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Mamata urges Maoists to give up violence, sit for talks

2010-08-09T20:12:00.001-07:00

Mamata urges Maoists to give up violence, sit for talks

Lalgarh (West Bengal), Aug 9: Railway minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged the Maoists to eschew violence and come for talks, and appealed to social activists and thinkers like Swami Agnivesh, Medha Patkar and Mahashweta Devi to broker the discussions.

Addressing a huge rally in this Maoist-hit area of West Midnapore district, Banerjee also promised to shower development goodies like renovating schools, setting up hospitals, colleges and a railway factory for giving employment to the local people.

“I request everyone with folded hands, please eschew violence, stop killings. I am telling all those, including the Maoists who are indulging in violence, to help in restoring peace. Medhaji (Medha Patkar), Swami (Agnivesh) are here. They should talk to the Maoists and ensure restoration of peace”.

Banerjee said she was not in favour of establishing peace by using rifles, condemning the manner in which Maoist spokesman Cherukiri Rajkumar alias Azad was ‘killed’ last month.

“What happened is not right. Azad had reposed faith in the democratic process,” she said at the ‘apolitical’ rally organised under the banner of the Anti-Atrocities Democratic Forum.

The Moists and the pro-rebel tribal body People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCAPA) had extended support to the rally also attended by social activists like Agnivesh and Patkar, and pro-rebel writer Mahasweta Devi, among other intellectuals.

“Let the peace process start from today. Let negotiations begin. Let Bengal show the way to India, wherever there is disturbance and misunderstanding,” Banerjee said.

“Tell us when and where you will sit. We all want to sit. However, if my presence poses problems in the peace process, I won’t mind if I am kept out of it,” she said.

“If a policeman dies, or a mediaperson, or a Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) activist or a Maoist, that’s equally sad. All are human beings. I don’t want anybody to die. I don’t want politics of death”.

She also appealed to the left ultras not to obstruct railway services as it adversely hit the daily life of the common man. Categorically saying she did not support the Maoists’ politics of violence and killings, Banerjee asked the CPI-M and Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee should think why the Lalgarh movement was on despite their 34-year rule. “There is a dearth of development, schools, colleges and hospitals. The government could ensure only 12 days’ work under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS),” she said.

Banerjee said Rs 20 lakh would be sanctioned for the Ramakrishna Vidyalaya here from Minister of State for Shipping Mukul Roy’s MPs Local Area Development fund. Apparently referring to the Maoists, she asked: “What do you want? Schools, college, rights over forests? I feel tribals should have rights over forests.”

The Trinamool chief, whose party is the second largest constituent of the ruling United Progressive Alliance at the centre, however, said her powers were limited. “We are in power. But our party has only 19 MPs. It’s not that they (Congress) listen to whatever we say”.

On land acquisition, she said she was against taking land by force. “In railways whenever we have to take land we provide employment to the landlosers and take minimum land with their consent”.

“Show me one area where I have deviated. If I have, I will publicly admit it and apologise,” she said, in an apparent reply to some questions made by the Maoists in an open letter to her on and acquisition and some other issues.

Banerjee told the ultras that their policy of violence was only benefiting the CPI-M. Accusing the CPI-M of misleading the people and committing atrocities by putting on police and military fatigues, she appealed to Patkar and Agnivesh to visit other violence-prone areas of the state. “If necessary, we can go to areas outside the state like Dantewada also to bring back peace”. Addressing a party rally at Tamluk of East Midnapore district, state Congress chief Manas Bhunia welcomed Banerjee’s rally at Lalgarh. However, Congress general secretary in charge of the state K Kesava Rao stayed away from the Trinamool Congress’ invitation to attend the Lalgarh rally citing the party’s meeting at Tamluk around the same time. (IANS)

Price rise dominates parliament

2010-08-04T20:12:00.000-07:00

Price rise dominates parliament

New Delhi, Aug 4: Soaring food prices generated heat in parliament on Wednesday, with the Lok Sabha unanimously urging the government to act and come to the rescue of the common man.

