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Left demands roll back of petro price hike, BJP to protest
New Delhi, Feb 13 (PTI) Coming out strongly against the hike in petrol and diesel prices, Left parties today demanded its immediate roll back and threatened nationwide protests while BJP too warned of agitation, saying the increase would trigger inflation and badly hit the common man.
"We protest this decision and will organise widespread protests against it. This hike was not necessary and should be withdrawn," CPI(M) Politburo member Sitaram Yechury said.
He said government's "initial idea" was to hike petrol prices by Rs 12-16, diesel prices by Rs 12, kerosene by Rs five and LPG cylinder by Rs 150 to meet the under-recoveries.
Government today increased petrol price by Rs two a litre and diesel by Rs one.
Seeking to fault the Congress on its "aam aadmi" plank, BJP president Rajnath Singh said the hike will push up the prices of essential commodities, affecting all sections of the society, particularly the middle class and farmers.
"The common man will have to bear the brunt of the petrol price hike. The Congress-led UPA government has failed to control price rise," Singh told PTI here.
He said the party will launch a countrywide agitation against the hike from tomorrow.
Yechury said even this rise would not have been necessary if the government had restructured the ad valorem tax structure on import of petro products.
Since the UPA came to power four years ago, government had decided to hike prices twice but was forced to roll back due to Left pressure.
"So the prices of petro products today stand at the same level as before the UPA came to power. It has been forced to retreat earlier. Now too, we hope that the government will reconsider its decision," Yechury said. PTI
UPA politicising Election Commission: BJP
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The BJP today accused the UPA government of politicising the Election Commission (EC), saying the reported differences in the poll body on the issue of notice to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi were an example of its "partisan" approach.
"The Congress-led UPA government is committed towards one objective -- to destroy each and every constitutional authority in the country for its own narrow political gain," BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar told reporters here.
"Media reports of rumblings in the Election Commission on the issue of notice to Sonia Gandhi have only reconfirmed our worst apprehension that it might be under partisan influence from within. On the matter of issuing notices to her, the split has become wide open," he said.
He said the "partisan" approach of the EC had become evident when it made "undue haste" in the arranging of by-poll for re-election of Gandhi and the "tardiness and reluctance" displayed in the by-election for BJP's B C Khanduri to continue in office as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.
Javadekar said the "politicisation" of the EC became more apparent in the 'Maut ka Saudagar' controversy. "Double standards were witnessed initially in the serving of notices and the subsequent differentiated language used in the expression of displeasure to the concerned leaders," he said.
"The EC should be politically detached and equi-distanced from all political parties. If the practice of appointing partisan persons as members of the EC gets established as a precedent, it will provide a temptation to future governments to pack it with their own team of servile sycophants," he said. PTI
Pappu Yadav gets life term in Ajit Sarkar murder case
Patna, Feb 14 (PTI) Controversial RJD MP Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav and former Independent MLA Rajan Tiwari were among three persons sentenced to life imprisonment today by a CBI court in the case of murder of CPI(M) MLA Ajit Sarkar.
Special CBI Judge B M Srivastava, who had on February 4 last reserved his judgement after hearing final arguments on behalf of the prosecution and the defence, also imposed fines of Rs 10,000 each on them.
All the three accused in the case -- Yadav, Tiwari and Anil Yadav, a known criminal, -- were present in the court when the judgement was pronounced.
Pappu Yadav was brought here this morning from Tihar jail in Delhi in compliance with the directive of the court. Tiwari and Anil Yadav are lodged in the Beur Central Jail here. PTI
Petrol price hiked by Rs 2 a litre, diesel by Re 1 a litre
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The government today decided to hike petrol and diesel prices by Rs 2 and Re 1 a litre respectively from midnight tonight to curb losses of public sector oil companies.
The decision will benefit oil companies, whose total under-recoveries are pegged at Rs 71,808 crores, to the tune by Rs 840 crores in value terms.
The government also decided to increase oil bonds, issued to offset losses of oil firms due to sale of fuel below cost price, to 56-57 per cent of the total under-recoveries from 42.7 per cent now. PTI
IPL can lure experience away from world cricket: Ponting
Perth, Feb 14 (PTI) Indian Premier League had the potential to lure away senior players, according to Australian captain Ricky Ponting who said the cash-rich Twenty20 venture should have a fixed time slot to ensure world cricket was not drained of experience.
