Hyderabad bomb blasts: Andhra Pradesh Police register case

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Police has registered a case on the twin blasts that ripped through a crowded market in Dilsukhnagar area of the state capital, leaving 16 dead and 120 injured.

The case was registered at Saroornagar police station under relevant sections of IPC on charges of sedition, promoting enmity between two groups on grounds of religion, voluntarily causing hurt by using dangerous weapons, conspiracy and also under Explosives Act, a senior police official said.

Some of the sections of IPC mentioned include 324, 326, 307, 302, 124-A, 153-A, 201 read with 120-B, he said.

Meanwhile, it has come to light that Hyderabad city police commissioner Anurag Sharma had offered prayers at the famous Saibaba Temple in Dilshuknagar area, which is a few hundred yards away from the blast site, minutes before two blasts took place.

"The commissioner visited the temple at 6.30pm. As a security precaution, there were more police than usual," a police official said.

The first blast took place at 6.58pm on Thursday. Devotees throng the temple on Thursdays, which is considered special for Saibaba, to offer prayers making the area highly crowded.

The famous Saibaba temple at Dilsukhnagar witnessed a blast in 2002 in which two persons were killed and several others injured.Another senior official said two CCTV cameras installed on traffic posts at Dilsukhnagar bus stand.

However, it was found that one was not functioning. When asked about the possibility of capturing blast images by the camera, he said it may not be possible as they were focused towards traffic.

He, however, said they are in the process of going through the footage.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Recommendations on retro-tax laws under examination: Govt

NEW DELHI: The government today said it is examining recommendations of the Parthasarathi Shome panel on controversial retrospective tax laws introduced in the last budget.

"The recommendations of the committee on retro-tax laws are under examination by the central government," minister of state for finance S S Palanimanickam informed the Lok Sabha through a written reply.

The retrospective amendments to the income tax laws introduced in the Budget 2012-13 by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had generated controversy as several global companies criticised the move.

The amendments were made following the Supreme Court judgement last year which went in favour of UK-based Vodafone in a tax case after it had bought Hong Kong based Hutchison's telecom assets in India.

Among other suggestions, the panel recommended that either the government withdraw the retrospective tax amendment or waive interest and penalty if it recovers the taxes.

On the issue of removing of capital gains tax, Palanimanickam said the Budgetary exercise was under progress and "government's response in this regard shall be reflected in the form of Finance Bill, 2013".

He also said the major recommendations of the Shome Committee on GAAR have been accepted by the government with some modification.

"The implementation would be done through required legislative changes in due course," he said.

The government has agreed to implement GAAR from April 1, 2016 and the provisions will not apply to non-resident investors in FIIs.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Recommendations on retro-tax laws under examination: Govt

NEW DELHI: The government today said it is examining recommendations of the Parthasarathi Shome panel on controversial retrospective tax laws introduced in the last budget.

"The recommendations of the committee on retro-tax laws are under examination by the central government," minister of state for finance S S Palanimanickam informed the Lok Sabha through a written reply.

The retrospective amendments to the income tax laws introduced in the Budget 2012-13 by the then finance minister Pranab Mukherjee had generated controversy as several global companies criticised the move.

The amendments were made following the Supreme Court judgement last year which went in favour of UK-based Vodafone in a tax case after it had bought Hong Kong based Hutchison's telecom assets in India.

Among other suggestions, the panel recommended that either the government withdraw the retrospective tax amendment or waive interest and penalty if it recovers the taxes.

On the issue of removing of capital gains tax, Palanimanickam said the Budgetary exercise was under progress and "government's response in this regard shall be reflected in the form of Finance Bill, 2013".

He also said the major recommendations of the Shome Committee on GAAR have been accepted by the government with some modification.

"The implementation would be done through required legislative changes in due course," he said.

The government has agreed to implement GAAR from April 1, 2016 and the provisions will not apply to non-resident investors in FIIs.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Snowfall, rain bring back chilly conditions in Uttarakhand

DEHRADUN: Fresh snowfall in the higher reaches and showers in the plains on Thursday brought back chilly conditions in Uttarakhand which was swept by icy winds.

High altitude areas including Badrinath, Kedarnath, Auli, Joshimath, Gangotri, Yamunotri, Harsil and Munsyari received fresh snowfall early this morning whereas intermittent rains lashed the plains including Dehradun and Haridwar, adding to the cold, the MeT office said.

