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Centre defends N-deal ahead of crucial meeting
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) As the Left parties tightened the noose over the UPA on the Indo-US civil nuclear deal, the government strongly came out defending the accord ahead of the crucial meeting between the sides on the issue.
Strong remarks have emanated from Left quarters warning the government not to operationalise the deal without taking into consideration the findings of the Left-UPA Committee, which is scheduled to meet here on October five.
The two sides have, however, agreed to take note of the Committee's findings on the matter before making any forward movement.
Major issues, ranging from the impact of the Hyde Act on the 123 agreement, fuel supply assurances, IAEA safeguards and full nuclear cooperation to the annual certification by the US President, have been raised at earlier UPA-Left meetings chaired by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee.
Notwithstanding Left's scathing criticism, the UPA has asserted that the outside supporters should be "confident" about government's ability to secure India's national interests. It also claimed that successive governments have resisted external pressures on nuclear issues.
On the Left concerns over how the Hyde Act would affect the implementation of 123 agreement by Washington, government in its response has said once the accord was approved by US Congress, only its provisions and not the US law would govern the rights and obligations of the contracting parties.
In response to the Left concerns, government also claimed it had "ensured" that it would not be placed in a situation similar to the one experienced by the Tarapur nuclear power plant when the US had stopped fuel supplies. PTI
Gen Deepak Kapoor assumes charge as new army chief
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) Declaring that the Indian Army was on "threshold of transformation into an advanced weaponised force", General Deepak Kapoor today took over as the 23rd Chief of the Army Staff, holding out promise of undertaking modernisation more rapidly.
"My top priority would be to step up the pace of modernisation," Kapoor said in his first order of the day to officers and all ranks of the army.
Asserting that cutting age technology would be given to soldiers, for both policing the borders or countering internal unrest, Kapoor said soon after taking over from Gen J J Singh.
"I feel immense pride and humility," Kapoor said to be tasked to lead the world's most professional and second biggest army.
His comments assume significance as the Indian army is upgrading its weaponry giving more advanced weapons to all its three wings -- Infantry, Armour and Artillery.
In recent years, the army has seen induction of sophisticated and long range nuclear capable surface to surface missiles, supersonic cruise missiles, longer-range multi barrel rocket system, new frontline tanks and unmanned areal vehicles (UAVs).
"On taking over, I vow," the new army chief said to uphold the unparallelled professional standards of valour and unstinted loyalty of the army to the national tri-colour.
Though as per traditions, Kapoor took over today, the new army chief will go through the formalities of paying homage at martyr's memorial at India gate and inspect a guard of honour at South Block tomorrow. PTI
Top police officials meet to tackle financial terrorism
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) With terrorists finding inroads into India's stock-market, top police brass of the country will hold a three-day conference this week on ways and means to tackle financial terrorism and funding of militant groups.
The Directors General and Inspectors General annual Conference, beginning on October three, will focus mainly on matters relating to national, economic and financial security.
The meet, organised by Intelligence Bureau, will be inaugurated by Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address top cops on October four.
"Hawala transfers, fake currency, foreign contributions masked as social or religious donations remain key elements in financing cross-border terrorism," official sources said while underlining the urgent need to counter the menace.
Financial experts from Enforcement Directorate and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence will take part in the meet to formulate a comprehensive policy to check manipulation of stock and commodity markets besides monitoring strategic investments of concern in sensitive sectors and regions.
"These are some of the key areas from where threats to economic security originate," the sources said. PTI
Team India needs a coach: Yuvraj
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) Although the BCCI says that appointing a coach for the Indian cricket team is not necessary at the moment, vice-captain Yuvraj Singh feels the post should not be left vacant for long.
The left-hander, who exhibited his exquisite form during India's title triumph in the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa, said the team needed a coach to keep things under control in the dressing room.
"You need somebody to control the boys and talk to them," Yuvraj told 'Headlines Today'.
Although a huge fan of the Twenty20 format of the game, Yuvraj said he considered Test cricket as the real challenge for a player.
"Test cricket is toughest to play," he said.
He said the fact that there was no pressure to perform on the Indian team helped the side do well at the Twenty20 World Cup.
"Nobody expected us to win, so there was no pressure on us. We played without any fear and won," he remarked.
