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Maoist strike paralyses Jharkhand

      Ranchi: Normal life remained disrupted in Jharkhand for the second successive day on Thursday due to a nation-wide Maoist strike call. Both private and public transport ceased to ply on routes passing through Maoist-infested areas. "We have been waiting here for an hour. We were supposed to go to Bondu and return today itself. It is very important. But I do not think we will be able to make it. It is bad," lamented Ramu, a villager. Truck drivers stranded mid-way say that their operation coming to a standstill has been at the cost of their home and hearth. "It is bandh and we have been waiting here for hours together. It is so difficult. Our children suffer because of this. If we drive, we will have to pay the price for it. So we are waiting," said Baljeet Singh, a truck driver. However, government authorities said that security measures have been stepped up. "Security has been beefed up and we have diverted the routes of important trains like Ghatia to Varanasi and Ghatia to Jammu Tawai," said D D Devang, Divisional Railway Manager, Ranchi . Jharkhand is one of the 13 Indian states hit by the Maoist insurgency that began more than three decades ago. According to Home ministry, 76 districts in Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Maharashtra, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh,Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal are 'badly affected by Maoist violence'.

JD Rymbai replaces DD Lapang as Meghalaya CM

      Shillong: Meghalaya Parliamentary Affairs Minister and Congress leader JD Rymbai was on Thursday chosen to be the new Chief Minister of Meghalaya. The decision was taken at a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party here today. The meeting was held in the backdrop of recent revolt by the 20 rebel Congress MLAs, who said they had no confidence in D D Lapang's leadership and accused of promoting a manipulative style of politics. Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee said that the decision was taken after Lapang expressed his desire to step down and Sonia Gandhi accepted his resignation. After that Rymbai, who represents Jirang (ST) assembly constituency in Ri-bhoi district, was chosen the leader of coalition Government unanimously. Lapang, who had been heading the Congress-led coalition government for the last three-and-a-half years, had said on June 8 that he would step down since he did not enjoy the support of a majority of the state's legislators.

Politician in Rahul Mahajan emerges (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Rahul Mahajan, son of late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan, today in his ten-minute outing with media after the scandalous drug abuse episode, left no stone unturned to express his willingness to enter politics and that too from the BJP. Dismissing any rift between his family and party, Rahul said: "I am confident that one day I would further glorify my father's name and that he would feel proud of me", adding : "The BJP is like a family for me in which I was born, lived and would die one day". Expressing his gratitude to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and BJP President Rajnath Singh for supporting the family during the period of crisis, Rahul quoted Vajpayee's statement on youth. He even said that after his father's demise, Vajpayee is like a father figure for him and that there were no sufficient words to express his gratefulness towards him. However, Rahul avoided any question regarding the drug snorting episode that left his father's aide Bibek Moitra dead. His only refrain was that the matter is sub-judice and that he was not a drug dependent or user. "I have not committed any legal or moral wrong", Rahul said. Rahul also publicly apologised to his mother, sister and other family members for what he referred to as 'hurting them and bringing sufferings". Rahul also expressed his gratefulness to the Judiciary "for being impartial" and showered praised on the doctors of the Apollo Hospital for saving his life. Without taking names he said that there was a section of society which had a hidden agenda in the entire incident.

It's now uncle versus party patriarch
in Mahajan saga (Go To Top)

       New Delhi/Mumbai: The Mahajan saga refuses to leave the headlines as on Thursday late BJP leader Pramod Mahajan's brother accused the party of not coming to Rahul's rescue during the drug-snorting episode. Prakash, younger brother of Pramod Mahajan said: "The party did not come out in support of Pramod's family during its period of crisis", adding "Pramod used to help the family members of all the BJP leaders when they faced problem, but when his family needed support, the party just moved away". Former Prime Minister and party patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee, however, said: "The party completely supports Rahul and once the case is over, the party would decide on his political career". Dismissing the allegations of Rahul's uncle, Vajpayee said: "But Pramod's family is not saying so", indicating to Pramod Mahajn's daughter, Poonam's statement on Wednesday where she said that the party completely supported the family and that "Vajpayee was a father like figure for her family". Vajpayee chose not to comment on Pravin Mahajan's allegations that "Vajpayee had ignored crimes that took place at Mahajan's residence". Pravin Mahajan who had pumped three bullets into Pramod on April 22, said on Wednesday that the Mahajan's residence was used for such things for the last five to six years and that Vajpayee owed an explanation to the nation.

