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Mumbai returns to normalcy
by Sushil Parikh

     Mumbai: With the armed forces lending an effective helping hand and the rains of the past week showing signs of letting up, Mumbai is beginning to return to normalcy. On Wednesday, people in India's commercial capital reported to work after the Maharashtra Government announced the resumption of intra-city road and rail services in most areas of the metropolis. Some low-lying areas, however, remained waterlogged and medical teams have fanned out to prevent an epidemic outbreak. Educational institutions and offices today reported almost full attendance and business was back in full swing, judging from Ambanis holding the annual general body meeting of Reliance Industries. On the Central rail route, which is the main line linking Mumbai to its outskirts, suburban train services were operating upto Karjat and were expected to be connected till Pune by this evening. Train movement on the Central Railway was, however, affected as people blocked railway tracks at Mumbra in Thane district in protest against delays in restoring train services. On the Western railway route, suburban trains were plying only upto Vasai Road as the services between Virar and Vasai were stopped on Tuesday night owing to flooding.

     However, harbour line services were running normally and on schedule between the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) and Panvel and Andheri to Bandra, railway sources said. The city is still experiencing intermittent drizzle in several areas and the weather bureau has forecasted that the city and the surburbs will continue to have moderate rains accompanied by strong gusty winds. Elsewhere in Maharashtra, notably Pune and Vidarbha, a flood alert is still on, and the Army's Southern Command has sent out at least 17 columns in various flood-hit areas. Six columns have been placed on stand-by. Five thousand troops have been deployed on flood duty, and the army is rescuing the marooned. On Tuesday, the army airlifted a team of engineers equipped with inflatable boats and other equipment to the worst-hit districts of Sangli and Satara. Meanwhile, the Maharashta Government is seeking more aid from the Centre to provide relief and rehabilitation. The state government's field staff has estimated the preliminary loss from last week's downpour to be in the region of Rs. 15,000 crores (approximately 3.33 billion dollars). The Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC) has, however, pegged the damages at a more modest Rs 5,000 crore (about 4 million dollars).

UPA charges Supreme Court with meddling in Parliament's affairs (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: India's Parliament and Judiciary set themselves up for a major stand-off on Wednesday with members of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA)questioning a Supreme Court ruling to look into the tainted minister issue in about a fortnight's time. UPA members raised a ruckus in the Lok Sabha (Lower House of the Indian Parliament) today by saying that the judiciary was interfering into the functioning of legislature, even as the Opposition National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) claimed that the apex court was right to seek clarifications from the Centre. Raising the issue during Zero Hour, Devendra Prasad Yadav of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), which is key member of the UPA, but out of favour in its bastion in Bihar, and Rupchand Pal of the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) said the judiciary and the legislature were different pillars of democracy, and therefore, should not interfere in each other's functions. ''What is the government's reaction. What is the reaction of political party leaders. Will parliamentary democracy survive,'' Yadav asked. Pal said it was the prerogative of the Prime Minister to choose his Council of Ministers and the apex court had no right to interfere in the process.

     ''They (the Judiciary) have even questioned the Prime Minister's prerogative on choosing his council of ministers. This is matter of great concern,'' CPI(M) floor leaders in the Lok Sabha Basudeb Achariya and Rupchand Pal later told mediapersons at a press conference inside the Parliament. The Left leaders emphasised that each organ of the Government - the Legislature, the Executive and the Judiciary -- had their own autonomous jurisdication and all efforts should be made to maintain this 'fine balance.' On Monday, the Supreme Court, which was hearing a public interest litigation on the tainted ministers issue, had indicated that it would consider the issue on its merit after the petition was amended. It was then firmly informed by the Government that it had no role to play in the tainted ministers issue, as such people who had been appointed in the Union Council of Ministers had been chosen solely by the Prime Minister. The Centre was responding to a petition that had come up for hearing in the apex court. The public interest litigation (PIL) had been filed by Manoj Narula. "Probing this matter further will not be beneficial for conventions and Parliamentary democracy," Attorney General Milon Bannerjee told a three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice RC Lahoti. The court has given Narula a fortnight's time to amend his petition.

