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CPM: India has committed to buying US reactors
Singur Issue
Maya justifies ‘large-scale’ transfers
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Attacks on Christians
Cong warns K’taka, Orissa of action
VHP, Bajrang Dal not involved: BJP
Assembly Poll
AGP keen to align with BJP in Assam
M’rashtra parties woo Marathas with quotas
India’s first global sperm bank set up in Mumbai
SC stays Madras HC ban on condom ads
Punjab agri bank officials public servants: SC
No stay on HC ban on Anand, Khan
Muslims being ‘targeted’ in fight against terror
UP committed to wiping out terror: Maya
Cong launches counter-attack on Modi
Terror attacks: Modi, Patil in war of words
Red alert in Goa
Suspected IM activist taken to Manipal
We’re keen on N-trade with France, Russia: Pranab
CBI files chargesheet in Rizwanur case
Uranium mining in Meghalaya
Cupid strikes at relief camp
Graffiti on temple wall sparks violence
‘Hari Puttar not copyright violation of Harry Potter’
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CPM: India has committed to buying US reactors
New Delhi, September 22 In a strongly worded statement CPM Politburo charged today that, “The UPA government seems to have already decided to place orders with the American nuclear power companies for supplying a large number of nuclear reactors without any debate in the country regarding the cost of such imported reactors, or the safety of their designs.” Relying on the testimony of US under secretary of state William Burns before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee on September 18, the CPM statement quoted him saying, “The Indian government has provided the United States with a strong Letter of Intent, stating its intention to purchase reactors with at least 10,000 MW worth of new power generation capacity from the US firms.” The Politburo further quoted Burns that “India has committed to devote at least two sites to the US firms. India also has committed to adhere to the convention on supplementary compensation for nuclear damage.” The CPM, which along with the other three Left Front partners withdrew support to the UPA government on this issue charged that, “Each 1000/1,100 MW reactor from the US companies like Westinghouse or GE, by latest estimates, will cost at least $7 billion each. This translates to approximately Rs 28 crore per MW, which is 7 to 8 times the capital cost of coal fired thermal power plants of equivalent capacity. The 10,000 -MW figure stated by Burns implies India putting in around Rs. 280,000 crore of the Indian money to bail out the US nuclear industry that has failed to secure any domestic order for the past 30 years.” The Politburo statement expressed concern that “such expensive imports of nuclear reactors can sink the entire power sector of the country.” It also referred to the mention by Burns of India’s commitment to adhere to the convention on supplementary compensation for nuclear damage. The statement explained that this implied that “In case of any Bhopal type disaster, the Indian government will take over all liabilities from the suppliers and the operators.” It alleged that “The suppliers of nuclear reactors have demanded a no-liability regime for supplying equipment, which the UPA government seems to have accepted without any public debate.”
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Singur Issue
Kolkata, September 22 On the other hand, the Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today made a fresh appeal to Mamata to accept the new Singur ‘package’ and end the agitation. Otherwise, the Tatas would shelve the Singur project and shift it to Karnataka or elsewhere, he warned. The external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee and union information and broadcasting minister Priyaranjan Das Munshi, who were in the city, said they did not approve of the government’s handling of the Singur problem. Das Munshi suggested that the Governor should once again initiate talks with the state government and the political parties and the Tatas should take part in the proceedings. He said on September 29 the Congress would organise a meeting at Singur in support of the affected farmers, adding that he was not against the project but not at the farmers’ cost. Meanwhile, Mamata alleged that the state government had only insulted the Governor and the opposition parties by violating the agreement reached at Raj Bhavan on September 7, but the action also had deepened the Singur crisis for which she squarely blamed the CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. She said the party leaders would meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh some time next week, after his return from the US trip, and demand the imposition of the article 355 in Bengal. They will also meet the president Pratibha Patil and home minister Shivraj Patil. The Trinamool supremo was talking to media persons in the evening today after holding a meeting with representatives of Krishi Bachaoo and Krishi Jivan Committee and 20 other organisations fighting for the farmers’ cause, at the Mavlankar Bhavan in south Kolkata. She said at the meeting it was unanimously decided to re-launch the agitations at Singur, which were suspended on September 7 at the Governor’s request following an agreement at the Raj
Bhavan.
