Cold wave aggravates as mercury stays below normal in Himachal

SHIMLA: The intense cold condition continued without any respite in Himachal Pradesh as mercury stayed below normal and several towns in the lower hills shivered under piercing cold wave.

The key tourist resort of Manali recorded a low of minus 1 degree celsius while mercury hovered around freezing point at Bhuntar which recorded minimum temperature at minus 0.2 degree, followed by Chamba and Sundernagar 1.1 degree.

Solan experienced the coldest night of the season with minimum temperature at 1.4 degree, two degree below normal while Una and Nahan recorded minimum temperatures at 2.8 degree and 4.9 degree.

Palampur, Dharamsala and Shimla recorded low of 5.7 degree, 6.8 degree and 9.7 degrees, respectively.

The mercury stayed at minus 6.6 degree and minus 0.6 degree at Keylong and Kalpa in tribal district of Lahaul and Spiti and Kinnaur while high altitude tribal area and mountain passes groaned under biting cold wave conditions with night temperatures ranging between minus 10 and minus 15 degree C.

All natural sources of water like lakes, springs, rivulets, tributaries and 70-km stretch of Chandrabhaga river were frozen for past three weeks, causing sharp fall in discharge of water in snow-fed Sutlej, Beas and Ravi Rivers.

Consequently, the hydropower generation has been reduced by 25 per cent of the installed capacity in all the projects in the state.

The maximum day temperatures also dropped by a few notches as sky remained partially overcast and strong velocity wind swept the region.

Sundernagar was hottest in the region with maximum temperature at 22.8 degree while Kangra, Solan and Una recorded a high of 21.6 degree, followed by Bhuntar 20.6 degree, Shimla 20.4 degree, Dharamsala 17.4 degree, Nahan 17.1 degree and Kalpa 13.8 degree celsius.

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IAF seeking to obtain initial operational clearance for Tejas: Browne

HYDERABAD: With the phasing out of MiG-21 Type 77 aircraft from its fleet, the Indian Air Force is now seeking to obtain initial operational clearance (IOC) for light combat aircraft 'Tejas', which is developed by HAL, Air chief marshal NAK Browne said on Saturday.

Simultaneously, the IAF is also getting ready to start the project for LCA Mark-2 aircraft, in collaboration with HAL and DRDO.

"Tejas will achieve the IOC soon. They will take one more year thereafter for induction. The 48 LCAs being produced by HAL will be coming to the IAF. There will be two squadrons for this," Browne said.

Talking to reporters on the sidelines of the Combined Graduation Parade at the Air Force Academy, Dundigal, near here, the IAF chief pointed out that the LCA Mark-2 would be the real LCA.

"The Mark-2 will have a more powerful engine, radar system, air-to-air refuelling capability and advanced weapons. By the time induction of LCA Mark-1 is over, test flights of Mark-2 will also begin. The IAF is very much involved with this project along with HAL and DRDO," Browne said.

After reviewing the combined graduation parade of 202 commissioned officers, the IAF chief noted that all cadets completed the basic course for Pilatus PC-7, the basic trainer aircraft inducted into IAF in May this year.

"For the first time we have finished the basic course for Pilatus PC-7 and 55 hours of flying training was given to all cadets. During the course, the first lady cadet got the first in flying on Pilatus, which is very creditable. The boys and girls are happy with the aircraft and the training," he said.

The IAF chief informed that from the next training course beginning in January, a simulator would also be available for PC-7.

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AAP's rise has challenged established institutions: Amartya Sen

NEW DELHI: Aam Admi Party's rise is an "important departure" in politics which has challenged the established institutions, eminent economist Amartya Sen said on Saturday.

The Nobel laureate also said that Anna Hazare's decision to stay away from the "crusade" was not wise.

"Anna Hazare did not join the crusade which I think was not a very wise thing to do in the sense that you stand outside the legal system," Sen said during a debate on NDTV.

Sen noted that AAP had raised basic issues to mobilise people.

He also criticised Supreme Court's verdict restoring the ban on gay sex in India and said that criminalisation of homosexuality is a violation of the protection of minority rights.

"India while its is a democracy, some people are privileged and some people are not... when it comes to the rights of minorities, whether it is religious minority or in terms of lifestyle like gay for example, criminalisation of that would be a violation of protection rights of minorities," Sen said.

Infosys mentor NR Narayana Murthy also praised Kejriwal and his party and said what he has brought to the table is that if one has a few powerful messages, he can win elections with very little money.