Big grey clouds hung over most of the towns in the plains including Dehradun as the sun played hide and seek throughout the day, it said, predicting similar weather conditions across the state over the next few days.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gurgaon hospital gets cutting-edge technology for cancer detection

NEW DELHI: A private hospital in the national capital region Friday launched cutting-edge imaging technology for early cancer detection, which works on a combination of m-Dixon and diffusion weighted imaging with background suppression (DWIBS).

While m-Dixon is an established Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technique for liver imaging that provides four sets of images: water-only, fat-only, and phase images (IP and OP), diffusion weighted imaging with background is used for whole-body imaging.

"The fusion of the two cutting edge technologies m-DIXON and DWIBS in advanced Magnetic Resonance (MR) provides high resolution images of one millimetre thickness that enable the detection of tiny tumours," R K Gupta, director and head of the department of radiology and imaging at Fortis Memorial Research Institute said as the technology was launched.

Although m-Dixon has been in use for 30 years, DWIBS has been developed by Taro Takahara of the Tokai University School of Engineering in Japan.

"The technique has already been used for more than 30 patients and the results have been more than satisfying" said Gupta.

"The technology can also be used as screening tool to identify infection or cancer at an early stage. It helps in assessing disease load in already diagnosed patients, and can pick up lesions unrelated to the primary disease," Gupta said.

"The cost of fusing this new technique with the MR will be the same as the cost of a normal MR for the patients; it will only take 15 minutes for the whole body MRI to be done. Less time and cost and accurate results are our priority," Gupta said.

The launch took place on the sidelines of a three-day symposium on advanced MR application in neuro and body imaging that is attended by delegates from across the world.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Amarnath pilgrimage registration to start from March 18

JAMMU: The process of registering pilgrims for this year's Amarnath pilgrimage will commence from March 18 for both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes through over 400 designated bank branches, said a shrine board spokesman Thursday. A health certificate will be mandatory.

According to the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) spokesman, pilgrims can register at registration counters located all across the country through 422 designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank, YES Bank, State Bank of India (SBI), Punjab National Bank (PNB) and HDFC Bank.

Full details of all the registration centres have been made available on the SASB website,www.shriamarnathjishrine.com.

This year's pilgrimage to the cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas will commence simultaneously, from both the Baltal and the Pahalgam routes, on June 28 and culminate on Raksha Bandhan (Aug 21).

The traditional Pahalgam route involves a trek of 46 km from Pahalgam tourist resort 100 km south of Srinagar, while the route from Baltal, 110 km north of Srinagar, is a shorter but quite steep and arduous.

According to the SASB spokesman, the applicants will be required to submit a compulsory health certificate while seeking registration. No one below 13 years or above 75 years of age and no pregnant woman with more than six weeks pregnancy will be registered.

This year, the board has increased the number of registration counters to 422, from 276 in 2012. For the first time, SBI, PNB and HDFC banks are participating in the registration process.

For the purpose of registration, to be done on 'First-Come-First-Serve Basis', the requisite application form and the compulsory health certificate Form, can be collected from any of the designated bank branches or downloaded from the Board's website. The process will be completed when a 'Yatra Permit' is issued to the eligible pilgrims, who will be required to submit a duly filled-in application form, compulsory health certificate and a payment of Rs.30 towards handling charges.

According to the spokesman, the provision of on-line facility has been discontinued because of the "gross misuse of this facility past year, and also due to requirement of first verifying whether a yatri possesses a valid compulsory health certificate or not".

This year, the 'Yatra Permit' would be of a specified colour for each day of the week to facilitate police personnel deployed at the access control gates in determining whether a pilgrim possesses documents valid for the relevant date and route, said the spokesman.

He said the Shrine Board will provide every registered pilgrim with an insurance cover of Rs.1 lakh against accidental death within the state during the period of one week ahead of the commencement of the pilgrimage to one week after its conclusion.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Helicopter scam: PIL seeks implementation of defence production policy 2011

LUCKNOW: Social activist Nutan Thakur on Thursday filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court on large scale import of defence goods in India.

Thakur has stated in her petition that India declared its defence production policy in 2011. This policy gave special emphasis on self reliance in defence production. But in reality, she has stated, today around 70% of India's defence goods are being imported. As per 2012 report of Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), India has become the largest defence goods importer of the world, the petitioner has claimed.