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Maya justifies ‘large-scale’ transfers
Lucknow, September 22 During Governors’ Conference presided over by President Pratibha Patil last week, Governor T.V. Rajeswar had raised the issue of large-scale transfers and suspensions being carried out under the present BSP regime. Taking a serious note of the Governor’s remarks, Mayawati sent a three-page letter to the Raj Bhawan, a copy of which had also been dispatched to President Patil, who is expected in Lucknow on Tuesday. In her letter, the Chief Minister says, “I am surprised over your comments. You never made such comments during the previous regime. I am unable to understand your comments in the presence of the President. You should have asked about the actual situation”. Expressing her eagerness to remove any suspicion that the Governor may be having regarding her government’s transfer policy, Mayawati has sought his cooperation in the discharge of her constitutional obligations and the establishment of a “fear free, crime free, corruption free and developed society in Uttar Pradesh”. She points out in her letter that even in the past transfers were done during mid-session, therefore, “your comment that transfers were unnecessary doesn’t seem to be proper”. Clarifying that her government had a transparent transfer policy, Mayawati claimed that she was making efforts to improve the law and order and economic situation. For this she often had to transfer easygoing officers or even take action against some of them for slackness in performance. Sharing her government’s transfer policy with the Governor, the Chief Minister said immediately after the installation of her government in May 2007 she had introduced a transparent transfer policy encompassing 10 per cent annual transfers that was endorsed this year as well. The transfer date was also not extended beyond 30 June, 2008. A Civil Services Board had also been constituted for the transfer of IAS and IPS
officers.
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Orissa seeks Navy’s help
Bhubaneswar, September 22 The death toll in the floods rose to 27 with six deaths reported today. The deluge caused by 61 breaches in Mahanadi delta region, continued despite subsiding
of water level in major rivers, official sources said. Five days after severe floods hit 18 districts, the government sought the Navy’s help, while the BSF and the CISF were deployed in badly
affected Kendrapara district. Naval personnel as well as boats and other equipment from INS Chilika and Visakhapatanam are likely to reach the flood-affected areas soon to assist in rescue and
relief operation, state revenue and disaster management minister Manmohan Samal told reporters. Air dropping of relief materials was undertaken with the help of four IAF choppers in Kendrapara, Cuttack and Jagatsinghpur districts, he said, adding 400 mt polythene was also distributed while the government decided to provide relief in all flood-hit areas for 15 days. The Centre was requested to provide 10,000 mt kerosene for distribution among the victims as the flood affected over 35 lakh people, he said. Though the government claimed that relief and rescue works are in full swing, people in many areas complained that the operation was moving at a snail’ pace due to inadequate manpower and boats.
— PTI
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Attacks on Christians
New Delhi, September 22 After issuing an advisory to the Karnataka and Orissa government last week asking them to put a stop to the continuing violent attacks against Christians, the home ministry also rushed a high-level official team to Karnataka today to review the situation there. The decision to get tough with the two states, especially Karnataka which was issued a far sterner warning for its failure to nab those responsible for the communal attacks, followed severe criticism from the UPA allies who felt the Centre had been reduced to a helpless spectator to the ongoing violence against Christians. At the special Cabinet meeting called last week to discuss the internal security, LJP leader Ram Vilas Paswan had even sought a ban on the Bajrang Dal for leading these attacks. While stepping up vigil on the states, UPA sources today indicated that the Centre will not resort to the extreme measure of imposing President’s rule in Karnataka. UPA allies like the DMK and the RJD, who have always been opposed to use of Article 356 providing for Central rule, are unlikely to give their consent to such a move. The UPA is wary that any such move could boomerang on the ruling coalition. Not only would it deflect attention from the issue at hand but could even win the BJP unnecessary sympathy. “There is no need to take such a step…we will be accused of destabilising a BJP government,” railway minister Lalu Prasad Yadav told The Tribune today. The Congress is equally chary about the use of Article 356. Although the party has warned the Karnataka government about serious consequences if it fails to curb the violence against Christians, party leaders said imposition of President’s rule is not being contemplated. “Such a move is circumscribed by several judicial verdicts which have laid down the conditions under which Article 356 can be invoked,” explained a Congress leader. The party is well aware that these attacks have been deliberately planned by the BJP’s sister organisations in an attempt at communal polarisation in the run-up to the assembly and Lok Sabha elections. However, the Congress finds its hands tied. It learnt a bitter lesson when it was pulled up by the Supreme Court for imposing President’s rule in Bihar after the last assembly elections.