"What Kejriwal has brought to the table is that if one has a few powerful messages, you can win elections with very little money. You can get a party ready fairly quickly to have a stunning debut. He has also given hope and confidence to a lot of people across various cities of the country to say we too can participate in the political process."

Former Union minister Arun Shourie described AAP's rise as a "stunning announcement" for political parties that the people are fed up.

"It is a stunning announcement for political parties that the people are fed up... everybody will be forced to field better candidates. But his economic policies are so regressive that it will certainly damage economic growth in many ways and that will lead to social tensions," he said.

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C N Karunakaran, eminent artist, passes away

KOCHI: Internationally renowned Indian artist and former chairman of Lalitkala Akademi C N Karunakaran passed away at a hospital here following cardiac arrest, family sources said.

He was 72 and is survived by his wife, son and daughter. Born in Brahmakulam near the temple town of Guruvayur in 1940, he secured diplomas in design and painting from the Government school of Arts and Crafts, Chennai.

After his studies, he worked as designer with Madras Design Demonstration centre, a government unit for Research and improvement of handicrafts and functioned as Art Director for many Tamil films in Chennai before returning to Kerala during the seventies.

He worked as Art Instructor at Kalapeetam here and started 'ChitraKoodam', the first private Art Gallery in Kerala in 1973.

Karunakaran held several solo exhibitions in galleries across the country and worked as Art director for various Malayalam films, including 'Aswathamavu', 'Ore Thooval Pakshikal'.

His illustrations have appeared in various publications in Malayalam.

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Karmapa begins prayer for world peace at Bodh Gaya

PATNA: The 17th Karmapa, spiritual head of the Kagyu sect of Tibetan Buddhists, on Saturday began the Kagyu-Moenlam prayer amid tight security at Bodh Gaya, considered the birthplace of Buddhism, in Bihar, police said.

Kagyu Monlam ("moen" in Tibetan means aspiration, and "lam" means path) is a prayer for peace in the world. The Karmapa had earlier explained that the Kagyu Moenlam prayer is an avenue through which, in times of dire need, love and compassion can be made to spread like a great ripple outwards from Bodh Gaya.

Hundreds of Buddhists, including monks and lamas from different countries, are attending the Kagyu Moenlam prayer led by Karmapa Ugyen Trinley Dorje.

"The Karmapa started prayers seeking world peace," a police official said.

Gaya senior superintendent of police Nishant Kumar Tiwari said special security arrangements have been made for the Karmapa and for Buddhists attending the prayer in view of the perception of a terrorist threat.

The Karmapa will stay in Bodh Gaya till the completion of prayers next week.

Last week, intelligence agencies alerted Bihar Police of a possible threat to Buddhist tourists likely to visit Bodh Gaya this winter.

The serial bomb blasts at the Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya July 7 this year shocked the state government, local residents and tourists.

Ten bombs exploded at or in the vicinity of the temple and two Buddhist monks were injured. Three live bombs were recovered and defused that day.

After the serial blasts, the security at the temple was beefed up.

The Mahabodhi Temple - a Unesco World Heritage Site - in Bodh Gaya, about 110 km from the state capital, is where the Buddha, born in neighbouring Nepal, attained enlightenment around 2,550 years ago.

The Karmapa has been staying in India as a guest since the year 2000 when he fled the Tsurfu Monastery in Tibet by giving the slip to Chinese authorities. After his escape, he took shelter with the spiritual head of Tibetan Buddhists, the Dalai Lama, at Dharamsala in Himachal Pradesh.

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Amend Section 377 immediately, MP minister charged with sodomy says

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh's former finance minister Raghavji, who was arrested after being accused of sodomy by his domestic help, said on Thursday that there is an immediate need to decriminalize homosexuality.

Raghavji, who was sacked from BJP after being charged under Section 377, told TOI that "there's an urgent need to amendment the Act."

"Section 377 is academically illogical and should be amended. I am not suggesting an amendment pertaining to my case in court, but in general I feel this is a 150-year-old act of the British era which should be revised," Raghavji told TOI.

Retired Supreme Court Justice and MP Lokayukta PP Naolekar said, "Yes it is true there is no constitutional infirmity in this particular section of IPC, but appropriate changes can only be made by Parliament."

A two-bench of Justice Naolekar and Y K Sabharwal had sent Naz Foundation's petition back to Delhi high court with directives to consider the case on merit in 2006, during his tenure in the Supreme Court.

"As far as what I have read in newspapers, I do agree with the apex court's order. Unless I read it in detail I cannot comment further," he told TOI.

Senior lawyers in MP have different opinions on the recent SC order.

"Supreme Court cannot legislate. It's on Parliament to decide," says Surendra Singh, senior criminal lawyer based at Jabalpur.