Thakur has alleged that many powerful people with vested interests do not want India to be self reliant in defence production because heavy bribe is involved in defence deals as it has been seen from 1948 Jeep scam to today's Helicopter scam. Thakur has prayed that the high court direct the defence ministry and the prime minister office to comply with its defence production policy 2011. She has also prayed for formation of a high-level team under a retired Judge to study each defence item currently being imported.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Trade unions warn of bigger agitation, say 2-day strike only 'beginning of the chapter'

NEW DELHI: Major trade unions on Thursday warned the central government of bigger agitation in the country, describing the two-day national strike as "the beginning of the chapter".

"The two-day countrywide agitation has been successful but we will launch a bigger agitation and this is only a beginning of the chapter," All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) general secretary Gurudas Dasgupta told reporters here.

"More and more factories and people joined the strike on the last day (Thursday). Those factories which were opened yesterday (Wednesday) joined the agitation today (Thursday)," he told reporters here.

He was accompanied by other leaders of several trade unions which included likes of Indian Trade Union Congress (INTUC), Hind Mazdoor Sabha (HMS), Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

Dasgupta also said that international trade unions of Greece, Cyprus, Italy, Japan and other countries expressed their solidarity with the strike.

"It is not us but the government which is responsible for the strike, which has reportedly caused a loss of Rs.26,000 crore. Had they paid heed to our demands, it would not have happened," Dasgupta said when asked about the strike's ramifications on the economy of the country.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Chopper deal, Kurien controversy to dominate Parliament

NEW DELHI: The VVIP chopper deal and P J Kurien controversy are expected to dominate proceedings in Parliament tomorrow, practically the first working day of the budget session after the President's address today.

The opposition is united in plans to flag the Italian chopper deal issue in both Houses tomorrow but disruption is unlikely with the government already making it clear that it was ready for any kind of inquiry.

A debate on the issue will be held under a rule that does not entail voting but most likely after the presentation of the general budget on February 28.

While the opposition is raring to raise the chopper deal issue, Left parties are firm on raking up the demand for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson P J Kurien's resignation in the wake of fresh revelations in the Suryanelli rape case.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath will be making a statement in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow on the Kurien issue. Nath is already on record expressing himself against debating a matter related to state politics in Parliament.

An all-party meeting convened by Nath saw the Left parties seeking suspension of Question Hour in the Upper House tomorrow to discuss the Kurien issue.

However, in the Business Advisory Committee meeting of the Rajya Sabha, SP and other parties opposed the demand of Left parties to bring up the Kurien issue in the House.

Question Hour in the Lok Sabha is also likely to be disrupted with Left parties planning to move an Adjournment Motion to discuss the strike by the bank employees.

During the all-party meeting, government proposed to the Opposition that the pending Bills on which there is near unanimity should be passed after a discussion in the House. But this was opposed by BJP which said the convention should not be breached and these Bills should go to respective Standing Committees. (MORE) RC SPG RT

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Chopper deal, Kurien controversy to dominate Parliament

NEW DELHI: The VVIP chopper deal and P J Kurien controversy are expected to dominate proceedings in Parliament tomorrow, practically the first working day of the budget session after the President's address today.

The opposition is united in plans to flag the Italian chopper deal issue in both Houses tomorrow but disruption is unlikely with the government already making it clear that it was ready for any kind of inquiry.

A debate on the issue will be held under a rule that does not entail voting but most likely after the presentation of the general budget on February 28.

While the opposition is raring to raise the chopper deal issue, Left parties are firm on raking up the demand for Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson P J Kurien's resignation in the wake of fresh revelations in the Suryanelli rape case.

Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath will be making a statement in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow on the Kurien issue. Nath is already on record expressing himself against debating a matter related to state politics in Parliament.

An all-party meeting convened by Nath saw the Left parties seeking suspension of Question Hour in the Upper House tomorrow to discuss the Kurien issue.

However, in the Business Advisory Committee meeting of the Rajya Sabha, SP and other parties opposed the demand of Left parties to bring up the Kurien issue in the House.

Question Hour in the Lok Sabha is also likely to be disrupted with Left parties planning to move an Adjournment Motion to discuss the strike by the bank employees.

