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Extend CRPF deployment till end of election: Church leaders
Bhubaneswar, Nov 10 (PTI) Seeking to extend the deployment of central forces in Kandhamal till the general elections due next year, Christian leaders today claimed that people were feeling insecure to return to their villages even 90 days after violence erupted in August.
A Christian delegation led by Archbishop Rapheal Cheenath met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik here and submitted a memorandum which suggested that the judge of the fast track court to probe Kandhamal riot cases be chosen from a neutral community other than Christian and Hindu.
Claiming that people were still living under the shadow of fear, they said a large number of Christians of Kandhamal have gone to Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat and other places as they feel threatened. As many as 15,000 people have fled to different towns, including Bhubaneswar, they said.
"Many are unwilling to return as criminals are still at large and moving about with swords and guns as in Raikia and Sarangodo blocks," the memorandum said.
They said Christians who had returned to their villages were forcibly converted to Hinduism and their movements and meeting with people were also restricted by "fanatics" for instance in Padangi and Shankarakhol area.
Though Cheenath said the state government was doing its best to restore normalcy in Kandhamal, Christian leaders alleged that FIRs were not lodged in Daringbadi and Sarangoda police stations.
"We have requested the Chief Minister to look into the matter," Cheenath said, adding miscreants were looting houses, churches and other institutions and destroying or burning what ever was left. PTI
LDA scam: UP moves SC for taking action against Amar Singh
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh Government has moved Supreme Court seeking permission to take action against Samajwadi Party General Secretary Amar Singh on the basis of an enquiry report holding him guilty of misusing his power during the Mulayam Singh Yadav regime for allotment of plots in Lucknow.
The Mayawati government's move comes in the wake of the Allahabad High Court restraining it from initiating action against Singh who according to the enquiry report was allotted a plot, by the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) in Gomti Nagar in 1994, which was meant for the Economically Weaker Section (EWS).
However, the Lucknow Bench of the High Court, on June 13, had given liberty to the state government to approach the apex court for proceeding against Singh.
"It is prayed that the court permit the government to proceed in accordance with law and to take necessary action on the basis of enquiry report," the state government said in its application.
A petition filed by Uttar Pradesh advocate Vishwanath Chaturvedi seeking a high-level inquiry into the allotments worth Rs 2.80 crore made in Vipul Khand, Gomti Nagar, has already been pending in the apex court, which on September 12, 2005 by an interim order had restrained transfer of the plots until further orders.
The UP government application said that on November 2, 2007, the apex court had issued notices to Yadav and Singh among others for permission to initiate criminal prosecutions against them as they were beneficiaries of the alleged illegal allotment of plots. PTI
CJI says no in-House proceedings against judges over UP scam
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) Chief Justice of India K G Balakrishnan today termed as "administrative" the decision not to confirm the appointment of Justice A K Singh of the Allahabad High Court as the permanent judge after his name cropped up in a scandal and said there were no in-house proceedings on the issue.
"It would be improper to conduct such an inquiry as the CBI is already investigating the scandal," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
On the decision involving Singh, whose name cropped up in the multi-crore rupee Uttar Pradesh Provident Fund scam, Balakrishnan said it was an "administrative" decision. PTI
Hurt Ponting hits back at his detractors
Nagpur, Nov 10 (PTI) A hurt Australian captain Ricky Ponting today hit back at his detractors, saying he never kept himself above team's interest when he asked part-timers to bowl to make up for the team's slow over-rate on the penultimate day of the fourth and final Test against India.
Ponting, who would have invited suspension for the team's slow over-rate, said he never felt bowling part-timers, with some impressive performances under their belt, and not the regular fast bowlers was a "negative" tactic, as depicted by his critics, including Cricket Australia Director and former captain Allan Border.
"To tell you the truth I'm a little bit disappointed with some of the criticism, particularly from former Australian captains and CA board members," he said after conceding a 172-run defeat and the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the new VCA stadium here.
"The thing I'm most disappointed about is there seems to be this inference out there that I've put myself totally ahead of the team. Anybody that knows me or knows the way I play my cricket or operate around the Australian team or any team would hopefully not say that's the case," he shot back.
"I'd like to think as far as team players go that there haven't been many who have ever played for Australia would do more than I have for the team," he claimed.
Ponting's strategy of using part-time spin bowlers to speed up the over-rate which was very tardy and not coming hard at India with his frontline pacers when the hosts were struggling at 166 for six, helped the latter set a target of 382 for a win which proved too much for his batsmen today. PTI
I see a lot of myself in Dhoni: Ganguly
S S Ramaswamy
Nagpur, Nov 10 (PTI) Arguably the most successful Indian skipper ever, Sourav Ganguly says he sees a lot of himself in Mahendra Singh Dhoni and reckons that the charismatic new captain will go on to better his record and further enhance India's stature in international cricket.
