 |
|
|
INS Deepak joins Navy’s western fleet
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
No troop reduction in JK, says Antony
2G SPECTRUM SCAM
SC notices to UP, CBI on Banda girl’s rape
Aarushi case: Talwars’ plea for papers rejected
A day after Aussies, UK says clear dues
Oil spill off Mumbai coast as ONGC pipeline leaks
One farmer killed in clash with police
GoM to firm up Lokpal Bill at the
earliest
Now, UK says clear CWG dues
|
|
INS Deepak joins Navy’s western fleet
Mumbai, January 21 Today, the Navy got new fleet tanker INS Deepak. The ship has a capacity to carry 15,500 tonnes of liquid cargo that can be used to re-fuel warships while they are at sea - cutting down on the lengthy process for war ships to dock at a port to replenish. A normal ‘destroyer’ class warship with the Navy can sail for two-weeks after a mid-sea re-fuel. INS Deepak can refuel 10-12 such warships and four of them can be done simultaneously. The 175-metre long and 25-metre wide tanker is built entirely at Fincantieri ship yard in Italy with Bharat Electronics Limited and the Ordnance Factory Board providing some key electronics and weapon systems. Besides fuel and water, the ship is also capable of carrying 500 tonnes of solid cargo that could be a combination of ammunition, including missiles and rockets, and dry provisions for the fleet. The tanker can also load 16 cargo containers on its upper deck, making it one of the largest in the fleet. The commissioning of the ship into the Western Fleet is considered a major milestone as it would revolutionise the combat support operations at sea and extend the reach of the nation's naval power. This is the first of the two such “Deepak class” of tankers to be inducted this year. The Navy now has three fleet tankers - Russian-built INS Jyoti and indigenous INS Aditya being the other two. The fleet tanker, constructed and delivered in a record time of 27 months, has aviation facilities and can operate various types of helicopters from its deck. It has a self- defence capability provided by 30-mm guns and indigenous anti-missile defence system. Defence Minister AK Antony commissioned the ship and termed it as a “great moment” for the Navy. He said the current year would see more acquisitions and commissioning of vessels to strengthen maritime security. “Such a ship that sustains fleets at sea for prolonged periods, is a vital asset to ensure Indian Navy’s continuous presence in our area of interest”, he said while asking Indian ship builders to learn the lessons of faster ship building. Speaking at the induction ceremony, Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Nirmal Verma said: “The induction will add significantly to conduct operations distant from our coast.”
|
|
No troop reduction in JK, says Antony
Mumbai, January 21 If there was any reduction of security forces in Jammu and Kashmir it would be of paramilitary troopers as there was no proposal to reduce military personnel in the troubled state. “There was some confusion. The announcement that was made was about paramilitary forces,” Antony said while referring to Union Home Secretary GK Pillai’s statement on cutting troops by 25 per cent and the subsequent remarks by Army Chief Gen VK Singh that the troops would not be cut, had caused the confusion. Talking on the same lines as the Army Chief, Antony asserted that the Unified Command, in Jammu and Kashmir should take any such decision. Antony when asked if the stand of the ministry would remain the same on the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA), hinted that a status quo would remain. The Ministry of Defence is not in favour of any dilution of the AFSPA, while the Home Ministry is keen on removing Srinagar city from the Disturbed Areas Act, following which the AFSPA would stand automatically revoked in that city.
|
|
2G SPECTRUM SCAM
New Delhi, January 21 A Bench comprising Justices GS Singhvi and AK Ganguly also passed an order asking the CBI, probing the scam under the SC monitoring, to carry out the investigation “without being influenced by any statement by anybody”. The Bench issued the order after hearing Janata Party president Subramanium Swamy’s assertions that the CBI investigations would be affected by the minister’s “intemperate and uncalled for attack” on the CAG for its methodology to calculate the notional loss in the allocation of spectrum in 2008 to telecom companies at 2001 prices instead of opting for auction. During the arguments, the Bench used the word “minister” without mentioning the name of Sibal, but in the order preferred to use just “anybody”. “In our opinion, the CBI which is conducting the investigation into what has been termed as 2G scam is expected to carry on the investigation without being influenced by any statement by anybody in the Press or otherwise,” the order said. Swamy also sought a court directive restraining the government from renewing the licences of telecom companies that had failed to meet the service roll-out obligations. The Bench issued notice to the Telecom Ministry, TRAI and the 11 defaulting companies on Swamy’s prayer for cancellation of the licences and posted the next hearing for February 1.
