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Cong open to alliance with any one who fights communal forces
Sanjay Pandey
Kanpur, Mar 30 (PTI) Congress today trained its guns on the BJP and BSP while appearing soft on the Samajwadi Party, hinting that it was open to an alliance with 'any one who fights the communal forces'.
Although attacking the BJP, BSP and SP in the political resolution adopted on the first day of the two-day UPCC convention here, AICC general secretary and state in-charge Digvijai Singh said, "We are open to alliance with any one who keeps the communal forces at bay in the country".
Though evasive when asked specifically whether the Congress could forge an alliance with the SP in the forthcoming Lok Sabha polls, Singh said that the "SP has been able to contain the communal forces in UP".
In the official resolution adopted at the convention, the Congress, however, slammed the SP for "the gunda raj prevailing under its rule in the state".
UPCC chief Reeta Bahuguna Joshi also in her address at the convention ridiculed the SP claim that the Congress was `non-existent' in UP.
"Those who say that the Congress is nowhere in UP, should first tell the people where they stand in the country", Joshi said.
She said that `communal and casteist forces are responsible for the ills plauguing the state during the past 19 years'.
The political resolution also referred to the Rs 174 crore Taj Heritage Corridor Scam in which Chief Minister Mayawati was an accused and said that the Taj scam and the disproprtionate assets case against her were still there and the "Supreme Court is keeping an eye on them". PTI
Cabinet Committee to assess price situation tomorrow
New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) In the backdrop of spiralling inflation, the government will tomorrow review the situation arising out of surging prices, particularly of some food and metal items.
"Cabinet Committee on Prices will meet on Monday," a senior Food Ministry official said today, adding there is, however, no specific proposal from his ministry and the committee will generally take stock of the current price line.
Inflation rate surged to 13-month high of 6.68 per cent for the week ended March 15 as against 5.92 per cent a week ago mainly on account of costlier food items like vegetables and mustard oil and metal products like joist and rolls and bright bars.
Commerce Minister Kamal Nath had on Friday said the government is looking at a proposal to ban non-basmati rice exports.
"We are also going to recommend scrapping of import duty on steel," he had said after metal and food prices pushed inflation to over a year high.
Another high-level meeting will be held on Wednesday to consider measures for maintaining adequate supply line, according to Commerce Secretary G K Pillai.
He had earlier said that empowered Group of Ministers on prices, headed by External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, would meet on April 2 to review prices of rice, wheat and procurement of edible oil.
While CCP might consider fiscal or quantitative steps to control spiralling prices, the Reserve Bank may further tighten money supply even at the expense of some growth, if high inflation continues.
The central bank is slated to take a call on its monetary stance at its annual policy on April 29. PTI
Corporates pay lower salaries to peons, clerks: Pay Panel
New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) Corporates are poor paymasters when it comes to rewarding lower level employees such as peons and clerks, says a study commissioned by the Sixth Pay Commission.
The government pays better salaries to the lower categories of employees than the corporate sector, pointed out a study conducted by XLRI, Jamshedpur, at the behest of the Pay Commission which has recently submitted its report to Finance Minister P Chidambaram suggesting revision of pay scales for the central government employees.
"During the presentation before the Commission, it emerged that...The compensation provided by the government is higher at Group C and D levels", the pay panel report said.
In case of middle level (Group B) employees, the report said the compensation package offered by the private sector is only "marginally" higher than what is provided by the government.
The real difference, however, is in case of the higher-category Group A officers, whose counterparts in the comparable posts in the private sector get "substantially higher" compensation, the report said.
Reacting to the demand of market-linked salaries put forth by various associations, the Pay Commission said, "The high starting salaries projected in the media and other reports are granted only to a minuscule number who are the best students of top-end management schools".
High salaries depend upon the demand for talent at that point of time and are not reflective of the industry average, the Commission said, adding "Such episodic events should not be used as the yardstick for comparison, as ultimately the higher salaries...Get normalised over time." PTI
Draw inevitable as South Africa take 211-run lead
Chennai, Mar 30 (PTI) Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh came up with a quick double blow but the first Test between India and South Africa headed for a draw as the visitors were 298 for four at tea on the fifth and final day at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here today.
