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Minorities feeling insecure in Gujarat, says Manmohan
Joshi: If voted to power, NDA to scrap FDI
Yeddy formally launches Karnataka Janata Party
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Nitish to PM: Give special status
to Bihar to boost growth
Pranab: India an emerging global economic superpower
Services to get seven new officer selection boards
Spate of dengue cases causes alarm in Mumbai
Jantar Mantar
Parliament ready for debate on intrusions by China
IAF to have midair refuelling
capability on all combat aircraft
Rushdie, family lose legal battle over bungalow
UN RIGHTS REVIEW
India keen on FTA with US to fill its energy basket
Eve-teasing may
become non-bailable offence in Maharashtra
Zee chief, son quizzed for second day
Maharashtra revives plan to promote coastal tourism
CWG tax evasion: Govt slaps recovery notices
State govt divided over demolishing Thackeray memorial
Back in Andhra Pradesh, Jayaprada finds herself at political crossroads
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Minorities feeling insecure in Gujarat, says Manmohan
Vansada (Gujarat), Dec 9 “The time has come to liberate Gujarat from this type of politics and to not let those people come back to power, who have been trying to get votes by dividing our society and country,” Singh said without naming Modi. “Congress party has always acted to unite the people of country. We know that if there are fissures in our people on the lines of religion, caste, creed and clan...we cannot surge ahead as a nation,” he said. “We have been getting regular complaints that minorities and a few other segments of society are feeling insecure in the state. Even a few state government officers have filed such complaints, which is very unfortunate for our country,” Singh said. “It is a matter of great regret that such type of environment has been created in the land of Mahatma Gandhi.” The Prime Minister also sought to pick holes in development claims of the Modi government, saying it has failed to take growth to the needy sections of society. “Development in Gujarat is only for a few people. A big portion of the population here has remained untouched by this economic development. Because of the policies of the state government, there is an imbalance in the society,” he said. “The foundation of Gujarat's development was laid by the Congress governments in 70s. It is due to the hardworking people of this state that it is considered to be developing,” Singh said. “When we talk about progress then the question also arises who is benefiting from it. Are the benefits of development reaching the villages and people who have been left behind in the race for progress? Are the benefits reaching minorities, scheduled tribes, scheduled caste....brother and sisters...women and children?” he asked. “These are some very important questions which I want to raise with regards to Gujarat...I have to say it with great sorrow that the state BJP government in this connection has been a total failure,” he said. “It is very unfortunate that in a developed state like Gujarat, 41 per cent of women are victims of malnourishment. ...if you look at women between 15-50 age group then you will find that 55 per cent women are anaemic,” Singh said. “I want to draw your attention towards the fact that if we take a look at top 20 states in terms of human development, Gujarat ranks 18. You will have to think what is the reason behind this,” he said. The Prime Minister said the public health sector was not in a good state in Gujarat and new employment opportunities for the youth were also not being generated. “Gujarat has not been able to spend a large amount of Centre's fund sent for employment generation in the rural areas of the state,” he said. — PTI
Manmohan speak
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Joshi: If voted to power, NDA to scrap FDI
Training his guns at the UPA, Joshi said according to a Transparency International report, FDI failed in five countries in which it was introduced earlier and added that it was not going to benefit small traders and farmers. He told reporters last evening that FDI would be scrapped if the NDA was voted to power in 2014 General Elections. Joshi alleged that the Walmart balance sheet said that the company has spent money to educate Indian politicians and claimed that this money was given to allow FDI in retail in the country. Joshi said that due to the opposition of the BJP, FDI was not introduced in the insurance sector and rejected the Centre's theory that FDI would enhance sale in fruit and cereals by 40 per cent. He claimed that it would increase sale only by a thin margin of five to seven per cent. Asked why the BJP proposal against FDI was defeated in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, he said that in both Houses, most of the members spoke in our (BJP) support, but they did not vote for us due to personal gains. — PTI
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Yeddy formally launches Karnataka Janata Party
