Govt sets up unified command to tackle Maoists!After Shibu Soren Nitish Struck Discordant Note on Maoist Policy!NAC suggests implementation of universal PDS in 200 poor districts!
Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convening a meeting of chief ministers of Naxal-affected states, Congress today said that development and strong actions should go together to counter the Maoists. "Our stand on the issue is clear.
Death penalty converted to life imprisonment in Khairlanji murder case!Tonga owners in the capital were asked Wednesday by the Delhi High Court to submit a representation within a week to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) seeking their relocation.
Akal Takht terms 1984 Sikh riots as ''genocide''
Indian Holocaust My Father`s Life and Time - Four Hundred Twenty
Palash Biswas
http://indianholocaustmyfatherslifeandtime.blogspot.com/
I have planned a Break in my routine as an appointment with the dentist was set to astract my Kenian roots infected but High Sugar disallowed.I Cancelled my shimla Excursion beginning from 15th July in changed circumstances and also canceleld a Dandakarany visit. I avoided district tour on health ground. Now, it seems rather serious out of my imagination as I am not in a mobile node any more. Sugar stopped my mobility as well as activism. I visited the dentist as well as Physician and now wait for a set of Tests. I got a Phone Cal l from Raniganj as they plan a programme inAugust and have invited Ktyayani once again. The Left Front Government disallowed her visit last year and the Ruling Party also did declare Eminent writer Mahashweta Devi UN wanted Personality.I ahd written the report in SAMAYANTAR but the organisers contradicted then. They do invite me once again along with Katyayani. It seems very interesting! In Chhattishgarg, inspite of dealing with the Maoist Problem, the Government and administration there are trying to persecute the Human Right Activists justifying Salwa Judum. Bengal is also trying its own version of salwa Judum as I have written long before.But they Dare not touch the Sympathisers this time as most of the Human Right activists and Intelligentsia have got the COVER of Trina Mul Congress and DIDI, the Great, including the Singer Poet MP Kabeer Suman! But Arundhuti Ray, Binayak sen, Medha Patkar, Nandita Sunder, Sandeep Pandey or Katyayani are not that LUCKY nor I am!
Death penalty converted to life imprisonment in Khairlanji murder case!Tonga owners in the capital were asked Wednesday by the Delhi High Court to submit a representation within a week to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) seeking their relocation.
NAC suggests implementation of universal PDS in 200 poor districts.A meeting of Chief Ministers from Naxal-affected states today unanimously cleared the decks for creation of a Unified Command and deployment of additional helicopters to bolster anti-Maoist operations.
The meeting, which was chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and attended by Home Minister P Chidambaram, also approved raising of 34 new battalions of India Reserve Battalion (IRB) for combating Left-wing extremism.
"The ramifications of the problem of left-wing extremism call for sustained coordination between the centre and the states not only regarding the overall strategy but even on the regular operational issues," Singh told chief ministers of the affected states in New Delhi. more by Manmohan Singh - 1 hour ago - Reuters Africa (5 occurrences) |
Khairlanji case: Dalit leaders want death for killers
Nagpur Expressing dissatisfaction over the Bombay High Court verdict in the Khairlanji killings, Dalit leaders of Maharashtra today asked the state government to appeal in the Supreme Court to seek death penalty for the convicts.The Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court today commuted the death sentence of six convicts in the Khairlanji Dalit killings case to 25 years imprisonment.
"The government should approach the Supreme Court against the verdict...I will speak to Chief Minister on this issue," Dairy Development Minister Nitin Raut said.
The court verdict is unfortunate and the government should appeal in the apex court, Raut, who is a prominent Dalit leader from Vidarbha region, said.
Former minister Sulekha Kumbhare said she would speak to Home Minister R R Patil and ask him to approach the Supreme Court immediately to appeal against the HC ruling.
"We don't accept the HC verdict. Injustice has been heaped on Dalit community. We demand death penalty for the accused," she said.
Former MP Prakash Ambedkar said the state government needs to take the verdict seriously and appeal in the apex court to assuage feelings of the Dalits who have been hurt by the HC ruling.
The Khairlanji verdict has come as a shocker to the Ambedkarite movement, former MP and RPI leader Ramdas Athawale said.
"I will meet Chief Minister Ashok Chavan and Home Minister R R Patil to demand immediate appeal by the state government in Supreme Court," Athawale said.
"Instances of injustice against Dalits are on the rise all over the country. Dalit masses should organise an agitation against such injustice," he said.
Survivor too demands capital punishment
The lone survivor of Khairlanji dalit killing incident, Bhaiyalal Bhotmange on Wednesday said he was unhappy with the High Court verdict which commuted the capital punishment of six accused to life imprisonment and demanded that Maharashtra government file an appeal in this regard.
"The court decision was unexpected. The Maharashtra Government should now go in for appeal against the HC order to give me justice," Bhotmange told reporters outside the court.
Not a single person has been confirmed death sentence which was unfortunate, he added.
Defence lawyers Sudeep Jaiswal and Neeraj Khandewale were extremely happy over the judgement.
"Our stand has been vindicated for the second time, first at special court in Bhandara which awarded death sentence to six accused and gave lifer to remaining two. And now today at the HC," they said.
Counsel for CBI, Ejaz Khan said prima facie, the court has upheld the guilt of the accused and the quantum of punishment is the prerogative of the High Court.
"We are happy, at this stage," he said.
Four members of Bhotmange family were brutally murdered by an angry mob in Khairlanji village on September 29, 2006.
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, on Wednesday called for sustained coordination between the Centre and the States to deal with the Left-wing extremism.Next time you pass by a sanitary landfill site in the capital, you may not encounter foul smell but fragrance of flowers. The MCD is planning to cover the waste lying in landfill sites with soil and plant flower shrubs like bougainvillea there.India's foreign minister said he would press Pakistan on the progress of its probe into the Mumbai attacks as he arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday for talks aimed at reviving a peace process broken off after the assault.A sudden bout of profit-taking in late trade eroded early gains as the benchmark CNX-Nifty today slipped below the psychological 5,400-mark on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) with a modest loss.With only 80 days left for the Oct 3-14 Commonwealth Games (CWG) and rising concerns over timely completion of projects, Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit Wednesday inspected the sites of the delayed projects and asked officials to complete them by the Aug 31 deadline.
Meanwhile,The National Advisory Council (NAC), headed by Sonia Gandhi, on Wednesday recommended distribution of subsidised foodgrains to everyone in at least 200 most disadvantaged districts across the country by April next year.
The NAC, after a day-long meeting, also suggested gradual expansion of universal public distribution system to other blocks but with a caveat of differential pricing.
It suggested people living in the poorest of the poor districts or blocks, which include Naxal-affected regions, should get 35 kg of foodgrains - rice, wheat, millets and pulses - at a subsidised rate of Rs three per kg.
A view in the Council was that these measures could be implemented from next financial year by making policy changes without waiting for the passage of the Food Security Bill in Parliament.
The NAC also agreed to recommend to the government extension of PDS to at least 33 per cent of the population living in urban areas, particularly slum dwellers, and the homeless.
It also decided to suggest to the government to implement a scheme to ensure complete nutritional support to vulnerable segments of the population, including pregnant and lactating mothers, street dwellers, homeless, aged and infirm, and those suffering from diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis.
A long standing demand of right to food activists for setting up community kitchens could also be a reality with the NAC backing it completely.
There was a feeling in the NAC that community kitchens could be rolled out in 64 cities which would provide nutritious food twice a day at affordable prices for the vulnerable section of the population.
State-owned IOC, BPCL and HPCL on Wednesday decided to have a uniform petrol price despite government giving them freedom to price the fuel and said they will revise prices once a month based on input cost.
The three retailers will once in a month "coordinate" on pricing of petrol based on international price trend of crude oil and gasoline, Indian Oil Corporation Director (Finance) S.V. Narasimhan said.
"All the three oil marketing companies will have uniform price," he said.
The decision to allow IOC, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum to function as 'informal' cartel was taken at a meeting called by Oil Secretary S. Sundareshan. The meeting was called to decide on the modalities of how petrol will be priced after it was freed from the government control.
"Petrol price on June 25 were raised by Rs 3.50 per litre following price decontrol instead of Rs 3.73 a litre required to align them with cost," Mr. Narasimhan said.
Subsequently, international oil prices declined, wiping away most of losses. "We have reviewed the situation and as of now there is no need for revise petrol prices," he said.
On June 25, an Empowered Group of Ministers headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee had also decided to free diesel prices from government control but raised rates only by Rs 2 per litre instead of Rs 3.80 per litre required to align them with international cost.
The gap between retail selling price and international cost widened subsequently to Rs 3.14 per litre from Rs 1.80 a litre at the time of price hike. This has subsequently come down to Rs 1.70-1.80 per litre now.
"There is no decision or move to revise prices of diesel at this juncture," Mr. Sundareshan said.
Mr. Narasimhan said the oil companies do not feel the need for revising rates of petrol now and will review the situation possibly by the month end.
From now only, pump rates will be revised once a month.
The three companies will have a uniform rate for petrol in particular cities or locations, and it would change on the same dates.
"We will not announce dates of revision in advance to avoid hoarding of the fuel. We will revise prices on any day of the month," an official said.
India told Pakistan on Wednesday that "selective efforts" should not be used to deal with terrorism and termed as "untenable" any attempt to make a distinction between state and non-state actors involved in terror.
Ahead of his meeting with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, external affairs minister S M Krishna said the trial here of seven accused in the Mumbai attacks case, including LeT's operations chief Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi, was moving at a slow pace and India would like to see its expeditious and successful conclusion.
He told PTI in an interview that Pakistan's contention of making a distinction between state and non-state actors regarding terrorism was "untenable" as "it is common knowledge that terrorist groups and individuals have been provided sanctuaries and safe havens" in this country.
"Pakistan must realise that India harbours no ill-will against it and the cancer of terrorism needs to be rooted out completely," Krishna said.
"There can be no selective efforts against this scourge. There is a clear and present danger from terrorist groups that needs to be appreciated and acted upon decisively," he underlined.
Krishna will hold talks with Qureshi on Thursday on a wide range of issues with major thrust being on anti-India terrorism that continues to emanate from Pakistan.
"India has long been a victim of terrorism emanating from Pakistan," he said.
He said there was a growing realisation not only in Pakistan but within the international community as well that terrorism needs to be combated effectively and comprehensively.
Referring to Mumbai attacks, Krishna said Pakistan has taken some steps for prosecuting some of those responsible for it. "However, more needs to be done."
He said Pakistan would need to bring the Mumbai terrorist attack investigation and trial in Pakistan to a conclusion expeditiously and in a transparent manner, unveil the larger conspiracy in Pakistan behind the Mumbai terrorist attack and take action against the ideologues and others involved in anti-India activities in the territory under its control.
Krishna said Pakistan's action against terrorism emanating from the territory under its control is not only good for peace and stability in the region but it is also in its own interest.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh emphatically mentioned to his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani in Thimphu in April that Pakistan has to act on the issue of terrorism and the terror machine that operates from Pakistan needs to be eliminated, the external affairs minister said.
Gilani, on his part, told Singh that Pakistan was equally seized of these concerns and wanted to address this issue comprehensively and effectively as terrorism has affected Pakistan's well-being also, Krishna said.
Singh also conveyed to Gilani India's "very deep and continuing concerns" about Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed being allowed to go free and engage in language and communications that are "certainly not conducive to building an atmosphere of trust and confidence," Krishna said.
He expressed hope that India's concerns were registered with the Pakistani side.
"They (Pakistan) did mention that they have some difficulties as far as their judicial system is concerned about tackling such issues," he said, adding India hoped that Pakistani laws to deal with such issues could be strengthened.
Krishna said home minister P Chidambaram had reiterated India's concerns on the activities of people like Hafiz Saeed during his visit to Pakistan last month.
He said terrorism emanating from Pakistan and targeted against India has been the main issue of concern to India and focus has been kept on this aspect during interactions with Pakistani leaders.
"We will keep focus on this in our future dialogue with Pakistan," the minister emphasised.
He said Singh had very clearly told Gilani in Thimphu that public in India was particularly concerned about terrorism.
On 26/11 case, Krishna said Gilani had conveyed that Pakistan's intention was to complete the trial as soon as possible and to see that the perpetrators are brought effectively to justice.
Krishna said India's initiative to resume talks with Pakistan should be seen in the context of its efforts to engage Pakistan to build trust and confidence between the two countries.
"Moreover, we use this interaction with Pakistan to address the issues of concern to us, including terrorism," he said.
Akal Takht terms 1984 Sikh riots as ''genocide''!
