Saibaba Temple trust introduces new system of 'aarti' passes

SHIRDI (Maharashtra): The trust managing Saibaba Temple here in Western Maharashtra has introduced paid passes for devotees wanting to attend "aartis" throughout the week.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Shri Saibaba Sansthan Trust (SSST) held on November 14.

The new scheme, launched on an experimental basis, will come into effect from November 18 and will be in force throughout the week, a top official said on Saturday.

Those wishing to attend Saibaba's "kakad" (morning) aarti and others at afternoon, evening and night will get passes. The price of paases for "kakad" aarti has been fixed at Rs 500 per person and for others it is Rs 300, SSST executive officer Ajay More said here.

The initiative has been taken to avoid rush of devotees and their better management, he said.

Earlier, passes were provided to devotees for attending aartis only on Saturdays and Sundays, which see a heavy rush of people at the world famous shrine, about 250km from Mumbai. This system was introduced in March 2010.

There was no change in the current system of issuing Rs 100 per person passes for "darshan" at the temple on Saturdays and Sundays, he said.

No such passes are required for "darshan" from Monday to Friday.

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Egypt's Brotherhood offers talks to "exit" post-Morsi crisis

CAIRO: An Islamist coalition led by the Muslim Brotherhood on Saturday offered negotiations to end the deadly tumult since Egyptian president Mohamed Morsi's overthrow, without explicitly insisting on his reinstatement.

The coalition "calls on all revolutionary forces and political parties and patriotic figures to enter a deep dialogue on exiting the current crisis," it said in a statement.

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5.5 magnitude earthquake hits eastern Japan: US Geological Survey

TOKYO: A 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck eastern Japan on Saturday evening, according to the US Geological Survey, causing skyscrapers to shake in Tokyo and temporarily halting high speed trains.

The quake hit at 8:44pm local time (1144 GMT) at a depth of 63 kilometres (39 miles), in the Chiba prefecture which neighbours Tokyo.

Service on a high-speed train line was briefly halted but later resumed after a track inspection.

Neither the Tokyo-Narita airport nor any nuclear installations in the region were affected, public broadcaster NHK said.

The tremor came exactly one week after another 5.5 struck close to the capital, and three weeks after a major 7.1 magnitude quake generated small tsunamis on Japan's north-east coast, without causing damage or casualties.

More than 18,000 people died when a 9.0-magnitude sub-sea earthquake sent a towering tsunami barrelling into Japan's northeast coast in March 2011 in the country's worst post-World War II disaster.

Cooling systems at the Fukushima nuclear plant were knocked out, sending reactors into meltdown and forcing tens of thousands of people to flee.

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Modi's anointment unconstitutional: Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla

JANJGIR-CHAMPA: Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's niece Karuna Shukla on Saturday hit out at BJP which it quit recently, saying anointment of Narendra Modi's as its prime ministerial candidate was against the Constitution.

"It is against constitution of our country. A Prime Minister or chief minister candidate is chosen respectively by elected Members of Parliament (MPs) or Members of Legislative Assembly (MLAs). I do not find it right," Shukla said.

It is against the laid down principles of the Constitution, she said.

She also claimed that Modi, who is campaigning aggressively in assembly elections, will have no impact on the poll results in Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Mizoram and Delhi.

"States have there own problems and profiles. National problems are different from states. In states, workers have formed their own strategy to ensure victory. Modi will not have any effect in the election," said Shukla, a former national president of BJP Mahila Morcha.

Shukla, also a former MP from Jangir-Champa parliamentary constituency, had last month quit the party over differences in BJP's style of functioning in poll-bound Chhattisgarh.

"I do politics based on values and principles, the same way I live my life. Self-esteem is very important. For last five years, certain things were going on in BJP which I did not like.

For which I decided to leave the party. I feel BJP does not need me," she said.

She said she approached senior leaders on the situation in the state BJP but it did not help.

"Later, I thought it was best for me to leave the party," Shukla said.

Though, the former BJP leader claimed she has been approached by many for campaigning against BJP but she has decided not to speak in favour or against any political party.

"I am without any party.I am independent. I have been approached by many opposition parties to join or campaign against BJP. But I refused. Who does not need a ready made 'neta' with 32 years of experience?

"I have decided not to campaign in favour or against anybody," Shukla added.

The rebel has influence among sizeable number of voters in Janjgir-Champa, Korba and Bilaspur constituencies.

She said Vajpayee has always been a guiding force and source of encouragement for her and other party workers.

"Vajpayee ji's blessings are with each and every worker of BJP. I too had his blessings. But I never did politics in area which had his influence like Vidisha and Gwalior (in Madhya Pradesh) and Agra (in Uttar Pradesh) among others," she said over phone from Raipur.

Shukla declined to comment when asked about probable outcome of the elections.

"I will not like to say anything on this," she said when asked whether BJP would win the elections.

Shukla, who had contested 2009 Lok Sabha polls from Korba constituency, had lost the election to Congress' Charan Das Mahant.

Mahant was the lone Congress MP in Chhattisgarh, which has 11 Parliamentary constituencies.

As many as 72 assembly constituencies of Chhattisgarh are slated to go to polls in the second and final phase on November 19.

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PM Manmohan Singh congratulates Tendulkar, CNR Rao on getting Bharat Ratna

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday congratulated scientist CNR Rao and cricketer Sachin Tendulkar on being conferred the Bharat Ratna.

The prime minister telephoned both the recipients of the country's highest civilian honour and wished them success.

"Prime minister wished Rao many more years of continued service to the nation and the world of science," said a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.

"The prime minister spoke to Sachin Tendulkar and wished him all success in what he chooses to do after his retirement," it said.

He hoped Tendulkar would continue his association with the world of sports.

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Australian brewery apologizes for using Hindu deities on beer bottles

MELBOURNE: An Australian brewery has apologized for using images of Hindu deities Ganesh and Lakshmi on its alcoholic ginger beer bottles after the labels triggered an outrage from the Indian community.

"We're lovers, not fighters, we want to make it right. With recent feedback brought to our attention, we will be looking at design options for our bottles," the Brookvale Union Brewery said in an apology.

The labels had juxtaposed image of Lord Ganesh's face and Goddess Lakshmi's body, besides displaying various other Hindu religious symbols.

Indian community leaders in Australia had demanded that the New South Wales-based brewery apologize and immediately withdraw the offensive labels.

This was not the first time Hindu symbols have been used inappropriately by commercial brands in Australia.