"He has done fantastically well. Captaincy is a task, it's not just about being a good player. He will be tested when India plays abroad and if the boys do well under him then it will be great. I am sure he will take Indian cricket forward," said Ganguly, whose last Test saw India clinching the Border-Gavaskar Trophy by winning the fourth and final match.
"I did what I felt was right. I'm a captain who did not believe in the drawing board but react to what happens on the field of play. I see a lot of myself in Dhoni. He also doesn't like meetings. In fact he sees things better than me. He has also had a bit of luck that a captain needs," he added.
Ganguly said a captain is only as good as his team but he did have a huge role to play in enhancing India's reputation.
"Most important thing is that a captain is as good as a player. Raising India's image in world cricket especially as a touring side is my legacy in Indian cricket. We, at present, are a formidable side both home and away," he said.
Ganguly said he would not be missing the Indian dressing room as he was leaving with happy memories of being part of a team that beat the world's best side 2-0 in the series. PTI
Greats flay Ponting, CA seeks explanation on tactics
Melbourne, Nov 10 (PTI) Handed down an emphatic defeat by India, Australian captain Ricky Ponting was on the mat today with country's cricket establishment asking him to explain his tactics in the Nagpur Test and the media asking him to "hang his head in shame".
In a bid to speed up Australia's sluggish over-rate -- which could have earned him a one Test ban -- Ponting rested his regular bowlers in yesterday's final session and operated mostly with the part-timers. Ponting's ploy to escape the ban let India off the hook after the hosts, struggling at 166 for six at one stage, found themselves in a spot of bother.
Cricket Australia is far from amused and CA Chief Executive James Sutherland said the board would seek an explanation from Ponting.
"I haven't had a chance to talk to Ricky today about what went on during the tea break and what the messages were that came from the umpires," Sutherland was quoted as saying by the Australian Associated Press (AAP).
"I'd like to understand the situation, I'm not going to stand here and make comment about a situation without having a full understanding of what actually the circumstances were," Sutherland added.
The CA chief said he would talk to the International Cricket Council about the slow over-rate issue.
"In a broad sense, I have major concerns about over rates in international cricket. Generally speaking, the public deserves more by way of over rates and that's certainly something we'll be taking up with the ICC." PTI
India, Qatar ink key defence cooperation pact
Ammar Zaidi
Doha, Nov 10 (PTI) Taking bilateral ties to a new high, India and Qatar have signed a landmark defence cooperation pact, described by officials as an agreement "just short of stationing troops" in the oil-rich Gulf region.
Within hours of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's touchdown here last evening on the second leg of his three-day maiden visit to the Gulf, the two sides signed agreements on defence and security, dealing with key areas like maritime security, intelligence sharing on terrorism, money laundering and transnational crime.
The defence cooperation pact addresses security concerns of Qatar and seeks to safeguard India's interest, officials said.
"The agreement is just short of stationing troops (in the region)," a top Indian official said.
Joint training exercises, training of personnel and maritime cooperation are highlights of the landmark pact inked by Defence Secretary Vijay Singh and his Qatari counterpart last evening after Singh led delegation-level talks with his counterpart Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim bin Jabor al Thani.
The defence pact lays out a structure for joint maritime security and training as well as exchange of visits.
Another agreement on law and security enforcement was signed by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed and his Qatari counterpart.
The pact deals with issues such as money laundering and transnational crimes. It lays out framework for sharing of information and database on threats posed by extremists and other security and legal matters, officials said. PTI
India to release 30 Pak prisoners on Nov 14
Islamabad, Nov 10 (PTI) India will release 30 Pakistani nationals, who have completed their prison terms in the country, and will hand them over at the Wagah land border on November 14.
The Pakistan-India Judicial Committee on Prisoners recently recommended that prisoners who had completed their prison terms and whose nationality had been confirmed should be released from jail speedily.
Official sources here told PTI today that the Indian government would hand over the 30 Pakistani nationals to authorities at the Wagah land border. The Pakistani nationals had been arrested and jailed for various crimes.
The Judicial Committee on Prisoners visited jails in both countries and met Indian and Pakistani prisoners. The two countries have also exchanged lists of prisoners.
