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Govt employees to get effective salary hike of 28 pc
New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) The Sixth Pay Commission may have recommended an average 40 per cent hike in the salaries of government employees, but the effective increase will be much less at 28 per cent on account of merger of 50 per cent DA in basic pay way back in 2004.
After submitting the report, the Commission Chairman justice B N Srikrishna had said the average increase in salaries would work out to be 40 per cent over the Fifth Pay Commission award.
The government had merged 50 per cent of the Dearness Allowance (DA) with the basic pay with effect from January 1, 2004.
This accordingly puts the basic pay at much higher level than that was provided in the Fifth Pay Commission and the effective increase over that level is 28 per cent, a top Commission official said.
The government increases the DA of its employees every six months to compensate them for rising cost of living.
Among other things, the Sixth Pay Commission has also suggested that the government should revise the base year of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for computation of DA "as frequently as feasible".
It further recommended that a separate CPI should be prepared by the National Statistical Commission for computation of DA for government employees. PTI
Former CM Bhajan Lal disqualified from Haryana assembly
Chandigarh, Mar 25 (PTI) Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, who rebelled against the Congress party, was today disqualified from the state assembly under the anti-defection law.
The order of Speaker Raghubir Singh Kadian came on a petition filed against Lal seeking that he be disqualified as an MLA since he had voluntarily given up the membership of the Congress on whose ticket he was elected and had formed a new party along with his son and MP Kuldip Bishnoi.
The petition was filed by Congress MLA Shadi Lal Batra on January 2 after Bishnoi announced floating of Haryana Janhit Congress (BL) at a rally in Rohtak on December 2. Lal was elected from Adampur. PTI
Shun violence or I will resign: The Dalai Lama to Tibetans
New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) Strongly disapproving of violent protests by Tibetans, the Dalai Lama today said he would step down if the violence continued.
"I have always made it clear that the expression of deep emotion should be in control. If it is out of control, we have no option. If the violent demonstration will continue, I would resign," he told reporters here.
Disturbed by violent protests by Tibetans in various places, he asked the demonstrators to refrain from doing any harm to the Chinese people.
"I have always respected the Chinese people... Chinese communism. Even most of the Tibetan protesters are ideologically Communists. I think inside or outside China, if the demonstrators utilise violent methods, I am totally against it," the Dalai Lama further said.
Asked about the future course of action regarding the ongoing Tibetan crisis, he merely said: "just wait".
The Dalai Lama is in the capital for a week-long meditation workshop. PTI
We have got the right combination to match India: Smith
Chennai, Mar 25 (PTI) Despite selection controversy, South African captain Graeme Smith today said his team had "right combination" to meet the challenge from Indians in the first of the three-Test series starting here tomorrow.
"India is one of the better teams... Fairly experienced and well balanced. There are lot of impressive names in the lineup and some of the players have been there for a long time. But we believe we can match up to them," he told a pre-match press conference.
"There had been a lot of talk about youth and experience (in India). Youngsters will like to get out and prove their worth. But we believe we have got the right combination," he said.
Asked if South Africans would feel the absence of pace bowlers Andre Nel and Charl Langeveldt due to the raging quota controversy, Smith said he had faith in his team.
"Proteas bowling attack had huge capabilities and the has team worked out different plans for different Indian players who had good reputation," he said.
Asked if the selection controversy related to a fixed quota for coloured players had affected his team, Smith said "the players are matured enough to get over it".
"In a way, it is a bonus that we could come here moving away from the issue and focus on cricket." PTI
India keen to continue their good work after Aus tour
R Eswar
Chennai, Mar 25 (PTI) India will look to get back into the Test mode quickly as they square up against South Africa in the first of their three-match cricket series in the backdrop of the euphoria of the one-day tri-series triumph in Australia.
Although South Africa is regarded as a tough team, India's record on home turf clearly makes the hosts favourites provided the weather holds good for all the five days.
With the unseasonal depression in the Bay of Bengal persisting, the sun has been playing hide and seek. Light showers lashed the city yesterday, forcing the ground staff to give up their preparations and cover the pitch.
But the two teams are hardly worried about the weather as Indian skipper Anil Kumble made his intentions clear, saying his team would be keen to snatch a series win.
"It will be the first step to ensure that we keep the good work done in Australia. This is the beginning of a long season of Test Cricket," Kumble said.
