20100607
'Thank U' India singer Morissette ties knot
Canadian singer-cum-song writer Alanis Morissette, whose 'Thank U, India' in 1998 hit top ratings and was nominated for a Grammy, has married American singer and rapper M.C. Souleye. The 36-year-old pop diva tied the knot with 30-year-old Souleye, whose real name is Mario Treadway, on May 22 in Los Angeles, the Canadian Press quoted a representative for Morissette as saying on Monday. The winner of seven Grammy awards, Morissette was previously engaged to Canadian actor Ryan Reynolds of Full House fame, but they split in 2007. The couple have been dating since October last year. It will be the first marriage for both Morissette and Souleye who comes from Massachusetts. "So happy to share with you that my man Souleye and I got married... .we're very excited to embark on this journey with each other,'' said Morissette on Facebook. Ottawa-born Morissette, who released two albums 'Alanis' and 'Now is the Time' even before she graduated from high school in 1993 and later tried her luck in Toronto, made it big when she moved to Los Angeles and released her internationally hit album 'Jagged Little Pill.' In India, she was made famous by her single 'Thank U' India in which she appeared naked in its video. She had said at the time that she was inspired to write this song - included in her fourth album 'Supposed Former Infatuation Junkie' - after her visit to India in 1997. A former drug junkie herself, she admitted that she smoke pot in teen years. Morissette, who has sold more than 60 million albums globally so far, holds dual citizenship of the US and Canada and lives in Los Angeles.
Saina cautiously optimistic about chances in Indian Open
World No 6 Saina Nehwal today arrived here for the Yonex-Sunrise India Open Grand Prix (Gold) badminton tournament, commencing on Tuesday, and expressed cautious optimism about her chances. It was a sort of homecoming for Saina as she arrived in the city where she won her first national title as a junior a few years ago to kick-start a brilliant career. After a strenuous workout within hours of her arrival, she said she was as ready as she could be for international competition. She is scheduled to participate in two Super Series events in Singapore and Indonesia immediately after the India Open. The 20-year-old Saina, born in Hissar, Haryana, but settled in Hyderabad where she is being coached by former All-England champion Pullela Gopichand, reflected on a fine year that saw her delivering some strong results. "The year so far has been great and amazing. I entered the semi-finals of All-England and the ABC (Asian Badminton). My focus would now be on the next three weeks (Chennai, Singapore and Indonesia). After that, I will take a break of four to six weeks and then prepare for the World Cup. I want to really do well in the World Cup, Commonwealth and Asian Games," Saina told reporters. Despite her top billing in the India Open, Saina was cautiously optimistic of her chances. "I will not say how far I can go in the tournament. All players are good fighters and I need to be alert from my very first match. If the draw goes well, I hope to play Sayali (Gokhale) in the quarterfinals," Saina said. On her loss in the Asian Badminton Championships semi-finals to a qualifier, Saina said: "I made too many mistakes and allowed her to take a big lead. Though I tried to rally, it was too late. I am focusing on my strokes during training and this can be seen on the court." Meanwhile, Anup Sridhar, seeded fifth, said he was focusing on staying fit and keeping out of injuries "I did well in the qualifiers of the All England to enter the main draw. Thereafter, it has been ups and downs. After this, I will play in the Singapore Open. I cannot comment about the Commonwealth Games as the team will be announced only in August," he said.
We laid stress on players' fitness, says Srikkanth
Chairman of selection committee Krishnamachari Srikkanth hinted today that Yuvraj Singh was dropped from 15-man Asia Cup cricket squad due to lack of fitness. "A lot of stress was given on the fitness of a player. Fitness and fielding are very important. We have gone through the record of last one year and did a detailed analysis. It was a lovely discussion with the captain. This is the best possible squad and I think the captain is also convinced," Srikkanth said. "This is the best possible side...I'm not going to speak about any individual player," Srikkanth told reporters here today. Fitness has been a problem with some of the Indian players, especially Rohit Sharm and Yuvraj, who seemed to have gained weight of late. Srikkanth said fitness was one the main criteria while consistency was another in the selection process. "In recent past, we lost some matches or struggled in some matches because of poor fielding. So the selectors put lot of stress on fielding, " he said. "We also put stress on consistent performance. Lot of players have done consistently well and apart from the seniors, we blooded some youngsters as well so that they know what international cricket is all about," he said. Srikknath went on to add that India's shocking loss at the hands of Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka was not a setback. "I think it was all for the good in the sense that it allowed us to test the youngsters. How else do you test the youngsters? People say our selection backfired but how? We wanted to know how good some of the youngsters are and know who are good enough to play in the next level and who all need some more time," Srikkanth said. "Some people have this habit of blaming the selectors when things go wrong but ultimately it's the players who go out and play. After the current selection committee took over, India became number one Test team and number two in ODIs. I think as selectors, we made our little bit contribution." "Don't get carried away by one or two series. If we became the number one Test team, the process began in 2005 when we started winning abroad under Sourav Ganguly and then had Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumble. It's all about a process," he said.
