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TRS sets March 6 deadline for Telangana state Statehood storm spreads to TDP
Sethusamundram |
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Disabled girl gets justice from HC
Kolkata market fire finally put out
MEANWHILE, IN ASSAM: People watch a traditional buffalo fight in progress at Ahatguri on Wednesday. This age-old buffalo fight is
organised on the occasion of the harvest festival "Bhogali Bihu" in Assam. — AFP
photo
Ulemas target Godrejs for hosting Rushdie
No proposal for religion-based reservation: Arjun Singh
English, Hindi words to simplify Urdu
Advani favours
omni-directional foreign policy
SC defers Hansi canal case
Confusion in Congress on small states
Cong to go it alone
in Jharkhand
Nagaland Poll: BJP to continue pact with NPF
Rahul meets farmers of Bundelkhand
Amritsar Express derails in West Bengal
‘Multani mitti’ pack to beautify Taj
HC admits plea on Manisana Wage Board
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TRS sets March 6 deadline for Telangana state Hyderabad, January 16 “All our MPs, MLAs and MLCs will quit their posts on March 6 if the government fails to commence the process for creation of Telangana state. This is the last opportunity for Congress to fulfill its poll promise,” the party president and MP K Chandrasekhar Rao told a press conference here. It is not the first time that the TRS, fighting for statehood cause, has served an ultimatum to the Centre but the timing is significant as it comes in the midst of growing restiveness among pro-Telangana leaders within the ruling Congress and their plans to take up the issue with their party president Sonia Gandhi. Charging the Congress with “dilly-dallying” over Telangana issue even though it had reaped rich electoral dividends by exploiting the statehood sentiment in the 2004 elections, Rao said “We want Prime Minister to clearly state the official position and start the process for formation of Telangana. We have tolerated enough.” The sub-regional party had fought the previous elections in alliance with Congress but pulled out of the UPA in September 2006 after its repeated ultimatums did not make any impact on the Congress leadership. The party now has four MPs, 16 MLAs and three MLCs. “After resignations by our elected representatives, we will take the issue to the people through a “Bus Yatra” across Telangana to highlight the betrayal by Congress,” said Rao who represents Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency. Clearly, the TRS’ threat of en masse resignations is part of a strategy to rake up regional passions ahead of the Assembly elections which are expected to be dominated by Telangana issue. With almost all parties being forced to take a favourable stand on Telangana, perceiving an undercurrent of public sentiment, the TRS wants to maintain the lead and take a high moral ground by “sacrificing the posts”. The fresh ultimatum comes against the backdrop of Congress’ flip-flop over constitution of a fresh States’ Re-organisation Commission (SRC) to examine demands for smaller states, including Telangana and Vidarbha. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, whose distaste for separate Telangana is well known, brushed aside the fresh ultimatum and said, “We will not be cowed down by threats and deadlines.”
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Statehood storm spreads to TDP Hyderabad, January 16 A senior TDP leader and a known supporter of Telangana, T. Devender Goud, seen as number two in the party, has fired the first salvo, saying the time has come for the party to take a stand on the issue keeping in view the overwhelming sentiment of the people of the region. The TDP, found in 1982 on the plank of ‘Telugu pride’, has all along opposed bifurcation of the state. However, there is a growing pressure from a section of party leaders from Telangana to take a favourable stand on the statehood demand. Goud, a former minister and politburo member, set off ripples in the party when he said the TDP would take a stand on Telangana before the next “Mahanadu”, the party’s annual conference scheduled in May. His detractors in the party came out with statements criticising him for airing his views in public while he found a supporter in veteran leader Rajeswar Rao, also from Telangana. Rattled by the development, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu summoned seniors and held consultations with them in a bid to sort out the differences. The party’s official stand is that it would take an “appropriate decision at appropriate time” on Telangana. “The Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samithi are playing out a drama to mislead the people. It is for them to clarify things,” the former Chief Minister said. He has asked his party leaders not to voice their opinion in public on the sensitive issue. The Congress is already in the midst of a messy squabble with several veterans, including CWC member and former union minister G. Venkataswamy, threatening to quit their posts if the UPA government went ahead with the proposal to constitute States Re-organisation Commission. The current turmoil was triggered by AICC leader in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Veerappa Moily’s statement that the central government was “seriously considering” constitution of a fresh re-organisation commission to examine demands for smaller states, including Telangana. The pro-Telangana leaders within the Congress, the TRS and the BJP are strongly opposed to setting up of the re-organisation commission at this stage, saying it would only delay the process of formation of the new state. Citing instances of formation of Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand, they want that Telangana should be created straightaway through a legislation in Parliament without taking recourse to the re-organisation commission.
