|
|
|
|
|
Kalam moots Rs 200-cr action plan for Kudankulam area
Anna to restructure core team
What rift with Advani? It’s media made, says Modi
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Tribune
Impact
Moderate quake in parts of N-India
Trinamool leaders to call on PM today
‘Compensate’ Malegaon blasts accused
Congress, NCP workers’ clash blocks highway
Eleven injured in Kolkata violence
|
|
Kalam moots Rs 200-cr action plan
Creation of 10,000 jobs and building of a four-lane highway and a world-class hospital have been envisaged under the "Kudankulampura" project plan submitted to the Tamil Nadu Government for implementation by the Centre before 2015. Vouching for the project’s safety, Kalam, who visited the site yesterday, said people should not have "even a nano size doubt" over the safety of the project, as it met all the four safety aspects -- nuclear criticality, radiation, thermal hydraulic and structural integrity safety. Construction of a four-lane highway connecting Kudankulam and villages 30 km around it with Madurai, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari, a world-class hospital with over 500-beds, mobile medical facilities to locals and creation of 10,000 jobs to people in the radius of 30 to 60 km and bank loans to youth with upto 25% subsidy, have been suggested by him. In his study report submitted to the state government, Kalam also suggested creating infrastructure facilities like construction of green houses, a multi-storey housing complex, and playgrounds. He said fishermen in the area should be provided with motorboats, small jetties and fish cold storage facilities. Kalam, who prepared the report along with his advisor V Ponraj, said efforts should be made to provide locals 1 million litres of drinking water and water should be brought from Pechiparai reservoir in Kanyakumari district for agriculture and drinking water needs. The report also suggested setting up of five CBSE and state government syllabus schools with hostel facilities, connecting all villages through broadband Internet, setting up of Disaster Protection and Management Centre and guiding selected youth to get permanent employment. Kalam, a strong advocate of nuclear energy, said, "At the same time, efforts should be made to remove people's fears by providing relevant information and with their full co-operation, the plant should start functioning as scheduled to enable Tamil Nadu to get 1,000 MW power."
— PTI
|
|
Anna to restructure core team
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh said the Gandhian was “overestimating” the Jan Lokpal Bill and just passing the law would not help anyone. “I think he is overestimating the Jan Lokpal Bill. Corruption can only be removed by a comprehensive strategy of the government, the bureaucracy and the judiciary together so that it can be tackled at every level. Just passing the law will not help anyone. Corruption will not be removed only by Lokpal,” the Congress leader said even as Hazare alleged that those threatened by the Lokpal movement were attacking his supporters and close aides in order to break his team. “They fear that their political career will be jeopardised if a strong Lokpal mechanism comes into effect,” Hazare said at his native village, Ralegaon Sidhi. The social activist’s move to restructure his core team comes against the backdrop of allegations that he was being misguided and used by his team members to fulfil their political agenda. Some key members in Team Anna are also facing allegations of financial irregularities. Initially, when the core committee was formed, there were also complaints from some sections that they were not given representation. Hazare said the aim would now be to take all sections in the core committee. “...Dalits, Muslims, adivasis and all others, nobody should complain that they were not given a chance,” he said. “Even the youth will be well represented,” he added. The social activist said the new committee would be for a longer period. “That committee was for two-and-a-half months. But the committee that we will form now will be for a much longer period,” he said, while asserting that he and his team would not be cowed down by anyone and challenged the government to show any evidence of misconduct or irregularities by his team.
|
||
|
What rift with Advani? It’s media made, says Modi
n
Says chair between him and Advani was vacant as its occupant, state party chief RC Faldu, was delivering his speech
Bharuch (Gujarat), Nov 7 Addressing a rally here today as part of Advani's Jan Chetna Yatra, he reacted to reports of friction between him and the BJP veteran and said these had been created by the media during its coverage of the yatra yesterday. "It is all a handiwork of the media barons," Modi said, in the presence of Advani whom he accompanied in the specially-configured bus throughout the yatra yesterday and today to drive home the point that all was well between the two. He was reacting to reports that there were cold vibes between him and Advani, both said to be in the race for the Prime Minister's post, despite his welcoming him in Vapi with a garland. Rebutting the news of rift, the Gujarat CM also referred to today's newspaper photographs of the vacant chair between him and Advani in yesterday's meeting in Vapi as proof of their differences, and said the chair "remained vacant because state party president RC Faldu was delivering his speech." "There is a visible major rift because the chair between Anant Kumar and Advaniji was empty. If Modi is standing to deliver his speech, then his chair would obviously be empty. All the national dailies had a big story about the chair between Anant Kumar and Advaniji being empty. What has happened? Maybe, just as we add spice to bland food, similarly media sensationalises things," he said. "Media likes creating a controversy," Modi said lamenting that the media barons were "playing into the hands of certain Congress leaders who were working behind the scenes for planting such news items which were untrue." "Even if I am not in the newspaper headlines or TV screens, I have found a place in the hearts of the people," Modi told the crowds amid a roaring applause. Accusing the UPA government of trying to suppress the anti-graft agitation, Modi said,"Did Anna Hazare begin the agitation against corruption for some position or to become the prime minister? "No. He did not even want to become the sarpanch of his village Ralegaon Siddhi. But the Congress put him in jail for raising voice against corruption," he said. "The other name of corruption is Congress. The 'C' in the Congress stands for the 'C' in corruption...Till you rid the nation of the Congress, you will not be able to end corruption in the country," Modi said.
