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India to support resolution on Palestine
States begin to feel petrol pangs
Maharashtra may be forced to cut sales tax
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Delhi recognises new Libyan regime
Maya writes to PM, seeks quota for Muslims
In season of setbacks, youngest Reddy has a tough poll to fight
29% Indians don’t exercise; women lazier!
Orissa seeks 1 lakh houses for the flood-hit
Delhi blast: One more dies; toll 15
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India to support resolution on Palestine
New Delhi, September 17 Briefing reporters on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to New York next week to attend the UNGA, he recalled that India was among the first countries to recognise Palestine in 1988. Currently, India is a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council and its voice carries weight. The US has already announced that it would veto any resolution on Palestine statehood in the UNSC while Russia has promised to back the resolution. With Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas likely to forward a formal request asking the UN to accept Palestine as its member, the issue may well become one of the main items on the UNGA agenda this time around. Meanwhile, no bilateral meeting is lined up between Prime Minister Singh and US President Barack Obama or Pakistan Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani in New York next week on the margins of the UNGA. While President Obama would have left New York when Singh reaches there on September 22, the Pakistani Premier has cancelled his visit to the US following heavy floods in his country. Mathai said Singh would address the UNGA on September 24. India’s priorities in the current session would include, continuing its efforts for reform of the UN with a view to creating an equitable system that was reflective of contemporary realities. “We feel that unless comprehensive reform of the UN Security Council is undertaken, the process of UN reforms would only be piecemeal and incomplete. We along with the G-4 and other like-minded countries would continue to work proactively, to maintain the momentum for UN Security Council reforms.’’ Mathai said the PM’s bilateral meetings with other leaders were still being worked out. It is, however, understood that he would have meetings with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the newly appointed Nepal Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai. External Affairs Minister S M Krishna, who is leaving ahead of the PM, will also have bilateral talks with his counterparts from different countries. A meeting with Pakistan Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar is also not ruled out. There is no meeting fixed between India and China at the PM’s level or at the level of the foreign ministers. Mathai said the recent terrorist attack in New Delhi had once again served as a reminder of the constant threat posed by terrorism to the security of democratic societies and well-being of its citizens. “We are currently chairing the Security Council’s Committee on Counter-Terrorism. The committee is organising a special meeting on September 28. We will reiterate the need for strong international cooperation and collective action against terrorism. We have time and again insisted on full compliance by all states of their obligations under various UN Resolutions and mechanisms on counterterrorism. We will also push for an early adoption of the Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism (CCIT) that will provide a global normative framework against terrorism.’’
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States begin to feel petrol pangs
Kozhikode, September 17 “The present price hike will earn Kerala additional sales tax revenue of Rs 108 crore, which will be waived. This will result in petrol price coming down by 70 paise in the state,” Chief Minister Oommen Chandy said while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a function here. He said he had held discussions with Finance Minister K M Mani and UDF leaders before taking the decision. Chandy said the UDF government had waived about Rs 400 crore additional revenue generated on account of increase in prices of petrol and diesel after coming to power four months back. He added the previous CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front Government had waived sales tax on petrol just once, while the prices increased 16 times. LDF government had earned additional revenue of Rs 600 crore during its tenure, but had not adopted a people-friendly approach, he said. Chandy also urged the Opposition to withdraw its ongoing agitation in protest against the hike, which saw violent protests in the last two days and three government vehicles being torched. — PTI
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Maharashtra may be forced to cut sales tax
Mumbai, September 17 All the political parties including the ruling Congress have come out in protest against the recent hike in petrol prices. While the Opposition BJP and the Shiv Sena hit the streets ever since the prices of petrol were raised, leaders from the ruling Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party in Maharashtra have met senior ministers in order to press for a reduction of sales tax. “Maharashtra government’s revenues have gone up sharply after the increase in petrol prices this year. We hope government reduces the burden on the common man by slashing sales tax,” said a senior Congress leader who was scheduled to meet Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan later today. Officially, the Congress insists that BJP-ruled states levied higher sales tax on petrol. However, in private, party leaders fear soaring prices would dent popularity of the Congress, which faces elections to many local bodies early next year. According to estimates prepared by Maharashtra’s finance ministry, the state government’s revenues from sales tax on motor fuels would touch nearly Rs 10,600 crore during the current financial year. Last year, Maharashtra earned Rs 9,397 crore by way of sales tax on these products. Sales tax on motor fuels in Maharashtra is among the highest in the country at 26 per cent. In addition, a one rupee cess is levied on every litre of petrol.
