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Tamil Nadu Corporation by-polls marred by violence

     Chennai: Several parts of Chennai were tensed after clashes took place between activists of the ruling party, AIADMK, and the opposition, DMK. The incident of violence took place during the corporation by- polls in the state, with the opposition protesting the way the voting went. During the clashes several vehicles were also burnt, besides stone pelting on them. Over 400 DMK workers, including leaders Arcot N Veerasamy, M K Stalin, Parithi Elamvazhuthi and J Anbazhagan, were taken into custody when they squatted on the road in Gopalapuram.

Pension Fund allowed to invest 5 pc of equity in stocks (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Centre today gave its clearance to the Pension Fund to invest up to five percent of its equity in stocks. "The Finance ministry has given the clearance to invest up to 5 per cent anywhere we wish," Union Labour Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao told reporters in New Delhi after a meeting of the Board of Employees' Provident Fund. Last month, the EPF board of trustees had decided not to take risks and invest up to five percent of its portfolio in the stock market, as recommended by the government in January. Non-government pension funds have assets of about 1.3 trillion rupees and the government expects nearly 200 billion rupees to flow into the stock market. The EPF fund has nearly 85 percent of its 1.28 trillion rupees corpus invested in the Special Deposit Scheme run by the State Bank of India, which offers just eight percent annual interest. This has created a mismatch in the pension fund's earning and revenues, since it gives a better rate to its depositors. "There should be some effort to decrease the interest gap. What should be the measures are something which has to be analysed and discussed," Rao said.

156 Pakistani fishermen released (Go To Top)

     Wagah Border: As many as 156 Pakistani fishermen were released today. They entered their home country through the Wagah Border. They were put in different jails in Gujarat. The fishermen release was announced on Saturday. They were held in prisons in Jamnagar, Kutch and Rajkot regions to coincide with the visit of Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf. The fishermen, along with eight minors who had strayed into the Indian waters, were handed over to the Pakistani Rangers after their stay for over a year. Pakistan and India frequently arrest fishermen who trespass into each other's waters. However, the fishermen say that it is hard to keep track of the boundaries while fishing. "We only come there to catch fish and do not commit any crime. Both the governments should just interrogate us and leave us," said Izaz Hussain, a released prisoner. "I want to request both the governments not to catch the fishermen," said Mansoor Ali, another released prisoner. This year, Pakistan has released 794 Indian fishermen in two phases in January and March. But, lately it arrested another 36 Indian fishermen, officials said. The two countries had decided to set up hotlines between their maritime agencies to prevent the arrest of ignorant fishermen who trespass into each other's territorial waters and arrange for their repatriation. However, the effects of the agreement are not visible at the ground level.

BDR firing could have `repercussions': MEA (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: The Centre today said that the unprovoked firing by Bangladeshi Rifles security guards over the weekend in which one BSF official was killed "could have repercussions which cannot be ignored". MEA officials called the acting Bangladesh High Commissioner of register their protest over the incident. "The acting High Commissioner of Bangladesh in Delhi was called in by Joint Secretary (BSM) in the Ministry of External Affairs on April 18 to convey India's protest over the killing of BSF commander. Joint Secretary (BSM) conveyed our deep disappointment and regret over this incident and stated that its repercussions could not be ignored. She also conveyed the view that the entire incident appeared premeditated and pre-planned," Navtej Sarna, MEA spokesman, told reporters in the Capital. The incident happened as top security officials from BSF and BDR concluded a five-day meeting in Dhaka without any agreement on ending disputes over India fencing the border. Both countries have also accused each other of harboring rebels and criminals.

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