Greendiamz brings bioplastic to India
Greendiamz Biotech, manufacturer of environmentally safe plastic products, today said it has commissioned a plant here that produces fully biodegradable and compostable plastic material. Company Chairman Champat Sanghvi told mediapersons that the 5,000-tonnes per annum capacity facility was set up in association with Limagrain-France at a cost of Rs.40 crore. The bags and sheets manufactured are termed as "bioplastic" as these are 100 percent biodegradable and compostable, and are very similar to plastic in terms of strength and usage. Branded as Truegreen, these will serve as an alternative to plastic for consumer and industrial products. The products are manufactured from Biolice, a biodegradable polymer. "It does not include any petroleum product in its manufacturing cycle," he said. David Pearson, marketing director of Limagrain Cereales which is supplying the raw material, said: "We are providing a product made from naturally grown raw material derived from renewable resources which complies to European norms which means that soil bacteria will decompose 95 per cent of this material to carbon, oxygen and non-tooxic bio-mass within 180 days." He said in India the par capita annual consumption of plastics stood at 150 bags per person and was expected to go up to 200 by 2011. Dipak Sanghvi, director, said the the company hoped to capture five per cent marketshare in the packaging sector alone.
Sensex rises after weak start, up 89 points
A benchmark index for Indian equities moved up into the green after a weak start today and was ruling 89 points higher than its previous close, about an hour into trade. The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 16,760.6 points, was ruling at 16,870.5 points, 89.43 points or 0.53 percent up from its previous close at 16,781.07 points. At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,063.5 points, up 0.59 percent from its previous close. Broader markets indices were also in the positive, with the BSE midcap index ruling 1.15 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index 1.17 percent up.
Apple unveils new iPhone
Apple Inc. has unveiled a latest model of the iPhone, thinner in size and which has new features including a front-facing camera.
Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, provided details Monday of the new "iPhone 4" at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference held in San Francisco.
"We're going to take the biggest leap since the original iPhone," Jobs was quoted as saying by the media.
Less than 10 mm thick, the iPhone 4 is about 24 percent thinner than the previous iPhone 3GS, Jobs said, adding that the new model has a longer battery life that will allow 40 percent more talk time.
The iPhone 4 will go on sale on June 24 in five countries including the US, France, Germany, Britain and Japan, and will be available in 18 more countries in July.
The the 16-gigabyte model will cost $199 in the US and the 32-gigabyte model will cost $299, he said.
Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO, provided details Monday of the new "iPhone 4" at the company's annual Worldwide Developers Conference held in San Francisco.
"We're going to take the biggest leap since the original iPhone," Jobs was quoted as saying by the media.
Less than 10 mm thick, the iPhone 4 is about 24 percent thinner than the previous iPhone 3GS, Jobs said, adding that the new model has a longer battery life that will allow 40 percent more talk time.
The iPhone 4 will go on sale on June 24 in five countries including the US, France, Germany, Britain and Japan, and will be available in 18 more countries in July.
The the 16-gigabyte model will cost $199 in the US and the 32-gigabyte model will cost $299, he said.
Hyundai Motor India strike enters second day
The strike by workers at the Hyundai Motor India Ltd plant near here to demand the reinstatement of 67 dismissed colleagues and recognition of their union continued for the second day today. "Our members are continuing their sit-in strike since Sunday midnight. Many of them have not taken food since Sunday night. One worker fainted on Monday and was taken to the hospital. The management has declared leave for the first shift today," Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) president A. Edison Periera told media. He said a conciliation meeting was slated for Tuesday before the labour commissioner. The production halt on Monday at the country's second largest car manufacturer's Irrungattukottai plant caused a loss of 2,200 cars valued at around Rs.65 crore. "The management started flexing its muscle by suspending four more workers and that was one of the reasons for us going on strike," K. Thangapandian, vice president, HMIEU told media. Hyundai Motor India's Managing Director and Chief Executive H.W. Park had last month ruled out reinstating the dismissed workers. He had also said that the government was yet to confer the status of "public utility" on the company as agreed at the time of setting up the plant a decade ago. According to Thangapandian, the union was about to go on strike in January when the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a former Hyundai Motor employee, was on a state visit, but deferred it as the management then promised to consider their demands. As per the agreement between the union and the management Jan 20, 2010, reinstatement of 67 dismissed workers has to be considered on a case-by-case basis, he said. "The management agreed to take back 35 dismissed workers. It also agreed that talks on according recognition to the union will be held and both the parties - the union and the management - will work cordially to resolve the issues." According to the company, the strike has come at a wrong time as its two plants were shut down last month for maintenance on May 24-June 3 and production resumed on June 4. The factory has around 1,650 permanent workers, 2,000 casual labourers, 1,500 apprentices, 1,000 Hyundai trade apprentices and 1,200 technical trainees. The current strike at the Irrungattukottai plant is in violation of the orders of the district munsif-cum-judicial magistrate, Sriperumbedur, which prohibits any unlawful activity within the factory and within 100 metres radius of the factory premises, the company said. "This is a legal strike. We had given strike notice on May 5 itself," Thangapandian said. Last year, the workers had gone on a six-day strike protesting the wage agreement the management had negotiated with a workers committee. Peace was brokered by Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan and an agreement was signed between HMIEU and the management. As per the agreement, the company took back 20 of the 87 dismissed employees. It did not agree with the union's demand to absorb the other 67. Meanwhile, Hyundai Motor India Ltd has resorted to direct negotiations with the dismissed workers and offered them compensation. Last month, the company settled the claims of two dismissed workers and had said the process is on in settling the accounts of 20 more. The company alleged that the HMIEU was preventing the workers from signing the direct settlement.
