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Over 75% turnout in Meghalaya
Nuclear Deal |
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HC judges’ permanent appointment Post of UP cabinet secretary unconstitutional: Centre
India to send officer to join Rezzak probe
Loan Waiver
SC refuses urgent hearing
LS in turmoil over Raj
Musharraf unlikely to quit easily: Arshad Khan
Forces bring down AIDS cases from 144 to 35 in 3 yrs
Boost for Deep Sea Exploration
SC again declines commercial use of Forest Hill Club
SC notice to IPS officer for ‘ordering’ attack on judge
‘Jodha Akbar’ controversy reaches SC
‘Dhan Laxmi’ scheme launched in seven states
Arjun Singh to open UNESCO meet tomorrow
Sri Lanka army chief visits Srinagar
Nanda’s passport suspended for 4 more weeks
14 national water projects named
Ex-Nagaland CM dead
Drunk doc drives over baby, held
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Over 75% turnout in Meghalaya
Guwahati, March 3 The poll officials said the final polling figure would be arrived at only after receiving information from some remote polling stations later in the night. Although polling started off in a brisk note in the morning, it was disrupted for some time in many parts of the state during the day because of thunderstorm and heavy downpour. Chief Minister and Congress veteran D.D. Lapang cast his vote at Nongpoh in Ri-Bhoi district while his archrival and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Purno A. Sangma cast his vote at his home constituency Tura The polling remained by and large peaceful though there were some incidents of poll-related violence in some parts of the state on the eve of the election. Election to Baghmara Assembly constituency, one of the total 60 constituencies in the hill state, had to be postponed to March 22 next in view of the death of Congress contestant S. Sangma. Fate of total 331 candidates from different political parties, including six former Chief Ministers of the state -- D.D. Lapang, Purno A. Sangma, Salseng C. Marak, E.K. Mawlong, F.A. Khonglam and J.D. Rymbai -- were sealed in ballot boxes today. Congress is contesting on all the 59 seats where elections were held today. The regional United Democratic Party (UDP) came close with 53 candidates while the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) has fielded 49 candidates. There are 73 Independents in the fray. The polling began at 7 am today under tight security. In some of the constituencies in Garo hills and Khasi hills areas people wearing traditional tribal attire were seen waiting in a queue before polling booths much before the casting started. Over 12 lakh voters were expected to exercise their franchise to elect their representative in the election that has turned out to be basically a battle between the ruling Congress and the NCP going by the trend during the electioneering. As per the voters’ list women voters (6,26,711) outnumber their male counterparts (6,06,196) in the hill state where there were only 19 women candidates in fray in the polling held today. About 1,600 electronic voting machines equipped with specially Braille-code buttons and special ramps for physically challenged persons were kept ready in polling booths all over the state. Polling was conducted under the supervision of over 15,000 polling officials engaged in total 1,599 poling stations. The polling was video-graphed in 560 ‘critical’ polling stations. Altogether 635 polling stations, located in areas bordering Bangladesh, were marked ‘hyper-sensitive’, while 194 were declared ‘sensitive’ owing to problems like ‘elephant menace’ and ‘political rivalry’. As many as 112 companies of paramilitary forces were deployed for conducting elections in the state. Meanwhile, some incidents of violence were reported on the eve of the Assembly elections. A group clash between the supporters of Congress and archrival NCP in West Garo hills area late last night left one person dead. The clashes occurred at Selsella constituency where the NCP has fielded Conrad K. Sangma, the younger son of NCP leader P.A. Sangma. In another incident, supporters of the regional UDP and Congress also clashed in Chief Minister D.D. Lapang’s Nongpoh constituency in Ri-Bhoi district. Thirteen UDP workers were injured in the clash.
