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Parliament can’t tamper with basic rights: SC
World will be loser if N-deal fails: Kakodkar
IAS officer quizzed in cash seizure case
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India to share with Pakistan evidence of ISI role: Pranab
FIR in 1984 riots case registered
Chinese President may address Parliament
HRD Ministry to monitor SSA
MHA prepares for Punjab, UP elections
BJP, NCP back demand for Vidarbha state
9 Vidarbha farmers commit suicide
Gharsana, Raola tense after farmer’s death
Controversy can’t be avoided in Defence Ministry, says Antony
4 more dengue deaths reported; toll rises to 129
BJP slams UPA on internal security management
Bihar Cong workers demoralised over re-induction of Yadav
Detained monkey provided home
BJP flays UPA for inducting Yadav
Skeletons recovered in Tripura
No trace of missing
Japanese student
2 top Bihar cops test HIV+
Bank strike tomorrow
Dena Bank to open kiosks at rly stations
Mahatma’s statue found broken
Guru Granth Sahib
celebrations
NCM a tool of Congress,
says BJP
Paswan for amendment to protect SC/ST creamy layer Citizens plea to Kalam
on CIC
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Parliament can’t tamper with basic rights: SC
New Delhi, October 25 The only rider on legislative action on fundamental rights, imposed by a five-judge Constitution Bench, is that Parliament cannot tamper with those Articles, which form the part of basic structure of the Constitution. “A Constitutional provision must be construed not in a narrow and constricted sense but in a wide and liberal manner so as to anticipate and take account of changing conditions and purposes so that a Constitutional provision does not get fossilised but remains flexible enough to meet the emerging problems and challenges,” it said. In this context, it cited the examples of Articles 14 (equality before law), 19 (freedom of speech), 21 (protection of life and personal liberty) with which Parliament has no right to tamper with as they formed the part of basic structure. The Bench headed by Chief Justice Y.K. Sabharwal had upheld four Constitution amendments (77, 81, 82 and 85) providing quota to SCs and STs in promotion. These amendments in Article 16(4), dealing with the right of special opportunities to these communities were upheld on the ground that it did not form the part of basic structure but were only enabling provisions, empowering the government to frame laws regarding reservation in promotional matters. However, the court was equally rigid to put a bar on legislature to interfere with the rights forming the part of basic structure, holding that it will be “fallacy to regard the fundamental rights as a gift from the state to its citizens”. On the question of right to live, equality and freedom, the court even went a step further to add that it hardly mattered whether these basic human rights were there in the statute book or not, but they could not be curtailed by any legislative action. “Individuals possess basic human rights independently of any constitution by reason of basic fact that they are members of the human race. These fundamental rights are important as they possess intrinsic value,” said Justice S.H. Kapadia writing the judgement for the Bench, which besides the CJI comprised Justices K.G. Balakrishnan, C.K. Thakker and P.K. Balasurbamanyan. The court made a distinction between the rights available to citizens even without the Constitution and those provided by it. It said the basic human rights had been placed in Chapter-III of the Constitution to make them out of the reach of legislature because they have “intrinsic value”. Besides, it also put the principles of federalism, secularism, reasonableness and socialism beyond the reach of Parliament, reiterating that they give “coherence to the Constitution and make it an organic as a whole… rights, liberties and freedoms of individuals are not only to be protected against the state, they should be facilitated by it”. However, it clarified that those rights that did not fall within this definition and were provided as enabling provisions by the Constitution to achieve certain objectives could be interfered by the legislative action as there “is difference between formal equality and egalitarian equality”.