Giving a thumbs up to Mahendra Singh Dhoni's captaincy, Yuvraj said, "he did a great job while shouldering the huge responsibility for the first time." The aggressive batsman was optimistic about India's chances in the ongoing seven-match one-day series against Australia.
"If we play as well as we did in South Africa, we can beat them this time too," he said. PTI
UK-based businessman to give 3 lakh to Sreesanth
London, Sep 30 (PTI) Money continues to pour in for Indian cricketers for their Twenty20 World Cup triumph and the latest to dole out cash is a UK-based businessman, who will give away Rs three lakh to pacer S Sreesanth for his "brilliant" performance.
Pradeep Menon, a London-based banker and co-owner of Le Rhum de Malabaricus, wants to honour the Kerala-speedster.
Gautam Menon, marketing director of Malabaricus will be presenting the cheque to Sreesanth in a ceremony to be held on October 2 in Kochi after the second One-day international between India and Australia. PTI
BCCI on strong wicket; income in FY07 rises to Rs 652 crore
Mumbai, Sep 30 (PTI) Despite a fall in income from the media rights, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reported overall income of Rs 651.83 crore for the financial year 2006-07.
After accounting for an expenditure of Rs 420 crore incurred during the year, the board has managed a healthy surplus of Rs 231 crore, according to the BCCI's annual report released here.
It was an excellent performance by the apex cricket body as the surplus for the previous year (2005-06) was only Rs 33 crore. The rise in income was attributed to higher inflow from tours and interest on fixed deposit with banks.
BCCI Treasurer N Srinivasan said the income by way of media rights was down at Rs 314 crore as against Rs 341 crore in 2005-06 due to concessions granted to Nimbus in the wake of change in government rules, which asked for compulsory feed of sports events of national importance to Doordarshan.
Nimbus, which had won the media rights for telecasting matches, had requested the board for reduction in fee owing to the government stand.
The board agreed for reduction of USD 55 million for the entire contract period from March 2006 to March 2010. Besides, Nimbus was also given reduction of USD 8 million on account of radio rights fee, the report said.
The fixed deposits with banks have shot up to a whopping Rs 745 crore against Rs 545 crore during the previous year.
According to the report, the international players were paid Rs 43 crore during the year while the projected distribution for the current year has been estimated at Rs 55 crore. PTI
Anand is undisputed world chess champion
From our Chess Correspondent Mexico City, Sep 30 (PTI) Viswanathan Anand regained the World Championship after a gap of nearly seven years, drawing his 14th and final round game in quick time against Hungarian Peter Leko here.
Playing with white, the writing was already on the wall for the Indian ace as he just needed a draw and achieving it was never going to be too difficult given his stupendous form.
Anand secured nine points in all in the championship and also ended up as the only unbeaten player in the event.
The Tiger from Madras, as he is fondly called, also became the first undisputed World Chess Champion since 1993 as this world championship was the culmination of the reunification of the chess world.
Besides, Anand will keep his number one ranking in ELO ratings due to be released on the October 1.
For the records, Anand scored four victories and drew ten games for his title triumph and in fact draws in last three rounds were enough to see him through.
"It came quite easy, obviously as drawing the last three games was good enough for the championship," Anand said after the final round.
"It dawned on me yesterday that I was going to win it, but still I had to come and finish the work today," he added.
It was a Marshall Gambit, the flavour of the event, that gave Anand the much needed half point. Leko could not have tried much in the opening and the game petered out to a draw in just 20 moves. PTI
Chidambaram to launch insurance scheme for the poor on Oct 2
Shimla, Sep 30 (PTI) Finance Minister P Chidambaram would launch an insurance policy for the weaker sections of the entire country here on October 2.
Chidambaram accompanied by union minister of State for Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes would launch 'Aam Aadmi Bima Yojna' at the historic Ridge Maidan on October 2 in the presence of Himachal Pradesh chief minister Virbhadra Singh and also address public meeting, a government spokesman said.
Earlier, the PM was scheduled to launch the scheme for the poor of the whole country from Shimla on September 30. But, his visit was postponed at the last minute.
Chidambaram is expected to announce some sops for the hill state where assembly elections are due in February next year.
