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Kabul blast: PM likely to review security
Immunity cannot be given against fraud: SC
New procedure for defence purchases soon
Ask PM to seek trust vote: Left
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Govt move expected: Left
NDA: Do it within 5-6 days
Ajit refuses to commit support to govt
N-deal not bad option: SAD
Somnath refuses to comment on resignation
Though divided, JD(S) could rally behind Cong
SAD not to vote in favour of UPA
India grew 231 million tonnes of foodgrains last year
Wheat Scam
MPs’ unpaid phone, power
bills
AASU backs pro-talks ULFA faction
Naxalites gun down JD(U) MLA
Sahay is Tripura DGP
Virk Case
Raj Kumar undergoes narco test
Haryana MoU on elephant centre
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Kabul blast: PM likely to review security
New Delhi, July 9 According to official sources, a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) might soon be convened to take stock of the overall law and order situation in the country as well as to consider the steps that could be taken to
beef up security for the vulnerable Indian missions abroad. The sources said the delicate law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir, coupled with the latest political developments in the state, was a matter of concern for the Centre. Manmohan Singh and his senior Cabinet colleagues are expected to get a detailed briefing from top civil and military officials, particularly on the gruesome incident in Kabul. There is apprehension in official circles that the law and order situation in Jammu and Kashmir might also deteriorate further in the run up to the Assembly elections. India has credible evidence to suggest that Pakistan-based ‘jehadi’ groups, aided by the ISI, would leave no stone unturned to escalate violence in the state ahead of the elections. The suicide bombing in Islamabad on Sunday-on the first anniversary of the Lal Masjid military operation - in which some 20 persons were killed, evidently proved that the new government in Pakistan had so far failed to establish its authority. The ISI appears to have gained an upper hand in its running
feud with the political establishment. The sources also drew attention to reports from Kabul, which suggested that the ISI could be behind the Indian Embassy attack in Kabul. Of late, the ISI has been coordinating its activities with the Taliban, which is opposed to the massive reconstruction programme undertaken by India in the war-torn country. Meanwhile, The Indian Foreign Service (IFS) Association is working on a proposal for a compensation package for its personnel, who are killed in tragic circumstances while discharging duty, in the wake of the death of diplomat V.V. Rao in the Kabul car bomb blast. “This is the first time that an IFS officer has been killed under such circumstances and though Rao’s family is being given a compensation of Rs 5 lakh, there is need to have a compensation package in place for service officers,” a senior official said. Elaborating further, the official said it could take sometime for such a proposal to take shape since no such move had ever been even thought of in the past. In defence services, however, all eventualities are considered and, therefore, compensation and other benefits are factored in
the event of the death of a serving officer.
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Immunity cannot be given against fraud: SC
New Delhi, July 9 A Bench comprising Justices S.H. Kapadia and B. Sudershan Reddy refused to interfere with the high court order and entertain the petition filed by Haren Choksey. Sushmita Sen was earlier issued a show cause notice in 2005, when she had bought the car, by the customs authorities for making a misrepresentation to evade customs duty. She later paid Rs 20,32,836, with a penalty of Rs 2 lakh, to the settlement commissioner, who granted her exemption/immunity against any other proceedings in the case. Later, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) also issued a show cause notice to Sushmita Sen, asking for payment of some local taxes. Sushmita challenged the demand notice in the Bombay High Court, contending that local bodies were not entitled to demand taxes on the imported car. The Bombay High Court allowed her petition, but made some observations, based on which an FIR was registered against Haren Choksey, who was arrested in May, 2005. He did not challenge the FIR, but questioned the observations made by the high court in the Supreme Court. The apex court, however, permitted him to withdraw his petition. The value of the car is about Rs 60 lakh. At present, no proceedings are pending against the actress. The car was purchased abroad by Vasu Thamala.