Neil Mckenzie, who along with Hashim Amla (81) foiled India's hopes of early breakthroughs in the pre-lunch session, continued his good work and kept one end intact, reaching his fourth Test hundred in the process.
At tea, Mckenzie was on 139 and A B De Villers on nine were at crease as South Africa increased their lead to 211 runs.
Harbhajan (3-97) dismissed Jacques Kalis (19) and Ashwell Prince (5) in successive overs but his effort came too late in the day.
First signs of Indians resigning to the fate of the inevitable draw came five overs after lunch when Kumble went back to the pavilion after bringing on V V S Laxman to change ends for Harbhajan, leaving ODI captain Dhoni in command.
Harbhajan and Sehwag operated for a better part of the post-lunch session while Mckenzie and Kallis used the situation well for some batting practice.
Later, it was revealed that Kumble came back for rest following a 'mild groin strain' and did not return till tea break.
Mckenzie, playing his 43rd Test, reached his fourth three figure mark in a methodical manner soon after lunch, steering Kumble to the third man boundary twice in the same over. He took 277 minutes and faced 184 balls with 11 fours. PTI
South Africa 298 for four at tea
Chennai, Mar 30 (PTI) South Africa were 298 for four in their second innings at tea on the fifth and final day of the first cricket Test at the M A Chidambaram Stadium here today.
The visitors are 211 runs ahead.
Brief scores: South Africa: 540 and 298 for four (N McKenzie 139 batting, H Amla 81; Harbhajan Singh 3-97) India: 627. PTI
Mckenzie, Amla steer first Test towards draw
Chennai, Mar 30 (PTI) A resolute batting display by Neil Mckenzie and Hashim Amla denied India any hopes of forcing a result as the duo brought about 157 vital runs to steer South Africa to a safe 212 for two in their second innings at lunch on the fifth and final day of the first Test here today.
South Africa stretched their second innings lead to 125 with Mckenzie (88) and Jacques Kallis (zero) at the crease.
However, India captain Anil Kumble succeeded in breaking the ice and monotony close to lunch dismissing Amla (81). Forcing Amla stretch forward and misjudge the turn of the ball, the leggie got him caught at lone slip by Rahul Dravid with the team score on 210.
Amla survived two chances when his individual scores were 55 and 72 to Harbhajan and R P Singh. First, he was dropped by Sreesanth at fine leg when he swept and then R P Singh failed to hold on to the return catch.
The day started on a sedate note as the Indian bowlers never posed any problem to the overnight South African batsmen -- McKenzie and Amla -- who stuck to their task, though couple of times, they were beaten by both Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble.
The pacemen lacked speed and their deliveries coming up slowly after pitching was to the liking of the batsmen. PTI
D-Street eyes Q4 earnings, global trends for future cues
Mumbai, March 30 (PTI) With just one day of trading left in the current fiscal, Dalal Street is waiting anxiously for the global cues to improve and a favourable quarterly earnings to start the new fiscal on a strong note next week.
Despite negative local factors such as soaring inflation, the bullish investors drove the market northward last week on expectations that the turmoil in global financial market was nearing an end and expect positive sentiments to continue.
Marketmen also expect the focus to shift a bit away from the global cues to the quarterly corporate earnings results that would start pouring in from late next week.
Even as the turmoil in global financial markets may reflect negatively in the January-March quarter earnings of some Indian companies, there are expectations that the quarter would show strong profit growth figures, as indicated by robust advance tax payments.
Besides, most of the companies would announce their full year results for the fiscal ending March 31 and the analysts expect that any negative trend in the fourth-quarter figures could be mitigated by the overall full-year positive trends.
Companies from banking, hospitality and software sectors could post robust quarterly results, going by their advance tax figures, the analysts said.
