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Climate change threat real, lifestyle must change: PM
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Ahead of his trip to Germany to attend the G-8 summit where global warming is expected to be a key issue, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today voiced concern over climate change threat and said unless people change their lifestyles, "our future will be at peril".
"The threat of climate change is real and unless we alter our lifestyles and pursue a sustainable model of development, our future will be at peril", he said in a message on World Environment Day.
Recalling Mahatma Gandhi's words that "our planet has enough to meet everyone's need but not everyone's greed", Singh said it was incumbent upon all to think of future generations and the very future of the planet each time people undertook an act of consumption.
India was committed to pursuing environmentally sustainable development strategies, he said adding "while we have a long way to go in meeting the aspirations of our people and while we must rid our country of the scourge of poverty, ignorance and disease, we should do so in a manner that is environmentally sustainable".
The challenge before the people is to protect the environment and ensure the well-being of future generations, "even as we seek to accelerate the pace of economic growth, pursue industrialization and the modernization of agriculture and improve the quality of life of our people".
The Prime Minister urged the people to come forward with creative and innovative ideas on how to meet this challenge. PTI
Gurjar stir related violence a national shame, says SC
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Terming as a "national shame" the week-long violence that accompanied the Gurjar stir, the Supreme Court today directed the Governments of Rajasthan, Haryana, UP and Delhi to submit their action taken reports on the incidents.
"It is a national shame when hordes of people are destroying public and private properties," a bench of Justices Arijit Pasayat and D K Jain observed while taking suo motu cognizance of the incidents on the basis of media reports.
The bench regretted that prima facie it appeared that the administration neither took any preventive steps nor action against the offenders who were responsible for the destruction of such properties.
"As the electronic media shows, the offenders feel that they have done some very heroic or laudable thing because they show their beaming faces when the TV camera is focused on them," the apex court observed.
The court said that the incidents had created considerable hardships to the general public as it paralysed normal life so much so that people reached their offices late and doctors could not attend on their patients.
Speaking for the bench, Justice Pasayat recalled that the apex court had earlier in the case of certain protest demonstrations in Kerala had ordered recovery of compensation from such mobsters. PTI
Congress to stake claim in Goa
Panaji, Jun 5 (PTI) Congress will stake claim to form the next Goa government by today evening or tomorrow, Congress leaders said here.
The Congress with sixteen legislators will stake the claim for the government with the support from NCP's three newly elected MLAs, Congress MP Shantaram Naik said.
Naik added that the support of two independents - Vishwajeet Rane and Anil Salgaoncar - will be taken to get a clear majority in the 40-member assembly. PTI
Congress wins 2 bypolls, gets simple majority in Manipur
Imphal, June 5 (PTI) Congress, the major partner in Manipur's ruling Secular Progressive Front (SPF) ministry, secured simple majority on its own as the party won the bypoll to two seats, results of which were announced today.
Congress now has 31 members in the 60-member Manipur assembly as its party nominee Th Lokeshore Singh won the bye-election from Khundrakpam constituency in Imphal East district while wife of Chief Minister O.Ibobi Singh O.Landhoni Devi won the Khnagabok seat bye-election in Thoubal district.
The SPF which consists of Congress and CPI now has 35 members - Congress 31, CPI four.
The break up of opposition parties - Manipur People's Party (5), Rashtriya Janata Dal (3), Nationalist Congress Party (4), Nationalist Peoples Party (3) and Independents 10.
Bye-elections to Khundrakpam and Khangabok were held following the death of NCP MLA Th Navakumar Singh while Chief Minister had vacated Khangabok seat and retained Thoubal seat. Singh had won from both the seats in the February assembly elections.
Bye-elections to the two constituencies were held on June 2. PTI
Mayawati gets a breather in Taj corridor case
Lucknow, Jun 5 (PTI) In a big reprieve for Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati, Governor T V Rajeswar has refused to give sanction to prosecute her in the Rs.175 crore Taj Heritage corridor case in which the BSP supremo is among the six key accused.
