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Orissa violence: Centre rushes 3 companies of CRPF to Kandhamal
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) As more churches and houses of Christians were burnt down in fresh violence in Kandhamal district of Orissa, the Centre rushed three companies of CRPF (more than 300 personnel) for maintaining law and order situation.
Special Secretary (Internal Security) M L Kumawat spoke to Director General of Police of Orissa Gopal Nanda this morning and assessed the situation in the state where fresh violence again led to torching of Christan houses this morning, a Home Ministry spokesman said here today.
A report has already been sought by the Home Ministry from Orissa Chief Secretary about the situation.
While two companies of CRPF (about 200 personnel) have already been rushed to the riot-hit state, an additional company was being sent, the Home Ministry officials said, adding the request was made by the state government.
In the fresh violence today, 11 churches and prayer houses were ransacked and torched by suspected saffron activists in several areas the district in the early hours.
Seven churches and prayer houses were attacked and set afire in Gandapadar, Badahapanga, Bhandarapada, Pisupadar, Masapadar, Minia and Adigara under Phulbani sadar police station area.
The Home Ministry spokesman said Centre was in constant touch with the state Government and has also assured of all possible assistance to meet the law and order requirements.
Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal said if the situation did not come under control today, the Centre may send a team. "We have to get the violence under control," he said. PTI
Sena activists attack Husain exhibition; vandalise paintings
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Shiv Sena activists today attacked an exhibition of paintings by acclaimed painter M F Husain in the capital, damaging two of his works on display.
The activists managed to enter the 'Art Gallery' at the famous India International Centre here, despite a heavy police presence at the venue and prior information of Shiv Sainiks planning to attack the exhibition.
Two Sainiks entered the hall in the guise of visitors to watch the 'India in the Era of Mughals' exhibition at around 4 p.M. They shouted slogans against the artist and damaged the frames of two paintings.
One of the damaged paintings depicted Emperor Akbar and was priced at Rs 1.5 lakh. The second painting suffered minor damage as police overpowered them when they tried to damage it.
The activists shouted slogans like 'Balasaheb (Bal Thackeray) Zindabad', 'Shiv Sena Zindabad' and 'M F Husain Murdabad' besides distributing pamphlets, which threatened to disrupt any exhibition of Husain in the country.
They were later taken to the police station. PTI
Cong should rectify mistakes after Guj poll defeat: Vaghela
Sunil Gatade
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Union Minister Shankersinh Vaghela wants the Congress to rectify its mistakes after the defeat in Gujarat Assembly elections and said it had not blundered in taking the BJP rebels on board.
It was "no blunder" of the Congress to take the rebels on board, the former Gujarat Chief Minister said , adding they had been instrumental in creating an "anti-Modi climate.
"If there are any mistakes it should be rectified," Modi told PTI in an interview today.
The former Gujarat Chief Minister said there was no need for the Congress to be disheartened after the poll verdict.
Noting that the electoral debacle was "not the end of the world" for Congress, he claims the saffron would not be able to move ahead at the Centre.
Vaghela replied in the negative when asked whether he foresaw the saffron wave ahead of the Assembly elections.
"It was not the wave of BJP but of Modi", he said.
At the same time, Vaghela, who was one of the prominent Chief Ministerial candidates in the event of a Congress win, insists that the "fever" would peter out earlier than expected.
"A fever is always temporary and not permanent and such is the case in Gujarat where Modi whipped up a communal frenzy right from day one through a destructive campaign." Soon after the poll outcome, Vaghela had also said that the "excessive reaction" by the BJP to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi's "merchants of death" remarks had also cost the Congress dearly.
Dismissing suggestions that Modi fought the polls on the plank of development, he wondered how could issues of Sohrabuddin, Mohd Afzal, terrorism and a "cross" like symbol on Rs two coin be in any way termed as matters of development. PTI
Healy pats Gilchrist for equalling record
Melbourne, Dec 27 (PTI) Former wicketkeeper Ian Healy patted Adam Gilchrist for equalling his Test record of most dismissals by an Australian glovesman and said the incumbent has raised the bar for future generation of stumpers.
Gilchrist equalled Healy's record of 395 dismissal when he caught Zaheer Khan off Brett Lee at the MCG today, prompting the former stumper to doff his hat at him.
"Our next wicketkeeper will first have to be as good a keeper as him and then as good a batsman," Healy said.
"He deserves it. He's played an important part in a very successful team and has done it spectacularly more than in a silent way," Healy was quoted as saying by 'Cricinfo'.
"Gilchrist has had an extraordinary career, he hasn't missed a Test. To do what he's done in one-dayers and Tests with bat and with the gloves without getting injured is just amazing," he said of the player who replaced him in 1999.
"He's become more a wicketkeeper now. In the early years he was finding himself coming in at No. 5 for not many (runs) so he was outstanding to get the team out of trouble." And though Gilchrist is 35, Healy believes he can still go on for a few more years.
"He's not that old. He could go on a lot longer if he wants to." And in case Gilchrist hangs up his gloves, Healy said he was not worried about future.
