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Murder of IAS officer
Parliament condemns terror strikes, adjourns
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PM to open jurists’ meet on terror
Russia, China safe havens for cyber criminals: Report
Aiyar for nutrition as separate dept
Independents power Cong to majority in Rajasthan
After semifinal, rivals will look out for new allies
Lalthanhawla set to become Mizoram CM
Maha CM lashes out at Rane
Cabinet may take up MSP issue today
10 new MPs take oath
Gogoi wants NSG hub in Guwahati
‘SC, HCs can order CBI probe on their own’
India suspends manufacture of diet pill
Accused gets ‘double presumption’ benefit at appeal stage: SC
Pawar asks farmers to exploit potato export potential
Suspended Rane feels isolation blues
Mumbai Heat
Nameless graves in Kashmir: NHRC seeks state govt’s response
Vice-President to open Amritsar youth fest
Kutch Rann Mahotsav begins today
2 independents fail to bag any vote
Crime scene probes on a mouse click
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Murder of IAS officer
Patna, December 10 The division bench, comprising justices Shivkriti Singh and S.Mahfooz. Alam, also exonerated six other convicts in the case, including two politicians Akhlaq Ahmed (former minister) and Prof Arun Kumar (ex- MLA) who were awarded death sentence along with Mohan by the trial court. The four other convicts — Lovely Anand, also a former MP and wife of Anand Mohan, Munna Shukla (ruling JD(U) MLA), Harendra Kumar (a senior JD(U) leader and Shashi Thakur — exonerated today were awarded life sentence earlier. Krishnaiyyah, a native of Andhra Pradesh and a Bihar cadre IAS officer of 1985 batch, was lynched by a mob on December 5, 1994, at Muzaffarpur. The officer, then posted as the district magistrate of Lalu Yadav's home district Gopalganj, was returning to his place of posting after attending the divisional commissioner's meeting at Hajipur. His staff car was attacked by the mob that had gathered to attend the funeral procession of a don Chhotan Shukla. Subsequent police investigations revealed that the mob mistook Krishnaiyyah as the DM of Muzaffarpur and lynched him. Anand Mohan, then a Lok Sabha member, was leading the funeral procession and all others convicted in the case by the trial court earlier were part of it. The charge against Mohan is that he instigated the mob against the DM and SP of Muzaffarpur holding them responsible for the killing of Chhotan Shukla, his close associate. He also gave a provocative speech against them and the prosecution had furnished the tapes of his speech to the court as evidence. Mohan has also been charged with asking Shukla's brother, Bhutkun Shukla, a notorious criminal, to shoot the DM following which Bhutkun pumped a bullet into latter’s head. Notably, Chhotan Shukla was gunned down in a gang rivalry. Mohan and six others were convicted in the case by the trial court on October 3, 2007. Subsequently, the Patna HC granted bail to four of them, including Mohan’s wife, who were awarded life term imprisonment. The former MP and two others, who were awarded death sentence, were languishing behind the bars since then. Mohan's lawyers said they would move the Supreme Court against HC’s verdict convicting him under sections 302 and 109 of the IPC.
