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Gujarat fake encounter issue rocks Lok Sabha
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) The fake encounter case in BJP-ruled Gujarat again generated heat in the Lok Sabha today with agitated saffron party members clashing with Samajwadi Party and Left MPs who demanded a CBI probe into the issue.
The heated exchanges forced Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to abruptly adjourn the House shortly before the lunch recess.
Raising the issue during the Zero Hour, Ramjilal Suman (SP) alleged that there have been 21 incidents like the one on Nov 26,2005 in which one Shorabuddin Shaikh was killed in "cold blood" by Gujarat police which branded him as an LeT terrorist.
"The Gujarat Home Minister should have been in jail" , remarked CPI-M leader Mohd Salim amid protests from the BJP members who said the issue was sub-judice.
He said the arrest of three police officials in the fake encounter had shown the "collusion" of the Narendra Modi government. PTI
Reliance has right to do business : Basu
Kolkata, Apr 27 (PTI) Indicating a softening of stand towards Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries' business plan in West Bengal, veteran marxist leader Jyoti Basu today said that the company had the right to do business after acquiring the land.
"Reliance has the right to do business after acquiring land here," Basu told reporters at the CPI-M office when asked to comment on Reliance emerging as the highest bidder for the redevelopment of the Park Circus market here.
Left Front partner, Forward Bloc, which has been opposing Reliance's agri-retail project in the state, had earlier opposed the Kolkata Municipal Corporation's move to hand over the market to Reliance for redevelopment.
Basu, however, said Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had informed him that Reliance was not coming in the agri-retail business in the state as planned.
To a question, Basu said that both Mukesh and Anil Ambani had rung him up, but it was a long time ago.
The veteran CPI(M) leader had earlier thrown his weight behind Forward Bloc in opposing Reliance's Rs 2000 crore agri-retail project in West Bengal which is yet to take off even after 10 months of announcement.
Forward Bloc, which controls the agriculture department of the state, has been refusing issue of licence to Reliance on the ground that its project would harm the interest of farmers and small traders.
Reliance's agri-retail project envisages setting up of a complete retail infrastructure from farmland to retail outlets. PTI
RS to have extended week-end; LS to sit tomorrow
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) Rajya Sabha will have a five-day extended week-end while the Lok Sabha will sit tomorrow to vote the demands for grants of various ministries.
The extended week-end for Rajya Sabha is on account of May Day on Tuesday and Buddha Purnima the next day. The Upper House will meet again on Thursday and have a sitting the following Saturday (May 5).
However, Lok Sabha will sit on Monday (April 30) and then have a two-day break.
The clarification came in Lok Sabha from Parliamentary Affairs Minister P R Dasmunsi who said there was some confusion following media reports. He said the Lok Sabha would function tomorrow despite it being a Saturday.
Dasmunsi said guillotine will be applied for demands for grants of various ministries in the Lok Sabha tomorrow evening.
This is being done to seek an early passage of the Finance Bill as Finance Minister P Chidambaram is going abroad on May six.
The Budget Session of Parliament Session will end on May 22. PTI
Stringent action against stealing of human organs: Minister
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) Strict action will be taken against those indulging in human organ theft, Rajya Sabha was informed today.
"Poor people's organ are taken out.... More stringent action will be taken if any person's organ is unknowingly taken," Health and Family Welfare Minister Anbumani Ramadoss said during the Question Hour.
He said a committee had been constituted for review of the Transplantation of Human Organs Act, 1994 and related rules.
Noting that the recommendations of the committee have been put on the website of the Ministry, Ramadoss said after its examination it was felt that wider consultation was advisable.
The Minister said a meeting is scheduled to be held on May 18 involving doctors, lawyers and others to decide on the issue.
Ramadoss said the government proposed to set up four Organ Retrieval Banking Organisation (ORBO) in four metropolitan cities. Each ORBO will cost Rs seven crores to Rs 10 crores.
