New Delhi, June 30
India is ready to play its part in efforts to address the global issue of climate change. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today unveiled the country’s National Action Plan on climate change and made it clear that a fair and equitable treatment of developing countries was the only way forward to tackle the issue.

The Prime Minister said India was prepared to play its role as a responsible member of the international community and make its contribution, but the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change must be effective, fair and equitable to all countries.

Reaffirming India’s pledge, he said as it pursued sustainable development, the country’s per capita emissions would not exceed the per capita emissions of developed countries, “despite our developmental imperatives”.

The action plan, prepared by the Prime Minister’s Council on Climate Change, was released just ahead of the G-8 summit that would discuss challenges posed by climate change. The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave for the G-8 summit in Japan on July 7.

The action plan reflects the importance the Government attaches to mobilising national energies to meet challenge of climate change, the Prime Minister said. He stressed that the climate change was a global challenge and could only be successfully overcome through a global collaborative and cooperative effort.

While developing countries want industrialised nations to share the burden of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, developed nations are insisting that developing countries need to take greater steps to cut down their carbon dioxide emissions.

”India believes that every citizen of this planet should have an equal share of the planetary atmospheric space and therefore, long-term convergence of per capita GHG emissions is the only equitable basis for a global agreement to tackle climate change,” he said.

The Prime Minister also clarified that the action plan would evolve and change in the light of changing circumstances and invited broader interaction with the civil society as means to further improve the various elements of the plan.

The action plan incorporates India’s vision of sustainable development and steps that must be taken to implement it. “Maintaining a high growth rate is essential for increasing living standards of vast majority of people and reducing their vulnerability to the imapcts of climate change,” says the plan. It encompasses a broad and extensive range of measures, the government will pool its scientific, technical and managerial talents with sufficient financial resources to develop solar energy as a source of abundant energy to power the economy and transform the lives of people.

In all, it hinges on sustainable development and use of new technologies. The focus will be on promoting understanding of climate change, energy efficiency and natural conservation.

There are eight national missions that would form the core of the national plan. These include national missions for: Solar energy, enhanced energy efficiency, sustainable habitat, conserving water, sustaining the Himalayan ecosystem, a “Green India”, sustainable agriculture and strategic knowledge platform for climate change.

The national mission of solar energy occupies a pre-eminent place since its success has the potential of transforming the face of India, the Prime Minister said.

Chandigarh, June 30
The general court martial (GCM) of a major general for allegedly molesting a woman officer is scheduled to begin at Bathinda on July 7, it is learnt. This is the first time that an officer of the rank of major general is being tried by a GCM on such charges.

Sources say that Maj Gen A K Lal is facing four charges, which include molestation under Section 354 of the Indian Penal Code, read with Section 69 (civil offences) of the Army Act and holding meditation classes in his bedroom. The other two charges include attempts to influence two officers who were witnesses in the case.

The General Officer Commanding 10 Corps, Lt Gen R.S. Sujlana, is the GCM’s presiding officer, while Deputy Judge Advocate General (DJAG), Eastern Command, Brig A V Tashkar, is the judge advocate.

Sources said that the Army had earlier appointed DJAG, Central Command, Brig P.S. Rathore, as the judge advocate for the trial, but it was objected to by the accused as Brig Rathore is at present serving under Lt Gen H S Panag, who was the GOC-in-C Northern Command when the alleged incident took place. Maj Gen Lal was commanding the strategic 3 Infantry Division at Leh at that time.

The orders to try Maj Gen Lal by court martial were initially issued by General Panag shortly before he moved to Central Command earlier this year. Lt Gen P.C. Bhardwaj, who as GOC 14 Corps was Maj Gen Lal’s immediate superior was elevated as the Northern Command chief.

This technically led to the accused’s commanding officer becoming the court’s convening authority, who would then be required to pass directions in the case. Faced with this legal lacuna, the Army moved Maj Gen Lal out of Northern Command and attached him with the Mathura-based 1 Corps under the South-Western Command.

Last year, a Signals officer, Capt Neha Rawat, had, in a written complaint alleged sexual misconduct on his part on the pretext of holding meditation classes at his residence. In September, the Army ordered a court of inquiry (COI) into the matter and General Lal was removed from command and attached to Headquarters 15 Corps.

