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64 Maoists killed in clash with Nepal forces

      Kathmandu: At least 64 Maoist rebels are believed to have been killed in fresh clash with security forces in western Nepal. According to delayed reports reaching here, the incident took place at Dalphing in Nepal's Rukum district. Rukum district is located about 400 kilometres west of Kathamndu. Further details are awaited.

Time has not come yet to meet Benazir, says Musharraf

     Islamabad: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said that while he would like to meet former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto to sort out their differences, it is not opportune to do so at this time given the political compulsions and preoccupations of Bhutto's Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), particularly in the context of her husband Asif Ali Zardari's return to Pakistan on Saturday. Speaking in an interview with a foreign news agency, Musharraf, expressing his reluctance to meet Benazir, said: "That time has not come as yet. When the time comes, yes, one doesnt mind meeting anyone. But at the moment its not right at all, especially with whatever is happening now." Musharraf was referring to the PPP plans to stage a rally in Lahore. "The attempt to disturb law and order in Lahore on the 16th is not conducive to good, harmonious relations," said Musharraf, who is due to leave for India that day in an attempt to move forward a slow-moving peace process. Musharraf said the Pakistan People's Party was not helping reconciliation by planning rallies this Saturday to welcome back Benazir's husband, Asif Ali Zardari, from a visit to her in exile in Dubai. "Moderate forces need to unite to suppress the extremist forces.This is what I think is extremely important from a national perspective. Within this, any kind of talks or negotiations or rapprochement, one would be willing to do," he said.

     Authorities have effectively barred the PPP from holding a rally in Lahore to welcome Zardari by extending a temporary ban on gatherings of more than three people. Musharraf defended the ban. "Processions are not allowed. In Pakistan, if you allow processions they will break down the window panes and the traffic lights, and you end up with chaos and confusion," Musharraf said Meanwhile, if reports from Peshawar are to be believed, about 40,000 PPP workers from Pakistan's North West Frontier Province (NWFP), are planning to proceed to Lahore' PPP NWFP president Rahimdad Khan was quoted as saying that the party workers and supporters were headed towards Lahore to welcome Asif Ali Zardari on his arrival from Dubai on April 16. He told The News that a large number of vehicles had been rented to transport the participants to Lahore. "Party workers from southern NWFP except Kohat would drive via Khushal Garh straight to Rawalpindi. Those from Kohat and rest of NWFP would gather at Khairabad and then cross the river Indus to enter Punjab in a long procession," he said. He said he would reach Khairabad at the head of a procession from his village Hathian in Mardan district to join the others processions before heading for Lahore. He said that the PPP would not be deterred by the strong arm tactics of the Punjab government such as imposition of section 144 and mass arrests. "We warn the government to desist from such tactics. Such methods against the PPPP haven't worked in the past and would prove counter-productive again. The rulers want to sabotage our rallies and trigger violence," Khan said.

Traders begin indefinite strike against VAT in Maharashtra (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Traders across Maharashtra began an indefinite strike against the implementation of Value Added Tax (VAT) today. The decision to call the trade shutdown came after the last month's move of the traders across the country. In March, thousands of traders had called a three-day strike against the new tax regime. Around 75,000 Petrol pumps also put their shutters down. Supplementing to their protest, insurance companies had also gone on a one-day trade shutdown. "In order to continue our protest against implementation of harsh provisions of VAT by Maharashtra government, representatives of affiliated associations of the state have decided to observe an indefinite trade bandh from April 15," said Chimanbhai Mehta, Treasurer, Federation of Associations of Maharashtra (FAM). Mehta told that the decision to go on an indefinite strike was taken at a meeting of the members affiliated to FAM. He, however, said that all affiliated members were not willing to go on strike. FAM presently has 750 affiliated associations across the state.

IMF compliments India for VAT, labour reform (Go To Top)

     Washington: The International Monetary Fund has complimented Indian authorities for the implementation of VAT and for their commitment on labour and market reform IMF Managing Director Rodrigo de Rato, who recently visited India, said, "I want to compliment the authorities and also the rest responsible for the implementation of the new VAT regime". We think that the opening of the country, the financial sector is certainly needed and welcome. We see that the budgetary framework of the Indian government is a serious one, a clear one, and we see also that monetary policy and the credibility of anti- inflationary policy is well rooted, as we also commend the authorities for their financial strength, he added. Rato emphasised on the need of labour reform for creating more employment. "India, by all accounts, will need to create in the next ten years a hundred million jobs just to stay at the actual level of unemployment," he said. "It is a very challenging horizon. In that respect, labour reform, labour flexibility could help certainly India not only to create more employment, but also to reap the benefits from such opportunities - for instance, textiles - that are offered to the Indian economy right now, to the Indian society," said Rato. He also complemented the Indian authorities for successfully managing their exchange rate flexibility.