"We are all geared up, we have to go out there and ensure we do our best. We did that throughout in Australia. We are really confident." Kumble indicated India would go into the match with seven batsmen and four bowlers.
"Playing eleven is not decided, but as of now we are looking at two (medium pacers) and two (spinners). We have Sourav (Ganguly), (Virender) Sehwag and Sachin (Tendulkar) who can fill in as bowlers. We will see. There is no injury issues to any of our players in the team," the leg-spinner said. PTI
Gavaskar set to step down as ICC cricket committee chairman
New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) Sunil Gavaskar is all set to step down as ICC's cricket committee chairman after the governing body asked the former Indian captain to give up his other job of a commentator and columnist, which is in "direct conflict" with his duties in the ICC.
The issue was raised in the ICC's executive committee meeting in Dubai last week where members felt Gavaskar's dual roles were in conflict with each other and he should choose between the two.
However, the committee decided against removing Gavaskar as it felt it would be better to give him the option of deciding what he wants to do.
The former batsman will meet ICC CEO Malcolm Speed this week to take a final call on the issue.
"Gavaskar will meet CEO Malcolm Speed in Dubai this week to discuss this matter," An ICC spokesman told PTI.
Gavaskar has lucrative deals as a television commentator and a newspaper columnist and this is likely to weigh on his mind when he decides on whether to continue as ICC's cricket committee chief.
The development comes close on the heels of his latest outburst in which he described England and Australia as "dinosaurs" unable to digest India's growing clout in the governing body's affairs.
A BCCI source said despite the outburst, the ICC wants to have Gavaskar on board.
"The ICC has lot of respect for Gavaskar and it does not want to take such a step of removing him. The ICC wants to have Gavaskar on board as cricket committee chairman," the source said. PTI
Sensex closes above 16k, posts second biggest gain of 2008
Mumbai, Mar 25 (PTI) The markets finally seemed to be out of woods as the benchmark Sensex posted this year's second biggest gain of more than 928 points to regain the 16k level at close on signs that the worst of the US housing slump might well be over.
The 30-share Sensex on the Bombay Stock Exchange zoomed by 928.09 points, or 6.07 per cent, to settle the day at 16,217.49 over its yesterday's close. The index had slipped to below 16k level on March 13 this year.
The BSE barometer had seen the biggest ever gain of 1,139.92 points on January 25, 2008.
On BSE, it was aggressive buying across-the-board and it was best reflected in the fact that no index-related stocks posted losses and all sectoral indices posted gains. Brokers said this mirrors the all-round optimism and bodes well for the markets.
The 50-issue S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange also flared up by 267.65 points, its fifth biggest point-wise gain, or 5.81 per cent, at 4,877.50 over its previous close.
Marketmen said a surprise increase in sales of US pre-owned housing data indicated that the worst of the housing slump might be a thing of past now and it lifted the investor sentiments which led to a rally in the Wall Street yesterday.
Dow Jones industrial average yesterday surged by 187.32 points. The Nasdaq composite index also had added 68.64points.
Most of the Asian markets also ended up in the range of 1.0-6.4 per cent today, while European indices also opened higher by 2.0-3.0 per cent.
Marketmen also added that the news that the JP Morgan raised the open offer for the ailing US investment bank Bear Stearns to USD 10 per share from USD 2 per share also aided in lifting the global indices. PTI
Reliance Ind to close 900 petrol pumps in couple of weeks
New Delhi, Mar 25 (PTI) Reliance Industries will shut down nearly two-third of its 1,400 petrol pumps in next couple of weeks as it is unable to match the fuel price offered by state-run retailers, who get compensated by the Government for selling fuel below the cost.
Reliance will close about 900 company operated petrol pumps and has sent internal mails for a phased closure, industry sources said. The company plans not to replenish petrol and diesel stocks once the existing lot at its retail outlets get exhausted.
The owner of nation's largest refinery suffered huge losses despite selling petrol and diesel at prices higher than the state-run retailers Indian Oil, Hindustan Petroleum and Bharat Petroleum. On an average, petrol from Reliance outlets costed between Rs 4 and 5 a litre more than the PSU pumps.
Reliance still lost Rs 3.4 a litre on petrol and Rs 5.8 per litre on diesel and had seen its market share fall from 14.3 per cent to less than a per cent in diesel.