Similarly, Ragvendra Kumar, human rights lawyer based at Jabalpur said, "while this may be a legally correct judgment, Supreme Court has not taken into account violations of human rights of gays."

Justice A K Saxena, acting chairman of Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) refused to comment on the SC order.

Another senior criminal lawyer Mrigendra Singh Baghel says, "This is perfect decision, but Section 377 does not define the offence in totality. So there is a need for amendment. Also there should be a separate clause on consensual and non-consensual sex."

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President give Andhra assembly time till Jan 25 to give views on Telangana bill

NEW DELHI: President Pranab Mukherjee has given the Andhra Pradesh state legislature time until January 23 to give its views and suggestions on the draft Andhra Pradesh (Reorganisation) Bill, according to sources in the Union home ministry.

The draft Bill was cleared by the Union Cabinet on December 5 and sent to the President a day later. The President has now sent back the Bill to the home ministry, directing that the comments of Andhra Pradesh legislature be secured over the next six weeks.

This has ensured that the Bill can be taken up by Parliament only in its next session, when the vote-on-account will be passed. In the normal course, Parliament is would convene sometime in February to pass the vote-on-account.

Incidentally, in case Andhra Pradesh legislature clears the draft Bill with some suggestions, the Union home ministry will have to decide on accepting or rejecting them. This may take a few days. However, were the Bill to be rejected altogether, the Centre, not being Constitutionally bound by the state legislature's opinion, can move forward and get the draft Bill approved by the Cabinet without any changes. This will pave the way for the Bill to be introduced in Parliament.

Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who has earlier aired his reservations to the bifurcation of the state, had on Wednesday indicated that he might reconvene a session of the state assembly in January, when the draft Telangana Bill could be taken up.

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Amend Section 377 immediately: MP minister charged with sodomy

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh's former finance minister Raghavji, who was arrested after being accused of sodomy by his domestic help, said on Thursday that there is an immediate need to decriminalize homosexuality.

Raghavji, who was sacked from BJP after being charged under Section 377, told TOI that "there's an urgent need to amendment the Act."

"Section 377 is academically illogical and should be amended. I am not suggesting an amendment pertaining to my case in court, but in general I feel this is a 150-year-old act of the British era which should be revised," Raghavji told TOI.

Retired Supreme Court Justice and MP Lokayukta PP Naolekar said, "Yes it is true there is no constitutional infirmity in this particular section of IPC, but appropriate changes can only be made by Parliament."

A two-bench of Justice Naolekar and Y K Sabharwal had sent Naz Foundation's petition back to Delhi high court with directives to consider the case on merit in 2006, during his tenure in the Supreme Court.

"As far as what I have read in newspapers, I do agree with the apex court's order. Unless I read it in detail I cannot comment further," he told TOI.

Senior lawyers in MP have different opinions on the recent SC order.

"Supreme Court cannot legislate. It's on Parliament to decide," says Surendra Singh, senior criminal lawyer based at Jabalpur.

Similarly, Ragvendra Kumar, human rights lawyer based at Jabalpur said, "while this may be a legally correct judgment, Supreme Court has not taken into account violations of human rights of gays."

Justice A K Saxena, acting chairman of Madhya Pradesh Human Rights Commission (MPHRC) refused to comment on the SC order.

Another senior criminal lawyer Mrigendra Singh Baghel says, "This is perfect decision, but Section 377 does not define the offence in totality. So there is a need for amendment. Also there should be a separate clause on consensual and non-consensual sex."

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BJP will welcome Digvijaya Singh if he was ousted by Congress: Kailash Vijaywargiya

INDORE: Humiliating defeat of Congress party in just concluded assembly election in Madhya Pradesh has earned former chief minister of state and Congress general secretary Digvijaya Singh many critics and opponent in his own party, but on Thursday Singh gets support from unexpected quarter.

"Digivijaya Singh is a very good organizational man and Congress was defeated in the state so badly only because he was sidelined in the assembly election process by his party," said heavyweight BJP leader and minister in previous government Kailash Vijaywargiya.

Interestingly, leader of Congress party in state are holding Digvijaya Singh responsible for the defeat of the party and some of the leaders have even demanded for his ouster from the party.

"If Digvijaya Singh was ousted from Congress then we will ask him to join BJP. We will make better use of his skills," said Vijaywargiya adding that Congress party do not make better use of Singh in the election and that lead to their bad performance.

Taking a dig at union minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was made chief of election campaign committee of Congress in MP, Vijaywargiya said he was give responsibility bigger than his capability.