When the matter had become public, the general’s family, in a press conference held in Chandigarh, had strongly defended him and had termed the charges levelled against him as incorrect and motivated. The COI, presided by Lt Gen A.S. Sekhon, the then corps commander had, in November 2007, held him prima facie blameworthy. 

Guwahati, June 30
Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today launched a diatribe against top leaders of the proscribed United Liberation Front of Assam (ULFA) for engineering killings of innocent people in Assam from “sanctuaries abroad”.

Gogoi dared the fugitive commander-in-chief of the ULFA, Paresh Baruah, to break free from the clutches of the Pakistan ISI and other anti-Indian forces to hold dialogue with the Government of India and stop killing innocent people in Assam.

Gogoi said innocent people had become a soft target for the outfit that is no longer potent enough to take on security forces.

Seven persons were killed and 90 injured in the state in ULFA-triggered retaliatory violence since June 26 last, the day the ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies of the 28th battalion of the ULFA declared unilateral truce, exposing a crack in the outfit’s ranks.

The 28th battalion was the most potent force of the outfit.

Addressing media here, Gogoi said, “I don’t know how ULFA is going to achieve its goal of restoration of sovereignty in Assam by killing innocent people. There is no question of holding talks with ULFA on its demand for sovereignty, which is not negotiable.”

“ULFA is definitely not serving the interests of the people of Assam by killing innocent people. Rather, it is serving interests of anti-Indian forces, including the Pakistan’s ISI. Its top leaders are staying in Bangladesh, enjoying patronage of anti-Indian forces,” Gogoi commented, calling upon the civil society groups to mount pressure on ULFA to come forward for negotiation with the government.

However, the Assam government doesn’t recognise the People’s Consultative Group (PCG) which was nominated by ULFA as a civil society group.

“The PCG is not part of the civil society, as it was constituted by ULFA and obeys diktats of the outfit,” Gogoi said, reiterating his call to the PCG members to clarify their stand on ULFA’s demand for the “restoration of sovereignty of Assam”.

The Assam government informed that 13,000 militants had surrendered in Assam since 1991. ULFA is now left with only about 1,500 cadres in its ranks as on date. The ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies of the 28th battalion of the outfit have 350 cadres, who have agreed to a unilateral ceasefire.

Gogoi informed that there were 300 ULFA cadres based in the outfit’s bases in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

Meanwhile, the banned ULFA has disbanded the ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies of its 28th battalion that have declared a unilateral truce with the Government of India forces “to pave way for talks” between the ULFA leadership and the government. 

New Delhi, June 30
The government will name a complex for Warfare Studies in the Delhi cantonment after Field Marshal S.H.F.J Manekshaw. The complex called Param Vir Complex being constructed at the entrance to Delhi cantonment and be named the Manekshaw centre in memory of the decorated soldier, who died on Thursday night.

Meanwhile, defence minister A.K. Antony, The High Commissioner of Bangladesh in India and Army chief Deepak Kapoor were among the hundreds of people who turned up to pen their feelings in a condolence book kept at the India Gate.

The condolence book was placed next to the martyr’s memorial at the India Gate. Antony was the first to sign it and went on to describe Manekshaw as the Marshal who led from the front.

The country’s sole surviving Marshal Arjan Singh was next and he termed Manekshaw as one of the leading Field Commanders in the Indian history.

Besides Kapoor, the other two service Chiefs, Admiral Sureesh Mehta, who is also the chairman of chiefs of staff, and Air Chief Marshal Fali Major also signed the condolence book.

Among the others who signed on it were former service chiefs, principal staff officers in the Army, Navy and Air headquarters, defence attachés, politicians, members of Parliament and others.

The condolence book would be placed at the martyr's memorial from 9 am to 4 pm till July 3, an army spokesman said.

Meanwhile, Kapoor said The Mankeshaw Complex would house the centre for land and air warfare studies and a centre for peacekeeping operations and also serve as a hub for seminars, discussions and other important events.

It may be mentioned that the top brass of the defence is facing flak for having missed the last rites of Manekshaw. Kapoor said the Army revers Manekshaw’s bravery, courage and leadership capabilities through which he achieved victory in the 1971 Indo-Pak war.

Kapoor said it would be good if the national war memorial was constructed, which would provide an opportunity to countrymen to salute soldiers who laid down their lives in battlefield.

Gwalior, June 30
President Pratibha Patil today said students should visit villages to understand the needs of people in rural areas.

