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Headlines
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News:
India devising strategies to tackle suicide attacks: Advani
Parliament adjourned over petrol pump issue
Six die as boulder crashes in Kurla
Pakistan says Amarnath, Murree a "plot" to malign it
NC to back Central rule if Hurriyat joins polls: Omar
Rs 80 billion financial package for state cooperative banks
A F Ferguson senior partner Y M Kale resigns
Rupee steady against US dollar
India 61 for two at lunch
Rai says he is innocent, denies taking stimulant
Dilip Tirkey retained captain, Dhanraj Pillay returns
Kumble ruled out for 2nd Test against England
Azhar still hopes to play for India
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Sensex: 2950.09, -59.39
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Forex, Metals and
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News
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India devising strategies to tackle suicide attacks: Advani
New Delhi,Thursday, August 08, 2002: Indian Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani Thursday said the Government was devising strategies to tackle suicide attacks by terrorists like Tuesday's strike on Amarnath pilgrims as they were taking place despite best security arrangements.
"With the kind of 'fidayeen' (suicide) attacks now being carried out by the terrorist groups, incidents of this kind are taking place even with the best of security arrangements in place," he told a meeting of the Consultative Committee attached to the Home Ministry.
Advani said "taking into consideration the new developments, the Government is devising strategies to tackle the situation".
Strongly condemning the terrorist strike on the pilgrims, MPs Somnath Chatterjee (CPI-M), G M Banatwala (Muslim League), Shankar Roy Choudhury (Ind) and Ali Mohammad Naik (National Conference) asked the Government to take extra precaution to avoid such incidents.
Members, cutting across party lines, wanted to know whether there was any security lapse.
They said the attack was mainly aimed at disrupting the peace process and the coming assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.
Special Secretary in the Home Ministry A K Bhandari, who had visited the spot of the killings near Pahalgam, briefed the MPs on what had exactly happened, according to an official release.
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Parliament adjourned over petrol pump issue
New Delhi,Thursday, August 08, 2002: Parliament remained paralysed for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday over the petrol pump allotment issue with a united opposition now demanding resignation of Prime Minister A B Vajpayee amidst uproarious scenes forcing adjournment of both houses for the day.
In Lok Sabha, a combined Opposition, which was till Wednesday was demanding the stepping down of Petroleum Minister Ram Naik, trained its guns on Thursday on the Prime Minister seeking his resignation.
Congress, Samajwadi Party and Left party members trooped into the well raising anti-government slogans immediately after Speaker Manohar Joshi condoled Tuesday's killings of nine Amarnath pilgrims, welcomed a visiting Surinamese delegation and lauded the performance of the Indian team at the just concluded Commonwealth Games in Manchester.
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Six die as boulder crashes in Kurla
(Express News Service)
IT was an accident waiting to happen. A huge boulder the size of a two-storey building remained perched precariously all these years at the edge of a small 100-feet high cliff in Kasaiwada, Kurla (East) while 250-odd families residing around and below the hillock went about their daily lives. On Wednesday morning at about 5.30 am, after 24 hours of heavy rains, the boulder made a decisive move, crashing into seven houses and one godown, killing six residents and injuring ten.
When dawn broke over Kasaiwada, the rock had turned to debris, trapping 34 intrepid residents who had lived in its shadow all their lives. At 10.30 am, the last body, that of six-year old Sumeera Ahmed Aneesh Qureshi (6), was removed. The other deceased are: Shahnawaz Aneesh Qureshi (3), Rabia Abdul Mujlik (55), Muzaffar Qureshi (52), Kaym Arif Sheikh (28) and Abdul Rahim Rauf Qureshi (27).
Over the years, shrubs had grown roots around the boulder, illegally laid storm water lines and sewage drains criss-crossed through the earth below, loosening the boulder’s perch. Yet, the authorities concerned and the residents seemed to have supreme confidence in its ability to remain anchored, giving the boulder no support nettings or any buttress to stay stationary.
Most residents here are tenants who pay a rent of Rs 25-Rs 50 to live here. The area was declared a slum in 1974. Qureshi Nagar unfailingly hits the headlines every year, either due to deaths from leptospirosis/gastroenteritis or due to landslides.
The government has announced a sum of Rs 50,000 for the next of kin of the deceased, Minister of State for Home Kripashankar Singh told the State Legislative Assembly on Wednesday.
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Pakistan says Amarnath, Murree a "plot" to malign it
Islamabad,Thursday, August 08, 2002: Giving a new twist to militant attacks on Amarnath pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir and a Christian Missionary school in Pakistan, Islamabad has said perpetrators of these assaults could be the same.