     During his visit to New Delhi Mr. Rato projected a 'robust' economic growth for India despite uneven monsoons and higher global oil prices, but warned that high fiscal deficit of the Centre and states could impinge structural reforms, mainly in financial sector. He said with the general government deficit of close to 10 per cent of GDP, "Fiscal consolidation remains a key challenge, more so given the ambitious social agenda set out in the new government's common minimum programme, which could ultimately raise expenditure by 10 per cent of GDP." He said that addressing the labour market rigidities and agricultural reforms, are critical for poverty reduction, furthering trade and capital liberalisation and strengthening the financial sector, which remains exposed to interest rate risk given its large holdings of government securities.

India loses Kanpur one dayer, Pak takes 3-2 lead (Go To Top)

     Kanpur: India lost to Pakistan by five wickets in the fifth one-day international here today. Pakistan has now taken a 3-2 lead over India in the ongoing six-match series. Pakistan achieved an easy target of 250 runs in just 42.1 overs. Earlier, India made 249 runs for 6 wickets in 50 overs. Top scorers from the Indian side were Indian captain Rahul Dravid (86), Mohammad Kaif (78), and Dinesh Mongia (not out 33). Giving a fit reply to India's easy target, Pakistan scored 252 runs for 5 wickets in 42.1 overs. These include 102 runs scored by Shahid Afridi, 41 by Shoaib Malik, and 24 by Pakistani skipper Inzamam Ul Haq (not out). A blistering knock of 102 runs off 46 balls by Shahid Afridi put Pakistan in an enviable position. He hit 9 sixes and 10 fours and was eventually bowled out by Harbhajan Singh in the 15th over. In the very next over, Anil Kumble showed Salman Butt way to pavilion by trapping him leg before wicket for 21 runs.

     In the 32nd over, Mohammed Kaif collected Yousuf Youhana's catch off Kumble's bowl. Youhana was sent back for 24 runs. Earlier in the day, Indian inning proved very disastrous right from the beginning with Naveed-ul Hasn picking two main wickets of master blaster Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag. He had Tendulkar caught behind by wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal for 1 in the third over. In the fifth over, he picked Virender Sehwag for 5. India lost their third wicket in the seventh over with Younis Khan taking catch of Mahindra Singh Dhoni off the bowling of Hasan for 11 runs. Yuvraj Singh was shown pavilion in the 17th over. He was bowled by Abdul Razzaq for 18. India won the toss and decided to bat first. This time two changes were made in each team. While Harbhajan Singh and Dinesh Mongia were included in place of Ashish Nehra and Saurav Ganguly in the Indian side, Arshad Khan and Iftikhar Anjum replaced Danish Kaneria and Mohammed Sami in the Pakistani team.

Little over 500 tickets sold for Kotla clash (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Ticket sales are yet to pick up for the sixth and final one-day clash between the Indian and Pakistan cricket teams with only 550 tickets have been sold so far from the Parliament Street branch of the Central Bank of India here. With Pakistan 3-2 up in the six match series, having won the Kanpur one-dayer by five wickets today, there was complete commotion as over 3,000 people queued up to buy tickets for the decider. The match will be watched by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan Prasident Pervez Musharraf at Ferozeshah Kotla grounds here on Sunday. While a mere 50 tickets of Rs 10,000 denomination were sold, only 100 tickets of Rs 5,000 and 400 tickets of Rs 1,000 denomination were sold 'officialy' from the counter here, according to bank source. Unable to get tickets due to limited distribution from the bank here, the crowd raised slogans against DDCA president Arun Jaitley and the Delhi and District Cricket Association alleging 'mismanagement' in ticket sales. Only 12,150 tickets have been alotted for the general public by the DDCA, of which 2,050 tickets had already been given to the Pakistan Cricket Board for sale in that country. Sources said the actual figures for sale is merely 7,000 tickets as the rest are reserved for DDCA League Club members, except for 100 tickets which have been sent to the Press Information Bureau. Sale of tickets are being done by the Central Bank of India, DDCA's official bankers, from two of its branches at Parliament Street and Kashmere Gate.

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