The HP chief minister has already demanded a compensation of Rs 1270 crore for the state on account of losses due to recent rains and flood in the state. Over 90 people lost lives and a huge amount of properties both private and the government were lost in the recent natural calamities.
State congress general secretary Kuldeep Rathore told PTI that the party supported the compensation demand submitted by the state government to the Centre. PTI
India to seek removal of trade barriers to EU
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) India will ask the European Union to recognise its quality testing standards and remove non- tariff trade barriers when the two sides meet here tomorrow for week-long negotiations on an agreement for elimination of import duties over the next 10 years.
A 40-member delegation from EU will hold extensive talks on a comprehensive Trade and Investment Agreement, including services, with Indian officials beginning October 1.
"Our main aim is to get a Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA) as part of the overall pact. It is absolutely essential for exports," a senior Commerce Ministry official said.
MRAs lay down the conditions under which EU and a third country concerned will accept test reports, certificates and marks of conformity issued by the Conformity Assessment Bodies of the party to the agreement.
The official said India would also seek flexibility on the Rules of Origin -- a mechanism under which certain percentage of inputs should be locally procured for items to be covered under a bilateral trade agreement-- besides seeking easy movement of people.
"If everything goes well, we should be in a position to conclude the trade and investment agreement with the 27-nation bloc by 2008-end," he said.
India started talks with the EU, its largest trading partner, on the pact in 2006. Operationalisation of the agreement would be spread over the next 10 years and by that time duties on most of the goods traded between India and EU would be brought to zero.
"We can expect tariffs to come down to zero only by 2019, since the elimination process would be carried out in a phased manner," he said. PTI
PSU banks depend more on interest income: Assocham
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) Public sector banks (PSBs) depend excessively on their interest income compared to their peers in the private sector as their fee-based earning from other services is declining, a study said.
The fee-based income of PSBs declined by 10 per cent, while that of private sector banks registered a sizable growth of 29 per cent in the last fiscal, according to an Assocham Eco Pulse study on 'Income Sources of Indian Banks'.
"With economy growing at an unprecedented rate of 9.4 per cent during 2006- 07, demand for fee-based services of banks is certain to go up. Hence, initiating well-thought-out steps to enhance fee-based income may be essential for the banks", Assocham President Venugopal N Dhoot said in a statement.
The high interest regime has augmented the interest income of PSBs by 18 per cent, although it is less than the whopping 44 per cent rise recorded by the private sector players in the last financial year, the study added.
It found that some of the major PSBs registered a decline in their fee-based income in the financial year 2006-07. These include United Bank of India witnessing a downward trend by 26.76 per cent followed by the State Bank of India - 22.41 per cent, Allahabad Bank - 21.98 per cent, Punjab National Bank - 18.15 per cent and Dena Bank - 10.82 per cent.
However, Indian Bank's fee-based income rose by 58.29 per cent in FY'06-07 followed by Bank of India, recording a growth of 31.96 per cent, Andhra Bank -14.13 per cent, Oriental Bank of Commerce 9.13 per cent and Bank of Baroda 4.07 per cent. PTI
Reliance Retail sacks 400 in West Bengal
Kolkata, Sep 30 (PTI) Reliance Retail, a subsidiary of Reliance Industries, has sacked 400 staff in West Bengal after it inability to start retail operations here due to stiff opposition from some political parties and local traders.
A source in Reliance Retail said the company has terminated the services of 400 people and another 300 may be given the pink slip soon.
The development in West Bengal comes on the heels of the company facing similar protests from traders and political parties in Orissa and Uttar Pradesh. The company is understood to have put its plans in Uttar Pradesh in the cold storage, and is also believed to be rethinking its strategy in Orissa.
The company had hired about 800 people in West Bengal for staffing Reliance Fresh outlets which were to come up in and around Kolkata.
The company felt that due to the strong opposition by some political parties it was not possible to open the stores here. Recently activists hailing from BJP ransacked a store in the Burrabazar area. Since then the company had decided to go slow in starting its retail operations.
Although the state government thought of providing police protection to run the store, the source said it was not possible to run retail stores under cops vigil.
