|
-: Advertisement :-
-: Advertisement :-
Headlines
|
News:
Indian Parliament stalled over petrol pump issue
Not one pump allotted out-of-turn, asserts Ram Naik
SC issues notice to Centre, U.P., Rajasthan, AIBMAC on Ayodhya
BMC to inculcate civic sense in Mumbaikars
Musharraf doubts bin Laden behind Sept 11 attacks
Heavy rains lash city
SC stays ban on gutkha in UP
Parveen Babi fails to turn up in Sanjay Dutt case
Vajpayee cancels all allotments of petrol pumps
Naik rules out resignation saying he did not do any wrong
Rupee remains firm against US dollar
BSE: Sensex opens firm on fresh buying
Indians go home with best-ever medal haul
|
Markets:
Sensex: 3011.35, +26.34
|
Forex, Metals and
Weather below
|
News
|
Indian Parliament stalled over petrol pump issue
New Delhi,Monday, August 05, 2002: The petrol pump issue Monday rocked Parliament with slogan-shouting Opposition demanding resignation of federal Petroleum Minister Ram Naik and a CBI probe, forcing abrupt adjournment of both Houses for the day.
Naik was present in the lower house of Parliament, Lok Sabha during Question Hour when the entire Opposition trooped into the well shouting ''we want resignation'' and accusing the ruling BJP of "looting" the nation.
After his repeated pleas to restore order proved futile, Speaker Manohar Joshi went through the listed questions. Members from the NDA fielded their queries and Ministers gave brief responses but nothing much could be heard in the din.
Congress Chief Whip P R Dasmnusi said the Speaker could not run the House in this manner when there was "complete disorder." But Joshi was in no mood to relent.
Midway through the Question Hour, when the decibel level went up, Joshi adjourned the House for 15 minutes mainly to confabulate with leaders of political parties to find a way to end the impasse.
Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi was seen vigorously shaking her head, apparently indicating that there was no question of yielding.
In the upper house, the Rajya Sabha, Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptulla adjourned the House amidst Opposition uproar over the issue shortly after it assembled with members shouting "Isteefa do, Isteefa do, loot liya, loot liya (resign and they have looted the country)".
Top
Not one pump allotted out-of-turn, asserts Ram Naik
New Delhi,Monday, August 05, 2002: Under attack from the opposition over the alleged petrol pump scam, federal Petroleum Minister Ram Naik Monday categorically stated that not even a single pump was allotted out-of-turn or under the discretionary quota in the last two-and-a-half-years.
"Under the procedures laid down by us, we have not allotted even a single petrol pump under the discretionary quota or the out-of-turn scheme in the last two-and-a-half years," Naik told reporters outside the Parliament after both Houses were adjourned for the day following uproar on the issue.
"I will come out with other facts through my statement in Parliament," he said. Naik, whose resignation has been demanded by the opposition, said he was not in Delhi on Friday when the allegations were made in Parliament in his absence.
"I was not allowed to make a statement in the House today. Since the allegations against me were made in my absence, I want that in accordance with the Parliamentary traditions, I am allowed to respond to those charges in the Parliament in the presence of the Lok Sabha Speaker and the Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson," Naik said adding , "it is my duty and I want to do it."
The Minister said he has already given his statement to both the Speaker and the Deputy Chairperson.
Top
SC issues notice to Centre, U.P., Rajasthan, AIBMAC on Ayodhya
New Delhi,Monday, August 05, 2002: The Supreme Court on Monday impleaded the federal government, and state governments of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan VHP, Babri Masjid Action Committee (AIBMAC) and Muslim Personal Law Board (AIUMPB) in a petition seeking army deployment at the disputed site at Ayodhya and maintenance of status quo till a decision on title suits of the land.
A three-judge Bench comprising Chief Justice B N Kirpal, Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justice Arijit Pasayat allowed an interim application filed by petitioner Mohd Aslam alias Bhure and issued notices to the newly added parties.
The petition was filed by Bhure through counsel M M Kashyap a week before the much hyped bhoomi pujan ceremony arranged at the disputed site on March 15.
The Supreme Court had bluntly told the parties involved in the arrangement of puja (worship) that no religious activity could take place at the disputed site.
Kashyap had alleged that the parties were not honouring the 1994 order of the Supreme Court for maintenance of status quo at the disputed site and had requested the Court to deploy army at the site till the title suits on the land was decided.
The petitioner had also requested the Court to initiate contempt of court proceedings against VHP leadership including Ashok Singhal for violating maintenance of status quo order at the disputes site in Ayodhya.
Bhure had also sought seizure of stones lying at Kar Sevak Puram at Ayodhya and Pindwara in Rajsthan meant for use at the proposed Ram Temple.