"Scindia was not capable enough to lead the Congress party in state and result of assembly election is proving it," said Vijaywargiya.

On role of Modi factor in impressive win of BJP in the assembly election, Vijaywargiya said chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Narendra Modi together is responsible for historic win of party in the just concluded assembly election. "Shivraj Singh Chouhan is 'Robin hood' for rural population, women and farmers, while Narendra Modi is 'Robin hood' for urban population and youth," said Vijaywargiya.

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Mysore royal family upset over alleged rift in family

MYSORE: Discussions in media on the heir apparent and litigations surrounding the properties of Mysore royal family seems to have left perturbed the family members including Promoda Devi Wadiyar, wife of Srikanta Datta Narashiamraj Wadiyar, who passed away on Tuesday at Bangalore.

Talking to TOI, royal family sources said the media is going out of way to discuss the issues related to royal family and drawing their own conclusions on the issues related to royal family and the litigations surrounding the palace.

A source said the Pramoda Devi is peeved and pained over the speculative reports in section of press over the issue of Mysore palace acquisition act and alleged rift in the family.

"Princess who is already in deep distress over the loss of Wadiyar is upset over the reports in a section of press that there is a rift in the family members of Wadiyar and Wadiyar and his sisters are involved in a tangle on sharing the property" the source claimed pointing out that absolutely there is no rift in the family or among the sisters and Wadiyar .

Source said Wadiyar loved and was affectionate towards all his sisters and family members and there is not even an iota of truth in the reports of a rift between Wadiyar and his sisters over the properties or anything else. " All the sisters, Wadiyar and Pramoda Devi share cordial relationship"source added.

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India's rating may come under pressure if polls end in hung Parliament: S&P

The author has posted comments on this articleReuters | Dec 11, 2013, 02.58PM IST

MUMBAI: India's sovereign rating may come under pressure if general elections due by May next year end up with a hung Parliament or with a government unable to push through reforms, Standard & Poor's said on Wednesday.

"If it is a hung Parliament or if the government is unable to effect reforms, definitely by implication the rating will come under pressure," said Terry Chan, credit analyst at Standard & Poor's during a teleconference with reporters.

S&P has a "negative" outlook on India's sovereign ratings, meaning any downgrade from its current "BBB-minus" would place the country's debt in so-called "junk."

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Justice Buch takes charge as Gujarat Lokayukta

AHMEDABAD: After a decade, Gujarat finally got Lokayukta as Justice (retd) D P Buch takes oath at a ceremony organized in Raj Bhavan banquet hall in Gandhinagar on Wednesday.

The oath was administered by governor Kamla in the presence of chief minister Narendra Modi. While Leader of Opposition (LOP) remained absent as the state Government invited him just a day before and he was in New Delhi for pre-scheduled meetings. However he regretted for remaining absent.

After the oath ceremony Justice Buch took over charge at the Lokayukta office. He said, "I will tries to do my best in the four corners and (Gujarat Lokayukta Act)frame of the Law. I have yet to study the act thoroughly."

When asked about whether he feels extra pressure after huge political controversy in the appointment of the Lokayukta, he said, "I have to act as per the law and cannot comment about the earlier issues of which I was not part of.''

When asked about whether he will re-investigate the alleged corruption cases investigated by the Justice M.B.Shah Commission, he said, "I have to act upon the complaints received in my office in the legal frame of the Lokayukta act. I don't know about the pending complaints in the office or new complaints. If it qualifies for investigation under the act and has sufficient evidences or evidences can be collected than I will act upon accordingly.''

When asked about the comments of Justice R.A.Mehta who declined to take charge as the Lokayukta as the "weak Act'', Justice Buch said, "there can be different of opinions. Some may consider it as the weak act or strong. Whether to amend any act or not is the purview of the policy making and of the government. We are supposed to work as per the law only.''

Buch was appointed as the Lokayukta a few days back by the governor after the state cabinet and leader of opposition in the state assembly proposed his name.

The Gujarat government had fought an unsuccessful two-year-long legal battle against the appointment of Justice (retd) R A Mehta by the governor to the post. But Mehta declined to take charge forcing the government to start the process of appointment afresh.

Justice Buch (71) was born at Veraval in Junagadh district. He obtained a BSc degree in 1963 from Bahauddin College in Junagadh and a law degree in 1965, from AMP Law College in Rajkot. He enrolled as an advocate in April 1966, joined the bar at Junagadh and practiced in civil, criminal, service and revenue law up to 1970 when he joined the Gujarat State Judicial Service as civil judge and judicial magistrate (first class).