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DMK under attack for ‘double standards’
S.S. Negi Legal Correspondent
New Delhi, January 16 Janata Party president Subramaniam Swamy and senior advocate K.K. Venugopal ridiculed the Karunanidhi-led DMK government in Tamil Nadu before a three-judge Bench, headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, for invoking religious sentiments in the “jallikattu” case yesterday but having a contrary view on the religious sentiments of crores of Hindus on the Ram Setu issue. The court had taken a dig at the Tamil Nadu government for invoking religious sentiments “conveniently” in the jallikattu case yesterday and had observed that the same argument might go against it in another case. Amidst heated arguments on the question whether dredging the Gulf of Mannar for Sethusamundram ship canal project should continue as it was causing damage to one of the world’s finest underwater biosphere, attorney-general Milon Banerjee sought two weeks’ time for making the centre’s stand clear. But Swamy on whose transfer petition the court had earlier granted stay against dredging near the Ram Setu or Adams Bridge, said the first and foremost task for the government was to have an investigation done by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) whether the bridge was man made and whether it qualified to be put in the category of ancient monuments. Unless the ASI has carried an investigation, any other exercise by the centre would be futile as the entire issue was related to the “religious sentiments” of a vast section of Hindu society, Swamy said. He said even the Madras High Court, from where all related cases were transferred to the apex court, had asked the ASI to explore whether Ram Setu was man made. Referring to ASI’s earlier controversial affidavit that “Ram did not exist”, which was ultimately withdrawn, Swamy said the Archaeological Survey as a statutory body set up to examine all monuments, could not escape itself from the responsibility of probing the status of Ram Setu and respond to the court notice. On the other hand senior advocates Venugopal and Rajiv Dhawan, who appeared for different environmental organisations, questioned the digging of sea bed even in the area away from the Ram Setu in the Gulf of Mannar. “Gulf of Mannar has been declared a marine reserve and it could not be disturbed” Venugopal said. Dhawan said the dredging in the Gulf area was going on and “causing serious damage to one of the world’s unique and finest biosphere.” The CJI said the court had stayed dredging near the Ram Setu and if it was extended to other areas, then the entire project has to be scrapped. The court also specifically asked whether the ASI has filed any affidavit after it had withdrawn the earlier affidavit.
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Disabled girl gets justice from HC
Patna, January 16 Sources said going by a moderate estimate about 10 per cent of the population in Bihar comprised physically and mentally disabled people. Even though chief commissioner of disabilities, Delhi, Dr Manoj Kumar, had held a court in Patna about six months back to issue directions to various state departments in as many as 2,033 cases, not a single directive reportedly has been followed till now by the Bihar government. The case involving Vishakha dates back to last year when overcoming her physical limitations she qualified in the entrance examination for MBBS by competing with normal candidates. But a team of orthopaedic doctors of Nalanda Medical College and Hospital had declared Vishakha unfit for medical profession on the ground that she had spinal problems. Subsequently, the BCEE board had decided not to recommend her for pursuing medical course. But instead of accepting the decision of the BCEE board that apparently discriminated disabled against normal candidates, and that too in view of her success to compete on merit and not on quota, the undaunting Vishahka challenged the same before a single Bench of Patna High Court which ordered her fresh medical examination by a team of orthopaedic doctors of Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH). After the PMCH team found her fit contradicting the earlier report of Nalanda Medical College, the single Bench then had asked the BCEE board to ensure her admission in any government medical college in the state. Ironically, instead of encouraging the disabled girl for her spirited fight, the board in turn decided to challenge the said order. Finally, a Division Bench of the Patna High Court, comprising Chief Justice Rajesh Balia and Justice Chandramauli Kumar Prasad, yesterday not only upheld the order of the single Bench allowing Vishakha to pursue her medical studies, but also asked the BCEE board to ensure her admission in any government medical college at the earliest. In case there was no vacant seat, the court asked the board to create a special seat for her. Even though disabled Vishakha finally had the last laugh following court intervention, the case reportedly again exposed the alleged failure of the Nitish government to treat cases related to the disabled as per the national guidelines. The state reportedly also failed to implement the 3 per cent reservation for physically disabled persons in government jobs despite repeated reminders from the office of the chief commissioner (disabilities), Delhi.