|
|
SC notices to UP, CBI on Banda girl’s rape
New Delhi, January 21 The court also issued notice to the Banda Superintendent of Police and Jail Superintendent. Instead of treating the minor girl as a victim under the Juvenile Justice Act and proceeding against accused BSP MLA Purushottam Dwivedi, the police and the judiciary had jailed the victim on false charges of theft, the petition filed by Chennai-based advocate D Irudaya Nathan said. The SC should intervene and discharge its duty as the “savior of civil rights” guaranteed under the Constitution, petitioner Nathan said. He also demanded a CBI inquiry into the rape case under the supervision of the National Commission for Women and the apex court.
|
|
Aarushi case: Talwars’ plea for papers rejected
Ghaziabad, January 21 The CBI had filed a closure report on December 29 last. The CBI had been strongly opposing the handing over of documents to Aarushi’s father Rajesh Talwar. In its closure report, the CBI had claimed that Rajesh was a "suspected accused" in the case but a chargesheet was not being filed against him due to lack of sufficient evidence. Today the CBI lawyer submitted that Talwar was not a complainant and was instead a "suspected accused" and hence not entitled to get documents pertaining to the case. Talwar's lawyer Satish Tamta said if Talwar was a suspected accused, then why was no chargesheet filed against him. He then requested the court to order a reinvestigation into the Aarushi's murder in 2008. Court has fixed next date of hearing as January 25 when court will decide whether to reopen the case or not. — TNS
|
|
A day after Aussies, UK says clear dues
New Delhi, January 21 “SIS Live fulfilled its contractual obligations, against which all payments should have been made by now. The company is owed Rs 96 crore. It is not right that the company should be penalised in this way. We look forward to early resolution of this matter,’’ British High Commissioner to India Richard Stagg said when asked for his reaction to media reports about possible further delay in the payment of remaining fees due to the British broadcaster. He said London was pursuing the matter with extreme urgency. “SIS Live is a leading British broadcaster with over 70 years’ of experience of covering major international sporting events. SIS Live’s coverage of the Delhi CWG was widely praised as first-class. The quality of the production captured the very essence of the spectacular opening and closing ceremonies and the games themselves. It provided great enjoyment for Indian and international audiences alike.’’ The British envoy’s statement came a day after new Sports Minister Ajay Maken asked the government nominees in the CWG organising committee to thoroughly verify all the outstanding dues and ordered that "legitimate" payments be made within 10 days to all the firms. Government sources today said the issue of non-payment of dues to certain companies associated with the organisation of the CWG Games was being seriously addressed by the Sports Ministry. SIS Live was contracted by Prasar Bharati to provide host broadcast television production and coverage facilties for the CWG. The contrract provided for payment in four instalments: 30 per cent each in three instalments and ten per cent as the final payment. SIS Live is said to be still waiting for the final two instalments amounting to Rs 96 crore. The invoice for the final payment was submitted in December. The British broadcaster says it has actively pursued the matter with the Prasar Bharati and the Information and Broadcasting Ministry but without success. The British High Commission in New Delhi was told that Prasar Bharati was an autonomous body and it should directly approach the Indian public broadcaster. Its apprehesnion is that it has been caught in the wider allegations of corruption around the CWG. Subsequenlty, Prasar Bharati’s CEO B S Lalli was also suspended by the President.