He was promoted as assistant judge in 1984, and then as a district judge in 1988, as he functioned at Rajkot, Bharuch and Vadodara. He served as a special officer with the Gujarat high court and also as joint secretary with the legal department for three years each. Later, he was appointed as secretary of the legal department.

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Kejriwal, Butalia, Krishnan among '100 global thinkers of 2013'

NEW YORK: Founder of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Arvind Kejriwal is among Foreign Policy magazine's leading 'global thinkers of 2013', a list of 100 people who have made "measurable difference" and are "pushing the boundaries of the possible".

Activists Urvashi Butalia and Kavita Krishnan have also made it to the list that has been topped by US intelligence whistleblower Edward Snowden.

Kejriwal, 45, who figures on the 32nd spot, is a global thinker because he has lead a campaign to clean up India's capital and the Indian "elite" have good reason to be worried about him, the magazine said.

Kejriwal "is out to ignite a revolution... (he) is leading an influential campaign to rid New Delhi of corruption and refocus government attention on the needs of citizens."

"Known for his no-nonsense oratory, he has also staged protests and hunger strikes, and he has levelled corruption charges against some political heavyweights, including the son-in-law of Sonia Gandhi, head of India's ruling Congress party," the magazine said.

Butalia and Krishnan, on the 77th spot, "aren't just thoughtful activists: They are formidable, front-line opponents in the battle against India's scourge of sexual violence," the magazine said.

Other Indians on the list are: Anand Grover, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to Health, Rohit Wanchoo, co-founder of non-profit organisation GiveDirectly, Sanjay Basu - epidemiologist and physician at Stanford University and Naval Ravikant - co-founder of Angellist, online platform that connects investors with start-ups seeking funding.

The list also includes US secretary of state John Kerry, Russian President and foreign minister Vladimir Putin and Sergei Lavrov, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, Pope Francis, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and UN Human Rights high commissioner Navi Pillay.

The magazine named Butalia and Krishnan in its global thinkers list for "exposing the roots of India's rampant sexual violence".

It said the two are among a group of women's rights activists who have been calling for outrage over the brutal gangrape and death of a 23-year-old girl in a moving Delhi bus to be channelled into "progressive discussions of the paternalism, sexism, and social inequality that undergird the country's rape crisis".

Rajendra Pachauri-led Nobel Peace Prize winning Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) also makes it to the list "for showing that humanity is on the brink of catastrophe".

"The IPCC shown that climate change is already too far along for us to stop it. But whether the worst of the panel's predictions come to pass is, at least in part, still up to us", the magazine said.

Pakistani girls' education activist Malala Yousafzai who survived after being shot in the head by the Taliban is on the 71st spot.

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Penal provision for homosexuality reflection of 'medieval mindset: ASG Indira Jaising

NEW DELHI: A "historical opportunity" has been lost to expand constitutional values, additional solicitor general (ASG) Indira Jaising said on Wednesday reacting to the Supreme Court verdict holding gay sex as a punishable offence.

Lending her support to gay rights activists, the ASG said the penal provision for homosexuality is a reflection of "medieval mindset" and raised question as to why the bench put the ball in the court of legislature to decide on the issue when so many other matters and policies are being reviewed by the apex court.

"Historical opportunity to expand constitutional values has been lost," Jaising said, adding "It is surprising that the court, which does judicial review on many issues, has put the ball in the court of Parliament to decide on homosexuality."

During the arguments in the case before the apex court, the Centre had supported decriminalisation of gay sex, saying the anti-gay law in the country had resulted from British colonialism and the Indian society was much more tolerant towards homosexuality.

Soon after the verdict was pronounced in a jam-packed court room, there was a gloom and dejection among scores of gay rights activists who said they will seek review of the order after going through the verdict.

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Prafulla Chandra, noted agriculturist and technologist, passes away

SHIMOGA: Well-known agriculturist and technologist Devangi Prafulla Chandra passed away at a private hospital here on Wednesday due to heart attack, family sources said.

80-year-old Prafulla Chandra was popularly known as "Krishi Rushi" for his work in the areas of agriculture, energy conservation and rural development.

Prafulla Chandra, who is recipient of honorary doctorates from the University of Agricultural Sciences, Dharwar and Kuvempu University, Shimoga for his work towards technology transfer to rural development, is the brother-in-law of renowned Kannada poet and literary personality, the late Kuvempu.

He had bagged several coveted prizes and honours from number of institutions in the country and abroad like Krushi Samrat, state awards, world food day medal from the United Nations, American farmer's award and 8 gold medals from government of India for excellence in crop production.