While Sachin Tendulkar’s cricketing feat and the violence raging in the Kashmir Valley also figured in the house, members were mostly concerned over inflationary pressures. After vocal attacks on what the opposition said was the government’s failure to check food prices, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee put up a spirited defence of what the government was doing -- and would do.

The Lok Sabha was adjourned over the Babhali barrage row between Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) apologized after one of its members shouted at Mukherjee, the leader of the house. The debate on price rise ended in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday with the house adopting a resolution.

“This House, having considered the inflationary pressure on the economy, urges the government to take further action to contain its adverse impact on the common man,” said the resolution read out by Speaker Meira Kumar.

Teenaged girl, two others killed in police firing in Kashmir

2010-08-01T18:17:00.001-07:00

Teenaged girl, two others killed in police firing in Kashmir

Srinagar, Aug 1: Two 17-year-olds, including a girl, and another young man were killed Sunday when security personnel fired on mobs attacking police stations in south Kashmir’s Pulwama district as escalating violence engulfed Kashmir Valley.

With the three deaths, the toll of protesters killed in police firing across the Valley since Friday has risen to nine. The law and order situation has deteriorated with violent protests rocking most cities and towns and mobs attacking police stations, police camps, vehicles on the highways and also beating up trapped security men.

“A violent mob attacked the Khrew police post in Pulwama district today (Sunday) afternoon forcing the policemen inside to fire in self-defence. A girl identified as Afroza Bano, 17, was among the three people critically wounded in this firing incident,” a senior police officer told IANS here.

Govt puts cap on berths allotted to cancer patients in trains

2010-07-29T20:12:00.001-07:00

Govt puts cap on berths allotted to cancer patients in trains

New Delhi, July 29: The Government today said it has put a cap on the number of berths alloted to cancer patients under emergency quota to accommodate VIPs after receiving instances that the quota was being entirely used by the patients. “The limit was imposed after receiving references from zonal railways where they were unable to accommodate VIPs on self travel when the entire quota was being utilised by the cancer patients,” Minister of State for Railways K H Muniyappa informed the Lok Sabha.

In a written reply, he said such instances came especially during the rush season leaving Railways with no emergency quota. Railways provide 100 per cent concession to cancer patients in sleeper and 3-AC classes. In 2-AC and 1-AC they enjoy 50 per cent concession. A matching concession is also extended to their escorts. Muniyappa said instances of cancer patients utilising all quota have been reported mostly in trains bound for Mumbai. On April 17 and May 6, he said, all the 10 emergency berths in 3-AC in Lokmanya Tilak-Chhaptra Godaan Express were utilised by the cancer patients while all the 24 emergency berths in Howrah-bound Gitanjali express were utilised on April 9, 22, 23, 24, 28.

Instances of quotas being entirely utilised by cancer patients have also been reported in trains linking Mumbai to Guwahati and Hatia. The Minister said separate quota for cancer patients is also available in some trains. (PTI)

‘India very important for Britain’s future’

2010-07-28T20:12:00.000-07:00

‘India very important for Britain’s future’

Bangalore, July 28: British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday declared that India was very important for his country’s future, especially on the economic front.

“India has become very important for our future, mainly for economic reasons as your country represents an enormous opportunity for our companies,” Cameron told about 2,000 techies and captains of India Inc in the Infosys Technologies Ltd campus on the outskirts of this tech hub. Cameron said he wanted to see thousands of more jobs in Britain and in India through partnerships and investments in the months and years ahead.

‘India very important for Britain’s future’

2010-07-28T20:10:00.001-07:00

‘India very important for Britain’s future’

Bangalore, July 28: British Prime Minister David Cameron on Wednesday declared that India was very important for his country’s future, especially on the economic front.

Uproar over price rise stalls Parliament

2010-07-27T20:31:00.001-07:00

Uproar over price rise stalls Parliament

New Delhi, July 27: Pandemonium reigned in parliament on Tuesday - the first working day of the monsoon session - as a united opposition vociferously demanded an immediate discussion on rising prices followed by a vote, leading to repeated disruptions and finally adjournments of both houses.