|
|
Oil spill off Mumbai coast as ONGC pipeline leaks
Mumbai, January 21 According to the ONGC, the leak was detected at around 8.45 am on the Mumbai-Uran Trunk pipeline and oil supply through the pipeline was switched off soon after. The leak happened two kilometres from the BPB platform located 80 kms from the Mumbai coast, according to ONGC. The company said it was diverting oil produced from its well at the Bassein oil fields off Bombay High through ICP-Heera Uran Trunk pipeline. ONGC pumps out 212,000 barrels of oil per day from this pipeline. The company said it has mobilised pipeline repair vessels, including three multi-support vessels, to detect and repair damage to the pipeline. Divers from the company are being deployed to carry out repairs, company officials said.According to the company, the loss of oil output due to the damage could be around 25,000 barrels of crude oil. As part of the disaster management plans, the Coast Guard has activated the contingency plan to contain the oil spill.
|
|
One farmer killed in clash with police
Lucknow, January 21 The land of eight Allahabad villages is being acquired for Jaiprakash Power Ventures’ Sangam Power Project, ignoring the newly introduced land acquisition and rehabilitation policy. Farmers are up in arms against the rates at which the land was acquired for the project in 2007-08 and have been protesting for the last eight months by observing fasts unto death and a sit-in dharna. Today, trouble started when hundreds of farmers turned violent when the local administration arrived with a large police force to get the area vacated. Hundreds of farmers blocked the road, pelted stones, set government vehicles on fire and squatted on railway tracks. Some also attacked security personnel and shouted slogans against the local administration. The ADM’s car and a police Gypsy were set ablaze and the mob also damaged a section of the railway track. About 10 trains headed for the strife-torn area had to be stopped in the tracks and several have been diverted. "We will not bow before the pressure and force the state government is using against us,” said Ram Bahadur, an angry farmer. — TNS
|
|
GoM to firm up Lokpal Bill at the earliest New Delhi, January 21 The panel of ministers plans to come out with concrete suggestions by the Budget Session slated for February 21 so that further progress can be made. The initial draft of the Lokpal Bill covers the Prime Minister and is presently under circulation with various ministries. The Lokpal Bill has had a long and chequered history.Legislations in the past had included the Prime Minister within the ambit of the bill only on a few occasions. The current bill provides for inquiry against Prime Minister but it has to be routed through the Speaker of the Lok Sabha and the Lokpal can hear it only if it is cleared by the Speaker. The National Commission for Review of the Working of the Constitution in 2001 had recommended that the Prime Minister should be kept out of the Lokpal’s purview since he occupies a unique position and is the head of the entire governmental structure. The GoM also directed the Cabinet Secretary to constitute two committees to compile the various reports available with the government dealing with the issue of corruption. The committees will compile the various recommendations made in the past and return to the GoM. The next meeting slated shortly is likely to decide on a structured timetable to decide on the seven point agenda of the panel. Among the seven issues handed over the GoM for its consideration is the proposal to amend the Article 311 of the Constitution, which is meant to protect government servants against arbitrary dismissal and punishment.The view in the government is that this article, which was meant to act as a shield for honest employees, has now become a hindrance. — PTI
|
||||||
|
Now, UK says clear CWG dues New Delhi, January 21 “SIS Live fulfilled its contractual obligations, against which all payments should have been made by now. The company is owed Rs 96 crore. It is not right that the company should be penalised in this way. We look forward to early resolution of this matter,’’ British High Commissioner to India Richard Stagg said when asked for his reaction to media reports about possible further delay in the payment of remaining fees due to the British broadcaster. He said London was pursuing the matter with extreme urgency. “SIS Live is a leading British broadcaster with over 70 years’ of experience of covering major international sporting events. SIS Live’s coverage of the Delhi CWG was widely praised as first-class. The quality of the production captured the
|
||||||
Manas park gets 4 more rhinos
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
New Delhi, January 21
New
Delhi, January 21
Meeting for the first time since its formation on January 6, the GoM directed the Cabinet Secretary to form two committees to examine the various reports dealing with anti-corruption mechanisms. The GoM, headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, met here for the time and discussed possibilities of giving the Lokpal Bill, aimed to go into allegations of corruption against public functionaries, a “final shape” in the coming days.