“By going to villages, students would understand the requirements of rural areas. By doing so they would be socially more conscious which is very necessary,” Patil said at the concluding function of golden jubilee celebrations of Madhav Institute of Technology and Science (MITS) here.

Patil said engineers should also work in villages so that the country achieves “inclusive growth”.

Patil also released a commemorative stamp on MITS of Rs five on the occasion.

“I am happy to visit Gwalior, a city of forts, temples and palaces. A city whose social fabric has been enriched through the ages by poets, artists, saints and musicians. It represents the rich heritage of the past and holds promise for the future as a centre of tourism, manufacturing and education,” Patil said.

Earlier, at the Maharajpur air base, Patil was welcomed by Union State Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, ministers of state Anoop Mishra, Narain Singh Kushwaha, and Mayor V.N. Shejwalkar.

The institution, originally proposed by Srimant Madhavrao Scindia I, was established in 1957 by his son Jiwajirao Scindia with the prime objective of providing technical education and producing trained manpower. — PTI

New Delhi, June 30
The Government of India is seriously considering opening the pilgrimage route to Kartarpur shrine in Pakistan. Sikhs settled in India have long been seeking visa-free visit to the shrine, located on the banks of the Ravi, right across Dera Baba Nanak town in Gurdaspur.

In a letter to minister of state (independent charge) of youth affairs and sports M.S. Gill, external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee has conveyed the government’s sentiment on the issue close to Sikh hearts.

The letter was written in response to Gill’s earlier communication to Mukherjee in this regard, wherein, he sought opening of the pilgrimage route to Kartarpur at the earliest. Gill, in his communication, also made a reference to the government’s budgetary support to Muslim pilgrims visiting Mecca and Medina.

Speaking to The Tribune today in the wake of Mukherjee’s recent visit to Pakistan and Kartarpur, Gill said, “The external affairs minister has said that India would seriously pursue the matter with Pakistan. But I would like to ask the Pakistan government to make a formal proposal to India in this regard.”

During the NDA regime, Pakistan had made an offer of considering visa-free visit for Sikhs to Kartarpur. The current Pakistan government has again made such an offer. Prime Minister of Pakistan Yousuf Raza Gilani and Pakistan minister for religious affairs recently said they had no objection to visa-free travel of Sikh pilgrims to Kartarpur, situated in Narowal in Pakistan.

“This offer must be formalised considering India’s recent commitment to honour the Sikh sentiment with respect to Kartarpur Sahib,” said Gill, who has long been hammering the issue in Parliament where he stated, “Kartarpur is my Mecca, my Rome, my Jerusalem.”

Kartarpur is of immense significance to Sikhs, as it was here that Guru Nanak spent the fag end of his life, consolidating and preaching the Sikh faith. The town is just about 1.5 km away from Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur on the Indian side.

The river separates the two towns. Sikhs visiting Gurdaspur can, at best, bow before Kartarpur Sahib from a distance.

“This is not fair considering Kartarpur’s significance to Sikhs. The route needs to be opened at the earliest. Having an agreement that in dry season, allows movement of pilgrims across the bridge over the Ravi channel can do this. The bridge can have barbed wires to take care of the security aspect,” Gill said.

He had earlier conveyed these feelings to Mukherjee in an official communication, copies of which he sent to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi.

New Delhi, June 30
Even as Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the Left have dug in their heels on the contentious Indo-US civilian nuclear deal, the respective sides have started counting their numbers to assess the possibility of a showdown on the floor of the Lok Sabha.

This is evident from the urgency with which the Congress is trying to win over Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav, who commands a strength of 39 MPs in a House of 544.

The ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Congress (153) together with the RJD (24), the DMK (16), the PMK (6), the Lok Jan Shakti (4), the Kerala Congress (2), the RPI (1), the Muslim League (1) and the Sikkim Democratic Front (1) commands a strength of 208. Add to that one, member of the Majlise Ittehadul Muslimeen, which takes it to 209. But then it is very uncertain if the two Muslim parties with one member each, one of them a Union minister, namely E. Ahamed, would agree to support the government when the Left would be targeting it on the Indo-US nuclear deal.

So the UPA numbers are reduced to 207. But conventional wisdom says the SP (39) may vote with the government raising the UPA numbers to 246. Add to that, three of the JD-S, three of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and also two of breakaway faction of the MDMK, raising the government figures to 254.