India has informed Pakistan that about 370 Pakistanis are currently detained in its jails. However, Pakistani officials claim over 600 Pakistanis are in Indian jails and over 150 have completed their terms. PTI
Sensex soars 572 points; metal, power stocks gain
Mumbai, Nov 10 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex today soared by over 570 points to extend the gains to the second straight day, mirroring the trends in in global markets which rallied after China announced a multi-billion package to salvage its economy.
After regaining the 10,000 level in opening trade itself, the 30-share barometer soared further during the day settled the day at 10,536.16, a rise of 571.87 points or 5.74 per cent from its previous close. The bellwether index closed below 10,00-mark on Thursday.
The 50-share Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also spurted by 175.25 points, or 5.89 per cent, to close at 3,148.25 points.
The Chinese government yesterday announced a USD 586- billion stimulus plan to mitigate the impact of global credit crisis and to spur expansion in the world's fourth largest economy, which sparked a strong rally in global markets.
Marketmen said local bourses discounted several estimates of India's GDP growth slowing down as investors made fresh commitments in line with strong global markets.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who is on three-day visit to Gulf nations yesterday said in Muscat that economic growth may slip to 7-7.5 per cent for the current fiscal.
Brokers said the sentiment was also boosted by a call by economic officials from 20 leading nations for increased government spending to boost the troubled global economy.
Shanghai Composite ended up 7.27 per cent, Nikkei 5.81 per cent, Hang Seng 3.52 per cent, Kospi 1.58 per cent and Strait Times 1.17 per cent. European markets too were trading higher by about 3.0 per cent in their early trade. PTI
Sensex up 445 points at mid-session
Mumbai, Nov 10 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex gained 445 points at 1330 hrs today on aggressive buying by funds, triggered by firming global trend.
The 30-share barometer moved up by 445.48 points at 10,409.77 following a significant rise in heavy-weight stocks.
The wide-based National Stock Exchange's Nifty also rose by 137.75 points at 3,110.75.
The rally was backed by stocks of metal, capital goods and oil and gas segments following reports of China's massive economic stimulus package of 586 billion dollars in its biggest move to stop the global financial crisis from hitting the world's fourth-largest economy.
A firming trend in other Asian stock markets led by Hong Kong's Hang Seng, which went up by 5.5 per cent, and Japan's Nikkei, which gained 5.20 per cent, also influenced trading. PTI
India seeks additional LNG from Qatar
Ammar Zaidi
Doha, Nov 10 (PTI) India today sought an additional 5 million tons of liquefied natural gas from Qatar to meet its growing energy needs and has proposed to set up a gas-fired fertiliser plant in the Gulf nation to meets its urea needs.
Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who arrived here this morning to give the energy perspective to talks that the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh-led high level delegation was having with Qatari leadership for enhancing bilateral cooperation, met Qatar's Deputy Prime Minister and Energy and Industry Minister Abdullah bin Hamad al Attiyah.
"We had an excellent one-hour meeting. Attiyah is a great friend of India and promised to look into our LNG needs," Deora told PTI here.
Deora told Attiyah that the nation was short of 5-7.5 MT a year of energy and wanted Qatar to bridge most of it.
Singh, before reaching Doha on the second leg of his three-day maiden visit to the Gulf region, had described Qatar as India's most reliable energy partner.
India currently buys 5 million tons a year of LNG from RasGas of Qatar under a 25-year contract. The ex-ship price of USD 2.53 per million British thermal unit (mmBtu) is considered a 'steal' in current times of LNG prices breaching USD 20 per mmBtu.
When other nations sought review of gas price when crude oil prices spiked, Qatar stood ground and also came to New Delhi's rescue when it agreed to supply 1.5 million tons of more LNG on a short-term contract to restart the beleaguered Dabhol power plant in Maharasthra. PTI
DoT may refer spectrum issue to investigating agencies
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) Telecom Minister A Raja, who is convinced that an "undeclared cartel" existed before he assumed office last year, is likely to initiate an enquiry into denial of spectrum to new players prior to 2007 and precious revenue to the exchequer.
The Department of Telecom had for long been maintaining that there was no surplus spectrum and had even told Raja that no radio frequency was available to accommodate new players.
However, after he took over as Telecom Minister in May 2007, Raja decided to immediately issue new licenses for mobile services. But efforts to do so were met with opposition, including from GSM mobile operators led by Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI).
It was only after Raja and his team threatened to refer the case to CBI to find out about the spectrum availability, sources said that the senior officials in the DoT started giving information about demand and supply of spectrum.
After this, Raja oversaw the allocation of over 470 MHz of spectrum (radio frequency) to new players across the country, as well as existing GSM operators like Bharti, Vodafone and Idea.