In 2011, Hindus were outraged when the image of the goddess Lakshmi was portrayed on a swimsuit at Australian Fashion Week. The company immediately pulled the item from production and apologized for any offence caused.

The brewery has asked "graphic designers, artists and even doodlers" to come up with a better design by November 24.

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Minor fire in store room of Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota

CHENNAI: A minor fire, which broke out in the store room at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota, some 100 km from Chennai, has been doused off, sources said today.

The "minor fire" in a small store room, which was spotted around 5am on Thursday was put out later, Isro sources said.

The store room was being managed by a private company Premier Explosives Limited (PEL) in the SDSC campus, they said.

The blaze has not caused any damage to the Isro property.

"There is no injury to anyone. The things in the store room mainly electrical and electronic equipment belonged to the private company," an Isro official said.

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New US ambassador Caroline Kennedy arrives in Japan

NARITA, Japan: Caroline Kennedy, the lone surviving child of slain US president John F. Kennedy, arrived in Tokyo on Friday to take up the post of US ambassador to Japan, pledging to boost ties.

The 55-year-old Kennedy's arrival comes a week before the 50th anniversary of her father's assassination in Dallas.

"Hajime-mashite ('Nice to meet you')," a smiling Kennedy told reporters in Japanese at Narita airport before moving to the US embassy in downtown Tokyo.

"It is a special honour for me to be able to work to strengthen the close ties between our two great countries... Our alliance is critical to a prosperous and peaceful world," she added in a brief speech, accompanied by her husband, Edwin Schlossberg.

Kennedy is the first female US ambassador to the Asian giant, which consistently ranks lower than other wealthy nations on women's empowerment in politics and business.

Kennedy's appointment has been hailed in Japan, although some critics have voiced concern at having a diplomatic novice in the important post at a time of high tensions between the close US ally and a rising China.

A scion of political royalty, Kennedy has largely shunned the limelight though she has publicly championed her family's brand of progressive politics.

She played a pivotal role in the Democratic Party's primary in 2008 where she was an early and vocal backer of Barack Obama against perceived front-runner Hillary Clinton.

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Fire breaks out at Srinagar electricity grid station, some areas hit

SRINAGAR: A fire broke out on Friday afternoon in an electricity department grid station in the city.

"Electricity supply to some places including Lal Chowk, Residency Road and other areas receiving supply from the grid station situated behind the Tourist Reception Centre was snapped after a fire broke out there, possibly due to a short circuit," a police officer said.

"Fire tenders have rushed to the spot to bring the fire under control", the officer added.

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Dont' give undue weightage to minor lapses in probe: Supreme Court

NEW DELHI: Guilty people will have a field day if courts get carried away by every mistake and give unnecessary weightage to minor "errors or lapses" in police probe, the Supreme Court has said.

A bench headed by justice Ranjana Prakash Desai said that courts should take pragmatic approach to decide cases and take notice of any mischief done by the investigating agency.

"It is true that there can be no compromise on basic legal principles, but, unnecessary weightage should not be given to minor errors or lapses.

"If courts get carried away by every mistake or lapse of the investigating agency, the guilty will have a field day," the bench said.

"The court with its vast experience should be quick to notice mischief if there is any. Incompetent prosecuting agencies or prosecuting agencies which are driven by extraneous considerations should not be allowed to take the court for a ride.

"Particularly in offences relating to women and children, which are on rise, the courts will have to adopt a pragmatic approach," it said.

The bench said alleged overwriting and discrepancies in timings and dates in reports cannot be a ground for rejecting its veracity.

It passed the order while upholding conviction of a man in dowry death case of his wife.

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Prominent Hindi writer Hari Krishna Devsare dies in Ghaziabad

NEW DELHI: Prominent Hindi writer Hari Krishna Devsare, known for his prolific work in the field of children's literature, died on Thursday at the age of 75.

His son Shashin Devsare said the author, who had been battling a prolonged illness, died at a hospital in Indirapuram in Ghaziabad.

Born on March 9, 1938 in Nagod in Madhya Pradesh, Devsare was one of the foremost names in the field of Hindi literature and a recipient of the 2011 Sahitya Akademi Bala Sahitya Puraskar for lifetime contribution to children's literature.

Devsare, who authored over 300 books, also received other awards and honours, including Bal Sahityakar Samman, Bal Sahitya Samman of Uttar Pradesh Hindi Sansthan, Kriti Samman (2001) and Sahityakar Samman (2004) of the Hindi Akademi.

Devsare, is said to have also obtained the first doctorate in the country in Indian children's literature.

Known for experimentation in his writings, Devsare had launched a serious debate by questioning the relevance of the tales of kings and queens and fairies in the modern context.

He encouraged creativity in children's literature in Indian languages and tried to fill the vacuum in science fiction and one-act plays for children.

"Devsare was instrumental in compiling 'Hindi Bal Sahitya Ek Rachna', a seminal book on the history of children's literature, a milestone in the history of publishing," said an official of the Sahitya Akademi.

Devsare also served for 10 years as the editor of popular 'Parag' magazine in Hindi and was awarded the first 'Vatsalya Award', instituted to celebrate and recognize excellent writing in this genre.

"Devsare used to work for the All India Radio for nearly 22 years before he took voluntary retirement and headed Parag magazine. He also used to write scripts for serials, telefilms and programmes based on science and technology. He also used to write poems," said the Sahitya Akademi official.

"He has also translated a number of international works for children including those by Hans Christian Andersen and the Grimm Brothers," said the official.

The author had also participated in the World Hindi conference in New York in 2007.

"My father who has immortalized with his prolific and vast range of work in literature and particularly Indian children's Literature died on Children's Day," said Shashin.

Devsare is survived by his wife, two sons, a daughter and five grandchildren.

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DMRC told to pay Rs 10,000 for thumb injury due to Metro X-Ray machine

NEW DELHI: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation has been directed by a consumer forum here to pay Rs 10,000 to a man who suffered a thumb injury while picking up his bag from an x-ray machine used to screen luggage of passengers before they board the Metro.

The East District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum held the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) negligent in providing services to the complainant, relying on the noting of the station master of Rajiv Chowk Metro station, where the incident had occurred two years ago.

The station master had specifically stated in his noting that he had checked the x-ray machine and found that the gap between the first roller and the conveyor belt was very less and if anyone put his thumb there it could be dragged into the gap.

The noting also said that the security control room had been immediately informed to arrange a mechanic to increase the gap to avoid such an incident.