As the government ruled out the voting on the spiralling prices of essential commodities, opposition MPs refused to let the houses function.

As soon as members in the two houses assembled at 11 a.m., opposition MPs shouted slogans, stalling proceedings as they gave vent to their anger on the issue.

Members of the Samajwadi Party and the Rashtriya Janata Dal RJD, which support the government from the outside, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in demanding a discussion on the hike in prices of kerosene and cooking gas.

Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj urged Speaker Meira Kumar to “set aside all the business and accept our adjournment motions and allow a discussion over rising prices, followed by a vote”.

Swaraj said the June 26 hike in kerosene and cooking gas prices had “disturbed the budget of the common man”.

The entire opposition, she said, had come together to demand a discussion on the issue and pointed out that some allies of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) have joined them.

BJP MPs, joined by members of other parties like the Left, walked up to the speaker’s podium shouting anti-government slogans like “Jo sarkar nikammi hai, woh sarkar badalni hai (The government that is inefficient needs to be changed)”.

The house was first adjourned till 12 noon but the protests continued after the house resumed.

In the melee, the speaker ordered papers listed for the day to be laid and asked Petroleum Minister Murli Deora to make a statement on the prices of petroleum products.

Deora defended the increase in fuel prices, saying the rise was “minimal” and such a decision was needed to improve the financial health of the oil marketing companies.

As he was unable to read out the statement amid the noise, Meira Kumar adjourned the house at 12.10 till 2 p.m.

As the members refused to relent after the house resumed at 2 p.m., the speaker was forced to call it a day.

The scenes in the Rajya Sabha were no different. It was chaos as the BJP and Left MPs did not heed Chairman Hamid Ansari’s repeated pleas to let house function.

Soon after new members took oath, opposition MPs were up on their feet.

The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was joined by the Samajwadi Party and AIADMK MPs in their protest. Ansari allowed Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley to speak but he could not as MPs protested noisily, forcing the chairman to adjourn the house till noon.

As the MPs reassembled, it was repetition of what had happened in the morning.

P.J. Kurien, who was in the chair, tried to pacify the members and asked ministers to lay the papers listed for the day. With the din continuing, Kurien adjourned the house for the day.

BJP leaders said the opposition was united over the price rise issue as the Left, the Samajwadi Party and other parties were with them.

“We are united. We want an adjournment motion and a vote on the issue,” BJP leader Gopinath Munde told IANS.

“We will bring the adjournment motion, we will not discuss anything else,” he said.

The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), which in the past has come to the rescue of the government by voting for it on crucial matters, also demanded a discussion and voting on the price rise.

The government has already ruled out the demand, saying that as per rules only matters of immediate and urgent attention can be allowed under an adjournment motion.

“This is disruption motion, it is not discussion motion,” senior Congress leader and Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters.

Janata Dal-United (JD-U) leader Sharad Yadav said it was “strange” that government was not ready for a discussion.

He said the opposition was keen that Meira Kumar took an impartial view on its demand. “The entire country took part in the Bharat bandh against price rise,” he said, referring to the July 5 nationwide shutdown against the issue. “The fight will continue,” he vowed. (IANS)

Government misusing CBI: Nitin Gadkari

2010-07-26T20:13:00.001-07:00

Government misusing CBI: Nitin Gadkari

Mumbai, July 26: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari on Monday reiterated his party’s stance by alleging that the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government was using the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) as a ‘weapon of vendetta’.

Addressing mediapersons at the BJP state headquarters here, Gadkari said the government had declared ‘a hostile political war against Gujarat’, referring to the arrest of former Gujarat minister Amit Shah by the CBI in connection with the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh.

“The Sohrabuddin encounter probe by CBI was to target BJP and to keep Congress out. This is evident from the fact that though the then Andhra Pradesh government of YS Rajasekhara Reddy was equally involved in the arrest and encounter (shootout) death of Sohrabuddin, the CBI completely left out his government from the radar,” Gadkari claimed.