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World will be loser if N-deal fails: Kakodkar
Mumbai, October 25 Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) Chairman Anil Kakodkar emphasised that India had the potential to develop strong indigenous nuclear technological base irrespective of the future of the deal, which is aimed at allowing India access to atomic fuel and technology. It remains to be seen whether or not the Senate takes up during the ‘lame-duck’ session next month the Bill that entails change of US laws to enable civil nuclear cooperation with India, he told PTI here. However, regardless of whether the deal goes through or not, Kakodkar said India’s atomic energy programme remained robust and the country had the potential to develop strong indigenous nuclear technological base. But the international community will lose, as India will adopt alternative energy options, which may not be eco-friendly, till it realises the thorium cycle, he said. The AEC Chairman maintained that the proposed deal will only provide additional atomic power capacity, but India would continue to pioneer technology in the thrust areas. A Bill on the nuclear deal is yet to be put to vote in the US Senate whose term expired earlier this month and it is hoped that the legislation will be considered during the ‘lame-duck’ session expected anytime after the November 7 Congressional elections. After the US Congress clears the deal, New Delhi will have to convince the 45-nation Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) to change its guidelines to make an exception for India. “We have to get the US Congress clear (the deal) and then the NSG to change the guidelines as per India’s requirement and also relax the guidelines making an exception for India as a responsible
nuclear weapons power,” Kakodkar said. The guidelines of the NSG prescribe that a country receiving nuclear technology should have fullscope safeguards under which the entire nuclear programme will be open to international scrutiny. “But this is not acceptable to India as we have our own strategic programme,” Kakodkar said, adding it is a complex issue as so many countries are
involved. Under the Indo-US nuclear deal clinched in March, India has identified 14 nuclear facilities as civilian which will be open to international safeguards and scrutiny. The US Congress is left with just a fortnight to take up the issue of finalising the deal signed on July 18, 2005. Meanwhile, Nuclear Power Corporation of India Chairman S.K. Jain said: “I am sure the deal will come through as it is a necessity for both sides.” India needs nuclear technology from outside to fulfill its burgeoning energy requirements and the world community is worried about global warming (nuclear energy does not cause global warming), Mr Jain said. It would take some time for the Americans to overcome the fact that they had to make an exception to India, which is a non-signatory to the “discriminatory” Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Mr Jain said. “It would be a day dreaming if the Americans clear the deal without any murmur,” he stated.
— PTI
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IAS officer quizzed in cash seizure case
Hyderabad, October 25 Mr Narasimha, a 1991 batch IAS officer of Assam, Goa and Meghalaya Union Territory cadre, appeared before the office of the Income Tax Commissioner yesterday, sources in IT Department said. The IT officials are recording his statement to ascertain his alleged role in the case involving recovery of Rs 2.80 crore from Delhi-based hotelier Ramesh
Kapoor and his son at Begumpet Airport on October 19. After recording the official’s statement, a report would be
sent to the Centre and also to Mizoram where he is serving as Secretary (Excise and Mr Narasimha, who hails from Andhra Pradesh, is believed to have close links with Mr Kapoor, the Managing Director of Radisson Group of Hotels, and had stayed in a city hotel before the arrival of Mr Kapoor here,
they said. The IT officials suspect that Mr Narasimha was involved in real estate deals and helping Kapoor in finalising a land deal for which the huge unaccounted money was to be used. However, soon after the money was seized by IT sleuths, the IAS officer had disappeared from the hotel. The IT officials would send a report to the Centre about alleged involvement of the bureaucrat in real estate dealings with the assistance of the businessman which was against government service rules.
— PTI
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India to share with Pakistan evidence of ISI role: Pranab
New Delhi, October 25 Mr Mukherjee said Indian law-enforcement agencies had gathered some evidence about ISI involvement in the July 11 train blasts and the government would share these with Pakistan at the upcoming Foreign Secretary-level talks here on November 14-15. “We can’t alter our neighbours...we have to live in peace and create a tension-free situation in the region,” he told reporters in a brief interaction. Mr Mukherjee has returned to the MEA after a decade. Mr Mukherjee also sent out a message to Pakistan and other neighbours that “tension-free” situation should be created on the borders to enable countries of the region to live in peace. He said peace and tranquility in the region as well as other parts of the world was “most important” to ensure that India achieved sustained high economic growth of 9-10 per cent and above. For attaining the high economic growth, India will require investments and access to state-of-the-art technology, he said on returning to the ministry after 10 years. To a question about terrorism emanating from Bangladesh, Mr Mukherjee disagreed with a suggestion about use of “force” against the menace. He said New Delhi had already taken up the issue with Dhaka. The matter was even raised with Bangladesh Prime Minister Khaleda Zia when she visited India in April this year, he pointed out.
