tourism Minister. Pattanaik has participated in more than 27 international sand sculpture championships around the world and has won many
awards and medals for the country. He is the first Indian to win the 1st prize at the recently held International Sand Sculpting Championship, Berlin. He had created another white Taj Mahal in sand at the Houston International Festival at Texas in the month of April, 2005. For the last 15 years, Pattnaik has been doing sand sculpture in the Golden Beach at Puri, Orissa and running an institute named the Golden Sand Art Institute, which has around 75 students (including foreigners) learning this art form. |
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Sunjay, Karisma reach limited
agreement
New Delhi, September 27 The court disposed of Kapur’s petition seeking to restrain Karisma from taking their daughter Samaira abroad after she agreed to let Sunjay sign the child’s passport application. The court directed Sunjay Kapur to file within two weeks an affidavit before the Regional Passport Office, Mumbai, which would let him sign Samaira’s original passport application form signed and submitted by his wife. As Central Government’s standing counsel Kailash Gambhir maintained that this would open a floodgate for such applications, the court said this order would not be treated as a precedent. Both parties told the court that they were progressing towards settlement of their matrimonial issues as well. The court also vacated the August 5 interim order restraining Karsima from taking Samaira abroad.
— PTI |
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Karnataka, TN at loggerheads over island issue
Bangalore, September 27 Both states are staking claim to around 400 acres of land near Hogenakkal Falls which is situated near the border in Karnataka. The issue came to limelight when the Tamil Nadu Government announced early this month that it would spend Rs 1.5 crore to beautify the area around the falls, which it asserted was a part of Dharmapuri district of the state. The island chosen by the Tamil Nadu Government provides a picturesque view of the falls. Subsequently the Tamil Nadu tourism authorities started work which would have included building of bathing ghats, safety towers, illumination of the entire falls area and construction of dormitories and rest rooms . However, they were stopped in their tracks by the Karnataka Government’s Forest Department, which objected to work being “carried out in its territory”. Railing work around the island which was started by the Tamil Nadu authorities has also been stalled midway. In the meantime, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalitha claimed that the falls area was in Karnataka territory. She said her government was only developing the area for tourists. |
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Kerala poll: BJP buoyed by performance
New Delhi, September 27 “The results are encouraging and a good beginning for the assembly polls due next year...The outcome has also shows that the BJP is a growing party, while the LDF and the UDF are losing grounds,” BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar told newspersons here. The BJP has won 82 seats this time as compared to just 47 seats in last local bodies elections in 2000. |
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Bangladesh fear on river link allayed
New Delhi, September 27 Briefing newspersons on the recently concluded three-day meeting of Joint Rivers Commission (JRC) that took place at Dhaka from September 19 to 21, he said there were apprehensions in Bangladesh fuelled by “false propaganda” on the proposed Ken-Betwa link between Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. He said misgivings about the proposed linking had been removed and it had been explained that the Brahmaputra could not have a connection with it. Mr Dasmunsi said the JRC had created goodwill and trust between the two sides. India had agreed to provide 66 hours of advance information on flood forecasting in the Brahmaputra and 67 hours in Farakka. On the Teesta project, the JRC had recognised that the lean season flows were not sufficient to meet the needs of both countries and any sharing formula should be based on shared sacrifices. |
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Cong in flap over book on Sonia
New Delhi, September 27 The party is also in a tizzy as it is trying to identify the book’s author, Manchand Khanela, described by media reports as Vice-President of the state unit’s intellectual cell. While an explanation is being sought from the Rajasthan PCC president, senior AICC functionaries here maintained that they had no information about the author’s