     A little over two weeks ago, the Supreme Court had sought Attorney General Banerjee's assistance on the PIL challenging the inclusion of five Ministers, including Lalu Prasad in the Union Council of Ministers. A Bench comprising Chief Justice R C Lahoti and Justice G P Mathur had then directed petitioner Manoj Narula through advocate Anil Kumar Jha to provide copy of the petition to the Central government, and also appointed senior advocate Rakesh Dwivedi as amicus curiae to assist the court. Noting that the previous petitions of Narula had been dismissed on the assurance of the Government that it was ready for a debate on the issue, the Court had then said it did not want to enter into a controversy whether or not Parliament should debate the issue or not. However, it added that it wanted the views of Attorney General Banerjee as to whether the Court could entertain such petitions or not. The petition challeged the inclusion of Lalu Prasad, Jai Prakash Yadav, M A A Fatmi, Mohammad Taslimuddin and K Venkatapathy in the Council of Ministers on the ground that the Ministers being required to carry out important constitutional functions should be of impeccable integrity. Law Minister H R Baharadwaj had then told the reporters that the government was ready for framing a guideline on this issue and was ready to debate it as well. "We are ready for discussion on all norms of probity in public life. It will be very useful," he said.

Provogue MD sent to police custody (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: The managing director of Provogue, Salil Chaturvedi, has been sent to police custody till August 17. Chaturvedi, who was arrested in connection with the cocaine supply case on Tuesday, was produced before a local court here today. Mumbai police also had raided his residence in suburban Andheri, from where three vials containing some powder suspected to be drugs were seized. Chaturvedi's wife, Sheetal, however, claimed that the vials were 'planted' and was an attempt by the police to victimise her husband. Since January this year, nine people have been arrested in connection with the case. The first Provogue employee to be nabbed was Alex Sequeira. This was followed by arrest of Provogue lounge manager, Vishal Meghnani, who revealed Chaturvedi's role in the scam. Two police officers, Sanjay Shinde and Shantilal Jadhav were also arrested last month for assisting Provogue employees in destroying the evidence.

Bhutan King meets Indian leaders (Go To Top)

     New Delhi: Bhutan King Jigme Singhye Wangchuk called on President A P J Abdul Kalam, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday and discussed with them Indo-Bhutanese bilateral relations. Among the matters raised was the issue of bilateral cooperation in the energy sector, and a review of the regional and international situation. An official spokesman said the Bhutanese King, who arrived in New Delhi on August one on a four-day visit to India, discussed bilateral cooperation particularly in matters related to energy and security. He said the two leaders expressed satisfaction on bilateral relations and on the successful cooperation in the energy sector. The Bhutan king complimented the Prime Minister on his recent successful visit to the United States and the Prime Minister emphasised India's strong commitment to Bhutan's economic development and the welfare of its people. New Delhi has already provided a Rs 1,984 crore assistance package to Bhutan for its ninth five-year plan ending 2007. The assistance comprises development subsidy of Rs 710 crore, project-tied assistance of Rs 734 crore and other subsidies and refunds of Rs 540 crore. The assistance was approved by the Union Cabinet on July 14.

     Officials said the decision would lead to continued strengthening of India-Bhutan relations based on strategic and economic interests in an area of high geo-political sensitivity, generation of opportunities for Indian companies to participate in these major projects and strengthen goodwill for India in Bhutan by fulfilling existing commitments. Economic cooperation with Bhutan has been the corner stone of the multi-faceted and mutually beneficial relations. Cooperation, particularly in the hydro-power sector, represented a win-win situation for both the countries with India receiving an assured supply of cheap and clean energy and Bhutan receiving a significant revenue stream. The 336 MW Chukha and 60 MW Kurichhu projects which have already come on stream, and the 1020 MW Tala project, nearing completion, are symbols of India-Bhutan friendship and cooperation, the officials said. Besides the tangible benefits, our economic cooperation also translates into tremendous goodwill in Bhutan for the people and the Government of India. India has extended support to Five Year Plans of Bhutan since their inception in 1961.