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FIR in 1984 riots case registered
New Delhi, October 25 The Gandhi Nagar police station in East Delhi registered the FIR against Nawal Kishore, Manohar Kumar, Gulshan Kumar, Narender Kumar and Kishan Kumar, sons of Kacheru Singh, for occupying the land. The police
registered a case under Section 420 of the IPC (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), Section 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating) and Section 471 (using as genuine a forged document). Mr Nirmal Singh had purchased two plots, measuring 400 square yards and 20 square yards, both forming a part of Khasara 139, Seelampur, Jain Basti, Dharampura, Gandhi Nagar, in 1977. Ms Nirmal Singh had alleged that during the riots, a mob under the guidance of local politicians set his houses, one of which was being used as a factory, on fire. He had left the Capital for Patiala to save his family and later shifted to Panipat as they could not succeed there. He had alleged that taking advantage of his absence, his property had been occupied. Mr Nirmal Singh first complained to the police on November 1, 1984, which fell on deaf ears. He had made repeated efforts to get the complaint registered and met the Prime Minister and the Home Minister, but to no avail. He had alleged that the occupants of the land intimidated him and beat him up. The high court asked the state government, the Delhi police and the alleged occupants of the land why an FIR should not be registered. Issuing show-cause notices to the alleged occupants, Mr Justice S.N. Aggarwal directed the authorities to file a status report by the next hearing, on January 30, 2007.
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Chinese President may address Parliament New Delhi, October 25 Such a proposal, made by the Left parties, is being considered by the UPA Government. This issue is learnt to have figured in the course of Parliamentary Affairs Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunshi’s meeting with CPI leaders A.B. Bardhan and D.Raja today. UPA sources said that a final decision is yet to be taken on this matter, adding that a lot will depend on the visiting dignitary’s programme. The Chinese President will be in India on November 20 and the winter session of Parliament is slated to open two days later. An invitation to address a joint session of Parliament is generally extended to important leaders of nations with whom the host country enjoys extremely warm relations. Regarded as a special gesture and an honour, it is also meant to signal India’s desire to improve and deepen its ties with the visiting leader’s country. “China matters in world affairs and is an important neighbour,” said a Left leader. The UPA Government was very keen on bestowing this special honour on US President George Bush on his visit to India. The plan, however, failed to fructify as the Left parties made it known that their MPs would boycott the session. Angry with the US polices on Iran and Iraq, the Left parties held street demonstrations during President Bush’s visit. In order to stave off any embarrassing situation, alternate plans were made and President Bush addressed a distinguished gathering of diplomats and politicians and academics at the Purana Quila. The Chinese President’s forthcoming visit is important as it comes in the backdrop of improving relations between the two neighbours. The two countries are expected to sign important bilateral agreements during this trip . Chinese premier Wen Jiabao had visited India last year when the two countries signed the declaration on Strategic Partnership on Peace and Prosperity.
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HRD Ministry to monitor SSA
New Delhi, October 25 A set of monitoring tools to provide quarterly and annual information on the quality of the SSA has been developed in collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to cover student enrollment and actual attendance, pupil achievement levels, teacher availability and teacher training classroom practices. Academic supervision of schools by Cluster and Block Resource Centres and Community perceptions of school functioning will also be covered under the supervision programme. The monitoring mechanism of the ministry already includes progress report against key monthly indicators and more detailed quarterly progress reports submitted by State Implementing Societies to the Central Government. A computerised Educational Management Information System (MIS) has been set up to give annual school-based data. In addition to this, 41 National Social Science Institutions have been tagged to all States/UTs to make independent and regular field visits to monitor performance. An independent Joint Review Mission reviews the progress of SSA twice a year along with external funding agencies. Pupil achievement level sample surveys are conducted every three years by the NCERT to check increase in learning levels. The ministry has also commissioned independent concurrent financial reviews, and 12 states have been covered so far. The programme is reviewed by Secretary, School Education and Literacy in the Conference of State Education Secretaries and State Project Directors/Directors of SCERTs which takes place twice a year.