"Taking into consideration the detailed discussion and observations made above, we hold respondent (DMRC) negligent and deficient in providing services to the complainant and direct it to pay Rs 10,000 to him towards compensation for the mental pain he had undergone and it shall include the cost of the present litigation," a bench presided by N A Zaidi said.

The forum, however, declined to grant reimbursement of medical expenses and compensation for the complainant recovering fully, saying he had neither filed the bills nor taken follow-up treatment for his injury.

The order came on the complaint of East Delhi resident, S L Bhardwaj, who was injured while he was picking up his bag from the x-ray machine prior to boarding a metro from Rajiv Chowk to Preet Vihar.

DMRC in its defence had contended that the complainant's suffered the thumb injury because he inserted his hand into the machine, instead of waiting for the bag to come out on to the rollers outside.

It also said that he had been given first aid and that he had refused service of an ambulance to take him to a hospital.

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Bangladesh garment makers agree $68 monthly minimum wage

DHAKA:Bangladesh garment manufacturers have agreed to a $68 minimum monthly wage for the country's four million garment workers after days of labour unrest forced the closure of hundreds of factories, officials said.

The agreement came after the manufacturers met the Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, yesterday night when she "ordered" them to implement the new wages recommended by the government's Minimum Wage Board panel.

The panel voted to raise the minimum salaries to 5,300 taka ($68) from 3,000 taka this month following a series of disasters in garment factories that highlighted appalling labour conditions and poor wages in thousands of plants, many of which make clothing for the world's top retailers.

But the owners dragged their feet, saying it would be impossible for most factories to ratify the panel's decision, arguing that Bangladesh workers were less productive while the Western retailers were not keen to raise order prices in line with the pay hike.

The manufacturers had demanded the new minimum wages be fixed at 4,500 taka, but labour secretary Mikail Shipar said they changed their minds after meeting Prime Minister at her office.

"During the meeting, the Prime Minister ordered them to implement the new minimum wages of 5,300 taka ($68) from December. And they've agreed to implement the pay hike," he told AFP.

The new wages would still make Bangladeshi garment workers some of the lowest paid in the textile sector across the world.

Pro-government unions have accepted the $68 minimum wage, but left-leaning labour groups have rejected the new salaries, saying they were too far below their original demand.

Tens of thousands of workers clashed with police in some of the country's key industrial hubs this week, demanding a $100 minimum wages.

Hundreds of factories were forced to close while scores of people were injured after police fired rubber bullets and tear gas to disperse the protesting workers.

Reaz-Bin Mahmood, a vice-president of the Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA), said they now hoped the workers would return to their factories.

"We have accepted the wage board decision following the Prime Minister's request. But it'll be difficult for many of us to raise the wages, if the Western retailers don't hike order prices by 10-15%," he told AFP.

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India is poised to be world's number one in printing by 2015: Minister

The author has posted comments on this articleIANS | Nov 14, 2013, 07.08PM IST

GREATER NOIDA: A record 263 exhibitors from 22 countries are taking part in the four-day 9th international exhibition of printing and allied machinery industry (PAMEX 2013) that began here on Thursday.

The exhibition was inaugurated by minister of state for commerce and industry E M S Natchiappan in the presence of senior Indian government officials. PAMEX is said to be the only dedicated international event for the printing and allied machinery industries in Asia.

Addressing a press conference later, Natchiappan said: "India is poised to be the number one in the world for printing by 2015."

He said where the world was showing a decline in the growth and performance, India was forging ahead because of low cost and ready to adopt new technology.

"The country's printing market, currently valued at $12.1 billion, is projected to reach $20.9 billion by 2015," he said.

A M S G Ashokan, president, All India Federation of Master Printers, on this occasion said: "Pamex 2013 is hosting 263 exhibitors from 22 countries across the world. The ink's market is estimated to be $356 million and is projected to grow by 78 per cent. The substrates market is pegged at $4000 million and has a phenomenal growth projection of 72 per cent and the market would thus be close to $7000 million.

The other consumables market, which today stands at $155 million, is also expected to witness tremendous growth of almost 70 per cent."

Pamex 2013 chairman S R Sharma said, "With the support of over 250,000 members from all over India, PAMEX 2013 shall attract quality footfalls from India and neighbouring countries with over 300 focused exhibitors, including ancillary suppliers spread over 15,000 sq. metres and over 40,000 visitors gracing the occasion."

PAMEX 2013 International Expo is being held Nov 14-17 at the India Expo Centre and Mart, Greater Noida Expressway.

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Deep depression to cross near Nagapattinam on November 16

CHENNAI/NAGAPATTINAM: A deep depression is slated to cross the coast near Nagapattinam on November 16, prompting the district administration to review its preparedness and put in place the required mechanism to face any impact.

Squally winds with speeds of 55-65 kmph are likely along south coastal Andhra Pradesh, north Tamil Nadu and Puducherry and there may be heavy to very heavy rains at a few places in north coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry under the influence of the depression.

Nagapattinam district collector T Munusamy convened an emergency meeting of officials and discussed precautionary measures to tackle the situation.

Cyclone shelters in the district have been kept ready to accommodate people in the event of evacuation. Officials have been asked to keep ready other public buildings like schools, colleges and marriage halls to accommodate people, he said.

The collector said services of the Coast Guard and Indian Navy would be requested in the event of an emergency.

Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal were recently hit by cyclone Phailin which had brought heavy rains in its wake, leading to devastation and loss of lives.

The depression over southwest Bay of Bengal remained "practically stationary" and lay centred at 8:30am about 550 km east-southeast of Chennai, 630 km east-southeast of Nellore and 570 km east-northeast of Nagapattinam, the regional weather office said.

The system, which would continue to move nearly westwards, may intensify into a deep depression and cross north Tamil Nadu coast near Nagapattinam around November 16 evening, the weather office said.

It had yesterday said that the system may intensify into a deep depression and cross north Tamil Nadu coast between Nagapattinam and Chennai by the night of November 15 or 16 morning.

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2013 saw one of the worst flooding episodes on India-Nepal border: WMO

NEW DELHI: We may have dismissed it as just a very lengthy monsoon but the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) says this year's early onset brought the worst flooding and devastation in the past half century to regions near the India-Nepal border.

In WMO's provisional annual statement released on Wednesday in Geneva, it has commended improved meteorological early warning systems and preparedness in India with "avoiding a major humanitarian disaster." Phailin which affected Odisha and Andhra Pradesh is the strongest storm in the North Indian basin since 1999 according to the report.