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Nuclear Deal
New Delhi, March 3 First, Pranab Mukherjee told Parliament that the government has not given up on the nuke deal as it is still trying to forge a political consensus to take it forward. In a swift response, the Left made it categorically clear that since there was no political consensus on the deal, it should not proceed further with the agreement. The Congress followed it up by reaffirming its commitment to the nuclear agreement. It appreciated the progress made in the concluding negotiations with the International Atomic Energy Agency and hoped the Left will be reasonable enough to accept the deal as most of India’s demands had been met by the international nuclear watch-dog. Stating that the Congress is “positive and hopeful” about the deal, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi today told mediapersons that since significant progress has been made at the IAEA, “we are equally optimistic about the outcome of the meeting of the UPA-Left joint mechanism which shall follow after the IAEA talks.” “We have absolutely no reason to be pessimistic either about the IAEA talks or the joint mechanism or about the deal,” Singhvi said. “As most, if not all, of India’s points have been accepted by the IAEA, we are confident about a reasonable approach by all sections of the joint mechanism.” The fifth round of talks with the IAEA with regard to India-specific safeguards, which concluded in Vienna last week, reportedly made considerable progress on the agreed text which will be presented to a Left-UPA committee on completion. Usually reticent to comment on the nuke deal, the Congress decision to adopt a proactive approach on this touchy issue is being attributed to the grand old party’s new-found confidence after its “please-all budget.” Recognising that the Left parties will not be able to fault the budget, the Congress is hoping it will be able to push through the deal by exerting pressure on its Marxist allies. By putting this issue at the political centre stage, the Congress also wants to dispel the popular perception that it is buckling under Left pressure. At the same time it is hoping to gain some political mileage by showing up the Left as “being unreasonable and dogmatic” if it rejects the deal even after a large part of its concerns are addressed in the IAEA-agreed text. While making a pitch for the nuke deal, the Congress also sought to shake off its “pro- US, anti-Muslim” tag by issuing a statement expressing shock and serious concern over the “disproportionate use of retaliatory force by the Israeli army in Gaza strip.”
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HC judges’ permanent appointment
New Delhi, March 3 A Bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and P Sathasivam, seized of a PIL on the issue by senior advocate Shanti Bhushan in the wake of the regularisation of Madras High Court judge Ashok Kumar by CJI K G Balakrishanan, directed the government to place before it the memorandum of procedure on appointment and confirmation of high court judges. The Bench further sought to know the stand of the Centre on the issue
as the government in its affidavit virtually made a vague statement about this. The Bench further said that it was examining the issue without issuing a notice to the Centre and other parties, apparently making it clear that before knowing the correctness of the entire facts it would not admit the case on a sensitive issue like this. The government had only made a statement of fact that since 1999 in the cases of all 351 additional judges confirmed as permanent judges till July 2007, the appotments were made by different CJIs without the matter being placed before the collegium. The collegium in all these cases had cleared the appointment in initial stage as the additional judges. The government apparently “avoided” to make its stand clear even though the Bench, while accepting the PIL for hearing had directed it to submit the status of all the appointments since 1999 and what the government thought about them. Senior advocate Anil Diwan, appearing for Shanti Bhushan, tried to dig various loopholes in the government affidavit.
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Post of UP cabinet secretary unconstitutional: Centre
Lucknow, March 3 Further adding fuel to the ongoing state-centre tussle, the affidavit categorically disapproved of not only the creation of the post of cabinet secretary, but also the appointment of a non-IAS bureaucrat Shashank Shekhar Singh to the much sought after job. Government of India’s Department of Personnel and Training director (services) Chaitanya Prasad filed the affidavit before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court in response to a PIL, which has challenged the appointment of Singh on the grounds that it was “unconstitutional, arbitrary, illegal and without the authority of law; hence void ab initio”. While the petitioner Shiv Prakash Shukla is a lawyer from Kanpur Dehat, it is largely believed to be having the support and backing of the powerful IAS lobby. “The newly created post of cabinet secretary has overshadowed and undermined the post of chief secretary in the state,” states the affidavit describing the BSP government’s decision as “contrary to the constitutional scheme and the statutory provisions.” Page 17 of the affidavit observes, “This gives rise to the question as to whether the creation of the non-cadre post of cabinet secretary in the state is legally valid and within the constitutional framework of the system of governance of the state.” Questioning the freedom of the states to create any ex-cadre position at the highest bureaucratic levels, the affidavit observes, “such an action may act as precedent for all other states and may be replicated by them, rendering the All-India Service redundant and this will adversely affect the unitary backbone of the administration and governance of a federal country.” Mentioning the status of a cabinet minister given to Shashank Shekhar Singh in his dual capacity as vice-chairman of the state planning commission, the Centre held the view, “this arrangement has removed the distinction between the political executive and the permanent bureaucracy.” Commenting on the pay scale, the affidavit sought to point out that, “it has also created an anomalous situation and the entire administrative structure of the state has been disturbed by the creation of a post of pay of Rs 30,000, which is even higher to the maximum pay scale allowed to an IAS officer in the state i.e. Rs 26,000 (fixed).” In an attempt to take the wind out of this central affidavit the cabinet secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh on Friday had voluntarily relinquished the status of cabinet minister and powers of chief secretary.
