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Poll budget writes off farm loans, gives tax sops
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) In a budget that many saw was aimed at early polls, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today gave a whopping Rs 60,000 crore largesse to farmers by writing off their loans, provided sops to income tax payers, imposed no fresh burden on corporates but brought down excise duties to stimulate economy.
Spreading goodies in the fifth and last full-fledged Budget of the UPA Government, he brought down excise duties that will bring down prices of drugs, small and hybrid cars, two and three-wheelers, water purification devices, breakfast cereals, paper and paper-board. However, non-filtered cigarettes will become expensive.
In a bid to boost demand and stimulus to manufacturing sector, the Finance Minister reduced the general Central Value-Added Tax (Cenvat) across the board from 16 to 14 per cent. However, the peak customs duty rate remained unchanged.
The controversial Banking Cash Transaction Tax (BCTT) has been withdrawn while Commodities Transaction Tax on the lines of Securities Transaction Tax is being introduced.
Chidambaram's direct tax proposals are revenue neutral while those on the indirect taxes side are estimated to result in a loss of Rs 5,900 crore.
In a populist measure against the backdrop of serious indebtedness of farmers leading to suicides, the Finance Minister announced the largest-ever loan waiver and relief package of Rs 60,000 crore that will benefit four crore farmers.
Political parties, including those on the government side,and industrialists saw this measure as an indication that polls could be possible earlier than scheduled.
Without altering the rate of tax, Chidambaram sought to please the middle class by raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs 1,50,000 from Rs 1,10,000 that will give a minimum relief of Rs 4,000. PTI
Will the budget bring early polls?
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) A populist budget providing for a massive farm loan waiver, income tax sops across the board and no no additional burden on the corporate sector today prompted widespread specualtion that Lok Sabha polls may be held before the end of the year, probably by October or November.
Apparently the fast-tracking of the implementation of the debt waiver and relief scheme by June this year led to political parties, including those on the side of the government, and the industry predicting that elections are not not far away.
Short of announcing the date for elections, everything else has been announced, said leader of the CPI Parliamentary Party in Lok Sabha Gurudas Dasgupta, whose party supports the government.
Dubbing the budget as "election manifesto", BJP Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said "it is a clear signal that elcdetions are being held early. The nature of the budget is virutual declaration of mid-term elections." Sharing this view, noted industrialist and Rajya Sabha member Rahul Bajaj said the budget has clear indicators for early elections.
In the central hall of Parliament, Congress MPs were discussing the possibility of early polls and joking with colleagues of other parties to get ready for the battle. However, CPI MP D Raja does not not feel it points to early elections, though he concedes that the budget does have a short-term perspective on several issues.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram, the hero of day, dismissed all talk of elections saying in India elections take place every year and the budgets can be described as election budgets.
"If you have nothing else to say about the budget, then you can call it election-budget," he said in a tone tinged with sarcasm at the customary post-budget briefing. PTI
Tax payers to gain up to Rs 44,000 under new regime
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) The working class people will stand to benefit by up to Rs 44,000 a year in income tax following the changes proposed by the Finance Minister in the Union Budget for 2008-09, which also provides for a minimum benefit of Rs 4,000.
While raising the income tax exemption limit to Rs 1.5 lakh from 1.1 lakh, Finance Minister P Chidamabaram also provided for lower tax rates for income up to Rs 5 lakh.
Earlier, the minimum exemption limit stood at Rs 1.1 lakh for all classes of individuals. For women, the exemption limit has been raised to 1.8 lakh from 1.45 lakh previously, while for senior citizens it has been hiked from Rs 1.95 lakh to Rs 2.25 lakh.
For an income of Rs 10 lakh a year, an individual would have to pay a tax of Rs 2,05,000, as against Rs 2,49,000 under the previous tax structure. For women assessees, a similar income would attract a tax of Rs 2,02,000 under the new regime, down from Rs 2,45,500 previously, while the tax for senior citizens would drop to Rs 1,97,500 from Rs 2,36,000 earlier.
The minimum benefit to a person with an annual income of Rs 1.5 lakh at the threshold will be around Rs 4,000, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said, while presenting the Budget 2008-09 in Lok Sabha.
According to the proposals, income between Rs 1.5-3 lakh will be taxed at 10 per cent, between Rs 3-5 lakh at 20 per cent, while for Rs 5-10 lakh it would be 30 per cent.