New unauthorised colonies in Delhi to be demolished
Properties in new unauthorised colonies and fresh constructions in illegal colonies awaiting regularisation by the government will be demolished, the Delhi cabinet decided today. The cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit also warned the officials who allow the unauthorised colonies to come up that from now on deputy commissioners of revenue department and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, deputy commissioner of police and police station house Officer of the area concerned will also not be spared. "We have taken special permission from the lieutenant governor (LG) office to punish these erring officials. Regularisation of around 1,639 unauthorised colonies is under consideration of the government, but no new constructions will be allowed in these areas too, the violation of which will result in demolition," Revenue Minister Raj Kumar Chauhan told reporters. The cabinet decision came after it came to the government's notice that unauthorised colonies are coming up in large numbers. The government has also taken note of recent cases of misuse of agricultural land in Narela and other areas, where some government officials in nexus with builders had sold the plots to some buyers. "The state anti-corruption bureau (ACB) has in Narela registered a first information report (FIR) against some 12 builders and government officials for selling plots to unsuspecting buyers," Chauhan said. The minister said at least five-six unauthorised buildings in areas like Narela, Bawana and Burari have already been demolished in the last one week. Urban Development Minister A.K. Walia said: "The cabinet has taken a serious view of unauthorised construction which is bound to damage planned growth of the city, besides creating hindrance in providing basic amenities." "It was also made clear in the cabinet meeting that the officers will not be spared for dereliction in duty. It is time to disseminate a crystal clear message that not even a single new unauthorised colony will be allowed to come up in the capital," he added. The LG has already constituted a committee to detect unauthorised constructions and to ensure immediate action against them. "It has also been decided to monitor the situation on regular basis," Walia said. According to an official source, a new law on unauthorised colonies is also under "active consideration" of the Delhi government.
West Bengal, railways to meet on rail track security on June 11
The West Bengal government and the railways will hold a high level meeting on railway track security June 11 but the state police chief says it is impossible to man hundreds of kilometers of tracks.
"There are hundreds of kilometers of railway track. It is not possible to guard the entire track," state Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh told reporters here.
State Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said the general managers of the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway and senior police officers would attend the meeting to be presided over by state Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen.
The meeting at the state secretariat Writers’ Building will discuss security issues about running of trains at night in the Maoist insurgency-hit areas of the state.
Bhupinder Singh said apart from West Bengal, the governments and police of neighbouring leftwing ultra-affected states like Orissa and Jharkhand also need to be involved in ensuring foolproof security.
The meeting comes in the wake of the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express derailment near Jhagram in West Midnapore district in which 148 people were killed after saboteurs cut open pandrol clips (used to fix the rail to the sleeper) for over 50 metres.
The state police have blamed the Maoist rebels for the sabotage.
"There are hundreds of kilometers of railway track. It is not possible to guard the entire track," state Director General of Police Bhupinder Singh told reporters here.
State Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said the general managers of the Eastern Railway and the South Eastern Railway and senior police officers would attend the meeting to be presided over by state Chief Secretary Ardhendu Sen.
The meeting at the state secretariat Writers’ Building will discuss security issues about running of trains at night in the Maoist insurgency-hit areas of the state.
Bhupinder Singh said apart from West Bengal, the governments and police of neighbouring leftwing ultra-affected states like Orissa and Jharkhand also need to be involved in ensuring foolproof security.
The meeting comes in the wake of the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express derailment near Jhagram in West Midnapore district in which 148 people were killed after saboteurs cut open pandrol clips (used to fix the rail to the sleeper) for over 50 metres.
The state police have blamed the Maoist rebels for the sabotage.
Pakistan should not allow anti-India activities, says PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said on Monday that Pakistan should not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities to facilitate improvement of ties between the two neighbours. Speaking at the convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology in Srinagar, the prime minister said that relations between the two countries had been affected by the Mumbai terror attack of 2008. "The Mumbai terror attack affected our relations... I had an important meeting with the Pakistan prime minister in Thimphu and he has assured me Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against India," he said. Manmohan Singh was referring to his meeting with Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in the Bhutanese capital where the two countries announced resumption of dialogue process. He said that relations between the two countries can improve if Pakistan does not allow its soil to be used by anti-India forces. He said good relations between India and Pakistan were necessary for peace and progress in the region, and added that ties between the two countries should be such that people live in peace and amity.
Obama honours Indian American science teacher
President Barack Obama has named an Indian American science teacher Radhika Plakkot as one of the 103 mathematics and science teachers for the prestigious Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Plakkot, who teaches biology at the Huntingtown High School, Calvert County in Maryland is the only Indian American in the group. She and other educators will receive their awards in Washington, D.C. later this year. "Science and technology have long been at the core of America's strength and competitiveness, and the scientists and engineers who have led America on its remarkable path to success share something very precious: science and math teachers who brought these critical subjects to life," Obama said in a statement. "Today we honour some of the best of these teachers and thank them for their dedication. They are inspirations not just to their students, but to the nation and the world," he said. The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching is awarded annually to the best pre-college-level science and mathematics teachers from across the country. Each year the award alternates between mathematics and science teachers teaching Kindergarten through 6th grade, and those teaching 7th through 12th grades. This year it goes to teachers teaching 7th through 12th grades. Winners of this presidential honour receive a $10,000 award from the National Science Foundation to be used at their discretion. They also receive an expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for an awards ceremony and several days of educational and celebratory events, including visits with members of Congress and science agency leaders. Last spring at the National Academy of Sciences, President Obama called on all Americans to join the effort to elevate science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) education as a national priority. The President's public-private "Educate to Innovate" initiative, which was launched last autumn, has attracted more than $500 million in donations and in-kind support from corporations, philanthropies, service organizations, and others to help inspire students to pursue studies and careers in math and science.