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Parliament condemns terror strikes, adjourns
New Delhi, December 10 Making obituary references this morning, Lok Sabha Speaker remembered V.P. Singh as a man of great integrity and morals. The house also mourned the loss of sitting member Munawwar Hasan of the BSP, who represented the Muzaffarnagar parliamentary constituency. Hasan died this morning in a road accident. Incidentally, he had defected to the BSP from the SP just before the trust vote on July 21. Proceedings under the 10th schedule of the Constitution (anti-defection law) were pending against him with the Speaker. As the house met this morning after a recess, the members paid homage to other former members Tayyab Hussain and Ajit Kumar Panja, who passed away recently. The members also stood in silence to pay respect to the departed souls. Earlier, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee described V.P. Singh as a fine administrator, who took several pro-people initiatives, reflecting his urge for an egalitarian society. A strong reference here was made to Singh’s initiative with respect to the implementation of Mandal Commission report to ensure reservation for backward classes in central government jobs. “He was among the country’s most respected political leaders, a man with tremendous courage of conviction, he was committed to his principles, unmindful of the consequences,” Chatterjee said, adding that with the passing away of Singh, an eventful era in the political history had come to an end. The Speaker remembered Hasan as a social activist and crusader for the cause of social justice. He died at the age of 44 after his car met with an accident. Hasan was earlier a member of the 11th Lok Sabha and also a member of the Rajya Sabha from 1998 to 2003, representing the state of Uttar Pradesh. The house also mourned the death of Tayyab Hussain, who passed away on October 7 at the age of 72, and Ajit Kumar Panja, who died on November 14. Chatterjee remembered Panja saying, “He was an advocate by profession and a committed social activist by choice. He strove for the welfare of the poor, needy and physically handicapped and was associated with several social organisations for the uplift of minorities, the SCs, the STs and the downtrodden,” The house severely condemned terrorist strikes in Assam and Mumbai. Besides, the house lauded the security forces for the exemplary courage they displayed in neutralising the terrorist strikes in Mumbai. “Eighteen brave security personnel of the Mumbai police, including the head of the Anti-Terrorist Squad and two commandants of the NSG, became martyrs while fighting with terrorists,” the Speaker said.
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PM to open jurists’ meet on terror
New Delhi, December 10 Jointly organised by the International Council of Jurists, the All-India Bar Association and the Indian Council of Jurists (ICJ), the conference would have 20 working sessions covering varied subjects like human rights in the face of international terrorism, terrorism and law, cross border terrorism, menace of cyber crime against data protection, drug trafficking, consumption and related problems, said ICJ President Adish C. Aggarwala. Chief Justice of India K. G. Balakrishnan will chair the inaugural session and law minister Hansraj Bhardwaj will be the special guest. Nearly thousand delegates from across the world would be attending the meeting, he added. Other issues coming up for the discussion included the role of press in strengthening democracy, role of right to information in promoting rule of law, role of legal reforms in developing countries and law as a tool to reduce poverty. A discussion on relations between the bench and the bar would be one of the major highlights of the conference to be addressed by eminent jurists, retired and serving judges of the SC and HCs as also senior lawyers. The International Jurists Award-2008 and the National Law Day Award 2008 would also be presented at the inaugural function, Aggarwala added.
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Russia, China safe havens for cyber criminals: Report
Bangalore, December 10 Excerpts from the study by the California-based company, reputed as the world’s largest dedicated security technology company, released here today. While Russia and China were accorded the dubious distinction of safe havens for cyber criminals, Brazil was described as the fastest growing “scapegoat” country in this crime. The study, entitled the Virtual Criminology Report, warned that the world-wide recession was proving a hotbed for fraudulent activity on the web. Cyber criminals thrived in a climate of consumer fear and anxiety, the report said. It further said problems of economic slowdown had been diverting political attentions worldwide. “Cyber security is not enough of a priority around the globe for real headway to be made against the perpetrators of online crime”, it said. The report warned that unless significant resources were committed to fight illegal cyber activity, there was a risk that the crime would affect consumer confidence, further hindering the speed of global recovery from the recession. The report further said people were signing up to fraudulent advertisements on the web, which promise easy money. Job seekers were also being recruited to launder cyber criminals’ gains under the guise of “international sales representatives” or “shipping managers.” The economic downturn was also driving people to the web to seek the best deals and this was providing a golden opportunity to these criminals, the report added. According to the report, as governments are focusing primarily on the economic downturn, the fight against the crime has slipped down their agenda, creating an opportunity for it to escalate in severity. The report further said police forces assigned to fight the crime often lacked specialist skills required for such a task. Moreover, law enforcement in this regard was only confined to national boundaries.