Based on this structure, an individual having an income of Rs 10 lakh would pay no tax on income up to Rs 1.5 lakh, Rs 15,000 between Rs 1.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh, Rs 40,000 between Rs 3-5 lakh and Rs 1,50,000 between Rs 5-10 lakh. Previously, the tax amounts for these four slabs were Rs 4,000, Rs 35,000, Rs 60,000 and Rs 1,50,000 respectively. PTI
Government is generous in response to farm sector: PM
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) Hailing farmers as the "most important businessmen", Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the government has been generous in its response to deal with the depression in agriculture sector while complimenting Finance Minister P Chidambaram for doing a "very good job".
"I sincerely believe the government has been generous in its response. It is an unorthodox response. But considering the amount of depression that prevails in the agriculture sector, this is a response mechanism that is justified," Singh said in his post-Budget comments.
Analysing the measures announced by Chidambaram in the Budget, he said the government would list some more Public Sector Undertakings and noted that "markets are thirsty for good new chips.
"We have to explore all processes of enhancing our resources, including listing the enterprises in the markets," Singh said.
Listing out inflation and international recession as causes for concern, he said, "We will have to tackle both worries. There is a worry that international recession will impact the growth process. Rise in commodity prices, petroleum prices will lead to more inflation.
"So, we have to strike a balance. The Finance Minister has done a very good job. He has kept the fiscal deficit, the revenue deficit under control. Simultaneously, he has ensured if some adverse wind comes from outside the country, he has used the excise duty reductions," Singh said. PTI
Court infrastructure, computerisation tops Budget agenda
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) Improvement of infrastructural facilities for judiciary and computerisation of courts have emerged as focus areas of the government, which has more than doubled the funds for "administration of justice" in the Law and Justice Ministry's allocation for 2008-09.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram has raised the funds for administration of justice to Rs 253.12 crore, compared to Rs 108.20 crore in the last Budget.
Showing an urgency for delivering speedy justice, the government has decided to computerise district and subordinate courts in a big way. The Budget allocated Rs 115 crore for the purpose while there was no financial provision for it in the Revised Budget for 2007-08.
In its bid to address issues related to the huge arrear of over 2.5 crore cases in lower courts, the government has also raised the allocation for Special Courts by 600 per cent, from Rs two crore in 2007-08 to Rs 13 crore in the current Budget. Similarly, the allocation for Fast Track court has also been increased by 13 per cent as compared to last year.
Adopting a pro-poor litigant approach, the government has raised the allocation for providing legal aid to the needy through National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) by 18.03 per cent as compared to the previous year.
Wary of the faux pas over the Ram Setu affidavit, the government has decided to spend more on improving the quality of its legal advisers and counsels. The allocation for this purpose has been raised to Rs 36.52 crore from Rs 30.94 crore in 2007-08.
The Supreme Court received special attention from the Finance Minister who raised its kitty by three per cent from Rs 56.74 crore in 2007-08 to Rs 58.57 crore for the next year. PTI
Budget fails to lift markets, Sensex down by over 240 pts
Mumbai, Feb 29 (PTI) The Budget 2008-09 gave mixed signals to markets but the proposal to hike the short-term capital gains tax did not go down well as the benchmark Sensex dipped by more than 240 points today.
The 30-share index on the Bombay Stock Exchange recovered from steep intra-day lows and ended the day at 17,578.72, a fall of 245.76 points, or 1.38 per cent, from its last close.
Marketmen said while the proposed hike in levy on securities held for less than a year poured water on investor sentiments, some other encouraging proposals for sectors like auto, infrastructure, pharma and agriculture wasl welcomed with cheers.
However, the markets took the proposal to keep corporate and surchagres unchanged with a pinch of salt.
Marketmen said a tardy 8.4 per cent GDP growth for the third quarter of the fiscal, confirming fears of a slowdown expressed in the Economic survey, also weighed down on the market sentiments.
The Sensex, in a knee-jerk reaction to the Budget proposal of a hike in short-term capital gain tax to 15 per cent, had plunged by about 500 points to a low of 17,337.46 in the afternoon trade.
The Budget left corporate tax and surcharge unchanged.
Some analysts, however, said the Budget continued to be a non-event for stock markets which will be rather influenced by global trends.