During the all-party meeting, government proposed to the Opposition that the pending Bills on which there is near unanimity should be passed after a discussion in the House. But this was opposed by BJP which said the convention should not be breached and these Bills should go to respective Standing Committees. (MORE) RC SPG RT

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stones pelted at Sri Lankan Airlines office in Chennai, no injuries

CHENNAI: In an apparent fallout of the alleged cold blooded killing of the 12-year-old son of slain LTTE chief V Prabhakaran, some persons pelted stones at the office of Sri Lankan Airlines in Chennai, causing minor damage to property.

Police said nobody was injured in the incident which comes close on the heels of a little-known pro-Tamil group attacking the Bank of Ceylon branch here recently, injuring two persons.

Staff at the airline office confirmed the incident and said nobody was injured.

Some glass panes were damaged, police said, adding three to four persons were suspected to be behind the attack.

On Tuesday, images of 12-year-old Balachandran seen eating snack and another taken a few hours later showing his body lying on the ground, his chest pierced by bullets were featured in the Channel 4 documentary had drawn widespread criticism in the state. Sri Lankan Army had dismissed the allegation as "lies, half truths, rumours and numerous forms of speculation".

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

BJP protests against Sushilkumar Shinde, senior leaders detained

NEW DELHI: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders, including national president Rajnath Singh, were detained by Delhi Police at the Jantar Mantar here on Wednesday during the protest against Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde over his 'saffron terror' remark.

Scores of BJP party workers and supporters gathered at the Jantar Mantar here to vent their ire against the home minister.

BJP spokesperson Prakash Javadekar earlier in the day said Shinde's remarks have created outrage over the country.

"Pakistan has welcomed Shinde's remark. So, this is exactly what he has done to serve his masters. He has given a handle to Pakistan to beat India. And to say that India is the epicentre of terror and whatever is happening in Pakistan is happening because of this Indian terror. So, he has actually given a handle to the Pakistanis and (it is) most unfortunate. In 65 years of independent India nobody has equated religion with terror, but that Shinde has done," said Javadekar.

"And more so, he has criticised BJP and RSS that they are running the training camps. We are the principle opposition party, then how he can have a meeting with us, how can he have a meeting with the terrorists those who run terrorist camps. And that is why we have said if you have proof, arrest us and take action. As you don't have proof, you have to apologise, you have to taker back your remarks and that is what we are demanding," he added.

Javadekar further accused the ruling Congress party of playing vote bank politics, and demanded an apology from the home minister.

"With a month now practically, the Congress wants to play politics over it and does not want to make a simple regret or withdrawal of remark or apology because they are into a vote bank politics now. And that is why we are taking demonstration today and we will raised this issue in Parliament also," he added.

The decision to carry out a protest march against Shinde, who had made the controversial remarks at a Congress conclave in Jaipur last month, was taken at a BJP Parliamentary Executive Committee meeting yesterday.

The BJP top brass yesterday also discussed the party's strategy for the Budget Session of Parliament, which begins tomorrow.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Nepalese ex-prince suffers heart attack in Thailand

BANGKOK: Former Nepalese crown prince Paras Shah is in intensive care in Thailand after suffering a heart attack, the Nepalese embassy in Bangkok said Wednesday.

Shah, 42, who had been living in Thailand, was admitted to hospital late Tuesday, acting Ambassador Dornath Aryal said.

"Doctors said his condition is improving and he needs a full examination," he said.

Bangkok's Samitivej Hospital confirmed that Shah had been admitted but declined to discuss his condition.

Shah, who as crown prince was unpopular for his playboy lifestyle, was arrested for cannabis possession on the Thai resort island of Phuket in October.

He was detained again in December for smashing property at a luxury apartment in Bangkok. On both occasions he denied the charges and was released on bail.

Shah became heir to the throne in 2001 after his cousin, former crown prince Dipendra, killed nine members of his family including the king and queen in a drink-and-drugs-fuelled rampage before apparently turning his gun on himself.

Nepal abolished its monarchy in 2008.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

DRDO says it has capability to produce VVIP choppers

NEW DELHI: With the deal for procuring VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland facing the prospect of being scrapped, DRDO today said it has the capability to manufacture such helicopters even though it contended that producing anything entirely indigenously was impractical.

"We have the capability to manufacture any system. We are manufacturing LCH (Light Compact Helicopter). We have already manufactured ALH (Advanced Light Helicopter) and our own aircraft," DRDO Chief V K Saraswat said.

"There is no dearth of capability and capacity of manufacturing any advanced technology system," he said. Saraswat was asked on the sidelines of a seminar here whether DRDO is capable of manufacturing choppers such as AgustaWestland AW-1O1.