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India to send officer to join Rezzak probe
Mumbai, March 3 An officer is being sent for the purpose after MV Rezzak, registered in Panama, went missing in the high seas on February 18, an official said here today. "Panama and India are expediting the investigation process. The investigating members of both involved maritime states are processing their visa/travel formalities and soon shall be proceeding to Turkey," Deepak Kapoor, an official in the Directorate General(Shipping), said in a statement. The investigation is expected to take place in Panama since the ship is registered there. Since the missing crew involves Indians, one person can be nominated to be part of the probe proceedings as per international law. MV Rezzak carrying 25 Indian crew and steel billets as cargo left Russia for Turkey on February 17, a 24-hour voyage. Next day, the vessel with the crew went missing and there was no distress call, Kapoor said. The vessel is owned by a Turkish national. The crew for MV Rezzak was recruited by Mumbai-based Pelican Marine. The search and rescue operation are being carried out by Turkish authorities. The search and rescue team has found a punctured life raft, life jackets, synthetic tarpaulins, gas cylinders, sea survival kit, life buoys and life boats of Rezzak, Kapoor said. However there was no trace of the crew, he added. The Turkish ship was equipped with an automatic identification system, but this was not in use or in switched off mode when it left Russia, the statement said.
— PTI
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Loan Waiver
New Delhi, March 3 "It seems elections are nearing. Even if they are held in 2009 as scheduled and not in 2008, this is the last Presidential Address of this government," Advani said while participating in the debate on the Presidential Address to Parliament. "Elections may take place earlier than scheduled. The people will review the performance of the UPA government whether it fulfilled the promises it has made," he said. Maintaining that he supported loan waivers for indebted farmers, the senior BJP leader wanted to know why budgetary provisions were not made for the purpose. He also took the government to task for its "failure" to table the Women's Reservation Bill and create a separate state of Telengana. "We are prepared to support the government on the women's reservation issue whether it wants to bring in the original Bill or enact the suggestions made by the Election Commission (that political parties reserve one-third seats for women)," Advani said. Initiating the debate, Congress leader Ajit Jogi said the loan waiver by the UPA government amounting to Rs 60,000 crore would provide relief to the small and marginal farmers across the country.
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SC refuses urgent hearing
The Supreme Court today declined to give early hearing to a petition questioning the basis on which the government arrived at Rs 60,000 crore figure for farm debt, whose waiver has been proposed in Budget.
"It is a budget proposal. Sorry, it is before Parliament. We don't want to discuss the matter which is going to be discussed in Parliament," a Bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan said when advocate M.L. Sharma, who has filed the petition, sought urgent hearing on the issue. "No early hearing can be given. You may go to the appropriate forum," the Bench said and quipped that if the petitioner wants urgent hearing on a budget proposal he should become an MP. The PIL sought a direction to the Finance Ministry and the Reserve Bank of India to place the list of banks and the loan amount due to them. Contending that the write-off is limited to who have taken loans from the nationalised banks, the PIL sought that loan waiver scheme be extended to all those who have taken loan from private money lenders and private banks.