They attributed today's fall to concerns over soaring crude oil prices and a likely US recession.
The US Federal Reserve reportedly failed to provide any major relief to recession while supporting market expectations for a 50 basis point rate cut in the near future, they pointed out.
Meanwhile, the Indian industry and investment bankers gave a thumbs-up to the Union Budget, saying Finance Minister P Chidambaram has done a "fantastic" job indirectly for the market. PTI
Fiscal deficit to meet target: Chidambaram
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) Buoyant revenues, especially from tax collections, will enable the government to meet its fiscal deficit targets, but the goal to eliminate revenue deficit has been pushed by a year due to the "conscious shift in expenditure" on various social sectors.
So far as the fiscal deficit is concerned, the government will be able to reduce it to Rs 1,33,287 crore or 2.5 per cent of GDP next fiscal, much below three per cent as per the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act.
In 2007-08, the fiscal deficit will be 3.1 per cent as per the revised estimate, against the budget target of 3.3 per cent, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said while presenting the Budget for 2008-09 in Parliament.
Excess outlay of the government on its day-to-day operational expenses, technically called revenue deficit, will also be cut to 1.4 per cent this fiscal as compared with the budget estimate of 1.5 per cent.
In the next fiscal, revenue deficit is proposed to be further reduced to one per cent of GDP. This will happen since revenue receipts of the Central Government are projected at Rs 6,02,935 crore for 2008-09 and the revenue expenditure at Rs 6,58,119 crore, Chidambaram said.
As per the FRBM Act, the government should cut fiscal deficit by 0.3 per cent a year to make it three per cent of GDP by 2008-09, while revenue deficit is mandated to be slashed by 0.5 per cent a year to eliminate it by next fiscal.
While the government will be able to meet the annual target of 0.5 per cent cut in revenue deficit next year as well, the target of eliminating it has been postponed.
"...Because of the conscious shift in expenditure in favour of health, education and the social sector, we may need one more year to eliminate the revenue deficit. In my view, this is an entirely acceptable deferment," Chidambaram said. PTI
Cars, fertiliser, medicines cheaper; smoke dearer
New Delhi, February 29 (PTI) Consumers can now enjoy cheaper cars, two-wheelers, set top boxes, while they will have to pay more for their smoke and mobile handsets, thanks to Budget proposals made by Finance Minister P Chidambaram.
And Chidambaram has ensured that consumers have much more savings in taxes to be able to afford many luxuries such owning small or hybrid cars by proposing lenient levies on personal income that could help an individual save up to Rs 44,000 per year.
At the same time, the Finance Minister has laid the ground for cheaper fertilisers for farmers by reducing customs duty on crude and unrefined sulphur as also phosphoric acid used for making the agri-nutrients.
Simultaneously, the feed for chicken and other livestocks will also be cheaper with the Budget proposing cutting down customs duty on bactofuges and feed additives and pre-mixes.
But, the gesture for health care is the most significant one with the Budget cutting down customs duty on six specified drugs and bulk drugs while slashing by half the excise duty at eight per cent on drug formulations and exempting anti-AIDS drug ATAZANAVIR and bulk drug for its manufacture. PTI
FM announces excise duty cuts to boost manufacturing
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) To spur manufacturing, hit by rising interest rates, the government today proposed two per cent cut in excise duty from 16 per cent to 14 per cent on all goods, besides giving further duty concessions to specific sectors like auto and pharma.
"The manufacturing sector is the backbone of any economy. It is consumption that drives production and it is production that drives investment...I believe there is a need to give a stimulus to the manufacturing sector," Finance Minister P Chidambaram said while presenting the General Budget for 2008-09 in Parliament today.
Besides a 2 per cent general cut in excise duty on all goods, the Finance Minister proposed to lower the duty on all goods produced in pharmaceutical sectors to eight per cent from 16 per cent.
Excise duty on small cars, two, three wheelers, buses and their chassis will come down to 12 per cent from the current level of 16 per cent, while in case of hybrid cars the duty will be lowered to 14 per cent from the current 24 per cent.
However, in the software segment excise duty on packaged software would be raised to 12 per cent from 8 per cent to bring it on par with customised software, which will attract service tax of 12 per cent.
Non-filter cigarettes, which were enjoying favourable tax regime, will now be brought on par with filter cigarettes which attract higher taxes.
