New Delhi, September 16
Concerned over mobilisation attempts being made by religious and fundamentalist groups over the Ayodhya issue, the Centre today appealed to all sections of society to maintain peace and order after the delivery of the High Court verdict on the Ram Janmabhumi-Babri Masjid title suit on September 24.

The issue came up at the Un ion Cabinet meeting that later passed a resolution, asking the people to ensure that the delivery of the judgment was seen in its proper perspective as part of the judicial process. The determination of the issues need not necessarily end with this judgment unless it was accepted by all parties. In case any of the parties felt that further judicial consideration was required, there were legal remedies available which could be resorted to.

“It is important for all to ensure that the highest traditions of Indian culture and respect for all religions are fully maintained,” said the resolution, read out by Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni to the media. The Centre issued the appeal in English, Hindi and Urdu. The appeal will be issued in regional languages as well.

It said India was firmly and resolutely on the path of inclusive growth. This was recognised all over the world. Nothing must be said or done and nothing must happen that might cause the country to deviate from its goals and its objectives.

The Cabinet’s resolution came in the wake of intelligence inputs that the verdict in the case might also be used as a weapon by political groups for electoral purposes during the Assembly elections in Bihar in October-November. The Centre is quite certain that whichever way the judgment goes, one party to the dispute would be unhappy. Since there is apprehension of breach of peace, the Centre has already cautioned the states to take all possible measures on the law and order front in view of the impending verdict.

New Delhi, September 16
The Supreme Court has admitted a petition challenging the allotment of land by West Bengal government to former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly for construction of a school in a posh locality of Kolkata.

The apex court issued a notice to the state government and Ganguly on a petition filed by an NGO which has alleged that the land at Salt Lake locality was alloted to the cricketer allegedly by flouting all procedures.

A Bench comprising Justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly took an undertaking from the cricketer's counsel that he will not go ahead with any construction activity and maintain status quo on the land till further order.

The Bench noted the undertaking by senior advocate U U Lalit, appearing for Ganguly, that "his client will maintain the present status of the land in question".

Taking on record the statement of his counsel, the Bench said "In view of the statement of the learned counsel, we do not consider it necessary to pass any interim order". — PTI

New Delhi, September 16
A senior Congress MP and former Chief Minister of Orissa today claimed that he escaped a bid on his life at his residence here after a former aide allegedly attempted to open fire at him to take revenge for sacking him.

Hemanand Biswal, MP from Orissa’s reserved Sundargarh Lok Sabha constituency, told police that his former aide Prabhat Kumar Sharma tried to shoot him at his 7, Kamaraj Lane, residence at around 4 am.

The police is investigating the claims made by the 71-year-old lawmaker and has registered a case against Prabhat Kumar. However, investigators expressed doubts over Biswal’s claims as the scene of crime and his claims about a scuffle did not match. Biswal claimed Sharma was looking after renovation of the building but was asked to leave some months ago after bungling was detected in accounts. Biswal said he had submitted a written complaint in this regard to authorities two months ago. “He (Prabhat Kumar) might have wanted to take revenge,” the MP claimed.

According to the MP, he was going to the washroom when he saw Sharma opening one of his briefcases. “I asked him what was he doing and caught him by his neck. I was taking him to another room when I fell on a sofa. Then he pulled out a pistol and put it to my head. I caught him by his hand,” he told reporters.

Biswal claimed that Sharma then tried open fire at him but the weapon malfunctioned. “He pulled out another pistol but by the time he became scared and fled from the house,” the MP said. Asked how Sharma managed to flee from the house despite two security personnel guarding the premises, Biswal claimed that the former aide knew the house and area well. — PTI 

New Delhi, September 16
Amid divergent views within the Congress on tackling Maoists, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said that Naxals are political elements out to capture power and the issue of development was "more imaginary than actual".

"Development is needed. Lack of development may swell their (Naxals') cadre. But they do not run charitable institutions ...They are political elements and want to capture the power of the state," Mukherjee said.