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Cong warns K’taka, Orissa of action
New Delhi, September 22 “The government is planning to take concrete action, let there be no speculation,” Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari said, warning the state government to “mend their ways or else be prepared to take responsibility for their actions”. The Kerala government also had the same responsibility to ensure that minorities were not persecuted, he said, adding that the real test of democracy was how minorities were treated. “Those who provoke must be prepared to face the consequences...They will be responsible for the consequences if they keep provoking. They (the states) should not think that the Centre is powerless to deal with such rogue activities,” he said. In the wake of attacks on churches in Karnataka and
Orissa, the Congress has been repeatedly warning the Opposition ruled states that they should not commit the “grave mistake” that the Centre is “powerless to deal with such rogue activities”. The Centre has issued “strong” letters to both Karnataka and Orissa in the past few days to take stern action and stop violence against the Christian community and institutions. Asked if the Centre would use Article 355 or 356 to deal with the situation in Karnataka and
Orissa, he said action would be taken under relevant provisions of the Constitution.
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VHP, Bajrang Dal not involved: BJP
New Delhi, September 22 BJP media in- charge Nalin Kohli said the party was certain that no one from the VHP or the Bajrang Dal was involved in the attacks. Three churches were attacked in Bangalore yesterday in the Mariyannapalya, Banasawadi and Rajarajeswara Nagar areas around 4:30 a.m. soon after the arrest of Bajrang Dal state convener Mahendra Kumar on Friday night from Mangalore in connection with the recent communal violence in the state. Defending Karnataka government, Kohli said, “As far as the violence in Shimoga on Saturday was concerned, it turned out to be between the Malayalee and Kannada sections of the Christian community only.” In a third incident, he said a local Congress corporator had been apprehended for his alleged involvement in the attacks. Bajrang Dal sources claimed they had not attacked a single Catholic church and instead singled out only prayer halls belonging to the New Life Sect in southern Karnataka.
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Assembly Poll
Bhopal, September 23 Bharati has declared in so many words that her single-point agenda for the assembly poll is to ensure that the ruling BJP bites the dust. She knows only too well that she cannot form the government in the state but is equally confident of her capacity to upturn the BJP’s apple cart. And the massive turnout at today’s rally must have caused concern in the BJP circles especially since Bharati could manage an impressive show despite lacking in resources and cadres and despite the fact that a number of top-notch leaders of her party have deserted her in the last six months or so, taking her party to be a sinking ship. Among them was the state unit president of her party. In keeping with her agenda, Bharati mounted a scathing attack on the BJP and the Congress-in that order. Most of her acerbic comments were reserved for her former party.
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AGP keen to align with BJP in Assam
Guwahati, September 22 The newly-elected AGP president Chandra Mohan Patowary, who replaced Brindabon Goswami, thanks to a swift resolution endorsed by the party’s general council, today said, “Our aim has been to first strengthen the regional forces through unification. On having achieved it, we will now give renewed thrust to have an alliance with the BJP, the Asom United Democratic Front (AUDF) and if possible with the Left parties. The goal is to usurp power from the Congress in the state.” An optimistic Patowary said all these parties had been coordinating well against the Congress during the flood in Assam Assembly and there shouldn’t be much difficulty in forging an alliance with them before the next general election and subsequent assembly election in the state as all of these parties wanted to see the Congress out of power. He, however, declined to make any comment when asked whether former Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta who now heads AGP (progressive) as its president would be provided a key post in the united AGP after the reunification is formalised on a later date. Launching an attack on the ruling Congress, Patowary said, “The Congress was keen to keep alive the insurgency problem related to the ULFA and Bodo militants group, the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) for political reasons.” He said the economic policy that was being pursued by the Congress government in the state would spell doom for the people of Assam given that the per capita debt burden had risen to Rs 8,500. On the issue of illegal migration from Bangladesh, the AGP president said the Congress did not want a solution to it for the simple reason that it did not want to disturb its ‘vote bank’ among illegal Bangladeshi migrants.