While the COP 19 has kicked off in Warsaw where governments would be negotiating to arrive at some decisions that may help control climate change, WMO's report is sounding alarm bells. It states that 2013 is on course to be among the top ten warmest years since modern records began in 1850.

The first nine months, January to September, tied with 2003 as the seventh warmest such period on record, with a global land and ocean surface temperature of about 0.48°C (0.86°F) above the 1961-1990 average. In fact, January-September 2013 was warmer than the same period in both 2011 and 2012, when La Nina had a cooling influence.

In contrast with 2012, when the United States, in particular, observed record high annual temperatures, the warmth in 2013 was most extreme in Australia.

"Temperatures so far this year are about the same as the average during 2001-2010, which was the warmest decade on record," said WMO secretary-general Michel Jarraud. "All of the warmest years have been since 1998 and this year once again continues the underlying, long-term trend. The coldest years now are warmer than the hottest years before 1998," he said.

As of early November, the Western North Pacific typhoon season recorded 30 storms, including 13 typhoons, which is above the 1981-2010 average of 26. Typhoon Haiyan (known in the Philippines as Yolanda) was one of the "most intense tropical cyclones ever to make landfall, and the most powerful cyclone of the year" cutting a devastating trail through the Philippines and seriously impacting on Viet Nam the report said.

"The Philippines is reeling from the devastation wreaked by Typhoon Haiyan, the most powerful tropical cyclone ever to hit the country and one of the most intense ever recorded anywhere. It is still struggling to recover from Typhoon Bopha (Pablo) one year ago. Although individual tropical cyclones cannot be directly attributed to climate change, higher sea levels are already making coastal populations more vulnerable to storm surges. We saw this with tragic consequences in the Philippines," Jarraud said.

He added that, although the relationship between climate change and the frequency of tropical cyclones is a matter of much research, it is expected that their impact will be more intense.

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Haryana Roadways strike hits transport services

CHANDIGARH: The two-day strike called by the Haryana Roadways employees in support of their demands hit transport services, with buses staying off the roads across the state on the first day on Wednesday, inconveniencing a large number of office-goers and others.

The buses, including the luxury Volvo service, were off the roads at most places, including Chandigarh, Ambala, Panipat, Hisar, Sirsa and other places in the state.

At various places, members of different roadways unions gathered in front of depots and stopped buses from plying, demanding regularisation of around one lakh temporary employees.

A government spokesman said officials have been asked to take effective steps to ensure services, including imposition of prohibitory orders in the vicinity of important installations and places like bus stands, electric and public health installations.

A large number of police personnel have been deployed outside the depots to deal with any untoward situation, officials said.

With other unions joining the strike, police have also been deployed in anticipation of trouble during the strike at various power stations, bus stands and other sensitive places.

Complete strike was reported in Hansi, Adampur, Barwala, Narnaund, Uklana and other parts of the district. Bus stands in these places wore a deserted look.

At Hisar, the protesting employees held a meeting near a bus stand and criticised the state government for its alleged anti-employees policies.

The strike call has been given by two major employees organisations - Sarv Karamchari Sangh and Haryana Karamchari Mahasangh.

Besides the transport department, a large number of employees from various departments of the state government are also taking part in the strike, demanding regularisation of the employees.

Haryana Roadways Employees' Union president Dalbir Kirmara said the unions were opposing the government's move to give permits to 3,519 private buses to ply under the new transport policy.

Yesterday, the talks between employees' leaders and Haryana Transport Minister Aftab Ahmed failed.

All divisional commissioners, range inspector generals and police commissioners as well as deputy commissioners in the state have been asked to take adequate precautionary measures to ensure that no inconvenience is caused to the public.

The officials have been directed to deploy sufficient police force, including women personnel, for protection of important installations and other public properties.

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Thai commandos guard 300kg gold for Mahabodhi temple in Bihar

PATNA: Two dozen commandos from Thailand are guarding nearly 300 kg gold in 13 boxes in Bihar's Bodh Gaya town as work began to cover the dome of 1,500-year old Mahabodhi temple in glitter.

The much awaited work to gold-plate the dome is being carried out by a team of technical experts from Thailand, officials said.

Two days after the 289 kg gold, donated by Buddhist devotees from Thailand, was brought to Bodh Gaya in a special plane from Bangkok, technical experts have finally started the work under tight security in and around the temple, said N. Dorjee, secretary of the Bodh Gaya temple management committee.

"It is a happy moment for all of us that the spire of the temple will get a glittering look with gold," Dorjee said.

Arvind Kumar Singh, a member of the committee, said the work by experts from Thailand is being videographed since it involves handling gold.

"A 40-member team, including a dozen experts and two dozen commandos, from Thailand arrived at Bodh Gaya with gold in 13 boxes to complete the work in 40 to 50 days," Singh said.

He said the team is led by Thailand's former deputy prime minister General Pricha.

"About 24 Thailand commandos are providing security to the gold boxes kept in the temple premises," Singh said.

The district administration too has deployed additional security to safeguard the gold.

Thailand-based company Kreing Thavorn Containers Co. Ltd. is carrying out the work.

Dorjee said last year Thailand's King Bhumibol Atulya took the decision to cover the dome of the temple with gold.

But it took some time to get clearance from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for the work. The ASI officials will also provide technical supervision for the gold inlay work.

A special prayer will be held under the holy Bodhi tree behind the main temple Nov 16 in which around 500 devotees from Thailand, including those who donated gold, are likely to participate, Dorjee said.

According to him, the first phase of the work involving chemical treatment was completed in August to prepare the foundation for gold plating.

"Now stairs have been installed around the temple's dome to enable experts to reach the top of the structure to inlay it with thin gold sheet," he said.

Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar has also shown keen interest in the work.

A string of low-intensity bombs exploded in the temple complex in July. But there were no casualties and no damage was caused to the structure.

The ancient 180 feet structure of the Mahabodhi temple is estimated to have been built between the 5th and 6th century AD. It was lost and rediscovered in the 19th century by Alexander Cunningham, who founded the ASI in 1861.

The Mahabodhi temple is the holiest pilgrimage centre for Buddhists from around the world. It marks the place where Lord Gautama is believed to attained his enlightenment, turning him into the Buddha.