— UNI
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New procedure for defence purchases soon
New Delhi, July 9 The procedure, expected to be operational from August 1, will be called the Defence Procurement Procedure (DPP-2008) and will replace the existing DPP that was formulated for the first time ever in 2006. A formal announcement is expected during the next week, a source in the ministry of defence said. Among the major changes will be a permission that will allow more time to foreign suppliers in finding Indian partners who can accept the transfer of technology from abroad. In the DPP this is referred to as the “banking of offsets”. This was major demand for foreign suppliers who are in joint venture with Indian companies. As per estimates, this will give the foreign company two more years in a finding suitable Indian company after allocation of work. The offset clause means that 30 per cent of a product purchased from a manufacturer will have to be made in India. At present the foreign company and its Indian partner have to match their shares on a yearly basis. The new DPP will have another important clause. All new products will have 70 per cent money from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), 20 per cent from the private industry and 10 per cent by the defence forces. Time frames will be fixed. The DRDO will not seek extensions in time while the Army, the Navy and Air Force will not change the General Staff Qualitative Requirements (GSQR) within the given time frame. The GSQR is crucial, as the product takes time to develop because new technologies emerge. Sources said once the new DPP is enforced the system of accepting the necessity of buying a product will have to be within the framework of the new procedure. In the meeting today, which was chaired by the defence minister A.K. Antony, it was also discussed how the “offset clause” could be waived off in deals between the Indian government and other governments. However, no decision could be taken on this. A few differences of opinion have remained between the MoD and officials of the armed forces and these could not be ironed out.
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Ask PM to seek trust vote: Left
New Delhi, July 9 However, within minutes of Left leaders leaving Rashtrapati Bhawan, Samajwadi Party leaders arrived there and offered a fresh letter of support to the government. Prakash Karat of CPM, A.B. Bardhan of CPI, T.J Chandrachoodan of RSP and Debabrata Biswas of Forward Bloc told newsmen after returning from Rashtrapati Bhawan: “The government has lost its majority in Parliament and legitimacy.” Having withdrawn support, the Left leaders attacked the Prime Minister and the Congress party. “Manmohan Singh government is guilty of gross violation of the Common Minimum Programme, which does not provide for a strategic alliance with the USA,” said CPM general secretary Prakash Karat adding, “The Left parties cannot support such a course that is harmful for the people and the country’s sovereignty. It has become evident to the whole country that we have a Prime Minister whose priority is to fulfil his commitments made to President Bush. The problems faced by the people and the country can wait.” The Left leaders said they supported, “The Congress-led government on the basis of a commitment that it would follow an independent foreign policy in contrast to the pro-American stand of the BJP-led government. That commitment has been violated. Hence, the Left parties will have to disassociate from the government.” They alleged that, “By pursuing a neo-liberal agenda the government is following the same policies as the previous BJP-led government. These policies are squarely responsible for the distressing spectacle of agrarian crisis, farmers’ suicides, mass poverty, price rise and unemployment. This is in stark contrast to the obscene growth of billionaires and the super-rich. The Congress is determined to go ahead with a further rightwing shift in both foreign and domestic policies. This situation is providing fertile ground for communal forces,” they said. Meanwhile, minutes after the Left leaders left the Rashtrapati Bhawan, Samajwadi Party leaders Ram Gopal Yadav and Amar Singh drove up to the President’s House and submitted a fresh letter backing the Manmohan Singh government. “There was some confusion in the public mind because of certain political differences between the UPA and the Samajwadi Party during the last Assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh. To clear those doubts, we have met the President to reiterate the support of Samajwadi Party to the UPA government,” Amar Singh told newsmen outside Rashtrapati Bhawan. He said he gave a list of all the 39 Samajwadi MPs, “Names of parliamentarians who fought under the SP symbol are there in the letter and they are bound by the party whip,” said Singh. The SP general secretary made a special mention of Beni Prasad Verma and Atiq Ahmed in this context and added, “I just spoke to Beni Prasad and he has expressed his support as well as that of Atiq Ahmed.”