In the week ended March 28, the BSE's 30-share benchmark Senesex rose 0.2 per cent, notching gains during three out of five trading sessions. The week started on a strong note with the Sensex surging 928.09 points on March 25, which was its second biggest one-day gain. Although volatility continued ahead of the expiry of March derivative contracts, the week ended on a positive note with a 356-point gain on Friday. PTI
Items in futures mkt show less price rise than others: NCDEX
New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) Prices of essential commodities traded in the futures market have increased at a slower pace than of those that remained outside the major commodity exchange NCDEX, a study has shown.
The basket of 15 commodities traded on the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange, has shown a year-on-year price increase of 5.84 per cent, against 9.04 per cent for nearly 30 items not traded in the futures market, an NCDEX study has found.
However, certain items have shown price increase of as much as 47-48 per cent. But these were both in the traded as also the non-traded baskets.
The traded items included in the analysis for the week ended March 3, have a weightage of 7.78 per cent in the wholesale price index. On the other hand, the basket of nearly 30 non-traded items have a bearing of 17.6 per cent in the WPI.
In the traded group, the items showing slow price rise included gur, chana, groundnut, seed and soyabean oil. However, prices of soyabean, masur, rapeseed and mustard oil showed higher increase.
While in the non-traded category, prices of vegetables, egg, meat and fish, vanaspati and milk rose marginally. However, prices of edible oil, arhar, jowar and sunflower oil witnessed a significant rise.
NCDEX Chief Executive P H Ravikumar said: "The analysis rules out that futures trading is contributing any food inflationary pressure".
Rise in crude as well as food prices in the global market has a larger impact on domestic price movement. Still, it is largely due to the domestic supply mismanagement against the increasing demand creating food inflation, he said. PTI
India mulls contract farming in pulses in Namibia
Yoshita Singh
Windhoek (Namibia), Mar 30 (PTI) Faced with a severe shortage of pulses, which have also seen a runaway rise in prices, India has proposed to Namibia taking up contract farming there to boost supplies in the domestic market.
"We will explore how we could try to do contract farming in Namibia. Namibian farmers would grow pulses on Namibian land, which could then be exported to India," Minister of State for Commerce Jairam Ramesh said after his meeting with Namibian Minister of Works, Transport and Communication Joel Kaapanda.
India produces on an average about 14 million tons of pulses and depends on imports to meet the increased demand.
With the rising population, it is expected that the country would import about 2-3 million tons of pulses for the next 25-30 years.
Contract farming of pulses would give an assured supply of pulses to India. While it would also help Namibia in reducing its trade deficit, Ramesh said.
"There would be a buy back guarantee of pulses by the Indian government," he added.
India, the world's largest importer of pulses, has contracted to import total of 14.02 lakh tons of pulses for 2007-08. Out of which 10.7 lakh tons have arrived as on February 8. PTI
122 arrested as Tibetans try to storm Chinese embassy
Shirish B Pradhan
Kathmandu, Mar 30 (PTI) Over 120 Tibetans were arrested today as they tried to storm the Chinese Embassy here while the Nepal government dismissed as "groundless" reports that Chinese security agents have been deployed on its territory along the border with the riots-scarred Tibet.
Nearly 200 people shouting pro-independence slogans tried to enter the tightly guarded Chinese embassy in Nepal, which has witnessed almost daily demonstration by Tibetans since protests against Chinese rule in Tibet began in Lhasa on March 10, but were stopped by baton-wielding policeman.
Police said 122 people, including 46 women, had been arrested. Some of the demonstrators and policemen were injured in the melee.
Nepal's government officially recognises "One China" policy and considers Tibet as an integral part of the country.
The Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, said that reports that Chinese security agents were deployed on its territory were "completely untrue, groundless and pre-meditated attempts to malign Nepal's image".
Dozens of Tibetans have been detained by the Nepalese security personnel from different parts of the capital Kathmandu for staging demonstrations demanding freedom for the Tibetan people.
Some Tibetan students also entered the United Nations' office premises here a few days ago, demanding a free Tibet.
However, the UN office in Kathmandu has asked the government to allow peaceful demonstrations and not to use excessive force.
There are over 20,000 Tibetan refugees in Nepal. PTI
Shahrukh says he will be back to basics if cricket fails
New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) Bollywood badshah Shahrukh Khan, who owns an IPL cricket team, will give a year's time to the new venture and if it doesn't work for him, he will be back to films fulltime.
