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Race in UPA to take credit for loan waiver
New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) A virtual race has begun within the UPA for appropriating credit for the farm loan waivers and other sops in the Union Budget with opposition dubbing it an election manifesto of the ruling alliance.
Within minutes of Finance Minister P Chidambaram unveiling the budget provisions yesterday, thousands of farmers descended at the residence of Congress President Sonia Gandhi for the largesse.
As the celebrations continued today outside 10, Janpath, with farmers from some other states expressing gratitude, some newspapers carried full page advertisements from the Nationalist Congress Party headed by Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar on the loan waiver -- "promise fulfilled".
The advertisement featuring Pawar prominently projects how the cause of the farmer was close to the heart of the NCP leader as he announced the first debt relief in Maharashtra in 1978 heading the PDF government formed by him after breaking away from Congress.
The advertisement also has the pictures of UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and gives "sincere thanks to UPA government" for the measure.
Lalu Prasad-led RJD said that the budget would act as the 'light house' of the UPA in the days ahead and the main credit should go to Gandhi, Pawar and Prasad, whose "please all" Railway Budget set the tone for the onward journey of the alliance. PTI
New tax slabs to stay, surcharges should go next: FM
New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) After giving bonanza to income- tax payers by changing the slabs, Finance Minister P Chidambaram today said the next step should be removal of surcharges if the revenue buoyancy continued.
"Last time anyone has set the tax rates was 1997. This time we have set the tax slabs. I am reasonably confident that these tax slabs are going to stay for long, long time, we have brought moderate taxes and reasonable tax slabs," Chidambaram told TV channels.
The individuals with income of more than Rs 10 lakh and corporates pay surcharge at the rate of 10 per cent and there was a Strong demand from corporate houses to do away with surcharges.
"If revenue buoyancy continues, I am sure the next Finance Minister, which I am sure would be from the Congress party, will begin to remove the surcharges. I think surcharges should go... May be in two steps or four steps," he said.
Chidamabaram had changed the personal income-tax rates to 10, 20 and 30 per cent in 1997-98 Budget, which was touted as "dream budget". Again it was Chidambaram who restructured the tax slabs in his Budget yesterday.
Asked whether general elections were in mind while making this Budget, he said, "every year there are elections in the country, 2006 was an election year, 2007 was an election year and 2008 is an election year. I have presented my fifth Budget...." "...According to schedules, elections are in May, 2009. Budgets don't decide election agenda. Its how you communicate to the people what Budget contains that can help win elections... And what is wrong in that." PTI
Women voters more, but representation poor in Meghalaya
Shillong, Mar 1 (PTI) The number of women candidates in Meghalaya Assembly elections is quite low despite outnumbering male voters in the state.
Only 20 women, out of 331 candidates, are contesting in the election due on March three. It stands at six per cent of the total number of candidates.
With four women out of 18 candidates, Lok Janshakti Party has fielded the maximum number of women.
Three out of Congress's 60 candidates are women while BJP has fielded only one woman candidate. The NCP has fielded two women.
Spokespersons of all political parties said lack of enough aspiring women is behind their poor representation.
The number of women voters is more than their male counterparts in Meghalaya where most people follow matriarchal system. A total of 625,545 women will cast vote as compared to 604,607 men on Monday.
Women voters outnumber their male counterparts in 40 out of 60 constituencies. In assembly segments like Jowai, Mylliem, Mawlai and Jaiaw, women voters were about 20-25 per cent more than men.
There are three women MLAs in the outgoing Assembly. PTI
Gold surges to Rs 12,600 per 10 gram
New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Gold today surged to Rs 12,600 per 10 gram in the bullion market due to frantic buying on reports of the metal touching new level in the US market, as a dollar continues to soften amid rising concerns of inflation.
Silver weekly-based delivery also zoomed to a record high of Rs 25,300 per kg, as speculators enlarged their positions as the metal crossed USD 20 in the overseas market for the first time.
Buying activities for the ongoing marriage season gathered momentum in India, despite the gold hitting an all-time high of USD 978.50 an ounce and silver moved over USD 20 an ounce in the global bullion markets, which normally sets the price trend in the domestic market.
In India, standard gold and ornaments spurted by Rs 50 each at Rs 12,600 and Rs 12,450 per 10 gram respectively. Sovereign rose by Rs 25 at Rs 9,950 per piece of eight gram, a record high level.
However, Silver ready fell by Rs 150 to Rs 23,650 per kg. Silver coins remained unchanged at Rs.26,700 for buying and Rs 26,800 for selling of 100 pieces. PTI
Sensex gains 1.32 pc in last week of derivatives contract
Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) Stocks: The Union Budget turned out to be a non-event for the stock markets, even as the benchmark Sensex posted a 1.32 per cent gain as the concluding week for derivatives contract sparked shortcovering by investors.