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Delhi recognises new Libyan regime
New Delhi, September 17 India had been in contact with the TNC in Benghazi and Cairo but was skeptical about the situation in the North African nation. With the Muammar Gaddafi regime seemingly on its last legs and most countries with economic interests in Libya preferring to cast their lot with the new rulers in Tripoli, it has eventually dawned on New Delhi that any further delay in supporting the TNC could affect its vital economic interests in the Arab nation. “India has been in contact with the TNC in Benghazi and Cairo. India has also participated as an observer in the Libyan Contact Group meeting in Istanbul in July and recently at the Minister of State-level at the Paris Conference on Libya jointly organised by France and the United Kingdom on September 1,” the External Affairs Ministry said. India would also participate in the high-level meeting on Libya scheduled to be held on the margins of the UNGA on September 20, called by the UN Secretary-General. At this meeting, India would reiterate its willingness to extend all possible assistance to the people of Libya in their political transition, rebuilding and reconstruction activities, the ministry said in a statement. It said the Indian Charge d’affairs based in Tunis had formally established contact with the TNC Mission in Tunis. India has given humanitarian assistance worth $1 million through the UN to Libya and an assistance of another $2 million was being processed, the ministry noted.
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Gogoi shown black flags over land pact
Guwahati, September 17 Gogoi, who was in the entourage of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Dhaka, came back to Assam this afternoon from abroad where he had gone immediately after the Bangladesh visit. While travelling to his official residence from the airport through the Gauhati University campus, he was shown the black flags by students who had lined along the National Highway-37. The protesters claim that the Dhaka pact would result in handing over of Assam land to Bangladesh. The police had set up barricades to prevent students from squatting on the road to block the convoy of the Chief Minister. With protests against the land pact gaining momentum, the Opposition - the Asom Gana Parishad and the BJP - are apparently coming closer to cash in on the situation and put the ruling Congress on the mat. The Asom Gana Parishad is trying to garner support of the BJP and other NDA allies to raise the issue of India-Bangladesh land pact in Parliament to prevent its ratification. The Congress, on the other hand, is taking steps to enlighten its legislators and district presidents in the state about the real facts of the pact. Gogoi claims that the land pact would give Assam 1,024 acres of disputed border territory while Bangladesh will get 357 acres.
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Maya writes to PM, seeks quota for Muslims
Lucknow, September 17 "In order to provide reservation to Muslims so as to give them opportunities in accordance with their population, consideration can be given for required provision in the Constitution through an amendment on which my government is committed to provide complete support," Mayawati said in a letter to the PM. Mayawati said she was of the firm belief that if the condition of minorities, especially Muslims, has to improve then there is an urgent need to increase opportunities for them in education, employment and other walks of life. "Even after 64 years of independence, religious minorities, especially Muslims, are still backward and this has also been mentioned in the Sachar Committee report," she said. — PTI
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In season of setbacks, youngest Reddy has a tough poll to fight
Bangalore, September 17 The ruling BJP is said to be considering replacing Somashekhara by one of the directors of the KMF. If it does happen, it will be a huge setback for the Reddys, who had wrested the seat from former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda’s son HD Revanna two and half years ago. In the absence of Janardhana Reddy, who is in the CBI custody, and Karunakara Reddy, also being quizzed by agency sleuths in connection with the alleged illegal mining by their company Obulapuram Mining (OMC), Somashekhara does not have anyone worthwhile in the BJP to lobby for him. B Sriramulu, former Health Minister and a close associate of the family, has also submitted a letter to the Speaker for quitting the Assembly. It is unclear whether he is in a position to exert pressure on the BJP to retain Somashekhara as the KMF chairman. The chairman is elected by KMF directors. The ruling BJP has 9 out of the 18 directors, the JD(S) has three, including HD Revanna, three are government-nominated directors, including Chief Minister Sadananda Gowda. The three remaining directors are government officials. All the directors have voting rights. Revanasiddappa, a Lingayat from Shimoga, is said to have better chances than Somashekhara as he reportedly has the backing of former CM BS Yeddyurappa. Another contender for the post is P Nagaraj, a Vokkaliga from Ramanagaram. The election of KMF has come at a time when the CBI is hot on the trails of the Reddy brothers and Janardhana Reddy, the most enterprising of the three, is being kept in a dingy cell with hordes of mosquitoes and rats for company. Their case has been further complicated by the recovery of Rs 4.9 crore from a truck by the police in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.
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29% Indians don’t exercise; women lazier!