"First violence takes place here at Murree. The very next day a violent incident takes place there in (J and K)... It seems that those who have committed this are the same people who back the perpetrators of attack in Kashmir," Information Minister Nisar A Memon told BBC Radio in an interview on Wednesday.
"I have been compelled to say that perhaps under some deliberate plan ... first do this here and then there ... It is just a plot to malign Pakistan," Memom said.
His comments followed reports that the three militants, who were involved in the attack on the Murree school on Monday last apparently blew themselves up in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, (POK) after they were identified and questioned by villagers.
Pakistan has not yet officially identified the militants nor the group they belonged to.
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NC to back Central rule if Hurriyat joins polls: Omar
National Conference President and Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah said on Thursday he would back demands for imposition of Governor's rule in J&K if Hurriyat Conference pledged to participate in the ensuing Assembly polls.
"I, as the President of the ruling party, assure that once such a statement comes from Hurriyat, I will go to the state government and my party and ensure imposition of Governor's rule," Omar told reporters here during an interactive session organised by Indian Women Press Corps.
Lashing out at the demands from various political parties,including the Congress, for imposition of Governor's rule, he said, "Why do you single out the state when it is as much an integral part of the country as any other state? Why not change the constitution whereby Article 356 would come into effect automatically in all those states going for polls," he asked.
Referring to the suggestions made by the Kashmir Committee headed by former Law Minister Ram Jethmalani that announcement of polls in the state was a hasty step, Omar said, "Though the formation of the committee is laudable, doesn't Jethmalani think that his initiative is at least two years late?"
He also dismissed suggestions for the postponement of polls on the pretext of security situation in the state and said, "The situation is not worse than what it was in 1996 or 1999 when the state went for polls."
He also rejected the suggestion that Amarnath pilgrims were targeted due to lax security and said that the state and the Central governments have done their best in providing security to pilgrims.
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Rs 80 billion financial package for state cooperative banks
New Delhi,Thursday, August 08, 2002: For financial restructuring of cooperative banks, the government has finalised a package of Rs 80 billion that will be issued through bonds to those states which undertake reforms in the sector.
Announcing the package here, Federal Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said the financial aid would be provided under the "carrot and stick policy" of the government and states would have to pass a model cooperative law to be eligible for the funds.
He said state cooperative banks would float bonds on which interest would be paid by the Federal government and states in the ratio of 60:40. The money thus raised would be used for the banks' capital restructuring.
"The package is only for those states which will undertake cooperative reforms and free the sector from their shackles," the minister said.
However, if due to certain reasons a state was unable to pass the requisite law it would still be eligible for funds under the restructuring plan, provided certain conditions were fulfilled, he said.
Elections in cooperatives have been made mandatory. Those states which have nominated the officials in cooperatives will be kept out of the package.
Furthermore, states should not impose rules and issue directives on the functional aspects of the cooperatives which should have the freedom to take administrative decisions such as hiring of personnel.
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A F Ferguson senior partner Y M Kale resigns
Mumbai,Thursday, August 08, 2002: Senior partner of A F Ferguson & Company Y M Kale, who is the author of report on irregularities in Tata Finance Ltd (TFL), has quit the organisation.
Ferguson & Company in an announcement on Thursday said "Kale, one of the partners of the firm has resigned with effect from Wednesday."
Three other employees, who assisted Kale to write the report on TFL, are also believed to have quit due to alleged differences over the report.
Kale as well as the chartered accountancy firm were not available for comments.
On August six, Ferguson & Company had withdrawn its +confidential report on TFL.
TFL chairman Ishaat Hussain had said on Wednesday that Tatas had not applied any pressure on A F Ferguson to withdraw their report on the finance company.
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Rupee steady against US dollar
Mumbai,Thursday, August 08, 2002: The rupee held steady hovering around its overnight gains against the US currency in extremely quiet and range-bound early trade at the Interbank Foreign Exchange market here on Thursday.
Opening around Rs 48.66/67 per dollar, the rupee is currently quoted at Rs 48.65/66, little changed from the overnight finish of Rs 48.6550/6600.
The forex spot trade remained subdued and within tight band due to lack of market moving factors. However, the outlook for the rupee remained positive due to brisk dollar inflow from exporters amidst very limited import demand, dealers said.
The rupee rallied smartly by over five paise on Wednesday following strong trade inflows.
In cross currency trades, the Euro was quoted at Rs 47.48/50, Pound Sterling at Rs 74.94/96 and Japanese Yen (100) at Rs 40.44/46.
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India 61 for two at lunch
Trent Bridge (England),Thursday, August 08, 2002: Electing to bat, India were 61 for two at lunch on the opening day of the second cricket Test against England here on Thursday.