Extremely weak global cues at the weekend, however, left behind a trail of bearish mood for the next week.
A Budget proposal to hike short-term capital gain tax to 15 per cent had a knee-jerk reaction on the market but overall proposals were hailed by the industry captains, expressing confidence that the market will stabilise in the next few days if global factors are encouraging.
The Railway Budget has created favourable conditions for the market as it provided across-the-board concessions in fares and freight rates with a thrust on modernisation of rail infrastructure.
Analysts showed more concerns over negative global factors as the bourses continued to be influenced by developments in world markets, especially the US as any recession in the world's largest economy will affect other emerging economies.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram has announced tax sops to industries such as two-wheeler and small car, pharma, infrastructure, hospitals, hotel, consumer product and capital goods in the budget.
In volatile trade throughout, the Bombay Stock Exchange 30-share index moved widely in a range of 18,137.28 and 17,137.99 before ending the week at 17,578.72, a net rise of 229.65 points from last weekend's close of 17,349.07. PTI
Gold touches new peak of Rs 12,565
Mumbai, Mar 1 (PTI) Gold prices strengthened to a new peak of Rs 12,565 in the bullion market here today on persistent safe-haven buying from investors in view of rising global cues.
Silver, however, declined on lack of buying interest at higher levels.
Continuing economic concerns, a US dollar near record lows and weaker equities boosted gold futures on Friday in New York, a trader said.
In addition to a generally weaker dollar, inflation concerns also supported gold prices, he added.
April gold settled USD 7.50 higher at USD 975 an ounce after hitting a contract high of USD 978.50 overnight on the Comex division of the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Comex May silver settled 20.5 cents higher at USD 19.915 an ounce after reaching a contract high at USD 20.055 an ounce overnight.
Nearby March silver overnight hit USD 19.925,the highest front-month price since November 1980.
Turning to local market, standard gold (99.5 purity) firmed up by Rs 45 per ten grams to Rs 12,565 from Rs 12,520 yesterday and pure gold (99.9 purity) also moved up to Rs 12,620 from Rs 12,575 yesterday.
However, silver ready (.999 fineness) dropped by Rs 75 per kg to Rs 24,020 from Rs 24,095 previously. PTI
Maruti domestic sales in Feb at 59,311 units
New Delhi, Mar 1 (PTI) Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Ltd today reported a marginal increase in domestic sales in February at 59,311 units as against 59,095 units in the corresponding month last year.
The company said this 0.4 per cent increase is due to customers postponing their purchase decision in anticipation of the excise duty cut in the budget.
Finance Minister P Chidambaram yesterday proposed to bring down excise duty on small cars to 12 per cent from the previous 16 per cent. Maruti has decided to pass on the complete benefit of the excise cut to customers and has cut prices of its small cars in the range of Rs 6,500 to Rs 18,030.
In the A2 segment, which comprises of hatchbacks Alto, Zen, Wagon-R and Swift, the company sold 44,059 units in February, up 2.7 per cent from a year ago. All four models in the segment are eligible for excise duty benefits.
The company sold 1,958 cars in the A3 segment comprising sedans SX4 and Esteem, up 8.9 per cent over 1,798 units in February last year, it said in a statement.
In the A1 segment, comprising entry-level hatch M800, sales slipped 3.5 per cent to 5,745 units as compared with 5,955 units in the same month last year, while sales in the C segment that consists of Omni and Versa dipped 9.9 per cent to 7,268 units.
MSIL sold 281 units of its MUVs Gypsy and Grand Vitara during February, down 21.9 per cent over the same month last year.
The company's exports during the month jumped 15.5 per cent to 4,511 units as against 3,904 units in the same month last year. PTI
Aussies will not be distracted by controversies, says Hussey
Sydney, Mar 1 (PTI) Australian batsman Mike Hussey believes the spate of controversies and the verbal duels with India will not distract his team when they go into the cricket tri-series finals tomorrow.
The war of words between the two teams took an ugly turn this week with Australian opener Matthew Hayden calling off-spinner Harbhajan Singh an "obnoxious little weed" and the Indians lodging a written complaint with match Referee Jeff Crowe against the hosts for their provocative behaviour.
"I think it is important that we don't let all of the distractions play any part in our mind, if we play on emotion sometimes those distractions can have a detrimental effect on your performance," Hussey said.
"So it is important that we just concentrate on our plans, our goals and execute our skills as well as possible." Hussey also hoped that Hayden and Andrew Symonds, who have been at the centre of most of these unsavoury episodes, were able to throw the issues out of their minds.