His statement assumes significance against the backdrop of controversy surrounding the Rs 3600 crore deal for acquiring 12 helicopters from AgustaWestland for the use of Indian VVIPs. The Defence Ministry has initiated the process of scrapping the deal in the wake of allegations that kickbacks to the tune of Rs 362 crore were paid to bag the contract.

Saraswat said it is not cost effective to produce each and everything right from needle to an aircraft in the country. "Because, if you produce something which we need 20 in numbers and you set up a facility for producing which will cost Rs 1000 crore, it is meaningless," he said.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pro-Kannada activist ransack railway office complex

MYSORE: The Centre government's notification of the controversial final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal led to violence with pro-Kannada organization attacking railway property.

Angry activists attached to Karnataka Rakshana Vedike on Wednesday suddenly raided the Mysore divisional railway manager's office on Irwin road and damaged glass doors to mark their protest against the Union and Tamil Nadu governments. They also hurled stones on the first floor which damaged window panes, the police stated. Nineteen activists were arrested by Mandi police on charges of rioting and destruction of public property. One person is injured in the incident.

The cops have booked the accused on sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 144 (unlawful assembly armed with deadly weapons), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapons), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharging of his duty), 427, 506 (criminal intimidation) and 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common objection) of the IPC.

Upset with the Centre's move, the pro-Kannada activists arrived at DRM Office complex and sneaked inside from Dewan's road side though two Railway Protection Force cops tried to stop them. The group of some ten activists started shouting slogans and hurled stones at the glass doors on the first floor. An eye witness told TOI another group hurled stones at the offices. Later they staged protest at the site when they were picked up by the Mysore police for interrogation. They were later arrested. Though security was beefed up at the DRM office and the Mysore railway station adjoining it, the protestors managed to sneak inside. Police commissioner K L Sudheer and DCP (L&O) BasavarajMalagatti rushed to the site and controlled the situation.

This comes on a day when Congress leaders blamed BJP government for the notification of the final award. Opposition leader Siddaramaiah said the state government has informed that apex court that it has no objection to the notification of the final award. It was pending since 2007. As the state government green signaled it, the Centre has to notify it following the direction from the Supreme Court, he argued. Siddaramaiah, who hails from Cauvery basin, said the government has failed to put up its case at the apex court but said the all-party delegation has asked the Centre not to go in for Cauvery Management Board. Mysore MP Adagooru H Vishwanath said legal team arguing Karnataka's case was not updated with data by the state. The government didn't object to the issue of notification as it was following the BJP high command's directive. "The BJP wants to get closer to AIADMK led by TN CM J Jayalalithaa ahead of the parliamentary polls at the cost of protecting the interests of the farmers," he argued.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Kolkata's Park Street rape: Charges framed against three accused

KOLKATA, A fast-track court on Tuesday framed charges of gang rape and criminal conspiracy against three people arrested in the politically controversial Park Street rape case, in which an Anglo-Indian woman was allegedly raped in 2012.

"The court today (Tuesday) framed the charges of gang-rape, criminal conspiracy and criminal intimidation against three of the accused namely Ruman Khan alias Tussie, Nasser Khan and Sumit Bajaj," said Anirban Guha Thakurta, counsel of the victim. Two people are yet to be arrested.

The victim, a 37-year-old single mother was allegedly gang-raped inside a moving car during the intervening night between Feb 5-6, 2012.

The police in the chargesheet submitted in May 2012 named five people, including Kader Khan as the prime accused. Khan and another accused Ali Khan are at large and yet to be arrested.

The trio of Ruman, Nasser and Bajaj were arrested Feb 18, 2012.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee courted controversy after she dubbed the allegation as "cooked-up to malign her government".

But the police led by then Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Damayanti Sen cracked the case and apprehended three of the accused. Sen was later transferred out of the city police.

The Supreme Court earlier this year had denied bail to Bajaj and Nasser when they approached the apex court seeking the relief.

The trial in the case will begin March 2.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pakistan PM orders 'targeted operation' against militants in Quetta

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf on Tuesday directed authorities to launch a "targeted operation" against militants in Quetta following the killing of nearly 90 people in a terror attack in the Shia-dominated southwestern Pakistani city.

The prime minister "has ordered an immediate launch of targeted operation aimed at eliminating those responsible for playing with the lives of innocent civilians and restoring peace and security in Quetta," said a spokesman for the premier's office.