Pakistan should not allow anti-India activities, says PM
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said today that Pakistan should not allow its territory to be used for anti-India activities to facilitate improvement of ties between the two neighbours. Speaking at the convocation of Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Science and Technology in Srinagar, the prime minister said that relations between the two countries had been affected by the Mumbai terror attack of 2008. "The Mumbai terror attack affected our relations... I had an important meeting with the Pakistan prime minister in Thimphu and he has assured me Pakistan will not allow its soil to be used for terrorism against India," he said.
Manmohan Singh was referring to his meeting with Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in the Bhutanese capital where the two countries announced resumption of dialogue process.
He said that relations between the two countries can improve if Pakistan does not allow its soil to be used by anti-India forces.
He said good relations between India and Pakistan were necessary for peace and progress in the region, and added that ties between the two countries should be such that people live in peace and amity.
Manmohan Singh was referring to his meeting with Yousuf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit in the Bhutanese capital where the two countries announced resumption of dialogue process.
He said that relations between the two countries can improve if Pakistan does not allow its soil to be used by anti-India forces.
He said good relations between India and Pakistan were necessary for peace and progress in the region, and added that ties between the two countries should be such that people live in peace and amity.
Explain delay in Afzal Guru's hanging, BJP asks PM, Sonia
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today accused the Congress of "playing vote-bank politics" in delaying the file on the mercy petition of parliament attack convict Afzal Guru and demanded an explanation from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and party chief Sonia Gandhi. "The home minister of India was pressurising the (Delhi) chief minister to keep sitting on the file. BJP condemns this patent case of fraud of the constitution. If the court can fast track cases, how come the government is giving the queue logic. This has been a fraud," BJP spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad told reporters here. His comment came a day after Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dixit stopped short of denying that former home minister Shivraj Patil had asked her government to delay a decision on Afzal Guru's hanging. "Maybe what you are thinking is true," Dikshit said on Aaj Tak channel when asked if Patil had asked her to keep the matter pending even if the home ministry sends frequent reminders. "The PM owes an explanation to the nation and the BJP demands an explanation. Why was the country misled? This only confirms that Congress is playing vote-bank politics. As chairperson of the UPA (United Progressive Alliance) and the National Advisory Council, Sonia Gandhi should also explain this situation," he added. Afzal Guru was given death penalty by a Delhi court on Dec 18, 2002 after holding him guilty of conspiring to attack parliament on Dec 13, 2001, and waging war against the country. The Supreme Court on Aug 4, 2005 rejected Guru's appeal against the death sentence, which was upheld by the Delhi High Court on Oct 29, 2003. A sessions court set the date of his hanging on Oct 20, 2006 in Tihar Jail but his wife Tabassum filed a mercy petition before the president, delaying his hanging. According to the laid down procedure, the president sought the home ministry's views on the mercy petition and the home ministry, in turn, sought the Delhi government's comments.
UPA has done well during economic crisis: Ambika Soni
Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni today said the United Progressive Alliance government has done well during the times of financial meltdown and drought, and the country is expecting good economic growth.
"Despite the drought and global economic crisis, India has been able to manage a growth rate of 7.5 per cent with an expectation of 8.5 per cent in the future. India's economy has comparatively done much better than the economies of the other countries in the past two years," Soni told reporters here.
"This was the result of the economic policies of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is now invited by forums like G-20 and G-8 for his opinion on economic issues," she said.
On price rise, Soni said the government was concerned and "all measures are being taken to bring it under control."
She said a number of measures have been taken by the UPA government in the first year of its second term which included clearing of the right to education bill, passing the women's reservation bill in the Rajya Sabha and preparation of the food security bill.
Soni was here to file the nomination papers for the elections of Rajya Sabha. Balwinder Singh Bhunder of Akali Dal has also filed the nomination papers for the elections to fill two vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.
Soni said the problem of contaminated water had become a serious issue in Punjab and water borne diseases were on the rise.
"Cancer, diseases related to liver and kidney are severely afflicting the youth of this state. I promise to take up this issue of contaminated water with the central government and find a lasting solution to this problem," she said.
"Despite the drought and global economic crisis, India has been able to manage a growth rate of 7.5 per cent with an expectation of 8.5 per cent in the future. India's economy has comparatively done much better than the economies of the other countries in the past two years," Soni told reporters here.
"This was the result of the economic policies of the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is now invited by forums like G-20 and G-8 for his opinion on economic issues," she said.
On price rise, Soni said the government was concerned and "all measures are being taken to bring it under control."
She said a number of measures have been taken by the UPA government in the first year of its second term which included clearing of the right to education bill, passing the women's reservation bill in the Rajya Sabha and preparation of the food security bill.
Soni was here to file the nomination papers for the elections of Rajya Sabha. Balwinder Singh Bhunder of Akali Dal has also filed the nomination papers for the elections to fill two vacant seats in the Rajya Sabha from Punjab.
Soni said the problem of contaminated water had become a serious issue in Punjab and water borne diseases were on the rise.