"What I can say is that they are extremely professional cricketers. Extremely mentally tough cricketers, and I am sure they will be able to put any controversy out of their mind and concentrate solely on cricket," he said. PTI
Randhawa tied second, Ghei disqualified in Johnnie Walker
Poonam Mehra
Gurgaon, Mar 1 (PTI) A resolute Jyoti Randhawa put himself in title contention by climbing to the tied second spot but it was heartbreak for veteran golfer Gaurav Ghei who was disqualified under bizzare circumstances on day three of the USD 2.5 million Johnnie Walker Classic here today.
Randhawa turned in a four-under 68 studded with five birdies against a bogey in the penultimate round to take his total to 13-under 203. The local favourite trails sole leader and his tee off partner today, Taichiro Kiyota (67) of Japan, by one stroke.
Randhawa, who has been playing non-stop for the past seven weeks, could have been atop the leaderboard but for an eventful par-five final hole.
A rather aggressively hit drive landed in a non-playing area and Randhawa was given a free-drop. Although he did well to chip it back into the greens, the chance of picking up a shot and going into the lead had been blown away.
But far from ruing it, Randhawa said he considered himself lucky to have got away by saving par after the disastrous drive.
"I was a bit lucky. I hit two bad shots and was almost certain to get a bogey but managed to save par on the 18th. I messed up but recovered well. I hope I can be better tomorrow," he said.
The local favourite also blamed his waywardness on the fatigue that has come with playing non-stop. Randhawa admitted that he was pushing his body hard. PTI
We have to put Australia under pressure: Dhoni
Ashish Shukla
Sydney, Mar 1 (PTI) Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni reckons that the "best method" to beat Australia in the cricket tri-series finals was to "put them under pressure" and his young team was capable of turning the tables on the world champions.
"Australia is a side which likes to keep other teams under pressure. So the best method is to keep them under pressure. Fortunately, they have been under pressure in this series and it will be good if we can keep it that way," Dhoni said on the eve of the crucial match.
Dhoni said toss would be important in tomorrow's first finals to be played under lights.
"Toss is important as teams would like to bat under the sun. Under the lights, it does a bit before it becomes a flat track again," he said.
Dhoni kept his cards close to his chest regarding team composition and generally talked in riddles, except while defending his youngsters.
The big question on everyone's lips was the final eleven given his penchant for five bowlers and reluctance to play Virender Sehwag in all the games.
"Sachin will open that's for sure. It's about his partner ... Actually it's quite confusing whether to play five or four bowlers; to go into the game with 3-2 or 4-1 or 4 plus part-timers," he said. PTI
Harry leaves for UK, but itching to go back to warzone
H S Rao
London, March 1 (PTI) Britain's Prince Harry today left war-ravaged Afghanistan for home after a news leak prompted his premature withdrawal from frontline, but is apparently itching to return to the war zone.
The 23-year-old prince, who is third in line to the British throne and has earned fullsome prise from many, including grandmother Queen Elizabeth II for his effort, was put on a troop transport plane with about 170 personnel.
"We can confirm that Prince Harry left Afghanistan earlier this evening (Friday). He is now on his way home to the United Kingdom," a defence ministry statement said.
His commander Brig Andrew Mackey said that the prince "acquitted himself with distinction", but Harry, who became the first royal family member to serve in a warzone since his uncle Prince Andrew participated in the Falklands War in 1982, is "frustrated" at the turn of events.
"He is frustrated about coming back and leaving his friends behind. But he is realistic and understands the ways of the world," an unnamed royal official was quoted as saying by The Daily Telegraph.
"He hopes he can go back as his presence went undetected for 10 weeks. He feels he played a real role over there." The defence ministry, meanwhile, today said that Harry's elder brother, Prince William, second in line to the throne, is also likely to deployed on board a Royal Navy battleship.
"It's our intention to give Prince William as full a taste of life in the Royal Navy as possible, which may include time on board a warship," a spokesman said. PTI
If India invites Pak PM, leaders of other parties will also go
Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) If the next Prime Minister of Pakistan is invited to India, he will not go alone but will be accompanied by leaders of parties that will be part of the coalition government, PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari has said.
Zardari, whose party is set to take the reins of power in the country, suggested that the gesture was important for displaying seriousness to improve relations with India.
"I think the new PM of Pakistan will not only visit India, he will visit India with the political parties' leaders following him," he told Karan Thapar's 'Devil's Advocate' programme for CNN-IBN.
"When he (PM) gets down, he'll be first (with) me, Mr Nawaz Sharif (of PML-N), Mr Asfandyar Wali Khan (of ANP), hopefully Maulana Fazlur Rehman (of MMA), hopefully Mr Altaf (Hussain)'s party (MQM). We should all walk behind him, greeting India," Zardari said.
"Just not visiting and meeting... Let's hit the road running let's meet with concrete steps, let's talk about SAARC, modern technology," the PPP leader said.