BJP cancels lunch with PM after CBI summons Shah

2010-07-23T20:09:00.001-07:00

BJP cancels lunch with PM after CBI summons Shah

New Delhi, July 23: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday cancelled a lunch with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh citing the ‘bitter atmosphere’ following the CBI’s summons to Gujarat minister Amit Shah in the 2005 killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in a staged shootout.

“Four BJP leaders were invited for the PM’s luncheon meeting but we decided not to attend it over the bitter atmosphere following the CBI’s summons to Shah,” Sushma Swaraj, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, told reporters. The prime minister had invited L.K. Advani, Arun Jaitley, Nitin Gadkari and Sushma Swaraj for a lunch meeting to discuss issues before the parliament’s monsoon session starting on Monday.

Sushma said they had accepted the invitation but met at Advani’s house on Thursday evening to discuss how the CBI was being misused in Gujarat to harass Shah, Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s close aide and the minister of state for home. “The government is misusing CBI to harass its opponents. The whole political environment is being polluted by it. So, it would have been very embarrassing if we went to the PM’s house for lunch,” she said.

“As far as the misuse of CBI is concerned, the government is saving their own people like Quattrocchi, Jagdish Tytler, Satish Sharma. They just trouble their opponents ... this is a show of sheer dominance by Congress to save its government,” she added. Her colleague Arun Jaitley, who heads the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, added that the CBI was behaving like an extended arm of the ruling party and the timing had been chosen for Congress’ political convenience. “When the Gujarat Police investigated the matter in Gujarat, nothing was found against Amit Shah. The investigations carried out by independent investigators appointed by the Supreme Court couldn’t find anything even in the second phase. Today, on the basis of baseless facts a political agenda is being fulfilled by the CBI and the government has a clear conspiracy in this,” said Jaitely. “This is the policy of the Congress to create such an environment so that limelight shifts away from issues like rising prices of fuel, misadventure of the Indo-Pakistan dialogue and Warren Anderson case,” he said.

The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has been accused of killing Sohrabuddin Sheikh near Ahmedabad in a staged shootout in 2005. His wife Kauser-Bi has also been missing since then. Police claimed the dead man was a Lashkar-e-Taiba operative. (IANS)

Naidu, colleagues sent to Aurangabad jail

2010-07-20T20:25:00.001-07:00

Naidu, colleagues sent to Aurangabad jail

Nanded/Hyderabad, July 20: Amid high drama, protests by Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders and caning by the police, party chief Chandrababu Naidu and his supporters were Tuesday moved from Dharmabad in Maharashtra’s Nanded district to the Aurangabad Central Jail.

Naidu and his colleagues, who were remanded to judicial custody till July 26, will be lodged at the Aurangabad Central Jail, located in Harsul on the outskirts of the historic city, a police official said.

The leaders, including Naidu, had entered Dharmabad town, around eight kilometres from the Maharashtra-Andhra Pradesh border in Nanded district, to protest against the Babhali Barrage on the Godavari river Friday.

Train tragedy in West Bengal again - 61 dead, 157 injured

2010-07-19T20:23:00.001-07:00

Train tragedy in West Bengal again - 61 dead, 157 injured

Sainthia (West Bengal), July 19: A speeding express train ploughed through a train standing at a station in West Bengal’s Birbhum district early on Monday, killing at least 61 people and injuring more than 150. It was the second train disaster in the Communist-ruled state in less than two months that have taken a toll of over 200 lives.

The Sealdah-bound Uttar Banga Express slammed into three coaches, one luggage van and two unreserved second class coaches, of the stationary Bhagalpur-Ranchi Vananchal Express at Sainthia station in Birbhum, about 190 km from Kolkata, at about 2.15 a.m., railway authorities said. All three coaches were badly mangled by the severity of the collision with one of the coaches shooting from the tracks and almost mounting the footbridge above. Gas cutters were used to cut open the coaches and bring out the dead and rescue the injured.