He said Government is also taking steps to promote the more effective cadaver kidney transplantation.
In reply to another query, the Minister said kidney sale racket was reported in some states and that each kidney transplant surgery will be monitored by the government. PTI
McGrath wants Jayasuriya wicket one last time
Melbourne, Apr 27 (PTI) Glenn McGrath has singled out his prey in his contemporary Sanath Jayasuriya for the World Cup final against Sri Lanka tomorrow.
McGrath, who has got Jayasuriya's scalp seven times, says he has enjoyed a upperhand against the left-hander in bouncy tracks, something the Barbados pitch will have in plenty.
"In Australia I have always been reasonably successful against him, and I think the bounce has nicked him out quite a few times," McGrath said hoping to claim the Sri Lankan dynamo for the eighth and final time.
McGrath, who will be playing his last match tomorrow, has been a huge success in swansong tournament and has emerged as the most successful bowler with 25 wickets at an equally remarkable average of 13.04.
"I have probably bowled a bit more aggressively in this tournament than I have in the past and that's the reason why I have a few more wickets. Probably gone for a few more runs than I would have preferred to, or normally do," McGrath was quoted in 'Herald Sun'.
The looming retirement had given McGrath fresh potency and he tops the list to bag the World Cup Player of the Tournament award.
"I have been joking around the rooms saying that I am thinking about coming out of retirement." "But I am still happy to finish up at the end of this World Cup," he said.
"The fact that I have decided to retire is probably one of the reasons why I am bowling so well because I am just going out there, trying to enjoy it. There is no pressure, no fear, no anything" he said. PTI
Dubai International Chess: Eesha holds Humpy
By Our Chess Correspondent Dubai, Apr 27 (PTI) Women Grandmaster Eesha Karavade continued her fine run and held world's second ranked woman Koneru Humpy to a draw in the fifth round of the 9th Dubai International Chess championship here.
On what turned out to be a mediocre day for Indian norm seekers in this USD 45000 prize money tournament, Eesha turned out to be quite lucky in her own words against Humpy who missed some better continuations before forcing the truce at the Dubai Chess and Culture Club.
The draw took both Eesha and Humpy to 3.5 points out of a possible 5 and the former now has an excellent chance of making her third and final International Master norm from this event.
Double GM norm holder S Kidambi had to pay dearly for his passive approach against Gadir Guseinov of Azerbaijan who won an instructive endgame against the Indian. Guseinov also remained in joint lead and now shares the helm with compatriot Tamaz Gelashvili on 4.5 points.
With four rounds still to come in the event as many as 12 players follow the leaders with 4 points each while the best placed Indians Eesha, Humpy, Kidambi, Women Grandmaster D Harika and IM P D S Girinath are in the next group of 3.5 pointers.
Eesha was lucky in more ways than one against Humpy who played quite uncharacteristically after getting an advantage. Playing the black side of an English defense, Humpy seized the initiative and was cruising fine with extra material in the middle game till disaster struck through a blunder. PTI
Manipulators knowingly revealed large order: SEBI
Mumbai, Apr 27 (PTI) Capital market regulator SEBI's probe into manipulation of share prices on debut trading has found that brokerage houses deliberately revealed large order positions to rig the price discovery process.
The probe, which yesterday culminated in a ban on seven entities from trading in securities on the day of listing of any scrip, also showed that orders were placed much below prevailing market prices without any financial backing for their execution.
The manipulations occurred in shares listed on exchanges during February and March this year.
The scam took place as stock exchanges do not impose circuit filters - limit up to which prices can move on a given day - on the first day of listing, to enable price discovery in the new shares.
The SEBI order said abnormalities in trading of these shares were indicated by Integrated Market Surveillance System software, which set in motion the investigation.
The shares in which manipulation was noticed were Pochiraju Ind, Cambridge Technology, Mindtree Consulting, Shree Astavinayak Cine Vision, Pyramid Saimita Theatre and AI Champdany Ind.
