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No strain in ties with China: India
Rankle in cadre, Cong drops tie-up plan
with Chiru
SAD seeks intervention of NHRC
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Vice-Prez bemoans dip in quality of journalism
World newspapers’ meet to be held in Hyderabad
K’taka lawyers to boycott courts
Services had asked BCCI to change venue
NDA breaks in Jharkhand
M’rashtra govt in a day or two: Cong, NCP
Muslim scholars against central madrassa board
India, EU to sign civil atomic energy pact
Terror Attacks
Going gets tough for Bellary brothers
IOC Inferno
Bypoll may change course of UP politics
UP Memorials
Uddhav: Those opposing Vande Mataram should go to Pak
Vande Mataram Row
Plea to ratify UN convention on corruption
8 students drown as boat capsizes
Japanese agency to give Rs 395 cr for Buddhist circuit project
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No strain in ties with China: India
New Delhi, November 4 Talking to reporters on the sidelines of seminar here this morning, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao also made it clear that any meaningful dialogue with Pakistan was ‘realistically possible’ only after it dismantled the infrastructure of terrorism on its soil. On China, she said the relationship was in fact set to acquire more substance and relevance in the coming days. “Our position is very clear,” she said to a question on Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal while alluding to New Delhi’s stand that the Tibetan leader was an honoured guest of India who was free to move anywhere in the country. Describing the relationship with China as ‘complex’, she said the rise of India and China was a source of dynamism in the region and the world. Nirumapa vehemently denied Pakistan’s charge that India was fanning trouble in its restive Balochistan province. “There is no factual basis to these allegations. We have always wanted good relations with Pakistan.” She said India had conveyed to Pakistan time and again its desire to engage in a meaningful dialogue but it was incumbent upon Islamabad to create an atmosphere for talks. Without naming Afghanistan, the top Indian diplomat said terrorism in Afghanistan was receiving support from “contiguous areas” and asked the international community to pressure Islamabad to control such extremist outfits. Terming the resurgence of the Taliban and the Al-Qaida as a ‘real challenge’, she asked the international community to put ‘effective pressure’ on Pakistan to implement its commitment to deal with terror groups on its territory, failing which the region could be catapulted into spiral of violence.
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Rankle in cadre, Cong drops tie-up plan
with Chiru
Hyderabad, November 4 The poll tie-up with the actor’s 15-month-old Praja Rajya Party was almost finalised after the state Congress president D Srinivas held a series of consultations with the PRP leaders and even obtained clearance from the party high command. However, fierce opposition from loyalists of Kadapa MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, a serious contender for Chief Minister’s post, had forced the party to retract and withdraw the proposal. The alliance issue became yet another battle ground for the two warring factions in the state Congress. While Jagan camp saw it as a “conspiracy” to marginalise their leader, his detractors contended that the tie-up with PRP would present a “win-win” situation for both the parties in the long-run. The alliance talk was widely seen as a well-crafted strategy to blunt the “Jagan-for-CM” campaign and sideline the young MP. It is argued that by roping in charismatic Chiranjeevi the ruling party can boost its future prospects and overcome the loss due to sudden death of YS Rajasekhar Reddy, who was the tallest figure and the only crowd puller in the state Congress. However, tough-talking by several ministers, MPs and MLAs, loyal to Jagan, prompted the party leadership to back out. “There is no alliance as of now with any party. The talk about an electoral pact with the PRP is not correct. It is a non-issue,” the AICC General Secretary in charge of AP Veerappa Moily announced in New Delhi, much to the relief of Jagan camp. A crestfallen PRP leadership is left nursing its wounded pride. “We were made a pawn in the faction rivalry of Congress. We never ran after them for alliance. In fact, the proposal came from Congress leadership,” a senior PRP leader C Ramachandraiah said, while announcing that the proposed alliance has been called off. The two parties will now go it alone in the city municipal polls slated for November 23. Moily will arrive here tomorrow to discuss with the party leaders and finalise the candidates for 150 municipal divisions for which elections will be held.
