 |
|
Natwar’s retention has eroded UPA: BJP
Bandit who had political ambitions
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
PMK to launch TV channel
Buta urges Centre to speed up power projects
Report on police reforms released
Cong steals show at Chhat Puja
ISRO to launch INSAT 4-A
next month
Rain batters Tamil Nadu
India lacks agri-marketing network: experts
Probe into landing of Rabri’s plane
Chemical complex in Vizag
Tax records of 125 Indian companies may be scrutinised
Cop held in fake currency racket
Advani, Joshi watch ‘Maine Gandhi Ko...’
Karate kids roped in for veggie campaign
|
|
Natwar’s retention has eroded UPA: BJP
New Delhi, November 8 “The decision of the government not only undermined its credibility but also exposed the contradiction in the UPA. First it totally denied the veracity of the Volcker observations in regard to the Congress and Mr Natwar Singh, then the Prime Minister gave a clean chit to Mr Natwar Singh.” “It now seemed that the government and the Congress leadership, particularly, Ms Sonia Gandhi, were scared that “the man (Mr Natwar Singh) may be knowing a lot,” hence it had decided to retain him in the Cabinet,” BJP spokesperson Arun Jaitley told newspersons here. He said news reports suggested that the Prime Minister wanted Mr Natwar Singh out but was compelled by the powers-that-be, pointing towards Ms Gandhi. “The present Prime Minister did not even enjoy the prerogative of keeping the persons of his own choice in the Council of Ministers,” he said. Besides, developments in the past two days had also disturbed the “equilibrium between the UPA and the government,” the BJP leader said. Questioning the “real motive” of the UPA Government behind appointing two committees to probe the allegations levelled in the Volcker Committee Report on ‘Food-for-Oil Scam’, Mr Jaitley said the committees without any legal sanction had no power to collect any information to bring out the truth and the whole exercise would just be futile. “Justice R.S. Pathak Committee is not a commission under the commission of Inquiry Act and hence had no power and the government had not yet announced the terms and reference of the committee,” he said wondering whether the probe would be Hamdaan centric or would cover all names that figured in the report. It seemed that it had been deliberately done so to ensure that no truth ever come out in the episode which had severely damaged the country’s image and the credibility of the UPA government, he alleged. The BJP leader said the past 10 days also demonstrated the erosion in the power of Congress President Sonia Gandhi in the way the J&K legislators forced a Congress Chief Minister in the state and now Mr Natwar Singh compelled his continuation in the government. The party, meanwhile, also deplored that the government was following an “incoherent foreign policy” which had been evident in the past 10 days. It also rapped the Left for their changing stand on the Mitrokhin Archive papers and now on the Volcker Committee, saying “their moral stand had been demolished. |
|
Bandit who had political ambitions
Bhopal, November 8 The bandit, involved in more than 100 cases of heinous crime including murder and abduction in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, had carried a combined reward of Rs 2.5 lakh on his head, announced by both states. “I’m ready to lay down arms on the conditions that were part of the dacoit surrender policies of Madhya Pradesh’s former Chief Minister Arjun Singh,’’ Gujjar told UNI recently from his hideout along the Madhya Pradesh-Uttar Pradesh border. On August 7 this year, he failed to turn up to surrender at a peasants’ meeting in Morena district’s Lodhi-dominated Bahorpura village. “During elections, I have helped leaders time and again. That was the case during the December 2003 assembly hustings as well as the 2004 Lok Sabha polls,’’ he said. Asked what he got in return for the ‘’help,’’ Gujjar tried to laugh off the question, then thought for a bit and revealed, ‘’just this. If I surrender, they should ensure my early release from prison and then take me into politics.’’ The bandit once led a band of 45 who wielded modern weapons and possessed night vision equipment. Gujjar, who hailed from Uttar Pradesh’s Etawah district where he was killed, considered Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav as the ‘’ideal politician’’ and wished to lay down arms in that state.