"Cancer, diseases related to liver and kidney are severely afflicting the youth of this state. I promise to take up this issue of contaminated water with the central government and find a lasting solution to this problem," she said.
Defamation suit filed against Varun Gandhi
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and member of parliament Varun Gandhi has been dragged to court by V.M. Singh, his uncle and Congress candidate from Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit constituency in 2009 general elections, alleging defamation.
Singh filed a defamation suit against Gandhi in the Delhi High Court last week.
Justice J.R. Midha while taking up the matter objected to the delay in filing the defamation suit but issued notice to Gandhi and asked him to file his reply by July 28.
Singh in his petition stated various instances wherein Gandhi used defamatory language against him during the election campaign.
Singh, who was among the wealthiest candidates in the election, was pitted by the Congress against his own nephew Gandhi.
The petitioner is a first cousin of the sitting MP's mother and former union minister of state Maneka Gandhi.
The election in Pilibhit witnessed a controversy during the campaign due to Gandhi's hate speeches against Muslims. He was jailed by the Uttar Pradesh government and charged under the National Security Act for the speeches.
Singh filed a defamation suit against Gandhi in the Delhi High Court last week.
Justice J.R. Midha while taking up the matter objected to the delay in filing the defamation suit but issued notice to Gandhi and asked him to file his reply by July 28.
Singh in his petition stated various instances wherein Gandhi used defamatory language against him during the election campaign.
Singh, who was among the wealthiest candidates in the election, was pitted by the Congress against his own nephew Gandhi.
The petitioner is a first cousin of the sitting MP's mother and former union minister of state Maneka Gandhi.
The election in Pilibhit witnessed a controversy during the campaign due to Gandhi's hate speeches against Muslims. He was jailed by the Uttar Pradesh government and charged under the National Security Act for the speeches.
CBI takes up Gyaneshwari Express derailment probe
The West Bengal government today said it would wind up the probe being conducted by the state police into the derailment and crash of the Gyaneshwari Express and hand over the findings to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). "We will hand over the charge of investigation to the CBI and will wind up the investigation carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the state police," state Home Secretary Samar Ghosh said at the state secretariate here today. The state government instituted the CID probe into the May 28 Gyaneshwari Express tragedy in which 148 persons were killed. Later, following a demand from Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, the Central government ordered a CBI inquiry into the accident.
Anand Sharma, Jethmalani file papers for Rajya Sabha poll
Commerce and Industry Minister Anand Sharma and noted lawyer Ram Jethmalani were among the six contestants who filed their nomination papers for the biennial Rajya Sabha election and by-poll slated for June 17 in Rajasthan.
Sharma, the other Congress candidates - Ashaq Ali Tak and Narendra Budhaniya - and the Bharatiya Janata Party's Jethmalani and V.P. Singh filed their nomination papers at the state assembly election office, an official spokesman said. today was the last date for filing nominations.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and union Rural Development Minister C.P. Joshi were also present when the Congress candidates filed their nominations.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and state BJP chief Arun Chaturvedi accompanied Jethmalani when he filed his papers. Santosh Bagrodia, the sitting Congress Rajya Sabha MP also filed his nomination papers as an independent as the party did not give him a ticket this time.
The biennial polls will be held for four seats falling vacant after Budhaniya, Bagrodia, Najma Heptuallah, and Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi complete their terms. The by-poll is to fill the seat falling vacant after the death of sitting member BJP's K.K. Valmiki.
Sharma, the other Congress candidates - Ashaq Ali Tak and Narendra Budhaniya - and the Bharatiya Janata Party's Jethmalani and V.P. Singh filed their nomination papers at the state assembly election office, an official spokesman said. today was the last date for filing nominations.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and union Rural Development Minister C.P. Joshi were also present when the Congress candidates filed their nominations.
Former chief minister Vasundhara Raje and state BJP chief Arun Chaturvedi accompanied Jethmalani when he filed his papers. Santosh Bagrodia, the sitting Congress Rajya Sabha MP also filed his nomination papers as an independent as the party did not give him a ticket this time.
The biennial polls will be held for four seats falling vacant after Budhaniya, Bagrodia, Najma Heptuallah, and Lalit Kishore Chaturvedi complete their terms. The by-poll is to fill the seat falling vacant after the death of sitting member BJP's K.K. Valmiki.
Somdev rises to career best ranking of 104
India's Somdev Devvarman gained four places to reach his career-best ranking of 104 in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) rankings released today. Somdev last week became the first Indian in 13 years to qualify for the French Open main draw but went down fighting to Switzerland's Marco Chiudinelli in a five-setter in the first round. US-based Indian Prakash Amritraj, however, lost 16 places to 291st place. In men's doubles, Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi's rankings are unchanged at sixth and seventh position. Rohan Bopanna moved four places to 50th rank. Sania Mirza, who is returning to the international circuit from a chronic wrist injury at Aegon Classic, Birmingham, has slipped three places to 94 in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) rankings.