"If a guy is approaching the end of his international career anyway, and being able to play 44 days and stay in one form of the game, I'm sure is very attractive," Ponting said.
"Particularly, if they have families and they are getting a bit sick and tired of the travel you do with international cricket, I am sure that is appealing to you," he said on the eve of Australia's one-dayer against Sri Lanka here.
But, Ponting felt, a proper schedule management to allow international players to participate in IPL might prevent their feared swaying from the international scene.
"There are some programming issues the ICC and the boards are going to have to look at, may be carving out a window each year when this tournament can sit in.
"Unless some time is given up then we might start losing the 33, 34-year-old players from international cricket," he said.
More than 80 international cricketers have signed over to BCCI hosted IPL so far.
Ponting's comments came a day after his vice-captain Adam Gilchrist rubbished concerns regarding a possible impact of IPL on the international cricket. PTI
Aussies are low on confidence: Jayawardene
Perth, Feb 14 (PTI) Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene today said Australia had lost the aura they had around them and his team would try to capitalise on the frailties in Ricky Ponting's team when the two sides face of in a crucial tri-series one-day international at the WACA ground tomorrow.
Sri Lanka stormed back into the reckoning in the competition with an eight-wicket win over India in Canberra on Tuesday and can go to the top of the table if they can put it across the world champions on the morrow, thereby relegating the Aussies to the bottom of the pile.
"It is a good opportunity for us to go on top of the table. We've got back into the tournament and the guys can really build up on that confidence," Jayawardene said.
Australia are coming off a defeat against India in their last match at the MCG and the Sri Lankan skipper indicated the hosts were low on confidence.
"They (Australia) are a bit under pressure. In batting, there are two or three guys who have been consistently performing, but the rest haven't been.
"In the past the Aussies have found ways to get back into games, but the last six months I don't think they've got that belief in themselves. If we can push them back from the beginning, we can create more pressure," Jayawardene said.
The form slump in which rival captain Ricky Ponting finds himself also did not escape Jayawardene's attention.
"He's had a quiet time and hopefully we can keep him under the same pressure he has been under for the last two months," he said.
"It is in our interest to keep him like that." PTI
FICA endorses IPL contract
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Indian Premier League (IPL) today received a shot in the arm with the Federation of International Cricketers Association (FICA) endorsing the players' contract offered by the organisers of the Twenty20 extravaganza.
FICA Chief Executive Tim May had a look at the Long Form Player Agreement for the IPL after which he confirmed that he was ready to recommend to the players that they could enter the agreement.
"I can confirm that I am now satisfied in principle with the form of the IPL Player Contract," May said in a statement.
"I am waiting to see a copy of the final draft of the agreement, following which I anticipate recommending to our members that the agreement is satisfactory for players to enter," he added.
May, however, felt that problems still might arise between a player and his board which would require some sort of troubleshooting.
"....Given the nature of this venture, there will remain some issues that certain players will need to still resolve with their national boards," he said. PTI
John Gloster to quit after tri-series
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Indian cricket team's physiotherapist John Gloster has decided to quit after the ongoing tri-series in Australia, bringing an end to a three-year stint which saw a number of injury break-downs particularly for the pacemen.
Gloster, who had replaced Andrew Leipus as the physio of the side in February 2005, has conveyed his decision to the Cricket Board.
"Gloster does not want to continue. He has expressed his desire to quit. He has informed the Board regarding this," BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah told PTI.
Shah said the Board will look for a new physio for the home series against South Africa in March-April.
Of late, Gloster was under pressure following a spate injuries plaguing the Indian pacers and former players like Javagal Srinath had pointed an accusing finger at the physio for not being able to curb the problem.
"I think the physio should answer why our pacers are breaking down so often," Srinath said in a press conference here last month.
"We should not wait for injuries to happen before taking care of the players," he added.
Gloster joined the Indian team in February 2005 when he replaced Andrew Leipus after working with the Bangladesh team for four years.