The company had originally planned to invest Rs 2,000 crore in developing the agri-retail network in West Bengal. PTI
Top police officials meet to tackle financial terrorism
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) With reports of manipulation of stock exchanges being detected as a mode by terrorists to raise funds, the country's top police brass will be meeting here to formulate a comprehensive policy for eradication of the menace.
The three-day annual conference of Directors General and Inspectors General, beginning October three, will focus on matters relating to national, economic and financial security.
Organised by Intelligence Bureau, the conference will be inaugurated by Home Minister Shivraj Patil. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will address top cops on October four.
The focus on economic terrorism began early this year when National Security Advisor M K Narayanan stated that manipulation of stock exchanges was the new modus operandi used by terrorist groups to raise funds for their operations and fictitious companies had operated in the Mumbai and Chennai stock exchanges.
The need to focus on financial terrorism was arrived as some of the states were still unaware about the management of finances by terrorists and efforts required to check it. In addition to this, the Government was also not seriously taking the request of the security agencies for lifting of veil on funds flowing in from foreign countries.
Financial experts from ED and Directorate of Revenue Intelligence will take part in the meet to formulate a comprehensive policy to check manipulation of stock and commodity markets besides monitoring strategic investments of concern in sensitive sectors and regions. PTI
Over 230 Pak opp lawmakers resign, scribes observe black day
K J M Varma
Islamabad, Sept 30 (PTI) Upping the ante, over 230 Opposition lawmakers have resigned from Pakistan's national and provincial assemblies to resist President Pervez Musharraf's re-election bid, as journalists observed a 'Black Day' today condemning the police action during protests against the General.
Eighty-four members of the National Assembly and 152 of four provincial assemblies from opposition alliance All Parties Democratic Movement (APDM) submitted their resignations to their respective party leaders, Raja Zafarul Haq, senior leader of Pakistan Muslim League-N, told reporters here.
APDM is headed by exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's PML (N).
Haq said the resignations will be submitted to the Speaker National Assembly and respective Speakers of provincial assemblies on October 2, the day after Election Commission displays the final list of candidates for the Oct six Presidential poll.
Journalists all over the country marched with Black flags today to protest against the tear-gas and baton charge on mediapersons covering the protests before the Election Commission here yesterday during the scrutiny of nominations for presidential poll.
Sixty-four people were injured, including 13 police officials, 31 journalists, two opposition lawmakers and several passers-by in the clashes, the state-run Associated Press of Pakistan news agency reported today.
The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists decried the government actions as "shameful". PTI
China to ensure economic security amid opening-up: Hu
Beijing, Sept 30 (PTI) China needs a stronger system to protect its national interests and economic security, even as it opens up to increasing international competition, President Hu Jintao has said.
The government must improve its capacity to monitor economic security situations, give early warnings and respond to the crisis, he said while presiding over a group study of the Politburo of the ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee.
Hu said China will stick to and expand its opening-up drive, which has been proved conducive to the country's economy and technological progress.
The country also must make more efforts to protect the safety of its assets and citizens abroad, Hu, also General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee, said at the group study on opening-up and economic security, held ahead of the 17th National Congress of the CPC.
The country will try to change its foreign trade structure, exporting and importing more quality products rather than pursuing the increase of quantity, he said.
It will open wider its high-tech industry and manufacturing to foreign capital, and introduce more advanced technologies, experience of management and high-level personnel from foreign countries, he said.
The government will also support more Chinese companies to invest abroad by improving cross-border service and risk management, he said. PTI
Negotiators at 6-party talks to discuss draft document: US
Beijing, Sept 30 (PTI) The negotiators to the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue will discuss "a joint statement or a statement by the chair" today, US envoy to the meeting Christopher Hill has said.
There will be a meeting of delegation heads this morning to rehearse a draft document, Hill said.
"I don't know if we will have a joint statement, I don't know if we will have a statement by the chair," he added, referring to a possible statement that the talks negotiators will possibly issue today.
"I'm pretty confident that we know what the next steps will be, and we have an understanding that will take us through to the end of the year with respect to disablement and declaration," he told reporters.
Russia is satisfied with the draft joint document submitted by China yesterday, top Russian envoy Alexander Losyukov said, noting: "It is a good one." Losyukov said some delegations still have some differences on the timing of follow-up actions to be taken.