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MHA prepares for Punjab, UP elections
New Delhi, October 25 According to sources, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already had a several rounds of meeting with the chiefs of various para-military forces, especially the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) to assess the requirement of forces and sort out the knitty-gritties involved in their deployment. “It is always better to prepare in advance to avoid last minute glitches. Moreover, for any election central forces have to be drawn from various parts of the country and from different para-military forces. Thus, it is always better to give the Central forces enough time to prepare themselves,” a top Home Ministry official told The Tribune here. Moreover, he said the intelligence agencies had also been asked to maintain strict vigil to thwart any attempts by “external elements” fomenting trouble during the elections, which are expected to be held in early next year. “Of late there had been terror strikes in the hinterland and there is all possibility of terror groups attempting to target political leaders or election rallies. So, our job is to sensitise the security agencies and state governments in advance to pre-empt any such nefarious acts,” he said. Though the actual deployment of central forces in the poll bound states would entirely depend on the demand made by the Election Commission, the advance exercise is being done to have a general assessment about the law and order situation and the requirement of central forces, he said.
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BJP, NCP back demand for Vidarbha state
Mumbai, October 25 The Divali festival season saw Maharashtra’s BJP president Nitin Gadkari, NCP leader and Rajya Sabha member Datta Meghe and local newspaper baron Banwarilal Purohit meet up and brainstorm for ideas to bring Vidarbha’s statehood to centre stage. Mr Purohit, who has run through the Congress and the BJP, now heads the Vidarbha Rajya Party. Sources say several industrial groups in the region are also backing the move to launch the agitation again for a separate Vidarbha. To begin with, the supporters of a separate Vidarbha are likely to ride piggyback on the spate of farmers committing suicide in the region. “The focus will be on the lack of irrigation facilities and inadequate development of infrastructure in Vidarbha,” a senior politician from the region said. Though the BJP had even earlier expressed support for a separate Vidarbha, the party did not proactively back earlier agitations in order to maintain its ties with the Shiv Sena. Mr Bal Thackeray’s political party had been strongly opposed to the division of Maharashtra. In the past, late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan had ensured that contentious issues like the demand for separate statehood for Vidarbha did not affect relations between the Sena and the BJP. However Mr Gadkari, who is itching to split the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance, sees the proposed agitation as yet another weapon with which to harass his coalition partner. Last month, Mr Gadkari dared the Shiv Sena to break away after the BJP announced that it would contest the byelection to the Chimur Assembly seat, which was claimed by the Sena. Only the last minute intervention by BJP leader Gopinath Munde helped save the alliance. Observers say Mr Gadkari, who has no love lost for Mr Munde, is also looking forward to scoring brownie points against his party colleague.
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9 Vidarbha farmers commit suicide
Nagpur, October 25 With these nine deaths the figure of suicides by farmers in the region since June 2005 has reached 1,020 and 410 after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s announcement of the relief package to the farmers this year in June, NGO Vidarbha Janandolan Samiti claimed in a press note today. The farmers who committed suicide were Babarao Datarkar, Dahegaon, Digambar Navghare, Wani Belkheda (Amravati), Uttam Mule, Bhambhora (Amravati), Sukhlal Shete, Khaprkhed (Buldana), Babarao Koltakke, Aagar (Akola), Vasant Dhote, Wanjhali (Chandrapur), Wasudeo Kundalkar, Peth (Amravati), Anil Wighe, Padegaon (Wardha) and Purushottam Borkar, Sawli (Chandrapur). The samiti has demanded Rs 2,500 per quintal for cotton in the cotton belt of the Vidarbha region.