As per SEBI, the manipulators placed orders much below prevailing market price on the day of listing, rendering them as non-serious orders making no commercial sense.
"The intention of placing such orders was not for genuine trading but only for artificially enhancing the levels of demand, which constitutes a manipulative practise in the market," SEBI said. PTI
Industrial relations policy must be sensitive to new tech:PM
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) Citing the Chinese model, Prime Minster Manmohan Singh today said the industrial relations policy must be "sensitive" to absorb new technologies and ensure competitiveness while creating new employment opportunities and protecting interest of the working class.
He also stressed that Government, employers and workers could work together with an "accommodative" approach and address challenges facing the nation.
Addressing the 41st session of the Indian Labour Conference here, Singh said his Government was committed to working with labour and business to create a new era of "inclusive and employment-oriented economic growth".
"The experience of countries like China should alert us to the vital role of industrial modernisation and technical change..... Our industrial policy must be sensitive both to the need to absorb new technologies and ensure competitiveness of our firms, as well as the need to create new employment opportunities and protect the interests of the working people," he said.
To promote new employment, there was need to create an environment in which both the Government and the private sector were encouraged to invest.
"If we can provide an environment in which investors feel confident enough to invest, we will be able to generate gainful employment and promote workers' welfare," he said after giving away Shram Awards to 45 workers for their exemplary commitment and dedication. PTI
Bharti to invest 3.5 bn dollar in 2007-08
New Delhi, Apr 27 (PTI) India's leading private sector cellular services provider, Bharti Airtel today announced an investment of 3.5 billion dollar (up to Rs 15,000 crore) in 2007-08 to enhance its telecom network across the country.
"We are planning to add 30,000 base-stations this year, largest anywhere in the world," Bharti Airtel CMD Sunil Mittal said while announcing the financial results.
He said the significant investment will also go in expansion of broadband and enterprise services. PTI
Sensex down 118 points, RIL results fails to boost sentiments
Mumbai, Apr 27 (PTI) The stock market opened weak today with the benchmark Sensex falling by over 118 points on the Bombay Stock Exchange despite better-than-expected quarter earnings posted by Reliance Industries.
The BSE-30 share index, Sensex, which had ended 11 points higher in extremely volatile trade yesterday, lost 118.76 points at 14,110.12 points in the first five minutes of the trading.
Similarly, on the wide-based National Stock Exchange, Nifty fell 50.35 points at 4,127.50.
Stock brokers said a 14 per cent growth in net profits at Rs 2853 crore for the fourth quarter by the trend-setter and most-valued Reliance Industries were discounted by the market.
Heavy-weight Reliance Industries stocks were down by Rs 27.50 at Rs 1569 on fresh spell of selling by funds as well as retail investors.
Other draggers were Grasim Industries, HDFC Bank, Hindustan Lever and Infosys Technologies.
However, Bharti stocks remained firm in anticipation of strong earnings. PTI
India has to go in for nuclear power in a big way: Kalam
Sumir Kaul Athens, Apr 27 (PTI) Asserting that energy independence is India's first and highest priority, President A P J Abdul Kalam today said the country has to go in for nuclear power in a big way using thorium-based reactors.
"Energy independence is India's first and highest priority. We are determined to achieve this by the year 2030 through three different sources -- renewable energy, electrical power from nuclear energy and hydro-power for the transportation sector," Kalam said addressing scientists of Greek's National Centre for Scientific Research Demokritos here.
Pointing out that energy independence threw very important technological challenges to the world, Kalam told the scientists of Greece, a member of the Nuclear Suppliers Group, that there was a need for converting thorium into a fissile material using fast breeder technology.
"India has to go in for nuclear power generation in a big way using thorium-based reactors. Thorium, a non-fissile material is available in abundance in our country.
"Intensive research is essential for converting thorium for maximising its utilisation and generating electric power through thorium-based reactors," Kalam said.