— PTI
|
||
|
Tribune
Impact Tribune News Service
New Delhi, November 7 According to sources, instructions in that regard were issued to the Border Roads Organisation last week, saying “this is top priority work”. People associated with such projects have been briefed by engineers as regards the pace of work that was expected of them in the coming months. The work on the Hindustan-Tibet road, running north of Shimla towards Rekong Peo-Sumdo, is one such project. The ministry would be monitoring the work. “Issues created” due to various procedural matters would be sorted out, sources said. In its editions dated October 18 and October 19, The Tribune had brought out how construction of strategically vital roads in the Himalayas was tottering way behind schedule and in some cases, stopped altogether. Till the end of September, the first half of the fiscal, only 25 per cent of the road-building work that was allocated for this financial year had been completed. Only Rs 1,337 crore had been spent by the BRO out of its budget of Rs 4,962 crore for the year 2011-12. Some of the roads are of such strategic importance that the Army is paying out of its own budget and some roads had been recommended by the all-powerful China Study Group (CSG) headed by the Cabinet Secretary. At the start of this summer, a spate of complaints led to a court of inquiry, presided over by Lt-Gen SS Sengupta, Commandant of the Pune-based College of Military Engineering. It noted: “The existing organisation, procedures and practices followed by the BRO will not hold ground in today’s environment.” The BRO is tasked with strategic road-building in the Himalayas. The Army and states demand high-quality work and complete accountability, it said. “There is a need to restructure the BRO with better practices and transparency,” said the court of inquiry report and recommended formation of a study group. The report was submitted last month and it dismissed most of the complaints since these could not be proved.
|
||
|
SC to hear PIL seeking ban on wildlife tourism
New Delhi, November 7 While Dubey maintains wildlife and not travel trade that is important, operators, backed by some leading wildlife experts and tiger numbers, today claimed that the tourism, in fact, had helped tiger conservation through increased awareness and surveillance in their habitat. Meanwhile, the National Tiger Conservation Authority
(NTCA) has already opposed any move to permit tourism or any other human activity in core area of sanctuaries and tiger reserves in the state, saying that these areas should be kept “inviolate” for tiger conservation-the reason perhaps for the disquiet among tour operators. The Travel Operators for Tigers India Wildlife Association
(TOFT India) has termed Dubey’s SLP to ban wildlife tourism in critical tiger landscapes as “irrational, hugely dangerous, and not based on sound scientific evidence or proof on the ground”. Some tiger specialists and eco-tourism experts are backing the
TOFT, urging the Supreme Court to continue to allow responsible tourism across national parks and wildlife sanctuaries “in the interest of protecting the tiger population and its habitat. “Wildlife tourists, who carry camera’s not axes, do not poach, do not graze cattle, do not submerge forests with dams, do not gouge out holes for mining, clear fell trees for roads or industrial parks is being unjustifiably blamed for killing tigers, says the TOFT head Vishal Singh. “Wildlife tourism has been one of the keys to saving our parks, being a watchdog, building media and public attention, park accountability and alternative livelihoods for rural communities bordering parks. We, instead, call for better vision, policies and training to manage visitors both inside and outside parks, not a blanket ban,” he says, contending that “at times unseen and unloved sanctuaries and forest corridors lost their tigers and wildlife to poaching, grazing, neglect, agriculture and extractive pressures.”
Dubey, who is the secretary of the Bhopal-based NGO Prayatna, however, says wildlife should be the top priority and not tourism, objecting to the way the travel trade operators were “trying to influence the verdict even as hearings were going in the
court. Dubey had earlier filed an PIL in MP, seeking a ban on all kinds of commercial tourism and other human activities in core and critical areas. The court, however, rejected the petition, thereby prompting him to move an SLP in the apex
court. Dubey says that the MP government to allow tourism in core areas adversely affected the wildlife, especially tigers. “MP is home to two-thirds of the country's tiger population but with the government succumbing to commercial interests, the state's tiger population had registered a sudden decline.” The NTCA in its reply before the Supreme Court also said “the word 'inviolate' means without any disturbance by human beings. This is essential for conservation of tigers. There is also an ecological necessity to conserve critical corridor connectivity for saving tigers,” in a way lending support to Dubey's
PIL. Belinda Wright of the WPSI says that “guides, naturalists and many lodge owners are often the best eyes and ears of a park, and many a time we have heard intelligence about illegal activities coming from them before the authorities.” Tiger expert Valmik Thapar says that intelligent tourism plays a critical role in protecting the wilderness and endangered species both in core and outer buffer areas. “Any effort to ban tourism from core areas in India will have disastrous consequences on the future of India’s wildlife.”