— PTI
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LS in turmoil over Raj
New Delhi, March 3 The House was adjourned as many as three times following the uproar. Union home minister Shivraj Patil will make a statement on the issue tomorrow. The Lok Sabha witnessed an impromptu discussion on the subject soon after it assembled for the day as members, including Prabhunath Singh of JD(U), insisted that the Question Hour be suspended to take up the matter. Singh attacked the Congress, accusing it of encouraging the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) leader. “We had one Bhindranwala. Don’t create another Bhindranwala. It is not good for the unity of the country,” he said. Members from the JD(U), RJD and Samajwadi Party, most of them belonging to Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, expressed grave concern over the attack on north Indians in Maharashtra, with Devendra Prasad Yadav of the RJD attacking the “narrow and parochial politics” practised by the “uncle-nephew duo” (Bal and Raj Thackeray). Shiv Sena member Anant Geete made a statement, which was strongly objected to by several members. Geete sought to downplay the issue and said it had been exaggerated. He said north Indians in Mumbai and other parts of the state were not under threat. However, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee strongly denounced the statements made by Geete, saying, “I cannot be party to it. I express my strong disapproval.”
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Musharraf unlikely to quit easily: Arshad Khan
New Delhi, March 3 Arshad Sami Khan, recently wrote a rather inciteful and even explosive book, “Three Presidents and an Aide: Life, Power and Politics” that looks into an entire era of Pakistani politics. This book became the beginning of a rather meaningful dialogue on where Pakistan is headed currently. “I read a book long ago, the ‘The Diary of Anne Frank,’ and fell in love with it and this gave me the idea of taking note of important events that I lived through, capturing them as they happened,” says Khan. He went on to say, “I served under three Pakistani Presidents for a record period and saw many ups and downs.” Khan not only served in the ’65 war and received a medal of honour for it but also served three presidencies, had to leave his country for a period of 10 years during Zia Ul Haq’s regime only to return under Benazir as a leading light of the diplomatic service of Pakistan. As such he has been witness to many historic moments on the subcontinent. “I feel today history is repeating itself in Pakistan, in my view the scenario in Pakistan today is exactly like the one during 1970 elections and I hope that good sense will prevail on the ruling hierarchy and they will not force themselves on the nation beyond the mandate given by the people,” Khan sighs and adds, “but, this may not happen, good sense rarely prevails, my knowledge of history and dictators, at least two of whom I have served, shows that unlike politicians who go by the pulse of the people, dictators are driven by military perceptions. So I will be very surprised if Musharraf bows out, in fact, it is highly unlikely. Take the case of President Ayub Khan who had to be virtually thrown out.” Khan further drew parallels between the 1970 election and today’s election in Pakistan. “In 1970, also we had a free and fair election and a hung Parliament happened, two centers of power emerged then, one under Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and the other under another. Ayub Khan refused to relinquish office till he was pushed out and Bhutto emerged as a powerful leader. Today too there are similarities, Musharraf is refusing to step down and Zardari as well as Nawaz Sharif have emerged as two major forces after the poll. Currently, they have joined hands with many other smaller political parties and now possess the power to impeach
Musharraf.” “However, the scenario is perhaps a little more complicated as foreign forces are trying to prevent his impeachment. However, I doubt that this effort can work for long. How long will Musharraf last is anyone’s guess now, he too will pass, as have others before him,” says Khan, “it will be interesting to watch how long the Nawaz Sharif-Zardari coalition will last after
Musharraf. I can’t believe that either Sharif or Zardari will play second fiddle to each other or the President. Though, it is still pre-mature to assess what will happen, perhaps the one difference between 1970 and now is that these parties have today emerged from a contiguous country while at that time there was the East Pakistan and West Pakistan confusion. There is also the hope that both Sharif and
Zardari, who have spent long years in exile and in jail, have learnt their lessons. One hopes for a new maturity in both of them and their success in working together as a coalition.” Despite, the fact that the situation in Pakistan is extremely fluid today, Ambassador Arshad Sami Khan, feels that certain things are predictable like Musharraf’s graceful or graceless exit? The Army is likely to stay a silent but massive power under its new chief, who is reportedly watching the situation and does not support Army involvement in politics. In fact, he wants to pull it back on this front and may not support Musharraf in times to come. There is hope that Sharif and Zardari will work as a coalition but whether this fructifies in reality remains rather uncertain. Pakistan is certainly at a turning point today and the all-important question is will it cross the threshold from being a military dictatorship to a real democracy?
