 |
|
BJP nets 8 parliamentary panels After two days of hard bargaining, the NDA and the UPA today agreed on names for various parliamentary committees with the Opposition BJP bagging eight key parliamentary panels, including Finance and Home. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cong-NCP pact on Maharashtra poll
WB Govt gets Centre’s missive
Haryana floods engineered by Punjab: Chautala
Hemkund Sahib pilgrims stranded at Joshimath Security tightened at US Embassy Jaya cautions PM on ferry service to Colombo
Court reprieve for Union Minister Censors ban documentary on Gujarat HC orders medical colleges to specify ‘honest’ fee Trade unions to observe protest day on Aug 20 Thackeray takes credit for free power to farmers Inter-ministerial groups formed
|
|
India, Pak to discuss panel on conventional weapons New Delhi, August 5 Reports emanating from diplomatic circles point out that a proposal to this effect has been put forward by Pakistan, but India was still to react to it either officially or unofficially. The proposal was apparently put forward by the Pakistani delegation during the last round of Foreign Secretary-level talks held here on June 27-28. Even as India and Pakistan today resumed the Defence Secretary-level talks after a gap of seven years to discuss the demilitarisation of Siachen Glacier, the move from Pakistan on the EGCW is quite significant. Especially as it appears to be a move by Islamabad to test New Delhi’s seriousness regarding the ongoing composite dialogue between the two countries. The proposal for the EGCW has apparently been made to ward off any threat that may emanate from the existing level of armed forces and their disparity. As far as conventional weapons and the armed forces’ strength go, India is far ahead of Pakistan, which is also a reason of worry for Islamabad. As per the proposal, the EGCW will function on the same pattern as the experts group on nuclear capabilities. The proposal also has an outline for the functioning of the group and the parameters in which it will operate. Experts here agree that the Pakistani proposal for the EGCW is a ploy to test Indian approach to the present round of talks. India is expected to be prepared with its reply towards the proposal by the next round of talks between the Foreign Secretaries. Both India and Pakistan are keen on ensuring sustained peace in the region. This is the reason that all efforts are being made and proposals are being forwarded as part of the composite dialogue. The latest round of talks between the two Defence Secretaries on Siachen Glacier may not yield the desired results, but will be another step towards establishing better relations between the two countries. The talks earlier in the week on trade and tourism initiatives were also aimed at progressing overall talks. The teams engaged in talks would be submitting their reports to the respective governments on the conclusion of the current series for an assessment and formulation of strategy for future talks. Earlier in June, two countries had a slew of meetings that included the first ever round of talks on nuclear confidence building measures (CBMs). The two delegations identified areas of convergence. They also exchanged views on their respective security concepts and nuclear doctrines and agreed to elaborate and work towards
CBMs. New Delhi’s basic approach was to understand Pakistan’s nuclear doctrine and related issues and develop measures that reassure and not take away confidence. The Indian strategy was to send out positive signals and allay any apprehension of nuclear conflagration in South Asia. In another round of talks later, India and Pakistan agreed on a number of fresh and forward-looking confidence building measures in the fields of communication, humanitarian, diplomatic, sports and people-to-people contacts . This was during the two-day Foreign Secretary-level talks. |
|
BJP nets 8 parliamentary panels New Delhi, August 5 With just six working days left for the Budget session to reconvene after three weeks of recess on August 16, the NDA is understood to have informally requested the government to consider the extension of recess by a week so that Parliament could meet on August 23 to enable the committees to have at least 10 working days to study the Budget proposals pertaining to various ministries. Although there was no formal confirmation about the NDA’s request, sources in the ruling combine confirmed that there was an informal request to this effect. As per the agreement reached between the UPA and the NDA with the consent of Lok Sabha Speaker and Rajya Sabha Chairperson, the BJP will head panels attached to the ministries of Home, Commerce, Science and Technology (all attached to Rajya Sabha) and Finance, External Affairs, Social Justice and Empowerment, Coal, Mines and Steel, Chemicals and Fertilizer and Rural Development (all attached to Lok Sabha), sources said. There was a delay in the constitution of committees due to a deadlock between the UPA and NDA over the heading of the standing committees attached to Home, Finance, Human Resource Development and External Affairs. The NDA wanted that Chairmanship of these four committees be given to the Opposition, as during the NDA regime these committees had gone to the then Opposition i.e. the Congress. But, the Congress was not willing to give the Chairmanship of Finance, HRD and External