"(Brad) Haddin is going to be a walking replacement for Gilly whenever he decides to go. There's a good group of young kids a yard behind Haddin, like Luke Ronchi (Western Australia), Mathew Wade (Victoria) and Chris Hartley (Queensland)," he said. PTI
Tendulkar defends Dravid, says Test far from over
Ashish Shukla Melbourne, Dec 27 (PTI) India's star-studded batting line-up may have squandered the advantage earned by their bowlers but Sachin Tendulkar insisted the match is far from over and promised a fightback against Australia.
Indian bowlers did a smart job by bowling out the hosts for 343 in their first essay but the batsmen let them down as the visitors collapsed for 196, handing the hosts a first innings lead of 147 runs.
Tendulkar, however, stressed that India were still in the match.
"We were in a good position yesterday. Today it's not the same for us. But it's part and parcel of the game. We'll continue to fight (in this Test)," said the batsman.
"It's possible to chase 400 runs on this wicket. The match isn't over yet. We would try to take 10 wickets as early as possible. We would look to break it down session to session," he said.
India had a tardy start with Rahul Dravid (5), partnering Wasim Jaffer (4), looking overcautious during his 66-ball struggle in the middle as Australia seized the momentum.
Tendulkar, however, sprang to the defence of his team-mate and dismissed suggestions that Dravid's laboured knock had put the Indians on the back foot. PTI
Clarke claims Australia has found a way to silence Tendulkar
Ashish Shukla
Melbourne, Dec 27 (PTI) Paceman Stuart Clark, Australia's star of the day, believes that if Sachin Tendulkar can be denied easy runs, he would find a way to get himself out in this series.
"If we can build that pressure on him every time we play by not giving runs and by creating the intensity, then he can find ways of getting himself out," said Clark after his four for 28 from 15 economical overs had gutted the Indian middle order on day two of the first cricket Test.
It was Clark's miserliness which created most pressure on the Indians and stalwarts like Rahul Dravid, Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni fell to his metronomic accuracy.
But it was Tendulkar's wicket which Clark believed was the key.
"He was batting beautifully. Any time he gets out and we see him walking back to pavilion, it's a good moment for the opposition." Clark's contribution got the praise it deserved from his partner in India's downfall, Brett Lee. The express speedster also helped himself to a four-wicket haul but he was inclined to give credit to his pace colleagues in the team.
"When Clark knocked off Yuvraj and Dhoni in a space of couple of balls, it made our job a lot easier," Lee said. PTI
Twenty killed in blast after Bhutto rally
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Dec 27 (PTI) Former Pakistan premier Benazir Bhutto today escaped a second bid on her life in 10 weeks when a suicide bomber blew himself up minutes after she left the venue of an election rally in the garrison city of Rawalpindi, killing at least 20 people and injuring many others.
Police and leaders of Bhutto's Pakistan People's Party said she was safe and had been driven away from Liaquat Bagh, the venue of the meeting.
Witnesses said a man rushed towards Bhutto's car as she was leaving the sprawling ground, where she had addressed thousands of PPP supporters, and blew himself up.
Rahman Malik, the PPP chairperson's security advisor, said some persons fired at Bhutto's vehicle before the suicide attacker blew himself up.
She evaded the bullets by ducking, he said.
Several people who were around her car were blown to pieces. A TV reporter at the scene said the suicide bomber's head was found almost 70 feet from the site of the blast.
Eyewitnesses said body parts were strewn across the area. Ambulances rushed the injured from the spot to nearby hospitals.
Police officials said it was a suicide attack in which at least 20 people were killed and many others injured.
PPP spokesperson Farahtullah Babar said Bhutto's vehicle was about 50 metres away from where the blast occurred.
"She had just crossed the gate when we heard a deafening sound. We could feel its impact but by the grace of God she is safe," he was quoted as saying.
This was the second suicide attack on Bhutto since she returned to Pakistan from exile. Nearly 140 people were killed in two suicide blasts during her homecoming rally in Karachi on October 19.
PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif, who was also campaigning in Rawalpindi, condemned the suicide attack. PTI
Pak security agencies on high alert
Islamabad, Dec 27 (PTI) Security agencies in the Pakistani capital have been put on high alert following an intelligence report that terrorists may strike in the city and target top politicians and religious leaders.
A senior officer said police and the city administration had been warned by the Interior Ministry that suicide attacks could take place in Islamabad.
According to the Interior Ministry's letter, terrorists could target high-profile politicians and religious leaders.
Security had been tightened in and around the capital and the high alert would stay in force till the January 8 general election, the officer told 'Dawn' newspaper.
Three wings of the paramilitary Pakistan Rangers, personnel from the "Elite Force" of Punjab Constabulary and city police have been deployed at sensitive places in Islamabad to avert any attack.
A senior police officer said security has been provided to top politicians, including Pakistan People's Party (PPP) chairperson and former Premier Banazir Bhutto, and religious leaders who faced threats. They have been provided with police motorcades for moving around the city and police forces have been deployed at their homes.
The administration and police have reviewed security arrangements in the city and started restructuring police pickets. Law enforcement personnel have also started checking hotels, inns and bus stands.