Ashraf "is closely monitoring the situation in Quetta and is in constant touch with concerned authorities," the spokesman said without giving details.

Ashraf was quoted by Geo News channel as saying that his government would not allow any civilians to be held hostage by terrorists.

The channel reported that law enforcement agencies and security forces had been given 36 hours to conduct the operation against militant groups responsible for targeting Shias in Quetta.

Yesterday, Ashraf had asked intelligence agencies to explain a breach of security by an explosives-laden truck used by the terrorists during the attack in February.

Reports said that up to 800 kg of explosives hidden in a water tank were used in that attack. Analysts have questioned how the vehicle got past dozens of check posts set up across Quetta.

Shia political parties and students' groups have organised protests across the country to condemn the bomb attack at Hazara Town in Quetta that killed 89 people and injured nearly 200 on February 16.

That attack came a little over a month after twin suicide bombings in Quetta killed 92 Shias on January 10.

Life was affected by protests in several large cities, including Islamabad and Karachi. Several key roads in Karachi, Pakistan's financial capital and largest city, were blocked by protestors and traffic was thin.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Veteran Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Radhakishan Malviya passes away

INDORE Former union minister and senior Madhya Pradesh Congress leader Radhakishan Malviya passed away on Tuesday at a private hospital here after a brief illness, party members said.

He was 68. Malviya was elected MLA from Sanver in Indore district in 1972. A three-time Rajya Sabha MP, he was labour minister in the Rajiv Gandhi government in mid-1980s.

He was also national president of Harijan Sevak Sangh. Malviya was Madhya Pradesh Congress committee president during 1998-2003 when Digvijay Singh was the chief minister.

MPCC spokesman Narendra Saluja and other Congress leaders condoled the death of Malviya and described him as a great leader and a visionary.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pandemonium in Bihar assembly over 'surya namakar'

PATNA: Bihar assembly today saw bedlam with RJD members demanding resignation of two BJP ministers for allegedly calling them 'Pakistani agents' after they protested against school students being made to do the 'surya namaskar' yoga asana.

RJD members started shouting that the two ministers called them 'Pakistani agents' during governor Devanand Konwar's address to the joint session of the state legislature on Monday and claimed that RSS agenda was being foisted in making school students offer surya namaskar.

The slogan-shouting RJD members trooped into the well demanding the resignation of the two ministers.

Leader of the opposition Abdul Bari Siddiqui said that a senior minister sitting behind chief minister Nitish Kumar on Monday had called RJD members 'Pakistani agents' when they were protesting, even as the CM remained silent.

Calm returned to the House only after Speaker Udai Narayan Chaudhary said that he would review the proceedings in the presence of parliamentary affairs minister Vijendra Yadav and Siddiqui and take necessary action.

The RJD members also shouted slogans at the main gate of the House before entering.

Later, fisheries minister Giriraj Singh, emerging from the legislative council, told reporters that "surya namaskar was a part of Indian culture and tradition".

On the opposition seeking his resignation, Singh, a strong supporter of Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, said "Why shall I resign? RJD MLA Akhtar-ul-Haq should quit for communalising the issue."

On Monday, the assembly had witnessed heated exchange of words between ruling and opposition benches for about 10 minutes after RJD MLA Akhtar-ul Imam accused the state government of foisting RSS agenda by making students do surya namaskar in schools.

The treasury benches led by the health minister Ashwini Kumar Chaube and Giriraj Singh had condemned Imam's remarks.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Centre not releasing funds on time, alleges Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav on Tuesday accused the Union government of not releasing funds of the centrally-aided projects and schemes in time, thus slackening the development process in the state.

Interacting with reporters after presenting the Budget for the financial year 2013-2014, Akhilesh Yadav said the Union government was delaying funds not only for Uttar Pradesh but for several other states too.

He cited the case of the irrigation sector in which the Union government had committed itself to give Rs 1,700 crore but had only released Rs 45 crores. Similarly, he claimed that funds had not been completely released for the rural job guarantee scheme.

Responding to charges leveled by the opposition that 45 per cent of the last Budget outlay was yet to be spent, the chief minister said this time he would physically verify for himself that schemes are on time and that the money allocated for them is properly utilized.