He was addressing a seminar on 'Development in Red Corridor' organised by Hindi daily 'Nai Dunia' here.

Recent months have witnessed Congress leaders like Digvijay Singh and Keshav Rao differing with the approach of Home Minister P Chidambaram on tackling the Naxal issue with Digvijay emphasising that it should not be treated merely as a law and order problem.

The Finance Minister, however, clarified that his opinion was neither of the government nor of the Congress but "stray thoughts".

He said the Maoists do not believe in democratic system which would ultimately prevail and for development plans in Naxal-hit areas, a conducive environment is required.

"They don't believe in democratic system. They think power comes out from the barrel of the gun but ultimately the democratic system would prevail," he said.

The minister, however, said that there is need to correct the system.

Rejecting the proposition of existence of a red corridor from Pashupatinath in Nepal to Tirupati, he said, "the proposition is difficult to accept" and termed it as largely ephemeral. "There is an element of romanticism in using these phrases and these are erroneous conclusions," he said.

Recalling the Naxal movement in Kolkata and West Bengal in the early 1970s, Mukherjee said that he thought that it would never end.

"It did not last long and cannot last long," he remarked, adding that the issue is simplified when it is said that the Maoist violence was due to lack of development and lack of opportunities and basic amenities in these areas. This is not the sole reason, the minister said.

"This is more imaginary than actual," he added.

Mukherjee admitted that in certain pockets, the writ of the government does not run, pointing out that the Maoists consider them equal to the government and want to replace the government with the help of guns. — PTI

New Delhi, September 16
India will phase out ozone-depleting substance hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), used for refrigeration and air-conditioning, by 2030, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said today. This will be achieved in line with the Montreal Protocol, a treaty to protect the ozone layer. “By 2013, we are going to eliminate the use of HCFCs at 2009 levels. We hope to achieve the target deadline as we have already phased out cholroflourocarbons (another ozone-depleting substance) 17 months ahead of the schedule year of 2010.” Ramesh said at a function to mark ‘Ozone Day’.

He also pointed out that India has played an important role in framing the Montreal Protocol which was signed on September 16, 1987 by the members of the United Nations to take steps to protect the ozone layer. — PTI

New Delhi, September 16
Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha, who had raised a banner of revolt immediately after the party’s debacle in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, is believed to have resigned as in charge of Punjab affairs protesting against the BJP aligning with the JMM again to form a government in Jharkhand.

BJP sources said Sinha was also apparently unhappy at not being considered for the post of Chief Minister of the state.

However, party president Nitin Gadkari said he had not got any communication from Sinha.

Sinha had attacked the BJP leadership following the dismal showing of the party in the Lok Sabha polls for not taking action against those responsible for the poor results and instead were rewarded.

Sinha, a member of the BJP national executive, had also sulked when he was not made chairman of the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament. — PTI 

Chandigarh, September 16
The Central Board of Secondary Education will soon introduce a software to track everyday classroom performance of a student.

To be unveiled on October 6, the software will ensure that both the parent and teacher know the problem being faced by a student and rectify it there and then. The software will create an online file for each student wherein his performance -- either in marks or grades -- will be recorded. The assessment shall comprise of a summative or written test and formative or co-scholastic classroom activities. At the end of the academic session, a student will be assessed by the year-round performance.

“It will be a boon as both parents and teachers will know how a student is performing each day. If their is any problem, it will come to fore and will be rectified at the right time. It will also ensure transparency in students’ internal assessment where there will be key factors to justify his score,” said Madhu Bahal, CBSE Master Trainer and KB DAV College, Sector 7, Chandigarh, principal. The system will also ensure that teachers do not whimsically assess students.

The education board has tied up with IT companies Cisco Systems, Microsoft Corporation Private Limited and Intel Corporation to develop the software.

The CBSE has also instructed all affiliated schools to establish in-house systems for data collection. It will be introduced in classrooms after seeking a feedback of parents. The software will be unveiled at the ongoing principals’ meeting at Thiruvananthapuram being attended by around 170 principals from across the country. 