Tendulkar opts out, Yuvraj dropped for Asia Cup squad
Yuvraj Singh was dropped while Sachin Tendulkar opted out of the 15-member cricket squad for the Asia Cup that was selected here today. Yuvraj was axed following a string of poor performances while Tendulkar requested the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to consider him for the tournament since he wanted to spend time with his children. "Sachin Tendulkar requested the board not to consider him for the Asia Cup, as he wanted to spend time with his children, in view of the hectic cricket season ahead," said board secretary N.Srinivasan. Jharkhand's youngster Saurabh Tiwary, who had a successful outing for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), was the surprise inclusion in the 15-man squad. The Asia Cup will be played in Sri Lanka June 15-24 and will also feature Pakistan and Bangladesh. The Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag (vice-captain), Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha, Ashok Dinda, R.Ashwin and Saurabh Tiwary.
Jackky Bhagnani finds a new friend in Malinga
Actor Jackky Bhagnani and Sri Lankan cricketer Lasith Malinga bonded very well during the recently concluded International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Sri Lanka. Jackky, who is passionate about cricket, also got a few tips from the famous slinger. "Cricket is in every Indian's blood. I have never come across an Indian who doesn’t like cricket. Malinga is a dear friend now, he gave me some great tips on mastering the nuances of the game," Jackky said in a press statement. Jackky was part of Hrithik Roshan's team that played against Sangakkara XI as part of a charity cricket match at the IIFA celebrations
Dharmendra floored by Esha's confidence in front of camera
Dharmendra, who shot with daughter Esha Deol for the first time in "Tell Me Oh Khuda", says he was proud of her confidence in front of the camera.
The film is being produced by his wife Hema Malini and Dharmendra says he couldn't say no to an offer to work with Esha.
"I did it for her. One can never say no to one's children. Esha is very gifted. I felt very proud watching her in front of the camera," Dharamendra told media.
"I also got a chance to meet up with my colleagues Rishi (Kapoor) and Vinod (Khanna) after a long time. So Goa was very enjoyable," said Dharamendra, who went straight from shooting with his daughter in Goa to filming with his two sons - Sunny and Bobby - in Indore.
He recalls how intimidated Sunny was when they shared screen space in "Sultanat". Esha, on the other hand, showed absolutely no fear or nervousness in being seen with her legendary father.
"Working with one's children is always an emotional experience. While shooting with Esha I was doubly emotional since this was the first time I saw her acting, and that too with me," said Dharmendra who may produce a film for his daughter.
While working with Esha for the first time was a breeze, teaming up with Hema Malini after so many years seemed to make Dharmendra uncomfortable.
"There's a role for her. Let's see if she does it or not. If people want to see us together again, it would have to be that way," said Dharmendra.
One of the hit pairs of 1970s and 1980s, Dharmendar-Hema were last seen together in the 1996 movie "Aatank".
The film is being produced by his wife Hema Malini and Dharmendra says he couldn't say no to an offer to work with Esha.
"I did it for her. One can never say no to one's children. Esha is very gifted. I felt very proud watching her in front of the camera," Dharamendra told media.
"I also got a chance to meet up with my colleagues Rishi (Kapoor) and Vinod (Khanna) after a long time. So Goa was very enjoyable," said Dharamendra, who went straight from shooting with his daughter in Goa to filming with his two sons - Sunny and Bobby - in Indore.
He recalls how intimidated Sunny was when they shared screen space in "Sultanat". Esha, on the other hand, showed absolutely no fear or nervousness in being seen with her legendary father.
"Working with one's children is always an emotional experience. While shooting with Esha I was doubly emotional since this was the first time I saw her acting, and that too with me," said Dharmendra who may produce a film for his daughter.
While working with Esha for the first time was a breeze, teaming up with Hema Malini after so many years seemed to make Dharmendra uncomfortable.
"There's a role for her. Let's see if she does it or not. If people want to see us together again, it would have to be that way," said Dharmendra.
One of the hit pairs of 1970s and 1980s, Dharmendar-Hema were last seen together in the 1996 movie "Aatank".
India poised to grow by 11 percent in 2011: World Bank
India's growth is expected to rise to 9 percent in 2011 with South Asia poised to become the second-fastest growing region after East Asia and the Pacific, says the latest World Bank update.
The region as a whole is expected to grow by about 7 percent in 2010 and nearly 8 percent in 2011, says the South Asia Economic Update 2010, the World Bank's first yearly assessment of the economies of the region released in Colombo today.
Contrary to current beliefs, South Asia's particular strengths and forms of global integration - not the lack of it - was a key factor behind its resilience following the financial crisis of 2008, it says.
With emerging markets playing an increasing role in driving growth, integration should be a key component of a sustained and inclusive growth strategy going forward, the report says.
Noting that the drop in growth during the crisis was the smallest among all regions, the report says the region will benefit from new engines of growth and adapting to a "new normal" as emerging markets and Asia drive global growth.
Trade with East Asia and China could potentially triple to reach $450 billion per year.
"The Regional Economic Update expects growth in the region to reach close to pre-crisis peak levels and faster than its high rates of 6.5 percent annually from 2000 to 2007," said Dipak Dasgupta, lead economist and principal author of the report.
"Rising domestic confidence combined with government fiscal and monetary stimulus packages and, in some cases, external assistance is helping stimulate recovery.
"Improved optimism is helping drive the recovery in private spending in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. India's growth is expected to rise to 9 percent in 2011, Bangladesh to 6.4 percent, Bhutan to 7 percent, and Sri Lanka to above 6 percent."
There remain some significant risks in the global environment -- slowing worker remittances and exports in a still hesitant and uncertain global recovery, as recent events in Europe show, with volatile commodity prices, and continuing volatility in global capital flows, the report says.