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Madras high court dismisses PIL challenging India’s participation at CHOGM

MADURAI: The Madurai bench of the Madras high court on Wednesday dismissed a public interest litigation (PIL) against India's participation at the Commonwealth Heads of Governments Meetings ( CHOGM) scheduled to be held in Sri Lanka later this week.

A division bench consisting of Justice A Selvam and Justice V S Ravi dismissed the PIL filed by Madurai-based advocate Kumaravel. In his PIL, Kumaravel cited Tamil Nadu assembly's resolution which demanded India boycott GHOGM.

Dismissing the petition, the bench observed that the court didn't have expertise to analyze the issue since the matter touched upon the foreign policy of the government.

It may be remembered that another division bench of the high court heard this PIL a week ago. When an order was about to be passed on the petition by that bench, it was transferred to another division bench as requested by the petitioner's side.

On Monday, petitioner's counsel W Peter Ramesh Kumar told the division bench of justices A Selvam and V S Ravi that though the state's resolution, passed with the support of all the 234 MLAs of the state assembly on October 24, was sent to the Central government's cabinet secretary on the same day, there was no reply. He argued that the Centre should have sent a reply. Hence, he requested the court to intervene in the matter and pass orders to restrain the government from attending the summit.

In his reply, assistant solicitor general K K Senthilvelan argued that attending the summit was the policy decision of the Central Government. He said the high court's principal seat dismissed a PIL on the same issue on October 29. Following this, the division bench posted the matter to November 13 for orders. When the matter came up on Wednesday, it dismissed the PIL.

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Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan orders probe into Campa Cola complex

NEW DELHI: Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan on Wednesday said here he has ordered a probe into the row over Campa Cola housing complex in Mumbai, and that the state government is studying the Supreme Court order suspending its demolition.

"We have ordered the probe and are studying the order. The occupants have got some relief and the state government has sought legal opinion from attorney general GE Vahanvati on the issue," Chavan said in the national capital.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered suspension of the demolition of 96 flats of the Campa Cola housing complex in Mumbai till May 31, 2014. The demolition was to start on Wednesday.

The apex court earlier this year said that these flats have to be pulled down because of violation of laws by the builders. The flats were constructed three decades ago.

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Controversy over 'Ram Leela': HC notice to Punjab over Sanjay Leela Bhanshali's plea against FIR

CHANDIGARH: Taking up a plea seeking quashing of an FIR registered against the star cast, producer and director of Bollywood flick "Ram Leela" for hurting the religious sentiments, the Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday issued notice the Punjab government and the complainant asking them to file reply on the issue.

The petition was filed by director and producer of the movie, Sanjay Leela Bhansali, actor Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone against the registration of case against them in Jalandhar district of Punjab.

They have pleaded before the HC that the film is inspired by William Shakespeare's 'Romeo and Juliet'. While making it clear that their movie nothing to do with hurting of religious sentiments of any community because the name Ram and Leela refer to the names of the two protagonists and thus the title of the movie is justified. "Even the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) has granted certification to the movie for relase as per the relevant statute. Thus, no offence under section 295-A of the IPC is made out," Sanjay Leela Bhansali and others added in their petition.

Hearing the pleas, HC, however, refused to grant any stay on the trial court proceedings in the case pending against these celebrities at Jalandhar.

The case is now fixed for November 14, when the Punjab government and the complainant Lalit Kumar has been asked to respond the issue. Jalandhar police had booked Bhansali, Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone on September on the basis of a complaint filed by one Lalit Kumar. The FIR was registered under Section 295-A (deliberate and malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) of the Indian Penal Code.

The complainant had alleged that the contents of the forthcoming movie Ram Leela, scheduled to be released on November 15, are highly objectionable and offends the religious sentiments of the public believing in Hindu mythology. According to complainant, the title of the film, its trailer and photographs are highly objectionable and offended religious sentiments of people believing in Hindu mythology. It was also alleged by the complainant that the story of the film has nothing to do with the life of Lord Rama.

07.21 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fishermen's killing: NIA questions Italian marines via video-conferencing

NEW DELHI: The NIA has questioned through video-conferencing the four Italian marines who witnessed the killing of two Kerala fishermen by fellow marines Massimiliano Latorre and Salvatore Girone in 2012. The marines, who had earlier declined to travel to India to record their statements, on Monday faced the NIA investigators from the Indian embassy in Rome.

The four marines arrived at the Indian Embassy in Rome following serving of Letters Rogatory and their statements were recorded by the investigators in Delhi in the presence of a magistrate, said a home ministry official. This has now paved the way for the NIA to file a chargesheet in the Italian marines case.

External affairs minister Salman Khurshid said government was happy that the main hurdle in the case was over and the NIA could now bring all the facts before the court. Khurshid said India was desirous that the case concludes as expeditiously as possible within the legal framework of the country. The two accused marines are currently serving judicial custody at the Italian embassy here.

The four marines had refused to travel to India to record their statements, suggesting alternatives like getting examined an NIA team in Rome, through video link or by replying to a mailed questionnaire. The MHA had initially turned down all these options and insisted that the marines come down to India, citing an earlier assurance by Italy to the court that the all members of Enrica Lexie crew would be presented before the court as and when required.
With the external affairs ministry and law ministry more amenable to Italy's demand to have the four marines record their statements from Italy, the option of sending an NIA team to Rome was kept open. But since CrPC does not apply beyond India, the option of video-conferencing was found more viable. A mailed questionnaire, meanwhile, was ruled out due to some practical difficulties.

It was only after the attorney general endorsed their questioning via video-link that the MHA cleared the recording of marines' statement in the Indian embassy in Rome. Latorre and Girone have been slapped with murder charges for gunning down Kerala fishermen Ajesh Binki and Jelestine.

The NIA has questioned and recorded the statements of the Master of the vessel, Umberto Vittelli, Chief Officer James Mandley Samson, Second Officer Sahil Gupta, Semen Fulbaria Marendra, Kumar Naren and former ordinary seaman Kantamuich Tirumal Rao.

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BJYM leader, wife killed in road accident in Nainital district

DEHRADUN: A BJYM leader and his wife were killed when their motorcycle fell into an irrigation canal at Ramnagar in Nainital district, police said on Tuesday.

BJYM's former block president Kannu kargeti (30) and his wife Himani (27) were going back home on a motorcycle on Monday evening when they met with the accident.

They were swept down the canal and their bodies were recovered from Hathidangar about eight kms from Ramnagar, they said.

They were seen falling into the canal by a child who raised an alarm. When people reached the spot they saw a motorcycle lying in the canal.