— UNI |
|
PMK to launch TV channel
Chennai, November 8 The UPA constituent after getting a lot of flak from the media for moral policing has announced to launch its own television channel which will be different from other Tamil channels that depend on cinema and song sequences for content. The PMK started off as an offshoot of an association of
Vanniyars, the most backward caste in the state and joined mainstream politics
in 1991. During the past few years it has been trying to emerge as a defender of Tamil language and culture. As a result, it has been at loggerheads with many Tamil film stars including,
Rajnikanth. Dr S. Ramadoss, founder of PMK, said, “The channel will focus on people’s issues and encourage young film-makers to feature their documentaries and films. It will be entirely different from other channels that completely depend on films for their content.” Tamil Nadu politics has been significantly altered by the presence of politically influential channels like the pro-DMK Sun TV, one of India’s largest networks with 13 television channels and four FM stations in four South Indian languages, and Jaya TV, the channel linked to the ruling AIADMK. While interacting with students at a film institute, here, recently Dr. Ramadoss told aspiring film-makers that his channel will provide them the scope to hone their creative talents and asked them to aim for international acclaim rather than commercial success in the mainstream film industry. The PMK has been an opponent of “filmi culture” in Tamil politics and is against depicting violence, sex, glamour, noisy music and crowded dance scenes which forms the staple of present Tamil cinema. So much so, it is against scenes which show actors smoking or drinking. However, the party’s idea of floating a television channel may have nothing to do with trying to imbibe morality in Tamil cinema but use it as a political tool before the state Assembly elections due May next year. |
|
Buta urges Centre to speed up power projects
Patna, November 8 In a letter written to the Union Power Minister, Mr P.M.Sayeed, on October 29, Mr Buta Singh urged him to include some proposed and already surveyed hydro-electric projects from Bihar. He pointed out that the power situation in Bihar was dismal and requested the minister to look into this issue so that the 'critical development input, as power is, can be provided at the earliest" to enable the people of the state to enjoy the fruits of the ongoing power reform programme in the state. In another letter written to the Union Water Resources Minister, Mr Priya Ranjan Das Munshi, on October 26,the Governor of Bihar sought to draw his attention regarding the problem encountered in the implementation of the Indrapuri multipurpose project (old name Kadhwan). This project provides for a reservoir near Matiwan village in the district of Rohtas, about 70 km upstream of the existing Indrapuri barrage on the Sone river. Mr Buta Singh has urged Mr Munshi to personally take up this issue at the earliest. |
|
Report on police reforms released
New Delhi, November 8 According to the report, as enforcers of the law, the police are commonly seen as the trusted embodiment of law, meant to protect the innocent, find the guilty and bring them to trial and promote means and ends of justice. They are also expected to act righteously and rigorously in defence of the law and adhere to its letter and spirit. But sadly, too often police across the Commonwealth are cited for wrongdoing that ranges from individual misbehavior to institutional criminality. It also describes the hallmarks of democratic policing like a police organization is accountable to the law and not a law unto itself, accountable to democratic government structures and the community, transparent to its activities, gives top operational priority to protecting the safety and rights of individuals and private groups, protects human rights, provides society with professional services and acts as a representative of the communities. The report states that in 1997, an expert group developed the 'Framework for Commonwealth
Principles on Promoting Good Governance and Combating Corruption' and in 1999, heads of
government agreed that corruption must be tackled comprehensively at national and international levels. They also suggested several relevant steps like, imposition of controls on funding of political parties that might prevent bribery by public sector officials including the police, reforms aimed at maximising transparency and certainty in administrative reforms, improving the management, efficiency and delivery of public services including, the introduction of codes of conduct with appropriate sanctions for breaches, open and transparent processes for budget preparation, execution and monitoring, rigorous accounting, financial reporting and independent auditing systems and regular consultation and collaboration with civil society. It also provides an example of how political interference affects the police force. In Mumbai, an advocate accessed information of illegitimate political interference in police transfers. It was revealed that in a single year, the Police Commissioner received at least 143 requests from politicians recommending favourites to different posts. Many of them came from the offices of Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, the report points out. |
|
Cong steals show at Chhat Puja
Mumbai, November 8 More than one lakh people thronged the Juhu beach, yesterday and today, as Nirupam’s followers among the city’s North Indian community trucked in worshippers. Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh who owes his party’s success in the last assembly elections in Maharashtra to the North Indian community came with senior leaders to show his support. The Congress party roped in Bollywood star Govinda and the leading lights of the nascent Bhojpuri film industry like Manoj Tiwari to entertain the crowds. Though the Shiv Sena put up a small booth on the beach, it was clear that the Congress party had stolen the show. Mr Nirupam who flitted through the proceedings yesterday showed his organizing skills through his Chhath Puja Samanvaya Samiti. The body is being seen as Nirupam’s own political outfit currently on loan to the Congress party. |
|
ISRO to launch INSAT 4-A
next month
New Delhi, November 8 ISRO Chairman G. Madhavan Nair said here today that the organisation was also working on an upgraded version of geo-synchronous launch vehicle, GSLV Mark III, which would have the capability to place a four-tonne satellite into the geo-transfer orbit. Its first development flight would take place in 2008, he said. The ISRO chief said work was on to develop the cryogenic stage of the GSLV which was expected to be ready for launch by next year end. The three-tonne INSAT 4-A