"Over the past fifteen years the region has become much more open -- and it appears that the form of openness it has chosen has provided resilience in the face of recent shocks," said Andrew Steer, World Bank Acting Chief Economist for the South Asia Region.
While high-income markets will continue to be important for South Asia, even if at a slower pace than in the past, other emerging markets and regions are also fast-growing and increasingly important partners.
The region as a whole is expected to grow by about 7 percent in 2010 and nearly 8 percent in 2011, says the South Asia Economic Update 2010, the World Bank's first yearly assessment of the economies of the region released in Colombo today.
Contrary to current beliefs, South Asia's particular strengths and forms of global integration - not the lack of it - was a key factor behind its resilience following the financial crisis of 2008, it says.
With emerging markets playing an increasing role in driving growth, integration should be a key component of a sustained and inclusive growth strategy going forward, the report says.
Noting that the drop in growth during the crisis was the smallest among all regions, the report says the region will benefit from new engines of growth and adapting to a "new normal" as emerging markets and Asia drive global growth.
Trade with East Asia and China could potentially triple to reach $450 billion per year.
"The Regional Economic Update expects growth in the region to reach close to pre-crisis peak levels and faster than its high rates of 6.5 percent annually from 2000 to 2007," said Dipak Dasgupta, lead economist and principal author of the report.
"Rising domestic confidence combined with government fiscal and monetary stimulus packages and, in some cases, external assistance is helping stimulate recovery.
"Improved optimism is helping drive the recovery in private spending in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. India's growth is expected to rise to 9 percent in 2011, Bangladesh to 6.4 percent, Bhutan to 7 percent, and Sri Lanka to above 6 percent."
There remain some significant risks in the global environment -- slowing worker remittances and exports in a still hesitant and uncertain global recovery, as recent events in Europe show, with volatile commodity prices, and continuing volatility in global capital flows, the report says.
"Over the past fifteen years the region has become much more open -- and it appears that the form of openness it has chosen has provided resilience in the face of recent shocks," said Andrew Steer, World Bank Acting Chief Economist for the South Asia Region.
While high-income markets will continue to be important for South Asia, even if at a slower pace than in the past, other emerging markets and regions are also fast-growing and increasingly important partners.
Hyundai Motor India suffers Rs.65 cr loss as production stops
Production at the Hyundai Motor India plant near here has come to a halt since Sunday night after workers went on a sit-in strike, demanding reinstatement of 67 dismissed colleagues and recognition of their union. The stir caused a production-loss of 2,200 cars valued at around Rs.65 crore.
"The sit-in strike started on Sunday midnight. The management declared leave for first and second shift today. Around 1,000 workers are sitting inside the plant and another 500 are outside the plant gates," Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) vice president K. Thangapandian told the media.
"Many of the striking workers have not taken food since Sunday night. The management, police did not allow any food from outside," he said. One worker fainted and was taken to hospital Monday evening, he said.
Hyundai Motor India's Managing Director and CEO H.W. Park last month had ruled out reinstating the dismissed workers.
Thangapandian also had said that the government was yet to confer the status of "public utility" on the company as agreed at the time of setting up the plant a decade ago.
According to Thangapandian, the union was about to go on strike in January when the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a former Hyundai Motor employee, was on a state visit, but deferred it as the management then promised to consider their demands.
He said as per agreement between the union and the management entered on Jan 20, 2010 reinstatement of 67 dismissed workers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
"The management agreed to take back 35 dismissed workers. It also agreed that talks on according recognition to the union will be held and both the parties - union and the management - will work cordially to resolve the issues," Thangapandian said.
According to him, a series of talks were held last month. "Even a meeting was scheduled for Tuesday with the management. As the May meetings did not make any progress we decided to go on strike," he added.
Hyundai Motor India said conciliation pertaining to labour issues are pending before the deputy labour commissioner, Chennai, and the next date for conciliation meeting is scheduled for Tuesday before the labour commissioner.
In a statement, it said the HMIEU has initiated this "sit-in" strike even before the conciliation proceedings are over.
The current strike at the Sriperumbudur plant is in violation of the orders of the district munsif-cum-judicial magistrate, Sriperumbedur, which prohibits any unlawful activity within the factory and within 100 metres radius of the factory premises.
Last year, Hyundai Motor India's workers had gone on a six-day strike protesting the wage agreement the management negotiated with a workers committee.
Peace was brokered by Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan and an agreement was signed between HMIEU and the management. As per the agreement, the company took back 20 of the 87 dismissed employees. It did not agree with the union's demand to absorb the other 67 employees.
"The sit-in strike started on Sunday midnight. The management declared leave for first and second shift today. Around 1,000 workers are sitting inside the plant and another 500 are outside the plant gates," Hyundai Motor India Employees Union (HMIEU) vice president K. Thangapandian told the media.
"Many of the striking workers have not taken food since Sunday night. The management, police did not allow any food from outside," he said. One worker fainted and was taken to hospital Monday evening, he said.
Hyundai Motor India's Managing Director and CEO H.W. Park last month had ruled out reinstating the dismissed workers.
Thangapandian also had said that the government was yet to confer the status of "public utility" on the company as agreed at the time of setting up the plant a decade ago.
According to Thangapandian, the union was about to go on strike in January when the South Korean President Lee Myung-bak, a former Hyundai Motor employee, was on a state visit, but deferred it as the management then promised to consider their demands.
