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AP parties in poll mode
Gen Deepak Kapoor is new Army Chief
Myanmar Unrest |
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7 more UP officers suspended; 7,400 constables sacked
Women candidates molested
6 die, 49 injured in Assam violence
JD(S) surprise winner in urban body elections
Onion traders warn of further price hike
Gates foundation to help Bihar fight kala azar
Sonia leaves for New York
Corporal Punishment
Compensation claim can be filed from claimant’s place: SC
Peace returns to Darjeeling
Corporal Punishment
Dogged prayers
Karnataka to ban cell phones in schools, colleges
Assembly Elections
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AP parties in poll mode
Hyderabad, September 30 A day after the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) promised free power to farmers, an idea it had detested while in power, the ruling Congress gave indications of the revival of the Rs 2-per kg rice scheme for the poor. While the Rajasekhar Reddy government is currently supplying free power to farming community for seven hours, the TDP promised to increase it to nine hours if voted to power in the next elections. The Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) went a step ahead and said it would ensure 12-hour power supply, free of cost, once the separate Telangana state was formed. The subsidised rice scheme was the “magic mantra” of actor-turned politician late N T Rama Rao who stormed to power in 1983. The rice scheme, being resurrected after 25 years, is expected to benefit 1.86 crore people and put an additional annual burden of Rs 1,012 crore on the exchequer. At present, rice is being supplied to Below Poverty Line (BPL) families at Rs 5.25 per kg through the ration card shops, benefiting 1.71 crore people. Earlier, TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu, a prime mover of the reforms, did a somersault by promising free power to the farmers. While in power, Naidu had strongly opposed the concept of free power, mooted by the Congress, on the ground that it would play havoc with the power sector and drain the state resources. The free power was one of the key promises of Congress that captured power in the 2004 elections, ending ten-year TDP rule. The TDP also promised house sites to urban poor, unemployment dole for the youth, waiving of cooperative loans for farmers and a special fund for providing remunerative price to agricultural produce.
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Gen Deepak Kapoor is new Army Chief
New Delhi, September 30 Meanwhile, General Deepak Kapoor, who today took over as the 23rd Chief of the Army Staff, declared that the Indian Army was on the threshold of transformation into an advanced weaponised force. General Kapoor said his top priority would be to step up the pace of modernisation and ensure that cutting edge technology is available to soldiers for policing the borders as well as countering internal unrest. These comments assume significance as the Indian Army is in the midst of upgrading its weaponry in all its three wings - infantry, armour and artillery. General J J Singh said bulk of the nation’s armed forces had been kept free and personnel were being trained in advanced weapon systems to fight battles in nuclear and chemical warfare environment. General Singh, who superannuated today after 43 years of service, said the Indian Army had now fully acquired and assimilated night fighting technology as well as futuristic weapons systems like network centric radars, sensors, unmanned aerial vehicles and other force multipliers. Gen Singh, who has had a stint of being the chairman of Chiefs of Staff Committee for over a year, said there was peace on the border. He added that the residents of border villages had accepted the Army as a guarantor of peace. On the issue of the appointment of the Chief of Defence Staff, General Singh said it was a matter to be studied by the government and there was no cause of concern as the government would be taking a call on it at the right time. He made light of complaints of army excesses and described these as “isolated incidents”. “There could have been some provocation for it, but we do not condone any act of high handedness and we will enquire and take action,” he assured. |
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India unlikely to take proactive stand
Rajeev Sharma Tribune News Service
New Delhi, September 30 New Delhi, which is closely monitoring the Myanmar developments, is under increased pressure from the international community to do more on Myanmar than it has done so far. Myanmarese dissidents in India have reported that additional troops have been deployed towards Yangon after troops killed five civilians and four monks in the former capital. However, in view of a total clampdown ordered by the junta, it is unclear whether the troops aim to reinforce or counter those responsible for the shooting deaths of Buddhist monks in Yangon earlier. It is understood that the Indian government is unlikely to take a proactive stand on Myanmar by rooting for the pro-democracy movement or imposing sanctions on the country. The second scenario - India imposing sanctions on Myanmar - is a big no-no from New Delhi’s perspective in view of its huge strategic, economic and energy stakes in that country. There are three major stakeholders