— PTI
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Gharsana, Raola tense after farmer’s death
Sriganganagar, October 25 Agitated farmers have also issued an ultimatum to the state government till tomorrow morning to meet their demands, otherwise they will march to Anoopgarh or Gharsana with Chanduram Saran’s body. They have refused to cremate Chanduram’s body till their demands are complied with. Several CPM and Congress leaders, including CPM legislator Amraram, former minister Radheyshyam Ganganagar, Pawan Duggal, former legislator Sohan Naik, Congress district chief Prithvipal Singh Sandhu, Lekha Singh have reached Chanduram’s ancestral village where he is supposed to be cremated. Despite relaxation in curfew in both Gharsana and Raola towns, shops downed their shutters and markets wore a deserted look after the news of the death reached here. On October 16, 40-year-old Chanduram was seriously injured in the police lathicharge on the agitating farmers. Chanduram was admitted to the hospital for treatment. He was, however, released from the hospital on October 23. He died in Maanjuwas village at his relative’s house around early morning today while on his way to the hospital. Chanduram’s body has been taken to his ancestral village 10 L M for cremation. Tension erupted after the body reached the village. Chanduram’s family has refused to perform the cremation rites and are demanding Rs 10 lakh as compensation. They are also demanding employment for dependants and action against the guilty policemen. However, Collector Kunji Lal Meena said Chanduram’s father Pokharram had given a written request to discharge his son from the hospital. Mr Meena said Chanduram had fractured his leg and was feeling well during discharge. Chanduram was supposed to have been given proper treatment at the hospital. Mr Meena said according to information received from various sources, Chanduram was supposed to have died from heart attack. Many social, human rights organisations and Left party members in a press conference in Jaipur alleged that Chanduram had sustained head injuries and was given forceful discharge from the hospital. Mr Meena has, meanwhile, requested Chanduram’s family members to hand over his body for post-mortem so that actual reasons for his death could be ascertained, which the family members are refusing to do. The farmers, in Phase I area of Indira Gandhi Canal Project, have been agitating for the past two weeks for 58 per cent share of irrigation water and implementation of the water agreement signed. They are also demanding the release of their arrested leaders Hetram Beniwal and Sahebram Punia.
— UNI
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Controversy can’t be avoided in Defence Ministry, says Antony
New Delhi, October 25 “Controversy cannot be avoided in a ministry like Defence, but we will work to protect national interest”, Mr Antony said while interacting with mediapersons after taking charge. Mr Antony brushed aside insinuations that probes into defence deals were being used to settle political scores, saying it would not be proper for him to overreact unless he was fully aware of the facts in the sensitive ministry. “We are living in a democracy, that too, a transparent democracy. Every action of a public man, whether a minister or official or parliamentarian, is being scanned by the people. That is a fact everyone should be aware of”, he said. The three service chiefs, Admiral Arun Prakash, Air Chief Marshal S.P. Tyagi and General J.J. Singh, called on Mr Antony to brief him about their respective services. The minister also chaired a full meeting of all officials above the level of Joint Secretary of the defence department, defence production, defence finance and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Asked about his priorities, Mr Antony said he needed time to settle down. “I had a discussion with the Defence Secretary and other officials last night. They briefed me about conditions in important divisions. Some important areas like modernisation were brought to my attention, as also the problems of the armed forces in general”, he said. “It was very brief. I cannot start reacting on the basis of every brief discussion. Yesterday’s briefing was only an introduction. I need a more detailed briefing. Then only will I react on policy matters. “This is a ministry where you cannot overreact unless you are fully aware of facts”, he said.
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4 more dengue deaths reported; toll rises to 129
New Delhi, October 25 The total number of dengue deaths in Delhi alone is 45 although the official figure on the toll is 43. While two deaths have been reported in Andhra Pradesh, two have been reported in Delhi by Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Sources in RML Hospital told The Tribune that Swati, a four-year-old resident of Thane Road in Delhi died of dengue on Tuesday. Swati was admitted to the Paediatric Emergency of the hospital on Monday morning with a platelet count less than 40,000. She had internal bleeding. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences today confirmed that Ashish, a 13 year-old-boy died of dengue past midnight on Tuesday. Ashish who hailed from Kasganj in Uttar Pradesh was being treated at the institute for the past eight days. According to the control room of the National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme
(NVBDCP), the total number of dengue cases across the country has risen from 7,687 to 7,764. Of the 77 fresh dengue cases reported in the past 24 hours, 43 have been reported in Delhi, 27 in West Bengal and seven in Andhra Pradesh. Medical Superintendent of RP Centre at AIIMS, Dr D.K. Sharma said that 43 fresh cases of dengue had been reported in the institute in the past 24 hours. At present, 184 dengue patients are being treated at the institute. Dr
P.L. Joshi, NVBDCP Director, told The Tribune that although the decline in dengue cases had begun, it would take a while before the country has zero cases of dengue. "People who have been infected at different point of time will manifest the symptoms of dengue at different point of time. So, one should not expect a dramatic decline in cases," he explained.