A meeting of five Sikh high priests in Amritsar on Wednesday decided the 1984 anti-Sikh riots would now on be referred to as "Sikh genocide" by all members of the community, media and other organisations around the world. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh, who issued the advisory after the meeting at the Takht, also appealed that every Sikh must
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port the organisation Sikhs for Justice, which was fighting to get justice for the victims of the 1984 killings.
He said: "The mass killings of Sikhs during the 1984 riots across the country have been given different names over the years. But these killings were no less than 'Sikh genocide', and Sikhs all over the world, media and other organisations must use this expression for the 1984 riots."
National security advisors of India, US meet to lay ground for Obama visit
After Shibu Soren Nitish Struck Discordant Note on Maoist Policy!Shibu Soren as the Chief Minister of Aborignal Jharkhand Refused to be a Party of Chidambaram`s Corporate war saying that Maoists are our Brothers and sisters. Nitish Kumar seems to follow suit! Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convening a meeting of chief ministers of Naxal-affected states, Congress today said that development and strong actions should go together to counter the Maoists. "Our stand on the issue is clear.
"I am very happy to welcome you.
Over the past few years, we have met a number of times to discuss issues relating to internal security and left wing extremism. As a result, it has been possible to develop a more coordinated approach, both between the states and between the Centre and the states. Matters have improved vis-a-vis intelligence sharing, deployment of Central Para Military Forces, augmentation of state police forces, provision of funds under central schemes, etc. However, more needs to be done.
Though law and order is primarily a state subject, the ramifications of the problem of Left wing extremism call for sustained coordination between the Centre and the States not only regarding the overall strategy but even on the regular operational issues. In particular, we need greater coordination and cooperation in crucial matters like intelligence gathering and intelligence sharing. Each state has a different set of problems, administrative arrangements, strengths and weaknesses and, therefore, there is also a need for a state specific approach. The action plans that the states have prepared could perhaps be made more detailed keeping this in view.Share on SocialGmail BuzzPrint
The Ministry of Home Affairs has circulated a detailed agenda note. I look forward to your considered response on each of the items in it. On the development side, we hope to discuss matters in greater detail in the NDC meeting scheduled for the 24th of this month. However, I would like to mention here a few points related to the development of tribal areas, which is a special obligation that the Constitution bestows upon us. These areas have lagged behind the rest of the country so far and this state of affairs needs to be changed. Our tribal populations have traditionally depended upon the forests for their livelihoods and we must ensure that this link does not get disrupted without alternate means of livelihood being made available. Any development of tribal areas must also ensure that the tribal population has a stake in it, even after it has been adequately compensated for displacement. For far too long have our tribal brothers and sisters seen the administration in the form of a rapacious forest guard, a brutal policeman, a greedy patwari. It is time that we provided a better delivery of services, one which is sensitive and caring to the needs and concerns of the tribal population for effective livelihood strategies on a sustainable basis.
I would particularly like to stress the need for properly manning all posts in areas affected by Left wing extremism. Without adequate and reasonably efficient staff, it would be difficult to implement any strategy or programme for these areas. I would urge the chief ministers present here to set up a group under the Chief Secretary to evaluate the vacancy position, develop an appropriate incentive package for posting in difficult areas and thereafter ensure deployment in a time-bound manner. Perhaps we could target filling up one third of the vacancies within the next six months.
On the security side, the state forces obviously will have to be further strengthened, though the position has improved in the past few years. I also think that we need more young men and women from these areas in our security forces. I would appreciate your thoughts in this regard. There is also need to improve the infrastructure in the police stations.
In case there are issues regarding intelligence sharing or the pattern or nature of CPMF deployment, I would like to hear them. There are other very useful ideas in the agenda notes and I would welcome your suggestions on them. My esteemed Cabinet colleagues, Pranabji and Anthonyji are also here and we will have the benefit of their enormous experience during the course of our discussions.
Before I close, I must reiterate that we cannot afford to let inter-personal issues come in the way of our strategy to tackle Left wing extremism. We must be and also appear to be united and one in our resolve and in execution of our strategies. In particular, I would emphasize the urgent necessity for the central and state forces to work with total coordination and without any misunderstanding about each other.
I once again welcome you all as we begin discussions in this meeting."
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/pm-s-speech-to-cms-of-naxal-affected-states-37514?cp
अरुंधति का ईमेलः हंस के कार्यक्रम में शामिल होने का कोई इरादा नहीं
Posted by Reyaz-ul-haque on 7/13/2010 07:36:00 PMनीलाभ
हंस ने जो अगले सालाना आयोजन कि रूप-रेखा प्रचारित की थी उसमें सब को यह आभास दिया था कि इस बार वे पुलिस अधिकारी विश्वरंजन और अरुंधति राय को एक ही मंच पर लायेंगे. लोगों में इस पर बड़ा आक्रोश था. मैंने दो-तीन दिन पहले हंस कार्यालय में राजेंद्र जी से पूछा तो उन्होंने भी तस्दीक की. लेकिन जब मैं ने अरुंधति से पूछा तो उन्होंने साफ़ कहा कि वे ऐसे कार्यक्रम में नहीं जा रहीं हैं. उनका जवाब संलग्न है.
Dear Neelabh
Thanks for alerting me about a meeting I had no idea about! Rajendra Yadav did call a few weeks ago and ask whether I could come to a Hans event in July. I was travelling at the time and said I'd speak to him later. And now you tell me that without my ever having agreed, it's being billed as a debate between me and the notorious policeman Mr Vishwaranjan! I had no idea about all this. I have no intention of being there. Not after my recent experience with PTI and the rubbish that is being put out by the Chhattisgarh police and headlined in the Indian Express. You say a bunch of youngsters are putting together a petition asking me not to go...please tell them that I don't need a petition to persuade me! I never agreed to go in the first place. And now it's beginning to look like a set up . You can circulate this to anyone who is worried that I might walk into this trap. (translate it if it will help?) I think there are better ways of having debates in which co-opted media people controlled by the police cannot misquote you.
All the best
Arundhati
Details of food security law finalized
The National Advisory Council (NAC) Wednesday reached an initial agreement on the draft of a food security law and recommended 35 kg of foodgrain be supplied per month at Rs.3 a kg to people in the country's one-fourth districts considered the most disadvantaged.'While time-bound universalisation of foodgrain entitlements across the country may be desirable, initial universalisation in one-fourth of the most disadvantaged districts or blocks in the first year is recommended, where every household is entitled to receive 35 kg per month of foodgrains at Rs.3 a kg,' said a statement issued after the NAC meeting.
After the working group on the bill made a presentation at the NAC meeting, chaired by chairperson Sonia Gandhi, the proposal was deliberated and reached an initial agreement.
The working group will prepare a draft the National Food Security Bill based on this framework.
According to the agreement, 'in the remaining districts/blocks, coverage of universal public distribution system with differentiated entitlements (in terms of quantity and issue price), would progressively be expanded to all rural areas in the country over a reasonable period of time.'
'There shall be a guarantee of 35 kg of foodgrain per household at Rs.3 a kg for all socially vulnerable groups including Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribess, and 25 kg for all others, at an appropriate price,' it said.
'There would also be a category that would be excluded based on transparent and verifiable criteria. Further details of this basic framework will be formulated by the NAC,' it said.
'In urban areas, eligible households (identified by criteria developed by the Planning Commission based on the recommendations of the Hashim Committee), including slum-dwellers and the homeless, will be entitled to 35 kg per month at Rs.3 a kg,' the statement said.
Aamir says 'no' to political use of song on price rise
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan said he would not let political parties use the song 'Mahangai Dayan' from his forthcoming film 'Peepli Live' that takes a dig at the Government over inflation.
"We will not lend the song to anyone for political use. This song is part of the story of the film and it will not be used in any kind of political campaign," Aamir told reporters here on the sidelines of music launch of the film.
The members of some opposition parties had approached the filmmaker to buy the rights of the song to use it as a tool against the government, given the recent flare up in prices of essential commodities.
"We have made the film for audience. This song is part of the story of the film. The movie is about urban and rural divide that exists in India and inflation is a general issue," Aamir said.
'Peepli Live' is a satire on farmers' suicides and subsequent media and political response.
Directed by debutant Anusha Rizwi and featuring Raghuveer Yadav in a pivotal role, the film is scheduled to be released on August 13.
expressindia.com
Court sets aside Orissa's order on POSCO
The Orissa High Court Wednesday set aside the permission granted by the state government to South Korean steel major POSCO to prospect for iron ore in Sundergarh district, a lawyer said.The Cuttack bench of the high court, 26 km from here, set aside the permission granted to POSCO last year for prospecting over 2,500 hectares in the Khandadhar hills in the district, a lawyer involved in the matter told IANS.
The court order came on a petition filed by Geomin Minerals and Marketing Pvt. Ltd, one of the several companies that had applied for a share in the Khandadhar mines' resources, he said.
Geomin had challanged the government decision claiming that it had made the first application for a mining lease in the area way back in August 1991 which was not considered.
'The court also directed the state government to dispose all pending applications of the petitioner within four months,' the lawyer said.
POSCO had signed a memorandum of understanding June 22, 2005 for a 12 million tonne steel plant near the port town of Paradip, some 100 km from here, with an investment of $12 billion - the largest foreign direct investment in India.
The project, scheduled to be set up by 2016, has been delayed due to various reasons, including protests by local residents against land acquisition.
RIL moves CCI, alleges oil PSUs acting as cartel in ATF supply
Reliance Industries has moved the Competition Commission of India alleging state-owned oil firms IOC, BPCL and HPCL have formed a cartel to supply aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to Air India. ( Watch )
According to official sources, RIL has filed a complaint stating that the government-owned oil marketing companies worked as a cartel while bidding for ATF supply to flag carrier Air India.
It is learnt that RIL wants to enter the business of jet fuel supply, which is in the hands state-owned oil marketing companies.
"The complaint has been filed under sections 3 and 4 of the Competition Act, which pertains to anti-competitive agreement and abuse of dominant position, respectively. The commission will consider the complaint by RIL in a week," a source said.
When contacted an RIL spokesperson said: "We do not wish to comment."
National Aviation Company of India (NACIL), that runs Air India, regularly floats tenders for supply of ATF.
RIL's move coincides with the widespread anticipation that the PSU oil firms will continue to act as a cartel while revising petrol prices every month in the free pricing regime, which looks set to kick in as early as this week.
Petrol prices were freed from government control last month, resulting in a Rs 3.50 per litre rate hike in Delhi. However, the modalities of subsequent retail price adjustments -- in line with changes in crude -- were left for the industry to decide.
Though diesel prices were raised by an ad-hoc Rs 2 per litre, it continues to be under government control.
"It makes no sense for PSUs to compete among themselves if only petrol prices are being freed. Oil marketing companies (or state-run fuel retailers) will continue to coordinate on the pricing of petrol," said a top oil PSU executive.
Indian Oil Corp (IOC), Bharat Petroleum Corp (BPCL) and Hindustan Petroleum Corp (HPCL) are likely to revise petrol prices every month on the basis of monthly average of crude oil prices.
Industry cautions RBI on further rate hikes
Amid expectations of a tight monetary policy by the Reserve Bank later this month, the industry today cautioned it against hiking lending rates to double-digit inflation as it will hurt the growth momentum. "An anti-inflationary monetary package that does not take into consideration the issues of commodity price rise, potential fuel price increase, and the signs of slowing down of the consumer goods sector will impact the growth momentum," leading chamber Ficci said here today.The wholesale price-based inflation inched up to 10.55 per cent in June, from 10.16 per cent in May. Economists are predicting another 25 basis points hike in policy rate by the RBI in its July 27 monetary policy review.
"The anti-inflationary measures adopted by the Reserve Bank are expected to result in lending rates rising further," industry body Assocham said, adding any premature withdrawal of the stimulus measures and anti-inflationary measures will push up cost of credit, which can pose a problem for growth. "This dual impact is bound to have negative implications on the profitability of private corporates.
Coupled with a fall in the private final consumption expenditure, businesses will not be able to meet higher operational costs through proportionate adjustment of their sale prices," Assocham said. A comparative analysis of the industrial sectors by Assocham reveals that intermediate goods, capital goods and infrastructure sectors are likely to feel the heat of relatively stronger inflationary pressures compared to consumer durables, consumer non-durables and services sectors.
The effect of the fuel price hike was quite evident in the June inflation figures, as kerosene prices rose by 9 per cent, LPG 3 per cent, petrol 2 per cent and diesel 1 per cent in June.
Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar Wednesday struck a discordant note on the government's anti-Maoist policy, saying the leftist rebels were 'part of our society' and that the problem should be tackled with sustained development and not with an 'enforced action alone'.On the other ahnd,The government announced a unified command structure on Wednesday to help coordinate a security offensive against Maoist rebels, but analysts said the move may not be enough to turn around the battle against the insurgency.The unified command, which will include a former army general, underlines government urgency to tackle a rebellion that has roiled poor rural regions where a sense of official neglect runs deep.
"Over the past few years, we have met a number of times to discuss issues relating to internal security and left wing extremism. As a result, it has been possible to develop a more coordinated approach, both between the states and between the centre and the states," said Dr Singh.
"Matters have improved vis-a-vis intelligence sharing, deployment of Central Para Military Forces, augmentation of state police forces, provision of funds under central schemes, etc. However, more needs to be done," he said at a meeting convened by him of Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected States of Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal and Bihar.
Dr Singh said a greater coordination and cooperation in crucial matters like intelligence gathering and intelligence sharing is required.
"Each state has a different set of problems, administrative arrangements, strengths and weaknesses and, therefore, there is also a need for a state specific approach. The action plans that the states have prepared could perhaps be made more detailed keeping this in view," he said.
Further talking about the development of the tribal areas, Dr Singh said these areas have lagged behind the rest of the country so far and this state of affairs needs to be changed.
"Our tribal populations have traditionally depended upon the forests for their livelihoods and we must ensure that this link does not get disrupted without alternate means of livelihood being made available. Any development of tribal areas must also ensure that the tribal population has a stake in it, even after it has been adequately compensated for displacement," he added.
The Prime Minister urged the Chief Ministers present in the meeting to set up a group under the Chief Secretary to evaluate the vacancy position, develop an appropriate incentive package for posting in difficult areas and thereafter ensure deployment in a time-bound manner.
"On the security side, the state forces obviously will have to be further strengthened, though the position has improved in the past few years. We need more young men and women from these areas in our security forces. There is also need to improve the infrastructure in the police stations," said Dr Singh. r Singh also emphasized the urgent necessity for the Central and state forces to work with total coordination and without any misunderstanding about each other.
The Ministry of Home Affairs asked the Chief Ministers of Naxal-affected States to set up a Unified Command with a retired Major General rank officer onboard.
It was also decided in the meeting that more helicopters will be deployed for logistical support, troop movement, supplies and evacuation.
The crucial meeting also approved raising of 34 new battalions of India Reserve Battalion for combating the Maoist menace.
It also cleared other proposals related to induction of more Special Police Officers and exclusive development schemes for the Maoist-hit states.
The Government will fund the establishment and strengthening of 400 police stations in the affected districts at the rate of two crore rupees per police station.
The Centre's share will be 80 percent and the States will bear 20 percent of the cost for a period of two years.
Home Secretary G.K. Pillai and Secretaries of about half a dozen central ministries, who deal with development, social and infrastructure sectors were also present in the meeting.
Jharkhand, which is under President's Rule, was represented by its Governor, while West Bengal sent its Health Minister for the meeting.
'Naxal elements are a part of our society even though they have been misled into following the path of violence,' Nitish Kumar said in his address at the meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh with chief ministers of Maoist-affected states.
'Enforcement action alone leads to wider alienation, making heroes out of the leaders of the extremist organisations and leads to only symptomatic treatment, leaving the underlined disease to reappear in a more virulent form,' he said.
The chief minister said leftwing extremism should be tackled through 'sustained development but this needs the centre's supportive approach to states like Bihar'.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants decisive actions against the rebels, not only to show the government is in charge but also to free up vast tracts of mineral-rich forests with billions of dollars in business potential.
The rebels, inspired by China's Mao Zedong, say they are fighting for the poor and landless and have backed farmers in land disputes with industry, one of the main obstacles in Asia's third largest economy to higher growth and more rural jobs.
While the economic impact may be small compared with India's trillion dollar economy, the insurgency has taken some toll on business.
Work on a $7-billion steel plant by India's third largest steel producer, JSW Steel Ltd, has been delayed. Frequent rebel attacks have hit production and shipment at firms such as India's largest miner of iron ore, NMDC Ltd's.
Violent land protests backed by Maoists forced the scrapping of a Tata Motors' Nano car plant and delayed work on two separate plants by the world's leading steelmakers Arcelor Mittal and POSCO in eastern India.
The campaign against the rebels has suffered because of the decision to avoid using the army for fear of alienating locals, leaving ill-trained police to fight a guerrilla war in the jungles of central and east India.
Poor coordination between state security forces has also hampered the fight, and the central government in New Delhi now hopes that a unified command would be able to fine tune the security offensive.
"The efforts of the state governments ... have met with mixed results," Home Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram told a meeting of chief ministers of the affected states in New Delhi.
The chief ministers also discussed the insurgency with Singh.
Views diverge on the right response to the rebellion. Many, including a section within the ruling Congress party, see the insurgency more as a problem of poverty and underdevelopment that could not be solved by force alone.
The new plan also involves the use of more helicopters and logistical support from the army. And as a measure of balance in the government response, Chidambaram announced more money for development projects in the Maoist-dominated areas.
But many security experts were unimpressed with the latest plans, including the unified security command structure, saying the strategy lacked detail.
"The cosmetic measures they are talking about do not in any sense increase the capability of the forces and there is no talk about how they will counter the Maoists in their heartland," said Ajai Sahni of New Delhi-based Institute for Conflict Management.
The insurgency, which Singh has described as India's biggest security challenge, is now present in a third of the country.
A string of deadly attacks this year has undermined the government's claim to be winning the war on the Maoists after it launched a security offensive with thousands of police last year.
The rebels are blamed for derailing a passenger train last month, killing at least 145 people. There were two other incidents since May that testified to their strength -- the killing of 76 police in an ambush and an attack on a bus that killed 35 people.
While the chief Minister of Bihar advocated an 'integrated approach' between states to deal with the problem.
He said that central government was not cooperating with his government over the demands for more paramilitary troopers.
'Bihar has not received the requisite support from the central government,' he said.
'There has been no change in the number of paramilitary companies deployed in Bihar over the last several years,' he said.
The number of paramilitary forces was increased in other states but Bihar did not get a single additional company, he said.
He said the state government was successful in keeping the Maoists under check despite this.
'We have raised special auxiliary police by employing ex-servicemen. Unfortunately, we have not been able to get the sanctioned number even after relaxing the employment conditions and raising the allowances,' he said.
India sets up unified command to tackle Maoists
Maoists fire on Salwa Judum camps in Dantewada
Maoists have been killing over 500 civilians every year: Chidambaram
Nitish slams Centre's Maoist policy
Two Maoists held in Jharkhand
Jharkhand seeks Rs 100 crore to fight Maoists
JMM leader killed by suspected Maoists
Suspected Maoists kill one in Bengal
Maoist posters demand judicial inquiry into Azad killing
Maoist fear triggers police exodus from outpost
The Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court converted death penalty of the six convicts of the 2006 Dalit family murder case to life imprisonment for 25 years on Wednesday.
Members of the politically dominant Kunbi, a Maratha sub-caste, slaughtered four members of a Dalit family in Khairlanji, a small village in Bhandara district of Maharashtra on September 29, 2006.
The case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) from the local police.
"The death penalty to all of them has been cancelled. The High Court has sentenced all of them to life imprisonment, and besides that, they have to pay a fine of 5,000 rupees each," said Sudip Jaiswal, defence lawyer.
Meanwhile, lawyers of the CBI said that they would appeal in the Supreme Court.We honour the judgment. After reading the entire script of judgment, we would decide the next course of action," said Ajaj Khan, prosecution lawyer.
The CBI filed a charge sheet against 11 of 46 accused in December 2006, though the family claimed that nearly 50 villagers were involved. The accused were arrested in October.
The trial began in May 2007 and lasted over a year during which 36 witnesses were examined including four eyewitnesses, of whom one turned hostile.
On September 15, 2008, the fast track Sessions' court had convicted eight people of murder and acquitted three out of the 11 accused in the case.
Akal Takht terms 1984 Sikh riots as ''genocide''
Terming the 1984 riots as a "genocide", a meeting of five Sikh high priests convened by Akal Takht, highest temporal seat of Sikh religion, today said it was "regrettable" that justice could not be delivered to the victims even after 25 years. The Akal Takht Jatehdar called upon the Sikh community all over the world to unite at a single platform and do the needful for the riot victims."The 1984 anti Sikh riots is a genocide of the community since it was intended to eradicate their roots. It is highly regrettable that though more than 25 years have lapsed, nothing was done to deliver justice to the victims," Jatehdar said.
Orissa CM demands more funds to tacke Naxals
Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday demanded enhancing the security-related expenditure (SRE) budget for the state during the current fiscal to tackle the Naxal menace."The SRE should be enhanced to Rs 61.50 crore during the current year," he said addressing a meeting of the Naxal- affected states here and added that at least 50 per cent of the budget should be provided as advance to the state.
The socio-economic development of the Naxal-hit areas continues to be the priority of the state, he said and also demanded release of Rs 70 crore to Orissa, as recommended by the 13th Finance Commission this year.
Patnaik said districts of Koraput, Sundargarh, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar and Kandhamal should be included in the existing approved list of 34 districts of Planning Commission for intensive development and modification of the Special Infrastructure Scheme (SIS).
He sought deputation of 15-20 officers from Central paramilitary forces to lead the state's armed battalions in the anti-Naxalite operations and deployment of three battalions of CRPF in the northern part of the state to tackle the Naxal menace.
While welcoming a new scheme of the Home Ministry for allocating Rs two crore per police station in the Naxal- affected districts on 80:20 sharing basis, he informed that 75 police stations in the state would be taken up in the first phase under the scheme.
He demanded relaxation in the provisions of the Forest (Conservation) Act, 1980 to provide for diversion of forest land for setting up of police establishments, as was done earlier in 2005.
Patnaik underlined the need to strengthen the security along the Orissa-Chattisgarh border by including two more districts of Kalahandi and Nuapada under SRE Scheme.
The Chief Minister sought placing a helicopter at the disposal of the state for mobilising troops and supplies and urged the Defence Ministry to conduct special recruitment drives for tribal youths of Orissa in the armed forces.
No harsh measures against Naxals: Centre
The government does not believe in taking harsh measures against Maoists in its bid to solve the Naxal menace in a haste, Union Minister Sriprakash Jaiswal on Wednesday said."The Centre can solve the Maoist problem within a fortnight, but by taking harsh measure it does not want to turn the problem into terrorism," the Union Minister of State for Coal told reporters here.
He said a solution to the problem could be reached through cooperation with the state and central governments, he said.
Noting that the rebels spread their influence due to non-development, he said leaders of different political parties were also to be blamed for the present situation.
The Centre could only provide central forces, modern weapons, funds for improving the conditions of police stations and officers but deployment of forces and safety of firearms was the prerogative of the state government, he said.
Referring to the ensuing Bihar assembly elections, Jaiswal said Congress was witnessing a surge in its popularity in the state as people wanted to get rid of Nitish Kumar Government.
He claimed that the people were looking towards Congress as a viable alternative.
Jaiswal will tour the districts of Siwan, Saran, Gopalganj and East Champaran and address party workers during his two day stay in the state.
Pay a little extra for 'anytime' delivery of LPG cylinder
14 Jul 2010, 0203 hrs IST,ET BureauOil companies have launched a premium cooking gas delivery service for working couples in metros and major cities that will ensure supply of refills even at odd hours with an additional cost between Rs 25 and Rs 50 per cylinder. "It would be of great help to the working people and where there is nobody in the house to accept delivery during normal working hours," oil minister Murli Deora said while launching the service. ET reported it first on January 2.
As per the scheme, gas agencies will charge a premium ranging between Rs 25 and Rs 50 per refill depending on the location and the time of delivery. A customer will pay Rs 50 for the delivery sought before 8 am or between 6 pm and 8 pm on week days in metros. On weekends the delivery charges will be Rs 25, an oil company executive said. The charges will be lower for other cities. If a gas agency fails to deliver refill on time, it will have to pay a penalty of Rs 20 to the customer.
In the first phase, this service is being launched in Delhi, Gurgoan, Noida, Faridabad, Sonepat, Ghaziabad, Pune and Bengaluru, he said. The service will soon be made available in Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad by end of this month. The other major cities across the country could get this service by the end of 2010.
Jitin Prasada, minister of state for petroleum and natural gas said, the Planning Commission has also approved oil ministry's proposal to give a one time subvention of Rs 1,400 to the poor families for getting cooking gas connection.
