Speaker condemns Mamata 's tantrums in Parliament

     New Delhi: Lok Sabha speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Friday (Aug. 5) took exception to the "reprehensible insinuation" by Trinamool Congress MP Mamata Banerjee that she was not allowed by the chair to speak on the issue illegal Bangladeshi voters in the electoral rolls and snubbed her for her "deliberate attempt to insult the Chair." "I shall be failing in my duty if I do not record my total rejection of the grossly defamatory insinuation made against me about taking decisions on political grounds," said a visibly upset Chatterjee as the House assembled this morning. He rejected Mamata's charge decision to disallow her to raise the issue of infiltration of Bangladeshis to West Bengal in the House was never "promoted by political considerations." Mamata Banerjee had thrown a bunch of papers to the Chair saying it a letter of her resignation after creating commotion in the House over Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal's decision to disallow her to raise the issue of illegal voters in the electoral rolls of West Bengal. "Whatever may have been the feeling, it could not and cannot ever justify in indulging in behaviour as happened yesterday," said Chatterjee in his statement to the House. The speaker said the issue was discussed through an adjournment motion on July 26 and there was no need for a second discussion on the very issue in the same session, just becasue the member did not participate in the discussions. "Rules will have to prevail at all times and for all," asserted Chatterjee. "I wish to repudiate categorically and with all the authority of the Chair and with all sincerity the reprehensible insinuation that my decsion was promoted by political considerations. Making such allegations was a deliberate attempt to insult the Chair and thereby insult the House as a whole," said Chatterjee. Banerjee's action comes a few months ahead of the assembly elections in West Bengal where she is in a bitter survival battle with the ruling Left Front.

Kamal Nath meets Karunanidhi on alliance (Go To Top)

     Chennai: Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath and DMK president M Karunanidhi today held wide ranging discussions on the relationship between the Congress and the DMK besides several schemes planned by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government for Tamil Nadu. After a 30-minute meeting, Kamal Nath told reporters that he had informed the DMK chief that the UPA Government at the Centre was giving priority to Tamil Nadu in various Central schemes. "We discussed the close relationship between the Congress and the DMK. I also informed him that the UPA government has major programmes focused on youth and farmers of the country. In all the schemes, Tamil Nadu is being given full priority," said Nath. Reacting on retaining of G.K Vasan as the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President by the Congress high command, he said factionalism was everywhere and in all political parties. "Factionalism is nothing new in the Congress it is everywhere, in one way it's a strength of the party" said Nath. Karunanidhi told reporters later that the AIADMK Government was adopting a careless attitude in implementing schemes beneficial to the state. "The Chief Minister has always been an obstacle for any development projects being implemented in the State. They had never liked something good happening in this part of the country," said Karunanidhi. However, he clarified that there were no discussions about the forthcoming assembly elections in the State as it was premature. Tamil Nadu and Pondichery will go to the polls next year.

Powerless Mumbai lives by candlelight (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Hundreds jostled, bickered and fought for candles in Mumbai, as the country's financial hub, dreaming to be the next Shanghai, crumbled last week under its worst rains on record. While the affluent areas have managed to survive on generators, huge parts of the city, where people have lost their entire belongings, continue to be in darkness or receive power for barely an hour or two leaving them in what some term as state of complete blindness. Overwhelmed by the cry for electricity, a voluntary organisation, which had initially begun distributing food, dumped their plans and instead arranged for candles. Many like Radhika Jaiswal of Kurla West could not be more thankful. For the first time in two weeks the demure housewife could see her children sleeping peacefully. "We are being forced to cook like this in candlelight. What to do? There is water everywhere, the water is still seeping out from the floor, and our feet are swelling. There is water dripping from the roof, it was so difficult for us to save our children from the water," Jaiswal said. "There is no light but we have to study because the session exams are coming soon. We have to study like this, what else?" Ramavtar, a school student asked. Home to more than 15 million people and also to Asia's largest slum, the teeming metropolis came to a near standstill since the deluge last month caused floods and landslides that killed nearly 500 people and snapped electricity supply, which is still largely over ground. Environmentalists have blamed the city's unplanned urban growth, while citizens' groups said the State Government didn't react quickly enough to warn people of one of the worst disasters in the long history of Mumbai.