Public sector retailers too lose Rs 10.93 on sale of every litre of petrol and Rs 14.66 per litre on diesel but the losses are made up by issue of oil bonds by the Government and discounts from ONGC, GAIL and Oil India. The same compensation is not given to the private retailers like Reliance and Essar.
Reliance spokesperson was not immediately available for comments.
The company, sources said, had invested about Rs 4,000 crore in setting up close to 1,400 retail outlets for selling petrol and diesel in the country. Out of these, Reliance owns and operate about 900 outlets. The remaining 500 dealer operated pumps would continue to operate.
Essar Oil which has set up 1,100 petrol stations in the country is not closing shop as yet, so is Shell which operates a handful of outlets in the southern India. PTI
Assembly Committee recommends industry in Nandigram
Kolkata, Mar 25 (PTI) Despite an agitation that claimed at least 14 lives over acquisition of land in Nandigram, a standing committee of the West Bengal Assembly today said that a wide cross-section of people in the area want industry to be set up for employment opportunities.
Congress member Sudip Bandopadhyay, chairman of the Standing Committee on Commerce and Industries of the state Assembly, said, "We have spoken to a wide cross-section of people at Nandigram. They want industry to be set up. They want employment." Talking to newspersons after after releasing the 16th report on the proposed ship building yard in East Midnapore, he called upon the people of Nandigram to take steps in setting up an industry there.
Asked how new industry could be set up in trouble-torn Nandigram when Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee had announced that the government would not take any land there for industrial purposes, Bandopadhyay said, "The chief minister should withdraw the decision. A situation would have to be created so that the area of confrontation is not extended." The Committee proposed that a shipbuilding yard be set up at Badur (Geonkhali) in East Midnapore district instead of Jellingham within Nandigram-I block.
Badur had advantages like adequate draft, low siltation, sufficient turning radius, good connectivity by rail, road and water, availability of industrial water and high-tension power line, proximity to the Haldia and Kolkata docks. Also, dislocation of people would not be required beyond 500 metre from the river bank, the Committee noted.
Bandopadhyay said the government was expected to give an Action Taken Report to the Committee on the recommendations. PTI
Tata likely to seal agreement on JLR takeover tomorrow
London, Mar 25 (PTI) US car maker Ford is expected to announce tomorrow the sale of its premium British car brands Jaguar and Land Rover to Tata Motors for a consideration of about two billion dollars.
Local media reported that the agreement will include a pledge by Ford to contribute to the two brands' pension fund, and by Tata to continue buying engines from Ford - both sensitive points with trade unions.
"There will be an announcement tomorrow, assuming everything gets signed off," an unnamed person close to the deal was quoted as saying by Financial Times.
Yesterday, Andrew Dodgson of Unite, which represents the Ford workers, had said that "the Memorandum of Understanding between Ford and Tata is likely to be signed on Wednesday." The union has all throughout supported Tatas bid for the British marques.
Ford is not commenting on the timing of the announcement, but recently said there were "no major roadblocks" preventing it. Tata said its discussions with Ford were ongoing, but declined to comment.
In another potential boost to the two brands' future, Fiat's chief executive said he was interested in working with them if the sale to Tata goes through.
"I think I would be more than pleased to collaborate with Tata in terms of Jaguar/Land Rover, if in fact it ends up being owned by them," Sergio Marchionne told the daily.
Ratan Tata sits on Fiat's board, and Fiat and Tata produce cars, engines and transmissions together in India. Early in Ford's long-running auction of the two brands, Fiat turned down an invitation to bid for them. PTI
Countries must ensure smooth relay of Oly torch: China
Raghavendra
Beijing, March 25 (PTI) China today slammed as "shameful" the attempt to disrupt the Greek torch lighting ceremony for the Beijing Olympics and said the countries through which the flame will pass had an "obligation" to ensure the relay is smooth.
China, which has invested billions of dollars and high prestige into the Olympics, said it was "not embarrassed" by the incident yesterday at the archaeological site that played host to the Olympic Games in ancient Greece when some demonstrators sympathetic to the Tibetan cause broke police cordon and tried to disrupt the torch lighting ceremony.