Top
BMC to inculcate civic sense in Mumbaikars
The municipality is aiming high. In the cleanliness campaign to be launched on August 15, the Brihan-mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has set itself a seemingly impossible task—inculcating civic sense in Mumbaikars.
With 200 nuisance detectors on the job to fine litterbugs and spitters, additional municipal commissioner Gautam Chatterjee hopes that in three months even the compulsive offender would clean up his act. While civic observers welcome the campaign, they say that lack of civic sense is so deep-rooted in the city that a mere “cosmetic surgery’’ wouldn’t quite help. “Mumbaikars don’t have civic sense which is expected from a civilised society,’’ says AGNI member Dinesh Ahir. Cynics cite gloomy everyday pictures—two-wheelers and pedestrians dodging spittle from a passing bus, cars crashing traffic lights, resting tired feet on train seats (with shoes on, of course) and myriad disturbing snippets in a mindless city.
The BMC, though, is optimistic. “Habits do take time to change, but I have noticed that Mumbaikars are open to change. My staff has never met with stiff resistance from offenders in Mumbai, but in places like say, Bihar, where I hail from, a civic employee trying to correct a litterbug would face arrogance,’’ says Mr Chatterjee. Lack of awareness also breeds indifference. “There are people who meticulously throw food wrappers in the gutter and assume that that is the most civic-minded thing to do. They don’t know that the drains would choke with garbage,’’ says a civic officer, admitting that there is an acute shortage of litterbins in the city. And what about the walls and banisters of government buildings, including the civic headquarters, that are painted with paan stains? Mr Chatterjee replies, “It is a result of people going unpunished for many years.
Top
Musharraf doubts bin Laden behind Sept 11 attacks
New York,Monday, August 05, 2002: Nearly a year after hijacked planes killed more than 3,000 people in the US, Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf, a key ally in America-led war against terrorism, is not convinced that al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden was behind the September 11 attacks.
Though the US blames bin Laden and his terrorist network for the attacks that destroyed New York's World Trade Center and damaged the Pentagon in Washington, Musharraf said the elusive terror suspect may not have masterminded the attacks.
"I didn't think it possible for Osama sitting up there in the mountains could do it. He was perhaps the sponsor, the financier, the motivating force," Musharraf told the New Yorker in an interview in the magazine's issue appearing today.
He said those who executed the attacks were much more modern. "They knew the US, they knew aviation. I don't think he (bin Laden) has the intelligence or the minute planning. The planner was someone else."
After the attacks, Washington turned to Pakistan for help in its bid to crush the al-Qaeda network and sees the Pakistani president as a key ally in its war on terrorism.
Top
Heavy rains lash city
The much-awaited showers finally graced the city over the weekend bringing down temperatures and easing fears of a looming drought.
Heavy rains lashed the city for the second consecutive day on Sunday flooding low lying areas in Andheri and other suburbs. Road and rail traffic, however, remained largely unaffected. Traffic jams were reported in Milan and Andheri subways due to flooding.
Train commuters complained of water logging at Churchgate pedestrian subway where they had to wade through ankle-deep water. Fire brigade officials said there were 25 cases of treetoppling because of the gusty winds which accompanied the rains while about a dozen cases of short circuits were reported.
A truck which broke down while crossing the level crossing at Badlapur station was pushed across the tracks by local people before a train passed through. The weather bureau has predicted continuous heavy rains in the city and state for the next 24 hours.
Top
SC stays ban on gutkha in UP
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed the controversial Allahabad High Court order banning sale and manufacture of pan masala and gutkha in Uttar Pradesh.
A bench headed by Justice G B Pattanaik while staying the Allahabad High Court order of July 18 issued notice to state government after hearing batch of petitions challenging the High Court order.
The Allahabad High Court had on July 18 banned with immediate effect manufacture, sale and advertisement of pan masala and gutkha in Uttar Pradesh and directed the state government to issue a notification in this regard.
The order, issued by a Division Bench, said pan masala and gutkha, by whatever name they may be called or under whatever label they are sold, should no longer be manufactured or sold in the state.
Top
Parveen Babi fails to turn up in Sanjay Dutt case
The film personality, who claimed to have gathered clinching evidence against actor Sanjay Dutt for his alleged involvement in 1993 bomb blast case, is none other than former actress Parveen Babi, TADA court sources said here on Monday.
However, she did not turn up this morning in the designated TADA court in response to summons issued by Judge P D Kode.
The judge had summoned her to tender evidence in person as the documents and affidavit filed by her earlier were not substantial.
Sanjay, however, came to the court with his lawyers Satish Maneshinde and Farhana Shah.
The court decided to wait until 2.45 pm before passing any orders.
The judge also noted that he would determine whether or not the summons were served on this person who claims to have evidence against Dutt.