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M’rashtra parties woo Marathas with quotas
Mumbai, September 22 None other than Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, himself a Maratha, kicked off plans to include the community in the list of Other Backward Classes, which would enable members to benefit from reservations in government and public sector jobs. After meeting with community leaders, Deshmukh told reporters that the demand would be considered sympathetically. "We are sympathetic to their demands and would like to give justice to members of the community," Deshmukh said. Not to be left behind, the Shiv Sena joined the chorus demanding that job reservations and other benefits, including quotas in government housing, be reserved for the economically weaker sections of the community. "Even poor Maratha farmers are committing suicide in Maharashtra, so they should also get the benefit of reservations," Shiv Sena mouthpiece “Saamna” wrote a day after Deshmukh's assurance. Observers say the party is trying to drive a wedge among the rich and poor Marathas with its demand for a quota within a quota. Meanwhile, Sharad Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party, seen as the natural torch-bearer of the community, has been forced to sound shriller to prevent its vote bank from splitting. Controversial NCP leader Vinayak Mete who heads the Shiv Sangram organisation, ostensibly to foster Maratha pride, said he would be organising a huge rally of the Maratha community at Parbhani in Marathwada. "This will be the first of many rallies to create awareness among Marathas who have so far not benefited from economic development," Mete said, ahead of the rally. The controversial Mete was thrown out of the NCP after he organised an attack on the residence of Loksatta editor Kumar Ketkar earlier this year. However NCP sources say Mete is still very much associated with the party and enjoys the confidence of senior leaders. Traditionally, the Maratha community was led by strong leaders because of which most of the Chief Ministers in the state belonged to it. Members of the community control the sugar co-operatives and co-operative banks in Maharashtra because of which their clout extends to local self-government bodies at the rural level. However, severe infighting over the years has split the Maratha vote bank with the Congress and the Shiv Sena working the hardest to woo members of the community from Pawar and the NCP.
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India’s first global sperm bank set up in Mumbai
New Delhi, September 22 The bank has been set up in Mumbai and dedicated to the country by Dr P.M. Bhargava, former vice-chairman of the Knowledge Commission and member of the ICMR Committee, formed to formulate guidelines for assisted reproduction clinics. Speaking to The Tribune, Dr Bhargava said quality sperm banks, like the one set up in Mumbai, would immensely help in providing safe and viable alternative for the suffering couples who want to start a family, infertility issues apart. “Quality sperm banking also offers a safe alternative for those requiring medical treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy and for those undergoing surgeries which may impair their ability to produce sperm”, Dr Bhargava said. The Indian Council for Medical Research has recognised the growing need for assisted reproduction clinics and has recently issued guidelines for such clinics that include sperm banking facilities. Dr Bhargava has been a core member of the draft and the Implementation Committee of ICMR Guidelines for assisted reproduction clinics, which specify that sperm banks need to be managed as separate and independent entities from hospitals and IVF clinics. Ole Schou, founder and managing director of Cryos International, Denmark, which is behind thee sperm banking initiative in Mumbai, said, “Globally, sperm banking is no longer a solution only for the infertile couples. Couples or individual men choose to freeze their sperms for various reasons that could be related to their lifestyle, medical conditions or simply a matter of choice.” Dilip Patil, managing director of Cryos International, India, for his part said with the growing awareness and acceptability of Assisted Reproduction Technique (ART), there was growing demand for independent, quality sperm and egg banks in India. “Cryos, Denmark, is recognised across the world as the leading sperm bank, and is renowned for its technology, high standards and practices. We are delighted to offer the same international quality services in India,” he said. The Denmark giant proposes to offer its expertise in donor semen, patient deposits and other semen related clinical products at its state-of-the-art facility in Mulund West. The facility is the first in India to adhere to the European, USFDA and ICMR guidelines. As part of the agreement, Cryos International has transferred the technology, protocols and will impart continual and extensive training to the entire staff of Cryos International India on a periodic basis in India and Denmark. “Another critically important factor is the privacy and confidentiality of information. As recommended by the ICMR, the donor and recipient information will be completely protected,” Patil said.
