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Attacks on Christians
Orissa leadership was not proactive: NCM report
K’taka should report to
Centre: MHA |
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CM: No more concessions on Singur
Tatas keen on education ventures in Assam
BJP seeks anti-terror laws for Uttarakhand
Flood situation in Orissa grim
Better deal for disabled servicemen
Mother’s signature should do: Renuka
MLA’s Murder SC notice to IA on overweight air hostesses
K’taka govt conniving with Bajrang Dal: CPM
‘Sonia’ to see light of day this year
Killed terrorists had no criminal record: UP police
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Attacks on Christians
New Delhi, September 19 BJP spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad reacted strongly here today to reports that the Centre has demanded an explanation from the BJP-ruled governments of Karnataka and Orissa, where the BJP is a coalition partner under Article 355 of the Constitution. The Centre is concerned over the recurring incidence of the Bajrang Dal and VHP-led violence against Christian minorities in these BJP-led states. Prasad said, “We are not scared of threats from the UPA government to impose Article 356. If they have the guts let them impose 356.The entire action is politically motivated, highly prejudicial and patently discriminatory,” he said. The BJP leader described it as “a belated attempt by the UPA government to divert the popular attention over its abject failure to take strong and effective measures to contain terrorism in the country that has left a painful legacy of insecure India where terrorists are killing the innocent people with impunity.” He said, “It shows rank double standards,” citing the example of Nandigram, where he said, “The Left government in West Bengal unleashed a reign of terror on innocent protesters. Many people were killed in police firing, forcibly driven out of their home by the CPM cadres. The nation saw all these repeated excesses on television. Yet, the UPA government never thought of taking any action, much less issuing any directive under Article 355.” Prasad said, “This is political hypocrisy and vendetta politics
at its worst.” The BJP spokesman maintained that, “The state governments of Orissa and Karnataka have taken all requisite steps to contain the situation,” and maintained that “in Orissa the situation is fast becoming normal. The government is doing its best to arrest the killers of Swamy Laxmananand Saraswati, a highly respected saint.” In the case of Karnataka, the BJP leader claimed that “the pamphlets brought out by elements close to Neo-Christian movements like “New Life” and “Penta-costal” abusing Hindu Gods in derogatory language has only complicated matters.” He reminded that “both the governments of Karnataka and Orissa are popularly elected governments and are quite capable and in fact are governing their states quite well,” and warned that the people of the country would certainly respond effectively to this patent abuse of constitutional provisions by a vindictive UPA government, which has taken these steps only for vote-bank politics.”
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Christians protest attack on Church Bhopal, September 19 Members of the community mounted a vigorous protest at Jabalpur today, even as the Chief Minister reached the city as a part of his state-wide “Aashriwad yatra”. There were clashes between the police and Christian protesters all through the day. The Jabalpur incident followed the burning down of Churches at Ratlam and Indore. The Ratlam Church, an over a century-old institution, was reduced to ashes. State Archbishop Dr Leo Cornelio has condemned the incident and asked for the arrest of the culprits immediately.
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Orissa leadership was not proactive: NCM report
Ban extremist groups Supporting Centre’s decision to issue notices to Orissa and Karnataka under Section 355
IPC, NCM chairperson Mohd Shafi Qureishi today said he favoured a ban on extremist
organisations. Back from his tour of Karnataka, Qureishi said the commission had evidence to show police involvement in the attacks on minorities. He favoured a ban on all radical groups that propagate hatred. “That’s my personal view. If we have a consensus on this issue within the commission, we will make a recommendation to the government,” he said.
New Delhi, September 19 Vice-chairperson of the commission Michael Pinto, in his scathing report on Kandhamal violence submitted today, said the state government should have been more proactive in containing violence and official inputs should have been forthcoming. He said the decision to take out funeral procession of the slain VHP leader should have been never allowed, and the state should have examined alternatives to maintain peace in the area, which witnessed similar violence against Christians in December last. “The body could have been buried at the Jalaspeta ashram where the Swami was killed or airlifted to prevent the situation from going out of hand,” Pinto today told The Tribune. He said allowing the procession to pass through the area was enough to inflame passions and fuel violence. “At a place called Kuangam, a mob took over the procession and diverted it to Raikia and Udaygiri blocks which have a large Christian population. This caused heavy loss of life and property. The state government should have foreseen the likelihood of complete breakdown of law and order situation in the area and not left everything to local authorities to handle,” Pinto said in his report, which will be submitted to the government shortly. “We expected the Orissa government to step in, send greater inputs which were not forthcoming at all,” Pinto said. In his report to the commission, he has recommended state assistance for reconstruction of places of Christian worship, besides asking Orissa government to pull out investigating officers from all over the state and crack the cases registered in the wake of anti-Christian violence. “There are more than 100 cases which need to be investigated on priority. We have told the government to file challans or close the cases,” he said. The report attaches urgency to tracking down Saraswati’s killers, and reining in Hindu radical
organisations.