On the other hand, the Opposition NDA with the BJP (130), the Shiv Sena (16), the Biju Janata Dal (11), the JD-U (8) and the Akali Dal (8) along with the Trinamul Congress (1) account for 170 members only.

The Left has threatened to oppose the government on a confidence motion. That adds 59 of the Left also rallying behind the 170, raising the Opposition numbers to 229. Add to that, the BSP (17), the TDP (5), the MDMK (2), the AGP (2) and the National Conference (2), who will oppose the government on the nuke deal taking this figure by another 28 to 257. Besides this, the PDP (1), so far a part of the UPA, may also now vote against the government taking the Opposition figures to 258.

There are 17 unattached members, including Independents (6), the JMM (5) which was once part of the UPA but now disenchanted with the government for not making their leader Shibu Soren a minister.

Similar is the situation with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (3). The position of the Mizo National Front (1), the Bharat Navshakti Party (1) and the National Loktantrik Party (1) is equally ambiguous.

To win a confidence vote, when it comes to the crunch, the UPA needs to win over this amorphous body almost wholly because at present minus this group, the Opposition seems to command greater numbers.

Guwahati, June 30
From now onwards, all projects of the North Eastern Council (NEC) will be guided by recommendations contained in the ‘NER Vision 2020’, which will be released by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh in New Delhi on July 2.

The NEC secretary Falguni Rajkumar on Monday informed the media here that the regional planning body would focus on naming space for peoples’ participation in development process in the light of recommendations of ‘NER Vision 2020’ document. The NEC is the regional planning body for the North East.

“We no longer can think on a traditional way of developing the N-E. Non-involvement of public in the development process has turned out to be disenchanting. As the NER Vision document finds out, people in this part of the country look forward to something beyond financial assistance from the government. They want well-being that comes from a sense of participation,” the official said.

The NEC official commented that public involvement in the development process would be vital in the troubled region. He said now onwards the Vision document would guide the NEC in formulating the development process.

To begin with, the NEC would start conceiving new projects from next year with available resources to the tune of Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000 crores, which amounts to 10 per cent of the gross budgetary support (GBS) of 49 Central ministries barring the ministry of ocean development and defence. Moreover, another Rs 600 crores from the NEC itself and Rs 600 crores from the ministry of DONER will be available.

Notably, the NE needs to grow at the rate of 12.95 % to come at par with the rest of the country taking into account the national GDP growth at 9 %. That will require Rs 70,000 to Rs 80,000 crores investment per annum in the region. For that to happen there has to be huge private sector investment in the region.

“What we want is a marriage between local and outside entrepreneurs in investing in the region. A sense of belonging will only come with the involvement of local entrepreneurs in the process,” the NEC official said.

The NER Vision 2020 document was finalised by the National Institute of Public Finance and Policy (NIPFP) after examining the preliminary report prepared by the Centre for North Eastern Studies and Policy Research (C-NES).

New Delhi, June 30
In an initiative to induce high-potential Indian engineering graduates to choose France as a destination for higher studies, Orange, one of the world’s leading telecommunications operators, will be awarding scholarships to meritorious students who wish to pursue specialised studies in France.

Ten students will be joining two French engineering institutes: the Institut Supérieur d’Electronique de Paris and Institut Telecom-Paristech in September.

The objective behind the scheme is to encourage young talent to acquire technological and multicultural expertise facilitating immediate industrial insertion. The programme has been conceived as a well-balanced mix of academic and industrial training.

Orange shall also provide hands-on training to the awardees with a possibility of finally integrating the promising young engineers into their fold.

“The programme is an excellent opportunity for Orange to expand its cultural diversity and experience leading to the creation of a possible think-tank of high-level Indian technical managers with good knowledge of our group’s organisation and a taste for the French touch,” said Vivek Badrinath, Orange executive vice-president (IT and networks).

Jérôme Bonnafont, Ambassador of France to India, said: “Orange-MAEE scholarships for young engineering graduates is a wonderful opportunity that brings together the best of French higher education institutes, industry and Indian talent on a common platform in a symbiotic relation. The resulting cultural, technical and professional enhancement to all concerned is exactly the kind of mix that will propel other forward-looking enterprises to emulate this model.”

The French Embassy will also provide added benefits to the chosen scholars such as social security, health insurance, partial lodging assistance benefits and so forth. 