Goods of mass consumption like composting machines, wireless data cards, packaged coconut water, tea and coffee mixes and puffed rice will be exempted from excise duty against the current level of 16 per cent. PTI
Indian skeet shooting show promise: Sethi
Jaipur, Feb 29 (PTI) National Rifle Association of India Baljit Singh Sethi dismissed renowned Italian coach Marcello Dradi's view that there was something "historically wrong" with Indian skeet shooting and gave his stamp of approval to the younger players.
Sethi skeet shooting in India was not flourishing because the players were either overaged or not serious towards the sport but youngster have shown a lot of promise at the Asian Clay Shooting which concluded here today.
"What I feel is that the senior skeet shooters were not serious enough. For example, Naveen Jindal has been around for a long time but being a parliamentarian and a businessman he could not much time to his shooting," Sethi told PTI.
"But youngsters like Man Singh, Amit Singh, Mairaj Singh and Sania Sheikh have shown much promise." Asked if the NRAI was planning some thing extra for skeet shooters, Sethi replied that it did make efforts.
"We had tried to get a good coach for them but the money thrown by the gulf countries was luring the coaches of whole world. Almost all of the good coaches are attached to gulf countries.
"With the kind of money they throw for coaches their shooting has gone miles and now they dominate international tournaments. Policies of Indian sports ministry and the high expenses involved thwarted our plans. But the younger crop is more professional, works hard and we would also try to help them," said Sethi.
About its deadlock with the Government related to shortage of ammunition for Indian shooters in the Olympic year, Sethi said "after so much hue and cry over this matter they have asked me to meet them... I hope that there will be some way out to import the pellets". PTI
Lanka salvage pride by beating Australia in last game
Melbourne, Feb 29 (PTI) Australia suffered a jolt ahead of their cricket tri-series finals against India when they lost an inconsequential cricket tri-series game against Sri Lanka by a narrow margin of 13 runs here today.
Chasing Sri Lanka's competitive total of 221, the world champions got off to a flying start with Adam Gilchrist (83 off 50 balls) launching a blistering assault but completely lost the plot after his dismisal to be bundled out for 208 in 48.1 overs.
It was dramatic collapse by the Australians who were cruising comfortably at 113 for one at one stage before losing their remaining nine wickets for just 95 runs in a thrilling floodlit encounter at the MCG, allowing the islanders to salvage some pride.
The Sri Lankans, who have already been eliminated from the title race, fought back brilliantly after an early collapse to not only end the series on a winning note but also dent Australia's confidence a little bit ahead of the best-of-three finals against India beginning in Sydney on Sunday.
The two Aussie tailenders Brett Lee (37) and Nathan Bracken (14 not out) raised hopes of a stunning victory by putting on 35 runs for the last wicket leaving the Sri Lankans a little worried.
With the home team needing 14 runs in the last two overs, the Sri Lankan captain gambled by bringing in Sanath Jayasuriya and the wily veteran struck in his first ball by castling Lee. PTI
Rs 624 cr earmarked for Commonwealth Games
New Delhi, Feb 29 (PTI) In order to keep the 2010 Commonwealth Games preparations on the right track, the government today allocated Rs 624 crore in the annual budget for 2008-09.
Presenting the budget in the Lok Sabha here, Finance Minister P Chidambaram stressed on strictly adhering to the time frame while finishing projects for the Games and maintaining the quality as well.
In 2007-08, Chidambaram had provided Rs 150 crore to the Sports Ministry and Rs 350 crore to the Delhi Government for the Games.
In view of the 2010 Games, the government has become a little bit aware of the need to build India's first dope control centre and has given Rs 6.75 crore on the head of anti-doping activities, a raise of Rs 4.25 crore than that of last year.
This time, the Finance Minister has earmarked Rs 1111.81 crore for the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs, which is a hike of Rs 331 crore than the last financial year.
Altogether Rs 781.83 crore has been earmarked for sports and games, an increase of Rs 287.27 which comes to around 37 per cent more than that of 2007-08. PTI
India can beat Aussies in finals: Rohit Sharma
Ashish Shukla
Sydney, Feb 29 (PTI) Young Indian middle order batsman Rohit Sharma feels the youngsters in the team would need to rise up to the occasion to win the cricket tri-series finals against Australia starting Sunday.