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SAD seeks intervention of NHRC
New Delhi, November 4 A delegation of MPs from Punjab and Haryana, led by president of the SAD and Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, Sukhbir Singh Badal, asked the NHRC to recommend to the government that the CBI should file a chargesheet against Sajjan Kumar, Jagdish Tytler and others. The NHRC should also recommend a day-to-day hearing on the matter, demanded the SAD. Later, talking to mediapersons, Sukhbir Badal termed the anti-Sikh riots as “history’s worst carnage ever.” He claimed the NHRC was “sympathetic” towards the demands. The Government, he said, should be asked by the NHRC to pursue criminal cases against the accused in accordance with the recommendations of the Nanavati Commission. Badal, who was accompanied by members of the core committee of the party, alleged that the Congress-led UPA Government was trying to scuttle the trial on flimsy grounds. Punjab Chief Minister’s media advisor Harcharan Bains later told newsmen that the SAD President emphasised the human rights violations committed by the Congress-led UPA Government. “The most shocking part is that the government and the CBI are hand in glove in perpetrating this mockery of justice on the country. There is deliberate delay by the CBI in filing chargesheets against Sajjan Kumar in four cases that were registered in 2005, on the basis of the recommendations of Nanavati Commission,” said Sukhbir Badal. Badal expressed surprise that the CBI had sought permission of the Government to prosecute Sajjan Kumar, even while the law was categorical that in cases of murder under Section 302 of IPC, no government sanction was required. Sajjan Kumar faces the gravest charges of committing mass murders. “The CBI’s action is seeking government permission is a deliberate tactic to delay the delivery of justice and to hinder a speedy and fair trial. This is part of a wider conspiracy of the Congress-led government to further delay and scuttle justice,” said Badal. Stressing the gravity of crime, Badal reminded that these cases related to the murder of 2733 Sikhs (as per the official figure) in Delhi, but hardly anyone had been punished. He said this was primarily due to the fact that the police was interested in shielding the guilty. The Punjab Deputy Chief Minister said that the SAD was forced to knock on the doors of the Commission as now the government was sitting over these matters and not taking any decision. He said 11 persons had recorded their statements under Section 164 CrPC, identifying Sajjan Kumar as the prime accused before a
Metropolitan Magistrate, Karkardooma. Other members of the delegation were: President of the SGPC Avtar Singh, Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa, Gurdev Singh Badal, Balwinder Singh Bhundar, Prof Prem Singh Chandumajra, Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Dr. Rattan Singh Ajnala, Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Harcharan Bains, Paramjit Kaur Gulshan, Sher Singh Ghubaya, Naresh Gujral, Varinder Singh Bajwa, Raj Mohinder Singh Majitha and Tarlochan Singh.
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Vice-Prez bemoans dip in quality of journalism
New Delhi, November 4 The boom had also resulted in a dip in quality of journalism, mainly due to a lack of concerted effort to train media professionals at the same pace at which the sector grew, Ansari said, inaugurating a workshop on “Parliament and media” organised by the Media Advisory Committee of the Rajya Sabha. Referring to the amazing growth witnessed in the industry in recent times, Ansari said: “We have seen huge investments and the emergence of media conglomerates. New technologies and products such as IPTV, mobile TV and community radio have emerged alongside new media genres such as reality TV and advertorials.” However, “growth always has a price,” he said, adding that lack of a concerted effort to train media professionals at the same pace meant that quality suffered. “Media groups are trying to tide over the problem by instituting in-house media training institutes but the results so far have not been encouraging,” he added. The Vice-President said explosive growth in the sector also highlighted the fact that the Fourth Estate is the only one among the pillars of democracy that has an identifiable commercial and explicitly for-profit persona. “While the primary professional duty of media organisations is to their readership for keeping them informed and appraised with news, views and ideas, the commercial logic brings in a new set of stakeholders in the form of the shareholders of these companies,” he said. “These developments have brought into focus new considerations that guide professional media decisions. Today, the demands of professional journalists are carefully balanced with the interests of owners and stakeholders of media companies and their cross-media interests. The interplay of these conflicting demands is evident and subject of public debate,” he added. Participating in the panel discussion, Editor-in-Chief of “The Hindu” N. Ram stressed on the need for codifying Parliamentary privileges. He expressed concern over the blurring distinction between reporting and analysis and erosion in media ethics and urged for putting into place a balancing mechanism to address concerns of economic viability of media organisations as well as honest and fair reporting. Veteran journalist Mrinal Pandey spoke about the importance of Indian language journalism, especially Hindi journalism, in view of the vast populace it serves. She also underscored the need for proper capacity building of media personnel, especially those dealing with the visual medium. The Political Editor of “The Hindustan Times,” Vinod Sharma lamented that, of late, the print media has become an influence-pedalling instrument for big businesses. While accepting that ensuring profitability of a media venture is inevitable, he emphasised the compelling necessity for the media to maintain its social responsibility. He called upon all stakeholders to engage in a wider debate to address this dilemma. Responding to the points raised by panelists and the audience, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha K. Rahman Khan clarified that Committee of Privileges of both the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha are functioning very responsibly as they are conscious of the fact that Parliamentary privileges have not been codified.