DoT sources said that vested interests were now trying to mislead the public about the latest round of spectrum allocation, saying that it should have been auctioned to get the right/market price for scarce natural resource.
Whereas Raja has maintained that spectrum has been allocated to new players at the same terms and conditions and prices as has been given to existing players as late as in 2007.
When contacted, senior officials indicated that the ministry was thinking in terms of a detailed probe to get to the root of the problem. PTI
Move over Saas-Bahu, Kiran Bedi is here
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) India's first woman IPS officer Kiran Bedi is all set to host a television reality show in which she will seek to resolve real-life disputes with parties presenting their case before her.
"I am really excited about the show, which is titled 'Aap Ki Kacheri'. It was to be aired in Star Plus channel from today, but has now got delayed by a week due to a strike by production houses," Bedi said at a function to mark the silver jubilee year of the FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO) here.
The show, which is replacing Star's much-popular soap opera 'Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi', will bring parties embroiled in civil disputes and willing to argue their case before camera, with Bedi playing 'judge' and cross-examiner.
Eager to deflect criticism of any encroachment into the field of judiciary, Bedi made it clear that the cases will be those which are not pending before any court and all legal aspects will be looked into before recording any episode.
Bedi, who was feted as a braveheart and a role model for women while also courting several controversies during her career, hoped that the show will trigger a movement for voluntary dispute redressal systems across the country.
The event also saw release of a special First Day Postal Cover to mark the silver jubilee of FLO.
Delivering a lecture on "bad leadership habits", Bedi spoke of how "not listening" to others are creating problems across the board, including in government machinery.
"If Manmohan Singh and L K Advani sits in a room with no other officials but the Directors General of Police, and listens to them, they can solve most of the law and order problems," she said. PTI
Salman Khan files application in MCOCA for film dues
Mumbai, Nov 10 (PTI) Bollywood actor Salman Khan today filed an application in special MCOCA court seeking to get the amount pending for his work in a movie in which its producer was arrested for his alleged links with the underworld.
The movie 'Chori Chori Chupke Chupke', released in 2001, was allegedly funded by the underworld. Its financier Bharat Shah and producer Nazeem Rizvi were arrested in this connection.
According to the contract, Khan is due to get Rs 25 lakh of the signing amount. He has still not got the full amount, said Khan's lawyer Renuka Laxman.
The application will come up for hearing before special MCOCA judge Y D Shinde. PTI
Diwali releases brings cheer at box office
Mumbai, Nov 7 (PTI) There were Diwali cheers for Bollywood this year with 'Golmaal Returns' and 'Fashion' raking in the moolah at the box office.
Though the excitement and curiosity was much less compared to last year, when big-budgeted movies 'Om Shanti Om' and 'Saawariya' were released, the successes brought respite to the industry which was going through a dull phase following poor box office response to big budgeted movies like 'Drona' , 'Karzzz' and 'Roadside Romeo' just before the festive season, trade sources said.
Sources said that 'Golmaal Returns' earned Rs 72 crore gross in the opening week worldwide, while 'Fashion' generated more than Rs 33 crore worldwide.
Both films were released on Wednesday, unlike the customary Fridays, last week to cash in on the Diwali-mania.
'Golmaal Returns', produced by Shree Ashtavinayak Cine Vision Ltd and directed by Rohit Shetty, is a sequel to 'Golmaal' which was one of the biggest grosser of 2006.
Talking about the film, Shetty said that the the box office response to "Golmaal Returns" had been bigger than the original film.
'Golmaal Returns' ran to packed houses for three days, he said. "'Chitra' theatre in central Mumbai beat all records for the past nine years for the opening week and was booked houseful in advance for the second week as well," Shetty said.
Exhibitors and distributors are thrilled with the film's response not just in the Mumbai circuit but all over India too, he added. PTI
Mining poses threat to Sahyadri Tiger Park
Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Nov 10 (PTI) As the Maharashtra government awaits Environment Ministry's nod for notification on the newly created Sahyadri tiger park, there is a word of caution from the wildlife experts.
Worried over the ongoing bauxite mining activities on the periphery of the tiger park, they stress on adequate steps to curb the mining activity least the wildlife is threatened by people.
"The mines which are in proximity to the park have to be either stopped or controlled. Otherwise all efforts and money will go down the drain," Ashok Kumar of Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) says.
He pointed out that the noise due to blasts and heavy machinery besides regular biotic pressure on the Reserve for fire wood and fodder from the mine workers will disturb the habitat as has happened in Panna Tiger reserve where Supreme Court has sought closure of the mines.
