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BJP, ally to retain power in Nagaland: Rajnath
Dimapur, Feb 24 (PTI) The BJP has exuded confidence that it will retain power in Nagaland and better its tally in Tripura and Meghalaya assembly in the ongoing elections.
The mood of people shows that Democratic Alliance of Nagaland (DAN) is the obvious choice of the voters here, BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters here last night after addressing a series of election rallies in three districts of Longleng, Tuensang and Wokha where the party fielded maximum number of candidates for the March 5 election.
He claimed that DAN government, where BJP was a coalition partner, had been working for peace and development in the state.
Singh, accompanied by BJP's Nagaland in-charge Rajiv Pratap Rudy and state president Ato Yepthomi and party's northeast in-charge V Satish, yesterday made a whirlwind tour in the districts.
Claiming that BJP would form a coalition government with its regional partner Nagaland Peoples Front (NPF), Singh said the formation of the next government in Meghalaya would depend on the electoral success of BJP.
He said the people of Nagaland have now understood that Congress does not want permanent peace and stability in the state. He alleged that successive Congress governments have done nothing for the development of the state in the past 40 years.
Singh termed the recent increase in violent incidents in Nagaland during President's Rule as a gift to the people in the form of PR package by Congress-led UPA government at the Centre. PTI
Did CRPF team organise weapons recovery?
Sumir Kaul
New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) In what could turn into a major embarrassment for CRPF, the Jammu and Kashmir Police may book its officers and jawans for allegedly stage-managing recovery of deadly RDX in Baderwah district leading to cancellation of visit of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi there on Friday.
According to a report, neither the state police nor any other central security agency confirmed the operation for recovery of the arms and explosive material including three kilograms of RDX, two Chinese grenades, a grenade launcher, two detonators, seven rounds of AK-47, four rounds of Pika Gun, one wireless set and a mobile phone charger.
According to the highly-placed sources in the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department, the operation was allegedly stage-managed by the CRPF ahead of the visit of Gandhi, who was accompanied by Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, to Baderwah town.
The CRPF team in civil dress had descended on an abandoned house in Teligarh area of Chinnot village and allegedly placed all the ammunition and the explosive powder there, the sources said.
The inquiry team recorded the statement of the grocery shop owner who had supplied food including a chicken preparation to the CRPF team, which had stationed itself a day prior to the visit of Gandhi and Patil.
The report said that the Commanding officer of the CRPF battalion in the area had called the local police station at around 1930 hours on Thursday and sought three personnel for a routine patrol. The three personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police reached the CO's office where they were made to sit for the next three hours without any work. PTI
Mayawati less ballistic against Cong, demands quota for Dalit converts
New Delhi, Feb 24(PTI) Addressing her first rally after the recent meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and BSP supremo Mayawati today skirted the issues of withdrawal of support to the Centre and demanded reservation for Dalits among Muslims and Christians.
Launching BSP's campaign in Delhi ahead of assembly elections scheduled later this year, Mayawati was not caustic in her attack on Congress and instead criticisied both BJP and Congress for their "misrule" since independence and "pro-rich policies".
Despite the rally being held on the eve of the budget session of Parliament, Mayawati did not refer to her earlier threat to take a decision on the issue of withdrawal of support to the Congress-led coalition at the Centre after March 10.
Even on the Taj corridor issue and the disproportionate assets case, she did not name Congress directly but charged BJP with "joining hands with other parties to tarnish her image" by raking up such issues.
She alleged BJP and Congress would resort to all possible " tactics of money and muscle power" to keep BSP away from power, whether it is Lok Sabha election or assembly poll in Delhi.
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also cautioned against a "ploy" to project BSP as an anti-upper caste party and said the truth was just the opposite.
"Would I have allowed such a high post to Satish Chandra Mishra, a Brahmin, in my party and government if I was anti- upper caste," she said. PTI
India thump England to enter U-19 World Cup semis
Kuala Lumpur, Feb 24 (PTI) Proving that the luring Indian Premier League was no distraction, Indians thumped England by seven wickets to storm into the semi-finals of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup here today.