Asked if such a move could trigger a backlash in Pakistan, he replied: "That's what leadership is all about, that's what popularity is all about the fact that I do something with the will of the people is my plus, not my minus." PTI
Zardari says ready to set aside Kashmir issue
Islamabad, Mar 1 (PTI) In a major shift from Pakistan's long-standing position, PPP Chairman Asif Ali Zardari, whose party is set to take reins of the country, has expressed readiness to set aside the Kashmir issue to focus on other aspects for improving relations with India.
He emphasised that the relations between India and Pakistan should not be held "hostage" to the Kashmir issue and that the two countries "can wait" so that future generations resolve the dispute in a mature manner in an atmosphere of "trust".
In views reflecting India's position, Zardari said he was determined to break the barriers and mindsets that deter trade between the two countries.
"The idea is that we feel for Kashmir, the PPP (Pakistan People's Party) has always felt for Kashmir. We have a strong Kashmir policy. We have always had one," he said.
"But having said that, we don't want to be hostage to that situation. That is a situation we can agree to disagree (on). Countries do, we have positions, you have positions. We can agree to disagree on everything," he told Karan Thapar's 'Devil's Advocate' programme for CNN-IBN.
Noting that India and Pakistan could "agree to disagree on (the UN resolutions)," he said "We can wait. We can be patient till everybody grows up further. Maybe the coming generation grows up even further and then let's interact as human beings and come to a position of love." PTI
Digest of domestic news for the week Feb 23-Feb 29, 2008
Saturday
New Delhi: Tripura becomes the first state in the North-East where cent per cent photo electoral rolls were used in today's polling for the 60-member Assembly.
New Delhi: Ronen Sen is being asked to continue as India's Ambassador to the US with the government understood to have decided to give him an extension for upto an year.
New Delhi: Delhi Police claims to have cracked a human trafficking racket, which sent over 100 people to the US using forged documents in the past three years, with the arrests of three persons here.
Sunday Kolkata: Senior CPI (Maoist) leader Somen wanted in connection with several cases of killings and other subversive activities in West Bengal and neighbouring Orissa, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh arrested.
New Delhi: Against the backdrop of concern over huge pendency of court cases, External Affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee says there were several areas of "aberration and non-achievement" which warranted corrective action to tackle issues related to delays in courts.
Monday New Delhi: Outlining government's policy approach in her maiden address to the joint sitting of the Budget Session of Parliament, President Pratibha Patil lays special focus on ensuring that the benefits of development programmes flow equitably to the minorities.
New Delhi: The deadlock over the controversial Sethusamudram project appears to persist, with a Group of Ministers (GoM) set up to resolve the issue failing to finalise the Centre's stand on it. New Delhi: Embarking on a significant visit which could have bearing on crucial Indo-Bangladesh ties, the neighbouring country's Army chief General Moeen U Ahmed meets Indian political leaders and top military brass.
Tuesday New Delhi: In a populist budget ahead of next elections, Railway Minister Lalu Prasad slashes passenger fares of all classes and freight rates on petrol, diesel and fly ash while dispensing sops to students, elderly women and AIDS patients.
New Delhi: India successfully test fires its first-ever undersea nuclear capable ballistic missile off the eastern coastal city of Vishakahpatnam, catapulting it to the select band of five countries equipped with the technology.
New Delhi: UPA government's key Left allies CPI(M) and CPI joins hands with the Third Front parties in attacking the Centre's agriculture policies and favouring coming together of these parties to forge a third alternative.
Wednesday New Delhi: 298 passengers bound for London and New York are left stranded for almost a day when the Air India crew refused to operate the flight following a delay caused due to three passengers suddenly wanting to disembark.
Mumbai: Twenty people hired as audience for a television reality show allegedly ransack the studio and smash window panes of some cars, including that of actress Pallavi Joshi, when they are asked to leave the premises.
Thursday New Delhi: The government clears the affidavit to be filed in the Supreme Court seeking the go ahead for the controversial Sethusamudram project, a decision seen as endorsing key UPA constituent DMK's line.
New Delhi: Projecting an 8.7 per cent growth in the current fiscal, the Economic Survey says the government should ensure a non-inflationary growth along with speeding up of reforms for sustaining nine per cent expansion in GDP.
Panaji: Three weeks after their registered wedding in Goa, Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt and his wife Manyata have withdrawn their joint declaration of marriage after it runs into legal trouble.
Friday Kolkata: Beleaguered caretaker administrator of Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council Subhas Ghising, who ruled the area with an iron for two decades, would quit within 10 days, after which Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, leading a movement demanding his removal, withdrew its indefinite bandh in the hills.
New Delhi: In a budget that many saw was aimed at early polls, Finance Minister P Chidambaram gives a whopping Rs 60,000 crore largesse to farmers by writing off their loans, providing sops to income tax payers, imposing no fresh burden on corporates but bringing down excise duties to stimulate economy. 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
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