Affairs. Finally it agreed to that effect after the NDA agreed to leave its demand for heading the committee attached to the HRD, sources said. The tentative list of leaders to chair the panels from the BJP’s side is Sushma Swaraj (Home), Murli Manohar Joshi (Commerce), B.C. Khanduri (Finance), Sumitra Mahajan (Social Justice and Empowerment), Kalyan Singh (Rural Development), Anath Kumar (Coal, Mines and Steel), Lakshminarayan Pande (External Affairs) and Ananth Geete (Chemicals and Fertilizers). The standing committee attached to Science and Technology will be headed by a member belonging to the AIADMK, sources said. Twenty-four standing committees and consultative committees are being constituted to discuss budgetary grants for various departments before the House resumes the Budget session on August 16. Of these, 16 are to be headed by members of the Lok Sabha and the rest by Rajya Sabha MPs. It would now be interesting to know whether the UPA would be inclined and Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee would also agree to the extension of recess of the Budget session by a week. Sources said, Mr Chatterjee is likely to leave for the Commonwealth Parliamentarians Conference on September 4 and any delay in the resumption of the session would mean curtains will be drawn on the session only on September 10 instead of the scheduled September 3. The conference, to be held in Ottawa, Canada, begins on September 1 and ends on September 9. Since Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal is scheduled to leave for the conference on August 28 and will be back only on September 10, any extension of the session beyond September 3 would raise a question on who will chair the Lok Sabha. |
|
Cong-NCP pact on Maharashtra poll New Delhi, August 5 The Congress and its allies are expected to kick off their joint election campaign by the
beginning of September but Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s day-long trip to Maharashtra on August 11 will set the tone for the crucial battle ahead. Mrs Gandhi will be the star campaigner in this election, the first electoral test for the UPA Government after it came to power at the Centre. Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde, state unit president Prabha Rau and Margaret Alva, AICC General Secretary in charge of Maharashtra, met Mrs Sonia Gandhi today to brief her about the ground situation in the state. The decisions on alliances and the party president’s tour were finalised at this meeting. In keeping with the party’s line, “Congress ka haath, aam aadmi ke saath,” Mrs Gandhi will specifically visit the drought-hit areas in the state and Nandurbar where large number of infants died due to malnourishment. Mrs Gandhi will also address the closing session of an NSUI meeting in Nagpur, clearly an effort at enthusing the cadres. Talking to presspersons after this meeting, Mrs Alva and Mrs Rau remained non-committal about a tie-up with Mayawati-led BSP, which managed to garner a substantial chunk of Dalit votes in the Vidharbha region in the recent Lok Sabha poll. “There are no talks on with the BSP right now.....but all are options are open,” they maintained. Mrs Alva said that the Congress and the NCP will shortly depute senior leaders from their respective parties to negotiate seat-sharing. On its part, the Congress has drafted four AICC secretaries - B.K.Hari Prasad, Ajay Maken, Major Ved Prakash and Bharat Solanki - for the Maharashtra elections. Mrs Alva said they would be touring different parts of the state and after they submit their reports, the AICC would convene a strategy session by August 18 so that the campaign is set to roll out by next month. |
|
|
WB Govt gets Centre’s missive Kolkata, August 5 Dhananjay Chatterjee will be hanged to death at Alipore Central Jail after 21 days of obtaining the “execution warrant” from the Alipore court, which initially gave him the death penalty for raping and killing Hetal Parekh, the 14-year schoolgirl on March 5, 1990, said the Jail Minister. The minister said the matter had been referred to the Judicial Department for observing the necessary legal formalities for executing the death sentence. On the other hand, the APDR and some other human rights commissions have decided to move the Supreme Court again for condoning the death penalty. Meanwhile, the lone hangman, Nata Mallick, has threatened not to execute the death sentence to Dhananjay Chatterjee unless his grandson was immediately given a job in the government. He alleged despite several promises he had not been absorbed in the government job and was still treated as a casual employee after doing the job of hangman since Independence. Saying that he was now too old to act as a hangman, Nata Mallick said he had groomed his grandson as a successor who should be treated as a government employee. The Jail Minister said Nata Mallick’s demand would be referred to Cabinet for consideration. UNI adds: This impoverished family in the village of Kuludihi in West Bengal’s Bankura district is in a state of mourning. A visit to their home revealed scenes of desperation and mourning with his terminally ill parents struggling to find words to express their helplessness. The plight of Dhananjay’s family, for whom the rapist was the sole earning member, had drawn the sympathy of villages who are helping the family in whatever way they can. The Block Development Officer of Chhatna has sent more than 250 kg of wheat to the family members. The Chhatra Nagarik Committee has also sent 51 kg of rice to them. Dhananjay’s septuagenarian parents are now petitioning the ultimate arbitrator, God, to save their son’s life. |
