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SC tells Haryana to pay full share in highway
projects
Ex-servicemen’s families still live in camps in
Andaman
Congress faces Govinda’s
tantrums
Junior seer Vijayendra
released
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Attack on Geelani: vital
clues found, claims police
US scholar flays
conversions
Army men attend office in battle fatigues
Refer Kohli to AIIMS, says court
Mahesh, Namrata tie knot
Aid to Bangladesh: MoU signed
Austrian President to visit India
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SC tells Haryana to pay full share in highway
projects
New Delhi, February 11 While approving the report of Cabinet Secretary B.K. Chaturvedi on the issue, a Bench comprising Mr Justice Y.K. Sabharwal, Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S.H. Kapadia rejected the plea of the Haryana Government that it could not commit full amount of Rs 211 crore at this stage when the election had just taken place, saying that such projects could not wait for a new government to come in. “The project of this nature cannot be allowed to be delayed on account of a new government taking over,” the court said. Haryana’s standing counsel Neeraj Jain, placed on record a written statement of the Chautala regime, which said it was ready to bear the cost of Rs 167 crore to be incurred on land acquisition for the 135-km West Express Project (WEP) to be built in Haryana territory along the Delhi border but it could not pay for the East Express Project (EEP), which would mainly divert to Uttar Pradesh. The UP Government, which also had earlier shown reluctance to contribute its share of Rs 211 crore, today informed the court that it was willing to pay the full amount. Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvati placed on record the Cabinet Secretary’s report, which came following a recent high-level meeting called by him, attended also by chief secretaries of Haryana and UP. Solicitor-General G.E. Vahanvati, quoting from the report, said the total cost of the project had been estimated at Rs 3,657 crore and the share of the Delhi Government had been put at Rs 422 crore. The WEP and EEP are to be executed by the Haryana State Industrial Development Corporation (HSIDC) and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), respectively, in the next five years as a “public private partnership” project to ease traffic pressure in Delhi. The report said the rest of the project cost would be born by the Centre and private parties, which would have share in it. The court directed the HSIDC and NHAI to submit a report within three weeks regarding the alignment of the express highways so that process for acquisitioning the land could be set in motion as early as The court, however, conceded the request of Haryana Government that the Delhi Government should not build any competing road parallel to the two express highways as it would cause toll tax losses after such a heavy expenditure and issued a direction to the NCT authorities in this regard. |
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Ex-servicemen’s families still live in camps in
Andaman
New Delhi, February 11 “Once monsoon sets in, things will get even worse,” says Mr Manoranjan Bhakta, the lone Member of Parliament from the archipelago. He has held discussions in New Delhi over the past week to give an impetus to the rehabilitation efforts under way. Lieutenant Governor Ram Kapse and officials of the Union Territory administration have held separate meetings to review the progress of reconstruction ahead of Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil’s three-day visit to the islands starting tomorrow. According to Mr Bhakta, families of ex-servicemen from Punjab who were settled in Campbell Bay are still living in makeshift camps nearly two months after the tidal waves caused widespread damage to the coastline and claimed thousands of lives. “How can they go back to their villages? Their homes have been washed away and there is no road. How will anybody walk 25 km?” he exclaimed when asked how long before the ex-servicemen living in the camps can return to Campbell Bay. The waves destroyed the only road that linked villages in Campbell Bay. “There is no road between 13 km and Indira Point, a distance of 48 km. It will take anything between three and five years to rebuild the infrastructure,” he stresses. The task is enormous for the administration that is why the Congress parliamentarian is happy the Punjab Government has agreed to set up an education fund with a corpus of Rs 2 crore and build schools. “The Chief Minister of Punjab,” Mr Bhakta says, “was brave enough to visit the islands and enquire about the condition of the affected population. The compensation given to the families has helped them tide over the immediate crisis.” The supply of building materials from the mainland for the construction of temporary shelters on the islands has begun and the shipping schedule for the current month finalised. The shelters would be built at select sites.