This subsidy will help the government to provide gas connections free of cost to about 17.3 million people living below poverty line (BPL) by 2015. The subsidy will cover a security deposit for gas cylinder (Rs 1250) and cost for the pressure regulator (Rs 150). The oil ministry plans to distribute 55 million LPG connections, mostly in rural areas by 2015 to take up the total of cooking gas connections in the country to 160 million. Both schemes will be implemented by the three state-owned oil companies .
Duration: 01:50
Posted: 14 Jul, 2010, 2225 hrs IST
Duration: 01:17
Posted: 14 Jul, 2010, 2027 hrs IST
Commemorative stamp on Tagore likely to be released
A commemorative stamp on Noble laureate Rabindranath Tagore is likely be released by the government as part of his 150th birth anniversary celebration. "We have already released a coin on this occasion.Now there is a proposal to release a stamp to commemorate Tagore''s 150th birth anniversary," said Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee here today. She spoke to reporters after attending a meeting of the cultural committee on Tagore''s celebration chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
There will be cultural festivals including dance, drama and various other events across the country as part of the year-long celebrations that began this May and would go on till next year. "Zonal committees are being set up to implement various proposals of the committee to celebrate Tagore''s anniversary in the country and other parts of the world," she said.
Railways launched the ''Sanskriti Express'' dedicated to the poet, showcasing his life and works. The Railway Minister will also travel to Dhaka to celebrate the birth anniversary of the poet.
NAC favours drastic changes in Communal Violence Bill
The National Advisory Council headed by Sonia Gandhi today favoured drastic amendments to the Communal Violence Bill and recommended creation of a national authority to check communal and sectarian violence. This was the view expressed by most members of the NAC at its meeting chaired by Gandhi.At its next meeting, the NAC is expected to deliberate on how a national authority could set up within the framework of the Constitution to oversee actions taken by states to tackle communal violence. The members also suggested incorporating curbing of sectarian violence in the draft legislation which has been virtually in cold storage for the past many years after its introduction in the Rajya Sabha five years ago.
The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill was introduced in the Rajya Sabha in 2005. Sources said there is an uniform view in NAC that the Bill in its present can be redrafted to provide for stricter punishment for officials found having malafide intentions while dealing with incidents of communal violence.
The current Bill has provisions for three years imprisonment or a fine if it was proved that the state officials had any malafide intention while dealing with communal violence. There was a general feeling that the punishment should be more strict and easily implementable.
A section of the members felt that the the current provisions were not implementable and officials could get off the hook easily. The NAC also suggested that the Bill be renamed as Communal and Sectarian Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill.
"We have given a fresh lease of life to Bill," said a member of the Council. Some members were of the view that the two organs of the Ministry of Home Affairs -- The National Integration Council and the National Harmony Foundation --lacked teeth and have been of little use to check instances of communal violence.
Kerala decide to set up internal security investigation branch
The Kerala government today decided to constitute an internal security investigation branch exclusively to probe terror-related cases. The decision comes in the wake of chopping of the hand of college lecturer T J Joseph on July 4, allegedly by activists of Popular Front of India (PFI), a Muslim fundamental group, and cutting of brake pipes of a stationary passenger train at Nilambur in Mallpuram district last week.Announcing the decision after a Cabinet meeting, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said the new investigation team would be headed by an officer in the rank of superintendent of police. It was also decided to create nine posts specially for the team.
Head of the internal investigation branch and its modalities would be decided soon, he said.
India presses US to dismantle dual-use tech sanctions
With less than four months to go before US President Barack Obama's maiden visit to India, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon Wednesday pressed his US counterpart James Jones for easing trade in dual-use technologies, which could be a key deliverable during the presidential visit in November.
Menon and Jones Wednesday discussed a host of regional issues, including the shifting power equations in Afghanistan and the US sanctions against Tehran which New Delhi feels can hurt its energy security.
Menon is understood to have pointed out that many Indian private and public sector entities continue to face technology sanctions even two years after India and the US signed a landmark nuclear deal in October 2008.
Jones assured that the US was looking at removing these sanctions, but has to find ways of doing so within the framework of US domestic laws, which contain stringent criteria governing the transfer of such technologies to other countries.
There could be some tangible movement in this direction ahead of Obama's visit, sources said.
Menon and Jones also took stock of steps needed to implement the civilian nuclear deal. Jones sought an update on the passage of the the civil nuclear liability bill, which makes the operator of an atomic plant exclusively liable in the event of a nuclear accident. The bill, currently pending before a parliamentary committee, is a prerequisite before US nuclear firms can begin business with India.
Jones arrived in India Tuesday night on a two-day visit to lay the groundwork for Obama's visit, which was announced at the India-US strategic dialogue in Washington last month.
The two top security officials also discussed the fluid situation in Afghanistan against the backdrop of reports of Pakistan influencing a power-sharing deal with Taliban elements who are inimical to India's interests.
Jones briefed Menon on the US' strategy and lauded India's multi-faceted humanitarian reconstruction work in the violence-torn country, said the sources.
On Iran, the two sides did not see eye to eye, with India conveying its objections to unilateral US sanctions, which were imposed after another round of UN sanctions.
Last week, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao, without naming the US, pointed out that the 'extraterritorial nature of certain unilateral sanctions' can have 'a direct and adverse impact' on India's energy security and advocated dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the Iranian nuclear standoff.
Air India expects to cut losses by 75 pct in FY11
State-run carrier Air India, which incurred a loss of 54 billion rupees in FY10, expects to pare losses by around 75 percent in FY11, Chairman Arvind Jadhav said on Wednesday.
The airline is currently going through a debt restructuring process as it looks to clean up its balance sheet with SBI Capital managing its overall debt recast.
Jadhav said the last date to submit bids for refinancing $1.1 billion worth of debt has been extended to Aug 31 from July 16. He did not disclose the firm's overall debt.
The Indian government agreed to inject $1.1 billion into Air India if the ailing carrier came up with the same amount in cost cuts and extra revenue.
103 hospitalised due to chlorine gas leak in Bombay Port Trust
At least 103 people were hospitalised due to chlorine gas leaking from a cylinder stored in Bombay Port Trust premises near Sewri on Wednesday.
TV reports earlier said that three people have died in the leak. However, there has not been any confirmation of the deaths.
The gas leakage was reported in the vicinity of Lal Bahadur Shastri college here at 4 a.m.ccording to sources, 14 students from the Lal Bahadur Shastri College also been affected. They have been admitted to JJ Hospital.
The gas leak was noticed around 4 a.m. when people started complaining of burning eyes, breathlessness and vomiting sensation, the fire brigade official said.
The source of the leakage was traced to a scrap yard in the Mumbai Port Trust premises, adjacent to the L.B.S. College in Sewri in south-central Mumbai.
As preliminary measures, water was thrown on the gas cylinders stored in a container in the scrap yard while experts were summoned to deal with the situation, the official said.
Also, nearly 400 people staying in the vicinity were evacuated. The condition of the victims admitted to the Sir J.J. Hospital is reported to be stable.
Development, action in Maoist areas should be together: Cong
Against the backdrop of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh convening a meeting of chief ministers of Naxal-affected states, Congress today said that development and strong actions should go together to counter the Maoists. "Our stand on the issue is clear.It has two approaches which has to go together. There should be full economic support, rehabilitation and infrastructure development.
At the same time, there has to be a strong action against those involved in killings," party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here. He said both have to go "hand in hand in a holistic manner".
In the meeting of the CMs of Naxal-hit states, it was decided that the four states (Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Jharkhand and Orissa) worst affected by the violence will have Unified Command structures to fight the menace as the Centre offered more helicopters and logistical support to states in their anti-Naxal operations.
People shouldn''t face injustice in disputed areas: Chavan
Maharashtra today appealed to the Centre to ask Karnataka to desist from meting out injustice to people in the disputed boundary areas but sidestepped the demand for turning those areas into a union territory. "We gave a memorandum to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the light of the resolution unanimously passed by the Maharasthra Legislative Assembly yesterday," Chief Minister Ashok Chavan said.Addressing a joint press conference with leaders of other political parties of the state, Chavan said the issue of turning the disputed areas into a Union Territory, as demanded by him in the assembly, was not taken up with the Centre. The Maharashtra assembly had yesterday adopted a resolution voicing displeasure over the Centre''s affidavit in the Supreme Court on its boundary row with Karnataka.
The resolution demanded that the Centre reconsider its affidavit in which while replying to Maharashtra''s claim over Karnataka''s Marathi-speaking districts like Gulbarga and Belgaum it had told the Supreme Court last week that language cannot be the only criteria for deciding boundaries of states. Maharashtra has been claiming that 865 villages in districts like Belgaum and Gulbarga in Karnataka should be merged with it as it had a majority of Marathi-speaking population.
Shutdown paralyses Kashmir Valley, restrictions in Srinagar
The Kashmir Valley shut down Wednesday in response to a call by separatists while life in the summer capital ground to a halt with authorities imposing curfew-like restrictions in several areas.Restrictions in Srinagar's old city as well as Maisuma and Batmallo localities were imposed as a precautionary measure to maintain law and order, police said.
Security forces were patrolling the areas, disallowing any pedestrian and vehicular movement.
Shops were shut and public transport remained off the road. But some private vehicles were seen plying on the streets.
The situation was similar in the valley with the hardline faction of the separatist Hurriyat Conference, led by Syed Ali Geelani, calling for a two-day shutdown and asking people to hold street protests against alleged human rights violations.
At least 15 people have been killed, including a 25-year-old women, in the clashes between protesters and security forces since June 11.
Opinions and Editorials
Unravelling the plan
IE - 04:37 AMWhen I went to college, there was a book by a fellow called Durbin called Why Plan, and it had to be read to get a degree.
View: Headlines Only | Include Summaries | Include Photos
- The Kerala roadside IE - 04:37 AM
- Comrades in Kerala are up in arms against a Kerala high court order banning of roadside public meetings and the latest issue of CPM mouthpiece People's Democracy reflects the anger.
- Big issues, petty politics IE - 04:37 AM
- During the heyday of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement in the late 1950s and the acrimony that marked the run-up to the creation of a unified Maharashtra state with Bombay as its capital, among the many arguments the pro-Maharashtra campaigners put forward was the contribution of some of its illustrious sons-of-the-soil to the national cause.
- Words for Omar IE - 04:37 AM
- In the editorial 'Be serious' (IE, July 13), valuable advice has been given to Omar Abdullah with which he can control the volatile situation in Kashmir.
- Good for GM IE - 04:37 AM
- French Environment Minister Jean-Louis Borloo is something of a power in the ruling party of President Nicolas Sarkozy, and is generally considered the third most powerful man in France.
- The need for nuance IE - 04:37 AM
- Jis khaak ke zamir main ho aatish e chinaar/ Mumkin nahin ke sard ho wo khaak e arjumand." (The dust that has in its conscience the fire of Chinaar trees/ That dust, celestial dust, will never become cold.) This couplet of Iqbal was often quoted by Sheikh Abdullah.
- The land of chup IE - 04:37 AM
- Repudiating the rationale behind the Supreme Court freeing American historian James Laine's book on Shivaji, the Maharashtra government is pondering a sweeping law against "defamatory writing" that impugns any religious or national icon.
- The great Game Folio IE - 04:37 AM
- Afghan Partition The former US envoy to India Robert Blackwill's call on Washington to accept a de facto partition of Afghanistan has got quite a bit of attention.
- Pune, in a jam FE - 01:40 AM
- It is a city on the move but it just cannot get its mobility issues right. Pune has everything going for itself. There's growth in the manufacturing, IT and ITeS industries. The city is attracting FDI and it's real estate is booming. Above all, it is becoming a magnet for talent from across the country.
- FE Editorial : Infosys, ups and downs FE - 01:40 AM
- The European debt crisis and a steep rise in operating expenses took the shine off the first quarter results of Infosys Technologies, usually the first major Indian company to announce its quarterly results.
- Mkts not in mood to be gloomy FE - 01:40 AM
- Well, the results season hasn't really got off to the kind of start one might have wanted. In all fairness, Infosys delivered what it said it would and moreover, has even said it it will do better this year than earlier anticipated. But then the Street always wants more; it had expected profits of Rs1,565 whereas the number came in Rs 1,488 crore, about 5% off.
- Column : Liquid-plus goes out of vogue FE - 01:40 AM
- The recent redemption by banks from liquid-plus debt funds has taken fund houses by surprise. They are now on a firefighting measure, with some mutual funds contemplating an exit load to contain their assets. But it is probably too late. Banks have redeemed Rs 80,000 crore out of a total of Rs 1,20,000 crore from the industry in June.