After graduating from the University of South Australia, Gloster worked with the Surrey County Cricket Club for three from 1998 to 2001 before he was appointed the physiotherapist of the Bangladesh cricket team and the physio had a four-year stint with the side before he joined the Indian team. PTI
43 LTTE rebels killed in Lanka clashes
Colombo, Feb 14 (PTI) At least 43 Tamil Tigers were killed in fierce ground clashes with security forces in Sri Lanka's embattled north as Air Force jets pounded a key LTTE military base in the rebel stronghold of Mullaitivu, officials here said today.
Troops killed 12 LTTE rebels in Parikariperiyakulam area of northern Vavuniya in a confrontation yesterday, the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
Separately, three guerrillas were killed in Kattankulam yesterday, the MCNS said, adding one more rebel died in Nedunkandal while three others were gunned down in Sirikulam.
It said three LTTE cadres were killed in a clash with security forces at Thandikulam in Mannar.
In another incident, at least six rebel were killed in Andankulam in Mannar yesterday, the army said, adding seven more guerrillas were shot dead in Periyapandivirichchan area of Vavuniya. One rebel was also killed in Mullikulam area.
Seven LTTE cadres were gunned down by security forces in separate clashes in north-eastern Welioya yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.
Meanwhile, Air Force fighter jets pounded the LTTE's military base called 'Radha Base' at Peravilkulam in northern Mullaitivu this morning, the MCNS said. PTI
3 soldiers killed in Pak bomb attack
Islamabad, Feb 14 (PTI) Three soldiers, including a major, were killed and three more injured in a bomb attack on an army convoy in Pakistan's restive Bajaur Agency today.
The convoy of the Bajaur Scouts was targeted with a remote controlled roadside bomb at Mamund in the Bajaur tribal region bordering Afghanistan, witnesses said. Officials said a major and two non-commissioned officers were killed in the blast.
The convoy was attacked as the troops were returning from night duty in the restive Bajaur area.
The attack occurred as thousands of soldiers and paramilitary troops were being deployed in sensitive areas of Pakistan ahead of the February 18 parliamentary polls. The blast was also the latest in a series of bomb attacks on Pakistan's security forces that have killed scores of personnel.
No group claimed responsibility for the attack but such blasts are usually blamed on Taliban-linked militants.
The Election Commission yesterday postponed polls to a constituency in the restive South Waziristan tribal region because of the poor security situation there.
Pro-Taliban militants are active in the Bajaur Agency, where a US missile strike killed around dozens of students of a madrassa in 2006. PTI
Pakistanis believe security will improve if Musharraf quits
Islamabad, Feb 14 (PTI) Support for President Pervez Musharraf has dramatically fallen in Pakistan, where a majority of the people believe stability and security in the country would improve if he resigned, according to a new survey conducted by BBC World Service.
Almost half the respondents said they thought his controversial re-election in October last year, while he was still army chief, was not valid.
Only 25 per cent of respondents in the survey said that security would get worse if Musharraf were to quit, while 64 per cent of respondents said stability and security would improve if he "were to resign now".
Twenty-nine per cent of Pakistanis regarded Musharraf's oath-taking as president last November as valid while 49 per cent said it was invalid.
The respondents were divided about whether the February 18 general election would be free and fair, as 44 per cent said they were "very or somewhat confident" that they will be impartial. However, 46 per cent said they are "not very confident or not at all confident" about the polls being fair.
A total of 1,476 Pakistanis participated in the poll conducted last month by Gallup Pakistan for BBC's Urdu service. The survey supported the findings of another recent poll conducted by the US-based International Republican Institute (IRI), which too suggested that support for Musharraf had eroded. PTI
Malaysia to hold general election on March 8
Jaishree Balasubramanian
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 14 (PTI) Malaysia will hold its general election on March 8 in which the ruling coalition of Prime Minister Abdullah Badawi is expected to emerge the winner despite increasing religious and political tensions, including massive protests by ethnic Indians alleging marginalisation.
The country's Election Commission today said nominations will be held on February 24 to elect 222 legislators in Parliament. Abdullah dissolved Parliament yesterday, paving the way for the elections, a year earlier than scheduled.
"Come out and vote, don't sleep .... I want to see a free and fair election," Election Commission Chairman Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman told reporters.
Over ten million people have so far registered to vote. Malaysia's population of 27 million comprises 60 per cent Muslim Malays, 25 ethnic Chinese mostly, Buddhists or Christians, and 7.8 per cent ethnic Indians who are mostly Hindus from Tamil Nadu.