Sit-ins, protests amid separatist shutdown in Kashmir

2010-07-15T20:21:00.001-07:00

Sit-ins, protests amid separatist shutdown in Kashmir

Srinagar, July 15: People came out in large numbers to stage sit-ins and protests at many places in this Jammu amd Kasmir summer capital Srinagar on Thursday on the second day of a separatist shutdown even as restrictions were removed throughout the Valley. People came out in Nowhatta, Rajouri Kadal, Naid Kadal, Safa Kadal, Bohri Kadal and Khanyar areas of the city early Thursday and staged sit-ins and protests in response to the call given by the separatist Hurriyat group headed by Syed Ali Geelani.

Similar protests were witnessed in Habba Kadal, Batmaloo, Bemina, Chanapora, Barzalla, Kani Kadal, Rambagh areas in the city. Groups of youth challenged private transport vehicles that plied in the city, forcing them to withdraw from the roads. The separatists had called for a complete Valley-wide shutdown. Markets, banks, public and private transport, educational institutions and other business establishments remained closed in Srinagar city and other major towns of the Kashmir Valley. Groups of youth also clashed with the security forces in Chattabal, Bemina, Habba Kadal and Barzulla areas of the city. Security forces used batons and tear smoke shells to disperse the protesters. Similar clashes were also reported from south Kashmir’s Pampore town in which six people suffered minor injuries. Lawyers took out a protest march in Srinagar against the arrest of Kashmir Bar Association president Mian Qayoom, who has been detained by the authorities under the Public Safety Act (PSA) for allegedly inciting the youth to violence.

“The overall law and order situation was tense, but under control throughout the Valley and no major untoward incident occurred anywhere,” a police officer said. People during the sit-ins also organized free roadside kitchens those served tehri (yellow rice prepared with tamarind and edible oil) to the participants of the day’s protests. At least 15 civilians were killed in the valley in firing by security forces since June 11 and the government has decided to hold an independent enquiry to establish the circumstances those led to the unfortunate deaths of the civilians. (IANS)

PC wants Unified Command for anti-Naxal operations

2010-07-14T19:55:00.001-07:00

PC wants Unified Command for anti-Naxal operations

NEW DELHI, July 14: In a fresh strategy to combat the Naxal menace, the government today asked Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal to create a unified command for anti-Maoist operations and to appoint a retired Major General of the Army as its member.

The Centre will “request the state governments of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Orissa and West Bengal to create a unified command for anti-Naxal operations and to appoint a retired Major General of the Army as a member of the command,” Home Minister P Chidambaram said addressing leaders of seven Naxal-affected states here. The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is being attended by chief ministers of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. While Jharkhand is being represented by its governor, West Bengal has sent a senior minister for the meet.

Terrorism, humanitarian issues high on Krishna’s agenda

2010-07-13T20:33:00.001-07:00

Terrorism, humanitarian issues high on Krishna’s agenda

New Delhi, July 13: Terrorism that continues to emanate from Pakistani soil will be high on the agenda of External Affairs Minister S M Krishna as he embarks on a mission to Pakistan tomorrow, in an effort to bridge the trust deficit that has bedeviled the ties between the two countries.

Krishna’s three-day visit to Islamabad to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart Shah Mahmood Qureshi, will also focus on humanitarian issues such as people-to-people contact, exchange of prisoners and bilateral trade. But from New Delhi’s point of view terrorism will be the key issue.

Rear Admiral killed in ‘accidental firing’

2010-07-07T20:02:00.001-07:00

Rear Admiral killed in ‘accidental firing’

Kochi/New Delhi, July 7: One of the seniormost commanders of the Indian Navy, Rear Admiral SS Jamwal, was killed in ‘accidental firing’ on Wednesday in a gunnery school close to the headquarters of the Southern Naval Command in Kerala’s Kochi city, an officer said.

“I regret to inform that Chief of Staff, Southern Naval Command, Rear Admiral SS Jamwal, died in accidental firing at INS Dronacharya today (Wednesday),” navy spokesman Commander PVS Satish told IANS in New Delhi.

Satish said the circumstances leading to the accidental firing during a small arms training session on a firing range and the death of the 51-year-old officer were being investigated. In Kochi, Commodore MR Ajaya Kumar, naval officer in charge Kerala, told reporters that a bullet from Jamwal’s pistol hit him at around 10.30 am when he was training a batch of 24 trainers.