New Delhi, September 17 As many as 29 per cent of the country’s adult population does not exercise and in fact, barely moves. Women avoid physical activity more than their male counterparts, says a research compilation on NCDs. The Public Health Foundation of India has produced the compilation on the eve of the first ever UN summit on Non-Communicable Diseases scheduled to be held in New York on September 19 and 20. The document, detailing risk factors which expose Indians to NCDs, says about a fourth of the men in the country - 24 per cent, and one-third of women (almost 34 per cent), have inadequate physical activity levels (defined as one to 149 minutes of activity in the week before the survey). Physical inactivity is higher in urban than rural areas and also among those aged 45 or more, with over half of the adults in this age bracket being inadequately active. The compilation notes that population-based data on physical inactivity levels are sparse in India. “The Indian component of the World Health Survey, the only national-level survey thus far, found 29 pc of the adult population had inadequate physical activity levels,” states the document titled “Chronic NCDs in India”. At the UN Summit, world leaders will pass a political declaration to bring NCD control to the forefront of national effort and to display their commitment to fight surging diseases, which are the biggest cause of death and disability worldwide. India is seeking that mental health be included in the list of four NCDs which the WHO intends to target. These are cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, strokes and cancers. At the national health ministers’ conference held earlier in Russia to prepare for the New York summit, India had succeeded in getting the word ‘mental illnesses’ placed alongside the other four major NCDs in the resolution that was finally passed. Even the Draft Political Declaration on the UN Summit on NCDs - which will be taken up for discussion by the world leaders - reflects India’s position on mental health as an NCD. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will lead the Indian delegation to the summit, that is timed with the UN General Assembly session in New York.
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Orissa seeks 1 lakh houses for the flood-hit
Bhubaneswar, Sept 17 “Though the water level in the Brahmani river is above the danger level, the situation is under control. The authorities of Bhadrak and Jajapur are on the alert,” Chief Secretary B K Patnaik said after Chief minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation. The Chief Secretary said water level in most places in the Mahanadi delta region had receded though some villages continued to remain marooned in Puri district. “Some villages in Delang and Kanas areas of Puri district remain marooned. The villages are accessible by boat,” Patnaik said. With Union Minister of State for Agriculture Harish Rawat visiting Orissa, the state government demanded one lakh housing units under the IAY as an estimated 55,044 houses were damaged in 13 of the 19 flood-hit districts affecting about 28.44 lakh people. “At least 55,044 houses were found damaged according to preliminary estimates. The number will certainly rise after the final report is received,” he said. The state has also asked the Centre to provide seeds for the rabi crop as farmers had lost stored seeds, he said. —
PTI
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Allies with Modi, but wary of his being PM
New Delhi, September 17 The BJP has evidently put all its might behind this fast, with senior leaders L K Advani, Arun Jaitley, Rajnath Singh, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi and Himachal Pradesh chief minister Prem Kumar Dhumal attending the event in Ahmedabad. More may show up in the next two days. Taking a cue from a recent campaign for Anna’s Ramlila Maidan fast, the BJP has unleashed SMSes, phone calls and e-mails in support of Modi. BJP leaders also claimed organising similar fasts to back Modi supporters in different parts of the country. One such claim was made by BJP general secretary Vijay Goel, who sent an SMS saying, “Thousands of Muslims in support of Narendra Modi’s Sadbhavana Mission are sitting on prayer meeting at Jantar Mantar today.” But that was evidently not the case at Jantar Mantar. Curiously, Vijay Goel was the first one to announce his intent to go and join Modi’s Sadbhavana fast. But he obviously did not make it to Ahmedabad today and instead, he was ostensibly organizing a demonstration of Muslims here in support of Modi. Advani has thrown most of his NDA partners into a tizzy by almost announcing Modi’s candidature for PM’s post. To add weight, he has also got Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) commander and Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal to head to Ahmedabad. But while most NDA partners are worried only about Modi’s arrogance and intolerance of dissent, JD-U has to contend with Modi’s communal image, the Sadbhavana fast notwithstanding. Most JD-U leaders remained inaccessible all day. After considerable efforts, JD-U MP and leader of the Muslim Pasmanda Morcha Ali Anwar Ansari came on the line and said, “I don’t think it (Modi for PM) will be acceptable to allies,” and dismissed his “secular” fast, saying, “We have nothing to do with it.” But privately, JD-U leaders conceded they were caught in a jam. If the BJP actually chooses to project Narendra Modi, the JD-U would have little choice but to accept his leadership.
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Delhi blast: One more dies; toll 15
New Delhi, September 17 He is survived by his wife, three daughters and a son. “Yesterday, he had expressed his desire to meet his wife and son and we had agreed,” the doctor said. — PTI
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Six ‘Maoists’ arrested
Asian MPs push for women equality
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In a step aimed at providing some relief to the common man from the fuel price hike, Kerala government today announced it would waive the additional sales tax revenue of Rs 108 crore generated on petrol sales.
Stuck in the CBI net, the powerful Reddy brothers of Bellary may face another setback shortly.
The election for the post of the chairman of Karnataka Milk Federation is slated to take place on September 20 and the question doing the rounds in the political circles here is whether Somashekhara Reddy, the youngest of the three Reddy brothers, will get a second term. The post carries a Cabinet rank.