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Kolkata market fire finally put out
Kolkata, January 16 Business houses and big businessmen had donated funds. The BJP-ruled Rajasthan government also sanctioned special assistance to the affected people. A six-member CPM MPs delegation, which included Basudev Acharyya, Sitaram Yechuri, Brinda Karat, Md Selim and Sudhangshu Sil, today visited the affected Burrabazar area and talked to the affected traders and assured them of necessary help from the government. The union home ministry is also sending an official team to Kolkata tomorrow for visiting the fire-affected area and assesses the damage done due to the devastating fire. According to a rough estimate, the fire caused damage worth about Rs 1,000 crore. According to a preliminary police report, the fire was so intensive because of the illegal storing of the huge inflammable articles inside the rooms in the congested illegally built building premises, which had neither fire nor power licenses. Interestingly, the Nandaram market and other adjoining business complexes, where the fire broke out, had no building licenses of the corporation, but still the businessmen had been regularly paying the taxes to the municipal commission and electricity charges to the CESC against supplying formal bills to them. Most shops were regularly getting LPG gas without any precaution.
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Over 100 hurt in jallikattu
Palamedu/Tiruchirappalli , January 16 Eighty persons were injured in the jallikattu held in Palamedu in Madurai District while 49 persons were injured, three of them seriously, at Periyasuriyur, 30 km from Tiruchirappalli, the police said. The events held as part of the harvest festival, Pongal, with fanfare, attracted hundreds of people from the districts as well as from the neighbouring areas. The two jallikattus were the first to be held after the apex court reversed its order and granted conditional permission following a petition by the state government.
Police officials at Palamedu said of the 80 persons, who were among 350 participants permitted to tame the bulls by holding on to their humps, sustained injuries. Fourteen of them sustained major injuries, but their condition was stable. The event was watched by hundreds of spectators. A report from Tiruchirappalli quoting police sources said most of the injured at Periyasuriyur were spectators and the three seriously injured had been admitted to the General Hospital there.
— PTI
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Ulemas target Godrejs for hosting Rushdie
Mumbai, January 16 Maulana Mehmood Daryabhai of the Ulema Council warned that his organisation would get the members of the minority community to boycott all Godrej products if an apology was not forthcoming. "Salman Rushdie's writings have hurt the sentiments of Muslims and the Godrej family should not have associated with him," the Maulana said. The Godrejs, industrialist Adi and his socialite wife Parmeshwar, were photographed with Rushdie at a party at suburban disco earlier this month. The writer was shown getting close to some film actresses and the reports indicated that the party was hosted by the Godrejs. Rushdie, who has since left Mumbai, was also staying at the Godrejs' sea-facing bungalow. The Godrej family has refused to comment on the remarks made by the Ulema Council. However, Rushdie himself hit out at protesters who came out on the streets earlier this week. The protests were organised by the Samajwadi Party, which said it was opposed to Rushdie's Satanic Verses authored nearly 20 years ago. "I don't make my decisions based on 25 goondas at the gate," Rushdie told a Mumbai newspaper. However sources here say, Rushdie is a regular to Mumbai and has been a visitor at the residences of prominent socialites in Mumbai for nearly a decade. Ever since the government of Iran toned down on the fatwa demanding the death sentence for Rushdie a decade, the writer has been moving around relatively freely in Mumbai.
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No proposal for religion-based reservation:
New Delhi, January 16 “The central government has not taken any decision on the reservation on religious basis,” HRD minister Arjun Singh told reporters when asked to comment on home minister Shivraj Patil’s observation that the government favours reservation for minorities in educational institutions. Singh, who chaired a meeting of the National Monitoring Committee for Minority Education
(NMCME) to review the progress of minorities’ education, also announced a committee headed by minister of state for HRD
M.A.A. Fatmi to look into the progress in the field of education on the basis of the Sachar Committee recommendations. Addressing a conference of the State Minorities Commission here, Patil said today that reservation had been provided for SCs and STs in educational institutions and government jobs and now there was a demand from minorities too. “The government is looking into these aspects without coming to a final conclusion,” he added. Observing that he was not aware of the context in which Patil had made the remarks, Singh said no decision was taken by the Centre to provide reservation on the basis of religion. Asked whether the government would provide reservation to minorities in educational institutions, he said they would be considered under the OBC quota but for “minorities alone, there is no proposal”.