He also said that after the last budget, his government has only got some seven to eight months to work and hence there were some problems. "In this year's Budget, special focus has been given to social sector and poverty alleviation schemes," he added.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

BBC journalists go on strike over job cuts

LONDON: BBC journalists walked off the job Monday in a 24-hour strike to protest job cuts at the broadcaster.

Staff mounted picket lines outside of the BBC's studios in central London and around the country. Programs went on, but many shows were canceled, including the flagship morning news radio program "Today."

National Union of Journalists general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said poor decisions by the BBC leadership were leading to quality journalism being compromised. The union says 2,000 jobs are at risk in BBC cost-cutting. Many will be eliminated through attrition, but about 30 jobs are targeted for compulsory layoffs.

The union said members across the BBC, including the World Service, are at risk of compulsory redundancy.

The BBC said in a statement that it was disappointed by the union's actions. It said it had no choice but to meet savings targets that will require job cuts.

The BBC is funded mainly by a mandatory 145.50 pounds ($228) annual levy on all households with color TVs. Britain's government froze the fee in 2010, and the corporation has been forced to make cuts.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Advani, Antony most suitable choices for PM: Govindacharya

BHOPAL: Former BJP ideologue Govindacharya has said that BJP leader LK Advani and defence minister and Congress leader AK Antony are suitable prime ministerial candidates while Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi will be a good choice for home minister.

Asked who would be the suitable prime ministerial candidates after the 2014 general elections, Govindacharya mentioned the names of Advani and Antony.

"LK Advani from NDA and defence minister AK Antony from UPA were the most suitable candidates for the post," he told reporters here on Sunday evening.

To a query, he said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi would be an appropriate choice for heading the youth and sports ministry, if the party-led coalition retained power at the Centre.

In case BJP-led NDA came to power, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi will be a good choice for home minister, he said.

The former BJP ideologue also said that Congress general secretary and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijaya Singh was a good and experienced politician.

Last week, Govindacharya had said that neither Rahul nor Modi were fit to become Prime Minister.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar takes holy dip at Sangam

ALLAHABAD: LokSabha Speaker Meira Kumar took a holy dip at Sangam on Monday while attending the Mahakumbh here and said she had offered prayers for "roots" of democracy in the country to grow "deeper and deeper".

Upon her arrival in the city, Kumar drove straight to the confluence of three rivers Ganga, Yamuna and Saraswati, where the 12-yearly Mahakumbh congregation is underway, and took a holy dip.

Later while speaking to reporters, Kumar said : "I have offered my prayers for our democracy which is the largest in the world. I have prayed that may democracy's roots in our country grow deeper and deeper".

She also stressed on the need to keep river Ganga clean. "Ganga occupies a unique place in our ancient culture. I feel blissful upon taking a holy dip in the river. We must, however, also make all possible efforts to keep it pure," she said.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Terror attack at government office in Pakistan leaves seven dead

ISLAMABAD: At least seven people, including five security personnel, were killed and seven injured on Monday in a terror attack at a government office in Pakistan's northwestern provincial capital of Peshawar, media and officials said.

The brazen attack took place when some militants opened fire and hurled hand grenades at security personnel deployed at the office located at the Bara road of Peshawar, the provincial capital of Pakistan's northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, reported Xinhua.

The militants, who were wearing security personnel uniforms, stormed the building when civil law enforcers were shifting some arrested anti-social elements to the Khyber House, an office of the civil administration of Pakistan's northwestern tribal region of Khyber Agency.

Eyewitnesses said that the attackers to free the prisoners and exchanged gunfire with the security personnel. The gunfight that followed the hand grenades attacks killed six people on the spot, including five security personnel and one attacker.

Some reports said that another militant exploded his explosive jacket when security personnel tried to arrest him.

At the time of the attack, the representatives of some main political parties of the country were holding a meeting in the Khyber House to devise a strategy for the upcoming general elections in the restive Khyber Agency.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Extremist group Ansaru claims abduction of seven foreigners in Nigeria

BAUCHI, NIGERIA: A shadow Islamic extremist group has claimed responsibility for the kidnapping of seven foreign workers in northern Nigeria.

In a statement on Monday, the group that calls itself Ansaru claimed the kidnapping of the one British citizen, one Greek, one Italian, three Lebanese and one Filipino on Saturday night.

Ansaru also threatened that Nigerian and European authorities shouldn't "act contrary to our conditions." The short statement offered no conditions, suggesting ransom demands would follow.