antecedents. Frantic efforts were being made to find out who had enrolled him and if he is a primary member of the party. Even AICC General Secretary Mukul Wasnik, in charge of Rajasthan, was clueless about the author although a section in the Congress believes it to be the handiwork of a BJP mole. The book, titled “Sonia Gandhi and Indian Politics” is meant to extol the party President’s achievements but media reports from Rajasthan said that it instead ended up slamming the entire Nehru-Gandhi family. While Sonia Gandhi is described as a “manipulative maharani” and Rahul Gandhi as a “Rajkumar”, the 250-page book further maintains that Indira Gandhi promoted corruption. The book maintains Mrs Sonia Gandhi’s decision to decline the Prime Minister’s post was nothing but a tamasha and that Rahul Gandhi harboured an illusion that he has the divine right to rule India. “Whoever the author is, there is no doubt that he cannot continue in the party. Forget writing but anyone who even thinks like this cannot be a Congressman,” remarked a senior AICC functionary. At the same time, it was stated that the PCC chief could not escape responsibility as he should have first read the book before releasing it, particularly since it was on Mrs Sonia Gandhi. The controversy also served to trigger internal differences in the Rajasthan state unit. Mr Kalla’s supporters maintained the script shown to him prior to the release was subsequently altered. It was also being stated that the author, Manchand Khanela, was enrolled in the party by former PCC President Girija Vyas. |
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Sept 29 strike to hit bank services
Mumbai, September 27 According to bank union sources, five major unions — AIBOC, AIBOA, AIBEA, NCBE and BEFI — have called the strike to protest the government’s proposed changes in Banking Regulation Act and also Industrial Disputes Act. Besides, bankers are opposing the policy of allowing foreign direct investment (FDI) in private banking sector with raising the voting right ceiling from the current 10 per cent. They have also expressed their opposition in merger and acquisition proposals initiated by the Finance Ministry in the banking industry. However, four unions, having limited membership in select banks such as Bank of Maharashtra (BoM) and Bank of Baroda (BoB), are not participating in the strike.
— UNI |
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IA team in Manila to work out out-of-court settlement
New Delhi, September 27 The team, led by one of the Deputy Managing Directors of the corporation, has been in Manila for the past few days with the purpose of coming to an agreement for the payment of certain damages rather than the amount claimed by Storm Aviation in its court case. The team has gone to Manila, as neutral ground, to work out the settlement following recommendation from its legal advisor, an advice which was not sought will signing the deal in October 2004. Sources in the IA said the settlement may work out at one-fourth the damages which the English firm has sought from the public sector carrier. M/s Storm Aviation has sought Rs 4.15 crore in damages plus Rs 99 lakh as interest and another $ 118 sterling per day till such time the IA does not pay the damages. This amount comes over and above the legal charges which the firm would pay for fighting the legal battle. The deal with Storm Aviation was signed on October 15, 2004, and after sending the first batch of five pilots, it was put on hold on October 31, 2004 itself. However, an inquiry into the matter was taken up by the vigilance department of the IA after the then CMD wrote to the CVO to take up the matter. According to reports, the IA had signed a deal for the training of a total of 66 pilots at the A-320 simulators. The total deal would have come to almost Rs 8 crore with about Rs 6.31 crore being towards the training of the pilots with another 1.6 crore going towards the pilot’s travel and daily allowance. The internal investigation by the IA in the issue allegedly points to the involvement of at least three senior level officers, including a Deputy Managing Director of the corporation. Investigations have also brought to light that the deal was signed without taking proper and prior written clearance from the Chairman-cum-Managing Director of the public sector airline. The deal was signed in England without any legal points to avoid such a court case in the event of cancellation of the contract. While the senior officers of the
corporation took “in principle” clearance from the then CMD, Sunil Arora, but seemed to be in a hurry to finalise the deal. Officials who went to England to only review and negotiate the deal actually returned after signing the deal for almost Rs 8 crore. The Tribune, had on Saturday, reported that the IA had, in an improper manner, outsourced the training of pilots to an English firm when the same equipment (simulators) was also available with the airline at its academy in Hyderabad. Not only was the corporation facing the case for the recovery of damages which run into crores, but the internal inquiry carried out is pointing to the contract having been signed by unauthorised persons and apparently after creating artificial manpower shortage. |
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Khushboo called for remarks on sex
Chennai, September 27 Summons were served to Khushboo by the Tiruchy Judicial Magistrate, Ms Uma Maheswari, to appear before her on October 14 on a criminal complaint filed by four women lawyers there. The four women advocates charged Khushboo with committing offences under Section 292, 504 and 505, IPC, issuing statements conducive to public mischief. A group of lawyers here also demonstrated in front of a magistrate’s court and demanded that Khushboo be punished for her remarks on sex published in India Today and that she should appear in person and tender an apology. |
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