Thiruvananthapuram, February 11 Addressing a press conference here, Dr Murthy, of the University of Manitoba, Canada, lauded the Indian Government for “moving very fast” in taking the responsibility to put in place an early warning system. While the majority of components in such a system could be ready within six months to a year’s time, development of computer models, which were the ‘’brain of the early warning system’’, could take up to two years, he said. —
UNI
Port Blair, February 11 "She is fine except a little weight loss and swellings on her body due to mosquito bites," the Station Head Officer (SHO) of Campbell Bay, Saukat Hussain, said. Jessy, was located by one of the villager, Micheal, who went back to Pillopanja islands from his relief camp to check his village and house. "She was brought back by Micheal on February 9 and was taken to a local health centre of Campbell Bay for first aid," the SHO added. According to Jessy she was eating coconuts and other jungle food foentre of Campbell Bay for first aid," the SHO added. —
PTI
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Patil to visit tsunami-hit
areas
New Delhi, February 11 Mr Patil will hold a meeting in Port Blair with the Lt Governor and senior officers of the Union Territory administration to take stock of the pace of relief work, an official press note said here today. He will also visit relief camps and discuss rehabilitation needs with local people in Car Nicobar, Nancowry and Nicobar group of islands. At a meeting with senior officers of his ministry, Mr Patil had yesterday reviewed the progress of rehabilitation and reconstruction work in the islands. |
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Congress faces Govinda’s
tantrums
New Delhi, February 11 AICC insiders, who are coordinating the election campaign for the three states of Haryana, Bihar and Jharkhand, had to literally cajole Govinda to participate in the ongoing campaign. The filmstar refused to move out of Mumbai till he was assured that proper arrangements had been made for him and his companions. The party booked him a suite in a five-star hotel in Delhi en route to Bihar but found that Govinda had instead checked himself into his favourite hotel. AICC managers were, however, called in to pick up the tab the next morning as "Chi Chi" refused to pay up. Recently, on election tour to Haryana, Govinda first turned up late and then proceeded to absent himself from two areas which he was assigned to visit. He instead allowed himself to be "hijacked" in Lok Sabha member Navin Jindal's helicopter to canvass for his father. "Dealing with film stars is always more difficult than other politicians...they all have egos which need to be massaged constantly," remarked a senior AICC leader. They always look for better facilities as most of them prefer to travel by helicopter and insist on extra security. Though all political parties go out of their way to woo filmstars during election time, it is only later that they realise how difficult they can be. "There is no doubt that they have an enormous capacity to draw crowds which is why political parties welcome
them. But whether these crowds translate into votes is another issue, added an AICC office bearer. However, there are exceptions as well. Congress leaders maintained that Union minister Sunil Dutt tops the list of filmstars who are not just disciplined but willing to help out the partq at all times. Similarly, Raza Murad and Raja Bundela have been touring Bihar extensively and
that, too, by road and without much fuss.
New Delhi, February 11 “The USA is fighting a war to bring in democracy. We cannot imagine what its democracy will be like. But democracy can’t be forcefully imposed,” Mr Vajpayee said addressing a function here at the BJP Headquarters to mark the death anniversary of Deen Dayal Upadhyaya. “Dictatorship should be opposed everywhere and with all force,” he added. Citing the situation in Bihar, the veteran BJP leader expressed concern over the violent incidents during elections and termed the growing violence in the country as a grave threat to democracy. “We have chosen parliamentary democracy for ourselves. Votes are being cast and decisions are being made through ballot. But why this violence?, Mr Vajpayee asked. Stating that in Bihar the major concern now was how to hold proper elections, Mr Vajpayee said “through voting, we can change a regime. Ultimately, it is a battle for power, which can be fought through peaceful elections.”
BJP rules out alliance with LJP
New Delhi, February 11 "There will be no post-poll alliance in Bihar with the LJP of Mr Paswan or with the JMM in Jharkhand. But, if somebody wants to leave the JMM and come to the BJP, he is welcome to do so," former party President M. Venkaiah Naidu told newspersons here. |
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Junior seer Vijayendra
released
Chennai, February 11 The seer was arrested on January 10, the day the Supreme Court had ordered that Kanchi Seer Jayendra Saraswathi be released on bail in the murder case. Accompanied by his advocates and some Mutt officials and many devotees, Vijayendra drove to the Sri Kamakshiamman temple complex at Greenways road in south Chennai, where he is likely to stay. After reaching the temple, Vijayendra went inside and later an official said he was observing a "mouna vrata" (silence). A large number of devotees were gathered and waited outside to have a darshan, but he did not come out. Granting bail, the Judge had directed Vijayendra to furnish a personal bond for Rs 50,000 with two sureties for like sums to the satisfaction of Chengalpattu CJM and remain within Chennai city corporation limits, except on days when he was required to appear before any court in connection with the case or any other against him. Meanwhile, Kanchi Sankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi, the prime accused in the Sankararaman murder case, was today granted anticipatory bail in the Mutt accounts tampering case, while his bail plea in the Tirukottiyur Madhavan assault case was adjourned to February 17. Madras High Court today allowed the Kanchi Mutt to operate all its 183 bank accounts, setting aside the order of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sankararaman murder case freezing the accounts. —
PTI |
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Attack on Geelani: vital
clues found, claims police