Bangalore, December 9 Defying the BJP’s stern warning, a number of party MLAs and one minister took part in the rally. RP Jagadeesha, a Yeddyurappa group spokesperson who was Yeddyurappa’s official media adviser when he was the Chief Minister, said 17 MLAs, seven MLCs and minister Sunil Vylapure were present at the dais with Yeddyurappa at the rally. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar also admitted that “10 to 12 BJP MLAs” were present at the Haveri rally. Yesterday, the BJP dropped a minister (who is a member of the legislative council) and suspended a Lok Sabha member for siding with Yeddyurappa. However, if it takes action against all those MLAs, who were present at the Haveri rally of Yerddyurappa today, the BJP government in the state would be reduced to minority. In the 224-member Karnataka Assembly, the BJP has a strength of 117 (minus Yeddyurappa), only four more than what is required for simple majority. The Congress has 71 members and Janata Dal (Secular) 26. There are seven Independents and two vacancies. Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar, however, remained unfazed. He told reporters in Bangalore that his government had support of 120 MLAs. The Assembly elections in Karnataka are due in May 2013. Yeddyurappa, credited with bringing the BJP to power in Karnataka for the first time in 2008, severed his four decades old association with the saffron party on November 30 when he also quit the Assembly. Earlier today, Yeddyurappa had held a breakfast meeting with his supporters which was attended by large number of MLAs, ministers, Lok Sabha members and MLCs. According toYeddyurappa camp spokesperson Jagadeesha, 23 MLAs, eight ministers, four Lok Sabha memnbers and eight MLCs were present at the breakfast meeting. Fearing disciplinary action, the ministers, except Vylapure, gave a miss to the rally held in the afternoon. The Lok Sabha members, who were present at the breakfast meeting, also ducked the rally. Even Yeddyurappa’s son BY Raghavendra, BJP MP from Shimoga, kept away from the programme despite him being actively involved in preparations for the rally. Addressing the gathering, Yeddyurappa repeated his by now familiar “betrayal” charge saying he has been betrayed first by HD Kumaraswamy and then by Sadananda Gowda and now by Jagadish Shettar. He said while he was instrumental in making Shettar the Chief Minister, the latter was now singing to the tune of the BJP high command. The BJP did not keep its promise of re-instating him as the CM, Yeddyurappa, who had to resign from the Chief Minister’s post in July last year after being accused by the Lokayukta of receiving cash bribes worth crores from a mining company, alleged. Yeddyurappa said Shettar must concede that he was heading a coalition government of the BJP and KJP. If Shettar really had guts, he should dissolve the Assembly and hold fresh elections in Karnataka, the Lingayat strongman said. The rally also saw unveiling of a yellow-white-green flag of the KJP. Even though the KJP was supposed to be regional party, Yeddyursappa ended his speech by shouting “Bharat Mata Ki Jai” and then chanted “Jai Karnataka”.
Yeddyurappa, credited with bringing the BJP to power in Karnataka for the first time in 2008, severed his four decades old association with the saffron party on November 30 when he also quit the Assembly
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Nitish to PM: Give special status
to Bihar to boost growth
Kumar made the projection for Bihar citing its per capita income being one-third of the country and low developmental indices in all core sectors. The renewed demand for a special category status was made by the Chief Minister in a letter written to the Prime Minister which he handed over to him during a meeting on December 6 in New Delhi, an official statement said here today. In his six-page letter, Kumar contested a report of inter-ministerial group (IMG) set up by the Prime Minister which suggested that Bihar's development deficit needed special resource support to overcome economic and infrastructural backwardness but rejected its plea for special status. “As if with settled predilections and hurried consultations, the IMG came to the conclusion that Bihar does not have a hilly terrain or a sparse population to deserve a special category state status," Kumar wrote in the letter, a copy of which was made available to the media today. Contesting the report, he said, "This was somewhat ironical, if not contradictory, because on several key parameters, particularly the proneness to natural disaster, high population density and being at the rock bottom of all developmental indicators should have led to the opposite conclusion.” — PTI
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Pranab: India an emerging global economic superpower
Haridwar, December 9 This was stated by President of India Pranab Mukherjee here today in Haridwar, while on a day-long visit to Uttarakhand. President Pranab Mukherjee was speaking as chief guest at the 4th convocation of Dev Sanskrit University, educational wing of Shantikunj Gayatri Family. Stressing that in the past eight years, since the 14th parliamentary election, India has maintained an impressive 8 per cent plus growth rate, while worldwide major economies felt the heat of economic crisis. Compared to other larger economies, Mukherjee pointed out that in terms of Gross Domestic Product growth rate, India stood second only to China, while it was the third largest economy globally. The President attributed economic resilience in testing times to the mixed economic policy and education sector, which remained key actors in bearing repercussions of economic crisis. Citing premier technological and management institutes IIT's (India Institute of Technology) and IIM's (India Institute of Management) success, he added that these institutes were the flag bearers of the Indian education sector in the whole world. "The IIT and the IIM have made a benchmark of their own. So while in 2006 the number of IITs was 7, today it stood at 15, while in same time period the IIMs have increased from 6 to 13. In the 11th Five Year Plan period, 279 degree imparting educational institutes had been opened, while there are 33,023 colleges in the whole country. Education sector has taken a surge, carrying forward India's quench towards global domination," said the President. He expressed concern over India lagging behind in terms of research, technological advancement and innovation. Citing a number of patents application filed in 2010, Mukherjee said that in the same timeframe, neighbouring