The decision of the governor, who is the competent authority, was submitted by the CBI today before a designated court which is hearing the case relating to the now shelved move to build a corridor on the banks of Yamuna river near Taj Mahal in Agra in 2002.
Mayawati's cabinet colleague Naseemuddin Siddique was also spared with the governor not giving the sanction orders.
According to sources, the governor did not find enough evidence to give his nod for sanction.
The CBI said it had received the governor's order made on June 3 in which he has declined to accord sanction to prosecute Mayawati and Siddique for offences under different sections of the Indian Penal Code.
The investigating agency, in an application filed before the designated court today, said that it had sought sanction to prosecute Mayawati, Siddique, former environment secretary R K Sharma and undersecretary R Prasad from the competent authority.
The agency said that the sanction was sought under section 19 (1) of the Prevention of Corruption act 1988 and section 197 of the CrPC. It said the sanction in respect of Sharma and Prasad was still awaited.
The governor's order came exactly three weeks after Mayawati became the Chief Minister for the fourth time after leading her BSP to a thumping victory in the assembly elections. The previous Mulayam Singh Yadav government had passed on the files regarding CBI seeking sanction for prosecution of Mayawati to the governor on the day of counting of votes. PTI
Emburey joins race for Indian job
New Delhi, June 5 (PTI) Putting all speculations to rest, the Cricket Board (BCCI) today said former England spinner John Emburey was the second person in contention for the post of India coach.
"The BCCI has invited Graham Ford and John Emburey to come to Chennai and make a presentation to the Special Committee on 9th June, after which a final decision on the next coach of Indian team will be made," a statement from BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said.
South African Ford had emerged as prime contender for the Indian job after the BCCI Search Committee's decision, which came after a meeting in Bangalore last evening, to invite him for discussion in Chennai.
However, the BCCI had not named the second person whom it said was trying to get in touch with.
It however said that Dav Whatmore, the former Sri Lanka and Bangladesh coach who had been the front-runner all along, out of the reckoning.
It was speculated that the unnamed foreigner was either former England coach Duncan Fletcher or former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga whose name was reportedly brought up in the meeting by Sunil Gavaskar one of the three formere captains in the Search Committee. PTI
Afro-Asia Cup struggles to find sponsors; advertisers
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) With less than 24 hours remaining for the Afro-Asia Cup cricket series to kick off in Bangalore, the organisers are yet to find a main sponsor for the event as well as for the Asian team.
"We are still looking for sponsor for the Asian team while African team will be sponsored by Sahara Computers," Asian Cricket Council CEO Syed Ashraful Huq told PTI.
Asked about the main sponsor of the series, Huq said: "It has not been finalised yet, we are still in talks with some people." It is understood there are no takers even for the in-stadia advertising rights, which is with ACC.
Besides struggling to find sponsors, the tournament has also not been able been able to attract media buyers' interest for advertisements.
Industry sources say the broadcaster for the series, ESPN-Star Sports has fixed the floor price for a ten second slot at Rs 35,000. But officials at the channel cound not be reached for confirmation.
"Currently we are not receiving any queries from advertisers because no one is interested in the series. It's not a matter of price, it's a question of need for being in the series as advertisers," Mindshare Managing Director Sunda Raman said.
He said companies like PepsiCo, Motorola and UB among its clients, which are heavy on advertisement in cricket, have not contacted it for the series. PTI
Green Park may host international matches again
Kanpur, June 5 (PTI) The Green Park stadium's long drought of international cricket matches may end soon, courtesy the change of guard in Uttar Pradesh in the political sphere.
Ther formation of the Bahujan Samaj Party government in the state under Chief Minister Mayawati has raised hopes of once again hosting high-profile matches at the historic ground, Uttar Pradesh Cricket Association Secretary (Sports and Administration) PD Pathak said.
