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Congress-led UPA completes two years

      New Delhi: As the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) today completes its two years in office, it will release a 'report card' featuring the achievements of the government. The report will be released at a function which is to be held at Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's official residence which will be attended by UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Union Ministers, leaders of the UPA allies and UPA MPs.

    During the ceremony, the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and 13 ministers will list their achievements and initiatives taken by them in the thrust areas like rural development, infrastructure development, health and agriculture. The Ministers will indicate the steps taken in schemes like Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Urban Renewal Scheme, Bharat Nirman Yojana. Booklets printed in English, Hindi and regional languages will also be distributed in public giving an account of what had been accomplished by the Union Government in the different States during the last one year. According to Congress party sources, the practice of releasing a report card is intended to subject the Government to the scrutiny of the people and for the sake of transparency and accountability. A report was released last year on the first anniversary of the UPA Government. Left parties who are supporting the government from outside have also been invited for the ceremony. The protests over the reservation from a section of the students have had their effect on the UPA's second year celebrations and the Group of Ministers on quota is trying to help the government find a way out. The UPA Government had also made efforts to maintain communal peace and harmony all over the country like reduction in terrorist activities in Jammu and Kashmir. Besides, steps are also being taken to have a dialogue with separatist leaders of the State. To improve relations with neighbouring Pakistan, several confidence building measures are being taken.

25 injured as three blasts rock Srinagar (Go To Top)

        Srinagar: Barely a day after the terror attack here, over 25 persons, including ten security personnel, were injured in a series of militant attacks on Monday. According to police, the militants hurled grenades at security personnel in Rainwari, Babarbar Shah and Fatehkadal areas of Srinagar. In the first explosion, five policemen and seven civilians received minor injuries in the old part of the city this afternoon. The injured, including two women and a two-year-old child were admitted to different hospitals, said sources. Minutes later, another grenade attack, a few kilometres away from the first explosion's spot, injured two policemen and five civilian. In this attack, the militants hurled a grenade on a police party at Baba Dawood Khakhi bridge near Babarbar Shah in downtown Srinagar . However, the militants sped away from the scene taking advantage of panic soon after the explosion. In the third attack in the day, the militants threw grenade on security forces in Fatehkadal area of the city, injuring six persons, including three CRPF personnel. The injured were rushed to a nearby hospital for medical assistance. Meanwhile, the militant outfit, Jaish-e-Mohammad is reported to have claimed responsibility for these attacks. On Sunday, seven people, including two police personnel killed and twenty-two others were injured after militants dressed as police, began firing at the rostrum in a Congress party rally in Srinagar at Sher-e-Kashmir Municipal Park.

Patna Mayor surrenders in murder case (Go To Top)

      Patna: Patna Mayor, Krishna Murari Yadav surrendered before a district court here on Monday in connection with the murder of former Patna Water Board Chairman, Ashok Yadav, in 2005. However, Chief Judicial Magistrate Sushma Sinha granted him bail on two sureties of ten thousand rupees each after Yadav surrendered. On May 1, Patna High Court had directed Yadav to surrender before the lower court within four weeks. Ashok Yadav, former Chairman of Patna Water Board and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader was killed in a bomb attack while he was in his office in July, 2005.

Pope's remark on conversion decried (Go To Top)

       Bhopal: Activists of the right-wing Bajrang Dal today protested against Pope Benedict XVI's condemnation of India's ban on religious conversions. They shouted slogans against the Pope and burnt his dummy while protesting on the roads. "The Pope from Vatican city can not decide the laws regarding religious conversions in India. India's Hindu society is really angry and in a way neglecting the Pope's advice regarding internal matters in India. This is an attack on our national sovereignty, violation of the High Court's decision and an attempt by the Christians to encourage conversions in the name of rendering service," said Devendra Singh Rawat, Bajrang Dal President. The Bajrang Dal activists said that they would not appreciate any harm made to the cultural heritage of India. "India has proved to be accepting the diverse cultures inherited in its different parts. Whoever has tried to collide with its culture and tradition, India has drowned him in the Indian Ocean," added Rawat. Religion conversion has always been considered to be a contentious and emotive issue. The Pope's recent remarks made to the Indian envoy to the Vatican regarding India's supposed "religious intolerance" as evidenced by anti-conversion laws is further inflaming matters. Centre recently reacted strongly to the Pope's comments saying: 'It is acknowledged universally that India is a secular and democratic country in which adherents of all religious faiths enjoy equal rights". The anti conversion law is applicable only in case of conversion from the 'original religion' and keeps out of its purview reconversion to 'the religion of one's ancestors.'

WHO chief dies of brain clot (Go To Top)

       Geneva: World Health Organisation (WHO) chief Dr Lee Jong-wook, died on Monday, two days after undergoing emergency surgery for a blood clot on his brain. Lee Jong-wook, 61, was rushed to hospital in Geneva on Saturday. He had been described as "recovering" but on Monday, his death was announced. Dr Lee, from South Korea, had worked at the WHO for 23 years and became its head in 2003. The news came as the 192-nation body convened its annual assembly. "I am sorry to tell you that Dr Lee Jong-wook, director-general of the WHO, died this morning," Spain's Health Minister Elena Salgado told the opening session of the assembly.

Tehri to produce 250 MW power (Go To Top)

       Dehradun: The Tehri Hydel Project is likely to start generating 250 MW of electricity by June 15 in the first phase of the project, according to officials. R B Sahi, Union Power Secretary, who inspected the project work, informed that if everything went fine during the trial session, then the first unit of the project would be commissioned which will produce 250 MW of power. "We are trying that the machine be commissioned by June 15. But many things depend on it. During test, if there is some problem then we have to wait for a few more days," said Sahi. The water level at the Tehri Dam reservoir is at 740 metres, which is crucial for electricity production. Officials of Tehri Hydro Development Corporation (THDC) expect another 250 MW of electricity production, which will make the total production to 500 MW. Under the 11th Five Year Plan, the total production of electricity is estimated at 2400 MW by 2012.

Maoists to have talks with Koirala Govt  (Go To Top)

      Kathmandu: Senior Maoist leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara has arrived in the Nepal capital to prepare for talks to end the country's 10-year civil war. Mahara is one of senior-most leaders of the rebel Maoists and arrived here from Nepalgunj in Western Nepal. Bodyguards travelling with him had to be persuaded not to bring their weapons onto the aircraft. Mahara will be heading a three man team at the peace talks. Maoist leader Prachanda is also expected to participate in the talks at a later stage. Recently, Mahara told a Nepalese radio station that he hoped the Maoists would not have to take up arms again. He said all Maoist prisoners should be released before talks and that the parliament, recently reinstated after massive street demonstrations, should be dissolved at once. The Maoists have always been uneasy about parliament reconvening, a move which they consider to be a distraction.

11 more join Koirala Cabinet

       Kathmandu: Nepal Prime Minister GP Koirala expanded his Cabinet on Monday. Koirala added 11 new members to the Cabinet. A Radio Nepal broadcast said. members from four of the seven political parties that took part in street protests last month have been selected in the Cabinet.

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