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New Delhi, July 9 On the other hand, the BJP expressed ‘surprise’ as to how the draft was circulated when external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee had said that the government will approach the IAEA, in the next step to operationalise the deal, only after winning a trust vote. However, Congress spokesperson Manish Tiwary said there was no contradiction between what the external affairs minister had said and the circulation of the draft. “All what the IAEA has done is circulate the draft to the Board so that it could be ready in case India has to move formally to the nuclear watchdog,” he said. Apparently reconciled that the government will push ahead with the deal, CPI leader D. Raja said the government could be more transparent and truthful to the country. “There was no transparency at all with what the government was doing,” he said. Both Raja and BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy saw a contradiction in today’s development and Mukherjee’s statement. Rudy went ballistic saying the turn of events was a “midnight shock” and a fraud on the nation. “The act at the IAEA was most uncalled for and is unacceptable to the BJP,” he said. — PTI
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NDA: Do it within 5-6 days
New Delhi, July 9 She said the NDA leaders resolved that in the event of the government seeking a confidence vote, “The entire NDA will vote against the motion.” Apart from
Advani, BJP president Rajnath Singh and its other leaders, including Jaswant Singh, Sushma
Swaraj, M Venkaiah Naidu, Ananth Kumar and S.S. Ahluwalia were present during the meeting. Besides, NDA convenor George
Fernandes, Janata Dal-United (JD-U) president Sharad Yadav and party leader Digvijay Singh were also there. So were Manohar Joshi and Anant Geete from Shiv
Sena. Biju Janata Dal was represented by Braj Kishore Tripathy and B.J. Panda, and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) by S.S. Dhindsa and Rattan Singh
Ajnala. Notwithstanding the NDA assertion, there were still doubts about the BJP readiness to pull down the Manmohan Singh government. BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy evaded a direct reply when asked if the BJP being the main opposition and was ready to move a no-confidence motion in the event of the government dithering on this issue. “We have to see who bells the cat, whether the government seeks a confidence vote or the Left moves a no-confidence motion,” he said. “As far as we are concerned, if we had the requisite numbers we would not have allowed this government for even a second. But we have been assigned the role of opposition. The people have not given us the mandate to pull down the government,” Rudy added.
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Ajit refuses to commit support to govt
New Delhi, July 9 “I am in no hurry to take a stand on the support to the Congress, and for me, and also other parties the nuclear deal is not an important issue now as the polls are approaching,” Singh said. “I will first discuss the issue with my party people before taking any decision,” added Singh, who heads a party with strong base in farmers of western Uttar Pradesh. Moreover, he claimed, there were serious differences among the Congress over the deal, and added that the possibility of the UPA government being ousted could not be ruled out. He said though he was not opposed to the pact with the US, he was not in favour of nuclear power and wanted renewable sources of energy to be exploited. When asked whether his MPs would vote for the Congress if a confidence motion was brought in Parliament, Singh said, “First let the Congress decide what its next step would be, and as I have said I will have to take my party into confidence before deciding the issue.”
— UNI
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N-deal not bad option: SAD
New Delhi, July 9 The SAD leadership has also conveyed the dilemma it faces as the no-confidence move against the UPA government is around the corner. The SAD said it supported moving of such a motion against the UPA. Sources in the SAD said, it was conveyed at the NDA-meeting about the “Sikh sentiments” prevailing in Punjab and among the Sikhs settled across the world in casting a vote that could effectively remove Manmohan Singh, the first-ever Sikh Prime Minister of the country. However, SAD said there was no chance of its MPs voting in favour of the Congress-led UPA alliance. The Congress had committed grave atrocities on the people of Punjab, a senior SAD leader told the Tribune. The decision of SAD to cast a vote or abstain from it is yet to be formalised. A meeting of the core group of SAD is scheduled in Chandigarh on July 15 and a decision is expected then. In such a no-confidence vote, when each number counts, SAD with eight MPs, is the most unlikely party that can save the government. With a bitter past between SAD and the Congress, it could be the iconic status that the Prime Minister enjoys in Punjab and among the Sikhs that could add to the twist. With the Sikhs being just about 2 crore in number in the country, Manmohan Singh’s accent to the top post in May 2004 was a sense of pride for the community. It was lauded by the Sikhs from across the world as the Prime Minister was a “practicing Sikh”.