Bangalore, June 30
Ahead of the Supreme Court fixing dates for hearing the Cauvery river water sharing dispute next month, Karnataka today began its preparations for the case.

Counsels representing the state before the apex court, Anil Diwan and Mohan Katarki held day-long confabulations with the officials of the state’s irrigation and law department to chart future plans.

Diwan told reporters that the Supreme Court was expected to fix dates for hearing the petitions filed by Karnataka and Tamil Nadu challenging the February 5, 2007 final order pronounced by the Cauvery Water disputes Tribunal allocating water share to all the riparian states.

The tribunal allocated 192 tmc ft of water as its share to Tamil Nadu, 30 tmc ft to Kerala and seven tmc ft to Pondicherry.

Karnataka which opposed the final award, filed a petition in April last before the Supreme Court appealing for quashing of the Tribunal order. Karnataka has also sought the apex court to declare the 1892 and 1924 water sharing agreements reached between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu during the British presidency as null and void as they cannot be continued after independence.

However, Tamil Nadu sought to rely on the said controversial agreements, in its petition prayed for more share of water than allocated by the Tribunal, which adjudicated the vexed tangle for 16 years.

Former irrigation minister H.N. Nanjegowda and G. Madegowda, president of the Cauvery Protection Committee called on Diwan to discuss the issue. — PTI

Roorkee, June 30
With water crisis becoming a perennial problem in the drought-stricken Bundelkhand region, the National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) has initiated water quality management plan for the rejuvenation of Sagar Lake in Bundelkhand to reduce the water woes of locals.

Aimed at conserving the Sagar Lake, the project initiated by the NIH is still in progress. However, the studies carried out during this project indicate that due to a high discharge of pollutants into the Sagar Lake, it has become unsuitable for human consumption. The physico-chemical analysis of the lake water was carried out to determine the present status of the lake water quality and the analysis indicated that the lake water was greenish and had high algae activity.

“The lake water cannot be used for drinking purpose with regards to the standards of class-A water. The lake water contains the fecal coliform bacteria. The transparency of the lake water is also very less,” maintains the report.

The results show that most of the water quality parameters of the lake water are beyond the permissible limits.

New Delhi, June 30
The Centre’s decision of not disclosing file notings under the Right to Information Act has drawn flak from the Central Information Commission which held that this amounted to violation of the transparency law.

Turning down a plea of the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) that file notings were exempted under the RTI Act, the panel said it meant “substituting the law”.

“The circular of DoPT is curious in that it seeks to substitute the law passed by the Parliament with its own interpolation inserted in its website,” Chief Info Commissioner Wajahat Habibullah said.

The circular was brought to the notice of the transparency panel during a hearing on a complaint of a retired IAS officer Des Raj Dhingra, alleging that the DoPT had refused to provide him information relating to file noting on his RTI plea.

“What DoPT would appear to wish to do by means of this presumptuous circular is to substitute an opinion of an under secretary for the (earlier) decision of the Commission,” Habibullah said.

The panel also pointed out that the government’s decision of not disclosing file notings under the RTI Act has been taken not on the basis of any expert advice but on the recommendation of an under secretary. — PTI

Bangalore, June 30
The RAW (Research and Analyses Wing) and IB (Intelligence Bureau) have helped the sleuths of the German Chancellor’s corps to nab an 88-year-old Nazi war criminal from the forests on the border of Karnataka and Goa. S.M. Bidari, ADGP, Intelligence, Karnataka, told the TNS today that the arrested fugitive had been flown to Berlin.

Johann Bach, a former Army officer of the Third Reich, was caught in the forests of Anmod inside the territory of Goa, Bidari said. He added that the area where he was caught was located close to Belgaum.

Police forces of both states were caught unawares by the incident as the entire operation was handled by Central agencies in tandem with German sleuths. Karnataka police obtained information about the incident only at a later stage.

Bach was arrested on Friday night after he tried to give a slip to Indian and German sleuths by getting off his taxi and walking into the forest. Bach was said to be a senior adjutant in a Nazi concentration camp in Berlin. He fled Germany after Hitler lost World War II and like many other ex-Nazis, settled in Argentina. He also lived in Canada and Bulgaria before settling down in Goa sometime back.