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Aiyar for nutrition as separate dept
New Delhi, December 10 The 2008 India Report-a result of World Breastfeeding Trends Initiative (WBTi) launched in 51 countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America earlier this year - reveals that India offers no support to women for breastfeeding and lacks the will to invest in this sector. There is no concrete policy or budget line for this activity in India. The situation is worsening in the wake of rise in food prices and the contaminated milk scandal impacting thousands of lives. India’s rates for optimal breastfeeding practices continue to be dismal, shows the report which rates India at a poor 69 on a scale of 150. As regards breastfeeding rates-National Family Health Survey (NFHS) 3 says only 24 per cent of newborns start breastfeeding within the first hour of birth-a practice considered essential for child’s survival. Only 46 per cent of infants less than six months of age are exclusively breastfed, and exclusive breastfeeding rapidly goes down from about 70 per cent in the first months to 27 per cent in the sixth month, whereas it should be consistently high throughout the first six months of birth if the newborn’s health is to be ensured. The second most significant strategy to prevent child mortality - complementary foods to newborns - is also doing poorly in India, with just 56 per cent of the newborns in age six to nine months receiving such foods. Releasing the report in the capital yesterday, panchayati raj minister Mani Shankar Aiyar said it was high time India thought of setting up a full-fledged department for handling nutrition issues. “As of now, nutrition remains subsumed in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and does not get adequate attention. By the time the child gets protection under ICDS and the Mid-Day Meal Scheme, much of the damage has already been done. We need separate interventions if we have to ensure the child’s survival in the first hour and then the first six months of birth.” Aiyar, also member of the Prime Minister’s Nutrition Council, said the issue needs to be debated at the highest level once the council meets to tackle nutrition challenges. Aiyar warned of dire consequences on the front of child health, if nutrition did not become an independent subject soon.
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Independents power Cong to majority in Rajasthan
Jaipur, December 10 Efforts were on to clear the second hurdle of chosing a chief minister. Hectic parleys were on to rally the party MLAs for a unanimous decision on the issue so that tomorrow’s meeting of the Congress Legislature’s Party goes on smoothly in announcing the name. Former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, who is the strongest candidate for the post, has strengthened his case. Eight Independents have reportedly extended support to the party at his behest. One of those, Anju Dhaneka, has even joined the party. Gehlot, who till last evening was keeping a low profile as far as his aspirations for the post was concerned, upped the ante saying the highly responsible position of the CM should be above religion, caste or community. This was a clear message to those advocating and demanding a Jat leader for the post. National Congress leaders have descended on the state capital and held closed door meetings with other contenders like Dr C.P. Joshi, Sis Ram Ola and Col Sona Ram. Dr Kirori Lal Meena has, meanwhile, snubbed efforts of the BJP to woo him back. Former PWD minister of the BJP Rajindra Singh Rathore reached his residence to placate him but Meena reportedly asked him where were they when he (Meena) was insulted.
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BJP Defeat
Soehla (Tonk) December 10 Sona Ram was speaking for scores of residents of Tonk district who had taken to streets demanding better water supply. “We were just seeking our share from the Bisalpur dam. The BJP government was hell bent on supplying more water to Jaipur. We did not deserve bullets, not at least Hansa. The six-month-old foetus died in the womb only.” Hansa’s story was all over the nation then and now during elections also. She had become an election issue with residents seeking revenge from the party who, they believed, caused her death. And the results reflect the revenge story. BJP candidates were routed in all the four Assembly constituencies of the district. Voters elected an Independent Ranveer Pehalwan from the Malpura seat. Congress leaders Kamal Lodi, Zakia and Ram Narain Meena from the Newai, Tonk and Deoli Uniara seats. The BJP was vitually wiped out from the district. Chosing guns than persuasion to quell such agitation was a subject of immense criticism of the BJP rule when it was in power. The areas, where the government resorted to use force, proved to be their Waterloo in the final analysis. The same happened in Ganganagar and Hanumangarh districts. In October 2004, a number of farmers in Sriganganagar were killed in a police firing when they were seeking more water from the canals coming from Punjab. Of the 11 Assembly seats in the districts, the BJP could win from two seats only. One of the winning BJP candidate was a Congress rebel. He had joined the party 10 days before the nominations. The party could not win a single seat in Sawai Madhopur, Dausa and Karauli. The BJP suffered for the manner in which it took on agitators in democratic India. The results may set a policy of future governments in dealing with such situations.