|
Haryana floods engineered by Punjab: Chautala New Delhi, August 5 The Chief Minister, who met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh this evening to complain against the Punjab Government, later said action of the Congress government in neighbouring state could lead to a “reaction”. Mr Chautala demanded that a meeting of the National Integration Council should immediately be convened to discuss the recent steps taken by Punjab, including its legislation to abrogate water sharing agreements with the neighbouring states. He said four persons had so far been reported killed in the floods in the state, while seven had gone missing. Recalling Punjab Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh’s statements about Punjab not in a position to release water to Haryana through SYL canal, Mr Chautala said 10,000 cusecs of water was now flowing through the canal into Haryana. He said 50 villages in Amabla had been affected by floods leading to loss of crores of rupees. The Chief Minister said the Narwana branch canal had been damaged at several places due to excessive flow. Mr Chautala said with bodies of cattle floating in sources of drinking water, there was a risk of epidemic. Coming to SYL canal issue, the Chief Minister said he had asked the Centre to abrogate the Punjab Legislation as more states “could enact similar laws threatening the federal structure of the country”. He said some states had already started emulating example of Punjab. Mr Chautala announced compensation of Rs 50,000 each to the next of kin of those killed in floods and special measures to assess the loss of crops and cattle to farmers. Asked about the response of Prime Minister, Mr Chautala said he was “very concerned”. To a question, the Chief Minister said he had not raised the SYL issue with the Prime Minister today. Hoping that the SC ruling on the Presidential reference in SYL canal case would go in Haryana’s favour, the Chief Minister expressed confidence that the Centre would obey the SC ruling. “The canal will be built,” he said. Mr Chautala’s meeting with the Prime Minister lasted nearly 25 minutes. |
|
|
Hemkund Sahib pilgrims stranded at Joshimath Dehra Dun, August 5 Those with vehicles, however, would be able to leave only once the road is cleared in a couple of days, the Commissioner, Garhwal, Mr Subhash Kumar, said. Those on two wheelers might be able to leave by tomorrow, he added. The pilgrims were comfortable at Joshimath as all arrangements had been made for them, Mr Subhash Kumar said. Incessant rain in the region led to mudslides at several places, blocking the national highway between Peepalkoti and Hemkund Sahib on July 31, official sources said. The mudslides took place at more than two places, including Tangri and Patalganga, officials said. Regular bus services are available from Telani for those coming down through the trekking route from Patalganga, 50 km from Hemkund Sahib, officials said. This is the second time in this yatra season that the road to Hemkund Sahib has been blocked with debris from mudslides. |
|
Security tightened at US Embassy New Delhi, August 5 Barring public dealing, the mission functioned normally and all employees reported for duty. The embassy yesterday announced that its visa section, immigration office and the American Library would be closed for public today due to “security concerns”. The security was put on maximum alert after the authorities at the American Mission were warned of the attack by the US Homeland Security Department. The mission had been warned against a suicide attack or a bomb explosion at these locations today. The authorities had also been warned that the inputs were specific about Delhi. Deputy Commissioner of Police (New Delhi) Anita Roy, who confirmed the security threat, said additional security measures were in place for today only as per the request. The American Embassy here added that the visa applicants with appointments scheduled on August 5 will not require to make fresh appointments and the embassy will make efforts to see them as soon as resources permit. |
|
|
Jaya cautions PM on ferry service to Colombo Chennai, August 5 Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa in a letter to the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, has strongly opposed the proposed ferry service between Thoothukudi and the Colombo in view of the threat posed by the LTTE. Ms Jayalalithaa said according to intelligence reports the possibility of a dissident LTTE leader infiltrating into Tamil Nadu could not be ruled out. There could be resumption of arms and drugs transit by LTTE men throughout the state, she cautioned She wrote: “The Government of India must also take into account that the entire Thoothukudi coastline is porous and the availability of a cheap ferry service would further give a fillip to drug smuggling apart from attracting potential asylum-seekers.” She said the strategic security concerns for India, both internal and external, far outweighed the advantages of the ferry service the benefits of which in terms of trade would be minimal and largely symbolic. She reminded Dr Manmohan Singh that because of the terrorist acts perpetrated by the LTTE even on Indian soil, the earlier government at the Centre had deferred the reintroduction of the ferry service. |