The kidnapping happened in Jama'are, a town about 200 kilometers (125 miles) north of Bauchi, the capital of Bauchi state.

Nigeria's predominantly Muslim north has been under attack by the radical Islamic sect known as Boko Haram over the last two years. Ansaru is a new group that recently sprung up in the region.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gunmen kidnap seven foreigners in northern Nigeria

BEIRUT: Two Lebanese were among six workers kidnapped by gunmen at a Lebanese-owned construction site in northern Nigeria, a government source said on Sunday.

"Two Lebanese working for the Setraco construction company were abducted," the official said on condition of anonymity. Those kidnapped also included an Italian, according to the country's foreign minister in Rome.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yeddurappa's political outfit seeks coconut as party symbol

MANGALORE: The Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) headed by former CM BS Yeddyurappa has moved the election commission to allocate the coconut as its party symbol, V Dhananjay Kumar, senior KJP leader said. The state election commission has recognised KJP as a regional political party and has been allocated serial number 47 as mentioned in a special Gazette published on February 15. The party has also move the ECI to recognise it as a regional political party, he added.

Announcing the name of social worker and educationist Kallekkar Guthu Ravindra Shetty as the president of Dakshina Kannada district unit of the party here on Sunday, Dhananjay said Ravindra hailing from Bunt community is the president of Rathna Education Trust that manages the Vidya Rathna English Medium School at Deralakate. He heads a 45-member core committee of office bearers that will manage party affairs in Dakshina Kannada.

Dhananjay said the party has given preference to people of all taluks in the district and religions to take care of socio-regional-religious balance while constituting the district unit. The party with its thrust on attracting the youth towards it has also chosen Kiran Shetty to head its youth wing, Jyothika Jain as the chief of its women's wing, and Hameed Kudroli to head the minority wing and these units will work on directions from the district unit.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Yeddurappa's political outfit seeks coconut as party symbol

MANGALORE: The Karnataka Janata Party (KJP) headed by former CM BS Yeddyurappa has moved the election commission to allocate the coconut as its party symbol, V Dhananjay Kumar, senior KJP leader said. The state election commission has recognised KJP as a regional political party and has been allocated serial number 47 as mentioned in a special Gazette published on February 15. The party has also move the ECI to recognise it as a regional political party, he added.

Announcing the name of social worker and educationist Kallekkar Guthu Ravindra Shetty as the president of Dakshina Kannada district unit of the party here on Sunday, Dhananjay said Ravindra hailing from Bunt community is the president of Rathna Education Trust that manages the Vidya Rathna English Medium School at Deralakate. He heads a 45-member core committee of office bearers that will manage party affairs in Dakshina Kannada.

Dhananjay said the party has given preference to people of all taluks in the district and religions to take care of socio-regional-religious balance while constituting the district unit. The party with its thrust on attracting the youth towards it has also chosen Kiran Shetty to head its youth wing, Jyothika Jain as the chief of its women's wing, and Hameed Kudroli to head the minority wing and these units will work on directions from the district unit.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

At least 10 dead in Indonesia landslides, floods

JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Landslides and floods triggered by torrential rain in northern Indonesia have killed at least 10 people and sent hundreds fleeing for safe ground.

Disaster official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says mud and rocks cascaded down hills on Sunday in seven sub-districts of Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, while more than 1,000 houses were flooded after downpours caused a river to burst its banks.

He says nine bodies were pulled from the mud and wreckage of crumpled homes and another from water. About 1,200 people fled to temporary shelters.

Rescuers are searching for those who may still be buried beneath mud and rocks.

Seasonal downpours cause dozens of landslides and flash floods each year in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

At least 10 dead in Indonesia landslides, floods

JAKARTA, INDONESIA: Landslides and floods triggered by torrential rain in northern Indonesia have killed at least 10 people and sent hundreds fleeing for safe ground.

Disaster official Sutopo Purwo Nugroho says mud and rocks cascaded down hills on Sunday in seven sub-districts of Manado, the capital of North Sulawesi province, while more than 1,000 houses were flooded after downpours caused a river to burst its banks.

He says nine bodies were pulled from the mud and wreckage of crumpled homes and another from water. About 1,200 people fled to temporary shelters.

Rescuers are searching for those who may still be buried beneath mud and rocks.

Seasonal downpours cause dozens of landslides and flash floods each year in Indonesia, where millions of people live in mountainous areas or near fertile flood plains.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More