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After semifinal, rivals will look out for new allies
New Delhi, December 10 The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) won two states each in northern India, a clear indication that no single party or coalition is likely to win a majority in the 545-seat lower house, the Lok Sabha, on its own strength. The BJP was the bigger loser in the staggered November-December contest, retaining Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh but losing Rajasthan and getting routed in Delhi. The Congress also bagged Mizoram. For a party that has already announced the names of several candidates for the parliamentary election, the BJP, party sources told IANS, was certain to review its election strategy. Said one party leader: "It is clear that emotive issues are not going to work. This means that our earlier premise has to be revised. Candidates will matter, governance will matter, local issues will also matter." Congress sources also admit that though they have reasons to celebrate following the state victories, they know these elections have exposed weaknesses in their ranks. The Congress was crushed in Madhya Pradesh and has been booted out of the tribal belt of Chhattisgarh, a former bastion. The two states account for 40 Lok Sabha seats. The Congress remains an also-ran in significant parts of India including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and even Orissa, which among themselves elect 222 MPs. There is more to rue. Both the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) and the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) are a weakened lot today, with some allies bidding goodbye and not enough taking their place. The BJP's main allies are the Shiv Sena, Janata Dal-United, Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Akali Dal, Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD). This is a far cry from the wider coalition it headed while in power from 1998 to 2004. Similarly, the Congress' key allies are the DMK, PMK, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Samajwadi Party, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) besides some smaller groups. The Congress' biggest loss is the parting of ways by the Left, which still has the potential to win 40-50 Lok Sabha seats - a substantial number in a splintered house. And both BJP and Congress insiders admit that a key player post the 2009 Lok Sabha election - due in April-May - would be Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). There is a widespread realisation that the BSP, led by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, could win up to half the 80 Lok Sabha seats from the sprawling state besides 8-10 elsewhere to determine who gets to rule India. Mayawati, who sees herself as a future prime minister, teamed up with the Communists to try and unseat Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government over the India-US nuclear deal. But since then she has kept a distance from the Left. The Left, almost friendless after the bitter row with the government, has reached out to the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, having already sewed up electoral tie-ups with the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal-Secular. But that may not be enough to form a new Third Front. In any case, almost everyone now going with the Left has done business with the Congress and BJP in the past - and may do so again. Superstars Chiranjeevi and Vijayakant from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu are new political players. Both are expected to garner thousands of votes and are potential allies for the national parties. Said a Congress leader who did not want to be identified: "We won in 2004 because (our president) Sonia Gandhi reached out to the right allies. Can we win a majority (in Lok Sabha) with the existing allies? I am not sure." — IANS
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Lalthanhawla set to become Mizoram CM
Guwahati, December 10 A Congress source said all 32 newly-elected Congress legislators elected Lalthanhawla as their leader in a meeting held at the Congress Bhawan in Aizwal in presence of three observers from the All India Congress Committee (AICC), including union minister of state for chemicals and fertilizer Bijoy Krishna Handique and Ved Prakash. The CLP leader then met the Governor later in the day to stake claim to form the next government in the state. The swearing-in of the new Mizoram chief minister is scheduled to be held tomorrow afternoon at the Raj Bhawan. Lalthanhawla will become the CM of Mizoram for the fourth time. He was the Chief Minister in 1986 when Mizo Peace Accord was signed between the then under ground Mizo National Front (MNF) led by Laldenga and the Government of India. He quit paving way for the MNF leader Laldenga to become the Chief Minister after signing of the Accord. Lalthanhawla again became the chief minister in 1989 for two terms till 1998 when the MNF led by Pu Zoramthanga wrested power to form the government.
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Maha CM lashes out at Rane
Mumbai, December 10 “Tearing banners and getting violent is not Congress’ culture. We do not believe in that,” Chavan said at a function of Mumbai Regional Congress Committee, without naming Rane. “There can be difference of opinion in democracy but we all are together under one roof. The party is not divided,” the Chief Minister said. Lashing out at Rane’s repeated statements that he has no faith in the party leadership, Chavan said Sonia Gandhi is their only leader and the party has complete trust in her leadership. Chavan also warned Rane that such violent tactics and repeated criticism of the party leaders will not help in politics. After Nitesh addressed a press conference today, near MRCC office where Chavan was scheduled to visit, his supporters and Congress workers, clashed outside the office. As the scuffle turned violent with Nitesh’s supporters allegedly tearing off banners and hoarding with photographs of Sonia Gandhi and Manmohan Singh, the police used force, caning Nitesh men, to disperse them.