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World newspapers’ meet to be held in Hyderabad
Hyderabad, November 4 The prestigious event being held in India for the first time, the organisers zeroed in on Hyderabad against stiff competition from various cities. Coinciding with the world newspaper congress, the 16th World Editors Forum will also be organised at Hitex grounds in the city. About 1,800 delegates from all over the world are expected to participate in the event. President Prathiba Patil will address the gathering on December 1. “It is a matter of honour for us to be hosting such a prestigious event. This will provide an opportunity to project India, and particularly Andhra Pradesh, as prime destination for investment and tourism,” Chief Minister K Rosaiah said today after reviewing arrangements for the event. A delegation of WAN and Indian Newspapers Society (INS), including WAN vice-president Pratap Pawar and former President of INS Hormusji N Cama, met the Chief Minister and other officials at the Secretariat. The main theme of the 2009 Congress will be 'Newspapers: A Multi-Media, Growth Business'. The participants will examine the strategies that are showing success at leading news enterprises world-wide. The conference will also provide a unique panorama of trends and innovations in the industry and an unmatched opportunity to meet and network with colleagues from every culture, region and market. The 61st Congress was held in Sweden in which 1,800 delegates from 113 countries had participated. With newspapers all over the world continuing to develop content through digital media, WAN has decided to again focus on the dual challenge facing press companies everywhere: maintaining and expanding their core, print products, while seizing all available opportunities to extend their brands, audience and revenues through the new distribution platforms. The event will bring together publishers, chief executives, managing directors and editors for exchange of ideas.
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K’taka lawyers to boycott courts
Bangalore, November 4 The decision was taken at a general body meeting of the association at the city civil court premises here today. Talking to The Tribune, R Rajanna, AAB general secretary, said it was decided at the meeting that the advocates in Bangalore would boycott all courts in the city. “We shall also appeal to all district bar associations to do likewise. Judicial work in the entire state will thus come to a grinding halt on November 9,” he said. Rajanna said the association decided to give the boycott call in view of the Supreme Court collegium’s step to leave out Dinakaran’s name while recommending four other high court chief justices for elevation to the Supreme Court. “If the Supreme Court finds charges against Dinakaran to be true, we shall hold another meeting to decided our future course of action,” Rajanna said, hinting that the AAB would demand Dinakaran’s ouster from the high court if he was found guilty by the SC collegium. The Karnataka CJ’s name came under a cloud after eminent Supreme Court lawyers opposed his proposed elevation to the apex court citing charges levelled by the Chennai-based Forum for Judicial Accountability against Dinakaran of amassing huge in Tamil Nadu, his home state. Lawyers from Chennai subsequently provided fresh details of “assets disproportionate to his known sources of income” to the collegium — the committee of five top judges responsible for appointments and promotions of judges. The collector of Dinakaran’s native Tiruvallur district in Tamil Nadu, on the directions of the CJI, later sent him a report, confirming the allegations of land grabbing by Dinakaran. In the second report, the district collector detailed attempts to remove fencing from the land allegedly encroached in the CJ’s name. Dinakaran was a judge at the Chennai High Court before becoming the CJ in the high court here. According to latest reports, the Supreme Court collegium has sought services of the Survey of India (under the Ministry of Science and Technology) to examine the veracity of the report of Tiruvallur district collector. Dinakaran, who has been frequently bunking work ever since the controversy on his activities broke, came to the high court today.
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Services had asked BCCI to change venue
New Delhi, November 4 Even as the SSCB last night tendered an apology night while asking for the BCCI for fresh dates, sources said the SSCB had written to the BCCI on October 31 seeking change in venue. The request was sent through a special messenger, official sources said today. The BCCI had suspended the service team for one full cricket season ending March/April 2010 after it opted out of a four-day match in Srinagar scheduled to start on November 3. The decision of not allowing the team was taken after due discussion as there was specific intelligence input that the team could be under threat of a militant attack, sources said. The Northern command of the Indian Army had indicated that it could provide for security to the team while it stayed in the Badami-bagh cantonment. It had said that it was not possible to secure the entire stadium. Cricketers of the Services - a team that is open to Army, Air force and the Navy - would be an easy target, was the in house opinion at New Delhi. The matters to be discussed on file included that the act of not sending a team to Srinagar could send an erroneous signal. On the other hand, it was also pointed out that if militants managed to harm any player or carry out an attack, it could send an adverse message and cast aspersions on India’s capability. The Services also did not want a Lahore-style attack when a Sri Lankan cricket team was attacked by militants. Apart from the Commonwealth Games in 2010, India is also slated to host cricket World Cup in 2011.