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BJP slams UPA on internal security management
New Delhi, October 25 BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad cited nine statements, including those of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, National Security Adviser (NSA) M.K. Narayanan, Home Secretary V.K. Duggal and the then Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, to support his charge that the UPA lacked a unanimous view on Pakistan’s suspected role in the blasts. The BJP leader alleged that the government’s flip-flops over Pakistan’s support to terrorism had emboldened Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf to reject charges. The spokesman, who also accused the Centre of a directionless approach over terrorism, asked the government to revisit its national security policy. A set of government comments that the BJP leader listed out included the Prime Minister’s remarks during his Havana trip that Pakistan too was a victim of terror and the NSA’s remarks that India had pretty good, though not possibly clinching, evidence about the ISI’s involvement in the train bombings. Mr Prasad parried questions as to how Pakistani intruders had managed to sneak into Kargil during NDA rule, telling mediapersons that the slanging match could take place after the regular party briefing. He took offence to the language of persistent queries from mediapersons as to how Pakistani intrusions had occurred in Kargil when the BJP was in power at the Centre.
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Bihar Cong workers demoralised over re-induction of Yadav
Patna, October 25 The move came at a time when the state Congress already had sent a letter to the party’s high command to review its poll understanding with the RJD. The state Congress also urged the high command to officially announce its support to the CPM candidate, Mr Subodh Ray in Bhagalpur, and the CPI candidate, Mr Gaya Singh in Nalanda, for the Lok Sabha byelections slated for November 6 against the RJD. The state unit took strong exception to the recent move by the RJD chief, Mr Lalu Prasad Yadav, for violating the coalition ethics by fielding his party’s candidate and former minister Shakuni Chaudhury in Bhagalpur against the CPM candidate and supporting the dissident JD (U) candidate Arun Kumar against the CPI candidate in Nalanda to weaken the UPA. Sources claimed that Mr Lalu Prasad was annoyed at an attempt made by the state Congress to explore the possibility of a “third alternative” to both NDA and RJD with the Left and the LJP. A senior leader of the Congress, who chose to remain anonymous, wondered by the high command’s move when the state unit made clear to the party high command that Congress should review poll understanding with the RJD. The leader said, “Like the Congress high command’s decision to snap ties with Mulayam Singh Yadav in UP, in Bihar too the Congress should distance itself from the RJD as part of its long term politics.” For Mr J.P. Yadav, it was a second innings in the Council of Ministers after heading the portfolio for Water Resources which he had held earlier. Meanwhile, the senior RJD leader and the party’s spokesman, Mr Shyam Rajak, has refused to attach any importance to the views expressed by the state Congress. The CPM state secretariat member and senior leader Sarvoday Sharma alleged that the re-induction of Mr Yadav into the ministry was aiming the Bhagalpur byelection.
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Detained monkey provided home
Bhubaneswar, October 25 “We have released the monkey into a big abandoned cage in the zoo. Vets will keep Ramu under constant supervision to see if the monkey would face any health problem due to change of environment,” Director of Nandankanan Zoological Park Ajit Pattnaik said. Ramu was brought by a pick-up van from Kuldiha forest guesthouse, where it was transferred from the police station after media highlighted its plight. “Generally, any foreign
species coming to the zoo is kept under quarantine for three months. Since we know the history of the monkey, we have decided to keep it in a big cage for one month”, a zoo official said. He said, “right now, it is difficult to give a clear picture on the extent of psychological damage the monkey suffered due to its stay in the cage.” But from the alertness Ramu exhibited after travelling for four hours, it seemed that the animal was fine, he said. The simian attracted media attention after it was found in a cage at the Remuna police station. It was left there by its owner after it attacked and injured several people. Forest officials finally took the monkey into
custody a few days ago and took it to the Kuldiha forest guest house. — PTI
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BJP flays UPA for inducting Yadav
New Delhi, October 25 Party Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu said inclusion of Mr Yadav, who was removed from the ministry for pressurising the administration to release his brother arrested during elections in Bihar was brought back by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh buckling under influence of pressure groups within the government. His bringing back has signalled that the government does not care for democratic norms, he added. He also took exception to the Labour Ministry being handled by Minister of State and not a full time Cabinet Minister. He said it only shows that the government had no person to man the important ministry concerning crore of workers of this country and this government had nothing more to offer than mere lip service.