Differences between the UPCA and the state's sports ministry on various matters have now narrowed, he said.
Pathak hoped that Green Park would be the venue of a one-day match between Australia and India in October and a Test match against Pakistan in November this year.
He alleged UPCA did not get the stadium to stage international matches for the last two-and-a-half years due to the unfavourable attitude of previous state government.
He added that the new government had already provided the stadium to UPCA for staging an inter-district cricket tournment and after getting the green signal from the Cricket Board, efforts would start for organising international matches. PTI
Joshna to shift base to UK to train under squash guru
Amlan Chakraborty
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Hovering in and out of the top 40, Joshna Chinappa believes she has finally found an alchemist in British squash guru Malcolm Willstrop who can re-define her career and the Chennai girl is now packing her bags to shift base to UK.
On her return to home after a fortnight stint under Willstrop, Joshna told PTI in an interview that it was a highly enriching experience and she thoroughly enjoyed working under Willstrop.
"He is brilliant, I just loved training under him. For me, it was a never-before experience. He is strict, a disciplinarian to the core but his way of coaching is fascinating.
"Im going to get an apartment there. Apart from training, my travels for tournaments in Europe and American would be a lot easier now," said Joshna, a beneficiary of the Mittal Champions Trust and also the brand ambassador for Canara Bank.
Willstrop's list of wards include former world number one Lee Beachill, apart from his son James who rose to the number two position, and Indias national champion Saurav Ghosal. It was in fact Ghosal who suggested Joshna a stint under Willstrop.
"Training under Malcolm was an eye-opener. He would get everybody on the court and you play with each and all. You had to play with the boys as well, in fact I played with (former number one) Lee Beachill. It adds variety. Im definitely going back for more," she said. PTI
Sharath Kamal bows down to top seed: Table Tennis
Avishek Roy
Jaipur, Jun 5 (PTI) India's campaign at the 17th Commonwealth Table Tennis Championship came to an end as defending champion Achanta Sharath Kamal crashed out against top seed Gao Ning of Singapore in the semifinals here today.
Sharath Kamal lost 11-13 10-12 8-11 7-11 to the world number 18 to bow out of the championship on the last day of the event at Sawai Mansingh stadium.
Singapore caused India's downfall in the doubles event as well with Shubhajit Saha and Anirban Nandi going down 12-10 2-11 7-11 2-11 against Ning and Yang Zi in the semifinals and settled for bronze.
In women's doubles, India's Vishakha Vijay and Sushmita Roy, who reached the semifinals yesterday riding on two upset wins, went down to the Canadian pair of Mo Zhang and Yuen Sara 11-9 11-9 7-11 11-9 to win bronze.
Both the men's and women's singles final will be an all-Singaporean affair.
In the men's finals, Ning will clash with second seed Yang Zi, who thrashed Nosiru Kazeem of Nigeria 11-8 11-9 11-8 11-6 in another semifinals.
In the women's singles final, Gu Wang Yue will take on Sun Bei Bei. Both Wang and Bei Bei had to fight their way out in the semifinals that went all along the wire.
Wang edged past Malaysian Lee Wei Beh 6-11 10-12 13-11 8-11 11-6 11-5 11-5 while Sun Bei Bei surpassed Miao Miao of Australia 13-11 8-11 12-10 8-11 11-9 8-11 11-8 in marathon encounters.
But it was heartbreak for India in the men's semifinals where Sharath Kamal lost to Gao, who had earlier beaten him in the Indian Open tour in Delhi earlier this year. PTI
ICICI, BoB, OBC plan to launch reverse mortgage schemes
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) ICICI Bank and Bank of Baroda are among the half a dozen private and public lenders planning to launch reverse mortgage products that will enable senior citizens owning a house to earn regular income.
Punjab National Bank is the only banking entity so far to have launched a reverse reverse mortgage scheme, the final guidelines for which were issued on May 31.