— PTI
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Cabinet may take up MSP issue today
New Delhi, December 10 Though Pawar did not state the exact quantum of increase in the wheat MSP, he did say that the agriculture ministry was not for status quo. The Commission for Agriculture Costs and Produces has recommended hiking it to Rs 1,080 per quintal for 2008-09. Pawar also indicated that the government might allow futures trading in rice, wheat and some pulses varieties if their prices come down. He also said the government would intervene if prices of commodities fell below the MSP set by the government. Our policy is that whenever the market price goes below the MSP, the government must intervene, the minister added.
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10 new MPs take oath
New Delhi, December 10 BSP MPs included Akhilesh Das, who earlier this year had joined the party after leaving the Congress, Brijesh Pathak, Veer Singh, Rajaram and Avtar Singh Karimpuri. BSP MP Brijlal Khabri, however, was not present in the House. Kusum Rai and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Bhagat Singh Koshiyari are the two BJP MPs who took oath. Mohammad Adeeb is the independent MP.
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Gogoi wants NSG hub in Guwahati
Guwahati, December 10 Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi met the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, yesterday and home minister P. Chidambaram in New Delhi today to submit separate requests for setting up of an NSG hub in Guwahati in view of state’s and the region’s ‘vulnerability’ against terror, according to chief minister’s media adviser Debo Kumar Bora. It was in sequel to the earlier announcement made by the state government to vie for an NSG hub. The state government’s argument in support of its request is that Northeastern region is surrounded by foreign countries where armed groups and foreign agencies inimical to India were operating. The region shares 98 percent of its border with foreign countries in all directions and is connected to the mainland India only through a 22 km wide corridor at Siliguri in North Bengal making it quite vulnerable for audacious terror strikes sponsored by anti-India forces. Gogoi also urged the Central leaders not to pull out the additional companies of Central paramilitary forces that were deployed in the state following October 30 serial blasts in Guwahati, Barpeta Road, Kokrajhar and Bongaigaon in the state. Fourteen additional companies of the paramilitary forces were despatched to the state by the Centre in the wake of the serial blasts and the State government wants the forces to remain for a longer period for keeping tight vigil against activities of terror groups.
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‘SC, HCs can order CBI probe on their own’
New Delhi, December 10 Articles 226 and 32 of the constitution placed no restrictions on them and as such the consent of the state government was necessary, solicitor general G. E. Vahanvati clarified to a five-member constitution bench, headed by chief justice K.G. Balakrishnan. The courts enjoyed such powers in order to protect the fundamental rights of citizens, he told the bench which is hearing a bunch of petitions filed by the West Bengal government and others in the wake of the Nandigram incidents in which the Calcutta HC ordered a CBI probe. The solicitor general said though the apex court judgments had said the courts should exercise the power to order CBI probe ‘sparingly’, ‘there is no restriction, particularly in cases of sensitive nature and those having national and international ramification’.
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India suspends manufacture of diet pill
New Delhi, December 10 Besides, it is known to greatly increase anxiety, sleep problems and even cause panic attacks. Drug controller general of India (DGCI) Dr Surinder Singh today said all 17 manufacturers of the drug had been told to halt operations and the drug placed on the watch list. The DGCI acted on the basis of the pharmaco-viligance evidence available in the developed world on Rimonabant. The US Food and Drug Administration had recommended the banning of the drug earlier after a committee recommended so, faced with lack of evidence about its safety. The pill works wonders for weight loss, and has proved to help many, resulting in loss of up to 10 per cent of people’s total body weight. Aware of the severe health risks of Rimonabant, India is moving to ban it, said the DGCI who held meetings with clinicians and manufacturers before taking the final decision. The DGCI will recommend the ban on the drug to the Drug Technical Advisory Board, meeting in the capital on December 22. Thereafter, the recommendation will go to the Central government. The DGCI admitted that it would have been imprudent on part of the government to not check the availability of Rimonabant, considering ample evidence against it in the developed countries, which have a robust pharmaco-vigilance system. “Our system is still weak and wrought with pitfalls. We thought of suspending the manufacture of Rimonabant as it has long been monitored and banned in the west,” Dr Singh said.