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SC stays Madras HC ban on condom ads
New Delhi, September 22 The Bench of Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan also issued a notice on a petition filed by Hindustan Latex Ltd, manufacturers of condoms, challenging the ban. The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court had ruled that condoms could not be marketed with obscene visuals either printed on the wrappers or in advertisements issued in visual and print media. The high court had passed the order on a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by C. Ravikumar, a businessman from Tamil Nadu, seeking to ban obscene pictures on packages and advertisements for condoms. The petitioner had claimed the obscene pictures created wrong impression about condoms, which were primarily a medical product and not inducers of sexual desire. The high court had ordered that all marketing activities should be certified by the Advertising Standards Council of India (ASCI), a self-regulatory voluntary organisation of the advertising industry. The certification should be issued in accordance with Article 51 A (f) of the Constitution, which stipulates that it is the fundamental duty of every citizen to value and preserve the rich heritage and composite culture. The judges further said the right to carry on business, protected under Article 19 (1) (g) of the Constitution, also stipulates that such right is subject to reasonable restrictions that could be imposed in the interest of decency and morality.
Ban on SEZ refused
The Chief Justice’s Bench, meanwhile, dismissed a PIL seeking a blanket ban on the allotment of agriculture land for setting up special economic zones (SEZs) or for other commercial projects. The Bench said it was not feasible to place such restrictions as land was required for several useful services like post offices.
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Punjab agri bank officials public servants: SC
New Delhi, September 22 Setting aside a Punjab and Haryana High Court order, which had ruled otherwise, a Supreme Court Bench, comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and J. M. Panchal, asked the high court to consider afresh a corruption case against Karnail Singh, manager of the PADB, Budladha. Challenging the high court order, the Punjab government had cited the provisions of the Punjab Cooperative Agricultural Development Banks Act, 1957, and various provisions such as Section 2(d), 2(f), 2 (g) and Section 10 to contend that Karnail Singh was a public servant. The apex court said the high court had also not considered the affidavit filed by the managing director of the PADB that the state government had invested Rs 50 lakh as share capital in the bank and as such the bank was controlled by the state government. It had also been argued before the high court that the MD was an official of the state government of the designation of additional registrar, Cooperative Societies, and therefore, the writ petitioner was a “public servant”. The high court had passed the order on an appeal against the Special Judge, Mansa, framing charges against Karnail for offence punishable under Sections 7 and 13(2)of the PCA, 1988. “Needless to say the high court was required to consider the relevance of the aforesaid provisions and other provisions of the Punjab Act. Therefore, we set aside the impugned order of the high court and remit the matter to it for fresh consideration,” the judgement written by Justice Dr Pasayat said. After referring to sub-clause (ix) of clause C of Section 2 of the Companies Act, 1956, the high court had arrived at an “abrupt conclusion”' that the charges had been framed relying on the clause, but on the facts it could not be said the “revision petitioner falls within the definition of public servant” and set aside the order of the Special Judge, Mansa, the apex court observed.
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No stay on HC ban on Anand, Khan
New Delhi, September 22 A Bench comprising Justices B.N. Agrawal and G.S. Singhvi, however, issued a notice to NDTV, which conducted a sting operation to expose the covert attempts of the two advocates, and the Delhi High Court Registrar. Dr Rajiv Dhawan, appearing for Anand, argued that the high court had overstepped its jurisdiction as a Constitutional Bench of the apex court had stipulated the punishments for the contempt of court by lawyers which did not cover debarring them from practice. Further, the chips containing the sting operation were not allowed to be examined by forensic experts to ascertain whether they had been tampered with. Also, the channel employee, who had recorded the alleged conversations between the lawyers and the witness, was not cross-examined. This was despite the fact that the advocates had denied that the audio content was their voice.
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Muslims being ‘targeted’ in fight against terror
New Delhi, September 22 The committee held a press conference here today in the background of the recent police raids in Batla House in the Capital where two suspected terrorists and a police officer were killed in an encounter on September 19. The committee members also alleged that “The style of provocative searches and encounters is unacceptable in a democratic society. It always smacks of a preplanned conspiracy and betrays the police’s inability or unwillingness to face the courts of law.” The members said, “More specifically, we reject the Batla House style of encounter killings. We fail to understand why the alleged terrorists were not caught alive. People in the area believe that it was a fake encounter, that it was one-sided and pre-planned affair.” Asking for a high-level judicial enquiry into the Batla House encounter, the committee members also demanded the presence of Muslim officers in good numbers whenever searches or combing operations in Muslim areas are conducted. The committee members also expressed their grief and sorrow over the untimely death of Inspector Mohan Chand Sharma who died in the encounter.