China filed 3 lakh patents, Japan 1 lakh and USA 4.20 lakh, which itself indicates towards the huge gap that exists in R&D between India and developed countries. Earlier, President Pranab Mukherjee awarded 32 gold medals, 1390 degrees to students and also felicitated three persons, Matsuda Yashuhiro, Macro Fenni and Narendra Kohil for their distinguished work in academic and social fields. Lauding the moral-based value education incorporated with technological expertise, Pranab Mukherjee recommended other educational institutes to follow the Dev Sanskriti University model. He cited foreign country students like Japan, Italy, Korea, Spain, China, USA and Nepal coming to study in the university as an example of moral-spiritual-based education acceptance. The President also showered praise on Shantikunj founder Shri Ram Sharma Acharya's contribution to society. Uttarakhand Governor Aziz Qureshi, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Vijay Bahuguna, Shantikunj All World Gayatri Family head Shailjiji and Vice Chancellor, Dev Sanskriti University, Pranav Pandya, were also present at the convocation ceremony. The President said he was delighted to be in the holy land of Uttarakhand in the midst of the Himalayas and in the vicinity the of holy Ganga-Yamuna. This was a pious land as well as land of martyrs,Pranab Mukherjee added.
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Services to get seven new officer selection boards
Chandigarh, December 9 Under plans approved by the MoD, the Navy will get three more SSBs, while the Army and the Air Force will be get two more each. At present, there are a total of 18 selection boards for all three Services, which include 11 for the Army, four for the Air Force and three for the Navy. The SSBs for the Army are located at Allahabad, Bhopal and Bangalore with those for the Air Force being in Varanasi, Dehradun, Mysore and Gandhinagar. The Navy’s selection boards are located at Bangalore, Bhopal and Coimbatore. Each city has several selection boards. Candidates seeking a commission as officers in the armed forces are detailed for assessment by the SSBs after having qualified in the written examination held by the Union Public Service Commission or after fulfilling other eligibility criteria as stipulated by the government. The assessment is spread over five days to determine a candidate’s “officer-like qualities” and his capability to be an effective group leader under challenging situations through a series of personality, psychological and intelligence tests. Sources said that the move to increase the number of selection boards was initiated to reduce the pressure on the existing boards after some additional entry schemes, especially for the technical streams, were introduced. Though lakhs of candidates pass through the SSBs every year and there is no dearth of the number of aspirants, the Services are not attracting the best among the youth as a career in the armed forces no longer seems to be lucrative given the opportunities and remuneration available in the civilian sector. The shortage of officers has has impacted operational preparedness, man-management and officer-men relationship.
Battling acute shortage
The Army is short of 11,500 officers in the junior and middle rungs, while the Navy and Air Force are short of 1,606 and 1,342 officers respectively
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Spate of dengue cases causes alarm in Mumbai
Mumbai, December 9 According to information available from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 907 dengue cases have been reported in the city with 166 persons contracting the vector-borne disease in November alone. However non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working in the health sector have contested the civic body’s claims. According to the activists, data put out by the state government’s Health Department and Mumbai’s civic body are at variance. “Since dengue is not a notifiable disease, private hospitals are not required to report the cases to the Mumbai municipal corporation,” says Abhijit Godse, an activist in suburban Mumbai. The data available from the BMC and the Health Department consist of information only from the public hospitals, he contended. The latest dengue death was reported on Wednesday when income tax agent Tariq Jafri, 32, a resident of Malvani in Mumbai, died of the disease at the private Kokilaben Ambani hospital. His wife and four-month-old daughter are also in the hospital with the disease. Municipal councillors from different parts of Mumbai are calling for insecticides to be distributed among residents’ associations in order to eliminate mosquitoes. Mangala Gomare, who heads the epidemiology cell of the civic body, said the Mumbai municipal corporation had its own procedures before it could confirm dengue in private hospitals. “We can take cognisance of dengue cases only if all prescribed tests are conducted by the private hospitals,” she said. Thanks to the bureaucratic red tape, the authorities are yet to concede that veteran film-maker Yash Chopra died of dengue, despite it being certified as the cause of death by the hospital in which he passed away. The authorities at the BMC are waiting for the Central Government to officially notify that Chopra died of dengue, sources say. Now, an NGO has filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Bombay High Court, seeking information on the actual number of dengue cases in 2012. The body, Help Mumbai Foundation, has included several agencies like the Indian Council of Medical Research and the Association of Medical Practitioners in Mumbai as respondents. In its petition, the NGO pleaded that dengue be categorised as a notifiable disease. It has also pleaded that the authorities should set up a task force to combat the disease.