"The holy fire represents the goodwill and pursuit of mankind. Any acts aimed at disrupting the torch relay and the Olympic Games is shameful," Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang told a regular news briefing here.
He said the attempt was a violation of the Olympic spirit and common will of the people of the world. "It (embarrassment) should not be on the Chinese side. It should be for those who tried to disrupt the torch relay." Qin said China has confidence and the capability to ensure a smooth torch relay and the success of Olympics.
He also said that the plan to take the Olympic torch to the summit of Mount Everest remains unchanged despite attempts to disrupt the ceremony in Greece.
"It (disruption) does not speak for the world's people. People around the world welcome the Olympic torch relay and support the successful Beijing Olympics and smooth relay," he said.
Qin said competent authorities in countries where the Olympic torch will pass through had an "obligation" to ensure that it was smooth. PTI
Nawab Saheb ki Haveli: 277, still going strong
Ashish Mehta
Jaipur, Mar 25 (PTI) The 'Haveli' and its owner, both do not show any signs of fatigue that comes with ageing. The Haveli is 277 and the owner, much younger, only 75-year-old.
Triloki Das Khandelwal, owner of 'Nawab Sahab ki Haveli' at 75 is all enthusiasm as he climbs the stairs of the haveli to take a visitor on the roof to show a panoramic view of the pink city.
"From here, at 50 feet rooftop, you can see almost every fort and other archaeological beauties of Jaipur. In the north there is Ishar Lal, Janani Dyodi...", he says describing other historic places that can be seen from the top.
This haveli was considered as mirror of Jaipur from where one can oversee pink city, he adds.
"During the time of Maharaja Sawai Jai Singh," says Khandelwali, this haveli was constructed by one Vidhyadhar Bhattacharya in 1772 who was then the architect of the pink city. It was made as official residence of Bhattacharya and was also been awarded by the king to Bhattacharya to stay there until the last generation of his family survives, he says.
It was made so that he could oversee and supervise the construction of the city in progress as well, Khandelwal adds.
His four generations stayed here and after it since the last generation his great grandson did not have a son it was again acquired by the Jaipur state dynasty, Khandelwal says.
"The haveli slowly lost its glamour for a while remaining in oblivion for some time. It, however regained its status as Maharaja Ram Singh(1851-1880) gifted it to his dewan, Nawab Sir Faiz Ali Khan and thus the haveli became known as Nawab Sahab ki Haveli," he adds. PTI
Intra-party differences, assembly becomes the floor
Vijay Dabur
Chandigarh, Mar 24 (PTI) Intra-party differences in both the ruling and the opposition aired on the floor of the house have marked the proceedings of the ongoing budget session of the Punjab Assembly.
Sparks flew after the outburst of former chief minister Captain Amarinder Singh against his bete noire Rajinder Kaur Bhattal.
For the ruling party, the speaker Nirmal Singh Kahlon pulled up Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Ranjeet Singh Brahmpura after the latter complained that the chair was allowing more supplemantaries on his department. Captain Amarinder Singh also took a potshot at the leader of the opposition Bhattal for allegedly "colluding" with the ruling combine in the state.
Brahmapura's complaint prompted the Speaker to direct the minister to tender an apology or he would be served a notice.
"I haven't said anything wrong, but if you feel so I apologise," the minister said.
The verbal spat between the two senior leaders of Akalis brought in the open the simmering differences between the ruling SAD.
The agreement between the Congress members and the SAD and its ally BJP on postponement of Panchayat polls in the state made Amarinder Singh hit out at Bhattal saying that she was "toeing the lines" of Akalis.
"Bhattal appears to be little concerned about party workers who are facing lot of inconveniences during the Badal regime. She is keeping herself busy in playing matches with rivals and attending their dinners," the former chief minister said targetting the Punjab Congress chief. PTI
More middle class in India owning at least one pet animal
Diganta Biswas
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) With a fast-paced lifestyle mounting stress on every section of the urban people, demands for companion creatures like pooches, kitties, fishes and birdies are also running high in the country, say experts.
"Having a companion creature like dog or anything else often plays significant role in pacifying people's mind and thus it helps them to deal with the pressure of everyday life," eminent psychiatrist Dr Sanjay Chug told PTI.