Earlier, Parveen Babi had written to the court and filed an affidavit claiming that she had enough material against Dutt's involvement in the bomb blast case.
Top
Vajpayee cancels all allotments of petrol pumps
New Delhi,Monday, August 05, 2002: Facing a concerted Opposition attack and an acute embarrassment in Parliament, Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday ordered cancellation of all allotments of petrol pumps, cooking gas and kerosene agencies in the wake of a newspaper expose that BJP functionaries and their relatives cornered most of them.
As both Houses of Parliament were paralysed with the Opposition demanding resignation of Petroleum Minister Ram Naik for the "loot", Vajpayee consulted top party leaders, including Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, in the presence of Naik and directed him to cancel all the allotments made after January, 2000. However, the allotments made to Kargil martyr families will remain unaffected by the cancellation.
"Since a controversy has arisen with regard to these allotments, the Prime Minister has directed the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas to initiate steps to cancell all allotments made with effect from January 2000 till date," the Prime Minister's office said in a release.
"All concerned petrol pumps and LPG and Kerosene agencies will be auctioned on the basis of competitive bidding. Modalities for the re-allotment on competitive bidding shall be finalised by the concerned ministry," the release said.
The release was issued after shortly after both Houses of Parliament were adjourned with slogan-shouting Opposition members trooping to the well of the House demanding resignation of Petroleum Minister Ram Naik and a CBI probe into the allotments.
Top
Naik rules out resignation saying he did not do any wrong
New Delhi,Monday, August 05, 2002: Under attack from the Opposition on allotment of petrol pumps, Petroleum Minister Ram Naik on Monday ruled out his resignation after a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying he had not done anything wrong.
"There is no reason for me to resign," Naik told reporters after a meeting with Vajpayee, who decided to cancel all the allotment for pumps and gas agencies made after January 2000 on the ground that it had created an atmosphere of suspicion.
"The decision to cancel the allotments was taken at the Prime Minister's meeting where Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani was also present," he said adding others who attended the meeting included Finance Minister Jaswant Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pramod Mahajan and Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Stating that he had not alloted a single pump through his discretionary quota unlike what was done during the Congress rule, he said "I had just evolved a system for allotment."
Asked about the opposition demand for a judicial probe under a Supreme Court Judge or CBI enquiry, Naik said there was no reason for it.
Top
Rupee remains firm against US dollar
Mumbai,Monday, August 05, 2002: Healthy dollar supplies accumulated over the weekend kept the rupee firmly entrenched against the US currency, but trade was quiet and range-bound at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market early Monday The domestic unit was quoted at Rs 48.6400/6500 per dollar in late morning deals, higher from last Friday's finish of Rs 48.6500/6550, after opening on a better note at Rs 48.63/64.
Heaped up dollar supplies collected over the weekend from export proceeds and inward remittances gave the rupee good underlying support, even as the outlook for the currency remained distinctively positive, a forex dealer said.
In cross currency trades, the Euro was quoted at Rs 47.84/86, Pound Sterling at Rs 76.35/38 and Japanese Yen (100) at Rs 40.80/82.
Top
BSE: Sensex opens firm on fresh buying
Mumbai,Monday, August 05, 2002: Discounting last Friday's sharp slide on the US markets, the sensex opened firm and rose past the 3000-mark at early stages on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) today on fresh buying prompted by fairly heavy rainfall in various parts of Maharashtra.
The BSE Sensitive Index opened firm at 2996.89 as against last Friday's close of 2985.01 and later rallied further to a high of 3004.58 before being quoted at 2995.88 at 10.30 am.
The market seemed to have temporarily discounted last weekend's slide in the US markets with a second consecutive triple-digit loss in the Dow Jones Industrials and a fall of over 32 points in the Nasdaq Composite Index, brokers said.
Meanwhile, Centre yesterday announced further relief, including release of additional amount of Rs 714.20 crore under the Calamity Relief Fund, for 12 states facing drought on account of monsoon deficiency, even as rainfall was witnessed in some parts.
Investors were seen picking up old economy stocks at the prevailing low levels on the back of fairly attractive net investments by Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) during last week.
Among the top gainers, Shyam Telecom were quoted up by 8.89 per cent, United Phosp by 8.48 per cent, Exide Ind by 5.64 per cent, Sygenta by 4.92 per cent, Hughes Software by 4.92 per cent, GSFC by 4.90 per cent, Max India by 4.70 per cent, BSES by 4.61 per cent and Apollo Tyre by 4.60 per cent.
However, ICICI Bank, HDFC, VSNL, ITC, Satyam Compuers, NIIT, Polaris and Mastek showed moderate losses.
Top
Indians go home with best-ever medal haul
Manchester,Monday, August 05, 2002: India's inspired performance in the 17th Commonwealth Games has not only come as a breath of fresh air for a country which has always struggled to make a mark at the international level but will also serve as launching pad for the sportspersons to attain greater heights.