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President Pranab gets a warm welcome down South
Anita Katyal
Pawar’s passion for music
JD(U) MP bonds with Sharma
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Parliament ready for debate on intrusions by China
New Delhi, December 9 The crucial verbal commitment in this regard was made on the floor of the Lok Sabha on December 5. However, it was lost in the din of the heated atmosphere due to the foreign direct investment (FDI) debate that day. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath said: "The government is ready for discussion under rule 193 on China". The Congress leader was responding to demands made by the BJP MP's and also Samajwadi Party boss Mulayam Singh just minutes before the mandatory question hour was to end on December 5. The BJP MPs were on their feet to protest what they termed an incomplete and insufficient reply to a question on China posed by Lalji Tandon, MP from Lucknow. Tandon had asked the External Affairs Ministry about "incidents of infiltrations by the Chinese Army into the Indian Border…whether the government does not perceive the infiltration by the Chinese Army into Demchok area in Ladakh as dangerous to the security of the country". Tandon lodged a protest on the floor of the House, saying the reply of External Affairs Minister Salmaan Khurshid was not enough. Khurshid tried to explain that there were differing perceptions of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and there has been no agreement between India and China on demarcation of the border. Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar, herself a former Indian foreign services officer, took the mood of the MPs in mind and suggested: "I think the House is agitated over it. If you send me a notice, we could have a discussion". The Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Lok Sabha allow, under Rule 193, any member desirous of raising discussion on a matter of urgent public importance may give notice in writing. It has to be accompanied by an explanatory note stating reasons for raising discussion on the matter and be supported by signatures of at least two other MPs. In the past there have been questions in Parliament on Chinese transgressions along the disputed LAC. In May this year, the Rajya Sabha was informed how differing perceptions of the LAC between India and China has led to a whopping 505 transgressions by Chinese soldiers since January 2010. Indian officials explain 'transgressions', saying, since India and China do not agree on the LAC, hence soldiers on either side patrol up to the point they perceive as the LAC. Soldiers on both sides show a banner asking the other party to withdraw when the LAC is crossed. Despite the underlying tension, the process of withdrawing by both sides keeps a lid on the situation along the tense frontier between the two edgy neighbours.
Positive talks on with Beijing: Khurshid
Farrukhabad (UP): ‘Positive’ talks are on with China over the border dispute, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid has said, hoping that desired results would be achieved. "Positive talks are going on over the border dispute with China and we hope that desired results would come from them," Khurshid, who was here in his parliamentary constituency, told reporters. He hoped that the new leadership in China will facilitate bilateral talks. — PTI
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IAF to have midair refuelling
capability on all combat aircraft
Disclosing this, the IAF vice chief, Air Marshal DC. Kumaria, said at the Fifth National Seminar on Aerospace Technologies (N-SAT) recently that the decision applies to all its current and future acquisitions - whether combat jets, transport aircraft, helicopters or other assets. Only aircraft with this capability will be considered for acquisition in future, he observed adding that technology and strategic requirements have evolved over time and that the IAF decision is in line with the current thinking in military aviation worldwide. The N-SAT series on military aviation is held by India Strategic defence magazine (www.indiastrategic.in) annually. It lays emphasis on a building technological edge for the Indian armed forces, and significantly, most participants agreed that if an air force was not thinking of 20 years hence, they it is already behind the times. In the late 1970s for instance, Air Marshal Kumaria pointed out, the IAF actually sought removal of aerial refueling plumbing from the Anglo-French Jaguar aircraft even though they were meant for a deep penetration strike role. Today, whether it is the long-range aircraft or helicopters, aerial refueling capability is a key requirement. It may be noted that IAF's current acquisition line includes Lockheed Martin C-130J Super Hercules, Boeing C-17 Globemaster, Embraer 145 for electronic radars, Agusta Westland's VIP role AW 101 helicopters, new AWACS and midair refuellers (Airbus Military MRTT or Russian IL 78) , Rafale fighter jets, and Boeing's Chinook and Apache helicopters. The last four items are under various stages of procurement. The existing Mirage 2000s, Sukhoi Su-30 MKIs and Jaguars already have this capability while on the Mig 29s, its plumbing will be activated during upgrades for midair refuelling. According to defence analyst Air Marshal (retd) Ashok Goel, the inflight refuelling capability is standard worldwide now and it would, in fact. cost more to remove it than to have it while acquiring and inducting new aircraft. All NATO and US aerial assets, for