|
||
|
Moderate quake in parts of N-India
Srinagar/Chandigarh, November 7 People scampered out of their homes in panic in
the Valley as the quake, lasting a few seconds, struck at 5.29. Mild tremors were also felt in many parts of Punjab, Haryana and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, officials said adding no loss of life or damage to property was reported. The epicentre of the temblor, measuring six on the Richter scale, was Hindukush region in Afghanistan, the MeT department said.
— PTI
|
||
|
Trinamool leaders to call on PM today
New Delhi, November 7 Mamata has threatened to withdraw support to the UPA over the petrol price hike. However, her colleague and Union Minister Sudip Bandyopadhyay was quoted as saying that what they would be demanding from the Prime Minister tomorrow was “participation in these grave issues”. He said the TMC chief had complained that despite repeated pleas, there was still no coordination committee in the UPA consisting of allies. The common man was being affected, Bandyopadhyay said, adding that “that is not a good thing. No, we are not asking for a rollback. We are trying to represent the grievances of the common man. Prices of diesel and gas are going to increase, is what we are hearing”. While demanding changes in the operational structure of the UPA coalition, TMC leaders are also likely to put forward their demand for monthly or quarterly meetings. The meeting of the delegation sans the party chief comes in the wake of UPA ally’s pull-out threat over the latest fuel price hike. Trinamool Congress, with 18 members in the Lok Sabha, is the largest ally of the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. While a member of the delegation said Mamata would take the final call ahead of the meeting, Mamata said her party would not compromise on the price rise issue. “We will not compromise on the price rise issue which is hitting the common man the most. Our battle will go on. Our party MPs will meet the Prime Minister tomorrow, if he gives time, and express our grievances and listen to what he says,” said the West Bengal Chief Minister and leader of the second largest constituent of the UPA with 18 Lok Sabha and six Rajya Sabha MPs. The TMC held an emergency meeting of its parliamentary party last week after which Mamata said the leaders favoured withdrawal of support but later she put on hold such a move. A senior leader said after meeting the Prime Minister, they would return to Kolkata on November 9 and report to Mamata “who will take the final call”. Buoyed by support from allies like the NCP, the Congress is not losing any sleep just yet over the Trinamool threat. Congress leaders say they expect the issue to be resolved, arguing that Mamata was part of the Group of Ministers that decided to decontrol petrol prices.
|
||
|
Bard of Brahmaputra returns never to leave Assam again
Guwahati, November 7 It took over seven hours to carry the body in a flower bedecked the 25-km distance between the airport and his residence through a sea of his crying and sobbing friends who lined up along the away who waited patiently to pay last tribute to their beloved “Bhupen Dada” for the last time. It was an unprecedented scenario that can hardly be described in words. No one in the region has even been paid tribute in such a benevolent show of mass respect. The air in the city reverberated with timeless melodies of Dr Hazarika. His body was laid on the specially decorated cane and bamboo bed where he used to take rest when in Guwahati residence. State Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Governor J B Patnaik received the body which was accompanied by Kalpana Lajmi and Manisha Hazarika among others at Guwahati airport. All the educational institutions, state and Central government offices, banks and financial institutions, business establishments and even fuel stations in the state will remain closed tomorrow in respect of the departed cultural icon. He will be laid to rest tomorrow. Every household and business establishment in the state lighted earthen lamp tonight in respect of the departed “Sudha Kantha” and people shouted “Bhupen Hazarika amar Hauk” (Bhupen Hazarika will remain immortal among us). The body will be kept at the historic Judges Filed in the city in the night before his cremation at 1 P.M. tomorrow. People of Assam have organised night-long prayers in all the temples and prayer halls (Naamghar) converting the atmosphere entire state similar to that prevails in and around a holy place.