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Combating Terror
New Delhi, December 10 General Ma Xiaotian will travel to Belgaum to witness the closing ceremony of the India-China joint military training exercise. The Chinese leader strongly condemned last month’s terror attack in Mumbai and conveyed his government’s condolences for the victims. Xiaotian said his visit to Mumbai was intended to convey a strong message of support to India at this point of time. Antony said terrorism was a menace the world over and needed to be fought jointly by all peace loving countries. The two leaders agreed to deepen mutual understanding and broaden the contacts and exchanges between their Armed Forces. Xiaotian will return to New Delhi to lead the Chinese side in the 2nd India-China Annual Defence Dialogue (ADD) on December 15.The Indian delegation would be led by defence secretary Vijay Singh. The meeting would discuss, among other things, issues concerning regional security. |
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Accused gets ‘double presumption’ benefit at appeal stage: SC
New Delhi, December 9 A Bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Mukundakam Sharma propounded this theory while dismissing the Goa government's appeal against the acquittal of one Pandurang Mohite in a case of murder, robbery and destruction of evidence punishable uner Sections 302, 392 and 201 of IPC respectively. In the present case, the trial court had convicted and sentenced him to life term for murder, to seven years for robbery and one year for removing evidence. A Goa Bench of the Bombay High Court set aside this conviction, prompting the state government to appeal in the apex court. The apex court upheld the high court verdict mainly on the ground that two of the witnesses had stated that they had seen the deceased at the same time but at different places, shortly before his murder. “A person has, no doubt, a profound right not to be convicted of an offence which is not established by the evidential standard of proof beyond reasonable doubt. Though this standard is a higher standard, there is, however, no absolute standard,” the apex court said in the judgment, written for the Bench by Justice Pasayat. Further, doubts over the statements of witnesses “would be called reasonable if they are free from a zest for abstract speculation. Law cannot afford any favourite other than truth. To constitute reasonable doubt, it must be free from an overemotional response. “Doubts must be actual and substantial doubts as to the guilt of the accused persons arising from the evidence, or from the lack of it, as opposed to mere vague apprehensions. A reasonable doubt is not an imaginary, trivial or a merely possible doubt, but a fair doubt based upon reason and common sense. It must grow out of the evidence in the case. “The concepts of probability, and the degrees of it, cannot obviously be expressed in terms of units to be mathematically enumerated as to how many of such units constitute proof beyond reasonable doubt. There is an unmistakable subjective element in the evaluation of the degrees of probability and the quantum of proof. Forensic probability must, in the last analysis, rest on a robust common sense and, ultimately, on the trained intuitions of the Judge.” |
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Pawar asks farmers to exploit potato export potential
New Delhi, December 10 India has the required production technologies and the produce was free from major diseases, which provide significant opportunity for export of potato products. Pawar was addressing farmers after inaugurating the Global Potato Conference yesterday. Over 400 scientists, trade and industry representatives and policy makers from all continents are attending the Conference. A large number of farmers are also attending the Conference. Pawar said in recent years, India has seen record production of horticultural crops. Felicitating the Central Potato Research Institute, the premier potato research body in India, for developing a large number of varieties, including trans-genics with high protein content and late blight resistance, the minister asked Indian scientists to proactively work in the areas of productivity enhancement, sustainable use of natural resources and the likely impact of climate change. He also flagged the need for technologies for use by small farmers, especially for local storage of this perishable crop. DG, ICAR Mangala Rai called for evolving short-duration potato varieties so that potato could fit in various cropping systems. Rai also called for more use of biotechnology, tissue culture and other research and production tools for improving productivity, quality and health of the crop. The other areas that will need focus are production of quality planting material, adoption of new post-harvest technologies, and developing value-added products. The year 2008 is being observed as ‘International Year of the Potato’ by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) keeping in view the potential of this crop in providing food security at world level. |
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Suspended Rane feels isolation blues