"If these differences could be solved, a joint document was likely to be passed. If not so, the parties had to revise the draft or to issue a chairmen statement," he said.
Without elaborating on details of the draft document, Losyukov said he is doubtful about the completion of the disablement of North Korea's nuclear facilities by the end of this year, saying such disablement was very complicated technical work.
The talks involve China, the United States, North Korea, South Korea, Russia and Japan, were first initiated in August 2003. PTI
Over 40,000 Nepalese suffering from heart diseases
Kathmandu, Sept 30 (PTI) More than 40,000 people of Nepal are suffering from heart diseases, according to a latest report published by the Nepal Heart Foundation (NHF).
Heart diseases account for 25 per cent of the total deaths in the country, the report said.
About 20 per cent of Nepali adults have high blood pressure and the number of heart patients has increased five folds in the past 10 years, the report, released at a symposium to mark the eighth World Heart Day on September 30, said.
About 90 per cent of heart problems can be restrained by opting for healthy lifestyle, said Dr Prakash R Regmi, general secretary of the NHF, adding unhealthy lifestyle is the main cause for heart diseases.
Annually, 17.5 million people die of heart diseases worldwide and about 9 million of these people are from developing nations, WHF said.
Healthy eating and physical activity is vital for a healthy heart, Regmi said, adding that lack of physical activity can cause obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart problems.
Data have shown that almost 300 million people globally are overweight, and almost 22 million of them are children aged below five years of age.
People who consume spicy, salty, sweet and oily foods and eat less vegetables are prone to heart diseases, the report said.
Taking more tobacco, cigarettes and alcohol as well as doing less physical exercise and having more tension are the basic causes of heart diseases, the speakers at the symposium pointed out. PTI
Weak in Hindi, child SRK wanted to become a sportsman: Book
New Delhi, Sep 30 (PTI) Heart-throb of many a damsel, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan as a child was weak in Hindi, dreamt of representing the country in international sports events and as a young man had to court his love Gauri for six years before he could win her, says a new book.
Shah Rukh was bright, naughty, fond of sports but was weak in Hindi either scoring very low marks or failing in the subject says the book 'SRK: King Khan' by journalist, critic Deepa Gahlot.
Instead of scolding him, his mother once told him that she would take him to a Hindi movie in a cinema hall if he did well in the subject. The bait was attractive enough for young Shah Rukh and his first visit to cinema must have triggered off the acting impulse in him, says the book. The newly generated interest in Hindi made him understand Hindi films better and gave him a command over the language, a skill that stands him in good stead in his career even today, it says.
In the school he was more interested in sports such as cricket, hockey, football and athletics than in studies and hoped to become a sportsman capable of representing his country in international events.
In Delhi while performing for both television and theatre, Shah Rukh was also wooing the pretty Gauri Chibba, a Hindu girl. Because of the difference in the religion, Gauri's family disapproved of their relationship. The courtship carried on clandestinely for over six years. Gauri was not too pleased about his choice of career or his decision to move to Mumbai but their love overcame all problems, pretty much like it happens in the movies, the book says. (About the book: SRK, King Khan by Deepa Gahlot, Roli Books, Pages 124, Price Rs. 495). PTI
Himachal gearing up to tap high end tourists
Sunil K Mukhopadhyay
Shimla, Sep 30 (PTI) Himachal Pradesh, where tourists outnumber the population, is gearing up to tap high end tourists with a Rs 2000-crore ski-village, air network and other facilities, while UNESCO is evaluating the century-old Kalka-Shimla railway for inclusion as a world heritage site.
"SKI villages big and small, are coming up in different parts of the state and a Rs 2000 crore project is being set up by a private company in Manali. It is likely to come up in three years time," S Ahluwalia, Commissioner, Tourism, Himachal Pradesh told PTI here.
Of the 75 lakh tourists, currently 5 to 6 lakh were high end who visited the state each year. The state's population as per last the census, is 65 lakh.
He said that Air Deccan have started services to and from Shimla seven days a week, while Jagson airline was operating services thrice a week.
Indian Airlines would start flights from Delhi to Bhuntar shortly which would be beneficial for high end tourists, he said.