Kolkata, September 16
Rahul Gandhi has advocated the adoption of the Haryana model in the country’s new land acquisition policy.

At a crowded press conference on the last day of his three-day visit to the state today, the AICC (l) general secretary said he had studied the land acquisition system in Haryana. There was no problem either for the farmers or the private sector in acquiring land in the state and, according to him, the Haryana model was the best which all other states should follow.

In his hour-long press conference at Howrah’s Sarat Bhavan, Rahul dealt at length on several important issues.

He said there ware no differences in the UPA and the Cabinet on the land acquisition policy. There was no proposal for introducing any new law on the land acquisition policy. The government has been planning to amend the existing law on a consensus basis which could serve the larger interests of the farmers.

On the Kashmir issue, Rahul said. “It is no part-time problem”. Backing Chief Minister Omar Abdullah he said he needed more time and support of others for tackling the problem, adding that the Centre was fully supporting Omar on the Kashmir issue.

Rahul, however, declined to make any comment on the demand of withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) from the trouble-torn Jammu and Kashmir, saying that he was not the competent authority to make any comment on such a sensitive matter. Only Prime Minister was entitled to comment on the issue, Rahul remarked.

The AICC (l) general secretary said he would soon visit Kashmir and also take part in the government’s initiatives of solving the Kashmir problems. “But Omar Abdullah should be given more time and support by the Centre for tackling the issue,” he observed.

During his visit to Kashmir, Rahul said he would appeal to the youths in the state to get involved in the political activities for taking up the future leadership.

The young AICC (l) leader said the Congress would forge an alliance with the Trinamool Congress in the coming Assembly elections in West Bengal for defeating the CPM.

September 16
Seeking fulfilment of their long-pending demand to get U.T. status for the Ladakh region, all nineteen councillors of the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC-Leh) belonging to the Ladakh Union Territory Front (LUTF) and their lone MLA from Nubra joined the BJP in the presence of former BJP president Rajnath Singh here today.

The Chief Executive Councillor (CEC) of the LAHDC and the former MP, Leh, Thupstan Chhewang along with a number of supporters joined the saffron party, saying that only after joining any national party their voice would be heard in the Parliament.

“The BJP has always supported our ideology and demand to get UT status for Ladakh. That’s why we along with our MLA from Nubra, Tsetan Namgial have joined the BJP,” said Thupstan Chhewang, patron of the LUTF.

He added, “At a time when people in Leh want relief and rehabilitation, the NC-Congress government in the J&K has announced the elections of the LAHDC, just to get power. We earlier suggested all political parties here to oppose the elections, but except Congress everyone agreed. We will now contest the elections under the banner of the BJP.”

“The union government has always supported the voice raised by people living in Kashmir valley and gave us step-motherly treatment. This would not be tolerated anymore and we will raise our voice through the BJP in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha,” he alleged.

“Those sitting in New Delhi have always shown their concern for Kashmiri people. Don’t they think people living in Ladakh and Jammu have also some aspirations and emotions?” asked Dorje. He added the government should include the people of Ladakh and Jammu in the committee to decide anything about Jammu and Kashmir.

Welcoming the new members, Rajnath Singh said, “I was told by our national president Nitin Gadkari to visit Leh and welcome the new members of the BJP. I, on behalf of the BJP, will assure them that their demand to get UT status for the Ladakh would be raised in the Parliament in the next session.”

Terming the state government as insensitive, Rajnath said, “I am really surprised to know that the state government has announced the LAHDC elections and that too when the district administration is busy providing relief and rehabilitation to the flood-hit victims.”

“I will talk to the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to delay the elections as much as possible,” he added. The elections of the LAHDC will be held on October 16.

Meanwhile, Nawang Rigzin Jora, the state Tourism Minister who is a Congress MLA from Leh, said, “We are in a strong position to win the LAHDC elections. The LUTF people were actually in need of funds and now their need would be fulfilled by the BJP. We have enough support from people belonging to all religions, including the Muslims. So we have no worries.” 