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In 20 years, 124 Army men held guilty of rights violations in Jammu & Kashmir

JAMMU: As many as 124 Army personnel, including 41 officers, have been found guilty of human rights violations and awarded exemplary punishments in the past 20 years in Jammu & Kashmir.

"As many as 124 personnel, including 41 officers, found guilty of these violations were expeditiously tried by Army courts and awarded exemplary punishments ranging from dismissal from service without any service benefits to imprisonment (during last over 20 years)," PRO, ministry of defence, Northern Command, Lt Col Rajesh Kalia said on Monday.

During the past 20 years, 1,524 allegations of human rights violations against Army personnel serving in Northern Command have been received, Lt Col Kalia said.

"Each and every allegation was enquired into by an independent and autonomous body and 42 of these allegations were found to be true," he said.

In his message on the eve of Human Rights Day on Monday, Lt Gen Sanjiv Chachra, GOC in C, Northern Command directed all troops in Jammu & Kashmir to ensure Zero Human Rights violations during conduct of counterterrorist operations.

The Indian Army has one of the finest record for ensuring that human rights of its citizens are protected and the importance given to human rights is evident from the fact that a human rights branch at the Army headquarters has been functioning since March 1993 and such branches exist in formations up to Brigade and Sector level.

"There are a few ongoing cases which are being closely monitored, ensuring Rule of Law and proceedings as enunciated by the Army Act," Lt Col Kalia said.

"Anyone found guilty shall face the law. This amply demonstrates that all cases of alleged human rights violations are thoroughly investigated and personnel found guilty are promptly punished," the defence PRO said.

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Sysco to buy US Foods for $8.2 billion including debt

The author has posted comments on this articleReuters | Dec 9, 2013, 07.47PM IST

HOUSTON: Sysco Corp said it would buy rival US Foods Inc for about $3.5 billion and assume about $4.7 billion in debt to cement its position as the biggest US food distributor, driving up Sysco's shares 30 percent before the bell.

Shareholders of US Foods, owned by affiliates of private equity firms Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and KKR & Co, will own about 13 percent of Sysco after the closing of the deal, which will create a company with revenue of $65 billion.

"Combining and maximizing the significant strengths of two outstanding companies is certain to be of tremendous advantage in supporting our customers," US Foods chief executive John Lederer said in a statement on Monday.

Sysco and US Foods distribute foods to restaurants, hotels, hospitals, schools and other institutions.

Clayton, Dubilier & Rice and KKR acquired the former US Foodservice from Dutch grocer Ahold for $7.1 billion in 2007.

Sysco said the deal is expected to add to earnings immediately after closing, expected in the third quarter of 2014.

Goldman Sachs & Co is financial adviser to Sysco, while Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Arnall, Golden & Gregory LLP are legal advisers. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP are legal advisers to US Foods.

Sysco shares were trading at $44.50 before the bell after closing on Friday at $34.31 on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Assembly elections: PM congratulates Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Raman Singh

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh congratulated BJP leaders Vasundhara Raje, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Raman Singh on Monday, for the victory in assembly elections in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Singh called up Raje, who is set to become chief minister of Rajasthan, and wished her well, PMO sources said.

Raje led BJP to an emphatic victory in the assembly elections, ousting Congress from power.

The Prime Minister also called up Chouhan and Raman Singh to wish them well, the sources said.

Chouhan, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh, spearheaded BJP in retaining power in the state for the third consecutive time with an increased tally in the assembly.

Raman Singh, chief minister of Chhattisgarh, also led his party in retaining power.

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Justice Ganguly case: PIL filed seeking direction to Bengal govt on state's rights panel

KOLKATA: A PIL was filed on Monday before the Calcutta high court seeking direction to the West Bengal government to take necessary steps to ensure that people did not lose faith in the West Bengal human rights commission in the wake of the Supreme Court's indictment of its chairman Justice Ashok Kumar Ganguly.

The petitioner prayed before the court that it direct the state government to "take all necessary steps to ensure that the people of West Bengal do not lose faith on the WBHRC as a neutral, impartial and balanced institution," in view of former Supreme Court judge Justice Ganguly's indictment.

A committee of three judges of the apex court had indicted Justice Ganguly for "unwelcome behaviour" and "conduct of sexual nature" towards a woman law intern who made a complaint alleging of sexual harassment.

The petitioner Ramaprasad Sarkar, an advocate, also prayed that direction be passed on the state to bring before this court all documents and records pertaining to the matter and after perusing the same, the court may pass necessary orders.

Sarkar said that the matter is likely to come up before a division bench comprising Chief Justice Arun Mishra and Justice Joymalyo Bagchi on Thursday.