A prolonged search by the police and locals led to the recovery of the bodies at around midnight.

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Chhattisgarh polls: Two BSF jawans killed, many injured in landmine blast in Bastar

RAIPUR: A day after first phase polling in Chhattisgarh's 18 constituencies, series of Maoist violence has taken place killing two Border Security Force (BSF) jawans and one severely injured in Sukma district of troubled Bastar, when they were returning along with polling parties.

While the polling on November 11 went by and large smooth amid small incidents, Maoists have attacked in at least three places on Tuesday on the polling parties which were returning with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to the district headquarters.

Two BSF jawans were killed and one jawan severely injured when their vehicle was exploded in a landmine blast on a bridge located in Sukma's Manjhipara area. The driver in the vehicle also died in the incident while a doctor with BSF team was also injured. The injured jawans were airlifted to Raipur hospital.

According to police officials, this was the same spot from where former Sukma collector Alex Paul Menon was abducted by Maoists last year which makes the spot vulnerable to such incidents. Officials said that explosives in large number were seized from this spot but possibly the landmine was planted in the early hours before the part was supposed to pass from the place.

In another incident, a CRPF deputy commandant was injured in an encounter which went for an hour in Dornapal. The commandant sustained bullet injuries in legs and was brought to Raipur hospital where his condition is said to be out of danger. He was a part of the Road opening Party team at Chintagufa in Dornapal area and the incident took place when Maoists opened indiscriminate firing on the team and the commandant sustained injuries in the gun-battle between CRPF men and Maoists.

As per the reports, Maoists are continuously targeting the security forces who are accompanying the polling parties and based on the past instances there may be incidents of Maoists looting the EVMs after attacking the party.

One more landmine blast took place at Pankhajur's Gundahur area where Maoists tried to explode three buses of BSF jawans who were returning after the polls. One BSF jawan was injured in the incident and has been airlifted to Raipur hospital while others sustained minor injuries.

Ajay Yadav, Superintendent of Police Jagdalpaur, said that the security forces in large are on the way returning after the polls to the district headquarters and state capital for further deployment for the second phase of polling. "Encounters at many places on the way are taking place."

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BJP launches padayatra for Gujarat CM Narendra Moid’s Bangalore rally

MYSORE: The BJP on Tuesday launched padayatra to Bangalore as a prelude to Gujarat CM Narendra Moid's rally.

Lead by former minister SA Ramdas, the five-day padayatra is aimed at regaining the BJP's lost ground in the city's three assembly constituencies, which form part of Mysore Lok Sabha segment and trying to win the electorates in Mandya and Ramnagaram districts. Crucially, Ramanagaram's four assembly segments are part of Bangalore Rural Lok Sabha constituency, which Congress won during the bypoll two months back. BJP is strong in other four segments attached to Bangalore Rural parliamentary segment.

The BJP made it a big show even as Ramdas, who went into political hibernation for over two months after his defeat in the assembly polls in May, is seeking to reconnect with the people again. He is leading the padayatra and spoke about various issues en route like the corruption, internal security threats and terrorism. It was also a show of strength by the BJP too. The party's MLC G Madhusudana, who has fallen out with Ramdas, attended its launch. Former MP and MLC C H Vijayshankar, who is preparing to contest the polls, marched some distance with Ramdas.

Though over two thousands were part of the padayatra when it was launched at the Balarama Gate of the Mysore Palace, as it reached its Day-1 stopover Yeliyur in Mandya district, the crowd has melted to a little over hundred. The former minister-led padayatra will traverse through Mandya, Ramnagaram and Bangalore rural district to reach the IT City on November 17 to coincide with Modi's rally. Seeking to project Modi, the padayatra is aimed at bracing for the Lok Sabha polls and targeting youths. A large number of women wearing saffron coloured saree were part of the event when it was launched in the city by former CM Jagadish Shettar. Addressing the activists, Shettar said: "Modi is the real leader of the nation. Indians are looking at Modi to provide them an able leadership. Modi's leadership is essential for India."

BJP activist Manjunath's son Rahul, dressed as Swami Vivekananda, attended the event and address the gathering. The party activists welcomed the leaders en route to Yeliyur, 30 kms from the city on the border of Mandya taluk. The yatra will travel 30 kms on an average daily.

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IIT-Madras, IIT-Kanpur, IISc to offer PhD scholarship programme with Melbourne varsity

CHENNAI: Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, IIT-Kanpur and the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore will partner with the University of Melbourne to offer a new joint PhD scholarship programme from 2014.

The Melbourne-India Postgraduate Program will provide Aus$3 million as scholarship to 16 PhD scholars and associated support for research exchanges over the next three years.

"As a university we are committed to supporting research that has global impact and benefits, and this programme will go a long way to help further this goal," a press release shared ahead of the launch of the programme quoted Glyn Davis, vice-chancellor of the University of Melbourne, as saying.

"By enabling students from India and Australia to undertake jointly developed research of the highest quality, we're confident the program will address shared global challenges in areas of environmental, societal and technological need," Davis said.

"We're excited that the program will give students the opportunity to contribute to the development of education, cultural and industry links between both countries," he added.

The programme will be open to PhD students enrolled at the University of Melbourne, to be co-supervised by faculty at IIT-Kanpur, IIT-Madras or IISC. Alternatively, students enrolled in one of the three Indian institutions will have access to co-supervision with Melbourne academics.

In the press release, IIT-Kanpur director Indranil Manna said, "Australian and Indian communities hold immense respect for each other and this is yet another opportunity that would contribute to the strengthening of cultural ties between the two great nations."

The faculty at IIT-Kanpur has advocated and encouraged interdisciplinary and inter-institutional collaboration and cooperation in all areas of mutual interest in science and engineering. According to him, such programmes not only contribute to diversity on campus, but also help build bridges across geographical borders.

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Officials told to submit plans for Nashik Kumbh Mela slated for 2015-16

NASHIK: Maharashtra additional chief secretary (home) Amitabh Rajan on Monday directed officials concerned to provide detailed plans related to the Kumbh Mela slated to held here and in Trimbakeshwar in 2015-16, by November 13.

"The plans related to Kumbh Mela should reach the Home ministry within two days so that proper planning can be done for their effective implementation," Rajan is quoted to have said at the meeting held at the district collectorate, by official sources.

He directed the city police chief Kulwant Kumar Sarangal and rural police chief Praveen Padawal to handle law and order at the event to prevent any untoward incident at Sadhugram as well as during the royal processions which mark the jamboree.

