New Delhi: An Inter-Ministerial Core Group (IMCG) was set-up today to coordinate long term reconstruction work in tsunami-hit areas. The newly formed committee would meet for the first time on Monday to consider rehabilitation plans and sources of funding. Announcing the decision after meeting the secretaries of departments to finalise the composition, Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said, "The Core Group will include representatives of Ministries of Home, Economic Affairs dept, Health, Urban and Rural Development, Science and Technology and Ocean Development." The new committee is being set up in the Planning Commission following Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's directions, he said. In the meeting that was held today, various concerned ministries and departments nominated their representatives for the Group. It would seek plans from the members in the meeting on Monday. The committee would also find the sources of funding, set targets and will monitor implementation.

Agitation launched against Sankaracharya case (Go To Top)

Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari  Vajpayee offering prayers, kick-starting the party's week-long campaign against the arrest of the  Kanchi Sankaracharyas in New Delhi on Saturday.

     New Delhi: India's Hindu groups launched a massive agitation on Saturday to show solidarity with the country's senior-most Hindu priest Jayendra Saraswati facing trial in a case of murder. In New Delhi, former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee led the agitation organised by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

     Vajpayee accused the Tamil Nadu government of foisting false cases on the seers. "The government of Tamil Nadu is trying to mislead and confuse the public. There were allegations of contradictory statements having been made on the amount and whereabouts of the organisation's money but all of them have fallen flat during the probes," Vajpayee said.

     Vajpayee termed the arrests as an affront to Hinduism. "The allegations have been made with only one aim to mislead and confuse the public about this mutt (monastery). It is an attempt to make people lose faith. This event is a challenge not just for the Hindus but for all those who believe in truth," he said. Jayendra Saraswati was arrested on Nov. 11 in connection with the case.

Police summon Kanchi mutt in-charge, VHP leader (Go To Top)

     Kanchipuram: The special police team investigating the Sankararaman murder case has summoned the newly installed Kanchi Mutt in-charge, 'Pollachi' Mahadeva Iyer, and VHP vice president Vedantham to appear before it today. The special team served summons to the VHP vice-president last week also, but he declined to oblige. This is the second time he is being served the summon. Iyer, the new in-charge of the mutt, took over on January 7 when the aradhana of Mahaswami, Chandrasekharendra Saraswathi, took place.

Six Naxalites killed in Andhra (Go To Top)

     Hyderabad: In a spurt in Naxalite violence dealing a severe blow to peace talks in Andhra Pradesh, six extremists were killed in two separate encounters with police in Prakasam and Mahaboobnagar districts while a Congress panchayat head was gunned down by Maoists in Karimnagar district today. Three Naxalites, including a woman, were killed in an exchange of fire with a police patrol party near Chintala village in Prakasam district, police sources said. The police recovered five rifles, five claymore mines and some kitbags from the spot. In another incident in Mahaboobnagar district, three Naxalites died in an encounter with police at Pakkalingayapally village, police said. In a first incident targeting a ruling party functionary since Congress took over the reins eight months ago in the state, Naxalites of Janasakthi group gunned down Sarpanch Rajalingaiah (55) at Rudrangi village in Karimnagar district.