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NDA breaks in Jharkhand
New Delhi, November 4 JDU president Sharad Yadav today announced the first list of 22 candidates and said if the BJP did not heed to their demand of equitable distribution of seats among the NDA partners, the JDU might soon announce its second list as well. He, however, refused to tell how many seats the JDU would contest in such an eventuality. Cong’s fresh list of candidates out New Delhi: Former Union Minister Rameshwar Oraon figues in a list of 24 candidates announced by the Congress here today for the upcoming Assembly elections in Jharkhand in November-December. With this second list, Congress has announced names of candidates contesting on 50 seats. There are a total of 81 seats in the House. The party had yesterday announced the names of 26 candidates.
— PTI
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M’rashtra govt in a day or two: Cong, NCP
Mumbai, November 4 Governor SC Jamir, who had yesterday called Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal for consultations, today said he has told the two leaders that it was their responsibility to form a government without delay.He told a delegation of Shiv Sena-BJP leaders that he is “very anxious to have an elected government installed as early as possible”. “The Governor told the delegation that he had reminded caretaker Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and NCP leaders Chhagan Bhujbal and RR Patil yesterday that since the electorate of Maharashtra had given them a fresh mandate, it was their responsibility to respect the mandate and form a government without any further delay,” a Raj Bhawan spokesperson said. The Chief Minister, however, denied that the Governor had pulled up the ruling coalition over the delay in government formation. “I think we will be able to resolve some issues between the two parties. There isn't much of a difference but certain smaller issues will have to be resolved. I think by today evening or tomorrow we should be able to sort out the issues,” he told reporters. Echoing similar views, Union Civil Aviation Minister and NCP leader Praful Patel said in Bangalore he was hopeful that the two parties would resolve their differences over sharing ministerial berths in Maharashtra 'in a day or two' after settling all issues, including portfolios, "amicably". "We are hoping for a win-win situation for both," he said.
— PTI
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Muslim scholars against central madrassa board
New Delhi, November 4 Reacting sharply to the move to “regulate and control madrassas”, Syed Shahabuddin, convener of the Babri Masjid Movement Coordination Committee, today asked why no such centralised administration existed for “Sanskrit schools” that outnumbered madrassas. “If the idea is to upgrade the standard of education in religious institutions and make their products more employable, the same consideration should apply to Sanskrit Pathshalas as well,” Shababuddin said, terming the acceptance of central control of madrassas as a “death embrace that will ultimately kill the system”. Last month, majority of the Muslim MPs consulted by Human Resource Development Ministry on the matter saw the proposal with suspicion, with criticism coming mainly from UPA allies, the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the Trinamool Congress and the National Conference. Faced with resistance, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal left it to Muslim MPs to form a view on the Bill, drafted during the first UPA regime when it could not be passed. Muslim leaders say the Bill was junked then because of the fear of a negative impact on Muslim support for the UPA in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. It is now out of the cold storage and forms part of Kapil Sibals 100-day agenda. That explains the growing resentment against the move, with several Muslim leaders, including Shahabuddin and former chief of the now split Jamiatul Ulema-e-Hind Arshad Madani, writing to Muslim MPs to save madrassas. While Madani sees the proposal as part of the global conspiracy (post 9/11) to dilute the Muslim identity, Shahabuddin and many other Muslim scholars at Darul Uloom question the UPA’s anxiety behind a law for only 4 per cent Muslim students at secondary level enrolled in madrassas, whereas 96 per cent Muslim students go to schools and colleges and get certificates. Despite certificates, they barely get employment. The government can have schools in Muslim areas instead of trying to control madrassas, Shahabuddin said in his critique of the Bill, voicing MIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi’s view. He added that the Bill did not list theology as a priority among subjects to be taught at Madrassas. “The Bill mentions philosophy instead of fiq’h (different schools of Muslim tought),” says Shahabuddin, questioning why the draft law does not lay down any qualification for the selection of Board chairperson. Theoretically, the chair can be a non-Muslim-a possibility that’s bothering the community. “Moreover, the board will have 11 members-seven from different Muslim sects. This move is divisive,” says Shahabuddin, adding that the Bill does not guarantee madrassa autonomy as their accounts would be open to CAG audit and the chairperson and board registrar would owe allegiance to the government. Muslim MPs meanwhile are also objecting to silence of the Bill on the proportion of academic time to be devoted to non-theological study and the fact that impact of modernisation efforts in the past has never been
assessed.