India names Tharoor for top UN post (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Strongly endorsing the principle of regional rotation for selection of officials at the United Nations, the Government of India on Thursday formally announced the candidature of UN Under-Secretary General for Communications and Public Information, Shashi Tharoor, for the post of UN Secretary General. Navtej Sarna, the Government's official spokesperson described Tharoor, an Indian national, as a distinguished son of Asia, who has served the UN in diverse capacities since 1978, the spokesman said that during his long innings at the UN, Tharoor has held a number of key positions in various areas including peacekeeping, UNHCR and UN's communications strategy, with particular responsibility for ensuring the coherence and effectiveness of the United Nations' external message. he also said that Tharoor has been closely involved in the process of the reform of the United Nations. Tharoor, he said, is a well-known writer. He is the author of eight books, as well as numerous articles, op-eds and literary reviews in a wide range of publications. He is also the recipient of several journalism and literary awards, including a Commonwealth Writers' Prize. In January 1998, Tharoor, was named by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, as a "Global Leader of Tomorrow". Tharoor is an elected Fellow of the New York Institute of the Humanities and a member of the Advisory Board of the Indo-American Arts Council. Born in London in 1956, Tharoor was educated in India and the United States, completing a PhD in 1978 at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, where he also earned two Master's Degrees. He was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in International Affairs by the University of Puget Sound, United States.

Rahul Bajaj elected to Rajya Sabha (Go To Top)

      Mumbai: Industrialist Rahul Bajaj was today elected to the Rajya Sabha after beating his rival from Congress, Avinash Pande by 105 votes. Bajaj whose victory in the by-election was almost certain after having garnered the support of the three main parties- NCP, BJP and Shiv Sena, had 195 votes caste in his favour. The by-election was held to fill up the vacancy caused by the death of Pramod Mahajan. The nomination of Rahul Bajaj by NCP led to serious heart burns in the Congress -NCP coalition in Maharashtra.

India decries demolition of temple in Pakistan

       New Delhi/Lahore: India on Thursday condemned the reported demolition of the Krishna Temple in Lahore and said that Islamabad is being confronted on the issue. "We have seen media reports of the demolition of the Krishna Temple and this matter has been taken up with the Pakistani authorities," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna told the media-persons in New Delhi. There were reports that Pakistan's Evacuee Trust Property Board managing the shrines of religious minorities in the country, allowed a private developer to raze Krishna Mandir - the only Hindu temple in Lahore, to pave way for a commercial establishment. According to the report, the EPTB Scheme for Management and Disposal of Urban Evacuee Trust Properties, 1977, categorically prohibits the sale or demolition of an evacuee trust property that is part of appurtenance to a shrine, a religious place or a building of historical or architectural importance. A section of media, however, reported that the structure demolished was actually the Gaushala Temple and not the Krishna Mandir. Krishna Mandir, said reports, is safe. A number of activists belonging to All India Minorities Front, in the meanwhile, staged a demonstration outside Pakistani embassy in New Delhi to protest the demolition. Bharatiya Janata Party has demanded the reconstruction of the demolished temple in its original form.

Enough talks, now deliver: Left to UPA (Go To Top)

        New Delhi: The two years rule of the UPA government which is being supported by the Left from outside has not seemed to enthuse the Left parties at all. At a meeting of the Left and the UPA allies held at the Prime Minister's official residence at 7 Race Course Road, CPI (M) General Secretary Prakash Karat told the government to deliver as enough talks have already taken place. In the meeting that lasted for more than three hours, Left told the Government to focus on agriculture and demanded more resources to be pumped into the sector. Besides this, Left's demand of implementing the recommendations of the National Commission for Farmers and establishing a price stabilisation fund were also discussed in the meeting. The recent hike in fuel prices also figured in the meeting where the Left showed concern of growing inflation and demanded that the government should completely roll back the fuel prices. The UPA tried to placate the Left on its disappointment over the foreign policy as pursued by the Government. The Left parties objecting to the "US centric" approach in the foreign policy had asked the Government to adhere to the Common Minimum Programme. Prakash Karat, AB Bardhan and Sitaram Yechury who represented the Left in the meeting also objected to Government's plan of inviting FDI in retail sectors and modernisation of airport.

India sees Pak hand in ULFA attacks (Go To Top)

      Guwahati: India on Wednesday said that Pakistan had a role in increased attacks of the banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) in northeast. Inspector General of Police (Special Branch) Khagen Sharma blamed the increase in rebel attacks on the training the rebels received from Pakistan. "Right from 2004 number of blasts has increased. Since 2004 ULFA gets its boys trained in Pakistan. I have a list that can give you an idea, how many boys were trained in 2004 in Pakistan," he said. "Investigation is going on. At this time I shall not speak who is involved, but if you ask me which outfit is involved then hundred percent categorically banned ULFA," Sharma added. But the group has denied its involvement and in turn blamed the violence on "vested interests" trying to sabotage peace moves. ULFA has been fighting for an independent Assam for more than 25 years. Separatist rebels exploded two bombs in northeast India on June 12 including one in a crowded market killing one and wounding 11 other, taking the death toll in the recent attacks to ten. Assam has seen a spate of violence since June 8 when it was announced that authorities would hold a third round of peace talks on June 22 with the ULFA.