The 148-member contingent returned with the best-ever haul of 32 gold, 21 silver and 19 bronze medals to take the third position on the medals table and emerge as a major force in the Commonwealth sporting fraternity.
The spectacular display of the Indian sportspersons warmed the hearts of millions of countrymen and the gold booty was all the more creditable since it had never exceeded 13 golds in the history of the Games.
Though the Indians did not pose a serious challenge to traditional powerhouses Australia and England who expectedly occupied the first two positions, their unprecedented gold collection made them the surprise package of the Games.
The Indians were expected to put up an improved show at the Games this time around, but nobody really thought they would rake in as many as 72 medals.
Although there were many star performers and first-time achievements in India's dream run at this north-western English city, the shooters and the lifters did the bulk of the shopping, collecting as many as 27 of the 32 golds.
Top
|
Markets
|
To get today's complete NIFTY (the NSE index) listing send an e-mail to
get-nse@mumbai-central.com
(updated multiple times a day)
|
To get today's BSE index listing send an e-mail to
get-bse@mumbai-central.com
(updated multiple times a day)
|
To get today's NAVs for mutual funds send an e-mail to
get-mf@mumbai-central.com
(updated once a day)
|
Sensex: 3011.35, +26.34
The sensex closed at 3011.35, up 26.34
Top
Top
|
Forex
|
1 U.S. $ = 49 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0 INR
1 British Pound = 76 INR
1 Canadian $ = 31 INR
1 Singapore $ = 28 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 13 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 13 INR
1 Euro = 48 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 13 INR |
Metals
|
No data |
Weather
| Temperature : 81 F / 27 C
HeatIndex : 84 F / 29 C
Humidity : 65%
Dew Point : 68 F / 20 C
Wind : West at 12 mph / 19.3 km/h
Wind Gust -
Pressure : N/A in / -
Conditions : Haze
Visibility -
Clouds : Overcast(OVC): 8000 ft / 2440 m
|
-: Advertisement :-
-: Advertisement :-
|
Admin Message
Features
Do you own an Internet cafe or provide internet access for web surfing?
If so, please contact us.
Recent items of interest:
NetGeek posts a very informative write-up on the controversy surrounding Vande Mataram
'Make Peace, not War' - a seminar organised by Pakistan India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy on Saturday June 8, 2002 at Press Club, at 3.00 pm opposite BMC Head quarters, VT, Mumbai 400 001. (via nukkad)
Atul Dwivedi posts a terrifying picture of the consequences of a nuclear war on the subcontinent.
V.K.Venugopal, an ex-bureaucrat, suggests a few electoral reforms (on nukkad)
Arya tries to reconcile his many roles: so many of me? (via nukkad)
Classics
74 images with descriptive text showcasing the
Mumbai Ganesh festival 2001
WTC Plane 'bombings' and me - a graphic first-hand account of a 'nukkad' subscriber
Irani Chai Wala - an evocative
description of a typical Irani restaurant in Bombay
Online hotel reservations for all
the major Indian cities.
Easier procedure for non-immigrant U.S. visas - via the Mumbai Grapevine
Puraani
yaadein - lyrics of old Films Division cartoons (via nukkad).
The wonder that is the Mumbai
tiffinwalla
Mumbai Us Zamaney Ka
- a walk down memory lane (via nukkad)
Refuse, Reduce, Re-use, Re-cycle plastics
List of places to see in Mumbai (with pics). Any corrections/additions/suggestions? Send them in.
Make Mumbai Central your start page! Step-by-step instructions here.
Message boards
Bollywood Masala: Re: i love mumbai
Education: results
Community events: Re: volunteer based arts programme!
Nightlife in Mumbai: Re: What's happening to Mumbai??
Primetime: friendship
nukkad
Re: Last Meal before going to Sleep
Re: Love
RE: Hindu-Muslim perspectives
RE: If You Love Someone[Though lengthy but humorous]
Re: Hindu-Muslim perspectives
(More info on the 'nukkad' mailing list, including subscription info is at:
http://www.mumbai-central.com/nukkad/)
About the Mumbai Grapevine
The Mumbai Grapevine is a daily newsletter with news and info
from the city of Mumbai, formerly Bombay. The newsletter also
has weekly editions of international news.
To express your opinion about a particular story or news item,
write to:
news-editor@mumbai-central.com
These opinions may be published on the newsletter. If you do
not want your name/address to be published along with your
letter, please indicate clearly.
Instructions to unsubscribe are at the end of the newsletter.
Please feel free to forward this message to your friends and co-workers
who might be interested in it. The instructions to join the Mumbai
Grapevine are at the end of the message.
|