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Skeletons recovered in Tripura
Agartala, October 25 Acting on a tip-off police launched a search operation at a jungle near Salbagan and recovered two skulls, few bones and some decomposed wearing apparels from the spot, the sources said. The skeletons were sent to the Government Medical College, Agartala, for post mortem. The sources further added that they suspected the skeletons to be that of two-months-old babies. A case under Section 157 has been registered. Investigation is on. Meanwhile, two persons were kidnapped in two separate incidents at Khowai sub-division in Tripura’s west district yesterday. Police sources said that Biswajit Debbarma (19) was abducted by Bangladeshi miscreants while he was working at his paddy field yesterday. The incident has triggered tension along the border. In a separate incident, insurgents of banned militant outfit National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), Biswamohan faction, abducted a jeep driver, Pranal Modak, from Behalabari area under Khowai subdivision yesterday. Assam Rifles has started massive manhunt operation to rescue the kidnapped driver. The Border Security Force (BSF) has been asked to keep a strict vigil, along the international border, to stop militants from crossing over to Bangladesh, police sources said. — UNI
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No trace of missing
Japanese student
New Delhi, October 25 Superintendents of Police across the country have also been asked to look out for Kota Shinozaki, a 21-year-old Japanese student, who arrived at the airport on September 3 by a Cathay Pacific flight, a senior Delhi police official told here today. Shinozaki had been cleared by immigration officials at the airport soon after his arrival but was untraceable since then, he said adding that teams have been dispatched to tourist places popular with the Japanese travellers, including Sarnath and Bodhgaya. “We have also alerted restaurants frequented by Japanese tourists and pasted Shinozaki’s photographs there,” he added. Though Shinozaki went missing on September 3, a police complaint was filed only on October 17 by the Japanese Embassy which was approached by the student’s parents. “We have received no leads as yet. There were no distress calls made by him nor were there any calls for ransom,” he said. Police are in touch with the Japanese Embassy which was awaiting details from Shinozaki’s family about possible emails sent by the student to his friends about his plans. According to Shinozaki’s travel plans, he was scheduled to leave India on September 23 and his air ticket expired on October 2.
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2 top Bihar cops test HIV+
Patna, October 25 The officers were tested positive after a test conducted at a laboratory here, he said without revealing their names. Describing the reports about the two police officials as “absolute rubbish and bogus”, state police chief Ashish Ranjan Sinha said “You better ask the Home Secretary”. A senior police official on condition of anonymity said “The officials went to Delhi recently for follow up test but the reports are still awaited”. The Chief of Patna Police Hospital, Dr P. Ojha, did not have any information about it. “You know very well that senior police officers will never visit us if they are suffering from such disease and will choose corporate hospitals in New Delhi, Mumbai or elsewhere for further check-up”, he replied to a question whether the two officials had visited him. Six HIV positive cases had been detected at the hospital, Dr Ojha said of them a constable and his wife had been found to be suffering from full blown AIDS. He said in the light of detection of these cases, he had recently written to the state police
headquarters to make Elisa test mandatory before recruiting aspirants who qualify for police jobs.
— PTI
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Bank strike tomorrow
Vijayawada, October 25 All India Bank Employees Association (AIBEA) General Secretary Venkatachalam said the United Forum of Bank Unions, an umbrella organisation of the employees and officers unions of nine banks comprising AIBEA, the All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), the National Confederation of Bank Employees (NCBE), the All India Bank Officers Association (AIBOA), the Bank Employees Federation of India (BEFI), the Indian National Bank Employees Congress (INBEC), the Indian National Bank Officers Congress (INBOC), the National Organisation of Bank Workers (NOBW) and the National Organisation of Bank Officers (NOBO) have given the call for the strike. The strike call was given in the background of attacks on the banking industry and bank employees, he said, adding that if the government and the IBA continued to adopt ‘’an ostrich-like policy’’ and failed to come forward to resolve the issues by meaningful discussions, the agitation would be intensified.