Reports quoting a press release issued by Perus Narkp, intelligence wing of the Berlin-based German Chancellor’s Corps, said Bach had been involved in the killing of nearly 12,000 Jews at the Marsha Tikash Whanaab concentration camp in Berlin under Adolf Hitler’s Nazi regime. Bach was identified as an absconding SS (Schutzstaffel) Colonel. He was a senior adjutant at the concentration camp, it was stated.

Bach, who had been on the run for the last 50 years, had been under surveillance after people involved in the search for listed Nazi war criminals traced his location to Bardez in Goa. Efforts to nab the war criminal were rewarded recently when he gave newspaper advertisements in Goa for selling an antique piano. The piano was said to be similar to one reported missing from a Berlin museum located near the concentration camp. The German sleuths knew that the camp was run by a young man named Bach, who was never caught.

Berlin also had information that an old German had bragged about overseeing the genocide of Jews to an Israeli tourist couple in Goa during a rave party a few months ago. The former Nazi had mistaken the couple to be Americans.

Malkangiri/Hyderabad, June 30
Backed by six helicopters, Naval divers and security personnel today scoured a reservoir for the 35 commandos of an elite anti-naxal force from Andhra Pradesh missing after a daring attack on their boat by Maoists.

Of the 66 persons, including three boatmen who were in the vessel during the strike yesterday, 30 were rescued so far, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said. Sixty-one personnel from the anti-naxal force known as Greyhounds and two Orissa constables were returning after a combing operation when bullets rained on them.

Though over 24 hours elapsed since the attack at Balimela reservoir on the Orissa-Andhra Pradesh border, the search teams were yet to recover any body from the water raising fears that the missing commandos may have drowned. The reservoir has been overflowing due to heavy rains.

Several senior officers from the two states were monitoring search operation that involved nine divers and 500 security personnel. — PTI

New Delhi, June 30
The bail plea of Krishna, compounder of Dr Rajesh Talwar and an accused in the Noida double murder, was today rejected by a Ghaziabad court while a petition is likely to be filed in the Allahabad High Court soon seeking the release of the dentist from judicial custody.

Special Magistrate Sapna Mishra rejected the petition of Krishna, saying the court was not empowered to take a decision on his bail.

“We have submitted before the court that Krishna was arrested under some false charges and hence he should be released. But the court said that it was not empowered to grant bail,” Krishna’s lawyer Fateh Chand Sharma said.

He said they were exploring other options, including moving to the District and Sessions Court, for his release.

Meanwhile, a petition is likely to be moved in the Allahabad High Court soon, seeking the release of Rajesh Talwar from judicial custody as his bail application was rejected by Ghaziabad District and Sessions Judge Narender Kumar Jain on June 26.

The CBI probe into the double murder is still going on though the investigating agency arrested a third person, Raj Kumar, domestic help of Talwar’s family friend Durranis, on Friday.

The agency had claimed that Raj Kumar confessed that he had broken and subsequently hidden the mobile phone of Aarushi and can also get the “Khukri” used in the crime recovered. — PTI

Katihar, June 30
A former minister’s son was shot dead in Bihar’s Katihar district triggering protests with locals disrupting the movement of trains on the Patna-Guwahati route as the subdivisional town of Barari observed a bandh.

Anil Kumar Singh, son of former minister Basudev Prasad Singh, was shot dead by unidentified assailants at Barari market last night, the police said today.

Anil (45), an advocate, was gunned down while returning home after purchasing groceries last night. He received bullet injuries in the head and was rushed to a local hospital where he was declared brought dead, the police said.

The reason behind the murder, apparently premeditated, was not yet known, the police said.

Meanwhile, the subdivisional town of Barari, also the assembly constituency of Anil’s father Basudev Singh, who was a minister in the short-lived Janata Party government of Ram Sunder Das, observed a bandh with markets closed and vehicular traffic very thin.

The locals have disrupted the movement of trains on the Katihar- Guwahati route by squatting on tracks at the Karhagola station in Barari subdivision to protest the incident.

While the 2456 down New Delhi-Guwahati Rajdhani Express (summer special) and the 4084 down New Delhi-Alipurduar Mahananda Express have been stopped near the western cabin, the Katihar-Barauni passenger train has been halted at the eastern cabin at the Karhagola station, railway sources said.