Mumbai, December 10 Rane, who claims the support of between 25-30 MLAs and threatened to topple the fledgling Chavan government, is now finding his supporters fleeing from him. Among the first to desert Rane is Vijay Wadettiwar, MLA from Chimur in Vidarbha who was inducted into the Chavan cabinet. Eager to prove his loyalty to the party Wadettiwar told reporters in Nagpur that he was no longer with his old mentor and fully swore by party president Sonia Gandhi. “I am no longer with Narayan Rane. My loyalties are fully with the Congress,” Wadettiwar told reporters. Only less than three years ago, Wadettiwar had quit the Shiv Sena and the state assembly along with Rane and chose to contest the Chimur seat afresh. Rane worked hard to ensure Wadettiwar’s victory in the face of sustained opposition from the Shiv Sena and the old warhorses of the Congress. But with Rane left with no friends in any party, Wadettiwar has decided to stay put in the Congress. “I have to look at the interest of my constituency and my own political future,” Wadettiwar admitted. Wadettiwar’s open attack on his former mentor has only enthused the Congress party leaders in Maharashtra who want to put Rane in his place. According to sources here, Congress leaders are wooing another Rane loyalist Kalidas Kolambkar who had also deserted the Shiv Sena for the Congress. Kolambkar may be inducted into the Chavan ministry in the next few days, say sources. Some more MLAs with Rane are also being wooed with chairmanships of state government corporations, say sources. “His core group is not more than 10-11 MLAs and none among them really want to quit their seats less than a year before the assembly polls,” says a Congress leader. Rane’s suspension from the Congress has also resulted in his son Nitish quitting as general secretary of the Mumbai Youth Congress today. Nitish, who quit today amidst high drama at the party office in Mumbai, was nearly beaten up by other Congress party workers who called him names and booed him. After Rane’s supporters and the Congress workers clashed, the police had to cane the crowd to restore peace. Despite cornering Rane, senior Congress leaders in Maharashtra are not taking any chances before Chavan’s trust vote in the state assembly. The party is said to be wooing Independent MLAs and smaller parties to ensure that Chavan sails through smoothly. |
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Mumbai Heat
New Delhi, December 10 By spending just this much, the terrorists killed more than 180 persons and left a huge scar on the psyche of people. Compare the meagre spending of the terrorists with the financial loss to the hotels and the cost of operations conducted by security agencies, it turns out how a major strike was carried out using such a little amount of money. The loss to the hotels is now being estimated in excess of Rs 500 crore. The cost of human life and the life-long trauma faced by families who lost their near and dear ones cannot be counted, said a source. Not just the drug money, the US and Indian agencies believe that Somali pirates could also be linked to the funding of these terrorists. The Al-Shabab, an organisation having a common link with the Al-Qaida, the Taliban and the banned Lakshar-e-Toiba, is operating in Somalia. Already the UN office of drugs and crime believes that the Taliban and other warlords made about half a billion dollars from Afghanistan’s opium trade this year. The money was used to finance insurgent attacks. There is a little doubt that the Al-Qaida and other anti-government elements profit from the drug trade, says the UN report. Strife torn Afghanistan produces over 90 per cent of the world’s opium, the raw ingredient for making heroin. The US and NATO commanders in Afghanistan have long insisted that there was a direct link between insurgency and the booming drug trade. Drug lords made more than US $100 million this year. Notably, intelligence agencies say that the terrorist group that struck at Mumbai spent about Rs 80 lakh in planning the strike. This includes cost of coming to Mumbai and doing the physical check on the area a few times. Taking up rooms in hotels, buying cell phones, SIM cards and other gadgetry like global positing system, clothes, etc. The costing does not include guns, ammunitions, grenades, RDX or travel by boat. |
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Nameless graves in Kashmir: NHRC seeks state govt’s response