- Column : Double-dip recession, Seinfeld style FE - 01:40 AM
- 'Double-dip recession' is an economic jargon that is in vogue these days. The origin of the word is in a popular sitcom called Seinfeld. In a classic episode, Jerry Seinfeld's best friend, George, commits a disgusting food etiquette faux pas at an elite party.
- FE Editorial : Balance healthcare & profitability FE - 01:40 AM
- The furore over the withdrawal of the cashless hospitalisation services by the four major public sector general insurance companies of India from July 1 would not have been so intense if we had developed taxpayer-funded primary universal healthcare as the foundation for the current system to flourish over it.
- The next frontier FE - 01:40 AM
- India's growth story experienced a huge step-jump in the first decade of the 21st century. India's annual growth averaged almost 8% in the last decade before the onset of the financial crisis, compared to an annual average growth rate of 3.5% in the first three decades after Independence.
- Column : Hydro PSUs need a level playing field FE - 01:40 AM
- Hydropower PSUs like NHPC and SJVN are increasingly losing ground to private players. They are unable to match terms offered by the latter for allocation of projects because of prevailing policy constraints.
- Column: What are you paying your mutual fund? FE - Tue, Jul 13
- How wary are Indian investors of figuring out what they pay in making their investments? And how agile are financial firms in taking advantage of their errors? It is difficult to answer these questions convincingly, unless one can find situations that clearly isolate the fee effects.
- Friends with benefits IE - Tue, Jul 13
- The signing of the six bilateral pacts between India and Iran has been interpreted as part of India's own Af-Pak policy.
- Cup of nations IE - Tue, Jul 13
- Every four years, we're permitted a glimpse of a hopeful future. One in which cities formerly considered grimy and crime-ridden are instead sparklingly friendly. In which everyone stands patiently through everybody else's national anthems. In which people take an interest in towns, countries and people of which they would otherwise never have heard.
- End of the game IE - Tue, Jul 13
- Former US ambassador to India, former deputy national security adviser in the Bush administration and now senior fellow at the RAND Corporation, Robert Blackwill has outlined a new strategy for the US to deal with the Afghan Taliban, at minimum cost to American and allied forces.
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Bombay HC to decide on Modi''s petition tomorrow
The Bombay High Court will tomorrow pass the order on the petition filed by suspended IPL Chairman Lalit Modi challenging the disciplinary proceedings initiated against him by the BCCI. Modi''s lawyer Virag Tulzhapurkar told the court today that his client can''t expect "impartial and honest" decision from disciplinary committee which will conduct enquiry against him. The committee is going to meet on July 16 and has summoned Modi to appear.But Modi has sought an independent "outside" body for conducting inquiry instead of the present disciplinary panel of Arun Jaitley, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Chirayu Amin, IPL''s interim Chairman. "Decision of this committee is a foregone conclusion," said Tulzhapurkar.
He alleged that actions of BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan "were actuated by bias against Modi", as the latter had made allegations against Srinivasan regarding having a stake in IPL franchise team Chennai Super Kings. Similarly, Amin, a member of the committee and acting Chairman of IPL, too had a personal bias against Modi, said advocate Tulzhapurkar.
Even Jaitley should not be on the panel because he, along with Amin, was part of the IPL''s governing council which "ratified" Srinivasan''s opinion that there was prima facie evidence to initiate disciplinary inquiry against Modi, he said. .
Violence in Kashmir is "an internal matter of India," says Krishna
Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna today said that violence in the state of Jammu and Kashmir is "an internal matter of India."Krishna, who arrived on Wednesday on a three-day visit, was reacting to reported comments of his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who said that he would raise the issue of alleged human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir during talks with the Indian External Affairs Minister on Thursday.
"India has always taken a consistent position and whatever is happening in Kashmir is an internal matter of India," he told reporters at Hotel Serena in Islamabad.
"We are answerable to many agencies in our country (India) about human rights and we are not answerable to any other country on human rights, Krishna added.
Commenting on the issues that would come up during the talks with Qureshi, he said: "There is no fixed agenda what is to be discussed and what not to be discussed. India can place all its concerns and Pakistan can also place all its concerns." (ANI)
TCS, Infosys, Wipro shortlisted by insurance authority
The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has short listed six firms, including TCS, Wipro and Infosys, and called them for a pre-bid meeting Thursday for supply of Enterprise Resource Planning software.Based on detailed scrutiny of the bids submitted by different software companies, the IRDA has short listed six companies including Intelligroup, Mahindra Satyam and Deloittee, for Technical Bidding (phase 2).
The IRDA officials told IANS that the regulatory authority's website is also being revamped and a new site will be up and running soon.
The IRDA has invited proposals for redesigning its website several years back but subsequently decided to put that in the backburner. The redesigning of the website is being done in-house this time.
Karnataka illegal mining issue reaches PM, assembly impasse on
Karnataka Governor H.R. Bhardwaj Wednesday evening briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the illegal mining issue in the state that has paralysed the assembly since Monday with the opposition insisting on a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the alleged multi-billion rupee scandal.As Bhardwaj, former union law minister, apprised Manmohan Singh in New Delhi, opposition Congress and Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S) legislators held a joint meeting in Bangalore and decided to continue their 24-hour sit-in in the assembly till the Bharatiya Janata Party government agrees to hand over the investigation to the CBI.
'There is no change in our stand. Dharna will continue till our demand is me,' Leader of Opposition in the assembly Siddaramaiah of the Congress told reporters after the meeting.
Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa also stuck to his stand, rejecting the CBI probe and having the scandal investigated by the state Lok Ayukta (ombudsman) N. Santosh Hegde, a retired Supreme Court judge.
Hegde's resignation June 23 citing government's indifference to the fight corruption and check illegal mining triggered the present crisis for the two-year-old first BJP government in Karnataka and south India.
Hegde has since withdrawn resignation after an appeal by senior BJP leader L.K. Advani.
Bhardwaj's meeting with the prime minister was preceded by his discussion on the situation in Karnataka with union Home Minister P. Chidambaram.
The governor had briefed President Pratibha Patil Tuesday.
The 25-day assembly session began Jun 28 and is to approve demands for 27 departments and appropriation bills.
Bhardwaj taking the illegal mining issue to the central government has angered BJP central leaders also who have accused him of acting as a Congress 'agent' attempting to 'destabilise' the party's first government in south India.
Congress and JD-S legislators will spend Wednesday night also in the assembly, their third night stay in the house.
BJP leader stages his own kidnapping
A local BJP leader from Bulandshahr, Sudhir Garg, who went missing a week ago, had staged his own kidnapping to mislead his lenders since he owed them a lot of money, a senior police officer said today. Garg, a resident of Brahmanandanpuri area in Bulandshahr and runs a shop in Mandi, had allegedly gone missing on July 5 and his son had filed a kidnapping case with Kotwali police, ADG (law and order) Brij Lal told reporters here.Garg''s son Atul told the police that he had received a call from his father''s cellphone. Garg told him that the abductors had demanded Rs 50 lakh for his safe release.
However, the STF team deployed to work out the case got suspicous when they found out that Garg was making calls from his own phone, the officer said. The team located him at several places through electronic surveillance and finally traced him to an ashram in Mirzapur yesterday, Lal said, adding Garg enacted the drama since he owned a lot of money to his lenders.
He was brought to Bulandshahr and a case has been filed against him and his son for plotting kidnapping and misleading the police, the officer said.
Business News
New Companies Act Bill may be cleared by year-end: MCA Secy
PTI - 10:14 PMMumbai, July 14 (PTI) The Parliament Standing Committee is in the final stages of processing the new Companies Act and the Bill is expected to be cleared by this year-end, Corporate Affairs Secretary R Bandyopadhyay said.
- MORE STORIES
- I-T unions strike tomorrow PTI - 10:09 PM
- Bosch unveils power tools for lawn and garden upkeep IANS - 10:04 PM
- GLOBAL MARKETS - Euro extends losses, stocks slip on U.S. data Reuters - 09:59 PM
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- Strike called off at Nokia plantPTI - 09:49 PM
- Chennai, Jul 14 (PTI) The one-day-old strike by a section of the employees of mobile handset major Nokia at its Sriperumbudur plant near here was called off today, the company said.
- Nakheel plans loan repayment over 5-7 yearsReuters - 09:46 PM
- Troubled Dubai property developer Nakheel asked bank creditors to accept repayment of $10.5 billion over five to seven years at a meeting on Wednesday in one of the lavish developments that brought it low.
- AIG weighs giving US Maiden Lane stakes - reportReuters - 09:45 PM
- American International Group Inc has floated a plan to partially pay down its U.S. bailout debt by selling stakes in two entities that were created to take toxic assets off its books, Bloomberg said on Wednesday.
- Gold stages late rally as U.S. worries resurfaceReuters - 09:43 PM
- Gold pared earlier losses to rise for a second day on Wednesday, building on Tuesday's gains, as investor concern over the U.S. economic outlook prompted a late jump in the euro that lifted the precious complex.
- L&T bags Rs 12,132-cr Hyderabad Metro projectPTI - 09:43 PM
- Hyderabad/Mumbai, July 14 (PTI) Engineering and infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) emerged as the lowest bidder for the Rs 12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro project.
India
- IGate Q2 profit nearly doubles, beats StreetReuters - 06:58 PM
- Information technology and outsourcing services provider IGate Corp's second quarterly profits nearly doubled, helped by firm demand from the financial services sector.
- Nokia says resolves wage issues at Chennai plantReuters - 09:27 PM
- Nokia's India unit said on Wednesday it had resolved wage issues with workers at its plant in Chennai and that work at the factory would resume with immediate effect.
- Piramal Glass founder group sells 1.79 pct stakeReuters - 09:23 PM
- Piramal Glass Ltd said on Thursday its founder group has sold 1.44 million shares or 1.79 percent equity, in the secondary market, raising its public shareholding to the statutory 25 percent.
- Goa abolishes VAT on cooking gasIANS - 09:22 PM
- Panaji, July 14 (IANS) The Goa government Wednesday decided to drop value added tax (VAT) on cooking gas and marginally reduced it on petrol and diesel, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said.
- TCS, Infosys, Wipro shortlisted by insurance authorityIANS - 09:15 PM
- Chennai, July 14 (IANS) The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has short listed six firms, including TCS, Wipro and Infosys, and called them for a pre-bid meeting Thursday for supply of Enterprise Resource Planning software.
International
- EU fails to reach deal on financial supervisionReuters - 08:23 PM
- Efforts to clinch a deal on the way banks, insurers and markets in the European Union are supervised failed on Wednesday and talks will resume in late August or early September, EU sources said.
- POLL - Euro zone economic recovery seen slow but steadyReuters - 06:20 PM
- The euro zone's economic recovery will likely just plod along, forcing the central bank to keep interest rates low, but the chance of a dip back into recession is fading, according to the latest Reuters poll.
- Yamaha seeks summit in e-bikesIE - 05:13 PM
- Japan's Yamaha Motor Co unveiled a new electric motorcycle on Wednesday, saying it wanted to lead the nascent market for the zero-emission vehicles with a global share of about 20 percent in 2020. Yamaha Motor, the world's No.
- Free market ensures fair salaries: US studyIANS - 04:14 PM
- Washington, July 14 (IANS) Under ideal circumstances, a free market promotes fair salaries for workers and does not support fat pay packets for top honchos.
- German banker who misled market gets suspended jail termIANS - 04:11 PM
- Dusseldorf, July 14 (DPA) A German banker who misled the market about the looming sub-prime mortgage crisis in 2007 was handed a 10-month suspended jail sentence and 100,000 euros ($125,000) in fines Wednesday.
Personal-Finance
- Sensex closes below 18,000 on modest industrial dataIANS - Mon, Jul 12
- Mumbai, July 12 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday ended trade with a 103-point gain at 17,937 points, after breaching the psychologically important 18,000-mark.
- Low-cost loans still rule home loan marketIndia Today - Mon, Jul 12
- HOME loan companies are continuing to attract borrowers with ''concessional home loan'' packages despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiking the repo (at which it lends to banks) and reverse repo (at which RBI pays bank on their overnight deposits) rates and yet another rate hike evident on the horizon.
- Sensex closes 181 points higher, realty, telecom gainIANS - Fri, Jul 9
- Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday closed 181 points higher than its previous close, with realty and telecom stocks outperforming the markets.
- Sensex up 192 points, Bharti soarsIANS - Fri, Jul 9
- Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday rose considerably for the second consecutive session and was ruling 192 points higher than its previous close with telecom major Bharti Airtel leading the pack.