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Somnath refuses to comment on resignation
New Delhi, July 9 Asked about his next course of action in the wake of fresh political developments, the 79-year-old Speaker told reporters, “I know it. You do not have to tell me that. You are not doing justice to the institution (of Speaker).” Chatterjee’s comments came as CPM general secretary Prakash Karat remarked that the Speaker would take his own decision on whether to quit the post. A veteran Parliamentarian, Chatterjee was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bolpur constituency in West Bengal on the CPM ticket. He also declined to make any comment on the recent political developments. Asked to react on the political developments as he was the Lok Sabha Speaker, an apparently fuming Chatterjee said, “you are not treating me that way.” — PTI
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Though divided, JD(S) could rally behind Cong
Bangalore, July 9 The JD(S) has three members in the Lok Sabha, including Gowda himself. However, Veerendra Kumar, JD(S) MP from Kerala, has distanced himself from Gowda and it is unsure whether he will fall in line with the party supremo. While support of even two of the three JD(S) MPs will come handy for the Congress-led government at the Centre, the arrangement is likely to ruffle some feathers in the Congress unit of Karnataka. Siddaramaia, Congress leader and former Deputy Chief Minister, had earlier objected when the JD(S) and the Congress reached an understanding during the recently concluded Rajya Sabha and Legislative Council elections. The Backward Caste heavyweight, who has been sulking ever since the post of CLP leader was denied to him, has not taken kindly to the continuance of bonhomie between the Congress and the JD(S) following withdrawal of support by the Left parties to the Centre. The JD(S), which was a part of the UNPA, is yet to categorically state what it will do in case of a trust vote in the Lok Sabha. However, with the ruling BJP in Karnataka successfully poaching two JD(S) legislators recently and threatening to poach more, there seems to be little choice before the JD(S) but to shake hands with the Congress. The Congress, which too lost two of its MLAs to the BJP recently, had to send union minister of state for coal Santosh Bagrodia to Karnataka recently to mollify Siddaramaiah, who, it was felt, could also walk over to the BJP. Bargodia, it is believed, also told Siddaramaiah that he should not get perturbed if the JD(S) voted for the government at the centre in the event of withdrawal of support to the government by the
Left.
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SAD not to vote in favour of UPA
New Delhi, July 9 However, the party with eight MPs in the Lok Sabha also conveyed that under no circumstances would it vote in favour of the Congress-led UPA alliance during the no-confidence motion. The SAD leadership has also conveyed the dilemma it faces as the no-confidence move against the UPA government is around the corner. The SAD said it supported moving of such a motion against the UPA. Sources in the SAD said, it was conveyed at the NDA-meeting about the “Sikh sentiments” prevailing in Punjab and among the Sikhs settled across the world in casting a vote that could effectively remove Manmohan Singh, the first-ever Sikh Prime Minister of the country. However, SAD said there was no chance of its MPs voting in favour of the Congress-led UPA alliance. The Congress had committed grave atrocities on the people of Punjab, a senior SAD leader told the Tribune. The decision of SAD to cast a vote or abstain from it is yet to be formalised. A meeting of the core group of SAD is scheduled in Chandigarh on July 15 and a decision is expected then. In such a no-confidence vote, when each number counts, SAD with eight MPs, is the most unlikely party that can save the government. With a bitter past between SAD and the Congress, it could be the iconic status that the Prime Minister enjoys in Punjab and among the Sikhs that could add to the twist. When SAD discusses the matter at its meeting, the factor other than Manmohan Singh would be that the state was one of the highest per-capita consumers of power. The nuclear deal promises to bring in more power and SAD sees this as a major plus point.