During 2003 Kumbh Mela here, at least 39 persons, including 26 women, had died in a stampede on a narrow road leading to river Godavari.

Meanwhile, Divisional Commissioner Ravindra Jadhav asked PWD officials to construct a concrete road to Neel Parvat in Trimbakeshwar as the Kumbh Mela falls in monsoon season.

Senior officials of various departments attended the meeting.

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Emergency session of Tamil Nadu assembly to be held on Tuesday

CHENNAI: An emergency session of the Tamil Nadu legislative assembly will be held at 6pm on Tuesday, according to an official press release issued on Monday by assembly secretary A M B Jamaludeen.

"The next meeting of the legislature will take place at 6pm on Tuesday," the statement said.

The session is expected to discuss India's participation at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), to be held in Sri Lanka later this week. "The state is likely to move a resolution in this regard," said a government source. While Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will skip the meet, political parties in the state have been demanding India boycott the session altogether.

During its brief session last month, the assembly adopted a unanimous resolution, moved by chief minister J Jayalalithaa, urging the Union government to boycott CHOGM.

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Corruption case: Jagan Reddy, others accused appear in CBI court

HYDERABAD: YSR Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and others accused in an alleged corruption case involving his companies, on Monday appeared before a special CBI court in connection with Penna Cements case.

The court had on September 30 taken cognizance of the chargesheet filed on September 10 against Penna Cements and others and issued summons to the Kadapa MP, his auditor Vijay Sai Reddy and others accused, with a direction that they should appear before it on November 11.

Accordingly, Jagan and others accused appeared before the court and submitted a personal bond of Rs 25,000 each and two sureties of like sum. The case has been posted to December 3.

The CBI has filed 10 chargesheets against Jagan and others in the case.

According to CBI, the seventh chargesheet relates to the issue of Penna Group of Companies, represented by P Pratap Reddy, making quid-pro-quo investments to the tune of Rs 68 crores into Jagan's firms and consequent undue benefits received by Penna Group of Companies.

The undue favours were in the issues of alienation of government land measuring 231.09 acres in Anantapur district, grant of prospecting licence over an extend of 304.7 hectare in Kurnool district, renewal of mining lease over 821 acres in Ranga Reddy district, extending relaxations/benefits to his (Pratap Reddy) hotel project situated at Banjara Hills here, the agency said.

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United Nations climate talks open amid 'sobering' typhoon

WARSAW: United Nations launched a new round of talks on Monday for a 2015 deal to cut Earth-warming greenhouse gas emissions, in the aftermath of a devastating Philippines typhoon the UN's climate chief labelled "sobering".

Christiana Figueres urged progress at the notoriously fractious talks amid a slew of new warnings of potentially disastrous global warming as a Filipino negotiator made a tearful undertaking to fast until the talks yield a tangible result.

"What happens in this stadium (talks venue) is not a game. There are not two sides but the whole of humanity. There are no winners and losers, we all either win or lose in the future we make for ourselves," said Figueres, head of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

"The recent very painful events of cyclone Haiyan... have reminded the countries gathered here... of the urgency of coming to a resolution of how all countries are going to collaborate with each other to address climate change in a timely manner."

The meeting was taking place under the weight of many "sobering realities", of which Haiyan in the Philippines was one, said Figueres.

The typhoon is feared to have killed 10,000 people, with Filipino delegate Naderev Sano among those anxiously waiting for news on loved ones.

"In solidarity with my countrymen who are struggling to find food back home and with my brother who has not had food for the last three days... I will now commence a voluntary fasting," he told fellow negotiators as the 12-day talks got underway.

"I will refrain from eating food during this COP (conference of parties) until a meaningful outcome is in sight" — which could include pledges of money for a Green Climate Fund meant to disburse resources to developing countries for coping with climate change.

Sano was given a standing ovation.

The UN has set a target of limiting global average warming to two degrees Celsius (3.6 degrees Fahrenheit) over pre-Industrial Revolution levels — at which scientists believe we can avoid the worst effects of climate change.

The world seeks to reach that goal by curbing emissions of invisible, heat-trapping gases from burning fossil fuels which provide the backbone of the world's energy supply today.

Reducing this pollution requires a costly shift to cleaner, more efficient energy, which partly explains why the UN negotiations have been such a battlefield.

Last week, the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said the chances of meeting the two-degree goal were "swiftly diminishing", while the World Meteorological Organisation reported that atmospheric levels of greenhouse gases hit a new record high in 2012.

In September, the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicted global surface temperatures could climb on average by as much as 4.8 C (8.6 F) this century -- a recipe for catastrophic heatwaves, floods, droughts and sea-level rise.

"We are clearly trending towards a substantial increase in the temperature of the surface across the globe," IPCC chairman Rajendra Pachauri told the Warsaw negotiators Monday.

The UNEP has said that in order to contain warming to two degrees C, greenhouse gas emissions must drop to 44 gigatonnes of CO2 equivalent by 2020 and then halve by 2020.

"We must get to global peaking of emissions this decade and to zero net emissions by the second half of this century," said Figueres.

Though the stakes are high, no specific targets have been set for this round of the annual talks, hosted by one of the world's biggest coal polluters just two years before the tortuous global process must deliver a global deal.

Observers hope negotiators will do some legwork for the much-trumpeted agreement, due to be signed in Paris in 2015 for implementation five years later.

The Warsaw talks are scheduled to wrap up on November 22, at ministerial level.

The gloves are expected to come off over help for poorer nations to cope with climate change.

Rich economies have yet to show how they intend to meet a pledge, made back in 2009, to muster $100 billion per year from 2020.

"The tragic aftermath of Supertyphoon Haiyan... serves as a stark reminder of the cost of inaction on climate change and should serve to motivate our work in Warsaw," said the Alliance of Small Island States (Aosis) — a grouping of countries at high risk of climate change-induced sea level rise.

"Science has confirmed that unless we begin to reduce emissions immediately, the opportunity to keep global warming below the critical 1.5 degree threshold could be irrevocably lost."

07.20 | 0 komentar | Read More

Opposition candidate wins seat vacated by Bhutan's former PM

THIMPHU: Bhutan's main opposition party DPT has won a byelection for a parliamentary seat vacated by its leader and former Prime Minister Jigmi Y Thinley, whose party was routed in the general election in July.

The Election Commission of Bhutan (ECB) on Sunday declared that Dechen Zangmo of Druk Phuensum Tshogpa Party (DPT) has been elected as the representative from Nanong-Shumar National Assembly Demkhong constituency at Saturday's polls.