in Myanmar - China, ASEAN and India - in that order of importance to the predominantly Buddhist country of 54 million. Outside the region, there is only one major power, which has been backing the junta running the country for the past 45 years - Russia. Without the active intervention of these stakeholders, or any of them, it is highly improbable that things will change for the better in Myanmar. The current agitation in Myanmar, initially triggered by fuel price hikes, began in Yangon on August 19. It gathered steam and took the shape of a mass movement after Buddhist monks - no strangers to Myanmarese politics - joined in. Troops were finally called into action on September 26 after thousands of protesters ignored official warnings to disperse from the centre of Yangon. Government media reported that nine demonstrators were killed during clashes with troops, though foreign sources suggested the death toll was much higher. Troops also raided monasteries in northeastern Myanmar and Yangon, reportedly arresting more than 800 monks. Diplomatic observers here believe that the pro-democracy movement is likely to fizzle out primarily because the Myanmarese opposition is scattered and without central leadership and their pivotal figure, Aung San Suu Kyi, continues to be under house arrest. The China factor
Of all the stakeholders in Myanmar, China is most crucial. However, Beijing has not shown any signs of exerting any pressure on Myanmar’s junta and has merely issued some public relations statements. The international community, well aware of the China factor in Myanmar, has already stepped up pressure on China to do something urgently in Myanmar. The US and the EU have reportedly told Beijing that if it has superpower aspirations, it has to act more maturely and take responsibility for actions of its client states. As part of this strategy, European Parliament Vice-President Edward McMillan-Scott, backed by center-right and liberal coalitions, is set to call for a EU boycott of the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, the EU Observer reported. The boycott would be an effort to prompt Beijing to pressurise Myanmar to end its military crackdown on Buddhist-led civil unrest.
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7 more UP officers suspended; 7,400 constables sacked
Lucknow, September 30 Seven more IPS officers, of which one is of ADG rank, thee IG and two DIG rank have also been placed under suspension for committing alleged irregularities in the recruitment. The total number of IPS officers terminated for what is now one of the biggest police recruitment scam is now 18. Principal secretary home J N Chamber told newspersons the decision to terminate the services of 7,400 additional constables was taken after scrutinising the recruitment process of 18 more recruitment boards. With 7,400 police constables (including 4,300 from civil police, 1,900 from PAC and 1,200 from radio police services) joining the ranks of newly jobless, the total number of such constables has reached a whopping 17,868 within less than a month. The IPS officers suspended today include V K Bhalla, ADG, AD Misra, Malkhan Singh Yadav and KK Saxena (all IGs), Prabhat Kumar and V K Agarwal (both DIGs) and G K Goswami (SP). These officers would also face departmental action and
FIRs would be lodged against them. The principal home secretary said the other 23 members of the boards, most of them PPS officers, would face departmental action in the matter.
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Women candidates molested
Lucknow, September 30 Huge sums of money were also taken from the candidates for their selection by the previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government during 2005-06 appointment of over 22,000 constables in the state. Additional Director-General
(ADG) of Police (STF) and Chairman of the Probe Committee on police appointments, Shailja Kant Mishra told reporters here that he had received several complaints from the women candidates that they were not selected as they refused to ''compromise'' their dignity.
— UNI
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6 die, 49 injured in Assam violence
Guwahati, September 30 Two persons were killed and 22 injured when suspected ULFA militants triggered a blast in front of a cinema hall at Ushamati in eastern Assam’s Doom Dooma town at around 6 pm this evening, according to Tinsukia district additional superintendent of police Amitabh Sinha. The police informed that one of the killed was identified as Ganga Ram while another victim was suspected to be one of the carriers of the explosive device, who was yet to be identified. Three persons were killed and 27 others injured when another explosion rocked Devipukhuri in Tinsukia town at around 6 pm today. The bomb was planted on a bicycle near a meat shop in a market area. The police cordoned off the area immediately after the blast and blocked all entry and exit points. In a separate incident, a surrendered ULFA member identified as Dipankar Baruah was shot dead by three ULFA militants at Nagabat under Borhola police station of Jorhat district of eastern Assam at around 11 am today. The police suspected that the surrendered militant was killed by his former comrades taking him to be an informer of security forces. An Assam Gas Company Limited (AGCL) pipeline suffered extensive damage.