However, a host of banks like ICICI Bank, BoB, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Corporation Bank and Allahabad Bank have expressed intention to enter this new business of lending to senior citizens by monetising house owned by them as an asset.
"This is a new product concept and the bank is working on details. It is like insurance product and need some expertise. We are currently studying the market scenario," Oriental Bank of Commerce Executive Director Allen C A Pereira told PTI.
BoB, the country's fourth-biggest public lender, is also planning to launch its product within the next three months. Allahabad Bank has secured the approval of its board to come out with a reverse mortgage product and the bank is working on launching the product, bank officials said.
Besides PNB, Dewan Housing Finance has also launched this scheme, which is aimed at assuring the borrower a steady income by mortgaging the self-occupied property.
Dewan Housing and PNB had introduced these scheme under the names Saksham and PNB Baghban even before final guidelines on reverse mortgage were announced by National Housing Bank, the nodal agency for mortgage finance.
In reverse mortgage, a senior citizen who owns a house can earn a monthly income by mortgaging the house. The person, however, can stay in the house throughout his lifetime and do not have to repay or service the loan. PTI
LIC waiting for IRDA nod for health insurance foray
Indore, June 5 (PTI) Country's largest life insurance services provider Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) is set enter the health insurance space in about two months as it is awaiting a nod from the IRDA.
"The company will soon enter the health insurance sector and has submitted to the Insurance regulator (IRDA) newly- designed quality products in this regard," LIC Managing Director Thomas Mathew told reporters here today.
"Once the company receives approval from the regulator, LIC will formally announce its entry," Mathew said, adding the formal launch will take about two months.
The company has formed a new subsidiary for taking care of the proposed business, he said after donating cochlear implants of four hearing-disabled children as part of the company's corporate social responsibility.
Referring to LIC's growth in view of the entry of number of private players, he said: "LIC is number one in the world in terms of total number of policy holders, 22 crore at present, which is more than the population of many countries." The company's total market share in life insurance sector is above 75 per cent, while the remaining 25 per cent is owned by 15 private players. Of these nine private firms have just one per cent share, he said. PTI
Enough liquidity in market: Indian Bank Chief
Mumbai, June 5 (PTI) Amid speculation that the Reserve Bank of India might increase the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR), public sector lender Indian Bank today said there was enough liquidity in the market and it was well poised to handle another hike.
"The banking industry is mature enough to confront yet another hike in CRR rates should the RBI take such a step. In lieu of lower inflation rates, another hike in CRR is not likely. However, the banking industry in India is mature enough to face any such measures," Indian Bank Chairman and Managing Director Sundara Rajan told PTI here.
Following a series of monetary tightening measures by the Reserve Bank, inflation has come to controllable levels, Rajan said.
The call rates have also touched lower levels reaching nearly 0.50 per cent yesterday and there is enough liquidity in the market, he added.
Rajan said the bank's prime lending rate was presently at 12.50 per cent, "which is in line with market trends." With call rates touching lower levels yesterday combined with enough liquidity in the system, "we hardly see any need to hike interest rates," he said.
Indian Bank has pegged credit growth at 25 per cent and deposit growth at 20 per cent for FY08. PTI
India good investment option;domestic cos growing fast: report
Dharam Shourie
New York, June 5 (PTI) Having strong fundamentals, India provides lucrative investment opportunities to foreign companies, but the country's corporates can be tough competitors as they are growing at a fast pace, a report has said.
A Societe Generale's report - The India Factor, released by Minister of State for Industries Ashwani Kumar yesterday, said India has a strong growth rate, high savings rate and a diversified economy and provides opportunities for MNCs in construction, telecom, banking and consumer goods sectors.
However, it warned the MNCs of tough competition they could face in the country as Indian companies are likely to expand their market share both at home and abroad.
"We are already seeing this with IT services and pharmaceuticals and can expect further competition from India's new global players in automobiles and components, metals and mining and oil and gas, among other sectors," the investment banker said in the report.