"With the adoption of a speedy urban lifestyle, the family pattern is changing in India as the idea of joint family being replaced by nuclear ones. Loneliness of nuclear family increasingly forcing people to opt for companion creatures like dogs or birds," G C Mehta of Ashapura Industries, dealing in pet-food industry, says.
He adds that the unique trend, is in turn, positively contributing to the considerable growth of Indian pet industry itself.
Indian pet-food market has been showing annual growth rate of 10-15 per cent in last few years, according to Euromonitor International. This growth rate should be largely attributed to the change in lifestyle, which changes mass mentality as well, experts say.
"Some years back owning a pet happened to be status symbol among the rich and aristocratic people. But today that is not the situation, mentality of people is changing," Rohit Bhatia of Vetnex Pet Business told PTI.
"In urban areas all over the country, more and more middle and lower-middle class people today opting for pet in their houses," Bhatia added. PTI
Suniel Shetty prefers comedy over action movies
Sabi Hussain
New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) He might have added a new dimension to action cinema with his spine-chilling fight sequences in films like 'Mohra', 'Shastra' and 'Balwan', but Bollywood's original action hero Suniel Shetty, feels it was comedy that interested him the most.
"I love comedy more than action as it is very difficult to enact humorous scenes and to make someone laugh with your comic timing," Shetty told PTI.
"I am doing more and more comedy movies as it gives me internal satisfaction. Action is also close to my heart as I have grown up doing action cinema, but comedy is what interests me most," he says.
Shetty who started his Bollywood innings as an action hero later graduated to comic roles in films like 'Hera Pheri', 'Awara Paagal Deewana', 'Apna Sapna Money Money' and soon to be released 'One Two Three'.
The 'Gopi-Kishan' of Bollywood, who has lately shifted his gears from acting to production with his company "Popcorn Pictures" wants to concentrate more on producing films.
"I am thinking only about my production company with 17 films in making. I am happy working behind the scenes and a good producer within me is in making." "From June to September this year, four films of my production company will hit the deck," Suniel says.
Shetty's production company has earlier produced films like Khel (2003), Rakht (2006) and Bhagam Bhag (2007).
He has already signed a seven film co-production deal with Balaji and a deal with Studio 18 is underway. PTI
Films cleared by Censor Board should not be stalled: Chopra
Mumbai, Mar 25 (PTI) In the backdrop of controversy stalling the release of Ashutosh Gowariker's period movie 'Jodhaa Akbar', veteran filmmaker Yash Chopra today said once cleared by the Censor Board no one should be allowed to stop the screening of a movie.
"When a film is passed by the Censor Board, then no one has the right to ban that film," Chopra said at the FICCI Frames conference being held here.
"The decision not to allow the screening of the film should rest only with the Censor Board", he said.
Recently, 'Jodhaa Akbar' featuring Hritish Roshan and Aishwarya Rai and musical 'Aaja Nachle', Madhuri Dixit's comeback film, had faced violent opposition from groups across the country after their release due to which they had been pulled off the screens at several places.
A film makes most of its business in the first week itself and such incidents affect it badly and thus should be stopped, Chopra, who is also the Chairman of the FICCI Enterntainment Committee, said.
Secretary for Information and Broadcasting Asha Swarup said such ban was an unfortunate trend and assured filmmakers that the industry concerns would be addressed. PTI
Another sonrise in Bollywood
Shimla, Mar 24 (PTI) Another superstar son is all set to make his debut in the film industry following the footsteps of other star sons like Abishek Bachchan, Hritik Roshan and Ranbir Kapoor.
Former cine star and BJP leader Shatrughan Sinha's son Luv Sinha is all set to make his debut with film "Sadiyaan", which is based on the relationship between India and Pakistan.
"Like others, I also wish that my son becomes a far more better and successful actor than me," Shatrughan Sinha said yesterday.
Sinha had also interacted with the film's unit which is shooting near Chandigarh.
Sinha said the film which has been shot at different locations in Punjab and Jammu, is expected to release by September next.
Actress Hema Malini and Rekha will be seen together in this film almost after 20 years.
Actor Rishi Kapoor is playing the role of Luv's father in the film while the role of heroin is being played by a Kashmiri girl Fareen.
The film is being produced and directed by Raj Kanwar who has given hit films including Shahrukh Khan starrer Deewana.
Popular Pakistani actor Javed Sheikh is also playing an important role in the film. PTI
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