- Bankers not in a hurry to hike lending ratesHT - Sat, Jul 3
- Bankers said on Friday that they were not in a hurry to take the RBI?s cue and raise lending rates after the central bank hiked key policy rate to tame prices as macroeconomic managers grappled for options to contain inflation without upsetting broader growth. But business leaders fretted the signal of a credit squeeze might affect expansion plans.
Markets
- U.S. SEC eyes changes to shareholder voting systemReuters - 09:34 PM
- U.S. securities regulators on Wednesday weighed whether to change voting in corporate elections, amid calls from companies and some investors to fix a system they consider antiquated.
- World stocks at 3-wk peak as Intel fuels risk rallyReuters - 01:31 PM
- World stocks hit a three-week high on Wednesday while government bonds fell broadly after Intel's forecast-beating quarterly results raised expectations of strong corporate earnings in the second quarter.
- Retail reforms to benefit sector - officialReuters - 08:08 PM
- The benefits of opening up India to foreign retailers outweigh concerns, a top government official said, days after a discussion paper on the politically sensitive issue was released.
- Former CEO of German bank IKB fined, avoids jailReuters - 08:03 PM
- Stefan Ortseifen, the former chief executive of German bank IKB , was convicted of market manipulation on Wednesday but avoided going to jail in one of the few criminal cases to be prosecuted in the aftermath of the global banking crisis.
- Wall St slips on June retail sales, but Intel helpsReuters - 07:59 PM
- The Dow and S&P 500 indexes fell on Wednesday after data showed a second straight month of declining U.S. retail sales, though results from technology bellwether Intel Corp helped limit losses on the Nasdaq.
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New Companies Act Bill may be cleared by year-end: MCA Secy
PTI - 10:14 PMMumbai, July 14 (PTI) The Parliament Standing Committee is in the final stages of processing the new Companies Act and the Bill is expected to be cleared by this year-end, Corporate Affairs Secretary R Bandyopadhyay said.
- MORE STORIES
- I-T unions strike tomorrow PTI - 10:09 PM
- Bosch unveils power tools for lawn and garden upkeep IANS - 10:04 PM
- GLOBAL MARKETS - Euro extends losses, stocks slip on U.S. data Reuters - 09:59 PM
- Keshub Mahindra re-appointed on HDFC board PTI - 09:52 PM
- Air India to develop hub at new Delhi terminal IANS - 09:51 PM
BUSINESS
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General
- Strike called off at Nokia plantPTI - 09:49 PM
- Chennai, Jul 14 (PTI) The one-day-old strike by a section of the employees of mobile handset major Nokia at its Sriperumbudur plant near here was called off today, the company said.
- Nakheel plans loan repayment over 5-7 yearsReuters - 09:46 PM
- Troubled Dubai property developer Nakheel asked bank creditors to accept repayment of $10.5 billion over five to seven years at a meeting on Wednesday in one of the lavish developments that brought it low.
- AIG weighs giving US Maiden Lane stakes - reportReuters - 09:45 PM
- American International Group Inc has floated a plan to partially pay down its U.S. bailout debt by selling stakes in two entities that were created to take toxic assets off its books, Bloomberg said on Wednesday.
- Gold stages late rally as U.S. worries resurfaceReuters - 09:43 PM
- Gold pared earlier losses to rise for a second day on Wednesday, building on Tuesday's gains, as investor concern over the U.S. economic outlook prompted a late jump in the euro that lifted the precious complex.
- L&T bags Rs 12,132-cr Hyderabad Metro projectPTI - 09:43 PM
- Hyderabad/Mumbai, July 14 (PTI) Engineering and infrastructure major Larsen & Toubro (L&T) emerged as the lowest bidder for the Rs 12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro project.
India
- IGate Q2 profit nearly doubles, beats StreetReuters - 06:58 PM
- Information technology and outsourcing services provider IGate Corp's second quarterly profits nearly doubled, helped by firm demand from the financial services sector.
- Nokia says resolves wage issues at Chennai plantReuters - 09:27 PM
- Nokia's India unit said on Wednesday it had resolved wage issues with workers at its plant in Chennai and that work at the factory would resume with immediate effect.
- Piramal Glass founder group sells 1.79 pct stakeReuters - 09:23 PM
- Piramal Glass Ltd said on Thursday its founder group has sold 1.44 million shares or 1.79 percent equity, in the secondary market, raising its public shareholding to the statutory 25 percent.
- Goa abolishes VAT on cooking gasIANS - 09:22 PM
- Panaji, July 14 (IANS) The Goa government Wednesday decided to drop value added tax (VAT) on cooking gas and marginally reduced it on petrol and diesel, Chief Minister Digambar Kamat said.
- TCS, Infosys, Wipro shortlisted by insurance authorityIANS - 09:15 PM
- Chennai, July 14 (IANS) The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority (IRDA) has short listed six firms, including TCS, Wipro and Infosys, and called them for a pre-bid meeting Thursday for supply of Enterprise Resource Planning software.
International
- EU fails to reach deal on financial supervisionReuters - 08:23 PM
- Efforts to clinch a deal on the way banks, insurers and markets in the European Union are supervised failed on Wednesday and talks will resume in late August or early September, EU sources said.
- POLL - Euro zone economic recovery seen slow but steadyReuters - 06:20 PM
- The euro zone's economic recovery will likely just plod along, forcing the central bank to keep interest rates low, but the chance of a dip back into recession is fading, according to the latest Reuters poll.
- Yamaha seeks summit in e-bikesIE - 05:13 PM
- Japan's Yamaha Motor Co unveiled a new electric motorcycle on Wednesday, saying it wanted to lead the nascent market for the zero-emission vehicles with a global share of about 20 percent in 2020. Yamaha Motor, the world's No.
- Free market ensures fair salaries: US studyIANS - 04:14 PM
- Washington, July 14 (IANS) Under ideal circumstances, a free market promotes fair salaries for workers and does not support fat pay packets for top honchos.
- German banker who misled market gets suspended jail termIANS - 04:11 PM
- Dusseldorf, July 14 (DPA) A German banker who misled the market about the looming sub-prime mortgage crisis in 2007 was handed a 10-month suspended jail sentence and 100,000 euros ($125,000) in fines Wednesday.
Personal-Finance
- Sensex closes below 18,000 on modest industrial dataIANS - Mon, Jul 12
- Mumbai, July 12 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Monday ended trade with a 103-point gain at 17,937 points, after breaching the psychologically important 18,000-mark.
- Low-cost loans still rule home loan marketIndia Today - Mon, Jul 12
- HOME loan companies are continuing to attract borrowers with ''concessional home loan'' packages despite the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) hiking the repo (at which it lends to banks) and reverse repo (at which RBI pays bank on their overnight deposits) rates and yet another rate hike evident on the horizon.
- Sensex closes 181 points higher, realty, telecom gainIANS - Fri, Jul 9
- Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday closed 181 points higher than its previous close, with realty and telecom stocks outperforming the markets.
- Sensex up 192 points, Bharti soarsIANS - Fri, Jul 9
- Mumbai, July 9 (IANS) A benchmark index for Indian equities Friday rose considerably for the second consecutive session and was ruling 192 points higher than its previous close with telecom major Bharti Airtel leading the pack.
- Bankers not in a hurry to hike lending ratesHT - Sat, Jul 3
- Bankers said on Friday that they were not in a hurry to take the RBI?s cue and raise lending rates after the central bank hiked key policy rate to tame prices as macroeconomic managers grappled for options to contain inflation without upsetting broader growth. But business leaders fretted the signal of a credit squeeze might affect expansion plans.
Markets
- U.S. SEC eyes changes to shareholder voting systemReuters - 09:34 PM
- U.S. securities regulators on Wednesday weighed whether to change voting in corporate elections, amid calls from companies and some investors to fix a system they consider antiquated.
- World stocks at 3-wk peak as Intel fuels risk rallyReuters - 01:31 PM
- World stocks hit a three-week high on Wednesday while government bonds fell broadly after Intel's forecast-beating quarterly results raised expectations of strong corporate earnings in the second quarter.
- Retail reforms to benefit sector - officialReuters - 08:08 PM
- The benefits of opening up India to foreign retailers outweigh concerns, a top government official said, days after a discussion paper on the politically sensitive issue was released.
- Former CEO of German bank IKB fined, avoids jailReuters - 08:03 PM
- Stefan Ortseifen, the former chief executive of German bank IKB , was convicted of market manipulation on Wednesday but avoided going to jail in one of the few criminal cases to be prosecuted in the aftermath of the global banking crisis.
- Wall St slips on June retail sales, but Intel helpsReuters - 07:59 PM
- The Dow and S&P 500 indexes fell on Wednesday after data showed a second straight month of declining U.S. retail sales, though results from technology bellwether Intel Corp helped limit losses on the Nasdaq.
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Why the BJP won't act against the Reddy brothers
NDTV Correspondent, Updated: July 14, 2010 22:31 ISTBangalore: The sleep in at the Karnataka Assembly by Opposition Congress and JD(S) demanding CBI investigation into the illegal mining scam - involving Reddy brother - continued for a third night. But the protesting MLAs seem to be enjoying it. They are in good spirits and some of them even tested their singing abilities.
The Governor, H R Bhardwaj, is leading the charge against the brothers - Tourism Minister G Janardhana Reddy and his brother Revenue Minister G Karunakara Reddy. He wants the brothers sacked.
Today he upped the ante by meeting the Home Minister and Prime Minister on the issue. During the meeting, Bhardwaj is believed to have discussed how the influence of Reddy brothers is increasing, how they are exploiting their position in the Cabinet and that their illegal mining activities are destroying the rule of law in the state.
But Centre's strong and active interest in Karnataka politics has deeper reasons - the Reddy brothers aren't just Karnataka players, the Congress' real concern is the support the Reddys are extending to elements that are creating trouble for its Andhra government. So, the plan is to insulate its government in Andhra Pradesh from such attacks - and a shaky BJP government in the state is a bonus.Share on SocialGmail BuzzPrint
The BJP is trapped between the devil and the deep sea. The protests against the Reddy brothers have united the Congress and the JD(S), but action against the powerful Reddys could well lead to split in the party's state unit. So the party's core group has decided to buy time and keep the decision to act against Reddys on hold.
Meanwhile in Bangalore, the Opposition kept the pressure on the Yeddyurappa government. The Assembly was adjourned within minutes of opening, but the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular) refused to vacate the Vidhana Soudha.
"He doesn't allow us to speak, he is a goonda chief minister. Can you call him a democratic CM?" Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said.
But Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa had this to say, "Let the Janata Dal and the Congress come back to the Assembly. Then we can talk."
For now, it seems the MLAs will continue to sleep in the Assembly as neither side seems willing to give in.
Read more at: http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/why-the-bjp-won-t-act-against-the-reddy-brothers-37524?cp
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PM's speech to CMs of Naxal-affected statesNDTV.com - 2 hours agoNew Delhi: The Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, chaired the meeting of Chief Ministers of Naxal affected states in New Delhi on Wednesday. Following is the text of the PM's speech on the occasion: Over the past few years, we have met a number of times ... India sets up unified command to tackle MaoistsReuters Africa - Bappa Majumdar - 40 minutes agoNEW DELHI, July 14 (Reuters) - India announced a unified command structure on Wednesday to help coordinate a security offensive against Maoist rebels, but analysts said the move may not be enough to turn around the battle against the ... Urgent need for coordinated anti-Maoist drive: ManmohanSify - 1 hour agoNew Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said there was 'urgent need for the Central and state forces to work with coordination' to meet the challenge of Maoist extremism. Addressing a meeting of the chief ministers of seven Maoist-affected ...