Justice Ganguly, who retired from the apex court more than a year ago, was accused by the law intern of sexually harassing her in a hotel room in Delhi last year.

He had strongly denied the charge. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who had chosen Ganguly as chairman of the WBHRC after taking over the reins of the state in 2011, has written two letters on consecutive days last week to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking removal of Justice Ganguly as the head of the commission.

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Dalai Lama not to attend Nelson Mandela's funeral ceremony

DHARAMSHALA: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama will not attend the funeral ceremony of anti-apartheid icon Nelson Mandela in South Africa where he has been denied visa.

The Dalai Lama, who is currently away for a winter sojourn, has no plans to attend the ceremony and he has also not applied for visa clearance, joint secretary at the Lama's office, Tenzin Taklha confirmed on Monday.

The Tibetan leader was denied visa to travel to South Africa in 2009. The South African government admitted the decision was taken to avoid undermining relations with China, which reacts angrily to any country hosting the Dalai Lama.

The secretary said Dalai Lama had written to the family of Mandela expressing deep sadness.

The Tibetan leader said he will personally miss the South African leader, who he had hoped to meet again and for whom he had great admiration and respect.

Reports said over 100 world leaders would be joining the 80,000 people expected to cram into the FNB stadium in Soweto on Tuesday for a sweeping, emotional tribute to their inspirational first black president.

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India, Lanka enjoy unbreakable bonds, Indian envoy says

COLOMBO: India and Sri Lanka are linked by an unbreakable historical bond as they share a common religion in Buddhism, the Indian high commissioner here said on Sunday.

Y K Sinha was addressing a gathering at the opening of the Indian Gallery at the Temple of Tooth, the foremost place of Buddhist religious worship in the central town of Kandy on Sunday.

Sinha's comments on Indo-Lanka friendship come amidst prevailing heartburn in Sri Lanka over the decision by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to stay away from the CHOGM summit held here last month.

"Perhaps the greatest son of the Indian subcontinent and India, Lord Buddha binds our two countries together - our religious ties, our ethnic ties, our linguistic ties are unbreakable, perhaps unmatched in any other part of the world," Sinha said.

Sinha said the man who brought Buddhism to Sri Lanka, Arahat Mahinda were born in Patna in Bihar.

India-Sri Lanka ties have been further cemented by Arahat Mahinda's Janmabhoomi (land of birth) and Karmabhoomi (land of work) which was Sri Lanka, he said.

The majority Sinhalese are unhappy that Singh had stayed away from coming to Colombo owing to domestic political compulsions in Tamil Nadu with Sri Lanka under international pressure over its human rights record during the last phase of the brutal three-decade civil war in 2009 in the island's Tamil-dominated north.

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Good governance matters, India Inc on assembly poll results

NEW DELHI: Results of four state elections are giving a strong message that government and political parties need to ensure good governance and provide corruption free rule, industry leaders said on Sunday.

"Congress has been shown the door for poor political leadership and unconvincing approach to corruption," said businesswoman Kiran Mazumdar Shaw in a stern message as the poll results pouring in showed rout-like situation for the party in at least three states.

Industry chamber Assocham said: "Election results in the assembly elections have thrown a clear message: It is the quality of governance which matters at the end of the day".

Impressed with Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) "amazing" debut, Shaw said, "people want corruption free politics based on transparency and responsibility".

She tweeted that AAP and Arvind Kejriwal and have walked the talk on clean politics and tasted success as a result.

According to Assocham, all credit goes to Indian voters who have solely voted for governance brushing aside the traditional issues of caste and religion.

Political party that delivers on governance would actually remain relevant, it noted.

"Certainly, the voter may not understand the complexities of economics, but he/she reacts rather strongly if his/her purchasing power is curtailed by inflation," Assocham secretary general D S Rawat said.

PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry said that inflation has definitely played on voters mind, as there has been price rise in vegetables and essential commodities, leading to a paradigm shift in voters mindsets.

"As an industry body, we urge the winning parties to take steps for generating employment by boosting industrial growth. This can be done by giving tax holidays and financial reforms" the association's executive director Saurabh Sanyal told PTI.

Meera Sanyal, banker and supporter of AAP, said the election has proved that there is no TINA (There is No Alternative) factor. So, AAP has proved that there is an alternative, she added.

Going by the election results so far, in Delhi, AAP and BJP are leading in most of the seats.

While BJP is heading for huge victories in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, it is a close race in Chattisgarh between BJP and Congress.