instance, are equipped with midair or in-flight refuelling capability and in the Gulf and Afghanistan operations, aircraft were able to conduct multi-mission strikes during single flights. "This in-flight refuelling capability," Air Marshal Goel told India Strategic, "literally has far-reaching implications, enabling modern aircraft to cover long distances 360 degrees." Thanks to the IAF's Il-78 midair refuellers, its Su-30 combat aircraft have gone up to the US in 2008 to take part in the multi-national Red Flag exercise, and will again do so in 2013, he said. It may be noted that midair refuelling capability will also be on board the Army and the Navy combat assets as the Chief of Staff Committee already has a Tri-Service agreement on common parameters for same and similar systems needed by them. The committee is currently headed by the IAF chief, Air Chief Marshal NAK. Browne, and he is on record as having said that there are no differences between the three Services on acquiring common systems with same or similar requirements. — IANS
Getting ready for multi-mission strikes
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Rushdie, family lose legal battle over bungalow
New Delhi, December 9 The apex court, however, has directed the buyer to pay the current market price of the property. Rushdie's father Anis Ahmed Rushdie had entered into an agreement with the then Congress leader Bhiku Ram Jain to sell his house situated in posh Civil Lines in North Delhi for Rs 3.75 lakh. Jain had paid Rs 50,000 to Rushdie and given an assurance to pay the rest of the amount after the owner got tax clearance certificates from income tax authorities. The two families then got into a dispute after they accused each other of not respecting the terms of the agreement. Jains then filed a suit in 1977 requesting the trial court to direct Rushdie for the execution of the December 1970 agreement. On October 5, 1983, the court ruled in their favour, saying Jains could get the property after paying the rest of the Rs 3.25 lakh to Rushdies. Rushdies then appealed in the Delhi High Court which on October 31 last ruled that Jains could not ask for transfer of the bungalow to them. It asked Rushdies to return Rs 50,000 with 12 per cent annual interest. Jains then approached the apex court which after hearing all sides came to the conclusion that the High Court erred in giving order in favour of Rushdies and quashed the order. "Having given our anxious consideration to all relevant aspects of the case we are of the view that the ends of justice would require this court to intervene and set aside the findings and conclusions recorded by the Delhi HC and to decree the suit of the plaintiffs for specific performance of the agreement dated December 22, 1970," a bench of Justices P Sathasivan and Ranjan Gogoi said. — PTI
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India rejects recommendation to review AFSPA
Accepts only 67 of 168 suggestions made to it during second UN-led review of human rights situation Aditi Tandon/TNS
New Delhi, December 9 UPR is the formal UN mechanism held every four years to monitor human rights situation in all countries. It’s a process whereby other nations act as peers to review the status of rights in a particular country. India’s first UPR was held in 2008. During the second one held in Geneva, peers gave a set of 168 recommendations to the Government of India on a range of issues. The government has accepted 67 of that and rejected the ones related to AFSPA and ratification of the UN Convention on Enforced Disappearances-a matter which is critical given the recent discovery of unmarked graves in Jammu and Kashmir. On AFSPA, the following three recommendations made to India have been rejected, “Review AFSPA to align it with your obligations under the International Convention on Civil and Political Rights; repeal AFSPA or adopt negotiated amendments to it that would address the accountability of security personnel; carry out an annual review of the 1958 AFSPA aiming to gradually reduce its geographic scope.” The government also rejected the critical recommendation of the UPR to ratify the convention on torture. “The strange part is that in the UPR of 2008, India had accepted the peer recommendation to ratify the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearances. And now it goes back on its own commitment and says it will not even accept a recommendation it had earlier accepted,” Vrinda Grover, Supreme Court lawyer, told the Tribune ahead of the International Day on Human Rights today. Grover was part of the working group on human rights in India and the UN. Among the rejected recommendations are two promises the UPA made in 2004 after evolving the common minimum programme following the 14th Lok Sabha poll. These were: “The government would increase health budget to 3 per cent of the GDP and education budget to 6 per cent of the GDP.” The government has not accepted any recommendation even on death penalty. Miloon Kothari, head, Working Group on Human Rights, said, “India did not even bother to explain why it was rejecting so many recommendations. Smaller nations like Egypt and South Africa have accepted many more recommendations of the UPR in percentage terms. If we claim to be part of an international human rights system and claim commitment to our own Constitution, how can we not ratify conventions on enforced disappearances, torture and how can we refuse to even review AFSPA.” The working group along with the National Human Rights Commission will now formally monitor India’s progress on the 67 UPR recommendations the government has formally agreed to accept. What is Universal Periodic Review It is a formal UN mechanism held every four years to monitor human rights situation in all countries. It’s a process whereby other nations act as peers to review the status of rights in a particular country