"In the absence of seniors there is pressure and it would be good for the youngsters if we were to win the trophy," said Sharma.
Rohit has played in all the games of the triangular league and scored a mere 167 runs at 33.40 but a couple of his knock have drawn heaps of praise from the likes of Ian Chappell and Sachin Tendulkar.
Chappell has been very impressed with Sharma's technique and so has been the case with Tendulkar who rates his backfoot play of good quality.
Sharma, though, feels he has not quite done justice to his talent in the series.
"I feel I could have done better and in this regard this series has been a learning experience. I have learnt how to build innings when I walked in to bat against Australia in Melbourne we were five down for 102, needing 160 runs to win.
"The one advice (Mahendra Singh Dhoni) Mahi gave me was if we stayed at the wicket the runs would come and so it happened," he said.
India put it across Australia in that game of the triangular series and Sharma feels that it's not beyond them to beat the world champions again in the best-of-three finals. PTI
Govt formation process in Pak to be completed by March 15
Rezaul H Laskar
Islamabad, Feb 29 (PTI) Pakistan's next government will be in place by March 15, days after the new Parliament meets for the first time next week, with the Election Commission tomorrow kickstarting the process that will usher in a planned PPP-led coalition.
The caretaker government for the first time came out with the time line for the process of government formation, nearly a fortnight after the announcement of the results of the Parliamentary elections that gave sweeping victories to the opposition parties, Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif's PML-N.
The poll panel is expected to notify the final results of the February 18 elections for the general seats in the national and four provincial assemblies tomorrow, and for the seats reserved for women and minorities by March 3, caretaker Law Minister Afzal Haider said.
"The first session of the newly elected National Assembly is likely to be convened on March 5 according to the schedule finalised so far," he said, adding the process of formation of the new federal and all four provincial governments will be completed by mid-March.
The National Assembly secretariat has finalised all arrangements for convening the session on March 5 and there will be no delay by the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry as well, he said.
After the issuance of the final results for the general and reserved seats, a summary will be sent to the President to convene the session within a couple of days.
In the first session, the outgoing Speaker of the National Assembly, Chaudhry Ameer Hussain, will administer oath to the newly elected members. The next session for the election of Prime Minister will be held in the second week of March after receiving consent from the single largest party of the National Assembly, Haider said. PTI
Prince Harry to be withdrawn from Afghanistan
London, Feb 29 (PTI) Britain today decided to pull Prince Harry immediately out of war-torn Afghanistan after details of his secret deployment on the front line in the military campaign against Taliban was leaked.
Military chiefs were today making final preparations to remove the Prince, the third in line for the British throne, from the front line and fly him back to Britain.
The 23-year-old royal, who spent the last 10 weeks serving in Helmand Province, is expected back home by the weekend after the logistics of transporting him out of the war zone are hammered out.
The move follows fears that Harry could become a target for Taliban fighters in the region now the news blackout on his deployment has been broken on the US website, the Drudge Report.
In a statement, the Ministry of Defence described the reporting of Harry's deployment by foreign media as "regrettable" but that contingency plans for such a leak were in place.
It said that while the prince should have returned "in a matter of weeks" with his Household Cavalry regiment battlegroup, the situation had now "clearly changed".
Chief of the Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Jock Stirrup, in consultation with head of the Army, General Sir Richard Dannatt, had taken the final decision to withdraw Harry immediately, the statement said.
"The decision has been taken primarily on the basis that the worldwide media coverage of Prince Harry in Afghanistan could impact on the security of those who are deployed there, as well as the risks to him as an individual soldier," it said. PTI
Nepal govt asks Gyanendra to pay electricity bill
Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Feb 29 (PTI) Nepal's embattled monarchy is embroiled in a fresh battle with the government over who should pay the whooping electricity bill of King Gyanendra worth USD 806,500.
"We have already sent a letter to the palace administration to pay the electricity dues of King Gyanendra and his family members," Minister of State for Water Resources Dina Aryal told PTI over phone.
However, she said, the palace administration has not yet responded to the ministry's letter.
But a staff member of the Royal Palace, Sharad Bista, said it was the government's responsibility to pay for water, electricity, telephone and other utility services used by the Royal family.
"The government had been paying the bills of such utility services of the palace in the past and the law has not been changed in this regard as far as I know," he claimed.