NDA will return to power in 2014: Nitin Gadkari

2010-07-04T20:06:00.001-07:00

NDA will return to power in 2014: Nitin Gadkari

New Delhi, July 4: Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Nitin Gadkari is confident that his party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will return to power in the Lok Sabha polls in 2014. He denies being remote-controlled by the RSS and claims the alliance crisis in Bihar is ‘almost over’.

Gadkari does not think that the multi-party NDA, which ruled India from 1998 to 2004, has been weakened because parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) have left it.

“It is a to and fro process,” Gadkari told IANS in an exclusve interview at the BJP headquarters. “Some parties might have left, but some other parties are keen to come into the NDA.”

Can he name the parties keen to join the NDA? Gadkari: “We will disclose everything at the appropriate time.” The 53-year-old politican insists that BJP cadres have been activated all across the country since he took charge of the main opposition party over six months ago, succeeding Rajnath Singh.

“The mood is upbeat among party activists. The NDA will ride to power again at the centre,” Gadkari said. He cites the opposition’s decision to unite for Monday’s Bharat bandh to protest rising prices and the fuel price hike as a major achievement of his short tenure.

“We have been able to assemble all the parties on the burning issue of soaring prices of essential commodities.” But what about fissures with the Janata Dal-United (JD-U) and his disparaging remarks about Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) president Lalu Prasad?

“It is a thing of the past. It is over,” he replied. The BJP president had called the two politicians ‘barking dogs’ for allegedly going soft on the government.

Gadkari is also upbeat about his immediate challenge - the Bihar assembly polls due in October.

“The crisis is almost over,” he said about the rift between the BJP and JD-U Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. What are the electoral chances of the alliance? “We will win. Hundred per cent,” he said.

Gadkari, who became the BJP president after the party was routed in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, denied he had any problems with the party’s star leader, LK Advani. “I had absolutely no issues with Advaniji or any other leader, seniors or juniors.”

Is his lack of experience at the national level a problem? “I think most of these impressions are created by a section of the media, which has its own perceptions, rather than the reality,” he said.

He denied he was remote-controlled by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in decision making. “Of course, the Sangh is part of my conviction and the past. But the talk that I am directed by the RSS is far from true,” Gadkari said.

According to him, the party’s decision to take back former external affairs minister Jaswant Singh was his own decision. So is former Madhya Pradesh chief minster Uma Bharati also on the return path? Gadkari said the party will discuss the issue in detail at the appropriate time and take an appropriate decision.

Is Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan opposing Uma’s re-entry? Gadkari parried the question. Gadkari claimed that groupism or infighting in the BJP was on the wane. “A major example of dissidence was cited in Rajasthan. But we could achieve a comfortable win for Ram Jethmalani in the Rajya Sabha election.” As for Karnataka, dissidence was by and large over, he said. And there ‘is no dissidence in the Bihar unit’. (IANS)

Boundary, China-Pakistan deal on agenda in NSA’s Beijing trip

2010-07-01T19:57:00.001-07:00

Boundary, China-Pakistan deal on agenda in NSA’s Beijing trip

New Delhi, July 1: Days before Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari goes to China to firm up a nuclear deal, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is sending National Security Advisor Shivshankar Menon on Saturday as his special envoy to Beijing on a four-day visit during which he is also expected to hold the next round of boundary talks.

Menon will meet senior Chinese leaders, including Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and State Councillor Dai Bingguo, and discuss a range of bilateral and regional issues. The two sides announced the visit in New Delhi and Beijing on Thursday.

Maoists kill Congress leader in Jharkhand

2010-06-30T20:19:00.001-07:00

Maoists kill Congress leader in Jharkhand

RANCHI, June 30: In two separate incidents, Maoists have killed a Congress leader and a building contractor as their two-day strike began in Jharkhand on Wednesday, police said.

Maoists killed contractor Kedar Munda in Khuti district, around 65 Km from Ranchi, after abducting him from his Salehatu village Wednesday morning. His body was recovered from nearby jungle, police said.