New Delhi, December 10 The Association for Parents of Displaced Persons (APDP), an association campaigning for the families whose wards disappeared over years of conflict in the Valley, had on March 28 this year released a vital document titled “Facts Under Ground”. The document detailed the phenomenon of enforced disappearances in the Valley, and that of nameless graves detected all across Baramulla, the frontier district of Kashmir. As many as 940 nameless graves had surfaced in Uri alone during the painstaking operation undertaken by the APDP campaigners, who offered proof of how non-combatant Kashmiris had been killed in the valley, labelled as foreign terrorists and buried in graves with no names. Many dead were later traced to such nameless graves; many remain to be identified as families still wait for their dear ones. The report created a storm in the Valley, with people demanding scientific exhumation of graves to establish the identity of those buried. The issue also found a resonance in the European Parliament, which condemned the practice and asked India to respond to the urge of families who claim some 80,000 people in the valley have gone missing in the years of conflict. The official figure is about 50,000. Speaking to The Tribune today, NHRC chairperson Justice Rajendra Babu said they were aware of the issue and would do everything in their power to deliver justice to the families concerned. Referring to the case of mass burials in Punjab, which the Supreme Court had earlier referred to the NHRC, Babu said the commission had evolved its own mechanism to identify the deceased in such cases. In Punjab, the commission has disposed of all but 200 cases cases out of a total of 2000. “In Jammu and Kashmir too we will follow the same mechanism,” said Babu, adding that the commission was looking into several cases of human rights violation by state actors in Jammu and Kashmir. Earlier, Babu said he did not favour any gags on the media which while covering important happenings. “Self-restraint is the best practice,” he said. |
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Vice-President to open Amritsar youth fest
New Delhi, December 10 About 4,000 youth from across the country are expected to participate. Nearly 33 per cent will be girls. The steering committee headed by union sports minister M.S Gill met today. A team of the Punjab government presented its case. The theme will be to showcase that the 21st century belongs to India and its youth. The Indian youth can provide manpower globally and become the engine of growth during this millennium. The festival will have competitive and non-competitive sections. In Amritsar four venues will be used that is Guru Nanak Dev University, Khalsa College, Government College for women and the BBK DAV College. The festival will be conducted between January 12 and 16. Minister for state for commerce Ashwani Kumar and minister of state for finance Pawan Bansal also participated in the meeting. |
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Kutch Rann Mahotsav begins today
Bhuj (Kutch), December 10 Many high-profile dignitaries, including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, will enjoy cultural programmes, to be performed in the midst of the White Salt Desert spread over miles. Gujarat State Tourism Nigam Limited (GSTNL) chairman Kamlesh Patel said mediapersons here today that on the
first day of the festival tomorrow, the first event, the grand Kutch Carnival, would be held on the banks of the historical Hamisar Lake
in Bhuj. Nearly 32 cultural troupes from various districts of Gujarat will participate in the dance and musical carnival, Patel said, adding that about 1, 50, 000 persons from Bhuj and Kutch were expected to enjoy the carnival.
— UNI |
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2 independents fail to bag any vote
Indore, December 10 In nine constituencies in the district, a total of 85 candidates were in fray in which 83 managed to secure some votes, but MHOW constituency independent Mohammad Sadiq and Sanwer constituency candidate Shyam became an aberration. In MHOW district, the main fight was between BJP candidate Kailash Vijayvargiya and Congress nominee Antarsingh Darbar, besides nine other candidates. In Sanwer seat, the main contest was between BJP candidate Nisha Sonkara and Congress nominee Tulasi Silawat.
— UNI |
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Crime scene probes on a mouse click
New Delhi, December 10 “The POLNET will soon be able to carry the footage or visuals of the crime scene. This was an important feature which is being considered to be included in the network to enhance its utility,” a senior home ministry official said. Also in the offing are broadband facilities and a larger bandwidth Police stations across the country will feed and upload video and still footage of the crime spot on the POLNET, which will then be transmitted to the Central server in Delhi and can be accessed by authorised experts.
— PTI |
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Second largest lake under threatCHENNAI: Pulicat lake, the second largest waterbody in the country, is facing severe degradation and rapid reduction in size owing to natural and human activities, a recent survey has revealed. The lake extends between South Andhra Pradesh and North Tamil Nadu, about 80 km north of Chennai. The findings, conducted by an expert team from the Loyola Institute of Frontier Energy under the ‘Pulicat Community-Based Disaster Preparedness’ project revealed that the lake which once extended to 460 sq km has been reduced to 350 sq km in a few decades leading to a huge reduction in the aquatic population. — PTI Arabic Study Centre Cong conference on Dec 15, 16 Unclaimed taxi triggers panic Truckers want more fuel cuts 22 hurt in clash
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