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K’taka should report to
Centre: MHA New Delhi, September 19 The MHA warned the BJP-ruled Karnataka to put a stop to attacks on the Christian community or face “the consequences”. A spokesperson of the MHA said “the advisory was not under article 355 of the Constitution”. However, the wording of the advisory, its tone and tenor is very strict. The references have been made about how the violence was a breach of the Constitutional rights of the people and of the minority community. Notably, when the home secretary was asked if Article 355 of the Constitution, a provision rarely used, was invoked, he declined to reply. The Karnataka government has been told to report back to the Centre on the steps to check these attacks and send an action taken report on a regular basis. The Union home secretary had sent the advisory to the Karnataka chief secretary, asking him to take immediate steps to ensure that peace, normalcy and an environment of security was restored in the state immediately. The CS had been asked to specifically inform the state Chief Minister. In a message sent today, the Central government had said the continuing incidents of violence against members of minority community in different parts of the state was a serious matter. It has also generated a perception that adequate measures to bring the situation fully under control and effective action against those responsible for the violence and vandalism are not being taken by the state government. Coming in the wake of similar developments in some other states, this has caused widespread concern and apprehension, besides being in breach of the Constitution and the law of the land. The Centre has stressed that this kind of situation cannot be allowed to continue. Another letter was been sent to Orissa to ensure against recurrence of any further incidents of violence and vandalism and to take effective measures for restoration of peace and normalcy. Separately, a message was also sent to the government of Madhya Pradesh where some incidents of violence and vandalism of religious places have been reported in the last few days.
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CM: No more concessions
on Singur Kolkata, September 19 “The solution to the Singur problem can be found only if the Opposition accepts the package which was publicised on September 14 on the basis of the talks between the government and the Opposition in the presence of the honourable Governor,” Bhattacherjee said in a brief statement here. Earlier, disturbed and distressed at the “boiling Singur crisis”, CPM secretariat today held an urgent meeting at the Alimuddin Street to find out how to overcome the situation. But after over an hour’s deliberations, the leadership failed to finalise any decision. Leaders agreed that there was something wrong in the land acquiring process at Singur, and also afterwards, mishandling in the Singur situation unnecessarily put the party and the government into the crisis. But the leadership felt that both the government and the party should now move jointly and overcome the Singur crisis as early as possible. However, party secretary Biman Bose, after the meeting, left the Singur issue to people asking them to decide if the Nano car project would be implemented or not. He said people in Bengal and also Singur farmers wanted the Tatas to build the car project at Singur. Hence, Mamata Banerjee and others should be standing in the way. After talking to mediapersons, Bose met Jyoti Baus at his residence in Salt Lake and apprised him about the Singur situation. Soon a statement in the name of the party patriarch was issued to media in which the veteran leader made an appeal to the Trinamool Congress and others opposing the Tata Motors’ project to remain above politics and accept the government’s new rehabilitation package so that the works at the Nano plant could be restarted immediately. Meanwhile, Mamata called on Governor Gopal Krishna Gandhi at Raj Bhavan today along with Partha Chatterjee, the leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Dinesh Drivedi, former MP and SUCI leader Manick Mukherjee. Chatterjee, who also met the Governor separately, alleged that the unwilling farmers had been now threatened and tortured by the CPM at Singur for accepting cheques against their lands already acquired for the Singur plant.
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Tatas keen on education ventures in Assam
Guwahati, September 19 Chief minister Tarun Gogoi said here yesterday that “the Tatas are welcome in the state as they will operate on a no-profit-no-loss basis to help hone the skills of our youths. The proposal is also timely given that my government is exploring ways to create as much skilled human resources as possible to enable the unemployed to get jobs not only within the country but also abroad”. He said the state government was seriously considering the request for land of the Tata group which is running a unit of Tata Consultancy Services in the complex of the Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati. Gogoi termed the just concluded fourth “North-East Business Summit” in the city a success given that already 247 expressions of interest for foreign direct investment in the North-East, including 88 proposals for Assam alone, had been received after the conclave that was attended by 1179 participants, including 97 foreign delegates. Meanwhile, the Assam government is looking for land to facilitate industrial units as it has received investment proposals worth Rs 33068 crore during 2006-2008. State minister for industries, commerce and power Pradyut Bardoloi said an “industrial investment secretariat” had been set up to play the role of a facilitator for investors. He said:“The state requires a huge quantity of power to address investment proposals effectively.”