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India grew 231 million tonnes of foodgrains last year
New Delhi, July 9 While the third advance estimates of production of major crops suggested that foodgrain production in the current fiscal had touched a record 227.32 million tonnes(MT), the fourth advance estimate goes a step forward, suggesting that total foodgrain production for 2007-08 has now reached the 230.67-MT mark. In fact, wheat production in the just concluded rabi season has crossed 78 MT. Favourable weather conditions, good and well distributed rainfall, additional steps like quality seed and micronutrients for crops and higher MSP have ensured this, agriculture ministry officials say, adding that many estimates of the third estimate have been revised upwards based on feedback received from states and validated with information available from other sources. The fourth advance estimates shows that majority of crops, including wheat, rice, oilseeds, pulses, cotton, soyabean and even coarse cereals have seen record production. As compared to 2006-07, rice production is estimated to increase by about three MT, wheat by 2.6 MT, coarse cereals by 6.8 MT (mainly contributed by maize and bajra) and pulses by about one MT during 2007-08. Wednesday's figures show that crops that have registered a record production during 2007-08 include rice (96.43 MT), wheat (78.40 MT), coarse cereals (40.73 MT), maize (19.31 MT), pulses (15.11 MT), tur (3.09 MT), urad (1.52 MT) and moong (1.56 MT). Oilseeds production is 28.82 MT, including soyabean (9.99 MT) and groundnut ( 9.36 MT). It is estimated to increase by 4.5 MT, mainly contributed by groundnut and soyabean. Cotton with 25.81 million bales of 170 kg each is up by about three million bales during 2007-08 over 2006-07.
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Wheat Scam
New Delhi, July 9 Deewan, who retired from the public sector undertaking in 2002, was arrested along with Hari S Sardana, the alleged middle man and produced before the designated court which remanded them to eight days CBI custody. Skeletons in this case, which was reopened by the agency on July seven this year with competent court’s permission, started tumbling out after receipt of documents from Australia showed its wheat board had paid commission to secure a supply contract from India. The FIR naming three top bureaucrats — the then Cabinet Secretary T S R Subramanian, former Food Secretary B K Taimni and Dewan — was reopened for investigations after the CBI had filed a closure report in 2004. The case had to be closed on the ground that Australian authorities had not responded to the Letters Rogatory issued by India. The CBI carried out searches at residential premises of Sardana, alleged agent involved in the deal, offices of three of his companies - Demos Poly Products, besides office and residential premises of the then CMD of STC S M Deewan, alleged to be involved in awarding the contract to Australian Wheat Board (AWB) and a key player in the deal.
— PTI
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Army to set up bio-resource centre
Dehra Dun, July 9 The setting up of the ABC was announced by Lt- Gen J.P. Singh, Corps Commander, 2nd Corp of the Western Command, here today. The Corps Commander was on a visit to the Himalayan Environmental Studies and Conservation Organisation (HESCO), a voluntary organisation that would provide the technologies for the centre. He said it was important to provide employment to rural youth in their native places in the coming times since a majority of the population resided in the rural areas and was engaged in agricultural- based activities. “We would help set up this centre to train our men, who retire young to help them know their biresources and also to tap them for earning their livelihood,” said General Singh. Dr Anil Joshi of HESCO said the initial funding for the project would be done by the office of the principal scientific adviser to the Prime Minister and the Centre would be run by the Army Wives Welfare Association. He further said post- harvest technologies in cereal, fruits would be given, besides training the participants in making products from biomass available in different areas. Maj-Gen Umang Sethi, GOC, Golden Key Division, Clementown, welcomed the guests and hoped that the new project would not only benefit ex-servicemen but general rural public living in remote areas.
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MPs’ unpaid phone, power
bills
New Delhi, July 9 A Bench headed by Chief Justice A.P. Shah directed the NDMC, MTNL and ITDC, among other agencies, to file their response on what action they had taken against MPs and former law makers who had allegedly not paid for the services availed by them. “Give us the details of the amount and tell us the mode of recovery applied by each agency. If there is something lacking then we would take proper action,” the bench said while granting two weeks’ time to them to file the details. The court was hearing a PIL seeking direction to the government agencies to take action against MPs and other politicians who had not paid house rent, telephone bills, electricity bills or charges for hospitality and other services enjoyed by them at the government-owned hotels. The counsel appearing for the Lok Sabha secretariat informed the court that with the aim of recovering dues from an MP an amount from their salary is deducted. However, he added, in several cases the dues are huge and it would take long time to recover the entire amount. State-run telecom company MTNL also pointed out that it was facing difficulty in recovering dues from MPs and former law makers as they tend to file petitions in different parts of the country against the recovery process. “Some MPs are filing petitions all over the country and for us it is costlier to handle the court cases than the total amount of the dues,” counsel appearing for the company said. He added that the MPs usually pay their dues before elections as they need to get no-dues clearance from all agencies before filing nomination papers. The Bench after hearing the contentions asked the government agencies to suggest measures that could be adopted to recover the dues from the defaulters.