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Forces bring down AIDS cases from 144 to 35 in 3 yrs
Chandigarh, March 3 According to information placed in Parliament by the ministry of defence today, the Army had 132 known cases of AIDS in 2004. This figure was 30 in 2006. Similarly, the Navy and the Air Force reported eight and four cases, respectively, in 2004, which were down to two and three cases, respectively. The figures for 2007 are still being compiled. As standard policy, the Armed Forces do not dismiss personnel with HIV infection or those who have developed AIDS while in service. They are entitled to treatment at government expenditure and only personnel who develop disabling manifestation (Stage-IV) are invalided out of service. Treatment continues even after discharge. The Army, which had invalided out 98 troopers in 2004 had to release only 14 in 2006, while the Navy and Air Force, which had invalided four and two personnel, respectively, released only one each in 2006. The rate of HIV cases among Indian troops is 0.028 per cent
as compared to 0.09 in the civilian society. The rate of HIV cases in the US military it is 0.026 per cent. The Armed Forces have taken several bold measures to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in the services. One such measure is making it mandatory for a soldier to report visits to sex workers to their superiors, so that treatment and remedial therapy can be started immediately and thereby preventing another AIDS case. It is now established that if treatment begins within 24 hours of sexual contact, it can kill the HIV virus, if any, present in the body. The Armed Forces today have 15 STD clinics for early diagnosis and treatment of STD cases among its personnel. A concerted effort to educate each and every soldier regarding the use of condoms and its advantages is also underway. Besides, all blood donors,
STD cases and those giving history of sexual promiscuity, all antenatal cases and
husbands/children of HIV positive cases, spouses and dependants of HIV affected persons, intravenous drug users, personnel proceeding to and returning from foreign missions/tenure aboard and other high risk cases are screened for HIV/AIDS. While the services seem to have the upper hand in the battle against AIDS, some attitudinal issues remain to be sorted out. Studies carried out by the Armed Forces reveal that less than 50 per cent respondents could correctly assess the burden of HIV/AIDS
in the forces. Studies have also revealed serious gaps in the knowledge
of preventing HIV/AIDS infection and its actual practice. Other negative attitudes like disciplinary action, isolation and segregation is also needed to be countered. As an added measure against HIV, the services have proposed compulsory HIV screening of recruits. The defence ministry’s approval for this is awaited. HIV screening of military personnel would also be done every five years.
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Boost for Deep Sea Exploration
Chennai, March 3 Ocean research vessel (ORV) Sagar Nidhi was today commissioned here by union minister for earth sciences Kapil Sibal along with union shipping minister T.R. Baalu from the Chennai Port Trust. The vessel will help scientists to venture into the seabed and recover metals as well as manage the newly installed tsunami warning system and logistically help missions to the Antarctic and the Arctic regions. The National Institute of Ocean Technology based here will operate ORV Sagar Nidhi, which costs Rs 232 crore. The ship will sail on its maiden scientific voyage later this year to demonstrate its capability to search for polymetallic nodules and carry out other undersea exploration in the central Indian Ocean. Talking to reporters on board the ship, Sibal said surveys had confirmed the presence of manganese, cobalt and nickel on the seabed at depths of 6,000 metres, but undersea mining operations had been economically unviable all these years. He said: “Many of the ministry’s scientific projects could not fructify for the want of research vessels. This ship can deploy unmanned submersible vessels, seabed crawlers which can map the sea bottom and scoop polymetallic nodules.” ORV Sagar Nidhi is a highly sophisticated custom-built ship and will be used for conducting oceanic studies on the fuel of the future like gas hydrates and search for scientific evidences about origin of life and cures for chronic diseases. The vessel is equipped with a winch and cable strong enough to lift 60 tonnes from a depth of 6,000 metres under the sea.
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SC again declines commercial use of Forest Hill Club
New Delhi, March 3 A Bench of Chief Justice K. G Balakrishnan and Justice R V Raveendran did not agree with the plea of club’s counsel for lifting the stay on the commercialisation of the resort till the final hearing amidst a strong protest from the counsel of Punjab Urban Development Authority (PUDA). This was for the second time in a month that the apex court declined to lift its 2004 stay on the commercial use of the club as similar request was rejected on February 8. The court had stayed the commercial use after the Punjab Government and the Centre had alleged that a vast demarcated forest land was encroached upon by the club owner in violation of the Punjab Forest Act. The court was not impressed with the contention of club’s counsel that due to the continued stay many of the members were quitting their membership as the Bench said if it won the case, they would in any case come back. The Bench said till the final hearing, the stay could not be lifted while ordering the registry to put up it for hearing in the second week of May. The club’s new stand is that after a notification issued by the Centre on October 18, 2006, the status of the land has been changed and it no more was the forest land as many commercial ventures, hotels, resorts and educational institutions had been permitted to come up in the area.