High alert at Varanasi's Vishwanath Temple

      Varanasi: Security at the Kashi Vishwanath Temple has been tightened after intelligence sources expressed apprehension of it being the next target of militants. According to the Intelligence reports, terrorists have carried out dry runs in the area. Since the temple has been designated as a high sensitive place, trained NSG commandos have been deployed at the temple to ensure a fool-proof security. According to Jugal Kishore Tiwari, ASP, Temple Security, "There are some people who have no concern with Temple or masjid. We have to take care of what even these people are planning about. Nothing that serious came across. It was just a normal investigation. We found these boys roaming suspectedly in the temple premises. IB and local inteligence interrogated about them. Their verification was done from their homes. But we have come to know that terrorists are roaming all around the place. Since it is a sensitive place, therefore we cannot over look it." Ever since the terrorists attacked the Sanket Mochan Temple in the city on March 7 this year, police have been on a state of high alert.

AIIMS doctors demand removal of Health Minister

      New Delhi: Doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) on Thursday launched a signature campaign demanding removal of Union Health Minister Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss. The medicos are also seeking the resignations of the Dean and the President of the AIIMS. The campaign comes in the wake of notices issued on Tuesday to the AIIMS doctors that their salaries would be cut for 17 days when they were on anti-reservation strike last month. In a response to the signature campaign, AIIMS Director Dr. P Venugopal has expressed willingness to resign and issued a statement stating that there had been a constant undermining of the autonomy of the institute over the last two years. The AIIMS doctors have demanded that like many other central universities, AIIMS should be governed either by the Prime Minister or the President. Doctors said that the Government had assured that no punitive action would be taken against them for participating in the strike. Ramadoss on Wednesday said that not paying salary to doctors for the strike period was not a punishment, adding it was law of the land, "No work no pay".

Amar Singh ready to welcome income tax raids

       New Delhi: Reacting to the issuance of an income tax notice to his wife Pankaja Kumari Singh, Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh on Thursday said that he was ready even to welcome an IT department's raid at his home. Challenging the Congress-led government to order income tax raids on his homes, Singh said that the move would benefit him politically and could create an uproar in and outside Parliament. "I invite the IT officials to raid my homes. It would benefit me politically as it has in the past when (BSP leader) Mayawati ordered raids against us (SP leaders) while she was in power," he said while talking to reporters in New Delhi. Also denying his party's role in protests against IT authorities over its notices to film star Amitabh Bachchan, Singh challenged the Congress to prove its reported charges that SP MP Jaya Bachchan's Rs 232-crore wealth, which she has declared in her nomination for Rajya Sabha membership, was illegal.

Sri Lanka bus blast claims 58 lives, mostly children

      Colombo: Fifty-eight people were left dead and 45 got injured after a bus struck a claymore mine in Anuradhapura district, in the north-east part of Sri Lanka. Army spokesman Brigadier Prasad Samarasinghe said: "There are 58 dead, 45 injured. There are children, small boys, ladies and clergy". It has been reported among the causalities, 15 were children. On asked who were behind this worst attack on civilians in recent times, Samarasinghe said: "Definitely LTTE". However, the Tamil Tigers have dismissed the allegations. The head of the Tiger peace secretariat, S Puleedevan said: ""We have no involvement whatsoever in this killing of innocent civilians." Sri Lanka has been witnessing a surge in violence in last two months, after the breakdown of the peace talks in Oslo. European Union too has banned the organisation by enlisting it on the terrorist outfits. Though the Tigers have been targeting the government institutions; in recent months, they have been also targeting the civilians. The government now fears that Thursday's attack that took place very close to the LTTE held territory could spark a civilian clash between Sinhalese and Tamils. June 15, 2006

Pakistan-China bus service kicks off (Go To Top)

      Islamabad: A bus service between Pakistan and China begun today from Gilgit to the Chinese city of Kashghar. Pakistan's Communication Minister Shamim Siddique inaugurated the daily bus service in Gilgit. Both buses from Pakistan would reach Kashghar tonight after covering a distance of 700 km in 14 hours. A bus was carrying 18 passengers including 16 Pakistanis and two Chinese nationals whereas in second bus, 31 passengers are traveling including the joint secretary of ministry of communications. A bus from Kashghar would reach Gilgit tonight.

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