Calling for greater cooperation between Greece and Indian scientists, the President listed seven areas -- energy sector, nuclear power generation, Proteomics, HIV/AIDS, stem cell, earthquake and rainfall -- where the two countries could begin research together. PTI
Former CIA director lashes out over decision to invade Iraq
New York, Apr 27 (PTI) Former Director of US Central Intelligence George Tenet has lashed out against Vice President Dick Cheney and other Bush administration officials saying they pushed the country to war in Iraq without ever conducting a "serious debate" about whether Saddam Hussein posed an imminent threat to the America.
Quoting from a yet to be released 549-page book by Tenet, 'The New York Times' said by turns, he is accusatory, defensive and modestly self-critical.
The book "At the Centre of Storm", is the first detailed account by a member of the President's inner circle of September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the decision to invade Iraq and the failure to find unconventional weapons that were major justification for the war, the paper said.
"There was never a serious debate that I know of within the administration about the imminence of the Iraqi threat," Tenet writes in a "devastating judgement" that, the Times said, is likely to be debated for many years.
Nor, he adds, "was there ever a significant discussion" about the possibility of containing Iraq without an invasion.
The book to be published by Harper Collins is to be brought out on Monday.
Tenet, the Times said, admits that he made his famous "slam dunk" remark about the evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction. But he argues that the quote was taken out of context and that it had little impact on President Bush's decision to go to war. PTI
Greek President greets Kalam in Sanskrit
Sumir Kaul
Athens, Apr 27 (PTI) It was a pleasant surprise for President A P J Abdul Kalam when his Greek counterpart Karolos Papoulias greeted him in Sanskrit at the banquet ceremony hosted in honour of the visiting dignitary.
"Rashtrapatm Mahabhaga, Sur Swagatam Yavana dishe (Mr President, welcome to you)", thus began the Greek President his speech at the banquet hosted at the Presidential palace last night much to the delight of the Indian delegation.
Papoulias had studied Sanskrit in Germany and the reason to study the Indian classical language was to understand India better.
"I wanted to welcome you in Sanskrit, the ancient Indian language that is related to ancient Greek, and which I had the opportunity to learn and love during my time as a student in Germany," the Greek President said.
"India and Greece were the birthplaces of great civilisations, which at a certain point in time, in the era of Alexander the Great, met and formed an entirely particular relationship between them. It is said that the importance of civilisations is indicated, above all, by their ancient history and the beauty of their mythology on Creation.
"This criterion is definitely met by our cultures. We pride ourselves on Homer's Epic Poetry and Hesiodus and you are proud of Mahabharata and Ramayana, with their exceptional theological, philological and also philosophical considerations," he said. PTI
HRW slams Pakistan on media freedom
Dharam Shourie
New York, Apr 27 (PTI) A United States-based human rights watchdog has accused Pakistan of violating the international law by failing to allow freedom of expression and trying to suppress the media, which does not "fully support" the government and the President.
Stressing that Pakistan occupies 157th position among 166 countries on the Press Freedom Index (PFI), the Human Rights Watch (HRW) has asked President Pervez Musharraf to demonstrate his commitment to "genuine media freedom" by bringing an end to use of coercion, intimidation, kidnapping and torture in government dealings with print and electronic media.
In a letter to Musharraf, Executive Director of Asia Division of HRW Brad Adams sharply criticized the government for excluding journalists from disturbed areas of Pakistan-Occupied occupied Kashmir, Balochistan and tribal areas which, he said, violates the established principle that journalists be not excluded from areas experiencing violence or armed conflict unless their presences poses a clear risk to the safety of others.
"Your government's failure to allow freedom of expression as required by international law has become yet another symbol of the lack of rule of law in Pakistan, which is fundamental to the promotion and protection of human rights. We urged you to demonstrate a commitment to genuine media freedom by bringing to an end the use of coercion, intimidation, kidnapping and torture, or the threat of it, in government dealings with the print and electronic media in Pakistan," the letter added. PTI
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