"India's expansion, therefore, combines both risks and opportunities for the Western companies," it added.
India has opened up almost all sectors to foreign participation and a combination of high growth rates, rich talent and growing domestic market is turning it into a "land of opportunity for foreign investors and companies." The European companies comprise 50 per cent of all multinationals operating in India, it said, predicting that they will "significantly" step up their effort in the country.
"A significant increase in sourcing, manufacturing, and research and development is expected. The fast-moving and competitive Indian market means that they (companies) must be prepared to invest and capture growth or risk losing out as many did in China," it said. PTI
Coke pledges to conserve global rivers; India missing
Anil K Joseph
Beijing, June 5 (PTI) Soft drinks giant Coca-Cola today pledged to conserve seven of the world's most critical river basins under a USD 20 million plan but skipped India, where it faces protests for allegedly depleting ground water.
The pledge was announced at the annual meeting of the World Wildlife Fund in Beijing, where The Coca-Cola Company launched a multi-year partnership with WWF to conserve and protect freshwater resources.
The Coke-WWF partnership will focus on "measurably conserving" China's Yangtze, Southeast Asia's Mekong, the Rio Grande/Rio Bravo of Southwest US and Mexico, the rivers and streams of the Southeastern US, the water basins of the Mesoamerican Caribbean Reef, the East Africa basin of Lake Malawi, and Europe's Danube River.
"We are focusing on water because this is where Coca-Cola can have a real and positive impact," Coca-Cola Chairman and CEO E Neville Isdell said.
The announcement, however, did not mention any measures to conserve water basins in India, where the company's plant at Plachimada in Kerala was forced to shut down due to protests from locals over depleting ground water level.
In 2004, the plant was shut down and temporarily started functioning in 2005, only to be closed again on the orders of the Kerala State Pollution Control Board. Recently, Coke shifted one of its production lines from the unit to Orissa.
The USD 20 million commitment is also expected to support more efficient water management in its operations and global supply chain, and reduce the company's carbon footprint, a statement from Coca-Cola said.
Isdell said the company's goal was to replace every drop of water it used in beverages and their production. PTI
US missile defence plans may trigger proliferation: China
Beijing, June 5 (PTI) The US plan to deploy a missile defence shield in Eastern Europe as well as in East Asia may trigger a new round of weapon proliferation problems, a senior Chinese official said here today.
"China has always maintained that missile defence affects the strategic balance and international stability, is not conducive to mutual trust between major powers and may cause new proliferation problems," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said.
"The United States' intention to deploy a missile defence system in Eastern Europe has drawn considerable attention and some countries are very concerned," Jiang said when asked to comment on the US plan.
The United States plans to deploy missile interceptors in Poland and radar units in the Czech Republic as part of a project to extend its missile defence system in Europe. Russia has voiced strong opposition to the deployment. PTI
Human Rights body slams Pak govt for harassing journalists
Islamabad, Jun 5 (PTI) Expressing concern over harassment of journalists in Pakistan, a top human rights activist has described the fresh curbs imposed on the media as "draconian".
"It was shocking that the government had been repeatedly preventing the live TV broadcast of seminars, protests and rallies held for the independence of judiciary, particularly by Aaj TV, ARY and Geo," said Iqbal Haider, secretary general of the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.
Haider's statement published in the Dawn said he was disturbed by the news of the draconian ordinance promulgated on the eve of the National Assembly session and the merciless use of violence against journalists.
"There are no sacred cows. We have every right to criticise those who are wrongly involved in Pakistani politics. You withdraw them from politics and we will have no grievances," he added.
Haider also expressed dismay over harassment of writer Ayesha Siddiqua, who was prevented from launching her book "Military Inc" exposing the billions of dollars of corporate and land holdings of the Pakistan army. "The HRCP assured all moral and legal support to the media and Dr Ayesha Siddiqua." "If the establishment feels annoyed or embarrassed by such publications then the best course for them is to restrain the armed forces in service or retired from building a business empire, instead of restricting the exposures of such empires, and withdraw all harassment and victimisation actions against such people," he said.