The March 8 elections will see Abdullah's Barisan Nasional party challenged by three main opposition parties -- the left-leaning Democratic Action Party, the Islamist Parti Islam se-Malaysia and dissident former deputy premier Anwar Ibrahim's Parti Keadilan.
Opposition parties attacked the timing of the polls. Ibrahim, who was sacked as deputy premier and jailed in 1998, said the government was attempting to sideline him by holding the ballot a month before he is eligible to run for office.
"Denying me the opportunity to contest demonstrates that the four-year track record of the Abdullah administration has been so banal, disappointing and characterised by failure that it can ill-afford to take any chances by allowing for a truly democratic electoral process," he said in a statement. PTI
Petrol price hike to help oil companies cut losses: India Inc
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) India Inc today said the government's decision to hike petrol and diesel prices will help oil companies cut losses on sale of LPG, petrol, diesel and kerosene.
In a statement issued here, industry body Ficci said, "given the high level of international crude prices, some adjustment of the domestic retail prices had become inevitable as under-realisation on sale of petroleum, diesel and other products had reached a staggering Rs 71,808 crore".
It said hike in petroleum and diesel prices would add to inflationary pressures.
"The government could have, however, implemented the Petroleum Ministry's demand for reduction in excise duty on petrol and diesel by Re one per litre," Ficci added.
This would to some extent address the rising distortion in petroleum sector since it was the government that issued oil bonds to meet part of the difference between sale price and international price at which oil companies buy crude.
Terming the move as a "sensible decision", Assocham President Venugopal Dhoot said it would help reduce under-recoveries of oil marketing companies to some extent.
"This should have been long ago as losses of oil marketing companies have been mounting. Crude oil prices are increasing internationally and the common man ought to bear the burden of rising crude oil prices," Dhoot said.
The government hiked petrol and diesel prices by Rs two and Re one per litre respectively effective from midnight tonight to curb losses of public sector oil companies. PTI
Inflation still high, needs to be brought down further: RBI
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) The Reserve Bank today said inflation rate in the country is still high by global standards and needs to be brought down further.
"Our inflation is still high by world standards and it needs to be brought down further," RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan said at a lecture on "Growth and Macroeconomic Issues and Challenges in India" organised by the Institute of Economic Growth as a part of its golden jubilee celebrations here.
The RBI's objective has been to ensure liquidity and still keep inflation and interest rates low, he said.
Inflation rate inched to over six month high level, piercing the four per cent mark for the week ended January 26, though it was below the RBI's target of containing it to around 5 per cent during the current financial year.
Reserve Bank in its quarterly review on January 29 left benchmark interest rates unchanged citing inflation control as the priority of central bank.
Asked whether banks have more headroom for reducing lending rates in the near future, Mohan said, "what they are doing is not inconsistent with the RBI policy." While announcing the quarterly review of the monetary policy on January 29, RBI Governor Y V Reddy too had said that net interest margin of the banks was high and there was scope for reducing the lending rates.
Outlining the challenges facing policy makers as India seeks 10 per cent-plus growth rats in the next five years, Mohan said excessive credit growth could also lead to an asset price bubble. PTI
R-Power gains over 5 per cent; outperforms Sensex
Mumbai, Feb 14 (PTI) Reliance Power, the Anil Ambani group's latest entry to bourses, today clocked a 5.3 per cent rise in its share price, snapping a three-day losing streak and outperforming the market benchmark Sensex in the process.
In a bullish market where the Sensex rose by 817 points or 4.82 per cent, shares of Reliance Power today closed for the first time in a positive territory. After hitting an intra-day peak of Rs 374.80, the stock settled 5.31 per cent up at Rs 370.05 at the BSE.
The stock had debuted on the bourses on Monday when it settled nearly 17 per cent below the issue price of Rs 450. The stock fell further by about five per cent on Tuesday and by about one per cent again yesterday.
However, despite a recovery seen on the counter, today's closing price was still about Rs 80 below the price at which investors were alloted the shares in the country's biggest- ever IPO last month.
The company had scaled a life-time peak of Rs 599.90 on February 11, while it hit a low of Rs 332.50 yesterday at the BSE.