The Indians, seeded second behind defending champions Pakistan, sent England in to bat and rolled them over for 146 in 46 overs and then chased the paltry target for loss of only three wickets in 39.1 overs at the Kinrara Oval.
Opener Taruwar Kohli scored a patient unbeaten half century to help carve out an Indian win after left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah took 3 for 29 and seamer Siddarth Kaul and left-arm slow bowler Ravindra Jadeja claimed two wickets each to make it a low-scoring affair.
India will next play the winner of match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, who play their quarter-final match tomorrow.
The BCCI has directed Indian Premier League franchisees not to sign contracts with the players of U-19 World Cup squad for the time being as the Board feares that the money involved in the Twenty20 extravaganza would distract the juniors.
Kohli (63 not out of 111 balls) and other opener Sreevats Goswami (26 off 60 balls) tackled English pace attack with their cautious approach and put on 65 runs in 20 overs.
After Goswami was out in the next over, Tanmay Srivastava (22) combined with Kohli and the runs continued to come at a steady pace.
Off-spinner Tom Westley, however, tried to destabilise the Indian line-up by picking quick wickets of Srivastava and captain Virat Kohli (8) the space of 10 runs. PTI
Symonds does it again!
Sydney, Feb 24 (PTI) Even less than a month after the racism row involving Andrew Symonds and Harbhajan Singh was resolved, the Australian all rounder once again was seen mired in a heated exchange of words with an Indian bowler -- this time Ishant Sharma.
Symonds, who scored 59 to propel Australia to a challenging 317 at SCG, fired up in final overs and smashed a five fours and two sixes to raise his half century from 44 balls.
While Symonds' innings was blazing, Ishant Sharma foxed him with a slower delivery and the Australian was clean bowled. But Symonds did not leave the ground before exchanging some heated words with the Indian paceman.
Symonds first reacted to his dismissal after which Ishant Sharma retaliated by showing Symonds his way back to the pavilion, which led to the two umpires calling over the Indian team and asking them to show restraint.
Umpire Daryl Harper was seen having a word with Dhoni and his men.
Incidently, Symonds had alleged Harbhajan of calling him a monkey during a Test played at the same ground. PTI
Dhoni wants to take positives despite loss
Sydney, Feb 24 (PTI) India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today said his side could have chased down the huge Australian total had the top order given a good start, though he was happy they gave a scare to their opponents by coming close to the target.
India's top four batsmen were out cheaply for 51 runs and Dhoni (36) and centurion Gautam Gambhir (113) revived the innings with a 98-run partnership for the fifth wicket but fell short of 18-runs after Robin Uthappa (51) was out at a critical juncture.
Dhoni admitted it was a case of so near yet so far but said he would take "a lot of positives" for his side from the loss.
"I think we can take lots of positives from the game even though we lost it. We never gave up for the run chase even after we had lost a couple of wickets early on," Dhoni said.
"I thought 317 was chaseable on this wicket. But, we started very badly in the run chase.
"Gambhir batted fantastically and he kept us in the hunt, but a big patrnership at the lower order could have alter the result," he said.
Dhoni was also happy that Uthappa came good despite for a lost cause and hoped the Karnataka batsman performed consistently.
"He is an unorthodox player. He is aggressive, can cut and pull. I hope he plays like that in the remaining matches." PTI
PPP virtually stakes claim to form new govt
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Feb 24 (PTI) A week after emerging as the largest group in the general election, the Pakistan People's Party today virtually staked claim to form the new government amid reports that the beleaguered President was finalising an "exit strategy for himself." Pakistan People's Party (PPP) leaders, who have been discussing possible formation of a coalition government with other opposition parting following the February 18 polls, asked the Musharraf regime to invite it to form government.
The matter was also discussed during PPP co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari's meeting with newly elected lawmakers from Balochistan province, they said while asking the government to convene a session of the new National Assembly.
Former premier Nawaz Sharif's PML-N party and the PPP last week announced plans to form coalition governments at the centre and in the provinces.
Senior PML-N leader Khwaja Muhammad Asif today called on Zardari to discuss cooperation between the two parties in forming the new government. Asif told reporters he had no message for Zardari from PML-N chief Nawaz Sharif.