Efforts were on to persuade the agitators to lift the blockade, the sources said. — PTI

Lucknow, June 30
A Hanuman devotee plans to send a rare encyclopaedia, articles and pictures of the Lord Hanuman to Democratic Party's presidential nominee Barack Obama, who keeps a Hanuman medallion among his good luck charms.

Businessman Sunil Gomber would be sending an album of “The visual encyclopaedia of Lord Hanuman” along with 31 related articles and three rare laminated pictures to New York tomorrow.

Gomber, who had converted his residence into a museum of Lord Hanuman, said here today that the article and pictures were around 1,600 years old.

''I am sending this collection to Obama as he has expressed his faith in our God and we also want his success in the presidential elections later this year,'' he said.

Gomber, who is in wholesale book business, said recently he had dreamt about reciting ''Hanuman Chalisa'' and ''Sunderkand Path'' in the White House and even hoisting a Hanuman flag in several parts of the presidential building.

The 46-year-old Senator from Illinois, who defeated his rival Hillary Clinton in a 17-month long electoral battle for the Democratic Party nomination, carries a ''tiny monkey god'' apparently representing Hanuman with him for good luck. — UNI

New Delhi, June 30
The possibility of an early general election looms large after the Left threat to withdraw support from the Congress-led UPA government if the government went ahead to Vienna for finalising the India-specific safeguards agreement with the IAEA.

Notwithstanding the claims and counterclaims over the fortunes of different political parties and alliances, it seems the next Lok Sabha polls is going to be give a mixed verdict with no political party or the four alliances - UPA, NDA, UNPA and the Left - enjoying any edge over the other.

No single issue, including inflation, is going to benefit any single party or combination.

People at large are concerned over the price rise, but they are not blaming the ruling alliance at the Centre for it. The opinion-maker middle class is holding international factors responsible for the galloping 
inflation.

The contest on most of the Lok Sabha seats is going to be close.

Starting with the NDA, the prospects of the BJP in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh are not very rosy not only because of the incumbency factor but also due to the absence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpyee at the political scene. His charismatic appeal and oratorical skills always added extra votes to the BJP kitty. The BJP had 56 seats in the three states.

In Orissa, where the BJP had seven and its alliance partner had 11 out of total 21 seats, the decade-old alliance is faced with anti-incumbency and its prospects are not good. In Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, which have 120 Lok Sabha seats, the chances of the BJP improving its tally of 15 are not very bright.

West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Kerala, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Mizoram and Tripura, that have 124 seats, the BJP’s tally is likely to be in single digit.

In Gujarat, Maharashtra, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand, Goa and Delhi, the chances of the BJP are relatively good but then these states have 99 seats and any substantial improvement over the 2004 performance is not likely.

In Punjab too, where the SAD and the BJP had 11 seats in 2004, the task to retain the tally is difficult if not impossible.

While the BJP is leaving no stone unturned and is making advance preparations, but its prime ministerial candidate L.K. Advani does not have the appeal of Vajpayee which could bring either the saffron party or the NDA those extra votes that are crucial for victory.

Parties which stand to gain are the TDP, the AIADMK, the INLD, the JD (U) but the political conditions in these states are such that no party mentioned above is in a position to sweep polls. All these parties will gain, but not substantially to make a decisive impact.

The Left parties are going to lose substantially in Kerala and marginally in West Bengal and thus will not be able to call the shots in the next government formation at the Centre.

Though the Congress will have a tough time retaining its tally of 2004, its advantage in some states is being negated in other states.

Tamil Nadu holds the key to the next government at the Centre as the nature of alliances there is going to be decisive. But even in Tamil Nadu, the 39 seats are going to be almost equally divided between the two alliances.

The Samajwadi Party and the BSP are likely to have the major chunk of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh with the BJP, the Congress and the RLD remaining in single digits.

Every single seat will matter for government formation and the bargaining is going to be tough.

The political scene is uncertain and the formation of the next government at the Centre is going to be a test of political acumen and skills.

Dehra Dun, June 30
In connection with the gang rape of a 23-year-old dalit girl, senior state Congress leader Suryakant Dhasmana has received threat to his life. The matter was reported to Dehra Dun SSP Amit Kumar Sinha and an FIR has been lodged against unidentified persons. Dhasmana had brought the rape incident to the notice of the national SC/ST commission.