Suggestions on AFSPA
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India keen on FTA with US to fill its energy basket
New Delhi, December 9 According to official sources, the matter was raised by Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai during his recent talks in New Delhi with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman. Sources pointed out that US gas is available only to those countries which have signed FTAs with the US. India has held talks with the US on the issue but the two countries are far away from reaching an understanding on inking the pact. Sources were hopeful that the US would appreciate the fact that shale gas was of strategic and economic importance for India. The subject had also been high on the agenda of the energy dialogue between the two countries. US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell had recently stated that Washington was undertaking a study on how much shale gas the country had, how much the demand was and the benefits and costs involved if exports were allowed. She said a clearer picture would emerge by the end of the year and Indian companies would have to wait till then at least. Shale gas in the US is rapidly increasing as a source of natural gas. Led by new applications of hydraulic fracturing technology and horizontal drilling, development of new sources of shale gas has offset declines in production from conventional gas reservoirs, and has led to major increases in reserves of US natural gas. However, in the current political environment in the US, an FTA with India does not appear to an idea whose time has come. Slow employment growth in the US has raised fears about the loss of high-paying jobs to outsourcing, and the jobs lost to India have borne the brunt of these concerns. In the meantime, India is also looking at Canada and Azerbaijan as potential sources of energy supplies. The sources said the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) was in talks with some Canadian companies for shale gas. The state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Limited (OVL) has made investments in one of the oil fields in Azerbaijan.
Eyeing shale gas
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Eve-teasing may
become non-bailable offence in Maharashtra
Mumbai, December 9 Minister for Women and Child Welfare Varsha Gaikwad told PTI that she will discuss the issue with Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and set up a committee comprising social workers and women legislators to examine a draft Bill called the Maharashtra Prohibition of Eveteasing and Harassment of Women Act, prepared by the Help Mumbai Foundation. A delegation from the NGO met Gaikwad and submitted a memorandum along with the proposed Bill, demanding that it be tabled in the legislature so that a law with sufficient teeth is enacted to protect women from eve teasing and sexual harassment. According to the NGO, 80 per cent of women do not register a complaint due to family pressure and fear of being targeted or stigmatised. The Help Mumbai Foundation's director Sana Sayed said that Section 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with an intent to outrage her modesty) Section 506 (criminal intimidation) and Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Indian Penal Code, which are presently bailable offences, should be cognisable and non-bailable ones. Offenders should be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend upto three years and a fine of not less than Rs 20,000. Death or suicide of a woman due to harassment should be penalised with imprisonment of a term which may extend to ten years and a fine of not less than Rs 50,000, she said. Recently, Santosh Vichivara (19) was killed by five eve teasers in neighbouring Dombivli for protesting against eve-teasing. He was assaulted and stabbed outside the gate his housing complex. — PTI
Fighting the menace
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Zee chief, son quizzed for second day
New Delhi, December 9 They were asked to appear this afternoon to join the investigation by the Crime Branch officials of the Delhi Police for questioning and confronting them with two arrested Zee editors -- Sudhir Chaudhury and Samir Ahluwalia. The father-son duo was questioned after the police had sent three notices asking them to join the investigations in the case. They were questioned for around nine and a half hours yesterday and the investigation lasted till 11.30 pm. The duo came to the Crime Branch office at around 1.30 pm today. The arrested Zee editors were brought to the Crime Branch office last night where Chandra and his son were being questioned. Chandra had secured an interim protection from arrest till December 14 from a Delhi court. In a late night statement yesterday, Zee Group said both Chandra and Goenka extended full cooperation to the Delhi Police so that truth emerges. “We expect justice and a fair inquiry. The full cooperation ended speculations that Chandra and Goenka were avoiding joining the investigations,” it said. “Now that Chandra and Goenka have joined the investigations, the police has no ground to oppose the bail of the two editors,” Zee News Ltd’s counsel Vijay Aggarwal said. Sources said Chandra and Goenka yesterday denied the allegations during questioning and claimed it was an attempt to scuttle news reports on the Coalgate scam. The sources said Chandra was asked whether Ahluwalia had telephoned him and informed him about the discussions with Jindal's company. The police had claimed to have phone call records to show that Ahluwalia had spoken to Chandra for nearly three minutes explaining the discussions. |