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UP committed to wiping out terror: Maya
Lucknow, September 22 Addressing a high-level meeting convened to share her government’s conviction to combat terrorism, Mayawati spoke for almost three hours clearly spelling out her government’s commitment to wipe out terror. She also instructed her officers to proceed strictly on the basis of concrete evidence so that no innocent person is harassed. Expressing concern over the recent terrorist activities in the country having links with Uttar Pradesh, Mayawati admitted that the administration has failed in combating terrorism. The Chief Minister said, "If any officer feels any undue pressure from the government in taking appropriate action they should immediately call me to apprise me of their predicament”. At the same time she also warned her officers against communal forces creating mischief in the run up to the Lok Sabha elections and coming festival season. She asked her officers to keep a strict vigil on the posters, handbills and language being used by these elements so that they do not succeed to spread communal hatred. She said: “Please get hold only of the guilty and be fair and impartial without making any attempt to balance”. “Do not allow communal tension to accelerate just nip any minor incident in the bud”, she told her officers.
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Cong launches counter-attack on Modi
New Delhi, September 22 Backed with documentary evidence, party spokesperson Manish Tewari today launched a counter-attack against Modi. He said it was the Gujarat Chief Minister who had failed to act on the intelligence bureau reports, which had mentioned that 16 persons were suspected to be planning blasts in Gujarat and Rajasthan. This information was gleaned from the detailed interrogation of SIMI leaders Safdar Nagori and Amir Parvez, who were arrested following the Indore blasts in February. “Prompt action on the list forwarded to the Rajasthan as well as the Gujarat police could have prevented the Ahmedabad blasts”, he said, referring to Safdar Nagori’s interrogation report. Tewari said the list of 16 persons named in the interrogation report and forwarded to the Gujarat government by the IB were eventually found to be involved in the Ahmedabad blasts. “They were the same 16 persons who were arrested after the Ahmedabad blasts,” Tewari added. “Both the Gujarat and the Rajasthan governments were specifically alerted about the list of 16 suspects. We can ask the Guajart government why it chose to remain sitting on the list and allowed Ahmedabad blasts to take place? Had the state government taken congnizance of the IB report, the state police would have put these people on surveillance and Ahmedabad blasts would not have taken place,” he argued. Modi has been at the forefront of the BJP attack on the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre, accusing it of being soft on terror. Blaming intelligence failure for serial blasts in the Capital, Modi said he had alerted the Prime Minister about the plot on the basis of interrogation of Ahmedabad blasts suspects. Holding the BJP responsible for the prevailing situation, Tewari pointed out that maximum number of recruits to ranks of terrorism came from places which had witnessed a high number of communal incidents and casualties, clearly referring to the Gujarat riots. “Various reports have indicated that miximum number of recruits to the ranks of terrorism come from the region where communal riots have taken place,” the party spokesman said, adding the principal responsibility lies with the VHP, RSS and the Bajrang Dal for fuelling communal passions. While pinning down the Sangh Parivar, the Congress also put forth a five-point proposal to build a national consensus to fight terrorism in the country. Calling for an immediate end to politicisation of terrorism, the party said any articulation of grievance through violence would not be tolerated and the states and the Centre should work collectively to stamp out terrorism irrespective of political linkage.