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BJP seeks anti-terror laws for Uttarakhand
Dehra Dun, September 19 “I have met Chief Minister Maj- Gen B.C. Khanduri (retd) and requested him to frame a strict anti-terror law on the lines of Gujarat,” he said. He further said the Chief Minister had assured him of action in the matter. Asked about the logic of such a law in a peaceful state, Bacchi Singh Rawat said there could be a need for it in future. We need laws like MCOCA in Maharashtra and proposed GUJCOC in Gujarat,” he added. The state BJP chief also said he demanded that the modernisation process of the state police should be expedited with financial assistance from the union government. Blaming the union government of being soft on terror, Rawat said repealing of anti-terror law POTA had raised the morale of the terrorists in the country. He also blamed the central government of discriminating with the BJP- ruled states in the matter of allocation of rations and edible oils. Rawat claiming victory in the panchayat polls said the ruling BJP would be able to win the posts of head of zila panchayats in 10 to 11 districts of the state.
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Flood situation in Orissa grim
Five rescued from
Boudh district Five marooned persons were airlifted by an Indian Air Force chopper from Orissa's flood-hit Boudh district today, official sources
said. The five were among the 25 persons who had stayed back at Manikpur, though others had left for safer
places. Efforts were underway to airlift the remaining 20 persons, while the five rescued persons have been admitted to the Capital Hospital here, the sources said.
— PTI
Bhubaneswar, September 19 Sounding a high alert in four coastal districts of
Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara and Puri, the government has launched a massive evacuation operation to shift residents of low-lying areas to safer places. "Over 15 lakh cusec of water is likely to flow through Munduli near Cuttack tomorrow morning while the Mahanadi system is capable of managing up to 12 lakh cusec," said Manmohan
Samal, revenue and disaster management minister, after the situation was reviewed at a meeting. Chief Minister Naveen
Patnaik, who reviewed preparedness to cope with the situation, said all departments had been geared up to face any eventuality. As many as 49 government hospitals located in the coastal districts are likely to be submerged when floodwater hit the deltaic plains. The hospitals would operate from nearby suitable schools. At least 14 locations along Mahanadi system embankments have been identified as highly vulnerable, while 80 places were vulnerable for possible breaches, Samal said. About 2,553 other places were identified as weak points along the embankments, he said, adding nearly 100 engineers and experts have been rushed to these areas.
— PTI
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Better deal for disabled servicemen
Chandigarh, September 19 The wide disparity existing in the rates of disability pension admissible to military and civilian employees is now set to charge with a few formula introduced by the Sixth Pay Commission for grant of disability pension to armed forces personnel. The Sixth Pay Commission has directed that the disability element of the pension for armed forces personnel would be a fixed percentage of the basic pay, similar to the system followed for civilian employees. It would be 30 per cent of basic pay for 100 per cent disability, with a minimum of Rs 3,100 as the disability element for 100 per cent disability. The percentage would be lower for lesser disability and this is still to be worked out. There would be a different percentage system for calculation of disability element in case of operational or war injuries. Prior to the Sixth Pay Commission, if a service chief got disabled, he would have got a maximum of only Rs 2,600 as disability pension, whereas his counterpart, the cabinet secretary, would have got around Rs 10,000. Till now there had been fixed amounts of disability pension for armed forces personnel, with a maximum of Rs 2,600 for officers, Rs 1,900 for JCOs and Rs 1,500 for other ranks. Civilian employees, on the other hand were entitled to 30 per cent of basic pay drawn as 100 per cent disability pension. Ex-servicemen had often argued that the earlier meagre rates of disability pension had made it difficult to sustain the livelihood of the injured serviceman and his family. Moreover, it was unconstitutional to fix different rates for similarly placed persons, thereby putting those at higher risk at a disadvantage," they contended. In fact, Parliament's Standing Committee on Defence had earlier taken serious note of the low disability pension being paid to armed forces personnel who were injured while in service. The committee, while seeking suitable revision in the rate of disability pension, had recommended pension equivalent to the last pay drawn in cases of 100 per cent disability. The committee had recommended a formula in the cases of disability pension be worked out so as to provide pension-cum-disability pension equal to the last pay drawn to 100 per cent disabled service personnel.
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Mother’s signature should do: Renuka
New Delhi, September 19 “A mandatory mention of the mother’s name in all forms is what we will fight for,” she said, adding that the mother’s signature should be considered enough for all purposes. “If there is an option that either of the two parents can sign the form, the adult child should be allowed to take his/her decision,” said Chowdhury, who presided over an assembly of activists eager to push through two Bills that have been lagging for many months now - the bill on acid attacks and another preventing sexual harassment at workplace. The ministry is in the process of finalising the acid attack Bill which will provide monetary compensation to victims of brutal acid attacks. The draft Bill, prepared by the National Commission for Women, has been ready for four months and has been in the process of scrutiny ever since. The minister today said the Bill would soon see light of the day. “It will ensure exemplary punishment to those who indulge in such a heinous crime,” she said, adding that the ministry would also take the Bill on prevention of sexual harassment at workplace to Parliament shortly. Though the ministry reiterated its resolve to bring both Bills to life, certain sections among activists were restive over the inordinate delay in the process of firming up the draft laws. Yesterday, the National Commission for Women organised the second workshop to discuss the nuances of the Bills. Two months ago, a similar workshop was organised in the Indian Habitat Centre and similar promises made. Chowdhury repeated the old resolves, saying: “The Bill on acid attacks will make the accused liable to bear all costs towards treatment and rehabilitation of the victim.” This provision is not new. It is part of the draft Bill the NCW had prepared earlier.
