Sonia Gandhi opens Central Delhi's Metro section

     New Delhi: Delhi's much talked about metro railway service got a much needed boost on Saturday with the opening of the link between the Central Secretariat and Kashmere Gate. Sonia Gandhi, the United Progressive Alliance Chairperson, inaugurated Delhi Metro's underground Line II. With this line, government offices in Central Secretariat have been linked with Delhi University. The seven kilometre long section, which will open to the public from Sunday, is part of the about 11-km Delhi University to Central Secretariat underground line. Gandhi said the new mode of transport would reduce traffic jams in the capital, saving a lot of time and helping people to reach their destination in time. "The ongoing development activities, once completed, will improve people's standard of life and enhance the face of Delhi," she said. The Central Secretariat-Kashmere Gate section has been erected at a cost of Rs.2200 crores (506 million dollars). The link connecting seven stations passing through some of the capital's most crowded areas will be a boon for the commuter as the journey that takes at least an hour on road would be covered in 13 minutes.

     Union Urban Development Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, Delhi Lt Governor B. L. Joshi, Delhi Chief Minister, Sheila Dikshit, State Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf and Union Urban Development Secretary, Anil Baijal were present at the ceremony which held at the Central Secretariat Metro Station. The about 4-km-long Delhi University to Kashmere Gate segment of Line II was inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh last year in December. "I think it is a commendable effort and I am very happy that the DMRC (Delhi Metro Rail Corporation) team with our dedicated contractors and our experts with general consultants, we have been able to achieve such a gigantic project in just about seven years time. I think, by any world's standards, these can be considered as a landmark achievement," E. Sreedharan,Managing Director, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), told media after a media preview yesterday on Friday. The metro runs on a total length of 27 kilometers in all its three planned sections, - level, elevated tracks and underground, built at a cost of Rs.7300 crores (1.7 billion dollars). About 1,30,000 people of Delhi use the metro at present. The first phase of the metro is estimated to cost Rs.1060 crore (2 billion dollars), half of which is funded by the Japan Bank for International Cooperation and the rest by the Delhi state government and Centre. The service features automatic ticketing, state-of-the-art signaling and telecommunications, stations with escalators and tight security. Fares are in the moderate range of six rupees to 14 rupees, with the metro raising part of revenue by leasing out shopping, advertisement and parking space at stations. Delhi Metro is expected to carry more than two million people a day after its network expands to 70-kms by March 2006.

Sudheendra Kulkarni letters focus of discussion at RSS meet (Go To Top)
by Ramesh Ranjan

     Surat (Gujarat): Sudheendra Kulkarni, political aide and speechwriter to BJP President L.K.Advani is being seen as the proxy fighter for Advani in his war against the enemies in the Sangh Parivar. With Kulkarni's letters now out in the public domain, criticsof Advani say that the thoughts expressed in the letter are those of Advani. and that Advani wanted to convey to the Sangh Parivar that they should not directly influence the micro affairs of the BJP. Kulkarni, a former card-holding Communist, has been known for his proximity to Vajpayee and now Advani. He was the only person, who accompanied Advani on his controversial Pakistan visit and wrote all his speeches there. Advani never liked indiscipline in the party and has always hated any public comments on the top leaders of the party. He has always made efforts to prove that the RSS be not allowed to be seen as the BJP's remote-control. Advani has always maintained his hard line image but that image have been different from that of the RSS.

      In the two-page letter, said to have been delivered to Advani on June 24, Kulkarni virtually suggested that he wage a battle with the RSS and even challenge it. "The present chaotic and unsettled atmosphere in the party should not disturb you at all. You are on the right track. Others will realise it in time. You are in a unique position today to reorient the party  and also the larger polity in the country  in alignment with India's long-term national interests." Kulkarni suggests. "The BJP-RSS relationship will have to be recast. It can't be seen as being remote-controlled by an external entity." The RSS must give only "strategic guidance to Hindu society" and Mr. Advani should "proactively approach RSS leaders" to tell them to have "full faith" in his leadership. The BJP must "completely distance itself from extremist elements in the Vishwa Hindu Parishad," which had "derailed the Hindu movement, brought a bad name to the BJP" and "weakened the larger nationalist cause." Offering to step down, Kulkarni has suggested Advani to fine tune BJP's image among the Indians. He feels there is need for the BJP "to reach out to Indian Muslims" and change the "mindset of our [party's] core workers." This strategy could be tested in the coming polls in Bihar.

     However, the RSS meeting is likely to ask Advani to step down from the party presidentship. According to sources, a section of the Sangh leadership is in favour of giving time to Advani to set the house (party) in order and facilitate the smooth handover of the party's reins to a second-generation leader in the not too distant future. However, VHP leaders including Togadia, who had last month asked Advani to take 'sanyas' from politics, are expected to insist on his stepping down as party chief at the earliest and his replacement by a pro-Hindutva leader. Unlike previous RSS meetings, which were attended by Advani and former party chief M Venkaiah Naidu, this time only Sanjay Joshi, the Sangh pointsman in the BJP and the party's General Secretary (organistaion) is the only central leader to be invited. About 140 delegates, including provincial organisers, all-India functionaries of the Sangh and important pracharaks (organisers) from Parivar outfits, who hold the key to BJP's electoral prospects, would be attending the three-day meeting.