satellite is equipped with high powered transponders — 12 C band and 12 Ku band — necessary for DTH services. The satellite would be launched from a European vehicle Ariane from Kourou, French Guiana. Currently the country is using foreign satellites for DTH services. It would take about a month for the new satellite to be functional and commissioned after the launch. Mr Nair said the GSLV Mark III would have the capability to place a four-tonne orbit in GTO. While GSLV Mark I had used Russian-make cyrogenic stage, GSLV Mark II would use indigenous cyrogenic stage, he said. GSLV Mark III would be indigenous upgraded version. |
Chennai, November 8 The deaths — one due to wall collapse and the other due to electrocution — were reported from Kancheepuram district, which received intermittent rains since yesterday. Official sources said Nagapattinam, the worst affected in the December 26 tsunami, and Cuddalore districts received heavy rainfall. Coastal Karaikal, an enclave of Pondicherry in Tamil Nadu, was also lashed by heavy rains. Reports received here said Karaikal got more than 30 cm rain in the past 24 hours ending 0830 hrs today. Several low lying areas were inundated and people were moved to safer places by officials in Karaikal, which is near Nagapattinam. Meanwhile, the met office has forecast more rain during the next 48 hours under the influence of the low pressure over the Bay of Bengal and the adjoining Sri Lankan coast. Met office sources told UNI rain or thundershowers were likely at most places over coastal Tamil Nadu and many places over interior Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in the next 48 hrs. Isolated heavy rain was also likely over Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry in the same period. Meanwhile, life came back to normal in Chennai with rains only for a brief while in the early hours today. However, there was no perceptible change in the situation in the worst-affected north Chennai and suburban areas like Velachery and Madipakkam, which remained under water for the fourth day in a row. Officials used fishing boats to rescue marooned people. After the tragic incident in which six women were killed in a stampede on Sunday, the authorities had opened more relief centres yesterday and augmented them by opening another ten today. “At least 10 more centres were opened to distribute the relief package announced by the Tamil Nadu government’’, official sources told UNI. The government had assured that every affected person would be provided the relief package. — UNI
|
|
India lacks agri-marketing network: experts
New Delhi, November 8 “We have been somewhat late in putting in place a marketing system for our agricultural products and the time is now ripe for creating synergy between the agricultural and industrial sector to further augment our economic progress,” Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute
A.K. Singh said. A.K. Singh, who was speaking at the inauguration of the first Agro-Industrial Exhibition, said attention must have been paid towards the marketing dynamics to take advantage of the new global trade regime. It had now been decided that the IARI would organise an agro-industrial exhibition once in two years on its campus to link the various divisions such as those of post-harvest technology, agricultural engineering and water technology centre. Inaugurating the exhibition, ICAR Director General Mangala Rai said it would seem like a joke that India could effectively compete in the world market without tapping its vast potential of the food processing industry. He also called for proper networking and marketing to sell its by-products in agriculture. He expressed concern over the very small percentage of the country’s farm produce being processed and even lesser quantity getting value addition leading to an avoidable loss of farm produce. He said the exhibition would provide exposure to the farmers and industry on the latest technologies, processes and products developed by various institutions. |
|
Probe into landing of Rabri’s plane
Patna, November 8 Mr K.P. Singh is presently functioning as the District Election Officer too. In view of Prime Minister’s security, the district administration had denied permission to Ms Rabri’s
helicopter to land at Saharsa airport. “But the chopper landed at the airport in unauthorised manner by landing Rabri Devi into a controversy,” sources said. DM K.P. Singh has asked the SDO, Saharsa to enquire into the matter. Ms Rabri Devi’s
helicopter landed at the Saharsa airport, where she addressed a joint rally with Mr Manmohan Singh, soon after the PM’s chopper touched ground. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh was also accompanying Ms Rabri Devi. |
|
Chemical complex in Vizag
Hyderabad, November 8 The state government has earmarked about 15,000 acres for the project which is being promoted jointly with the Centre to attract FDI (foreign direct investment) in chemicals sector, he noted. |
|
Tax records of 125 Indian companies may be scrutinised
New Delhi, November 8 Official sources indicated that the ministry could independently scrutinise tax violations by looking into the tax returns of these companies. “As of now, we do not know if there are any tax violations by the 125 Indian companies named by Volcker,” the sources said, adding that there might be an examination of their tax returns to check for any violation. What was needed to be seen was if there was any tax evasion by understatement of profits by the Indian companies by showing payments made to the Iraqi regime, which according to Volcker report add up to Rs 100 crore, the sources said. |
|
Cop held in fake currency racket
Jaipur, November 8 It is being apprehended that some senior officials and employees might also be involved in this scandal. However, Mr Shiv Prasad Sharma, DIG (RAC), said he was not yet apprised of the details. |
|
Advani, Joshi watch ‘Maine Gandhi Ko...’
New Delhi, November 8 Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, BJP leaders L K Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi and Army Chief J J Singh were among the select audience.
— PTI |
|
Karate kids roped in for veggie campaign
New Delhi, November 8 It features students of the Gojukai Karat-Do class in Mumbai and hopes to take the battle of convincing people to opt for a vegetarian diet to the classroom. “There’s just no stopping the power of peas ,” PETA coordinator Sneha Singh said.
— PTI |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
Nirbhay Gujjar, the
In
video (