|
|
Court reprieve for Union Minister Hyderabad, August 5 Suspending the earlier warrant, the court has asked the Union Minister to appear before it on September 15 in connection with the fraud case filed by a few dissidents of the Telangana Rashtra Samithi. The allegations against Mr Rao relate to the deposits he had collected from the party ticket aspirants during the last Assembly elections. The dissidents accused Mr Rao of making money from hopefuls, knowing very well that he would have an alliance with the Congress and hence would not be able to field candidates for all 107 seats in Telangana. The court had issued the non-bailable warrant when Mr Rao failed to respond to a summons on May 16 and later on August 4. |
|
|
Censors ban documentary on Gujarat Mumbai, August 5 Mr Rakesh Sharma, Director of “Final Solution”, said the ban came at a time when the documentary was set to be released in foreign countries. “The ban will deprive Indian audiences of an opportunity to see the film,” Mr Sharma said. In its reply to Mr Sharma’s application for a certificate for the CBFC wrote back saying that the “film promotes communal disharmony among Hindu and Muslim groups and presents the Gujarat riots in a way that it may arouse communal feelings and clashes among Hindu Muslim groups. It attacks on the basic concept of our republic i.e. national integrity and unity. Certain dialogues involve defamation of individuals or body of individuals. The entire picturisation is highly provocative and may trigger unrest and communal violence. State security is jeopardised and public order is endangered if this film is shown,” according to excerpts of the letter released to the media by Mr Sharma. “Final Solution” has already been acclaimed abroad. It won two awards at the 54th Berlin International Film Festival, At the Hong Kong film festival, the documentary won the Humanitarian award for outstanding documentary. |
|
HC orders medical colleges to specify ‘honest’ fee
Mumbai, August 5 Chief Justice D S Bhandari and Mr Justice D Y Chandrachud asked the colleges to give the barest minimum amount they would need to charge a student and kept the matter for the next hearing on August 10. The Bench directed the list be given to the amicus curiae (lawyer to assist the court) Janak Dwarkadas before August 10 for consideration. On August 3, the court asked the Mr Dwarkadas to file a list of colleges that had adhered to the Fifth Pay Commission and those who had contested that their expenditure was not taken into the account while fixation of fees by the Jahagirdar Comittee. The proposed fee structure was being opposed by the private colleges on the ground that unlike government colleges they did not get subsidies.
— PTI |
|
Trade unions to observe protest day on Aug 20 New Delhi, August 5 "We have decided unanimously to observe a national protest day on August 20," AITUC General Secretary Gurudas Dasgupta told mediapersons here. The meeting, convened by unions like CPM-backed CITU, CPI-affiliated AITUC and RSP-supported UTUC, raised issues like the hike in petroleum prices and also in the FDI in civil aviation, insurance and telecom and pitched for 12 per cent EPF interest. He said the government should re-examine the decision on 8 per cent interest on the special deposit schemes, PPF, GPF and other small savings scheme. Asked whether the unions would resort to strike if their demands were not met, he said: "We have no such intention. If we want to strike, we will give notice to the concerned authorities." |
|
Thackeray takes credit for free power to farmers
Mumbai, August 5
“Till now I believed that only Shiv Sainiks follow my directions, but I was surprised to see that it is now being adhered to by even the Congress-led coalition,” Mr Thackeray said.
|
|||||
|
Inter-ministerial groups formed New Delhi, August 5 The Secretary, Planning Commission, will chair the task groups, which will have secretaries of various ministries as members. A time frame of three months has been set for the groups to submit their respective reports. A task group has been formed specifically to address the issues pertaining to the growing regional imbalances. It will suggest ways and means to remove the disparities in plan allocations. |
|||||
|
PM briefs Kalam on Thai summit New Delhi, August 5 The meeting lasted for an hour, according to Mr S M Khan, Press Secretary to the President. Dr Manmohan Singh also briefed Dr Kalam on his bilateral discussions with the Thai and other BIMSTEC leaders in Bangkok.
— TNS |
|||||
|
Shinde meets Sonia New Delhi, August 5 AICC general secretary Margaret Alva and state PCC chief Prabha Rao were also present during the meeting. Mr Shinde left for Mumbai after the meeting.
— TNS |
|||||
|
Bhopal Mayor removed Bhopal, August 5 Bhopal Mayor Vibha Patel was removed yesterday by the government and BJP corporator Chandramukhi Yadav named as the Mayor in her place. |
|||||
3
get life term
for murder Thungon fails to appear in court |
| HOME PAGE | |
Punjab | Haryana | Jammu & Kashmir |
Himachal Pradesh | Regional Briefs |
Nation | Opinions | | Business | Sports | World | Mailbag | Chandigarh | Ludhiana | Delhi | | Calendar | Weather | Archive | Subscribe | Suggestion | E-mail | |
In video (