In a press release, the ECB stated that the overall voter turnout was 35.2 per cent with 2,913 voters casting the ballot out of the total 8,278 registered voters.

Of the total votes, 2,632 votes were cast on the electronic voting machines in 17 polling stations and 281 votes through postal ballots.

Zangmo was elected with 1,751 votes while Pema Wangchuk of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP) secured 1,162 votes.

Thinley, 60, resigned in July, becoming the first person in Bhutan to quit the legislative body.

His DPT party was routed by the PDP in Bhutan's second national election held in July. The PDP won 32 seats in the 47-member National Assembly.

Thinley was one of the 15 DPT candidates who were elected in the recent polls.

Bhutan has a tri-cameral parliament of the King, National Council and the National Assembly.

There are 25 seats in the National Council or the upper house. Five of them are appointed by the King and 20 are elected from 20 districts.

Compared to the general election, the number of voters was reduced by 1,000 in Nanong-Shumar byelection.

Thinley had secured a landslide victory with 3,742 votes against PDP's Wangchuk who got 1,011 votes in the polls earlier this year.

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Jaya hits back at Karunanidhi for questioning her 'silence' on HRD schools initiative

CHENNAI: Hitting back at DMK chief M Karunanidhi for questioning her 'silence' over HRD ministry's model school initiative, chief minister Jayalalithaa on Sunday said his statement was made only for political gains, as he did not object to the scheme when he was in power in 2009.

"When Karunanidhi was the chief minister in 2009, the Cabinet approved setting up of 20 model schools with the support of the Centre at a cost of Rs 75.40 crore. He did not do anything against the scheme and approved it," she said in a statement.

The chief minister said the people of Tamil Nadu would understand that Karunanidhi's objections to the scheme now were only for political gains.

Jayalalithaa also sought to know why Karunanidhi had approved the scheme then despite being aware that the Centre was 'interfering' in the state's rights on this issue.

The DMK chief had on November 4 described the initiative as yet another instance of the Centre's interference in the state's rights and asked the Jayalalithaa government to take up the matter with the Centre.

By not consulting the state or taking it into confidence, the Centre had set a "wrong precedence" by allowing privatisation of education, the DMK patriarch had alleged.

While there has been opposition to this proposal, including from a section of academicians, the state government has remained mum, which, he said, was "puzzling."

The HRD scheme envisages setting up 2500 model schools under public-private partnership mode in educationally backward districts in the country.

Jayalalithaa said that in line with her government's efforts to benefit the people as in the past like in establishing the Tamil people's rights over the Mullaperiyar issue and gazette notification in Cauvery water dispute, firm action would be taken to benefit the people in this matter.

The AIADMK chief also slammed the Centre for remaining a "mute spectator" over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue, allotment of kerosene to the state and attacks on fishermen, allegedly by Sri Lankan naval personnel.

"Even in this matter (model schools issue), the central government will remain silent", she charged.

Noting that such model schools cannot be opened ahead of next academic year, she said "after the elections in May, there will be a change of rule in Centre and a solution will be found out (on this issue)".

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Protesters hurl shoes as Taiwan's ruling party meets

TAICHUNG, Taiwan: Hundreds of angry protesters threw shoes at riot police on Sunday as Taiwan's ruling Kuomintang party held a congress to call for unity as public discontent grows with the government.

The demonstrators — some of them jobless after factory shutdowns and others independence activists and supporters of the opposition Democratic Progressive Party — vented their anger at President Ma Ying-jeou, who is also the Kuomintang chairman.

"Ma Ying-jeou, step down!" the crowd chanted while hurling shoes at riot police behind barricades.

A man was detained by police after climbing over barbed wire outside a gymnasium in the central city of Taichung, where the Kuomintang was meeting.

Pressure on Ma's administration has mounted after workers lost their jobs following the mass shifting of assembly lines from the island to the Chinese mainland to capitalise on cheap manpower and land prices there.

Inside the gymnasium, Ma urged party representatives to unify under the party's banner.

Only with the Kuomintang's continued rule could Taiwan "walk on the right path and thus give the people the most benefits", Ma said.

"But your support and unity is needed if we are to reach the goals." A row sparked by the expulsion from the Kuomintang of parliamentary speaker Wang Jin-pyng — the second most powerful politician in the party — had sparked fears the party would split.

Ma had accused Wang of influence-peddling and said he was unfit to head the legislature, but was overruled by a court ruling which allowed him to keep his post.

The party decided not to appeal the ruling, in the interests of unity. Wang was present at Sunday's congress.

Ma swept to victory in presidential polls in 2008 on a platform of strengthening trade and tourism links with former rival China. He was re-elected for a second and final four-year term in January 2012.

However, his approval ratings took a severe hit later that year after a bribery scandal implicating top cabinet official Lin Yi-shih, one of his key confidants.

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Five people injured in explosion at election rally in eastern Nepal

KATHMANDU: Five people have been injured in a bomb explosion at an election campaign rally organized by the CPN-UML in eastern Nepal, police said on Sunday.

Victims of Saturday's blast at Khokling Village of Taplejung district include a 12-year-old boy and three women. They are currently being treated at Taplejung district hospital.

No one has claimed responsibility for the explosion just 10 days ahead the historic constituent assembly polls.

Tara Limbu of the Communist Party of Nepal- Unified Marxist-Leninist (CPN-UML) said they have identified two suspects who may be responsible for the explosion.

One of them was seen throwing the bomb targeting the stage and then fled the scene, Limbu said.

The Nepal Police, Armed Police Force and Nepal army are carrying out a manhunt to nab the suspects.

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Dutch king and queen pelted with tomatoes in Moscow

MOSCOW: A Russian opposition group says its activists have thrown tomatoes at Dutch King Willem-Alexander and his wife, Queen Maxima, as they arrived for a concert in Moscow.

Eduard Limonov, the leader of the banned National Bolshevik party, said two of its activists hurled tomatoes at the royals on Saturday. Russia's state security agency said they missed their target.

Limonov said on Sunday that the action was intended to attract public attention to what he called the Netherlands' failure to properly investigate the death of the group's member, Alexander Dolmatov, who committed suicide in January at a Dutch deportation center.

The royal visit was aimed to celebrate the two nations' historical ties, but it came amid tensions caused by Russia's seizure of a Dutch-flagged Greenpeace ship and other disputes.

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