— UNI
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Dena Bank to open kiosks at rly stations
New Delhi, October 25 The bank has also tied up with five mutual funds — LIC, UTI, ICICI Pru, Franklin Templeton and HDFC Mutual — for selling their products, while posting a net profit of Rs 68.75 crore for quarter ending September 30, posting 41.34 per cent year-on-year growth. The bank has also tied up with the LIC for selling life insurance products and entered a referral arrangement with Oriental Insurance for non-life products. It has entered a rupee-drawing arrangement with the UAE Exchange for inward remittances of NRI funds that will also enable new client acquisition and help garner NRI/resident deposits, stated the bank statement. Operating profit for the quarter ended September 2006 increased by 18.80 per cent to Rs 140.15 cr as against Rs 117.97 cr in September 2005 despite a decline in profit on sale of securities by Rs 9.91 crore from Rs 20.50 crore in September 2005 to Rs 10.59 crore in September 2006. The bank plans to increase the number of ATMs to 450 by the end of March, 2007, it added.
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Mahatma’s statue found broken
Chennai, October 25 The statue was unveiled at the Pulianthope High Road near the CPI Hospital a decade ago by then TNCC president K.V. Thangabalu. The broken head was found lying at the base of the pedestal and the disfigured statue was later covered with a cloth. Ruling out any ulterior motive, the police
said it might have been the handiwork of a drunkard. “Investigations revealed no motive behind the incident. No one has been arrested,” a police official told UNI. A local body representative had reportedly lodged a complaint of vandalism with the police. Police pickets were posted to prevent any untoward incident.
— UNI
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Guru Granth Sahib celebrations
Hyderabad, October 25 The procession was marked with carrying of ‘Nishan Sahibs’ and ‘Panj Pyaras’ and display of Gatka. Thousands of Sikh devotees took part in the procession. Guru Granth Sahib was carried on a beautifully decorated vehicle along with ‘Nishan Sahib’. Shabad kirtan was rendered by jathas of men, women and youth. ‘Panj Pyaras’ and Sikh youths displayed their extraordinary skills. — UNI
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NCM a tool of Congress,
says BJP
New Delhi, October 25 “Why is it that only the BJP-ruled states are being targeted? Is everything fine in states under Congress Rule?” senior BJP vice-president M. Venkaiah Naidu asked and said that “vote bank politics” was behind the NCM report. Alleging that the NCM was targeting BJP-ruled states at the behest of the ruling Congress, Mr Naidu denied the NCM observations, after the visit of its team to rehabilitation camps in Gujarat, that the Modi government had not been able to provide basic facilities, such as potable water, health care, schools and roads to the families hit by the 2002 riots in the state.
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Paswan for amendment to protect SC/ST creamy layer New Delhi, October 25 Briefing mediapersons about the resolutions passed by the central committee of the LJP, Mr Paswan said: “The judgement passed by a five-member bench of the Supreme Court in respect of exclusion of creamy layer of SC/STs in the matter of reservation cannot be applied in view of the 1992 judgement of a nine-member Bench of the court in the Mandal Commission case.” In Mandal case, while dealing with exclusion of creamy layer in the matter of reservation, the nine-judge Bench had made it clear that exclusion of creamy layer principle being laid down applied only to OBCs and not SC/STs,” he said. He said in view of the recent judgement, the government should make necessary amendment to the Constitution to protect the rights of the creamy layer of SC/STs.
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Citizens plea to Kalam on CIC New Delhi, October 25 The representatives complained to the President that the CIC disposes of appeals without even caring to hear appellants. In their appeal, the organisations have said that the hope of the people that things would change for the better through the use of RTI, has turned into despair due to poor functioning of the Central and State Information Commissions that have made a mockery of the Act. “They were entrusted with the implementation of the RTI Act to bring about
transparency and accountability in government functioning but in fact they are making a mockery of the Act,” the appeal reads. Section 14 of the RTI Act empowers the President to institute a judicial inquiry into the functioning of the
CIC.
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Delhi-bound plane makes emergency landing
Vadodara, October 25 All passengers are safe, he said. The incident occurred soon after the take-off and the flight had to be grounded, he said, adding that another flight had been arranged for the passengers travelling on that plane.
— PTI
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Maj Gen Swamy OTA Commandant
Chennai, October 25 An Alumnus of the Indian Military Academy (IMA), Major General Swamy was commissioned into the Mahar Regiment (Infantry) in November 1971.
— UNI
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