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JD(S) surprise winner in urban body elections
Bangalore, September 30 Though around 200 out of the 4,290 results are still due, the JD (S) has emerged a clear victor garnering 1,314 seats till late evening. The Congress was a close second with 1,284 seats while the BJP is a distant third with 942 seats. Independents have won 544 seats till now. State Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy said, “The voters have taught a lesson to the BJP for the arrogance shown by it in predicting the results”. He also said he would to convince JDS MLAs tomorrow to allow him to quit. The BJP is expected to be hit most by the results as its leaders, including state president Sadanand Gowda, had projected a BJP victory. In fact Sadanand Gowda had indicated that the party was putting off negotiations for power transfer till today as it wanted to “emerge as the number one party in the state”. The BJP did not react to the electoral reverse till late in the evening. Its leaders, however, maintained that the results to the Local Bodies did not have anything to do with power transfer. Talks reach
dead end
The uncertainty over BJP getting the Chief Ministership continued with the second round of talks between JD-S supremo H D Deve Gowda and BJP vice-president Yashwant Sinha failing. The emergence of JD-S as the single largest party in the urban bodies elections in 27 districts in the state has apparently emboldened Gowda amid reports that the former PM remained non-committal on the BJP getting power for the first time in south India.
— PTI
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Onion traders warn of further price hike
Mumbai, September 30 The area, which is the largest producer of the bulb in the country, has suffered extensive crop damage following heavy rains in September. "Onion arrivals in the mandi have fallen by almost 50 per cent," says Ajit Devre, a trader at the onion wholesale market at Nashik. Wholesale prices in Mumbai has risen from around Rs 140 to Rs 200 per 10 kg. In Mumbai itself, less than 100 trucks are coming every day as against around 130 trucks in normal times. Retail prices are ruling at around Rs 25 per kg. Traders say prices would remain high till the middle of October, when the kharif crop from Ahmednagar and Sangamner in Maharashtra hits the market. Output from other parts of the country like Rajasthan will also hit northern India by that time. Agriculture minister Pawar has ruled out the import of onions to ease the crisis. However, onion exports from the country has virtually come to a stop as the government struggles to contain the price hike.
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Gates foundation to help Bihar fight kala azar
Patna, September 30 The development comes as a major boost for the Nitish government, which is trying hard to eliminate this deadly disease caused by a parasite transmitted by a tiny sand fly. Former Union health minister and chairman of the Kala-Azar Task Force in Bihar C.P. Thakur said the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a California-based Institute for One World Health and Switzerland-based Medecins Sans Frontieres would work for the elimination of kala azar in the state. According to Thakur, the agencies would launch mass awareness campaigns and provide latest medicines and treatment for those suffering from the disease soon. Initially, the agencies reportedly decided to focus on the flood-prone districts of north Bihar, which are the most affected by the disease. While the Gates Foundation and One World Health would jointly work in the districts of East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur and Darbhanga. Medecins Sans Frontieres would work alone in Vaishali district. Thakur informed that the Gates Foundation’s senior programme officer Thomas P. Kanyok and One World Health programme director Helen Matzger already met Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to express their keenness to work in the state. Over 100,000 people, mostly the poor, are said to be suffering from the disease and hundreds have already died in the last one year. Currently, 31 of the 38 districts in Bihar are in the grip of this disease. Medically known as Visceral Leishmaniasis, kala azar is also known as the poor man’s disease because it affects the poorest of the poor.
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Sonia leaves for New York
New Delhi, September 30 The United Nations had adopted a resolution earlier this year to declare October 2 as International Day of Non-Violence. During her address, Sonia will thank countries for their support to the resolution. All Indian missions abroad will hold special functions to mark the occasion. Newly appointed Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi will also attend the function in New York. In the Capital, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will flag off a march from the AICC here to mark Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary. Senior Congress leaders, MPs and party workers will take part in the march, which will go up to the samadhi of the Father of the Nation.