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India, EU to sign civil atomic energy pact
New Delhi, November 4 The two sides are also expected to give impetus to their talks on a free-trade agreement (FTA) so as to conclude it next year. Addressing a curtain-raiser press conference here today, Swedish Ambassador to India Lars-Olof Lindgren and head of the delegation of the European Commission Daniele Smadja said the agreement on atomic energy cooperation would be signed primarily to facilitate India’s participation in fusion research under the international thermonuclear experimental reactor (ITER) project. The ITER will be constructed at Cadarache in France. It is one of the largest international scientific projects ever, representing over half of the global population. The participating nations in the project will share the cost of construction as follows: EU - 34 per cent, Japan and the USA - 13 per cent each, and China, Korea, India and Russia - 10 per cent each. The day-long summit is expected to give a decisive political push to negotiations over the FTA, currently almost deadlocked due to differences over the EU’s attempt to bring in non-trade issues into the talks. The political summit will be preceded by the annual India-EU business summit that will bring together top business leaders from the two sides to discuss issues relating to the current financial meltdown and ways to increase trade and investment between the two sides. Admitting that the negotiations over the FTA were difficult, Smadja said there had to be “give and take” and political leaders on the two sides would give the direction for further progress on it. Climate change will also be high on the agenda of the two sides as the summit is being held just a month before the UN summit on climate change in Copenhagen. The two sides will also discuss greater institutional linkages in combating terrorism. The deteriorating security situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan and cooperation in counter-terrorism will also be on the agenda of the two sides. Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt, whose country currently holds the EU presidency, will head the EU team at the summit. Tomorrow, the Swedish leader will hold talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as part of the bilateral segment of his tour to India. India and Sweden are also expected to sign a defence cooperation agreement.
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Terror Attacks
New Delhi, November 4 He was speaking at a CII seminar on “network centricity and national security”. He said India had let those behind terror strikes like Parliament attack to get away. “The country cannot afford to witness a repeat of 26/11,” he said while citing the example of US and Indonesia that have not allowed a repeat of 9/11 incident or the Bali bombings, respectively. The General’s tough words come just two days after Chidambaram warned Pakistan that any more 26/11-type terrorist attacks on the country would invite fierce retaliation. The Home Minister had said while addressing a public meeting in Madurai, “I’ve been warning Pakistan not to play any more games. Let Mumbai be the last such game. If they carry out any more attacks on India, they will not only be defeated, but we will also retaliate with the force of a sledgehammer.” Earlier, Kapoor had warned that South Asia would be under “constant threat of terrorism of asymmetric and fourth generation warfare”. He suggested for creation of a national architecture of intelligence sharing to ward off attacks and counter militants. Speaking at the same CII seminar, Minister of State for Defence MM Pallam Raju asked for synergy among plethora of intelligence agencies to prevent another 26/11-like terror attack. Noting that terrorists were acquiring lethal weapons and had been changing tactics, Pallam Raju said, “Our defence and paramilitary forces need to be prepared to give a strategic response to tackle sub-conventional warfare and small focused insurgent missions.” Cautioning against the dangers of turning Indian forces into an equipment-centric force like the US, Raju said, “We must, however, ensure that our soldiers match the capacity of the adversary.”