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Maharashtra revives plan to promote coastal tourism
Mumbai, December 9 The attempts to promote coastal tourism in Maharashtra in the past were abandoned midway though the state-owned Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation has managed to sell destinations in the state to domestic tourists. Now, the state government has again started looking at promoting tourism in the Konkan belt, thanks mainly to funding from the Central government. “We have received Rs 225 crore from the Centre to boost tourism in the coastal belt after we submitted a comprehensive proposal to the Central government. Accordingly, we have launched some projects and more will be launched in a time-bound manner," said Chhagan Bhujbal, Minister for Tourism and Public Works. According to Tourism Ministry sources, officials from various departments like the Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation, the Archaeological Survey of India, Forest Department, along with the collectors of coastal districts, had prepared a comprehensive district-wise plan to develop tourism years ago. “These plans had been in cold storage for years. Now, these are being revived,” said a ministry official. To begin with, the state government wants to develop beach tourism for which budgets are being granted to upgrade existing resorts and construct new ones. Sources said Bhujbal wants the PWD to upgrade roads that lead to major forts in the region. Maharashtra Government officials also feel that laws restricting the sale of liquor and the large number of 'dry' days in the state pose a major problem in attracting tourists to the state's beaches. Maharashtra has already relaxed licences for sale of beer and wine and the government is mulling easier sale of alcohol at beach resorts, officials said.
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CWG tax evasion: Govt slaps recovery notices
New Delhi, December 9 Official sources said recovery notices for Rs 505 crore towards value-added tax (VAT) have been issued by the central government revenue department and trade and taxes authorities of the Delhi government. The demand was raised after a multi-jurisdiction investigation team working under the Central Vigilance Commission detected Rs1,000-crore tax evasion by the companies and government departments. Following detection of huge tax evasion, tax departments of both Delhi and central governments have also effected recovery of Rs 94.71 crore from private firms and government bodies involved in the CWG-related works, the sources said. The CVC team, which went into alleged irregularities in Commonwealth Games-related civic and construction projects, has found tax evasion of Rs 1,014.6 crore. Sources said show-cause notices have been issued to the firms and government departments for payment of Rs 702 crore of VAT on work contracts. — PTI
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State govt divided over demolishing Thackeray memorial
Mumbai, December 9 While Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has committed to demolish the structure which measures 30 X 30 feet, the Nationalist Congress Party which controls the Home Department is still prevaricating about giving the go-ahead. The government has deployed 3700 police personnel, including contingents of the State Reserve Police in and around Shivaji Park, in preparation for demolishing the platform with a makeshift chabootra on it. As news spread of the enhanced police presence in the area, hundreds of Shiv Sena activists descended on Shivaji Park in a bid to stall the demolition. “Our people have thrown a security cordon around the platform. They will have to walk over us to demolish the memorial to a leader,” party MLA from Thane Eknath Shinde said. The party has mobilised a large number of women who are in the innermost tier around the platform. Shiv Sena leaders say party workers from Konkan and other areas are coming to Shivaji Park and the party has organised volunteers in shifts. Party workers in the vicinity are providing them food and water round-the-clock and are putting up outstation cadres in their homes. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has issued notices to pull down the structure. However, the Shiv Sena is yet to reply to the notice. Instead, the party has put up banners around Shivaji Park challenging the administration to pull down the makeshift memorial. “If you have the guts try taking action against us.... Anyone trying to demolish.... will be cut to pieces...,” the banners warn. Simultaneously, a section of the Congress said its leaders are negotiating with the Shiv Sena leadership so that a memorial to Thackeray is allowed near Shivaji Park. Its leaders are being persuaded to accept the installation of a bust of the Sena supremo at Shivaji Park. A bust of Meenatai, the late wife of Bal Thackeray, is already installed at the entrance of Shivaji Park. Meanwhile, police officials feel that if the administration decides to go ahead with the demolition, it will be carried out in the dead of night under a thick security blanket in order to reduce inconvenience to the people.