New Delhi, February 11 Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ranjit Narayan said "Some vital clues have been found by us and we hope to crack the case soon." The police is also looking forward to record the statement of Mr Geelani. "The doctors have asked us to check with them tomorrow for recording the statement of Mr Geelani as today he is not fit to give statement," said a senior official. Talking to reporters today, after inaugurating a new building of Connaught Place police station, Delhi Police Commissioner Dr K.K. Paul has said the delay in informing the police about the incident has caused some delay in the investigations as well. Dr Paul said the police was not at all informed and only the policemen posted at AIIMS informed the police when Mr Geelani was being admitted in the hospital at around 10.10 pm. Dr Paul, however, did not comment on the probe, saying, "Investigation is on and it is not right to comment before getting the report." He also dismissed allegations by some human rights activists that the police itself masterminded the attack. "Some things have been said about the police, but I can say with confidence that these are absolutely false and baseless." Meanwhile, Crime Branch sources said a large number of persons had been questioned to ascertain the movements of Mr Geelani on February 8. It said questioning of Mr Geelani's lawyer and her husband, his wife and her brother, his landlord and neighbours had been done which had given them enough leads. |
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US scholar flays
conversions
Shillong, February 11 Mr Stella’s comments on conversion are likely to raise considerable dust not only because of the fact that this sensitive issue has always evoked strong reactions from the spectrum of public opinion here, but also that he himself is a convert to Hinduism. Claiming in as many words that conversion everywhere robbed the indigenous people of their “rich and time-tested culture and native religion”, the scholar from Detroit in Michigan, USA, went a step ahead to claim that crux proselytisation, as is being carried out by western mssionaries in large parts of the world, is not to win over the hearts of the people, but an exercise in furthering their personal agenda. Local residents were taken aback by the observations as the scholar himself hails from a country where Christanity prevails. Born into a Roman Catholic family, Mr Stella was introduced to the Vedas and Indian scriptures at an early age. These left a mark on his impressionable mind and he converted to the Sanatan Dharma (Hindu faith). During a candid discussion with the local media he said, “I have nothing against Christanity. But conversion should be done with the will of the people, and not by taking advantage of their helplessness by extending educational support and financial assistance “. Proclaiming his opposition to forced conversion in any form, Mr Stella made a fervent appeal to the tribal population of Meghalaya and other parts of the North-East to uphold and practise their native forms of worship. Mr Stella, who toured different parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Manipur, claimed that several people in these states had confided in him that they were compelled to embrace Christanity “under dubious circumstances “. While admitting that Christan missionaries played an important role in spreading education and healthcare, Mr Stella argued that such altruism should not be made the basis of seeking out people for conversion.
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Army men attend office in battle fatigues
New Delhi, February 11 As a result the Army Headquarters, located in the heart of the VVIP area of the Capital presented a look of frontier town as every single man was in combat gear complete with field shoes, web belts and war insignia. Chief of Army Staff, General J.J. Singh, had issued a directive yesterday ordering all men to turn up in battle fatigues to show preparadness that they were ready to be deployed at short notice in rugged terrain any time. “The display of battle fatigues would serve the purpose for soldiers posted in the Capital to express their solidarity with their comrades guarding the frontiers from the high Himalayan ranges to the desert and the monsoon jungles of the North East,” a senior Army officer said. Officials said henceforth every Friday, officers and men would have to don battle fatigues. This was the first time that officers and men were turning up in battle dress since Operation Parakaram, the forward deployment of troops on the Indo-Pak border when the then Army chief Gen S. Padmanaban had orderded his men to turn out in combat dress for emergency deployment if need arose. For four days of the week, while officers wear normal service dress consisting of trousers, shirt, a tie and a jacket, the men wear trousers, shirt and a pullover. On Wednesdays, the entire personnel in the Army Headquarters turn up in civies. |
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Refer Kohli to AIIMS, says court
New Delhi, February 11 The Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Ravinder Dudeja issued the order after Kohli's counsel moved an application saying the accused needed immediate treatment for severe liver, stomach pain and frequent bouts of vomiting and asthma he developed after the operation. Kohli's counsel said in his application filed in the court that the jail authorities did not follow the orders of the court given earlier to take Kohli to the hospital for post-operation examination and hence the complication arose. The necessary medical reports also have not been given to the accused till date, the application said. The court is enquiring into the British Government's request for extraditing him to Britain where he is wanted in connection with the murder case. "Tihar Jail is directed to get the accused treated from AIIMS and provide a copy of the reports to him", the court said. |
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Mahesh, Namrata tie knot
Hyderabad, February 11 Mahesh, son of Krishna, hero of yesteryear, is one of the leading young heroes of Telugu filmdom. Mahesh was in the news recently when he was charged with assault and kidnap of a video parlour owner, who was allegedly caught by his fans for selling pirated CDs of his film. Mahesh’s family was initially unhappy with his choice of Namrata but apparently relented later. Krishna, his wife Indira and his actress (second) wife Vijaya Nirmala, along with his three daughters, attended the wedding. Reception would be held in Hyderabad after the couple returned from honeymoon, family sources said. |
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Aid to Bangladesh: MoU signed
New Delhi, February 11 The MOU was signed between Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and Bangladesh High Commiissioner to India Hemayatuddi here. |
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Austrian President to visit India
New Delhi, February 11 Mr Fischer has visited India at least eight times in his individual capacity, but this will be the first-ever visit to India by an Austrian President, Austrian Ambassador here, Ms Jutta Stefan-Bastl, told reporters today. Ms Stefan-Bastl noted that the purpose of the visit was to intensify bilateral economic relations. The Austrian President will hold discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other Indian leaders on the entire gamut of bilateral ties besides exchanging views on important regional and international issues of mutual concern. |
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