LS member enters RS  (Go To Top)
by Pankaj Yadav

     New Delhi: There was a commotion in the Rajya Sabha today when a BJP Lok Sabha member Mahesh Kumar Kanodia entered the Upper House, and even sat on the Treasury benches. According to sources, Kanodia entered the RS to hand over some papers to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil. After handing over the papers to the minister, Kanodia chose to sat (on the Treasury Benches) behind the minister apparently to get a feedback from him. On noticing him, the Congress members in the Upper House raised an objection, and soon the member was whisked away. Later, Kanodia said that he had not done any mistake by entering the RS. "I had to take a flight to Mumbai at 3.00 p.m.......I was in a hurry, and I had to hand over a representation to the Home Minister regarding a woman freedom fighter who was not able to get pension. So I chose to meet the minster in Rajya Sabha. The minister very graciously accepted the application. As an MP I have all the right to meet a minister for redressal of a grievance." Till this report was filed, no action was taken against the LS member. Sources said that the Rajya Sabha Secretariat was planning to take an appropriate action, as per the parliamentary rules, against the erring MP. As per the set norms and principles, a member of one House is barred from entering the other House. Only Prime Minister and the ministers are authorised to enter either of the two Houses. This is not the first instance when a member of one House entered the other House. Earlier, a prominent singer who was a Rajya Sabha, erroneously entered the Lok Sabha. A similar incident occurred when a senior government official entered the Lok Sabha to hand over some papers to the then prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi.

Devotees throng Ajmer for Urs (Go To Top)

    Ajmer: Hundreds of people gathered here today for a flag hoisting ceremony , which marks the beginning of the annual congregation of sufi saint Moin- ud-din-Chisti. "Urs", as the congregation is called in Urdu, marks the death anniversary of Chisti, who is popularly called "Garib Nawaz", or the "messiah of the poor". The gathering is considered to be the second largest congregation of Muslims at one place after Mecca, with pilgrims from all over the world gathering to pay homage to the revered saint. It is initiated with the hoisting of a flag on the mausoleum by a successor representative of Chisti, to the accompaniment of music. The weeklong congregation will formally begin on Sunday (August 7). "This ritual marks the beginning of Urs or congregation. The congregation will formally begin four days later but with the hoisting of flag, the mausoleum timings change for the congregation," said Sayed Hussain Chisti, Vice-President, Anjuman Dargah mausoleum). "I feel it is the call of the Khwaja (Muslim saint Moin- ud-din- Chisti) which brought me here and I feel blessed. I hope he calls me again and again," said Tanya Hussain, a pilgrim.

     To mark the occasion, the saint's mausoleum is given a special rose water bath. "Zairins" or clergies then perform prayers to mark the start of Urs. Mausoleum's main gates called the "Jannati Darwaza" or Gates to Heaven, normally closed, are opened for devotees. Moin-ud-din Chisti is believed to have been born in 1142 AD. Since his ancestors belonged to a town named Chisti, people began calling him by that name. Chisti, who preached tolerance and unity of all religions, died in Ajmer where his tomb has become a shrine for millions of people. In 1236 AD, the saint entered his cell to pray in seclusion for six days, at the end of which he died. Since then Urs has been celebrated for six days every year. It is believed that praying at the tomb of the saint fulfills a persons wishes. Devotees visiting the shrine offer fresh flowers as a symbol of their devotion. Some even go to the extent of offering large amounts of money and expensive jewellery. Devotional music and recitation from Chishti's own works and other Sufi saints are presented in traditional Qawwali (chorus singing) style. The annual event culminates with readings from the holy Quran and special prayers.

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