The Maharashtra government has submitted a draft notification of the newly approved reserve to the environment ministry for its nod so as to notify the entire area.
The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has given in-principle approval to the park asking the state authorities to give a detail project report.
Maharashtra already boasts of three tiger reserves -- Melghat,Tadoba-Andhari and Pench Tiger Reserves, drawing lakhs of tourists to the parks every year.
Sahyadri Tiger Reserve will include 317.67 sq km of Chandoli National Park and 423.55 sq km of Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary. The Chandoli National Park was formed in 2004 while Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary was formed in 1985. PTI
Newsletter: Kerala village declared first litigation-controlled panchayat
N Muraleedharan
Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 9 (PTI): After its pioneering efforts in universal literacy, Kerala has scored another first with a sleepy hamlet of Cheriyanad in Alappuzha district being declared the country's maiden litigation-controlled and legal-literate panchayat.
Starting on a modest note in 1988, the campaign for the case-free panchayat has seen about 1500 disputes settled since then, which included 676 cases disposed off through conciliations by the specially set up panchayat court.
The civic body has received the support of the judges of the Kerala High court, the state Legal Services Society and several serving and retired legal luminaries in the quest for making the village virtually litigation-free.
"The cases settled included both civil and criminal. Many of them we could settle within the panchayat itself, where a specially designated sub-committee heard both sides and brought about conciliations. In the end, those who came as foes would disperse shaking hands over a cup of tea", Cheriyanad Panchayat President V K Vasudevan, told PTI.
A predominantly agrarian panchayat of about 7000 families, the process had been generally welcomed by the people though many of them had initial doubts about its success. "Now they know that they had been able to save money and time which would have wasted on if they went for litigation over petty disputes", a panchayat official said. PTI
Developmental activities to be banned near Mount Abu
Archana Jyoti
New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI)Industrial and other developmental activities will soon be banned around famous cultural heritage and tourism hotspot Mount Abu nestled in the lapse of the Aravali range in Rajasthan.
The environment ministry has issued a draft notification to declare the area around the destination as a eco-sensitive zone so as to restrict industrial and other developmental activities for protecting its fragile environment.
The draft notification issued last month under the Environment (Protection) Act is applicable to Mount Abu Municipal Council area, sanctuary and adjoining forests regions covering 12 villages including Sanigaon, Jaogaon, Dilbara, Uriya, Jawal, Achalgarh, Salgaon, Torna, Dudhai, Hetamji and Arna to name a few.
"We have invited comments from the public in general. Final notification will be issued two months later," Deputy Director Neeraj Khatri in environment ministry told PTI.
Significantly, this is the first eco-sensitive zone declared in the Northen State wherein steps have been taken to protect the bio-diversity in the region particularly in Sanactuary spread over 288 kms which is visited by tourists in a large number every year.
Mount Abu, situated in Sirohi district comprising of tropical dry deciduous forests at lower altitude and evergreen forests at higher altitude is known for several endemic and rare species.
Besides, it has natural heritage as Nakki Lake and man made heritage like Dilwara temples. "Once the area is notified as eco-sensitive zone, the flora and fauna in the sanctuary-- there is a majority of Sloth Bears and endemic plants--will be protected," RN Mehrotra, Rajasthan chief conservator forest said. PTI
Animal abusers can turn serial killers, criminals: PETA
New Delhi, Nov 9 (PTI) If caught, they can get away paying a fine of Rs 50. Those who torture and abuse, however, can be equally dangerous to humans and need to be punished accordingly, feel animal activists.
Animal rights activists in Mumbai actually have launched a hunt for the perpetrator who cruelly tortured a stray dog.
People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has announced a reward of Rs 10,000 to anyone who helps to nab the guilty person who pierced both eyes of a dog with a sharp object blinding it permanently.
The animal rights body is pushing for arrest and conviction of those responsible for the crime. It is offering the cash reward to give information to the Bombay Society for Prevention of Cruelty of Animals (BSPCA), which on account of being a member of the Animal Welfare Board of India has the right to prosecute persons on their own.
"It has been proven many times that serial killers and hardcore criminals have been known to have practised violence on animals. We need to bring this link out in the public before many more crimes are committed," Anuradhna Sawhney, Chief Coordinator, Peta told PTI.
"People who abuse animals are cowards. They take their issues out on the most defenseless beings available to them. Mumbai residents have reason to be concerned," says Sawhney.
Peta believes that other animals in the area and even human residents may be in danger as long as those responsible for this crime are at large. The NGO is urging residents not to leave animals outside unattended. PTI
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