Virender Sehwag was batting on 37 while Sachin Tendulkar was on 10. Brief Scores: India: 61-2 in 28 overs (V Sehwag batting 37, R Dravid 13, S Tendulkar batting 10; Hoggard 2-17).
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Rai says he is innocent, denies taking stimulant
Bangalore,Thursday, August 08, 2002: Weightlifter Satheesha Rai, who failed a dope test after winning two gold and one silver in the 77-kg category at the Commonwealth Games, denied on Thursday he had taken a stimulant and said he was innocent.
Rai told reporters here that he had been taking normal food supplements in the last several years but had never taken a stimulant. "Winning the gold at the Commonwealth Games is not a big thing. I don't require stimulants to win medals," he said. Rai said he had never tested positive with these food supplements in the past, adding that he had been taking vitamins and 'Ginseng' and 'Ashwagandha' among others. Before leaving for Manchester, Sports Authority of India (SAI) had conducted a dope test and it was negative, Rai said. Stating that he had represented India on more than 16 occasions in the past like Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, Rai said he had undergone dope test 35 times and had never tested positive.
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Dilip Tirkey retained captain, Dhanraj Pillay returns
Bangalore,Thursday, August 08, 2002: Full back Dilip Tirkey was retained captain on Thursday of the Indian Hockey team for the upcoming four-nation tournament in The Netherlands and the Champions Trophy in Germany.
Mercurial forward Dhanraj Pillay, who was not part of the team that took part in the recent four-nation tourney in Australia, has also returned to the squad.
Indian Hockey Federation President K P S Gill told reporters here that except for Sandeep Michael of Karnataka, who would be playing only in the four-nation tournament to be held at Amsterdam from August 22 to 25, the rest of the team would proceed to play in the Champions Trophy in Cologne from August 31 to September eight.
A preparatory camp for the two tournaments is on at the Karnataka State Association Stadium.
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Kumble ruled out for 2nd Test against England
Trent Bridge,Thursday, August 08, 2002: Leg-spinner Anil Kumble was on Wednesday ruled out of the second Test against England starting here on Thursday by a calf injury, Indian team manager Ranga Reddy said.
This paves the way for off-spinner Harbhajan Singh to make his Test debut on English soil.
Reddy said it has not come to a situation where Kumble would be sent back home. He said they hoped that he would recover fully over the next few days.
There would be a test conducted on Kumble's injured calf shortly, he said.
This is the third time in the tour that Kumble has been afflicted by the calf injury.
Kumble was first injured during a NatWest triangular one-day game against England at Oval and needed a runner while batting.
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Azhar still hopes to play for India
TRENT BRIDGE, England: Affirming that he is still "crazy" about the game, former Indian skipper Mohammad Azharuddin hasn't given up the hope of playing for his country again, firm in the belief that the "cruel and unfair" ban on him will be revoked.
Azharuddin, who was served a life ban by the Cricket Board for his alleged involvement in match fixing, feels hurt for not being able to play his 100th test match because of an "arbitrary and biased" probe and wanted right-minded people to take a "close look" at his case.
The former captain, who has been in England for nearly three weeks, felt he was done in on the issue of match-fixing, when a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) team named him as guilty and the Cricket Board banned him for life after its enquiry commissioner K Madhavan held him and Ajay Jadeja guilty.
"It will not be proper for me to make a comment on the subject. But right minded people should look closely at the issue and make up their minds," he said.
The former cricketer in his main petition had questioned the appointment and method of inquiry by Madhavan, terming his probe, which formed the basis for initiating action against him as 'malicious, illegal, arbitrary and biased' and sought the inquiry report to be treated as 'null and void'.
He also questioned the cricketing experience of the then BCCI president A C Muthiah, saying "he, being an industrialist, suffers from lack of experience or knowledge of the game".
The last couple of weeks have seen past cricketers come out in open and support Azhar, including those like former BCCI chief Raj Singh Dungarpur and Kapil Dev.
"I think everyone owes Azharuddin an apology, including the present Indian team," Dungarpur had said in a cricket seminar organised in London during the Lord's Test last week. The function was attended, among others, by Azhar.
Kapil Dev, after he was named Wisden's Indian cricketer of the century, praised Azharuddin a great deal during his acceptance speech but the latter wasn't present.
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Sensex: 2950.09, -59.39
The sensex closed at 2950.09, down 59.39
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Forex
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1 U.S. $ = 49 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0 INR
1 British Pound = 74 INR
1 Canadian $ = 31 INR
1 Singapore $ = 27 INR
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1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 13 INR
1 Euro = 47 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 13 INR
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Weather
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Humidity : 84%
Dew Point : 75 F / 24 C
Wind : WNW at 3 mph / 4.8 km/h
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