In the other incident, rebels killed a local Congress leader, Bardhan Kachhu, in Garwah district. He was abducted from his Barkol village Tuesday night. His body was recovered Wednesday.

Maoists in many districts have asked Congress leaders to quit the party. They blame the Congress for the current security offensive against them.

Rail and road services were hit in Jharkhand today on the first day of a two-day strike in five states, officials said. The national highways wore a deserted look as trucks were stranded at many places and long-route buses did not ply.

This is the second two-day strike called by the Communist Party of India-Maoist in June. It covers Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Chhattisgarh and West Bengal.

Mumbai airport: Runway closure, power cut affect flight ops

2010-06-09T05:15:00.000-07:00

Flight operations at the city airport were severely affected today due to the closure of power cut.

There was a delay of one to one and a half hour across flights at Mumbai airport due to the closure of runway for over an hour, an airport source said.

At the top of it, there was power cut as well as water-logging of newly constructed terminal 1-C which further led to congestion at the airport, the source said.

The Mumbai International Airport Ltd (MIAL) said that the main runway 09x27 was closed for 50 minutes (0810 hours to 0900 hours) to clear glass pieces of runway edge light which were broken by a departing aircraft.

"Due to the closure, there was a long queue of aircraft at the runway awaiting clearance from the ATC," source said.

The source also said that following rains last night, there was water-logging at terminal 1-C leading to the closure of the area.

PTI Bharti Airtel jumps 7 pc on completion of Zain Africa buy

2010-06-09T05:07:00.000-07:00

Mumbai, June 9 (PTI) Bharti Airtel share surged nearly 7 per cent in the morning trade on the BSE today, after completion of the USD 10.7-billion acquisition of Zain''s Africa operations.

Share of Bharti Airtel soared 6.65 per cent to a high of Rs 274.95, from the previous close on the Bombay Stock Exchange.

On March 30, 2010, Bharti had entered the deal to acquire Zain Telecom's operations in 15 nations, excluding Sudan and Morocco. With this acquisition, Bharti, now has a subscriber base of around 180 million.

"The completion of the deal has given a sigh of relief to Bharti's investors as they were awaiting the deal to go through smoothly. Investors are bullish on the future prospects of the company and its manageable debt position," SMC Capital vice-president Rajesh Jain said.

On the National Stock Exchange, the stock climbed to a high of Rs 274.90, up 6.40 per cent.

Yesterday, Bharti Airtel had said that its debt position following the USD 10.7-billion acquisition of Zain Africa is "manageable".

May’10 : Truck Sales up 74.23% - IFTRT

2010-06-04T00:28:00.000-07:00

May 2010, Truck sales (5 ton - 49 ton category) shot up by 74.23% due to low base effect with sales touching 21013 units as against 12060 units in May'09 as well as excess billing done by vehicle manufacturers to the retail outlets, but for the second month in running the MoM sales continue to drop with March’10 Sales at 33619 units, April’10 sales at 22469 units and May’10 sales at 21013 units only, because vehicle manufacturers unable to offer Euro-IV trucks in 13 cities including NCR - IFTRT monthly Report in attachment is for your ready reference and use.

CBDT Amends Rules Relating to TDS

2010-06-04T00:27:00.001-07:00

CBDT Amends Rules Relating to TDS

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) have amended the Rules relating to TDS provisions date and mode of payment of tax deducted at source (TDS), TDS certificate and filing of ‘statement of TDS’ (TDS return) vide Notification No.41/2010; SO No.1261(E) dated 31.05.2010. The amended rules will apply only in respect of tax deducted on or after 1st day of April 2010.

Forms for TDS certificate have been revised to include the receipt number of the TDS return filed by the deductor. Now the Tax-deduction Account Number (TAN) of the deductor, Permanent Account Number (PAN) of the deductee, and Receipt number of TDS return filed by the deductor will form the unique identification for allowing tax credit claimed by the taxpayer in his income-tax return.