— PTI
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English, Hindi words to simplify Urdu
New Delhi, January 16 Just ahead of the annual review of National Monitoring Committee on Minority Education, the government on Monday asked National Council of Education Research and Technology (NCERT) to revise its Urdu syllabus for schools. “The words like ‘thermometer’ in Urdu are `Ala-e-paimaieshe-hararat’ - even difficult for a Urdu speaker to decipher. Therefore the ministry has decided to revise the course with more simplified version. The words will be replaced with some commonly used English and Hindi words,” said a highly placed official in the ministry. Similarly, the ministry identified words like ‘surgeon’, which is ‘Mahir-e-Zarahat’ and ‘military science’ or ‘Ilim-e-Zarab’. These words are difficult for a common Urdu speaker and needs to be replaced with commonly used words, the official said. The ministry has gone through the entire syllabus and reached to a conclusion that there are some words that are not in use by the regular Urdu speakers. “Languages do get influenced by the culture and environment. Urdu has many Persian words and similarly Hindi speaking people use certain Urdu words frequently during their conversation. So, if we will incorporate the simplified and commonly used words that will further popularise the language,” said a senior official in the ministry. Sources in the ministry claimed that certain words are even difficult for people who are even friendly with the language. The Ministry has also taken a note on the fact that the books of Urdu syllabus are not available in the market and pulled up the authorities for the delay. The Ministry wants Urdu to become a part of mainstream. Words that are difficult to understand will distract people further and may prove a deterrent for the learners, the official said. “Syllabus is not for the seasoned Urdu speakers, it is designed for the learners who are young and get little atmosphere unlike past to understand the words those are not used much these days. So, we want them to offer it with the meaning and simplify a bit so that it can be more popular,” ministry sources said. “The ministry has communicated about the problem and given them (NCERT) examples also. Now they have to ensure that the students get the revised syllabus,” said a highly placed source in the ministry.
— PTI
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Advani favours
omni-directional foreign policy
New Delhi, January 16 Addressing a summit on democracy and conflict resolution in Asia, organised by a leading Hindi daily publication, Advani said a discussion on the issue should recognise the continent's rich historical experience and proud diversity. Asia was a cradle of majority of living civilisations of the world and had no hand in causing the two devastating world wars of the last century, although it was very much affected. The continent was also a victim of colonialism, but not the cause of it. He said the Asian economic renaissance was one in which China and India had emerged as engines of growth in the late 20th century in the global economy. Noted economic historian Angus Maddison observed that if India and China sustained their current rates of growth, they would regain their historic place in the next few decades. Advani, leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recently concluded visit to China had hopefully led to the adoption of a “constructive approach” for resolving the border dispute. Fully normalised good neighbourly and cooperative relations between the two great nations of Asia could become a reliable factor of peace, stability and progress in the continent and the world. The continent's newly gained economic strength and rapidly growing political clout could be combined with the essentials of “genius of Asia” - its civilisational, cultural and spiritual resources rooted in values of peace, harmony, justice, respect for pluralism and co-existence to regain its past glory. The western monopoly over global economy that had lasted for the last two centuries which gave it a dominant say in military matters and global diplomacy had unequivocally been broken and Asia's material rejuvenation buttressed by the flow of financial resources and dissemination of information/knowledge flows in the form of it and communication revolution in the 1990s. Giving credit of breaking the ice between India and China to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in his capacity as a foreign minister in the Janata Party government headed by Morarji Desai, Advani said Vajpayee's meeting with Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping in 1979 had resulted in resuming the top-level dialogue that was stalled between the two neighbours after the 1962 war.
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SC defers Hansi canal case
New Delhi, January 16 In view of this, a Bench, headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrsihnan, adjourned the hearing for March 11 asking the lawyers for the three states to complete the pleading by then so that the arguments in the multiple suits could proceed further. While the initial suit against a feeder channel being constructed by Haryana to take water from the Bhakra Main Line (BML) canal to state’s southern parts was filed by Punjab alleging that it would result in flooding of several of its villages during monsoon, Rajasthan also had also jumped in by filing a separate case. Rajasthan had alleged that by operationalising the feeder channel its share of water in the BML canal will be reduced considerably. Haryana in its reply to Punjab’s suit had said the latter’s apprehension about flooding of its villages was based only on presumptions as adequate drainage system has been built in the walls of the canal itself.