"My meeting is a continuation of the earlier meeting between the PPP and PML-N on forming the government. We had agreed to have further consultations and to discuss the emerging political situation," Asif said. "We have decided we will work together and respect each other's mandate." A close aide of President Pervez Musharraf, meanwhile, told London's 'Sunday Telegraph' that the embattled leader, whose allies were routed in the polls, "is considering stepping down in days" to avoid a showdown with the newly elected Parliament.
However, a Presidential spokesman denied that Musharraf was considering quitting. PTI
76 rebels, three soldiers killed in Lanka clashes
T V Sriram
Colombo, Feb 24 (PTI) At least 76 Tamil Tigers and three soldiers were killed in fierce clashes in Sri Lanka's embattled northern region as a fighter aircraft bombed an LTTE leader's base in the rebel-stronghold of Mannar, officials here said today.
The Air Force jet pounded the LTTE's Mannar area leader's camp in Parappukkandantan and "the target was successfully engaged," the Media Centre for National Security (MCNS) said.
In ground clashes, 11 LTTE rebels were killed in Koilmadu, two each in Sulanmarathumadu and Navathkulamand, and three others in Periyapandivirchchan area of Vavuniya yesterday.
Separately, eight LTTE cadres were killed in Kallikulam and four in Perankulam area of Mannar yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.
Seven more rebels were killed in Palamodai area of Mannar in fierce clashes with security forces yesterday, the MCNS said, adding four guerrillas were gunned down by troops at Perakamam.
In clashes in Jaffna, at least six LTTE rebels were killed yesterday, it said.
Seven Tamil Tigers and a soldier lost their lives in a confrontation in the general area of Mullikulam yesterday, the Defence Ministry said.
In the Mannar front, troops launched an attack targeting a tractor carrying Tiger rebels yesterday, killing two LTTE cadres and destroying the vehicle, it said. PTI
Reliance Power announces 3:5 bonus issue to shareholders
Mumbai, Feb 24 (PTI) In a determined bid to salvage Reliance Power's IPO, which received a severe blow on its listing day, Group Chairman Anil Ambani today announced three bonus shares for every five held by non-promoter shareholders to bring down the cost of acquisition from Rs 430 to Rs 269.
Announcing the decision of the bonus issue taken by the board of Reliance Power, Ambani also said he would transfer shares worth Rs 5,000 crore from his promoters quota to Reliance Energy.
Consequently, the public shareholding in Reliance Power would increase to 15 per cent from 10 per cent earlier, while Ambani's stake would come down from 45 per cent to 40 per cent.
The move to transfer Ambani's personal shares to Reliance Energy would enable the promoter company to retain 45 per cent shareholding in Reliance Power.
The move also answers apprehensions that the bonus for Reliance Power shareholders could come at the cost of shareholders in REL.
Shares of Reliance Power closed at Rs 372 on the day of listing on February 11.
"I will protect the dilution of REL shareholders from 45 per cent to 42.5 per cent at the proposed bonus shares which is a dilution of 2.6 per cent roughly. I will be diluting my personal shares free of cost to Reliance Energy shareholders, whereby REL shareholding in Reliance Power remains intact at 45 per cent," Ambani said at a press conference here.
As a result of the voluntary contribution of 2.6 per cent of his shareholding in Reliance Power to Reliance Energy, Ambani's shareholding will come down from 45 per cent to 40 per cent in Reliance Power. PTI
50% of malls may shut down by 2010, hype to abate: Experts
Mumbai, Feb 24 (PTI) Consolidation in the retail industry would result in nearly 50 per cent of the malls shutting down by March 2010 and the hoopla surrounding the sector would considerably subside by then, a brand expert has said.
"By March 2010, around 50 per cent of malls would close down while retailers focusing on consumers would thrive. Those who focus on investors, however, will not survive," Samsika Marketing Consultants Chairman and Managing Director Jagdeep Kapoor told PTI here.