However, Aryal said, it is the responsibility of the palace to pay such bills.
"Though in the past, the government used to pay these bills, now as the King's powers have been sliced, the government is no more obliged to pay the sum," the Minister said.
The impoverished Himalayan state is facing acute power shortage because of low generation. PTI
PPP says does not want confrontation with Musharraf
Islamabad, Feb 29 (PTI) Not wishing to "rock the boat" in Pakistan's post-poll politics, a senior PPP leader today said the party, which is set to form a coalition government, does not want any confrontation with embattled President Pervez Musharraf.
Shah Mehmood Qureshi, the Punjab unit president of the Pakistan People's Party and a contender for the post of prime minister, said the relationship between the future government and the Presidency is a "sensitive issue" and one of the challenges confronting his party.
The 51-year-old Cambridge-educated parliamentarian told Dawn News channel that the PPP did not want any confrontation with Musharraf and would not "rock the boat".
Asked if he had any advice for Musharraf, Qureshi said the President should support democracy by letting the government of the day function according to the constitution.
Qureshi also admitted that the biggest challenge before the formation of a PPP-led government was the formation of a coalition as "democratic norms are not very strong in Pakistan". The PPP feels that "forming and sustaining the coalition government will be a challenge", he said.
In this regard, the PPP wanted to act "maturely" and avoid any confrontation with the President, Qureshi said. PTI
Female foeticide, situation worrying in Jammu: Expert
Anil Bhat
Jammu, Feb 29 (PTI) Beset with male child syndrome in the socio-economic setup in Jammu and Kashmir, one girl child out of seven female babies is eliminated in Jammu district of the state portraying a worsening child-sex ratio.
"One girl out of 7 newly born girls becomes a victim portraying a very bleak picture in Jammu and Kathua districts of J-K," Dr Sabu George told PTI during a two-day media workshop on child sex ratio and female foeticide at the medical college here.
Dr George, an expert who has done extensive study of the issue says a very unfortunate situation was developing in the Jammu region. It will soon surpass Punjab as per the trends.
Quoting the survey done on the data collected from twin districts in 2006-07, he said that as a result of girl killings, the child sex ratio in Jammu is 828 girls to 1,000 boys and in Kathua district it is 796 girls for 1000 boys.
If the present trends continues, Kathua, which borders Punjab, is visibly heading for a demographic catastrophe in a decade or so, he said.
Dr George, who has already toured various districts across the country advocating the cause of girl child and ensuring a total ban on the sex determinations tests said, "It is time for administration and society to wake up and arrest this serious trend." PTI
Naxalism will never die: Book
New Delhi, Feb 28 (PTI) Naxalbari has not died and it will never die. Charu Muzumdar, founder of the Naxalbari movement wrote in 'Liberation' in 1971.
Naxalbari lives and Maoist strikes have been adding up in the new millennium. And with extreme inequity, the 'two Indias' will irrevocably remain two. And often, at war with each other, says a new book.
From 2004 Maoist strikes have been spectacular even before their two dominant groups- CPI (ML) Peoples War and Maoist Communist Centre India (MCCI) joined together to form the agglomerate that now controls the show across the country: the Communist Party of India (Maoist) or CPI (Maoist), the book 'Red Sun, Travels in Naxalite country' by journalist Sudeep Chakravarti says.
Nearly every other week there is news of strikes and counter strikes by the Maoists and the security forces. But what stands out is are the precisely planned and focused Maoist attacks on the security, on vigilante groups like the Ranvir Sena and Salwa Judum. In Maoist parlance this is known as Tactical Counter Offensive Campaign or TCOC.
They (the Maoists) carry, according to intelligence estimates, between six and seven thousand regular weapons-AK series of automatic rifles, INSAS rifles used by the army, ancient .303 Enfield, and a range of revolvers and pistols- some bought, but mostly grabbed from polie and paramilitary personnel or guards at railway stations in snatch-and-run or kill-and-take strikes.
(About the book: Red Sun, Travels in Naxalite Country by Sudeep Chakravarti, Penguin Viking, pages 352, price Rs.495)PTI
In Northeast, Debojit, Amit and now Anamika
Rituraj Borthakur
Mariani (Assam), Feb 27 (PTI) First it was the 'Debojit Saha fever' in 2006. Then came the 'Amit Paul phenomenon'. And now, a teenage girl has already created yet another mass hysteria in this region as she cruised passed the initial rounds of the ongoing Zee TV Sa Re Ga Ma Pa Li'L Champs contest.