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Terror attacks: Modi, Patil in war of words
New Delhi, September 22 In a bid to stop Modi from tarnishing the reputation of Patil, the union home ministry today came out with a statement denying Modi's allegation that Patil was casual in his approach when he (Modi) went to alert him about a possible terror attack in the capital. The home ministry’s official spokesperson in a written statement said a section of the media has carried a report stating that the home minister showed a casual approach when Modi met him to convey some information about a possible terror attack in Delhi. It was Modi who arrived late for a scheduled meeting with Patil, the statement said. It further stated that the media report was totally incorrect. The home minister's meeting with Modi was scheduled at 1pm on August 29. The home minister had an important meeting on Jammu and Kashmir with the Prime Minister at 1.30 pm. On the same day Modi met the home minister at about 1.25 pm and the union home minister spent 15 to 20 minutes with him, the spokesperson said. Modi, while speaking at a diamond jubilee function of Sangh Parivar weekly 'Vivek' yesterday in Pune, had launched yet another attack on Patil for mishandling the issue of terrorism saying “the home minister was more keen on having his lunch rather than getting information about a possible strike in the national capital.” Modi was quoted in the media saying that “the home minister was glancing at his watch and when I started giving details about the intelligence gathered during interrogation of the accused in the Ahmedabad bomb blasts, Patil remarked casually that 'Modiji information ati rehti hai (information keeps coming).” |
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Red alert in Goa
Panaji, September 22 “The red alert is sounded as we do not want to take any chance and we are undertaking intense checking of all vehicles,” Samy Tavares, special officer attached with the DGP, said. Goa was being considered on the terror radar after the Kerala police had tipped off about the northern bound train carrying explosives with the aim to strike Goa. The state police had beefed up security around all railway stations and Marusagar Express, which reportedly carried the explosives, was checked at Margao railway station this morning. The train had arrived from Ernakulum (Kerala) and was leaving towards Jaipur (Rajasthan). Meanwhile, the Marusagar Express, suspected to be carrying explosives from Kerala, was thoroughly searched at Madgaon railway station today and no objectionable material was found on the train, officials said. The train, reportedly supposed to carry explosives on its way from Ernakulum (Kerala) to Jaipur (Rajasthan), had no objectionable substance onboard during the checking at the station, the police said. "We have had a thorough check-up of the train but nothing objectionable was found on it. But we are not ready to take any chance and Goa police personnel are posted in almost all the bogeys who will accompany the train till Ratnagiri in Maharashtra," superintendent of police (security) Tony Fernandes told reporters at the station.
— PTI |
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Suspected IM activist taken to Manipal
New Delhi, September 22 According to the sources, sleuths of Special Cell of the Delhi Police questioned many people in Manipal and other districts of the state. Later he was taken to a possible hideout of the other suspects. Sources said that another person has been detained in Manipal and was being questioned at length. A PCO owner could be the link to the investigations in Karnataka. A four-member team of Delhi police also visited Udupi and some other places to gather more information about Saif's links in the state. The joint commissioner of police (special cell) Karnal Singh earlier said the Indian Mujahideen, led by Atif who was killed in an encounter at Batla House in South Delhi, had some links in Karnataka and they would investigate them. Another police team is expected to visit Dharwad where the state police unearthed militant training camps earlier this year to get more leads. The sources alleged that Atif could be the mastermind behind the shadowy Indian Mujahidden who had sent Saif and another arrested suspect Sajid to procure explosives from Karnataka. Atif allegedly gave them a number and asked them to meet a person there. The person gave them explosives and they immediately returned to Delhi. The police teams have also visited Uttar Pradesh with a tip-off on the possible sources of funding of the Indian Mujahideen. The investigation has zeroed down to a businessman who is allegedly funding the outfit through hawala. A senior officer of the Delhi Police claimed that a 13-member module of the Indian Mujahideen was reportedly involved in at least six bomb explosion cases across the country. Of them, six members are still absconding.
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We’re keen on N-trade with France, Russia: Pranab
Kolkata, September 22 Singh, who left on Monday on a 10-day trip to the US and France, is expected to firm up an agreement on civil nuclear energy cooperation after summit talks with President Nicholas Sarkozy in Paris on September 30. "We are trying to have bilateral agreements with several countries. Prime Minister may consider it when he visits France for the India-European Union Summit" next week, he told a convention on "Indo-US civil nuclear cooperation and its future impact" here. A similar deal is also likely to be signed with Russia during President Dmitry Medvedev's visit to India in December this year. Expressing hope that the US Congress would ratify the 123 agreement by September 25, the minister said that although the ratification was pending, it would not prevent India from having bilateral agreements with other countries for supply of nuclear fuel. “India specific safety agreement is just a passport to enter into nuclear trade with any country. We now need a visa,” he said. Responding to criticism that the 123 agreement would compromise India’s sovereignty, Mukherjee said “there is nothing in that agreement, nor in the India specific safeguard agreement, nor in the waiver by the NSG, that can compromise India's decision-making.” Mukherjee lashed out at the CPM and other left parties for “unnecessarily” criticising the UPA on the nuclear deal issue. He said nowadays, “They (the left parties) were seeing the US ghosts everywhere and in every matter pertaining to the country.” Mukherjee reiterated that the deal would serve the larger interests of the nation and there would be no interference of the US and other foreign countries in India’s internal affairs.