"We have been keeping a strict vigil on suspicious people staying in hotels and inns and moving around bust stops," an officer said. PTI
Controversies agog oil sector in 2007
Ammar Zaidi
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Controversies and more controversies seem to be firing India's oil sector as the nation scraped through a 100-dollar a barrel oil shock that could have derailed plans for a double-digit economic growth.
Circa 2007 will end with the dubious distinction of seeing the most controversies that ranged from the war of titans over pricing of natural gas to the appointment of head of the country's most profit making company.
Ambani siblings were at each others throat when pricing of natural gas to be produced from fields owned by elder brother Mukesh came up. Anil Ambani wanted gas from eastern offshore fields at price supposedly fixed in the agreement that split the Dhirubhai Ambani empire but Mukesh's firm had law on his side that guaranteed market determined price, something that as per rules could have been decided at the level of Petroleum Ministry.
But Minister Murli Deora, who calls himself a friend of Ambanis, did not want to take a call, leaving the field open for intense lobbying from both sides. Three months, a study by panel of secretaries and a report by Cabinet Secretary later, the matter was decided by a Group of Ministers that ruled in favour of Government's contractual liability to give market price for companies finding hydrocarbons.
But this wasn't supposed to be the end of the war with the matter reaching Bombay High Court that also held the validity of market determined pricing for fuels but gave the two brothers four months to settle issues. PTI
Costly wheat import grinds govt in 2007
Manvendra Jha & Prabhudatta
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) Regardless of positives like higher production and stable domestic price, the wheat crop will be remembered this year for the controversy over its import that armed the opposition and Left parties with ammunition to fire at the ruling UPA coalition.
The government, which imported wheat last year after a gap of six years, had to enter the global market again in 2007 to buy the grain despite rise in domestic production.
Faced with the shortfall in procurement by four million tons even as production went up from 69.35 million tons last year to 74.89 million tons in 2007, the government said import was necessary to boost buffer stock to meet any exigencies.
Import has helped to maintain stability in wheat prices in the domestic market, a food ministry official said. Retail prices of wheat flour remained at around Rs 12 per kg.
But unlike last year, it was not a smooth affair for the government to undertake imports as wheat prices soared in the global markets. Though the Centre had targeted to import 2.3 million tons in 2007, it bought 1.8 million tons.
Import of wheat at exorbitant price (double than what government was paying to domestic farmers) sparked off a controversy with both the Opposition and Left parties training guns at Agriculture and Food Minister Sharad Pawar, alleging irregularities in the entire tendering process.
The government purchased wheat at Rs 850 per quintal from farmers in 2007, while it paid Rs 1,600 per quintal to import. The controversy erupted when State Trading Corporation contracted to import 5.11 lakh tons of wheat in July at an average price of 325.59 dollars a tonne through second round of tender. It accentuated when contract for another 8 lakh ton of wheat at 389.45 dollars a tonne was made. PTI
Make more women friends, live better and long: Study
Sruthi Paruthikad
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) A woman without confidants and friends from the same sex risk early death and are often found to take longer periods to recover from bereavement and other trauma compared to those who have a bigger group of friends.
A study from the University of California says female bonding activities serve as very important stress management strategies; and they have qualifiable health benefits.
The study indicates women who turn to other women for friendship lower the risk of early death, they also heal faster in times of bereavement or other trauma.
Woman-to-woman friendship bonding or 'hanging out with friends' serve the purpose of filling the emotional gaps. Besides, says the study published in 'Psychological review' when women are under stress, the hormone oxytocin is released as part of the response to stress.
This encourages them to seek the company of other women, and when they are engaged, more oxytocin is released, which counters stress and has a calming effect, it says.
"Women are more loyal and appreciative in their relationship so they possess a tendency to be bonded with each other," says Dr Aruna Broota, a well known psychiatrist and professor, University of Delhi.
She says the relationship between women will be more deep and intense than that of between women and men because they are always ready to understand and value each other. PTI
Sri Lanka ethnic crisis, a lesson for India: experts
New Delhi, Dec 27 (PTI) The Sri Lankan ethnic crisis should be taken as a lesson by the South Asian countries, and particularly India, feel experts.
"Politicians should not create sectarian identity among people, which ultimately tears the country," according to S D Muni, an expert on Sri Lanka.
He was speaking at a function to mark the launch of a book, 'Sri Lanka: A land in search of itself', authored by Mohan K Tikku, a journalist, here on Wednesday.
"Particularly India should take lessons from the crisis as ours is a plural society and the violence is increasing here, and threatening the world's largest democracy," H K Dua, an eminent journalist, said.
Talking about the present Sri Lankan crisis, Muni said, "The two main political parties, the ruling Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and main opposition the United National Parties are also responsible for the present plight of the people in the island nation as they talk of minority welfare during election campaigns but forget to implement when voted to power." "And unless the two main parties come out with a positive approach and do not sandwich the Tamils in the process, the countries' ethnic crisis can not be resolved," he said.
Dr P Wingnaraja, Co-chair, Indo-Sri Lanka Track-II, said that solving the economic problem of the people and thereby bridging the gap between rich and poor is the most important requirement for solution of any crisis, especially of ethnic basis. PTI
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