Retailers think that consumer demand had increased but they do not realise that consumers had also become more demanding, he said. "Those who will understand both will survive." Retailers were concentrating more on expansion which was not enough for surviving in a market that was becoming intensely competitive, he said. "They need to look at depth by improving their services and focusing on how to retain the consumer." By the end of the calendar year, margins of organised retailers were likely to decline, Hypercity CEO Andrew Levermore said. "Retailers, especially in the food and groceries business, would be the worst affected." "We will see some consolidation and mergers and acquisitions happening in the sector," Levermore said.
However, two categories of retailers would survive in this scenario - the ones with deep pockets who could sustain losses for a long period and the others who had accumulated experience in the sector, he noted. PTI
BSE plans comex foray, to pick up 26% stake in NMCE
Mumbai, Feb 24 (PTI) The Bombay Stock Exchange plans to pick up 26 per cent stake in Ahmedabad-based National Multi-Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (NMCE), an announcement of the formalisation of the tie-up is expected here tomorrow.
In June 2007, the Bombay Stock Exchange had approached the Forward Markets Commission (FMC), the commodities market watchdog, for buying 26 per cent stake in NMCE. The valuation for the stake sale to BSE is not known, but the new capital infusion with a premium is expected to be around Rs 100 crore.
A senior BSE official, who did not wish to be identified, declined to comment on the value of the deal because of a confidentiality clause.
BSE might eventually take control of the management of the demutualised online commodity exchange, the official said.
The tie-up with BSE would help NMCE increase its trade volumes in agricultural and other commodities as it would then have access to the large BSE trading platform network besides its expertise in running a large bourse.
The BSE would become the second stock exchange, after the National Stock Exchange (NSE) which has a 15 per cent interest in NCDEX, to hold a stake in a commodity exchange. PTI
Bra as shopping bag! lingerie design turns funky
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) A bra that doubles up as a shopping bag and another that can store chopsticks. Having come out with these innovative ideas, a leading lingerie brand is now challenging designers to create innerwear that will both appeal to the fashion conscious and promote awareness on environmental issues as well.
Switzerland-based Triumph International which previously has brought out wacky brassiere collections such as 'the Eco-Globe','My chopsticks bra,' 'The Warm Biz' 'Recycle PET' and the 'No Shopping bag bra,'is now organising the contest for students from more than 40 countries including India to produce "inspiring designs" for lingerie.
The winning designer, judged by experts in the field of design, fashion and the media, at the final held in July next year at Bejing, would bag a cash prize of Euro 15,000 and get a chance to sell the product in select stores worldwide.
"The winning design will be adapted and interpreted by our design team for commercial production. Also, the winner would also get a chance to get the design to be adapted and produced commercially to be sold as a limited edition along with his or her name," says Thorsten Allenstein, Country Head of Triumph.
"My Hashi bra" (my chopsticsk bra), features a pair of foldable recycled chopsticks that can be stashed in the sides of the bra and removed to eat a meal of rice and soup or while eating out.
"The product comes with removable , traditional cases on the shoulder straps and a detachable 'chopstick rest at the centre of the bra that is made of paper recycled from wooden chopsticks," says a company official."The idea is to highlight the need to reduce waste and establish a recycling -based society, the official adds. PTI
Marriages are made in heaven, is it?
New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Marriages are made in heaven. But a young author, who was subjected to "bride viewing" ceremony 30 times before getting married to an NRI, says before entering into wedlock, the bride is forced to travel in a torturous path marked by stars, astrologers and matchmakers.
Kausalya Saptharishi, a freelance journalist in the United States, in her debut novel 'The TamBrahm Bride' traces the matrimonial journey of protagonist Shalu, whose parents belonging to Tamil Brahmin community make it their full-time job to search a "perfect match" for their daughter.
The TamBrahm Bride, explores the dizzying world of South Indian arranged marriage market dominated by stars, astrologers, matchmakers and a variety of ego characteristic boys' families.
"I had never planned that my first fiction would be about the TamBrahm arranged marriage set-up. It just happened the way because, I guess, somewhere in my subconscious, my own experiences as a Tamil Brahmin bride was waiting to be told through fiction," Kausalya, who was born in erstwhile Madras and brought up in Delhi, told PTI.
Shalu's parents are passionate for an NRI groom, who carries more clout than his India-based counterparts.