Udaipur, September 16
The Udaipur police suspects that Azam Khan, a key witness in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case, staged the attack on himself to grab attention.

Azam's friend Iqbal, who was with him at the Udai Sagar Lake when the alleged attack took place, told the police that Azam engineered a “fake attack” on himself by using a country-made pistol, SP, Udaipur, Sanjeev Narzary said. Iqbal was interrogated yesterday and Azam, who had been discharged from hospital would be interrogated today, the SP said, adding Azam was still maintaining that he was attacked by two separate motorcycle borne assailants.

Iqbal told the police that Azam's aim was to grab attention, Narzary said. An expert team of Forensic Science Laboratory in Jaipur, including ballistic specialists has been called to investigate the matter, he said. At the time of the attack, only Azam and Iqbal were present at the spot near the Udai Sagar Lake. — PTI

Lucknow, September 16
Jan Kranti party leader Kalyan Singh seems to be relying on ‘Ram Lalla’ to revive his flagging political career.

Today, the former Chief Minister, travelled to Ayodhya in a huge cavalcade for a darshan of ‘Ram Lalla’. Steering clear of controversy, the Mayawati Government allowed him darshan under strict security, despite Section 144, which prevents assembly of five or more persons, being in force. Amidst rumors of Kalyan Singh’s cavalcade being stopped at the Barabanki-Faizabad border, around 200 of his supporters were allowed to enter the Ram Janambhoomi complex and pay obeisance in batches of 20.

Speaking to the media in Ayodhya, Kalyan Singh charged his former party —the BJP — with betraying the Nation by capturing power in the name of building the Ram temple but putting it on the back burner after assuming power. 

Bangalore, September 16
In the bypolls to the two seats in Karnataka Assembly, the results of which were announced today, the ruling BJP won one seat while the other seat went to JD(S), the second largest opposition party in the state after Congress. The bypolls were held following the deaths of sitting legislator KM Krishnamurty of the Congress representing Kadur and Chandrashekhar Patil Revoor of BJP representing Gulbarga South constituency.

Siddaramaiah, the Janata Dal (Secular) strongman who joined the Congress with a promise of mobilising the voters of backward castes and was accorded the post of CLP leader because of this, sent his resignation letter to the AICC headquarters today following the defeat of Congress candidates in the bypolls in two Assembly constituencies held on September 13.

BJP leader and Karnataka Home Minister VS Acharya was quick to point out that the results of the bypolls had shown that the foot march from Bangalore to Bellary — organised by the Opposition Congress in the July-August period on the issue of illegal mining — had failed to influence the voters. The “padayatra”, led by Siddaramaiah, was expected to give a boost to the Congress party’s sagging fortune in the state.

After today’s results, the strength of the JD(S) in the 225-member Karnataka Assembly has gone up to 25 and that of the Congress has come down to 73 from 74. The BJP continues to have 116 MLAs as the loss of the Gulbarga South seat by the party has been compensated by the victory of the party at Kadur.

Arunadevi Patil, the widow of BJP legislator Chandrashekhar Patil, won the Gulbarga South seat on JD(S) ticket by defeating her nearest rival of BJP by over 3,500 votes. Ajay Singh, the son of former Congress Chief Minister Dharam Singh and Congress candidate from the constituency, figured in the third position in the triangular contest.

BJP candidate Vishwanath wrested the Kadur seat from Congress by defeating his nearest rival from JD(S) by over 3,900 votes. Here too the Congress aspirant secured third position. Siddaramaiah, who is also the Leader of the Opposition in Karnataka, had personally chosen the Congress candidate for Kadur. He also camped in Kadur and campaigned for the party candidate for nearly a week.

Siddaramaiah, it may be noted, was ineffective in the bypolls held in August last year also when the BJP wrested the Kollegal seat from Congress, considered a pocket borough of the CLP leader.

In his resignation letter faxed to Sonia Gandhi this morning, Siddaramaiah wrote that he was resigning owning moral responsibility for the party’s defeat in the bypolls in two constituencies.