— PTI |
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AASU backs pro-talks ULFA faction
Guwahati, July 9 AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharrya today said the central executive body of the students union resolved that the peace efforts initiated by leaders of ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies of the crack 28th battalion of the ULFA had definitely raised hopes for a solution to the conflict. “The AASU while appreciating the efforts of the faction of the pro-talks ULFA leaders, will like to make it clear that a permanent solution to the ULFA problem will be possible only when the top leaders of the outfit and the government of India hold unconditional talks. The ULFA leadership and the Government of India should respond to the initiative of the ULFA faction,” the AASU leader said. Referring to pre-conditions set by the ULFA and Government of India for talks, the AASU leader said, “Any issue or demand shouldn’t be allowed to remain the hurdle in the path of holding talks. The Government of India should show its sincerity by releasing jailed ULFA central committee leaders to raise hopes for talks.” The AASU also hailed the stand taken by the pro-talks ULFA leaders on the burning issue of unabated infiltration from Bangladesh. In this regard, the AASU launched a scathing attack on the Congress governments at the Centre and in the state for being “soft” and “indifferent” towards the increasing threat from Bangladeshi infiltrators, the ISI and various fundamental forces, and said the fundamental forces were thriving in Assam and the country at the “blessings” of the Congress . “The Bangladeshi infiltrators, ISI agents and operatives, and fundamental forces want the Congress to remain in power in Assam so that their dreams of merger of Assam and the Northeast in a Greater Bangladesh is realised,” AASU advise Bhattacharyya
said. |
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Naxalites gun down JD(U) MLA
Ranchi, July 9 The bodyguards were killed on the spot while Munda, an MLA from the Tamar constituency, succumbed to his injuries on way to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in the state capital. The police said the sudden Maoist attack created panic among the schoolchildren.At least, six of them sustained injuries and two of them
died later. The JD(U) legislator was on the hit list of the Maoists and the place where the incident occurred was considered a stronghold of the ultras. Police spokesperson R. K. Mullick confirmed
the incident and said security was stepped up in the area. The police said Munda was attending a school function when the Naxalites launched an attack killing two of his bodyguards on the spot.
— UNI
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Sahay is Tripura DGP
Chandigarh, July 9 He had a seven month tenure here with the CRPF and was responsible for overseeing CRPF operations in this region, including counter insurgency operations in Jammu and Kashmir. Sahay was given a warm send-off by the CRPF officers here today. Addressing officers and men, he exhorted them to keep up the traditions of the CRPF and strive for professional excellence.
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Virk Case
New Delhi, July 9 The judge at the Mumbai Bench had stayed the suspension order and given the State of Maharashtra the liberty to post the applicant to an appropriate post. Virk was subsequently posted as DGP in Maharashtra.
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Raj Kumar undergoes narco test
New Delhi, July 9 “Raj Kumar was subjected to a narco analysis test at FSL, Bangalore, today,” the CBI said. The accused is presently in police custody, it added. Duranis are professional friends of Talwars’ whose daughter Arushi Talwar, a Delhi Public School student, was found murdered, along with her servant, Hemraaj, on the night of May 15-16 at her Jalvayu Vihar residence in Noida’s Sector 25.
— UNI
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Haryana MoU on elephant centre
New Delhi, July 9 Minister for forests and wildlife Kiran Choudhry said this was the first-of-its-kind centre in the country. It will help in generating awareness among people about the threat to wildlife and also rehabilitation of illegally kept domestic elephants, Choudhry said while adding that the Centre would fund the entire project and also its re-curring expense.
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Now, GJM prays for Gorkhaland Residential schools for Manipur Seven ultras nabbed 
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