If UNESCO granted world heritage status to the 96 km Kalka-Shimla railway, it would further boost tourism in the state, he said.
A UNESCO-team led by Robert Lee was in Shimla this month to evaluate the feasibility of the Kalka-Shimla railway being included as a world heritage site. The team also met Chief Minister Vir Bhadra Singh.
Lee had earlier evaluated the Darjeeling-Himalayan railway and the Nilgiri Mountain railway which were already declared as world heritage sites. PTI
Digest of domestic stories for the week Sept 22-28, 2007
Saturday
Bhopal: Seeking to reach out to women ahead of possible mid-term elections, BJP endorses 33 per cent reservation for women at all levels within the organization with its National Executive giving green signal to the "historic" measure.
New Delhi: The CBI searches the office of Manas Publication, which had published the book of former RAW official who alleged widespread corruption in purchase of equipment in the external intelligence agency besides lack of transparency.
New Delhi: The journalist fraternity reacts with concern to the punishment meted out to three journalists and publisher of the tabloid Mid-Day and demanded an independent inquiry into the allegations against them.
Sunday New Delhi: Prashant Tamang, a constable in the West Bengal Police, beat rival Amit Paul to wear the crown of the Indian Idol in a grand finale of the over-two month long talent hunt.
New Delhi: Two Japanese women allege they were raped by three men in Agra after confining them for three days in separate places.
Patna/Palamau: Three persons, including a policeman, are killed and railway tracks and a station blasted as widespread violence mark a 24-hour strike called by CPI(Maoist) in Bihar and adjacent Jharkhand to protest the arrest of their leaders.
Bhopal: Accusing the UPA government of failing to tackle rising terrorist activities, the BJP gives a call to throw out of power the Congress-led dispensation at the Centre and its remote, the Left parties.
Monday Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan starrer Hindi feature film "Eklavya", has been nominated as India's official entry for Oscar award for the best foreign movie category, sparking a controversy as the head of the body that selects the film questioned the jury's choice.
New Delhi: Rahul Gandhi appoints Congress General Secretary in a reshuffle of the party hierarchy, which saw induction of a host of young faces and three junior Ministers into the AICC, triggering speculation of changes in the Union Council of Ministers.
Hyderabad: Warning that outer space may become the "battlefield of the future," India proposes a "robust" international mechanism for protection of space assets since they were "vulnerable to attacks." Tuesday New Delhi: CBI arrests former Uttar Pradesh Chief Secretary Akhand Pratap Singh for allegedly tampering with evidence, influencing witnesses not cooperating with the agency in its probe of disproportionate assets case registered against him in March 2005.
Chennai: Jana K Krishnamurthy, who became the second leader from the south to become President of the BJP, dies here after a prolonged illness.
Wednesday New Delhi: With an eye on possible mid-term polls, the Congress sought extension of the rural job guarantee scheme to the entire country, a demand Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said would be seriously considered and a decision taken shortly.
New Delhi: Eleven scientists have been selected for this year's Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Award for their outstanding contribution to various disciplines of science. Bangalore: A BJP Minister in the JDS-BJP coalition government in Karnataka lodges a criminal complaint against Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy.
Thursday Bangalore: With just a week to go for transfer of power to BJP in Karnataka, the JD(S) puts a question mark over the issue pulling out of talks with the saffron party but Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy did some flip flop first saying he would resign on October 3 and backtracking on it later.
Hyderabad: The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) announces here that it will launch its ambitious and maiden mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-I, from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on April nine next year.
Friday Siliguri: Fans of 'Indian Idol' Prashant Tamang and local residents clashed here today over passage to an ambulance carrying a patient, triggering widespread arson and violence after which the army was called in to help maintain law and order.
New Delhi: The UPA decides to extend the rural job guarantee scheme to the entire country, just two days after Congress MP Rahul Gandhi pushed the demand before Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
New Delhi: SC stays four months sentence imposed on four journalists of "MidDay" for their alleged contemptuous reports against the former Chief Justice of India Y K Sabharwal.
New Delhi: In a bid to provide relief to people below poverty line, Andhra Pradesh CM Y S Rajashekhara Reddy has suggested that Centre should subsidise the states to provide rice to the common man at Rs two per kg. PTI
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