During the course of the marriage, 23-year-old Shalu is forced to present herself in traditional attire (saree), and serve hot drinks and traditional snacks for the groom and his family members and sit modestly in front of them answering questions posed by the boy's parents.
Shalu, an obedient daughter of an orthodox Tamil Brahm parents, agrees to an arranged marriage, but stays stubborn on continuing her dreams, regardless of her matrimonial destiny.
"Ever since I experienced some of the aspects integral to the arranged marriage system such as bride-viewings, I got interested in this topic. PTI
Digest of domestic stories for the week Feb 16-22
Saturday
Nayagarh: Fourteen policemen were among 15 people gunned down by about 500 heavily-armed naxalites who struck at five police establishments and drove away with huge quanity of arms and ammunitions in this remote district of Orissa.
Panaji: Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and his wife Manyata face double trouble with Goan authorities putting on hold their marriage registration process and a court in Mumbai ordering a probe into an undertrial's claim that she was still married to him.
Sunday
ew Delhi: After remaining elusive for more than a fortnight, Jeevan Raut, brother of Dr Amit Kumar, the alleged kingpin in the multi-crore rupee kidney racket, is arrested here by the CBI.
Bhubaneswar: Backed by helicopters, security forces kill at least 20 naxals, including some women cadres, during continuing gun battles, a day after 14 policemen and a civilian died in Maoist attacks on police stations in Orissa's Nayagarh district.
Monday
Raipur: Six CRPF personnel and 13 Maoists are killed in two separate encounters in Bijapur district, about 565km from here.
New Delhi: Romesh Sharma, alleged frontman of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim, and five others are sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment by a Delhi court for hatching a "pathetic, chilling and sinister" conspiracy to eliminate his fashion designer girlfriend nine years ago.
Tuesday
Panaji: Former Goa minister and MLA Atanasio Monserratte along with city Mayor Tony Rodrigues is detained after a mob, led by them, attacked Panaji police station, setting three vehicles on fire.
Bhubaneswar: Launching the country's biggest ever anti-Maoist offensive, security forces adopted a new strategy of guerilla warfare in the hunt for naxals in the dense forests of Orissa where additional paramilitary personnel have been rushed to join the long haul operation.
Thursday
New Delhi: India welcomes the conduct of elections in Pakistan and said it would resume the composite dialogue as soon as a "duly-constituted" government is in place in that country.
Panaji: Former Goa minister and MLA Anatasio Monserratte faces a charge of attempt to murder is arrested in connection with the mob attack on the Panaji police station in which 15 policemen were injured.
Friday
New Delhi: The protests against the screening of "Jodhaa Akbar" for alleged distortion of history refused to die down even as some theatres in Punjab and Bihar stop the film from showing.
New Delhi: Former External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh resigns from the Rajya Sabha as well as Congress with which he was associated for over two decades. PTI
Coolie? Why not call us porters instead?
Ashish Jha
New Delhi, Feb 22 (PTI) The demand is feeble, not even listed in the charter of demands that they would present to the Railway Minister. But they plan to broach the issue at an appropriate time- why call us 'coolie'? "It is one of our several demands including a forth grade employee status to coolies and a pension scheme for those coolies attaining age of 60," says Mangat Ram Saini, Chairman, All India Railway Coolie Organisation.
Coolies, the inseparable entity of one of the world's biggest Railway network and the biggest non-governmental structure supporting the Indian railways have come up with these demands during their "Sansad Ghero Abhiyan" in the capital.
"This name, 'coolie' smacks of the British Raj and still gives us a sense of 'slavery'," says Saini adding a better calling name was much required to uplift their social status.
"Being called as 'Coolie' is a little degradation of the kind of service, we provide to the millions of passengers everyday," he says.
After a long gap of 25 years when 'Coolies' were heard and their role was recognised in the society with the Bollywood 'Icon' Amitabh Bachhan giving a voice to their plight through the hit film 'Coolie,' the coolie fraternity has decided to voice its demands on their own.
"We are going to put our demand before the government for not only changing this name but also to consider us as the fourth grade employee under Indian Railways and providing pension scheme for our colleagues who cross 60 years of age" says Charan Singh, who has worked as a coolie on the New Delhi Railway Station for last 35 years. PTI
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