Peace mission from PoK tours Jammu and Kashmir (Go To Top)

     Jammu: Delegates from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), who are on a peace mission to India, today called for increased people-to-people contact to accelerate the peace process between the two nations. The 19 delegates met political and social leaders in Jammu. Abdul Majid Malik, former Chief Justice of Supreme Court in PoK, said that even those who have taken up guns should give peace a chance. "I talk of peace, and when one talks of peace, then they should talk without holding guns. I think peace should be given a chance. And if somebody believes in violence, they should also consider of giving peace an opportunity. They have used violence before, are doing so now too but they have been unsuccessful in their mission. I think this is the call of the day -- to give peace a chance," he said. The delegates are touring the whole State and have interacted with intellectuals in conferences in Srinagar.

MP Prakash officially replaces Siddaramaiah as JD (S) leader (Go To Top)
by Kestur G. Vasuki

     Bangalore: Karnataka Governor T N Chaturvedi has accepted Chief Minister Dharam Singh's letter that MP Prakash is the leader of his coalition Government's partner JD (S) and Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaish no longer deserves the post. Earlier, Karnataka Legislative Assembly Speaker Krishna recognised senior Janata Dal Secular - JD (S) - leader M P Prakash as the new party leader in the Assembly replacing Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. Immediately after that Dharam Singh wrote a letter to the Governor conveying about Siddaramaiah's exit. Following the change, a rally by Siddaramaiah's supporters in Hoskote town, about 25 km from here today turned violent and Police had to resort to lathicharge to control the agitated mob. The rally was called to protest against removal of Siddaramaiah from the Legislature Party leadership. The State Council of Ministers is likely to meet tomorrow to decide the timing of Cabinet reshuffle. According to media reports, Deve Gowda's son and JD (S) Working President Kumaraswami is likely to be the next Deputy Chief Minister. The Speaker said that he had verified all required procedures before recognising MP Prakash as the new leader of the JD (S) in the 224-member Assembly. In the early morning, State Chief Minister Dharam Singh confirmed that he had received a letter regarding the election of Revenue Minister M P Prakash as the Janata Dal (Secular) Legislature Party leader and he would forward it to State Governor T N Chaturvedi following recognition by the Assembly Speaker. State JD (S) President N Thippanna had handed over a letter to both Speaker Krishna and the Chief Minister two days ago regarding party's decition to elect Prakash as its leader replacing Siddaramaiah. It had also asked for the removal of Siddaramaiah from the post of Deputy Chief Minister and two Ministers H C Mahadevappa and Satish Jharkhihole, who are considered loyal to him. Siddaramaiah, a backward classes leader, was one of the founders of the JD (S) but later difference cropped up between him and JD (S) supremo Deve Gowda. Siddaramaiah attended a backward classes conference to show his strength along with some Congress leaders recently at Hubli. This was the point of no return between him and Deve Gowda. Karnataka Assembly has 225 seats of which Congress 67, JD(S) 59, BJP and allies 84, RPI 1, CPI (M) 1, nominated 1 and independents 12 members.

Sensex ends nine-day Bull streak, goes down by 43 points (Go To Top)

     Mumbai: Ending its nine-day Bull streak, the 30- share Index (SENSEX) at the Bombay Stock Exchange fell by 43 points at the close of business on Friday. Though mid-cap and small-cap stocks hogged the limelight on the back of heavy purchases from Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), the SENSEX ended the day at 7,754.00 as against Thursdays close of 7,797.08, a fall of 43.08 points or 0.55 percent. The SENSEX had gained 493 points or 6.75 percent between July 22 and August 4. It even breached the 7800 level on August 3 for the first time in the stock exchange's history. Operators and traders were believed to be engaged in squaring up of positions in index-based counters at the last trading day of the week. However, Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs), which reported a hefty net investments of Rs 1,486.30 crore in the first three days of the week, were believed to be heavy buyers in a number of counters, particularly from mid-cap and small-cap segment. Domestic investors booked profits in select counters in the liquidity-driven market that is already in overbought zone and needs a healthy correction, brokers said.

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