Government Authorities (Pay and Accounts Officer or Treasury Officer or Cheque Drawing and Disbursing Officer) responsible for crediting tax deducted at source to the credit of the Central Government by book-entry are now required to electronically file a monthly statement in a new Form No. 24G containing details of credit of TDS to the agency authorised by the Director General of Income-tax (Systems).

Due date for furnishing TDS return for the last quarter of the financial year has been modified to 15th May (from earlier 15th June). The revised due dates for furnishing TDS return are

Sl. No.	Date of ending of the quarter of the financial year	Due date
1.	30th June	15th July of the financial year
2.	30th September	15th October of the financial year
3.	31st December	15th January of the financial year
4.	31st March	15th May of the financial year immediately following the financial year in which deduction is made

Due date for furnishing TDS certificate to the employee or deductee or payee is revised as under

Sl. No.	Category	Periodicity of furnishing TDS certificate	Due date
1.	Salary (Form No.16)	Annual	By 31st day of May of the financial year immediately following the financial year in which the income was paid and tax deducted
2.	Non-Salary (Form No.16A)	Quarterly	Within fifteen days from the due date for furnishing the ‘statement of TDS’

This is for information

Payment of Gratuity (Amendments) Act 2010

2010-06-04T00:25:00.000-07:00

Payment of Gratuity (Amendments) Act 2010

The Government of India, Ministry of Law and Justice have vide Gazette Notification dated May 18, 2010, notified the enhancement in gratuity payment from Rs. 3,50,000/- to Rs. 10,00,000 w.e.f. 24 May 2010.

Arrest me for speaking for Naxals: Arundhati

2010-06-04T00:13:00.001-07:00

Mumbai: Arundhati Roy probably gets lot of hate mail for her views on Naxalism but she certainly won't miss any opportunity to express them.

The Booker Prize-winning author and activist has once again said that she doesn’t support violence but believes the Naxals had no other option but to rebel against the state.

"The Naxal movement could be nothing but an armed struggle. I am not supporting violence. But I am also completely against contemptuous atrocities-based political analysis," she said while delivering a lecture on 'The War on People' organised by the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights in Mumbai.

"It ought to be an armed movement. Gandhian way of opposition needs an audience, which is absent here. People have debated long before choosing this form of struggle," said Roy, 48.

"I am on this side of line. I do not care...pick me up put me in jail," she said.

Roy argued that Naxalite violence must be viewed in the context of the battle between tribals and corporate houses to gain control over natural resources like minerals, water and forests. "While 99 percent of Maoists are tribals, 99 percent of tribals are not Maoists."

"What the government calls Maoists corridor, is in fact MoU-ist corridor. You have an MoU (memorandum of understanding) on every mountain, river -- MoUs signed by biggest corporations in the world who are waiting to gain hold of the resources," Roy said.

The writer quoted a Lokayukta report to claim that the government earns Rs 24 per tonne from iron ore mining but the mining company gets Rs 5,000.

"Here we have the poorest, most malnourished waging a war against the corporates supported by all the institutions of world's biggest democracy. To a large extent, they have won in stopping the mighty corporates in their tracks," she said. "If we join them, we can make them win this war."

“They have a history of resistance which predates Mao. They were always armed; they are just using those bows and arrows against sophisticated weapons of security forces deployed by the government to crush their movement.”

Roy also clarified her reported remarks glorifying Maoists as "Gandhians with guns".

"I never called them Gandhians with guns. It was a blurb carried by a magazine. What I meant was that they (Naxals) are more Gandhian than any other Gandhian in their consumption”

Roy accused the media of lack of transparency and bias. "Earlier, politicians had to pay for good coverage. Now, they have to pay to ensure that they do not get bad coverage. Good coverage is extra fees."

Lt Gen charged with sexual misconduct, quits

2010-06-04T00:12:00.001-07:00

New Delhi: In a major embarrassment for the Army, a Lieutenant General has been forced to resign following allegations of sexual misconduct against him by the wife of an officer during a visit abroad last month.

Army sources said that Lt Gen AK Nanda, the Engineer-in-Chief, was asked to put in his papers by Army Chief General VK Singh after a complaint that he molested the wife of his technical secretary during a visit to Israel.