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Going gets tough for Bellary brothers
Hyderabad, November 4 The owner of Obulapuram Mining Corporation (OMC) and Karnataka Tourism Minister, G Janardhan Reddyis known for his close business relationship with the late chief minister,YS Rajasekhar Reddy and his family members. The mining tycoon had enjoyed enormous clout during YSR’s regime and extended his business empire to the neighbouring Andhra and forayed into steel and cement sectors. The OMC, located in Anantapur district bordering Karnataka, had enjoyed unfettered official patronage despite the opposition allegations that it was indulging in illegal mining activity. Following YSR’s death in a helicopter crash, Janardhan Reddy was among the front-runners in the campaign to support YSR’s son and MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for chief minister’s post. In the changed political scenario, his multi-crore mining company finds itself in a tight spot. The Anantapur Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Kallol Biswas recently served a show-cause notice on the OMC management stating that it had mined crores of worth iron ore illegally. The licence of one of the group firms, Anantapur Mining Company, has been suspended for encroaching beyond its licence area. In a quick follow-up action, the state government appointed Chief Conservator of Forests P Mallikarjuna Rao to conduct a fresh survey of the mines of OMC and probe its alleged illegal mining activities. However, a ruling Congress legislator came to the defence of the mining baron. Ramachandra Reddy, the MLA from Rayadurgam in Anantapur district who is also joint managing director of OMC, petitioned to Chief Minister K Rosaiah, complaining that the company was facing harassment from officials. Accusing the DFO Kallol Biswas of acting in a “partisan manner,” the MLA said the official was helping the management of Bellary Iron Ore Project (BIOP) which is locked in a business dispute with OMC. He also alleged that Biswas had failed to take any action against BIOP management though it was resorting to illegal mining in the area for a long time.
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IOC Inferno
Jaipur, November 4 Jaipur Collector Kuldeep Ranka said though the fire was still raging in two tanks, the fuel in one of the tanks had almost burnt out while the blaze in the other tank was likely to be doused by late today. As soon as the fire was extinguished, they would launch a search operation on the depot premises, he said. Chief Fire Officer Ishwar Lal Jat also said the fire, in all probability, would die down by tomorrow morning. Meanwhile, IOC Chairman Sarthak Behuria has announced that the corporation would pay Rs 50 crore to the industrial units in Sitapura that suffered damage due to the fire at the depot. The Rs 50-crore package would be apart from a series of measures announced by the state government for the tragedy-hit industry.However, the Sitapura Industries Association has rejected the relief package offered by the state government.
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‘Kapaal bhati’ catches clerics’ fancy
Deoband, November 3 The 30th General Assembly organised by Jamiat Ulema-i-Hind at the Darul Uloom Islamic seminary was the first occasion when a Hindu religious figure addressed the audience, primarily comprising Muslim clerics. The jam-packed pandal of the seminary, which is the seat of Sunni Muslims in Asia, fell silent as Pandit NK Sharma started reciting sacred Sanskrit texts at the dias. More than two lakh clerics and students first listened attentively to Hindu religious texts which dealt with peace, unity and brotherhood and then watched the yoga performance of Baba Ramdev. Ramdev, in his signature style, started with a brief introduction about unity, health and well being followed by demonstrating ‘anulom-vilom’, ‘pranayam’, ‘kapaal bhati’ and other ‘yogasans’ to the gathering. “I teach people yoga. I spoke of well being, healthy life. Haven't changed anyone's religion,” a beaming Baba Ramdev said. Incidentally, the 143-year-old influential seminary had in the past issued a fatwa in favour of yoga after some clerics banned Muslims from practising it. Stressing on the need to promote yoga, Ramdev sought to dispel misconceptions about the activity by saying, “The yoga is like an exercise to keep the body fit and do not violate any tenets of Islam since one is not required to recite any shlokas.” As the Baba, who is the founder of Patanjali Yaogapeeth in Hardwar, exhibited some fine technique about breath control, concentration, meditation, the audience was seen following him in the acts. He emphasised the need for promoting communal harmony saying the unity between Hindus and Muslims was the strength of the nation.
— PTI
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Four IM members held for Jaipur blasts
Jaipur, November 4 The accused have been identified as Inamul, Sheikh, Amjal and Azad. The MP police has confirmed their links with the Indian Mujahideen, one of the most active terrorist outfits in the country. They are also suspected to have links with the banned Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI). Acting on a tip-off, the MP ATS arrested them after raiding a house at Chaar Khamba area of Jabalpur. The ATS took them to the city’s Victoria Hospital for medical check-up after their arrest. All the four suspected terrorists were remanded in police custody by Chief Judicial Magistrate Sharad Chandra Saxena till November 30.