— TNS
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Delhi govt sets up panel
New Delhi, September 30 New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said she had asked the education department to investigate the case of a 19-year-old teacher, Neha, of Star Shine School in Mohan Nagar who allegedly stripped of a six-year-old nursery student and made her stand on a desk for not doing her homework. The Chief Minister also announced the constitution of a three member committee to investigate cases of corporal punishment. National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) chairperson Shanta Sinha said the panel was waiting for a report from the government in this case. “It is not the teacher alone who should be made responsible, the school authorities should also be held responsible,” she said. — PTI
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Compensation claim can be filed from claimant’s place: SC
New Delhi, September 30 “It is not possible for poor workmen or their dependents who reside in one part of the country to shift from one place to another for their livelihood to necessarily go to the place of the accident for filing a claim petition,” the apex court observed. A Bench of Justices A.K Mathur and Markandeya Katju said that a claimant couldn’t be compelled to file a claim petition only at the place of the accident, as it may be very expensive for them to pursue the case. The apex court passed the observation while quashing a judgement of the Guwhati High Court that held the view that a claimant can file a claim petition only at the town/district/city where an accident had taken place. The High Court while holding the view set aside an order passed by the Commissioner, Workmen’s Compensation, Tezpur, who had directed M/s Hanuman Plantation Ltd to award a compensation of Rs 2.70 lakh to the parents of Md Rajik Ahmed, under the workmen’s compensation.
— PTI
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Peace returns to Darjeeling
Darjeeling, September 30 People could be seen on the streets making purchases of essentials and cinema shows had brisk business of Sunday market. Reports of peaceful situation from Siliguri helped the people to stay calm and maintain peace. Hoteliers also confirmed of new bookings of visitors, who had stopped coming since early last week following violence after a FM radio programme from Delhi made some comment on Tamang, which infuriated the local people. Subsequently a pro-Tamang rally in Siliguri turned violent when dispute arose on giving way to an ambulance with an emergency patient.
— UNI
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Corporal Punishment
New Delhi, September 30 New Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit said she had asked the education department to investigate the case of a 19-year-old teacher, Neha, of Star Shine School in Mohan Nagar who allegedly stripped of a six-year-old nursery student and made her stand on a desk for not doing her homework. The Chief Minister also announced the constitution of a three member committee which would be empowered to investigate the cases of corporal punishment in the future. “All cases of corporal punishment will be dealt by this panel and it will be a permanent set-up,” she said. Taking cognisance of the matter, National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Shanta Sinha said the panel was waiting for a report from the government in this
case. “It is not the teacher alone who should be made responsible, the school authorities should also be held responsible,” she said. Terming the incident as “unfortunate and abuse of child rights”, Sinha said the commission had sent a reminder to all state governments to submit the action taken report on the guidelines to deal with corporal punishment. “This incident is not an isolated one and we are worried that such an incident are recurring” she added.
— PTI
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Dogged prayers
Patna, September 30 Come evening when devotees blow the conch before the prayer at the Kali temple, the dogs, too, get ready to participate in the prayer. The dogs around the temple have had been following this ‘ritual’ for the past 10 years. According to an eyewitness, “Everyday these dogs come in dozens for the evening prayers at the temple.” Interestingly, no one is reported to have trained them to do so. The story does not end here. They patiently wait for the prasad after the prayer. What reportedly surprise the devotees is that these dogs bark during the prayer completely in sync with the sound of drumbeats and the conch.
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Karnataka to ban cell phones in schools, colleges
Bangalore, September 30 The government had taken a decision in principle to ban the use of these phones in educational institutions last month. The decision had been taken following a report from the State Health department stating the use of cell phones was detrimental to the mental health of young children. Speaking on the issue yesterday, education minister Basavaraj Horatti said the ban would be effective on the teaching community also. Teachers had not been taken into the ambit of the ban earlier when the decision was first announced. The government was likely to issue an order implementing the ban shortly. The order would be mandatory for all shops and agencies to sell cell phones only to children below the age of 16. Horatti said the police would be given powers to deal with shopkeepers who did not observe the new law.
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BSP to contest alone
Puducherry, September 30 Talking to newspersons here, he said the BSP would play a key role in forming the government in Gujarat, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh and Himachal Pradesh. He added that the party was now concentrating on south India. — UNI |
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Outgoing Army Chief, General J J Singh, today said 75 per cent of the country’s three armed forces were equipped and trained to fight battles of the future and only 25 per cent of the forces were engaged in counter-terrorism operations and border duties.
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