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SC notice to IPS officer for ‘ordering’ attack on judge
New Delhi, March 3 The apex court today issued a notice to the IGP-rank IPS officer, Nirmala Amitabh Choudhary, the Centre and the Jharkhand Government in connection with the attack on CAT member Justice V.V. Rao. A Bench comprising Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan and Justice R.V. Raveendran treated a letter, received by the court in connection with the incident, as a writ petition and sought details from the Centre and the state through its chief secretary about the February 21 incident. The CAT judge had come to Ranchi from Bangalore on an official visit during which the IGP's bodyguards allegedly attacked him on her instruction. An FIR has already been lodged on Justice Rao's complaint against Choudhary. Eight security men, who had accompanied her to the place of incident, were subsequently suspended. The IPS officer, posted in the vigilance wing of Jharkhand State Electricity Board, has been sent for psychiatric treatment to Ranchi Institute of Neuro-Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS). After the incident, a senior police official had reportedly said that the behaviour of Choudhury was not normal and she has been sent to RINPAS for check-up. The IPS officer had allegedly claimed that she had been receiving threatening e-mails after she returned from Hyderabad in connection with a case of Internet fraud.
— PTI
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‘Jodha Akbar’ controversy reaches SC
New Delhi, March 3 The governments of Madhya
Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Uttaranchal have banned the screening of the film after a section of people objected over the alleged wrong depiction of some historical characters in the film, the petition said. “The fundamental right to speech and expression is being trampled over by the various state governments with the sole objective of gaining political mileage by banning the film,” the producer said. It also pointed out that all necessary approval were taken by it from the authorities, including the Censor Board of Film Certification, before releasing the film. “The film has been banned in Uttar
Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and various cities of Haryana and Rajasthan not on the basis of any law but on the basis of administrative orders which is completely unconstitutional,” it said. Although the high courts of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh have already directed the respective state governments to ensure safe and smooth screening of the film, the producers approached the apex court to sort out the problem in other states.
— PTI
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‘Dhan Laxmi’ scheme launched in seven states
New Delhi, March 3 The pilot project of “Dhan Laxmi” will be launched in 11 educationally backward blocks of seven states - Punjab, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. An outlay of Rs 10 crore has been proposed for the fiscal 2008-09 to benefit 1,01,970 girl children. Women and child development minister Renuka Chowdhury said the scheme is designed to change the traditional mindset of parents towards their daughters by linking cash and non-cash transfers to her well-being. "Dhan Laxmi" will ensure that a significant amount is given to the family on fulfilling specified conditions like ensuring birth registration, immunisation and school enrolment of their daughter and delaying her marriage till the age of 18 years. In addition, an insurance cover of Rs 1 lakh will also be provided to the newborn. In all under the scheme, a cash package of around 2 lakh will be provided to the family, preferably the mother. Financial incentives will be given in a staggered way to encourage them to bring up their daughters in a better way. “The scheme will help change the traditional mindset and attitude of parents towards their daughters by linking cash and non-cash transfers to her well-being. This will encourage families to consider their daughter as an asset rather than a liability since it is her well-being that will lead to cash inflow in the family,” Chowdhury said. The ministry will also launch a public awareness campaign about issues concerning women through railway tickets to ensure that the message goes to the grassroots level. Initially, 5 crore tickets will be printed, carrying social messages to check female foeticide, child marriage, dowry, domestic violence, trafficking and harassment.