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CBI files chargesheet in Rizwanur case
Kolkata, September 22 Metropolitan magistrate Anupam Maity of the 17 Court at the Bankshall Court here passed the order at 9 pm after much legal debate over production of the original FIR before filing of the chargesheet. The court took cognisance of the charges against all seven accused and issued summons against them to appear before it on October 27. The CBI filed the chargesheet against Rizwanur’s father in-law Ashok Todi, his brother Pradip Todi, his brother in-law Anil Saraogi, IPS officer and former deputy commissioner of Kolkata Police (detective department) Ajay Kumar, former assistant commissioner Sukanti Chakraborty, sub-inspector Krishnendu Das and Rizwanur’s neighbour Moinuddin alias Pappu. The CBI had in a report to the Calcutta High Court stated that Rizwanur had committed suicide and sought to prosecute the seven on different charges for abetting it, criminal intimidation and conspiracy.
— PTI
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Uranium mining in Meghalaya
Shillong, September 22 "We have had extremely fruitful and useful discussions. The exchange of views was free and frank. We tried to understand the concerns so that we can satisfy all quarters before going ahead with the project," Principal Adviser to the Atomic Energy Department V P Raja told reporters after the meeting. The AED team met the Chief Minister, Opposition leader D D Lapang and Deputy Chief Minister Hopingstone Lyngdoh, who is also the president of the regional Hill State People Democratic Party, which has been the most rigid in its opposition to the project besides the influential Khasi Students Union. Raja said the AED team tried to explain the pros and cons of uranium mining and also know the expectations of the people. Asked when the Centre plans to start the mining, Raja said "we have not set any timeframe." "We will start the project in consultation with the state government and involve the people of the state," he said. The AED official also said the Centre would continue the dialogue to build consensus and 'satisfy' all quarters before it starts the project.
— PTI
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Cupid strikes at relief camp
Patna, September 22 Darun Devi of Saurbazar in Saharsa district lost her family members to the turbulent Kosi. She was rescued and brought to a relief camp in Singheshwarsthan. Sanjay Kumar too had met the same fate and landed in the same relief camp. After spending over 10 days in the camp, they gathered strength to face the tragedy that had befallen them. Their sorrow brought them closer and their friendship transformed into love. On September 17, a wedding was organised in the relief camp. They tied the nuptial knot in presence of other camp inmates who acted as 'baaratis'. It was, however, a spartan affair. But it was more than compensated when Chief Minister Nitish Kumar dropped by on Sunday and blessed the couple. After showering 'aashirvad' on the newly weds, he asked the District Magistrate of Madhepura to extend financial assistance to them to help them start a new life.
— UNI
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Graffiti on temple wall sparks violence
Davanagere, Karnataka, September 22 The violence broke out after a symbol of a minority community was found on a compound wall and 'dwaja stamba' (main pillar) of a temple. Prohibitory orders under Section 144, CrPC , were issued. These would be in force for three days. The agitators indulged in stone-pelting and arson, alleging police failure to take action in a similar incident in the town three days ago. Streets wore a deserted look as business establishments and hotels remained closed. Educational institutions remained closed and a bandh-like situation prevailed in the town. Ten persons were taken into custody in connection with the violence. Additional forces were rushed to the town. Superintendent of Police Sandip Patil is camping in the town and the situation is stated to be tense.
— UNI
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‘Hari Puttar not copyright violation of Harry Potter’
New Delhi, September 22 Warner Bros filed the case against the movie as the title 'Hari Puttar' is similar to 'Harry Potter', Warner's franchise of J K Rowling's 'Harry Potter' book series, and, therefore, borders on infringement of its intellectual property rights. But senior lawyer Arun Jaitley, who appeared for Mirchi Movies, contended that 'Hari Puttar' is an Indian name, meaning god's son, therefore, there was no copyright
violation. — UNI |
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Non-violence pledge by lakhs Hovercraft to tackle insurgents
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