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Bypoll may change course of UP politics
Firozabad, November 4 A step towards this was the joint meeting addressed today in Tundla by two young MPs who are scions of the head of two political parties - Mulayam Singh Yadav’s son Akhilesh and Rashtriya Lok Dal president Ajit Singh’s son Jayant Chadhury. Technically SP is an ally of the UPA and the RLD of the NDA. Still ignoring this political divide the two parties today came together to campaign jointly in Firozabad with a view to humble their professed common enemy - the BSP. But clearly it is the growing stature of their real enemy the Congress party that has led them into eachother’s arms in order to remain relevant in the state’s political scenario. It is the Congress candidate Raj Babbar who is giving a formidable fight to SP president’s daughter-in-law Dimple Yadav in what till now was considered his pocket borough. In all likelihood BSP candidate Dr SP Singh Baghel is fighting for the third spot and the BJP is virtually an “also-ran”. RLD’s logic for joining hands with the SP is that his ally the BJP is in no position to keep the BSP out hence his decision to support SP.
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UP Memorials
New Delhi, November 4 Gupta offered apology to a Bench comprising Justices HS Bedi and JM Panchal in response to the court’s notice asking why contempt proceedings should not be launched against him for violating the court’s September 8 order. Taking note of Gupta's personal appearance, the Bench exempted him from personal appearance in future and adjourned the matter for further hearing till Nov 30. The apex court also granted three weeks to petitioner Mithilesh Kumar Singh and the civil society group Gomti Nagar Sanstha to file their responses on the state government’s plea to recall the order banning the construction of memorials with statutes of Dalit leaders at a cost of Rs 2,600 crore.
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Uddhav: Those opposing Vande Mataram should go to Pak
Mumbai, November 4 Thackeray said the fatwa was issued in the presence of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram which showed that the Centre was indulging in minority appeasement. “If anti-national fatwas are issued in the presence of the Union Home Minister, there is no future for the country. It looks like the Centre has a policy of Muslim appeasement for votes,” he alleged. He said Vande Mataram were not just two words but a flame to invoke nationalism. “If you don’t want to salute the motherland, whom do you salute then? Those who don’t want to salute Bharatmata should go to Pakistan, Bangladesh,” Thackeray said.
— PTI
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Vande Mataram Row New Delhi, November 4 Jamiat-e-Ulema Hind on Tuesday had justified the fatwa against singing the national song ‘Vande Mataram’. The resolution, which was passed at the Deoband national convention meet, says that Muslims should not sing ‘Vande Matram’ as some verses of the patriotic song are against the tenets of Islam. The BJP had criticised the Home Minister for attending such a conference where a series of fatwas, including the one on the Vande Mataram were passed. The statement of the ministry said Chidambaram was at the conference between 10 am and 12 noon and he was reading from a prepared text and there was no occasion to depart from that text.
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Plea to ratify UN convention on corruption
New Delhi, November 4 “If India signs the convention, it will help the country to recover assets and money stashed in foreign countries. Under the convention, countries can freeze, seize and confiscate property owned by citizens of other countries in their country,” Anupama Jha, executive director of the NGO said. “Since Switzerland has signed the convention it will help us recover or seize assets stashed by our citizens there. The convention also provides that the money or assets can be returned to the country to which the owner belongs,” she said. The convention, ratified by 120 countries, including Pakistan and Bangladesh, requires the parties to introduce robust legislative and institutional frameworks for preventing and combating corruption and for cooperation across borders. — PTI
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8 students drown as boat capsizes
Malappuram, November 4 The boat had about 35 persons on board, mostly students of Sullum Salam Higher Secondary School at Moorkkanad. They were on their way to the Oorngattiri village when the mishap occurred near Areekkod, 25 km from Kozhikode city. The victims, in the age group of 16 to 17, included a girl. When the boat capsized, it was around 30 m away from the boarding point, eyewitnesses said. Many of the survivors either swam to safety or were rescued by local people.
— PTI
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Japanese agency to give Rs 395 cr for Buddhist circuit project New Delhi, November 4 Addressing the Economic Editors’ Conference, she said the project included development of Buddhist centres situated at Sarnath, Kushi Nagar, Kapila Vastu, Sravasti and Sankisa. Selja said the RBI de-linking credit for hotel projects from commercial real estates (CRE) would enable hotel projects to get credit at relaxed norms and reduced interest rates. With a view to provide required additional room capacity of 30,000 in the NCR region, regular monitoring of ongoing projects was being undertaken. “Out of the 10,268 rooms in definite category, 5645 (over 55 per cent) were found to be complete and directions have been given to complete the remaining well before the Common Wealth Games,” she said.
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