Haider said two of the three Karachi-based journalists who were issued death threats with bullets sent in envelopes were among the list of 18 journalists threatened earlier by the Mohajir Rabita Council headed by a federal minister. PTI
Some work left on civil nuclear deal: US
Washington, June 5 (PTI) The United States has said it has made some progress on a proposed agreement to operationalise the civil nuclear deal with India but there is still "some work" left to be done.
"...I don't have a detailed readout for you.I know that they did make some progress, but there's still work left to be done," State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack told reporters at a briefing here.
He was asked about the latest visit of Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns to India for talks with Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon on the '123 Agreement' and the status of the negotiations.
"... Let me do a little research for you and see if I can get back to you on exactly when the experts will reconvene. But they did make some progress, but there is still work left to be done," he added.
The two countries are aiming at sorting out differences particularly on issues like reprocessing right, perpetuity of fuel supplies and continuance of the civil nuclear cooperation if India were to conduct an atomic test.
India has been insisting on having the right to reprocess spent nuclear fuel and is not ready to accept any legally binding clause in the agreement that could cap its strategic nuclear programme.PTI
Millions to be affected by melting snows: report
New York, June 5 (PTI) Millions of people worldwide will be affected by melting snow covers, ice and glaciers, a UN study has said.
The study released to coincide with observation of the World Environment Day today, warns that the availability of water supplies for both drinking and agriculture will also be impacted, while rising sea levels will affect low-lying coastal areas and islands.
The report, Global Outlook for Ice and Snow, has been compiled by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and a network of about 70 world experts.
It underlines that the fate of the world's snowy and icy plates in a climatically challenged world should be cause for concern in every ministry, boardroom and living room across the world, said UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner.
"Indeed the findings are as relevant to people living in the tropics and temperate climes and in cities from Berlin to Brasilia and Beijing to Boston as they are for the people living in Arctic or in ice-capped mountain regions," Steiner added.
Melting snow and glaciers on the mountains of Asia alone could affect approximately 40 per cent of the planet's population, the report noted.
Additionally, as ice and snow melt, avalanches and floods from the build-up of potentially unstable glacial lakes are possible.
As ice thaws, there is also the danger of higher levels of methane, a gas which contributes to global warming.
Rising temperatures, coupled with the thawing of frozen land or "permafrost," are leading to the creation of new and expansion of existing lakes in places such as Siberia which are releasing bubbles of methane, estimated to be 43,000 years old. PTI
Small change? Capital seems to take a dislike
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) Anger and consternation are what a majority of commuters encounter if they happen to include 50 paise coins in the fare for public transport vehicles in the capital.
"Yeh aap apne paas hi rakhiye,(Keep this for yourself)" retorts the bus conductor refusing to accept the sum of Rupees two one frequent commuter in the capital hands over in fifty paise coins.
Veena, a government official who has to change two buses daily to get to her workplace says she frequently has to deal with such conductors who do not accept 50 paise coins.
Conductors say they have a tough time exchanging the paise coins into currency notes. "Even beggars throw a contemptuous look at 25 and 50 paise coins. When the buses are crowded, we find it easier to manage the coins of two and five rupees and 50 paise coins unnecessarily fill up the space, says Sonu a conductor. He adds that passengers also prefer to take the rupee notes rather than its half and quarter paise coins.
The RBI had recently issued a press release which states that all coins are legal tender and cannot be refused. The Central bank says the 50 paise as well as the 25-paise coins are as much valid as are the hexagon-patterned 20 paise coin or the zig-zag frilly edged 10-paise.
"It is very clear, the RBI has issued no such guidelines to let the coins out of circulation. There is no such policy," Alpana Killawala, Chief General Manager, Press Relations, RBI, told PTI from Mumbai.