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Confusion in Congress on small states
New Delhi, January 16 Unlike the BJP, which has always favoured a strong Centre and small states, the Congress has never subscribed to the view. But faced with demands for small states from several regions, the Congress had adopted a middle path, saying that instead of taking piecemeal decisions, a second states reorganisation commission (SRC) should be set up to take a comprehensive view of all demands. This was essentially seen as a ploy to buy time on a highly sensitive matter. Today, the party changed tack, stating that the constitution of an SRC is not mandatory or a pre-condition for the creation of small states. In this connection, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, pointed to the NDA regime’s decision to carve out new states of Jharkhand, Uttarakhand and Chhattisgarh, which was never referred to any commission. He also maintained that the formation of a second SRC was never on the UPA government’s agenda , as it finds no mention in its national common minimum programme. The Congress was forced to keep this issue out of the document because of Left opposition, but had to make an exception in the case of Telangana following pressure from the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti. Today, there is confusion in the Congress, as its leaders and cadres are unable to understand the party’s position on such an emotive issue. On one hand, it is resisting the demand for carving out a separate state of Telangana but, on the other, it is pressing for a state for the Bundelkhand region in Uttar Pradesh. This demand was first made by the UP Congress president Rita Bahuguna Joshi a few days ago, repeated by Digivijay Singh, AICC general secretary incharge of UP, and was today endorsed by Amethi MP and Nehru-Gandhi scion Rahul Gandhi who is on a two-day tour of the Bundelkhand region. This demand has alarmed and surprised Congress leaders who believe that the party will end up opening a Pandora’s box by seeking a spearate state for Bundelkhand, as it will soon have to contend with similar demands from other regions. “How will the party decide which demand to back and which to reject and on what basis will it take such a decision,” asked a member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). There is also an overwhelming view that if there is any change in the party’s stand, it should be first discussed by the CWC. Veerappa Moily, AICC media department chairman, however, added to the confusion, saying though Congres had always favoured a second SRC, it “also has to respond to the sentiments of the people”.
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Cong to go it alone
in Jharkhand
Patna, January 16 Reports reaching here said the Congress was expected to decide on its support to the Jharkhand government only after Koda submitted his progress report to union minister of state for urban development and in-charge of Jharkhand, Ajay
Maken, on January 19 in Delhi. “But even before we clear out position on Koda government, we have decided to go alone in the Simeria assembly bypoll”, state Congress spokesman Alok Dubey told the media today. Simeria in Chatra district fell vacant after BJP legislator Upendra Nath Das passed away. Sources said during the scheduled closed-door meeting in Delhi on January 19, Koda would submit the progress report to
Maken. State Congress president Pradeep Kumar Balmuchu would also be there. “We will review the reports submitted by Koda and then a final decision will be taken”, sources said. It may be noted that the Congress had issued a 60-day ultimatum to Koda that expired on January 15 to improve his performance based on 19-point charter of governance suggested by the party. The Congress, which is supporting the Koda government from outside with its nine MLAs, then had threatened to review its support after January 15 if it was not happy with the progress report. With three more days to go before the Congress takes stock of the situation in Jharkhand, sources claimed that by taking the decision to go alone in
Simeria, with or without victory, the party intended to send a clear message to Koda about its unhappiness with tardy development and alleged rampant corruption in the state. |
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Nagaland Poll: BJP to continue pact with NPF
Guwahati, January 16 The saffron party will continue with the alliance with the regional Nagaland People’s Front (NPF). It is an attempt to have a non-Congress government installed at Kohima after the forthcoming elections. The party had won seven seats in the 60-member Nagaland House in 2003 Assembly elections. It was a part of the NPF-led ruling Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) in the assembly that was put under suspended animation after the declaration of President’s Rule on January 3 last year. “We don’t have a proper reason not to have an alliance with the NPF this time. A non-Congress government is likely to be elected in the state in the next assembly elections provided the NPF can pull up its socks by ironing out intra-party differences,” BJP’s Nagaland in-charge Avinash Kohli said. The modalities of the alliance with the regional front led by the NPF would be decided on a later date. The BJP banks on the previous BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s efforts to ushering in an atmosphere of peace and development in the troubled state of Nagaland to woo peace-loving people of the state. “The BJP-led NDA government had announced development package and took initiative for peace in Nagaland while the Congress imposed Central rule in the state. The Congress is suspected by people of Nagaland to have instigated factional feuds among rebel groups in Nagaland during the last few years,” the BJP leader said. The BJP observed that the ‘impatience’ exhibited by the Congress-led UPA government in imposing the Central rule just when the NPF-led DAN government of Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio was about to complete its term, had diluted the anti-incumbency factor, if any, against the ruling regional party alliance. However, the NPF needs to put its House on order before taking a plunge at the elections. At least nine of its legislators had chosen to part ways with Chief Minister Rio during his previous tenure that gave the Congress an opportunity to demand President’s Rule in the state. “Besides harping on the ‘negative attitude’ of the Congress whose government in New Delhi imposed President’s Rule in the state, the NPF will contest elections on the planks of its continued fight to bring about solution to the vexed Naga political problem, create jobs for youth and special focus on backward areas development”, Rio said.