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Delhi election results 2013: AAP's rise a matter of concern for both BJP, Cong: Rudy

NEW DELHI: The BJP on Sunday said the rise of Aam Aadmi Party in Delhi is a matter of concern for it as much as for Congress and maintained it could have won clear majority had it not been a three-cornered fight.

BJP general secretary Rajiv Pratap Rudy said his party could have done even better if it had taken certain timely steps.

"In Delhi, space has been given to a local outfit - Aam Aadmi Party. There could be other reasons. BJP failed to position a chief ministerial candidate at the right time. The national channels also projected that national parties are unable to deliver. But BJP should be able to form government," he said.

Rudy conceded that rise of AAP is a matter of concern for both BJP and Congress.

"Regional manifesto is setting the national agenda. This is what happened in Delhi. A great churning is taking place. AAP votes should actually have come to BJP. Then it would have been a landslide victory for BJP," he said.

Deputy leader of BJP in Rajya Sabha Ravi Shankar Prasad said AAP has put up good performance in Delhi but had it not been in the fray his party would have done better. He was, however, confident of a clear majority for BJP in Delhi.

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Mizoram assembly election verdict to come on Monday

AIZAWL: The fate of the Congress government in Mizoram will be known when votes polled for the assembly elections held on Nov 25 are counted on Monday, officials said here on Sunday.

Over 81 per cent of the total of 690,860 voters exercised their franchise across the state to elect a new 40-member assembly and government.

"The counting of ballots would be done across eight districts from 8am on Monday. Postal ballots would be counted first, followed by the votes recorded in EVMs (electronic voting machines)," an official of the state election department told reporters.

The results would decide the fate of 142 candidates, including six women.

Chief minister Lal Thanhawla, also the state Congress chief, is contesting from two constituencies - Serchhip, his home turf, and neighbouring Hrangturzo - while opposition Mizo National Front (MNF) chief Zoramthanga is trying his electoral fortunes from Tuipui East, bordering Myanmar.

The main poll battle in the mountainous state is between the ruling Congress and opposition coalition Mizoram Democratic Alliance, comprising the MNF, Mizoram People's Conference (MPC) and Maraland Democratic Front (MDF), all regional and local parties.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, which has little base in the state, Zoram Nationalist Party (ZNP) and the Nationalist Congress Party also contested, fielding candidates on many seats.

Of the 40 assembly seats, 39 are reserved for tribals and one is for general category.

During the last assembly elections held in December 2008, the Congress won 32 seats, the MNF three and the MDF one. The MPC and ZNP got two seats each.

The MNF, which ruled the state for 10 years till 2008, is the principal opposition party.

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At least eight explosions bombings kill 30 in and around Iraqi capital Baghdad

BAGHDAD: At least eight explosions tore through predominantly Shia Muslim areas in and around Baghdad on Sunday, hitting crowded market places, commercial districts and even a car repair shop in a string of bombings that killed at least 30 people, officials said.

The attacks are part of a wave of violence that has washed across Iraq since a deadly security crackdown on a Sunni protest camp in April.

Since then, the bloodshed in the country has reached heights unseen since the country teetered on the brink of civil war in 2006 and 2007.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility for today's attacks, but insurgent groups frequently target civilians in markets, cafes and commercial streets in Shia areas in an attempt to undermine confidence in the Shia-led government and stir up Iraq's already simmering sectarian tensions.

The deadliest attack took place in the mostly Shia neighborhood of Baiyaa, where a car bomb exploded inside a mechanic's shop, killing seven people and wounding 14 others, police said.

Another car bomb in a commercial street in downtown Baghdad killed four more people, while in the eastern Ghadeer district another car bomb near a government tax office killed six people and wounded 22, authorities said.

In the Husseiniyah neighborhood, a car bombing near a restaurant killed three people and wounded 13. Another car bomb near a small market in Baghdad's Shia slum of Sadr City killed two, while a blast in a crowded marketplace in the primarily Shia neighborhood of Amil killed five more.

One bombing struck the Sunni neighborhood of Radhwaniya, hitting a row of shops and killing two people and wounding eight, police said.

Also, an off-duty army officer was killed when a sticky bomb attached to his car exploded as he was driving near his house in Madain town, just south of Baghdad, police said.

Saad Maan Ibrahim, an Interior Ministry spokesman said today's attacks bear the hallmark of al-Qaida's Iraqi branch.

"Al-Qaida terrorists have been attacking soft targets because they are not able to confront our security forces," Ibrahim said. "They want to send a message that they are still strong."

Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures for all attacks. All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to speak to media.

At least 120 people have died in attacks in Iraq so far this month, according to an Associated Press count.

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