"It's not a winning business at this point in time..I won't be able to survive unlike other corporates in this business...So if it doesn't work for one year, then I'm back to basics...I'll be doing my films again," he said.
Khan, who has named his cricket team Kolkata Knight Riders, hoped that kids, who were his team's fans now, remained so even ten years later.
"I hope that kids who are 12 years old now and are Kolkata Knight Riders' fans (remain so) when they are 22. So, the whole idea is a long dream and I hope it gets fulfilled," he told NDTV on the sidelines of a function here yesterday. PTI
International Micro film festival from May 1 at Kochi
Kochi, Mar 30 (PTI) A four-day international micro film festival, beginning May one would be held here for up and coming and professional film makers.
Micro films are the latest mode of creative visual expressions. With the advent of such short films, more innovations and experiments have been worked out on silver screens, said Biju Lazar, Executive Director of Grafix Creations which is hosting the event.
Micro films which are a blend of thematic excellence and technical perfection would be included in the festival, he said.
The competition category would consist of five-minute movie which includes both theme-based and non-theme oriented subjects.
There would be a total of six categories-- International, National, State, Open category, special category for women directors, 2D &3D animation.
The best film would receive a prize money of Rs 50,000 and the best film in each category would receive Rs 10,000 and a Golden Leaf Award. There would be separate awards for individual excellence. PTI
Sikkim all set to roll its roulette for great gamblers
Soma Chakraborty
New Delhi, Mar 30 (PTI) The tiny northeastern state of Sikkim is all set to roll its roulette and is gearing up to give Nepal a run for its money, literally.
Along with its virgin forests, lofty mountains, mystic valleys, lush green landscapes and spectacular mountain rivers, the Himalayan kingdom is now all set to welcome visitors with state-of-the-art world class casinos.
"The state government has given nod to Park Sarovar Plaza Group of Hotels to set up a five-star hotel-cum-casino in Gangtok. The project is likely to be completed in this year only," says G P Upadhyaya, Commissioner-cum-secretary of the Department of Tourism, Sikkim.
Set against the backdrop of scenic mountains, the casino would become a major tourist attraction in the northeastern state.
"We are very excited about the project," says Pankaj Saxena, General Manager, The Royal Plaza, Sikkim.
In a major boost to the state tourism, Sikkim Government had passed Sikkim Casino Games Act in 2004 and the rules regulating their operation were framed last year through the Sikkim Casino Games (Control and Tax) Rules, 2007 paving a way to set up casinos in the state.
The Act has created ripples in the State's hospitality industry.
"The legalisation of casinos is definitely a major boost to the tourism sector," says Upadhyaya.
"It would give impetus to high-end tourism. The state can expect tourists who would not mind spending big moolahs," says the commissioner.
The tourism industry is eyeing not only domestic tourists but big spenders from abroad too. "With unrest in Nepal, we are expecting to divert traffic from Kathmandu, which houses the nearest casino in the region and has been a favourite for gamblers for years," says Upadhyaya.
The State will get 25 per cent of the stake money from the casino.
Besides the Sarovar group, other real estate developers are also in the fray to grab the opportunity.
"Talks are going on with the country's bigwigs in real estate developers including DLF to build a five-star resort housing a casino in the state," says Upadhyaya.
"Other big names like Ambuja and many others have also shown their interest in this matter," he adds.
With passing of the Act, Sikkim has become the second state after Goa to allow operation of casino in the country.
"Talks are going on with the Sikkim government to set up a five star hotel-cum-casino in the state. Though nothing has been finalised as yet, but there are hope for a positive outcome," says Rajeev Talwar, Group Executive Director, DLF.
Strict norms have been laid down to open a casino in the state. Desirous parties shall need to have five star category of facilities and infrastructures.
"The Royal Plaza which is operating in Gangtok is presently a four star hotel. It is being upgraded to a five star to abide by the norms," says Upadhyaya.
The interested parties would also be required to produce 'no-objection certificate' from the health, energy, power and fire services department.