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Rahul meets farmers of Bundelkhand
Lucknow, January 16 The scheduled visit of the Amethi MP had caused a nervous state government to not only announce a relief package but to send chief secretary P.K. Mishra to Bundelkhand last week to review the drought situation and relief work. According to UPCC president Rita Bahuguna Joshi: “Rahul is likely to give his feedback to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh regarding the much hyped special financial package for the region reeling under drought for the past five years.” Accompanied by AICC general secretary in-charge of UP Digvijay Singh and Joshi, Rahul met villagers and inquired about their problems, particularly about BPL and job cards, midday meal and drought compensation. Arriving at Srinagar village, some 16 km from Mahoba district, Gandhi spent some time with the 25 family members of the farmers who committed suicide. He consoled them while they repeatedly broke down charging the government of not bothering about them. During his 20-minute stay, the farmers complained to him about the lack of concern of the state government about their condition and begged the Congress to do something for them. They told the Congress delegation that the district of Mahoba, known for betel leaves in the country, was reeling under drought conditions causing the collapse of the ‘paan’ industry. When the delegation questioned SDM Ramshanker Gupta about the state government relief effort, he said that a survey was underway to assess the loss. Later, Rahul also interacted with villagers and heard their complaints at Madhopur village, in Banda district, Furaini village in
Hamirpur, Sikarivyas village in Jaluan and Uldan in Jhansi. Tomorrow, the Amethi MP will attend the second state coordination committee meeting at Jhansi and address a public meeting after that.
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Amritsar Express derails in West Bengal
Kolkata, January 16 “The accident took place near the Magurjan railway station in North Dinajpur district at around 6.30 am when the last three bogies of the train got derailed. No one was injured in the accident,” North-East frontier railway spokesperson T. Rabha said. The train was bound for Amritsar from Dibrugarh in Assam. Magurjan is 500 km from Kolkata. Rabha said one parcel van and two general compartments derailed from the tracks. A team of experts was sent to the spot and the work to clear the tracks was on. The train reportedly left for Amritsar after the derailed bogies were removed.
— IANS
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‘Multani mitti’ pack to beautify Taj
Agra, January 16 The upliftment work under the first phase would commence within six days, Archeological Survey of India (ASI) sources said today. A report by ASI’s chemical branch has also been given a green signal. “The mud pack treatment would begin from western side of the monument... besides, the areas that are less visible to the tourists and receive less showers would be the priority for the same,” the sources said. As many as Rs 7 lakh has already been approved for the treatment, the total cost of which would come around Rs 26 lakh. The treatment would last up to one year.
— UNI |
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HC admits plea on Manisana Wage Board
Kochi, January 16 When the petition by T.M. Vinod Kumar of New Indian Express, Thiruvanthapuram, came up before Justice Antony Dominic, he admitted the same and issued notices to the 12 respondents, including Justice Kurup. Vinod Kumar complained that though the Centre had constituted the wage board to revise wages of employees, culminating in the recommendation of the Manisana award, Kerala had so far not constituted the tripartite committee for the implementation of the recommendations, which is the state function under the Act.
— PTI
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