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Non-commital on special package Patna, July 27 Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today assured all assistance to Bihar devastated by the floods, which has claimed around 450 lives, but remained non-committal on the state government’s demand for a Rs 7000 crore-package to undertake the task of rebuilding the infrastructure and providing relief to victims. 
In video (28k,
56k)
In video: Varanasi suffering severe drought. (28k,
56k)
Nanavati panel rejects Gujarat Govt’s plea
No impropriety in NHRC appointment, govt tells
SC
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Pranab to visit Punjab soon,
says Amarinder
Rebel BJP legislators seek Lalji Tandon’s explanation
AP minister in the dock Educational institutions can receive donations
Law Commission Vice-Chairman
resigns
Naidu’s tours cost Andhra
Rs 17.24 cr
India, Myanmar ink rail pact
Prem Bhatia award for Sainath
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PM visits flood-hit Bihar dists
Patna, July 27 “I share the concerns of the Bihar government and the pain of the victims. The Centre will extend all help to the state in rehabilitating those rendered homeless and revive agriculture destroyed by the flood,” he told reporters after making an aerial survey of worst-hit Darbhanga, Begusarai, Khagaria and Samastipur districts. The Prime Minister, who held talks with senior government functionaries, including Chief Minister Rabri Devi, however, remained non-committal on the issue of providing a special package to Bihar for relief and rehabilitation, saying that a Central team would visit the state on August 3 to assess the extent of damage. Meanwhile, the state’s Water Resource Minister Jagdanand Singh who heads the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs, said Chief Minister Rabri Devi had submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister seeking the financial package. Dr Manmohan Singh said the Centre had provided Rs 115 crore to Bihar from the National Calamity Fund and National Calamity Contingency Fund for the relief of flood victims. He said another Rs 400 crore was available with the state for drainage schemes and for strengthening embankments. Earlier, representatives of various political parties met him at Raj Bhavan and submitted memoranda, seeking the declaration of flood as a national calamity and launching of massive relief and rehabilitation efforts in 19 flood-hit districts. |
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Nanavati panel rejects Gujarat Govt’s plea
Ahmedabad, July 27 The cross-examination did not begin yesterday, as scheduled, as the state government had moved an application before the commission in lieu of a government notification (filed on July 20) which had extended the commission’s scope of reference. The government in its application had sought to postpone the hearing of government officials and first invite the riot-affected to depose before the panel about riot incidents that occurred between April 30 and May 31, 2002. Passing the order this morning, Justice Nanavati said, “The commission had gone through the notification. We see no justification in not continuing with the proceedings. The new notification does not require us to stop the proceedings. We do not think continuing the examination process will create any hindrance to the conduct of inquiry.” —
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No impropriety in NHRC appointment, govt tells
SC
New Delhi, July 27 Appearing for the Union Government, Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvatti and a senior advocate informed a Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal and Mr Justice D.M. Dharmadhikari that all concerned, including the then leaders of the Opposition in both Houses of Parliament, were consulted. “There was unanimity on the appointment of Mr Sharma as member of the NHRC,” they said during a hearing of a PIL petition filed by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties, PUCL challenging his
appointment. However, the court noted that this aspect of the matter relating to the consultation process was not mentioned in the earlier affidavit filed by the Centre and directed the Union Home Secretary to file a fresh affidavit within two days containing “details leading to the appointment of Sharma as member of the NHRC.” The government had on February 25 appointed Mr Sharma, an IPS officer of the 1966 batch, as member. The PUCL had assailed it on the ground that the appointment of a police officer on the human rights’ body would affect the faith of the people. |
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Pranab to visit Punjab soon,
says Amarinder
New Delhi, July 27 He said crop and wage loss to border area residents was caused during military build-up with Pakistan in the wake of terrorist attack on Parliament. Capt Amarinder Singh said the SYL Canal issue was not touched during the meeting. He said Mr Mukherjee, who was made in charge of Punjab by the AICC, would visit the state during the next fortnight. The Chief Minister demanded that minimum pass marks for boys from border areas in Army recruitment should be reduced to 33 per cent as education of children from these areas had been disturbed due to frequent Army movement. Capt Amarinder Singh said that 2005 should be declared as ex-servicemen year in recognition of services of the soldiers and to focus on activities for welfare of ex-servicemen. He urged Mr Mukherjee to evolve a uniform policy to provide social security to the parents of the martyrs. The Chief Minister sought Rs 4.50 crore grant for the War Museum in Ludhiana. According to an official spokesman, Capt Amarinder Singh also demanded setting up of ad-hoc/advance Punjab/Sikh Regimental Centres in Punjab. |
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Rebel BJP legislators seek
Lucknow, July 27 “Instead of holding us responsible for anti-party activities, Mr Tandon should do some explaining as the disastrous alliance with the BSP has completely undermined the party in the state”, charged Mr Mayankeshwar Sharan. He also charged former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for collaborating with Mr Tandon, by turning a blind eye to Tandon’s callous handling of the party. Mr Sharan, along with Mr Anil Paswan, Mr Daya Shankar Varma, Gobind Kumar Singh and Mr Narendra Singh, have been issued show-cause notices for sitting on the Treasury Benches during the current monsoon session of the Vidhan Sabha. Mr Tandon has given them three days till July 28 to explain the reasons for violating the party whip and crossing sides. These MLAs — reportedly close to Independent MLA and Minister of Food and Civil Supplies Raja Bhaiya — had earlier been suspended by the BJP on the eve of the organisational poll. Their suspension was withdrawn before the recently concluded Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Parishad poll. Mr Tandon losing grip over his MLAs was earlier evident in the House when he looked on helplessly as a majority of the BJP members continued raising slogans and sitting in dharna in the well of the House. The Speaker asked Mr Tandon why the BJP was once again disrupting the House when it had been unanimously agreed by all, including him in a meeting in his chamber the previous day to introduce an adjournment motion under rule 56 for discussing the law and order situation for two hours. The BJP disrupted the House for the third consecutive day today, drawing attention to the daylight murder of block pramukh and BJP leader Ram Naresh in Unnao district. |