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Back in Andhra Pradesh, Jayaprada finds herself at political crossroads
Hyderabad, December 9 The two-time MP from Rampur is facing an uncertain political future in her adopted state of Uttar Pradesh following her expulsion from the Samajwadi Party. "I want to come back to Andhra Pradesh because my heart and soul have always been with the people of my home state. I will soon announce my future plans,” the 51-year-old star said here today. She was speaking to the media after inaugurating a slimming centre. However, she refused to divulge as to which party she would like to join following her return to her home state after a gap of over 10 years. She was earlier associated with the Telugu Desam Party, founded by her senior co-star late NT Rama Rao, before migrating to Uttar Pradesh. She is believed to be exploring two options: either to go back to her parent organisation - the TDP - where she began her political journey in 1994 or join YSR Congress headed by the jailed MP YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. “I have not made up my mind yet. I will soon spell out my plans,” she said. Jayaprada was expelled by the SP in February 2010 for sailing with Amar Singh who has been her friend, philosopher and guide in Uttar Pradesh politics. Later, she was actively associated with the Rashtriya Lok Manch, floated by Amar Singh in July last year. However, the new political outfit drew a blank in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly elections held early this year. Following this, Jayaprada now finds herself at political crossroads. Jayaprada was initiated into politics in 1994 by NT Rama Rao. She later broke away from him and joined the Chandrababu Naidu faction of the party during the internal revolt in 1995. She was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 1996 and was also made the president of Telugu Mahila, the women's wing of the TDP. However, she was denied a second term in Rajya Sabha in 2002. She was replaced by another glamorous actress Roja as TDP women’s wing chief. Following differences with the party leadership, Jayaprada quit TDP and subsequently migrated to Uttar Pradesh where her political career received a boost with help from Amar Singh. She was first elected to the Lok Sabha in 2004 from Rampur, a seat she managed to retain in the previous election with a reduced margin.
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Hajipur Jaipur
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Vansada (Gujarat), Dec 9
Haridwar, December 9
“Unlike the Opposition we do not play politics of dividing the people. Such type of politics is bad in itself and for a longer period of time cannot be beneficial for a political party,” Singh said addressing his first poll rally in this tribal town of Navsari district in south Gujarat.
Bhopal, December 9
Parting ways
Patna, December 9
Having opposed his candidature earlier this year, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa went out of her way to welcome President Pranab Mukherjee when he visited Chennai recently for the diamond jubilee celebrations of the state Assembly. As the President travelled into town from the airport, Jayalalithaa had especially ordered that the entire route be lined with gaily attired men, women and children who were seen waving the AIADMK flag. The CM and the President later had a cordial interaction when they addressed a function at the historic Fort St. George. However, the President also made it a point to call on Jayalalithaa’s arch political rival, DMK chief M.Karunanidhi as the association between the two leaders goes back a long way. In fact, he drove straight to the DMK leader’s residence from the airport. The Karunanidhi household gave a warm welcome to Pranab and even served the Bengali ‘jhaal muri’ when the two leaders met over tea.
It is not known to many that Agriculture minister Sharad Pawar is a connoisseur of Indian music, ranging from classical, semi classical, old Hindi film songs as well as ghazals. While his car is invariably stacked with his favourite music CDs, technology has now made it possible for him to have access to a far wider range of music at the click of a button. Pawar has uploaded as many as 400 songs on his mobile phone under various heads. In fact, the veteran leader is like a child with a new toy as he proudly passes his handset around to point to his wide collection. He’s also too happy to oblige anybody who makes a request for a particular song. Pawar says he generally listens to music on his long distance journeys. Moreover, he also organises an annual music programme in his constituency Baramati.
BJP leaders were upset when they spotted Commerce Minister Anand Sharma and Janata Dal (U) MP NK Singh in deep conversation shortly after they forced an adjournment in the Rajya Sabha during the FDI debate when the minister refused to yield to Singh who wanted to clarify a point. A BJP leader even told NK Singh that they were surprised to see him speaking so cordially to Anand Sharma, considering they had just fought a pitched battle on his behalf. The suave former revenue secretary was quick to tick off the peeved BJP leaders. “We can disagree on many issues but that does not mean we shoot each other,” he told them, effectively silencing his allies.
New Delhi, December 9