The situation is not so in other metros like Mumbai, Chennai and Kolkata where there seems to be no difficulty in transacting with such small denomination coins. PTI
Newsletter-Bihar: Where is Ankit? Kidnapped on Apr 12, the kid is still missing
Ajay Kumar
Patna, PTI) "Kahan hai ankit (Where is Ankit?) It is still a question crying for an answer in Bihar with police groping in dark whether the six-year-old son of a trader, who was kidnapped from Alamganj area here on April 12, is alive or dead.
Ankit, a prep student of St. Paul School, was last seen while taking ice cream with a fellow pupil with an unidentified person on April 12 at his school and is untraceable since then.
Police raided several places and carried out digging operations on the information provided by Balram Paswan, servant of the businessman family and alleged kingpin of the abduction case, who had later retracted his 'confession' having strangled the boy to death and burying his body in a riverine near Sarinchak-Rahat road in Chapra.
Police teams from Patna, Siwan, Muzaffarpur and Saran districts had carried out the digging operations for five days in the mid of this month but could not trace the body.
What they did discover during the operations were Ankit's half-pant and socks.PTI
Newsletter-Assam: Assamese unite against ULFA
Enaxi Saikia Barua
Guwahati, (PTI) As spate of bomb blasts rock various parts of the state with deathly regularity there is an upsurge of anger among the people against the ULFA - the banned insurgent outfit.
Growing support to organised protests by various bodies against the ULFA's onslaught on the people is evident during rallies where the common man on the street is asking "for whom is the ULFA fighting when it is killing its own people?" Bhabani Hazarika, who happened to be in the Athgaon area during the May 26 bomb blast that killed 7 persons and injured 30 others says, "the ULFA needs to do some serious introspection as for whom and how are they trying to secure sovereignty of Assam. Is it by killing their own people? Their victims are not foreigners, but their own people from Assam".
"If the ULFA leaders sitting in their comfortable luxurious secure homes in Bangladesh are thinking of liberating us from India by attacking us only, then they need to think again. The people have no faith and confidence in them. We are Indians and will remain so", Hazarika asserts.
Seven-year-old Ishani who is a class two student in one of the four schools near the Athgaon bomb blast site is shell- shocked today and afraid to go to school as she fears she may die from a bomb explosion to "never see my mummy".
"The ULFA is always quick to point out that human rights violation is being committed when any of their militants are killed in an encounter with the security forces. But what happens when they kill innocent people", a grieving relative asks. PTI
Lifestyle: Upwardly mobile!
Anurag Sharma
New Delhi, (PTI) For 58-year-old Ram Babu, who runs a small shop dealing with old newspapers and other scrap from residents in Dwarka, a satellite city on the outskirts of the capital, business has witnessed a considerable rise ever since he purchased a cell phone.
Babu, who previously cycled through the by-lanes of this rapidly developing suburb, frequently entering into arguments with security guards of the numerous housing societies there, life is a lot more comfortable now.
Now, he takes calls on his cell phone sitting comfortable in his tiny shed that has newspapers stacked in neat rows.
"I am happy because earlier I used to cover only five societies, but with the phone I am doing ten societies now. People call me on the phone and I have no problem with the security guards as they are instructed to let me in, says Babu with a smile.
With prices of handsets dipping and tariffs becoming more affordable, even those in the lower income bracket are buying mobiles. Be it the next door 'chaiwala,' the 'dhobi,' the milkman, the 'sabziwallah' or the canteen boy, all sport the ubiquitous instrument.
Deepak Gupta, who lives in Ber Sarai and is preparing for civil services exams, says, "my sweeper is a busy guy. He works in 10-15 buildings and if you need him, you have to call him on his mobile." "I save lot of time because of this mobile. Now there is no need to go in every house looking for work. I have circulated my number to every household and they call me in advance, if there is work," says Vinod, a sweeper. PTI
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