Entry or employment of people under 18 years of age will be banned for casino-based enterprises. PTI
Digest of domestic news for the week Mar 22-28, 2008
Saturday New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition L K Advani calls on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi to greet them on the occasion of Holi.
Hyderabad: A Lufthansa flight touches down in rainy weather at the brand new Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad on the city outskirts shortly after midnight kickstarting its operations after a week's delay.
Sunday Balasore(Orissa) India's nuclear-capable surface-to-surface missile Agni-I, having a strike range of 700 to 900 kms, is test fired for the first time by the newly-created Strategic Forces Command.
Srinagar: Four security personnel and a self-styled divisional commander of Lashker-e-Toiba (LeT) outfit are killed and four others injured in a fierce gunbattle lasting several hours near here.
Monday New Delhi: Suspended Inspector General of Police R K Sharma is sentenced to life imprisonment in the sensational Shivani Bhatnagar murder case by a Delhi court which spared him from the gallows saying he was an "asset to the nation" except for this crime.
New Delhi: The Sixth Pay Commission recommends an average hike of 40 per cent in salaries, fixing the pay of Cabinet Secretary and Service chiefs at Rs 90,000 per month, and doubling most allowances that would cost the exchequer Rs 12,561 crore in 2008-09.
New Delhi: Delhi Police Special Operations Squad ACP Rajbir Singh, known as the "encounter specialist" is gunned down allegedly by a property dealer on the city outskirts. Tuesday New Delhi: In the first high-level contact with the new leadership in Pakistan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh felicitates his counterpart Yousuf Raza Gillani and conveyes a desire for transforming the bilateral ties into the "best ever" for which an "opportunity" has come.
New Delhi: The spectre of communal violence in the aftermath of the Godhra incident continues to haunt the Narendra Modi Government with the Supreme Court constitutes a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to re-investigate certain specified cases.
Chandigarh: Two-time Haryana Chief Minister Bhajan Lal, who rebels against the Congress, is disqualified from the state assembly under the anti-defection law and his Adampur seat declared vacant.
Wednesday Agra: Defying all odds, a little girl miraculously survives a 27-hour ordeal after she is pulled out alive from a 45-feet borewell where she was trapped in a dramatic rescue operation that also involves the Army.
New Delhi: Three CPI-M and two JD (U) and BJP candidates each were among 13 elected to the Rajya Sabha as the results of biennial polls in four states for the Upper House pours in.
Mumbai: Former Cricket Board chief Jagmohan Dalmiya, charged with misappropriating Rs 2.90 crore during his tenure, is arrested and released in quick succession ahead of the filing of a chargesheet against him in a court here.
New Delhi: The Shiv Sena splits, with the outfit's North Indian leaders resigning en-masse protesting its "outrageous conduct" towards non-Marathis in Maharashtra and announcing they would form a separate party. Thursday Indore: In a major drive against outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), 13 of its top leaders, including one wanted by Karnataka and Mumbai police in connection with terror activities, were arrested here and a large cache of weapons seized from them.
Bhubaneswar: A sexual harassment case is filed against Orissa Assembly Speaker Maheshwar Mohanty by a woman security staff whose allegations rock the House for the second day with Opposition members storming the Presiding officer's podium.
New Delhi: The 15-year-old schoolgirl, lying unconscious in a hospital here for the last three months after she was allegedly hit on the head with a stick by her teacher, dies.
Hyderabad: Veteran communist leader A B Bardhan re-elected as the General Secretary of the CPI for the fourth consecutive term, with the party's National Congress rejecting his wish to step down and make way for the younger generation.
Friday New Delhi: Government decides to establish four new IITs and six IIMs in various states besides upgrading some of the state universities to the status of Central Universities.
Mumbai: Maharashtra's Election Commissioner Nand Lal, who is sent to jail by the state Assembly on a privilege issue, is released and he quickly challenged in the High Court his conviction while he accused Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh of "political vendetta." New Delhi: A city court hearing an income tax evasion case against underworld don Dawood Ibrahim's frontman, Romesh Sharma, seeks to link suicides by debt-ridden farmers to poor recovery of government dues from tax defaulters. PTI
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