Buying was seen across the Reliance pack of shares in today's trade. Among Anil Ambani group stocks, Reliance Communications rose 9.26 per cent, Reliance Energy gained 9.63 per cent, Reliance Capital appreciated by 9.41 per cent, Reliance Natural Resources Ltd soared 12.91 per cent, while Adlabs Films saw its share price adding 8.58 per cent.
In elder brother Mukesh Ambani-led group, Reliance Industries rose 5.35 per cent, Reliance Petroleum gained 13.56 per cent, whereas Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Ltd slipped 1.30 per cent. PTI
Markets remain on upward march, Sensex up 817 pts
Mumbai, Feb 14 (PTI) Posting gains for the second straight session today, the Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex zoomed by 817 points, with funds, influenced by a firming global trend, buying into stocks The Sensex, which recorded a gain of 341 points in the last day's trading, surged further by 817.49 points at 17,766.63 on foreign funds turning active world-wide.
The key index touched the day's high of 17,838.08 points and a low of 17,265.19 points.
Buying sentiments among foreign funds picked up following reports of a faster economic growth rate in Japan and better-than-expected U S retail sales. The reports eased concerns that the world's two biggest economies may slid into a recession.
In similar fashion, the wide-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty surged to 52,00.00 by adding 272.55 points. Reflecting volatility in the market, the Nifty touched a high of 5,220.25 and a low of 4,944.65 points.
Major support to the market came in from the capital goods sector with its index gaining the most 1,140.36 points at 16,282.17, followed by metal index by 847.58 points at 15,621.89.
In the capital goods sector, public sector BHEL, a leading manufacturer of thermal power equipment, shot up to four month's high on reports of winning a contract.
Oil and gas index also ended up by 755.38 points at 10,932.36 as the sector's major private refiners Reliance Petroleum and Essar Oil, along with Centurion Bank of Punjab and state-run Steel Authority of India, surged on the announcement of their inclusion in a number of MSCI indices. PTI
My films are not being promoted properly: Jimmy
Amit Das
New Delhi, Feb 14 (PTI) Bollywood actor Jimmy Shergill is disappointed with the way his films are promoted and to make things right, the actor is planning to open his own production company.
"It is really disappointing specially after you have put up so much hard work for 30-40 days and then your film don't do well because it has not been promoted or released properly. So I want to open my own production house, I feel I will be a happier man then," says Jimmy, who had as many as seven films hit the box-office last year but with most failing to set the cash register ringing.
However, Jimmy, who received critical acclaims for his role in 'Stranger' and 'Das Kahaniya', is unfazed and is ready with four of his films to be released this year, the newest being 'Wednesday'.
"My film, 'Wednesday' will be released in March-April. It has some great actors like Naseruddin Shah, Anupam Kher and Rajpal Yadav. I am playing a KDS officer in the film. Next, I have 'Haste Haste', 'Bachelor Party', 'Mumbai Katin' and 'Flag', which I just completed," says Jimmy, who was in the capital recently for endorsing a lifestyle clothing company as a brand ambassador.
Jimmy, who ever since his debut in Gulzar's 'Maachis' has done a variety of roles, says he is not scared of experimenting and does not care about image. PTI
Manipur government to intensify fight against insurgents
Imphal, Feb 13 (PTI) Manipur government has taken up various steps including strengthening of police stations and planning to set up women police stations and a "woman commando" force to combat the increasing activities of insurgent outfits in the state.
Authorities are also concerned over the reports of support of some people on the general strike called by insurgents on the Republic Day this year.
The Governor SS Sidhu has said that the government would recruit 3,138 additional manpower in police as a part of the government's action plan to control violence in the state.
The Governor, addressing the legislature said the government planned to set up women police stations, a women commando force and modernise communication equipment and weapons.
Hardly a day passed without the report of killing of a person in insurgency-related crime in the past few years, a senior police official on condition of anonymity said.
He said 28 people--16 civilians, 11 militants and one security man--were killed in January alone this year.
Official sources said about 160 persons including 121 extremists were killed between April 2007 and January 2008 in separate insurgency-connected crimes.
Expressing concern over the increasing incidents of grenade attacks on houses of officials, legislators or businessmen, abduction of officials for ransom and disruption of government projects by militants, police had also appealed to the people to report to the police if there was any monetary demand from them by the militants, officials say. PTI
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1 U.S. $ = 39.655 INR
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1 Euro = 57.980 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 10.905 INR
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