Meanwhile, role of the district police has also come under cloud with the victim accusing the cops of pressurising her to go to a nari niketan. While apprehending threat to her life, the victim, who is currently residing in an accommodation provided by an NGO, alleged that so far the police has not provided her security. Though she did not name anyone but the victim reiterated that she was still getting threats from some leaders of a political party.

When contacted, Dehra Dun SSP Amit Kumar Sinha denied that the cops were pressurising the victim. “It is the wish of the victim whether she wants to shift to Nari Niketan or not,” he claimed, adding that the police was searching for three other accused involved in the crime.

The incident has now taken a political colour with senior Congress leaders demanding probe by a central agency. Dhasmana alleged that two of the accused were associated with the ruling party and inquiry should be handed over to the CBI. mOn June 26, chairman of national commission of SC/ST Buta Singh had given a week's ultimatum to Uttarakhand DGP and chief secretary to nab the culprits, failing which the probe would be handed over to the central agencies.

Dehra Dun, June 30
Prof G.D. Agarwal, a noted environmentalist, who has been on an indefinite fast since June 13, has ended his fast following assurance from the Central government.

According to a communication from the Peoples’ Science Institute (PSI), a Dehra Dun-based voluntary group anchoring the ongoing agitation, the Union government in a communication to Agarwal stated that “the government of India commits itself to ensuring perennial environmental flows throughout the Bhagirathi.”

A high-level experts committee would be formed by the Union government that would suggest how this flow would be maintained. The committee would give its recommendation in three months. The offer was accepted by Agarwal, who later ended his fast in New Delhi.

Agarwal had started his fast at Uttarkashi to demand that there should not be any hydro-power projects on the Bhagirathi between Gangotri and Uttarkashi. Following the decision of the Uttarakhand government to shelve two projects namely Pala Maneri and Bhairon Ghati, Prof Agarwal shifted to New Delhi to demand the suspension of the under construction Lohari Nagpala project being built by the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).

However, Union minister of state for power Jairam Ramesh during his visit to Rishikesh on Saturday categorically stated that there was no question of stopping of NTPC owned 600 MW Lohari Nagpala project.

Interestingly, since the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the BJP leaders demanded perennial flow of Ganga before the commissioning of the Tehri dam, except Maneri Bhali phase-ii project, all the hydro-power projects on the Bhagirathi are ensuring free flow of three cumec of water in the river.

BRIEFLY

Man dies following doctor’s negligence
PUNE: In a tragic incident, a man lost his life after doctors of a private hospital refused to admit him passing off his chest pain as 'nautanki' (untrue). Amol (24), area manager and customer care executive at the ICICI, Lombard,Pune, died at his residence on Sunday after a senior doctor refused to admit him. Employees of the company stormed the Ruby Hall Clinic accusing its doctors of causing the death of Amol. — UNI

Maoists blow up house of informer, kidnap brother
GAYA: Continuing their terror tactic, the underground CPI (Maoist) rebels blew up the house of a suspected police informer and kidnapped his brother in Bihar's Naxalite-hit Gaya district. The police said on Monday nearly 100 guerrillas of the banned organisation blew up the house of Shivbachan Yadav at Pater Mangrama village with dynamites and kidnapped his brother Bindeshwar Yadav on Sunday night. — PTI

Court rejects rape victim’s plea against corporator
THANE: A local court here rejected an application filed by a rape victim, who was allegedly sexually abused by Thane Municipal corporator of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Najeeb Mulla for more than two years after being promised marriage. The victim in her application to district magistrate prayed for the continuity of the court proceedings based on her complaint against Mulla lodged on January 18. — UNI

Cong worker killed by TDP workers
HYDERABAD: A Congress worker was killed and two others seriously injured in an attack by suspected Telugu Desam Party (TDP) workers near Chakali Rajavemula village in Kurnool district of Andhra Pradesh, about 200 km from the city. The police said the three Congress workers, close aides of Allagadda Congress MLA G Praptap Reddy, were proceeding from Dornipadu to Kottapalli when the suspected TDP cadres attacked them with sickles after dashing their two-wheeler with a car. — UNI

Buddha idol missing in TN
PUDUKKOTTAI: A 10th-century stone idol of Lord Buddha is reportedly missing from Vannichipattinam, a coastal village in this district of Tamil Nadu. In his complaint to the district administration and the police, former curator of the Government Museum, Pudukkottai, R Raja Mohamad, who unearthed the idol in 2002, said it weighed a few hundred tonnes. — UNI