|
||
|
‘Compensate’ Malegaon blasts accused
Mumbai, November 7 "Though investigations in the case are not over yet and the accused persons are still to be acquitted, it is clear that the Anti-Terror Squad of the Maharashtra police which investigated the case framed them. Everything has come out after Swami Aseemanand's confession (before a Delhi court in December last year) that the 2006 and 2008 blasts were carried out by Hindu fundamentalist groups," says Maulana Mustaqeem Azmi, president, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Maharashtra. Leaders of the Muslim community like Azmi are now demanding that the Maharashtra government punish officers of the ATS who allegedly framed those accused in the Malegaon blasts. "The lives of those accused and their families have been ruined. People have lost their livelihoods," says Azmi. Last week, Judge Yatin Shinde of the special court set up under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) granted bail to seven of the nine persons accused in the Malegaon blasts case. All of them - Noor-ul-Huda (24), Shabbir Masiullah (34), Raees Ahmed Rajjab Ali (35), unani doctors Salman Farsi and Farog Makhdoomi, Mohammed Zahid Abdul Majeed, Abrar Ahmed Saeed (35) Mohammed Ali and Asif Bashir Khan alias Junaid, a mechanical engineer from Jalgaon of the blasts were accused of the blasts first by the ATS and then the CBI which took up the probe. Only after Swami Aseemanand's confession did the National Investigation Agency began probing the matter afresh and considered giving the accused a clean chit. Of the nine, Ali and Khan have been accused afresh of planting bombs in Mumbai's local trains on July 11, 2006. The seven accused who have been granted bail by the MCOCA court will be released on Wednesday after all the formalities are concluded. The ATS which took over the probe in the wake of the 2006 blasts had charged the nine men with colluding with Muzammil, a Pakistani citizen, in carrying out the blasts. As per the story spun by the investigating agency Muzammil arrived in Malegaon with a consignment of RDX which was assembled into bombs. Three bombs went off at the Hameediya mosque while a fourth exploded at Mushawerat chowk on the of September 8, 2006. The blasts claimed 31 lives and injured 297.
|
||
|
Jaya’s case hearing resumes today
Bangalore, November 7 The court on October 21 had adjourned the hearing to November 8, as recording of Jaya's statement on 1,000-odd questions framed in the case remained inconclusive during the 2-day hearing. Sources close to Jayalalithaa said she would move an application before the court tomorrow seeking postponing of the hearing to a later date, an option given to her by the Supreme Court while dismissing her plea for personal exemption last week. The apex court had asked the trial court to complete her deposition in one or two sittings and adjourn the November eight hearing to an another date.
— PTI
|
||
|
Congress, NCP workers’ clash blocks highway
Ratnagiri, November 7 Activists of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) blocked the highway around 3 p.m., protesting against the ransacking of Minister of State for Urban Development Bhaskar Jadhav's office in this tourist town, allegedly by supporters of Industry Minister Narayan Rane of the Congress. The blockade inconvenienced thousands of tourists from Mumbai, who were rushing back after the
Diwali vacations for the reopening of schools and colleges from Tuesday. The NCP activists vandalised the local Congress office here and some even attempted to set it on fire. "We are investigating the issue. So far we have
not made any arrests," a police officer said. Konkan region strongmen Rane and Jadhav have been engaged in a war of words in the past few days as the civic elections in various towns and cities are round the corner. Rane has targeted the Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling coalition ally NCP during his mass-contact programs in the coastal region. Jadhav's supporters alleged that Rane's son and Congress MP Nilesh Rane arrived
with five vehicle loads of supporters who smashed his (Jadhav's) office Monday afternoon. "They did not even spare images of Lord Ganesh and Chhatrapati Shivaji
which were installed in his chamber," a supporter told reporters. On his part, Jadhav said that Rane is like a one-man leader in his party with no support. "My party is fully behind me. This (violence) appears to be his culture," Jadhav said. However, senior Congress leaders in the state have chosen to keep mum on the ongoing war between two heavyweights from the Konkan region, where the Congress and NCP are attempting to upstage the Shiv Sena in the ensuing local polls.
— IANS
|
||
|
Eleven injured in Kolkata violence
Kolkata, November 7 The trouble erupted after personnel of Bhowanipore police station objected to blaring music during the procession and asked the organisers to switch off the music. This enraged the mob which started pelting stones at the police station, and police retaliated with a baton-charge. A section of the mob damaged a police vehicle and tried to set it afire. "Ten people have been injured and rushed to SSKM hospital. A policeman has also sustained injuries. Stern action will be taken against whoever is guilty. There are complaints of indiscriminate baton-charge by the police. This angle will also be looked into,” said state Urban Development and Municipal Affairs Firhad Hakim, who reached the spot. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose Kalighat residence is near the spot, rushed to Bhowanipore police station and addressed the mob to bring the situation under control. “An incident has taken place. Action will be taken against whoever is guilty. If some police officer have also committed wrong, he will be punished. All of you please go home now,” she said. The situation was now under control, the police said.
— IANS
|
|
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Letters | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | E-mail | |
Ruling out differences between himself and senior party colleague LK Advani, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today accused the media of playing into the hands of the ruling Congress and sensationalising news.
Chennai, November 7
New Delhi, November 7