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Papiya Ghosh Murder Case
Patna, September 19 Pronouncing the judgment, fast-track court judge Omprakash handed down the death penalty to Shankar Sao. Three other accused--Manohar Kumar, Aashish Kumar Roy and Anil Uraon--were sentenced to life imprisonment. The judge also slapped a fine of Rs 5,000 against each of the convicts awarded with lifer in the murder case. Besides, the court gave two years’ rigorous imprisonment to a local lawyer after finding him guilty of possessing the articles that were stolen by the criminals from the residence of Papiya Ghosh on the fateful night. While delivering the judgment, the judge said the capital punishment awarded to Shankar Sao would remain suspended till it was confirmed by the high court. Papiya Ghosh, a professor in the history department of Patna University, and her maid Malati Devi were murdered by the culprits during a dacoity at her residence in Patliputra colony in the state capital on the night of December 2, 2006.
— UNI
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MLA’s Murder
Lucknow, September 19 Ghazipur fast-track court Additional District Judge Shailendra Nath Singh has been asked to appear in person in the High Court on September 29 to explain why his termination of services not be recommended to the High Court administrative committee for granting bail to two accused in the Krishnanand Rai murder case. The order was passed by Justice Vinod Prasad on a application moved by the CBI for cancelling the bail granted to two co-accused, Ramu Mallah and Rakesh Pandey, in the Rai murder case. The ADJ granted bail to the two despite the Supreme Court staying it. The apex court had specifically directed the ADJ to consider the bail application of only MP Afzal Ansari. Lodged in Ghazipur jail, Ansari is the brother of Independent MLA from Mau Mukhtar Ansari. The then BJP sitting MLA Krishnanand Rai was murdered in November 2005 near his native village in Ghazipur. Deciding a writ petition filed by the slain MLA's wife, division Bench of the Allahabad High Court presided over by Justice Amitava Lala had ordered the case be handed over to the CBI.
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SC notice to IA on overweight air hostesses New Delhi, September 19 A Bench, comprising Justices Tarun Chatterjee and Aftab Alam, directed the airlines to file its response in four weeks’ time and the petitioners to submit their rejoinder in two weeks thereafter. The court said it would restore their services if there was merit in their plea. The air hostesses contended that the high court dismissed their plea on June 4 without going into the core issue. In its ruling, the high court had said the job of an air hostess, being "strenuous" in nature, required one to be physically fit without being anorexic or overweight. Meanwhile, the Chief Justice's Bench directed the Delhi University vice-chancellor to take a decision on the report of the five-member committee, set up by him, to go into some objectionable contents against Lord Hanuman and goddess Sita in a reference book recommended by the university for the first year students of BA history. The court asked the petitioners, Dina Nath Batra and others who had sought deletion of the contents, to sort out the issue with the vice- chancellor and come back if they were not satisfied with the outcome.
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K’taka govt conniving with Bajrang Dal: CPM
New Delhi, September 19 The party has devoted a full-page editorial in the latest issue of its party organ People’s Democracy (PD) to terrorism and asked for an even-handed treatment of all terrorist outfits. It said: “The systematically planned nature of these attacks (in Karnataka) on a Sunday morning, with each attack within 15 minutes of the preceding one, is clearly intended to strike terror in the Christian minority in the state.” “Following the example of other terrorist outfits, initially the Bajrang Dal even owned the responsibility for such attacks.” The CPM also alleged that “The BJP-dominated administration of Karnataka is actively conniving in this orgy of violence. “One important prerequisite of fighting terrorism is that we defeat the hate politics of the Sangh Parivar,” it adds.
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‘Sonia’ to see light of day this year
Mumbai, September 19
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Killed terrorists had no criminal record: UP police
Azamgarh/Lucknow, September 19 Atif alias Bashir and Sajid were killed, while Mohammad Saif was nabbed by the Delhi police during the encounter. All three were residents of Sanjarpur of Saraimeer in Azamgarh district, the police
said. — UNI
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Mughal period gold coins unearthed HC reserves orders on Nalini’s petition Ex-minister booked Modi flays UPA ‘drama’ 
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