PM, states agree on unified commands to fight MaoistsSify - 2 hours agoNew Delhi: A unified command, an extensive Rs 1750 crore infrastructure package and helicopter support were amongst the measures agreed upon to counter Maoists at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's meeting with Maoist affected states here Wednesday. ... 4 Naxal-hit states to have unified commandTimes of India - 4 hours agoNEW DELHI: Four states worst affected by Maoist violence will have unified command structures to fight the menace as the Centre offered more helicopters and logistical support to states in their anti-Naxal operations. Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand ... Development, action in Maoist areas should be together: CongressDaily News & Analysis - 2 hours agoPTI New Delhi: Against the backdrop of prime minister Manmohan Singh convening a meeting of chief ministers of Naxal-affected states, Congress today said that development and strong actions should go together to counter the Maoists. ... Unified command, more choppers for Naxal-hit statesNDTV.com - 6 hours agoNew Delhi: Finally, states dealing with Naxalism have arrived at a consensus on how to tackle the insurgency. At a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, it was decided to set up a Unified Command for the worst-hit states: Orissa, Jharkhand, ... Naxal-affected States agree to set up Unified Command to deal with Left-wing ...Sify - 50 minutes agoThe Chief Ministers of the Naxal-affected States, who attended a meeting convened by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh here on Wednesday, agreed to set up a Unified Command with a retired Major General rank officer onboard to bolster anti-Maoist ... PM to meet chief ministers of Naxal-hit states todayTimes of India - Rajeev Deshpande, Vishwa Mohan - 20 hours agoNEW DELHI: In keeping with high-level internal deliberations in government, the Centre is expected to focus on urging states to actively lead the offensive against Naxal extremism while offering all logistical assistance, including manpower, ... All 34 related articles » | RelatedNaxalWest Bengal Unified Combatant Command Jharkhand Manmohan Singh New Delhi Timeline of articlesNumber of sources covering this story
ImagesNDTV.comIndian Express Indian Express www.newsworms.c... dailynews365 Stock Market To... All related images » VideosCentre asks Naxal hit states to form Unified commandAsian News International (ANI) - 2 hours ago Watch video <div class="video-thumb thumbnail"><a class="js-link thumbnail-toggle" href="javascript:void(0);" onclick="return false;"><img src="http://i.ytimg.com/vi/3BJO6NuzbGQ/default.jpg" alt="" class="thumbnail" width="120" height="90"> <div class="icon play-icon"></div></a></div> <div class="video-details"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BJO6NuzbGQ">Centre asks Naxal hit states to form Unified command</a> <span class="source">Asian News International (ANI)</span> - 2 hours ago <div class="icon video-icon"></div> <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BJO6NuzbGQ">Watch video</a></div>
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How can Wikipedia grow? May be in Bengali and Arabic
13 Jul 2010, 0526 hrs IST,New York TimesHundreds of contributors and supporters gathered in this port city over the weekend to meet and greet, talk and listen, and think about the future of Wikipedia, the user-edited online encyclopedia that many remember from its earliest days.
It started with an improbable mission to share knowledge with the world, and the utopianism is still present: the setting for this year's Wikimania conference is a philharmonic hall on an island in the Motlawa River with the bent, largely idle cranes of the Gdansk shipyards, birthplace of the Solidarity movement, close on the horizon. The T-shirts say "Free Knowledge in the City of Freedom."
After six Wikimanias, there are more practical questions hanging over the proceedings: Who took our mojo? And how can we get it back? Should we get it back?
"It is growing less quickly," said Liam Wyatt, a longtime Wikipedia contributor and advocate from Australia. "By definition, as it gets bigger, people don't have as many places to start. It is a good problem to have, but it is a problem."
Wyatt arrived by way of London, where he completed a five-week term as the British Museum's first Wikipedian in residence. His talk on Sunday about how Wikipedia contributors and curators worked together to improve the coverage of museum materials was cheered by an audience heartened that Wikipedia users' efforts were appreciated by one of the bastions of Western culture.
It would certainly be an upside-down world if Wikipedia – mocked as the symbol of the triumph of amateurism – was saved by experts like those at the museum. But as the encyclopedia grows, with well over 3 million articles in English, experts remain a largely untapped resource. And with Wikipedia's enhanced public profile, experts may suddenly become interested.
In the United States, the Wikimedia Foundation has sponsored an academy to teach experts at the National Institutes of Health how to contribute to the site and monitor what appears there. And Wyatt said that other institutions including the Smithsonian had written to inquire about getting their own Wikipedian in residence to facilitate their staff members' contributions to the site.
One talk here by a Polish professor, Dariusz Jemielniak, took a jab at the idea of experts as contributors. He said he had noticed that students often remained contributors to Wikipedia but that professors left quickly. His explanation was that Wikipedia was really just a game for people to gain status. A teenager offering the definitive account of the Thirty Years' War gets a huge audience and respect from his peers. But, Jemielniak asked, why would a professor stoop to edit Wikipedia?
"Professors already get published and can lecture and force people to listen to their ideas," he said.
Rather than look to experts to get its mojo working, the Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit organization that operates the Wikipedias in more than 250 languages, is aiming at the underserved populations of the globe to meet its ambitious goals for growth.
In a speech on Friday at the start of Wikimania, in the restored home of the Polish Baltic Philharmonic, the foundation's executive director, Sue Gardner, said the foundation planned to double in size in the next year by adding 44 employees and hoped to raise more than $20 million in donations.
Her focus, however, was on the area she called the Global South – India, South America, the Middle East – where the goal is to have 12 percent annual growth in unique visitors, compared with 4 percent in the Global North.
FDI in multi-brand retail
14 Jul 2010, 0647 hrs IST,Satvik Varma,Foreign direct investment (FDI) in multi-brand retail has faced both political and ideological opposition, quite oblivious of expert studies that rank India as the most attractive retail destination. But, finally, there may be some good news, with the department of industrial policy and promotion (Dipp) issuing a discussion paper inviting views and suggestions on permitting FDI in multi-brand retail trading. And while it is heartening that the discussion paper doesn't suggest an upper limit on FDI in multi-brand retail, caution also needs to be exercised before the floodgates are opened.
At present, 100% FDI is permitted, under the automatic route, for wholesale cash-and-carry trading subject to certain end-sale limitations and restrictions. And while as a general rule, FDI in retail trading is prohibited, an exception for FDI up to 51%, with government approval, is permitted in single-brand retail. But no FDI is permitted in multi-brand retail on the belief that it would adversely impact the large unorganised retail sector, and the small mom-and-pop shops will not be able to stand up to the challenges that FDI in this sector may pose. Concerns have also been expressed that FDI in multi-brand retail may lead to large-scale unemployment of the workforce employed by this sector.
Dipp's openness to permitting FDI in multi-brand retail would appear to be driven as much by compulsions as by a genuine desire to provide for economic prosperity in the rural areas. The Dipp acknowledges the need to address issues relating to farmers through removal of structural inefficiencies , as also to improve post-harvest management that requires investment in backend logistics and storage infrastructure . A weak supply chain results in largescale wastage and, more often than not, the ultimate consumer pays a lot more than what reaches the farmer. It is important to provide for steadier incomes to farmers either through direct marketing or contract farming programmes. From the perspective of the consumers, there is an urgent need to check food inflation and control demand-supply imbalances.
The retail sector needs large-scale investments . A substantial portion of these investments are expected from private enterprises ; hence, it is imperative to make it financially worthwhile for them. It has long been argued that the entry of foreign retailers through joint ventures would help develop backward linkages to sources of supply and, thus, develop a domestic supply chain of international standards. Eventually , this would improve productivity, benefiting the farmer, and the competition may eventually help bring down prices for consumers . The government believes that permitting FDI in the sector will also help bring in technical and management knowhow, all of which is in India's long-term interest.
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/comments--analysis/FDI-in-multi-brand-retail/articleshow/6165369.cms
Omar appeals to Kashmiris for peaceIBNLive.com - Jul 12, 2010 Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir government is forming a team to tackle the turmoil in Kashmir Valley and persuade Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to restart the ... Parties seek probe into JK civilian deathsOneindia - Jul 12, 2010 Srinagar, Jul 13: The all-party meeting convened in Jammu Kashmir on Monday, Jul 12 convened by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah finally decided to call for an ... Probe Kashmir civilian killings: PDPTimes of India - - Jul 12, 2010 SRINAGAR: In an attempt to display bipartisan commitment to bring peace to the Valley, leaders of main political parties barring the opposition PDP on ...
All-party team to pitch for peace processEconomic Times - Jul 12, 2010 SRINAGAR: An all-party meeting here has decided to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, to urge him to strengthen the peace process in the external and ... * Meeting decides to send delegation to Singh to ask for his political ...Daily Times - - Jul 12, 2010 NEW DELHI: An all-parties meeting, called by Indian-held Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to find a way out of the current crisis, ... Be seriousIndian Express - Jul 12, 2010 Fortunately, I will not have to spend 90 per cent of my time on security related issues. Instead, we can focus on governance," said Omar Abdullah, ... Omar wants PM to find peace in JSify - Jul 12, 2010 The Omar Abdullah government in Jammu and Kashmir has transferred the peace solutions for the violent Kashmir valley to the central government. ... Omar govt demonised its own forceHindustan Times - Jul 12, 2010 People's Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti on Monday defended her decision to boycott the all-party meeting called by Jammu and Kashmir Chief ... J&K meet seeks killings' inquiryHindustan Times - Jul 12, 2010 Police patrol a deserted street near in Lal Chowk during a curfew in Srinagar. Thousands of police... The all-party meeting convened by J&K Chief Minister ... | Timeline of articlesNumber of sources covering this story
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Crime file: Man posing as Manmohan Singh's advisor takes cops for a ride
Today's crime file opens with a strange story of a man who took the J&K police for a ride. The file also has the case of a woman who had to deliver on the streets in Mumbai as a hospital refused her admission. Read on.
PM's `advisor' gets a royal treatment before getting arrested
Jammu: A resident of Delhi has been arrested by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for pretending to be an advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, and enjoying the hospitality of the Jammu and Kashmir Police and the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board during his visit to the shrine on Monday evening.
Three women, a driver and two guards accompanying him have also been held. The man, identified as Manmohan Singh of 115-A, Fateh Nagar, New Delhi, was carrying an identity card showing him as Advisor to PM, with Minister of State status.
According to sources, Singh had nearly pulled off the charade, but for his "irrational behaviour" with accompanying policemen on the way to the shrine. After he argued with them on several occasions, the policemen became suspicious and informed senior officials.
After his story was exposed, Singh reportedly told the police that he had been "a political advisor" to Manmohan Singh when he was not the Prime Minister.
Sources said the Jammu and Kashmir Police had got a message on Monday from their Punjab counterparts about "the PM's advisor" driving down to the state. A police team along with vehicles from the Jammu Police Control Room (PCR) was sent to wait for him at Lakhanpur -- the entry point to Jammu and Kashmir from Punjab.
Singh and the three women arrived late in the evening, and since he reportedly already had a police escort, nobody suspected anything. He was promptly provided a security escort for the drive to Katra, on way to the Vaishno Devi shrine.
When the group reached there, the VIP rooms at the Niharika complex owned by the shrine board were opened for them. After a brief halt of 30 minutes, Singh and his group proceeded towards the shrine, again under police protection. They visited the shrine and returned to Katra town on Tuesday morning.
Still escorted by a police party, they proceeded to Niharika for a brief halt. But by then suspicious senior police officials had swung into action and called up Delhi to check his antecedents. The entire group was rounded up and taken to the police station.
While the police have registered a case against Singh, initial investigations suggest the others may not have known about his claims of being an advisor to the prime minister.
Next page: Indian student shot dead in Connecticut
Student from Hyderabad shot dead in US
Washington: An Indian student of software engineering in Stratford University in Connecticut was gunned down by unidentified assailants in a grocery store in a suspected robbery case.
A native of Hyderabad, Arun Kumar Narote, who was working as a part-time clerk at a grocery store in Bridgeport, was shot Monday around 9:30 p.m. (local time). Police are investigating the case.
According to police, two masked men walked in to the Norman Grocery Store Monday night, robbed cash and shot Narote in the head. Though there were no signs of resistance on his part.
Narote was pursuing his masters in software engineering after graduating from the Indira Reddy Memorial Engineering College in Hyderabad.
Telugu Association of North America (TANA) President, Jayaram Komati, has expressed condolences to Narote family.
TANA Secretary, Mohan Nannapaneni, Telugu Association of Connecticut president, Rao Yalamanchili, and others are coordinating with authorities to send the body home.
Next page: Sent back' by civic hospital, woman gives birth on street
Hospital staff saw woman deliver on street, did nothing
Mumbai: A 20-year-old woman delivered on the street outside the BMC's maternity clinic in Mahim on Monday after allegedly being denied admission. The mother and the newborn are now at LTMG Hospital, Sion.
The vendor of a local newspaper, who claims to have assisted in the delivery, said, "Between 3.30 and 4 am, I saw a couple enter the hospital. They came out after a while. The man went somewhere while she waited, clutching at her belly." He said she fainted and started bleeding, and that he and another woman rushed into the hospital but nurses told them the hospital could not handle premature deliveries. By then, the husband had returned and the three of them helped her deliver.
"I saw a nurse looking out of the window. She saw the pain my wife was in but did not come out," said Kishor Gohil, the husband.
Assistant health officer Dr Sajivani Palkar, said, "Some staff said they saw the delivery near the hospital gate and brought the mother and baby inside.