The region may have failed to place the winner's crown on Amit Paul in Sony TV's 'Indian Idol' last year, but they are vowing to repeat the feat they achieved with Debojit Saha when the latter notched the top spot in Zee TV's 'Saregamapa Voice of India' a couple of seasons back as Anamika Choudhury prepares for the final showdown in London.
The euphoria was already palpable when Anamika landed in the state a couple of days back on a two-day visit with the Zee TV team. People gathered in thousands to accord a grand welcome to her, even as the people of her home state Assam was drumming up support for the latest singing sensation from North East.
In fact, the residents of her home town Mariani and neighbouring Jorhat are touring the state and neighbouring Meghalaya to win maximum support for the little singer.
Mariani MLA Rupjyoti Kurmi, who is leading the motorcycle rally, says, "We appeal to the people of NE to vote for this little budding star and establish before the nation that NE has talent in abundance." The mass frenzy surrounding Anamika was on display when she visited her home last week, with police having to be called out to control crowds during her maiden performance on home turf. PTI
Robots set to battle for honours at University challenge
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Feb 27 (PTI) Come March and the capital is set to witness combat in a different form as budding geeks gear up to outwit one other and demonstrate how technology can be exhilarating too! Replicating manoeuvers in traditional 'kushti' matches, where professional wrestlers twist and turn their bodies to fall opponents, robots of all shapes and sizes will fight it out with each other at the Indian Institute of Technology here.
Hundreds of collegiate students from across India are expected to attend the Institute's annual science and tech festival where they will be provided with a platform to showcase custom-made robots, which will be tested for their agility plus how maneuverable they are in an activity say a fight! Under 'Robowars,'category of 'Tryst', each four-member team from various colleges will demonstrate the capabilities of robots, that they built according to specifications prescribed.
"Each team must build a robot that will participate in a simulated war game on a 3x3 metre field against another four member team. In the two-part game, the robots would be required to ferry balls to a bunker through a maze from a fixed position and later on fight the opponent's robot out of the field," says Shailesh Jain, a mechanical engineering student and one of the organisers of the event.
Judges say they would be looking for the ability of contestants to synthesize a task to get a best design, quality of assembly, and ability to integrate different components to make a robot functional with consistent performances. PTI
When it comes to homes, it is all about opulence this season
Annie Samson
New Delhi, Feb 26 (PTI) Minimalism is out. Interiors this year for the Indian market is expected to be more opulent and ostentatious with added emphasis on brighter and more vibrant colours, forecast industry experts.
"During the previous five years or so there was this minimalistic trend, people did up their interiors with fewer furniture and straighter lines. Now they are reverting to the earlier period of more furniture and bolder and stronger colours," says Padmini Sharma, chief designer with a leading furniture retail company in the capital.
Experts point out that from homes sporting simple surfaces that made unwanted edges in a structure disappear, along with natural textures and clean and fine finishes, interiors were now turning more flamboyant with rustic and earthy colours and oversized ethnic prints, in bright colours along with distressed and antiqued mirror work surfaces.
"The walls and ceilings are also reflecting the rustic look that is very contemporary and very in, says Sharma. Adds Deepa Sam, an achitect based in Chennai.
"I have noticed that a lot of clients are focusing attention on one single item in their rooms instead of refurnishing the entire room by changing everything in it. It could either be a very nice flower vase, a ceiling chandelier or an exquisite wall hanging, they are reworking the room based on that one piece.
"One client had a very nice floor tile which was very expensive. So he arranged other tiles around that one tile to create a glamorous look," she says. PTI
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Sensex: 17578.72, -245.76
The sensex closed at 17578.72, down 245.76
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This is the Mumbai Grapevine
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______Forex_______
1 U.S. $ = 39.955 INR
1 Japanese Yen = 0.3838 INR
1 British Pound = 79.233 INR
1 Canadian $ = 40.636 INR
1 Singapore $ = 28.629 INR
1 UAE Dirham = 10.879 INR
1 Saudi Arabian Riyal = 10.669 INR
1 Euro = 60.636 INR
1 Qatar Rial = 11.002 INR
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This is the Mumbai Grapevine
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