Prime Minister inaugurates Sethusamudram project (Go To Top)

     Dhanushkhodi (T'Nadu): Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the dredging work for the much awaited Rs. 2, 427 crore Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP) and hailed it as one of the most ambitious projects ever conceived in the Indian port sector. "I come to celebrate the bounty that the sea has brought to people of this region for centuries. The tsunami may occur once in thousand years but waves from the sea reaches every minute of the day and night bringing trade, commerce, wealth, visitors and livelihood for coastal communities," said Singh. Under the SSCP, a channel will be dredged in the shallow portion of the sea off the southern tip so that vessels of up to 30,000 tonnes, including Indian Navy patrol vessels, will not have to circumnavigate Sri Lanka. The project that was first proposed almost a century ago, would reduce sailing time to the eastern coast and is seen as a major trigger for development of ports in the region. Once finished, freighters sailing from one side of India to the other will no longer have to detour south around the bottom of Sri Lanka, saving up to 400 nautical miles (730 km) and 36 hours.

     Environmentalists had warned that the project could have disastrous consequences for the marine and coastal ecosystems of neighbouring Sri Lanka. United Progressive Alliance(UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi assured that the project would be implemented keeping in mind the ecosystem around Tamil Nadu state coastline. "Its coastal economy and its maritime trades will be boosted. I am aware environmentalists have raised some issues, fears have been expressed on impact of coral reefs for example. But I am more than confident that the project authorities are sensitive to these concerns and will implement the project in a manner that protects and preserves the local ecology," said Gandhi. Sethusamudram -- literally the sea with the bridge -- was first conceived in 1860, about the same time digging started for the Suez Canal in Egypt, by a British naval officer. One project estimate puts the number of transits in 2008, the first year of operation, at 3,055 under a moderate traffic scenario, more than doubling to 7,141 in 2025. Digging will involve scooping the seabed and dumping the sediment in deeper water further out to sea. The channel has roused strong emotions among supporters and opponents alike. And the tussle is likely to worsen as digging begins.

Demonstrations held in Madurai against Sethusamudram project (Go To Top)

     Madurai: Hundreds of fishermen and AIADMK party workers were arrested at Madurai today while protesting against the Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project. The protestors carried out the demonstrations just a few kilometers away from the inaugural function site. An NGO worker, D Gabriele accused the government of playing with the lives of lakhs of fishermen in the region and ignoring the impact of the project on the environment. "The ecological impact is irreversible. So if all this drenching is really happenning, what's happening to the flora and fauna at the bottom of the sea and the fish. That is irreversible and we feel the impact assessment report is inaccurate and therefore the clearance should not have been given, it should have been reviewed. The project should be halted right now," said D. Gabriele, Secretary, National Alliance of People's Movements Meanwhile, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today inaugurated the Rs 2,427-crore Sethusamudram Ship Channel Project (SSCP). The project will connect country's eastern coast with the west through a ship channel which would be dredged in the sea.

Paswan hospitalised following cardiac attack (Go To Top)

     Patna: Union Minister for Chemicals and Fertilisers Ram Vilas Paswan was hospitalised today first in Patna and later in Delhi following a mild cardiac attack. "Ram Vilas Paswan complained of a chest pain and his family doctor, Vijay Prakash went to see him. Doctor Prakash called me up and said it could be either acidity or a heart attack and we want to bring him here (Heart Hospital) for observation. He (Paswan) is fine now and medicines are continuing and only after 48 hours we can tell what actually happened," said Dr. A K Thakur of Heart Hospital, Patna. 59-year old Paswan was later admitted to the Escorts hospital which had sent a team of doctors led by Dr N Chandra to accompany him to the capital. Escorts Director Dr Naresh Trehan said that a five-member team from the hospital which left in the air ambulance, did a check-up on Paswan in Patna and said his condition is ''stable''. As the news about Paswan's illness got out, a lot of his party workers gathered at the hospital. State Governor Buta Singh had also visited the LJP leader at the hospital to inquire about his wealth. "The moment I heard about his health, I contacted the doctor. I have come to visit him and he is taking rest. As the doctor has informed, he is fine and treatment is going on. We pray to God that he gets well soon and takes up his responsibility soon," said Buta Singh. According to the doctors, his condition is stable and he is under observation in the intensive care unit. "His condition is stable and there is no reason for panic," Escort hospital's medical director and noted cardiologist, Dr A K Thakur told reporters. "The problem might also be related to acidity," he said.

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