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Arjun Singh to open UNESCO meet tomorrow
New Delhi, March 3 Human resource development minister Arjun Singh will open the two day event -- March 5-6 -- to be attended by India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives,
Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. The regional meeting is being co-organised among others by the HRD ministry and the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation and the Indian National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO. Initiated in 2006 in
Bhurban, Pakistan, the Forum of Ministers of Social Development from South Asia is the 3rd in the series of four such forums established under MOST. The first two were set up for Latin America and Africa and the 4th forum was set up in the Arab region. These fora are intended to reinforce linkages between research and policy-making communities by encouraging
regional cooperation and exchange of experiences and best national practices. Delegates are expected to focus on contribution social sciences can help make in promoting transparency, right to information and social development. A highlight will be India’s ongoing experience with the Right to Information Act, 2005, on which chief information commissioner Wajahat Habibullah will brief participants. Delegates will be given a glimpse of Delhi government’s initiative on Bhagidari Projects through a field visit to South Delhi.
— UNI
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Sri Lanka army chief visits Srinagar
New Delhi, March 3 According to ministry of defence officials, the Sri Lankan army chief visited Srinagar initially and from there to the Tanghar sector where he was briefed on the situation along the Line of Control (LoC). Fonseka later returned to New Delhi and will lay a wreath at the memorial to the Unknown Soldier at India Gate, a World War I monument, on Tuesday when he would also be given the official guard of honour. Officials said later in the day he would be meeting Antony, defence secretary Vijay Singh, Indian Army chief Gen. Deepak Kapoor, Indian Navy chief Admiral Sureesh Mehta and Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal Fali Homi Major. Incidentally, Fonseka, along with defence secretary Gothabaya Rajapaksa, is leading the military campaign against the LTTE.
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Nanda's passport suspended for 4 more weeks
New Delhi, March 3 The decision to further suspend his passport was conveyed to the CBI by the Consular of Passport and Visa section of the ministry of external affairs. The external affairs ministry issued the order today for the suspension of his travel document under Section 10-A of the Indian Passport Act, sources said. The Centre had on January 30 suspended the passport of
Nanda, son of former Naval chief S.M. Nanda, for four weeks, which expired today. The four-week suspension of Nanda’s passport, alleged to be a middle-man for various defence deals like Barak anti-missile system acquired from Israel, and armoured recovery vehicles being investigated by the CBI, would enable the external affairs ministry to examine the agency’s plea of revoking the travel document of the arms dealer. Nanda has denied any wrongdoing or having received any kickbacks in any of the deals. Besides the suspension of the passport, the government had issued an alert to all passport authorities, immigration checkpoints in India, Indian missions abroad as well as other authorities concerned in this regard.
— PTI
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14 national water projects named
New Delhi, March 3 It is proposed to provide 90 per cent project cost of irrigation and drinking water component of the project as Central Grant after techno-economic appraisal of the detailed project report and investment clearance by the Planning Commission. The projects are Teesta Barrage (West Bengal), Shahpur Kandi (Punjab), Bursar (Jammu and Kashmir), 2nd Ravi Vyas Link (Punjab) Ujh multipurpose project (Jammu and Kashmir), Gyspa project (Himachal Pradesh), Lakhvar Vyasi (Uttranchal), Kishau (Himachal Pradesh /Uttranchal), Renuka (Himachal Pradesh), Noa-Dehang Dam Project (Arunachal Pradesh), Kulsi Dam Project (Assam), Upper Siang (Arunachal Pradesh), Gosikhurd (Maharashtra) and Ken Betwa (Madhya Pradesh).
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Ex-Nagaland CM dead
Kohima, March 3 He will be remembered for his austerity and his personal efforts to bring Naga undergrounds, particularly the legendary A.Z. Phizo, to the negotiating table. Joining the Naga political movement as a moderate in mid 1950s, Vizol became Chief Minister in 1974 riding on the growth of regionalism in Nagaland. After the emergency he once again became the Chief Minister during 1977-80. Born in 1914 at Viswema village in Kohima district, Vizol after completing his school education from Kohima Mission High School graduated from St Edmonds College, Shillong. He served the Royal Indian Air Force during 1941-46 and took part in the World War-II.
— PTI
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Drunk doc drives over baby, held
Mumbai, March 3 The police said Kulkarni lost control of his car at Vile Parle and drove into a hutment on Sunday night. The 15-month-old victim named Sonia, who was playing at the entrance of the shanty, suffered serious injuries in the mishap. She succumbed to her injuries today, the police said. The police said Kulkarni did not possess a driving licence at the time of the accident.
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