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BJP’s Goa meeting to focus on
defeat
New Delhi, July 27 Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Leader of Opposition L K Advani, former Union Minister Jaswant Singh, Yaswant Sinha and Murli Manohar Joshi besides president M. Venkaiah Naidu are among the 20-odd leaders attending the in-camera session to be held in Goa. The meeting would consider the ways of expanding the social and geographical base of the BJP, besides giving a detailed look at the tasks ahead, Mr Naidu told newspersons here. |
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AP minister in the dock
Hyderabad, July 27 The Finance Minister, known for his impeccable credentials in his personal and political life, immediately called a press conference and rubbished the claim as “blackmail,” charging the opposition TDP with enacting the drama to defame him. Ms Malleswari said Gopal had come forward to take care of the family during a Lok Adalat hearing recently, but again backtracked after his father became a minister. “I have come here to demand justice for me and my daughters through a DNA test,” she told reporters. However, Ms Malleswari, who entered the Assembly premises on an MLA pass, refused to divulge details as to how she was able to secure entry into the Assembly lobbies and hold a press conference. The letter that she brought to submit to the Chief Minister contained allegations about the political career of the Finance Minister. Mr Rosaiah, regarded as the most acceptable face in the state Congress known for its group rivalries, is also the most articulate defender of the government and vocal critic of the opposition. The septuagenarian minister said he was aware that the TDP, unable to digest his leading role in the Assembly in fending off the Opposition offensive, was trying to implicate him in a fabricated scandal. Accusing the woman of trying to blackmail him during the last many elections, he explained that he had given away his second son in adoption when the latter was seven. Having come to know of his son’s indiscretions, he had severed all ties with him long ago. If she was really Mr Gopal’s wife, she can claim a share in his son’s properties. |
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Educational institutions can receive donations New Delhi, July 27 The “Bharat Siksha Kosh” was set up by the NDA government during the celebration of the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, for generating additional resources for education. However, a
subsequent order issued by the then HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi caused much consternation as it disallowed any direct donations to educational institutions and instead wanted all the funds to be routed through this Kosh. This order was received with strong protests as it was seen as an attempt by the government to control private donations to educational institutions. It blew into a major controversy, especially as it was intended to target the IIT and IIM alumni who had donated huge amounts to their alma mater. One case which drew Dr Joshi’s ire was the hostel funded by Infosys chief Nandan Nilekani at IIT, Powai. The state-of-the art building was dubbed as being too elitist by the previous regime. The stand-off resulted in the virtual drying up of charitable funds for education in the country. Consequently, neither the Kosh nor the educational institutions got any resources. According to the HRD Ministry, the Kosh has so far received a princely amount of Rs 1,651 from four donors. Not a single NRI has contributed to it, it was stated. |
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Law Commission Vice-Chairman
resigns
New Delhi, July 27 Mr Ghatate today resigned from the post, saying that he did not feel he was “desired” anymore in the commission. Mr Ghatate told The Tribune that Commission Chairman Justice M Jagannadha Rao had conveyed the decision of the Congress-led UPA government to reconstitute the commission. Reports indicated that Union Law Minister H R Bharadwaj had indicated to Mr Rao that the government was not in favour of persons appointed by the previous NDA government. Mr Ghatate, a well-known Supreme Court lawyer, had defended detainees during the Emergency, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and senior BJP leader L.K. Advani. His resignation comes close on the heels of the controversial resignation of Governors with RSS links appointed by the NDA government. |
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Naidu’s tours cost Andhra
Rs 17.24 cr
Hyderabad, July 27 Replying to a supplementary raised by Congress member G. Chinna Reddy during question hour today, Revenue Minister D Prasada Rao told the House that the former Chief Minister had incurred the huge amount over the government’s Bell 430 helicopter. Be it a natural calamity or a Naxalite attack, Mr Naidu used to rush even to the remotest corners of the state to personally supervise the relief operations. In just one year during 2001-02, the former Chief Minister’s heli-hopping tours cost the exchequer a whopping Rs 4.95 crore. The minister told the House that the money allocated for renovation and maintenance of AP Bhavan in Delhi and Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad was diverted to meet the expenses for helicopter sorties. |
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India, Myanmar ink rail pact
New Delhi, July 27 The prime objective of the MoU is to improve passenger services on the Yangon-Mandalay trunk line and upgradation of tracks, signalling and communication systems, and maintenance facilities on the Myanmar Railways. Under the MoU, The Indian Government will make available a Letter of Credit of US $ 56.358 million to the Union of Myanmar for augmenting the Myanmar Railways. It will be operationalised through a separate agreement
between the Exim Bank of India and Myanmar Foreign Trade Bank. |
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Prem Bhatia award for Sainath
New Delhi, July 27 His painstaking, comprehensive and thorough work was distinguished by deep sensitivity and fresh insights. It explained, among other things, why people of Andhra Pradesh voted the way as they did in the Lok Sabha elections, it said. Two scholarships for research in media-related subjects would be given to Richard Mahapatra, Chief Reporter of the Down to Earth magazine, and Zafar Iqbal Choudhary, Chief of Bureau of Kashmir Times. Mahapatra would work on the topic “Environmental meaning of conflict in India” and Choudhary would work on “Women’s space in Kashmir politics.” Both the award and the scholarships would be presented on August 11, at the 9th Prem Bhatia Memorial Lecture to be delivered by Prof Zoya Hasa, Chairman of the Centre of Political Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University. |
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