Others gave a contradictory version saying the delivery happened on the way to LTMG Hospital." Local MNS workers agitated at the BMC clinic demanding resignation of the lone doctor on duty. They say an eyewitness called the police. "Only after their arrival did a nurse come down and cut the umbilical cord, on the footpath. The mother and the newborn were carried inside," MNS worker Swanand Kamat said.
The baby was sent to LTMG then, and the mother on Tuesday, they said. Palkar says nobody "told me anything about the umbilical cord being cut on the street." The BMC health office will conduct a probe and the report is expected in 48 hours. The LTMG dean did not comment.
A source at the hospital said, "We did not have to keep the baby in the ICU so it looks the delivery was not very premature..."The newborn is in the regular paediatric ward. The source added because of unassisted delivery, the baby was meconium stained, a complication arising out of foetal distress and the mother suffered unnecessary blood loss.
Dr GT Ambe, BMC executive health officer, said, "We have taken inputs from all sides and will file an official report tomorrow..."
Next page: Day after DU student's murder, protesters go berserk
Brothers who murdered student still at large
New Delhi: A day after Delhi University student Kamal Kumar Rawat was murdered in Sonia Vihar, people from his locality on Tuesday set three houses on fire and ransacked three buildings owned by who they claimed were the accused in the case and their relatives. With the protests threatening to blow up into a caste clash, the police had to call in extra forces and barricade the Sonia Vihar bridge to keep the protesters at bay.
Even as 38 people were arrested for the violence on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) S S Yadav said Kamal Kumar's murderers will be caught soon. "We have lodged a case of rioting against 38 people who set the houses on fire," he added.
On Monday, the residents of Sonia Vihar Ablock had blocked traffic protesting against Kamal's murder earlier in the day. Since the police had not yet arrested brothers Bachan Singh Nagar and Pravin Singh Nagar and their accomplice Umesh Singh Nagar, whom the locals claimed were behind the murder, they took to the street again on Tuesday morning.
"We were protesting peacefully when the police started a cane-charge and used tear gas shells to disperse us. This was when the protesters set the houses of the accused on fire," said Ashok Kumar, one of the protesters. The protesters first set the double-storey house of Bachan and Pravin on fire and pelted stones at the structure.
There was no one in the house as the family had fled after the murder. They then went to Umesh's house and broke windowpanes and furniture. There was no one at his house too.
The accused then ransacked and set Bachan's uncle Om Bir 'st house on fire. The house of Satbir, a relative, was also set ablaze.
Police said the protesters also destroyed the motorcycles of some visitors that were parked outside the house. They then pelted the houses of Jai Kishan, another relative, and Bachan's friend Ajay Dogra with stones. "The protesters reportedly stole Rs 50,000 from Dogra's house," said a police officer.
Kamal's father Balan Rawat, who makes electronic items, said: "Yesterday, the locals said they were with us and we must agitate against the crime. But they ran away on seeing the police. Today, they came to me and said the same thing. I went with them to seek justice for my son, but the police beat up the protesters."
Kamal was pursuing BCom through correspondence from Delhi University and was a national level kho-kho player. Kamal's brother Mahesh, a Class XII student, said his brother was picked up by the assailants when he was waiting at the bus stop. The family suspects he could have been murdered because he had a dispute with an auto dealer whom he had given Rs 75,000.
Next page:Retd Colonel arrested for molesting assistant
Editorial assistant molested
New Delhi: A retired Colonel, also a published author, was arrested early last month for molesting an editorial researcher who was assisting him, it is learnt. Col Gopal Purdhani (retd), author of Love stories of War Heroes, was booked under Section 354 of the IPC at the IP Estate police station, after a woman, an editorial researcher at a company in Daryaganj, claimed he molested her in his car. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Jaspal Singh confirmed that Col Purdhani, who stays in Dwarka, has been booked for molestation on the woman's complaint.
The police said the Colonel used to drop her at her residence in Indirapuram in Ghaziabad every day after work. On June 5, on their way to Ghaziabad, the Colonel allegedly started molesting her near the Delhi Police headquarters, the woman said in her complaint. The woman protested and stepped out of the car. The next day she lodged a complaint against the Colonel at the IP Estate police station. The Colonel was arrested soon after and released on bail, said a senior police officer, adding that the two first met at a party.
Next page: Three electrocuted in New Delhi
Fallen wires kill three, among them a 12-yr-old
New Delhi: Apart from the two deaths in Chandni Chowk, three others were electrocuted on Monday after coming in contact with high-tension electric wires.
In Central Delhi's Baljeet Nagar, 12-year-old Amit, who lived in Punjabi Basti, was playing in a park with a friend Naveen around 6 pm when the incident occurred.
Eyewitnesses said Amit came in contact with an electric wire that had fallen off a pole during the storm. "He touched the pole which was in contact with the wire and suffered electric shocks. Naveen was injured while trying to rescue Amit.
Amit's sister Neetu saw the two boys and called for help.
"The main switch across the road was turned off before the children were carried to the neighborhood temple," said Paras, an eyewitness.
The two were rushed to Ganga Ram Hospital. Paras said Amit's condition worsened on the way and he was declared dead on arrival by doctors at the hospital around 7.30 pm. Naveen, doctors said, is still recovering.
Amit's grandmother Shanti Devi alleged this was not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area. "Recently, a cow was electrocuted in the same park after coming in contact with the wires while a child was also injured. Despite this, no action was taken," she said.
In another incident, two unidentified persons were electrocuted in Friends Colony near Mansarovar Park in Northeast Delhi after tripping over naked wires lying on the flooded streets.
The first victim is suspected to have tripped and drowned. The second, police said, was cycling down the lane around 8 pm when he came in contact with the wires. His screams alerted the neighbours, who alleged that power supply was not cut off for more than an hour despite repeated calls to the discom.
Eyewitnesses said as it was dark, and nobody dared to go and rescue the man even after the power supply was turned off. Later, personnel from the Mansarovar Park police station took the bodies away.
Next page: Pulled up by dad for playing cricket, teen immolates self
Boy told not to waste time on cricket, ends life
Ghaziabad: Two teenagers allegedly ended their lives in separate incidents in the city after being reportedly rebuked by their fathers.
In the first incident, Raman Singh, a teenager, allegedly doused himself with kerosene and set himelf on fire after his father, Mahender Singh, asked him not to waste time in playing cricket. The incident occurred on Monday night in Shamnagar area of Hapur in Ghaziabad. Superintendent of Police (Rural), Ghaziabad, M M Baig said: "The teenager allegedly committed suicide after being rebuked by his father about concentrating more on studies instead of playing cricket." Raman was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to severe burn injuries.
In the second incident, 19-year-old BBA student Dharam Mitra Singh allegedly committed suicide in Gopalpuram area of Ghaziabad. Police sources said Dharam's father, Nagender Singh, had told him to desist from drinking alcohol. "His father had told him not to drink liquor as he feared his son was turning into an alcoholic. Unable to take the rebuke, Dharam shot himself with a pistol from point blank range," SP Baig said. Dharam was taken to a hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Cases have been registered in both incidents and the police are investigating the matter further.
Next page :Honour killing Family booked for murder of teen, cousin
Case of murder registered against family
Ghaziabad: In what appears to be another case of honour killing, the family of a 16-year-old girl has been booked for murdering her and her 21-year-old cousin and lover on Saturday. The family was opposed to the match .
A case of murder has been registered against the girl's father and other members of her family. The incident occurred in Gari Madhiya village of Ghaziabad on Saturday, when Ishtiyak Ali had gone to meet his cousin Shabnam. Their bodies were recovered later in the evening. The girl's parents claimed Shabnam was shot by Ishtiyak, who later committed suicide.
The police, however, said Ali's postmortem report suggested he was shot in the head from behind. Superintendent of Police (Rural) M M Baig said: "We are investigating whether this is a case of honour killing," he added.
Ishtiyak's father, Mushtiyak Ali, had alleged in his FIR that his son, who worked as a helper in a shop owned by the girl's family, and Shabnam were shot dead by the girl's parents as they were against the relationship.
Next page: Youth Akali Dal leader shot dead in Chandigarh
Youth Akali Dal leader shot
Chandigarh: Youth Akali Dal leader from Muktsar, Tripat Deep Singh Sekhon, was shot dead in the busy market of Sector 9 on Tuesday. The Chandigarh Police have booked Balwinder Bajaj alias Minkle, a Muktsar resident and former Youth Akali leader for the murder under Section 302 of the IPC. He is yet to be arrested.
Enmity between the deceased and the accused related to a MMS case, involving Bajaj's sister is said to be the motive for the crime.
Around 4.30 pm Sekhon was found lying on the road in Sector 9, writhing in pain. He was shot in the groin. The police was called and a PCR van rushed him to the Sector 16 hospital and from there he was referred to the PGI. He was declared dead on arrival at the PGI.
Police said Sekhon had called his sister Kiranpreet Kaur and told her he had been shot by Balwinder Bajaj. The forty-year-old had come to stay with Kaur, a teacher and a resident of Zirakpur, four days ago.
According to preliminary investigations, Sekhon and his niece Abhir had come to visit his cousin Paramjit Kaur at Sector 7 in the afternoon. At 4.10 pm, Sekhon received a call on his mobile. The caller had asked him to come to the rear of Sector 9 market. There he was shot at by the ac
cused who managed to flee. According to eyewitnesses, he was seen waiting for someone next to his motorcycle.
The police have dispatched a team to Muktsar to apprehend Minkle.
The rivalry and the grudge In February, Sekhon was among the three persons booked in a case of making an obscene MMS of a married woman in Muktsar. The woman in the MMS is the sister of the accused Minkle. Police said Minkle could have held a grudge against Sekhon.
Sekhon was booked along with Gurpal and Kapil, but was given a clean chit as the police found he had only forwarded the MMS which he received from prime accused Gurpal. "We initially booked him in the case, but investigations revealed that Sekhon had received and forwarded the MMS. He was not directly involved in the scandal. Minkle, however, could not forgive Sekhon. The two were also political rivals," said Inder Mohan Singh, SSP, Muktsar, adding that Sekhon was not named in the police chargesheet in the case.
Investigations revealed that accused Minkle was formerly a member of Youth Akali Dal but later resigned owing to his rivalry with Sekhon.
Next page: Wine shop manager shot at, attackers flee despite cop chase
Manager out of danger after shooting incident
Mumbai: The manager of a wine shop at Lalbaug was on Tuesday morning shot at allegedly by two unidentified assailants, who came to the shop on the pretext of buying alcohol. Three rounds were fired at Ajit Panjwani (30) and the attackers fled despite a chase by a police constable. The Bhoiwada police have ruled out robbery as motive, and said Panjwani, who suffered two bullet injuries, is out of danger.
The incident took place between 11.15 am and 11.30 am at London Wines located near the ITC, Grand Maratha in Lalbaug. Police said the shop was targetted on two other occasions this year. In February, around Rs 15,000 was stolen from the shop. A month ago, armed robbers had looted Rs 1.75 lakh. The robbery case is yet to be solved and investigators said they are probing possible links between the incidents.
"As per the statements of Panjwani, he was at the counter when a man came and asked for a bottle of liqour. While he was fetching the bottle, suddenly another man entered and fired three rounds at him. The duo then fled in opposite directions. One of them was spotted by a beat marshall who was coming out of a bank near the shop," said Additional Commissioner of Police, Central, Vineet Agarwal. Police constable Manohar Shendge saw a youth running even as crowd gathered outside the wine shop.
"I heard people shouting about the gunfire and immediately started chasing the youth. However, due to heavy traffic, it was tough to chase him," said Shendge.
The assailant dropped his revolver while fleeing and it was later recovered by the police. Shendge along with locals rushed Panjwani to the KEM Hospital.
"While three rounds were fired, one hit Panjwani's shoulder and the other brushed his hip. He is out of danger.
Prima facie it does not appear as if robbery was the motive. We are investigating if someone has any vendetta against either the owner of the shop or Panjwani," said senior inspector Vikram Patil of the Bhoiwada police station. Meanwhile, Gulab Kukreja, the owner's son, was at KEM Hospital to look after Panjwani.
"We have been running this shop for the past 10 years. No untoward incident was reported till last year. After the theft and robbery, this is the third such incident and is of more serious in nature. I'm concerned about my employees' safety," said Kukreja whose elderly father is in hospital after suffering brain haemorrhage. Prem Miskin, a member of the Maharashtra Wine Merchants Association, claimed that for the past few months attacks on wine shops have increased considerably.
Source: The Indian Express/IANS
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