He said as per agreement between the union and the management entered on Jan 20, 2010 reinstatement of 67 dismissed workers will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
"The management agreed to take back 35 dismissed workers. It also agreed that talks on according recognition to the union will be held and both the parties - union and the management - will work cordially to resolve the issues," Thangapandian said.
According to him, a series of talks were held last month. "Even a meeting was scheduled for Tuesday with the management. As the May meetings did not make any progress we decided to go on strike," he added.
Hyundai Motor India said conciliation pertaining to labour issues are pending before the deputy labour commissioner, Chennai, and the next date for conciliation meeting is scheduled for Tuesday before the labour commissioner.
In a statement, it said the HMIEU has initiated this "sit-in" strike even before the conciliation proceedings are over.
The current strike at the Sriperumbudur plant is in violation of the orders of the district munsif-cum-judicial magistrate, Sriperumbedur, which prohibits any unlawful activity within the factory and within 100 metres radius of the factory premises.
Last year, Hyundai Motor India's workers had gone on a six-day strike protesting the wage agreement the management negotiated with a workers committee.
Peace was brokered by Labour Minister T.M. Anbarasan and an agreement was signed between HMIEU and the management. As per the agreement, the company took back 20 of the 87 dismissed employees. It did not agree with the union's demand to absorb the other 67 employees.
Greendiamz brings bioplastic to India
Greendiamz Biotech, manufacturer of environmentally safe plastic products, today said it has commissioned a plant here that produces fully biodegradable and compostable plastic material. Company Chairman Champat Sanghvi told mediapersons that the 5,000-tonnes per annum capacity facility was set up in association with Limagrain-France at a cost of Rs.40 crore. The bags and sheets manufactured are termed as "bioplastic" as these are 100 percent biodegradable and compostable, and are very similar to plastic in terms of strength and usage. Branded as Truegreen, these will serve as an alternative to plastic for consumer and industrial products. The products are manufactured from Biolice, a biodegradable polymer. "It does not include any petroleum product in its manufacturing cycle," he said. David Pearson, marketing director of Limagrain Cereales which is supplying the raw material, said: "We are providing a product made from naturally grown raw material derived from renewable resources which complies to European norms which means that soil bacteria will decompose 95 per cent of this material to carbon, oxygen and non-tooxic bio-mass within 180 days." He said in India the par capita annual consumption of plastics stood at 150 bags per person and was expected to go up to 200 by 2011. Dipak Sanghvi, director, said the the company hoped to capture five per cent marketshare in the packaging sector alone.
Bhopal gas verdict travesty of justice: environmental experts
"Too little too late" and a "travesty/mockery of justice" is how environmentalists described the verdict in the Bhopal gas tragedy case announced today. The gas leak from the Union Carbide plant in 1984 had left 25,000 people dead.
A court in Bhopal today held eight accused guilty of criminal negligence in the world's worst industrial disaster and sentenced them to two years imprisonment.
"It is too little too late and people responsible for the death of over 25,000 people are getting away scot-free with just two years of punishment and a fine of Rs.500,000 on the company. This is nothing but travesty of justice," Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) associate director Chandra Bhushan told media.
The CSE, in a study done last December, had found that for more than 25 years, the Union Carbide (UCIL) factory has been contaminating the land and water of Bhopal.
The study found that groundwater and soil in areas even three km away from the factory contains almost 40 times more pesticides than Indian standards. The soil and water also contain toxic metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and chromium.
"The accident has caused huge amount of contamination of water and land in the city and had serious impacts on health of people. Even after 25 years people are suffering from serious health impacts including damage to the brain and nervous system, chromosomal abnormalities, damaging liver and blood cells, Chandra Bhushan said.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs.100,000 on the eight, including Keshub Mahindra, who then headed the UCIL from whose pesticide plant tonnes of lethal gas leaked on the night of Dec 2-3, 1984, killing thousands instantly and many more later.
"This has been reduced to a street crime. It is a complete failure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which seems to be working under some corporate pressure. It is a ridiculous order and a mockery of the judicial process," said Gopal Krishna of ToxicsWatch Alliance.
Tonnes of methyl-iso-cyanate (MIC) spewed out of the now shut pesticide plant that was located in a congested part of the city.
A study by the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) in Bhopal has found that the toxic gas altered the immune system of those who were still in their mothers' wombs when the disaster struck.
"Our study shows, for the first time, that in-utero MIC exposure during the Bhopal gas tragedy has caused a persistent immune system hyper-responsiveness in affected individuals," said Pradyumna Kumar Mishra, who led the study.
A court in Bhopal today held eight accused guilty of criminal negligence in the world's worst industrial disaster and sentenced them to two years imprisonment.
"It is too little too late and people responsible for the death of over 25,000 people are getting away scot-free with just two years of punishment and a fine of Rs.500,000 on the company. This is nothing but travesty of justice," Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) associate director Chandra Bhushan told media.
The CSE, in a study done last December, had found that for more than 25 years, the Union Carbide (UCIL) factory has been contaminating the land and water of Bhopal.
The study found that groundwater and soil in areas even three km away from the factory contains almost 40 times more pesticides than Indian standards. The soil and water also contain toxic metals like lead, mercury, arsenic, cadmium and chromium.
"The accident has caused huge amount of contamination of water and land in the city and had serious impacts on health of people. Even after 25 years people are suffering from serious health impacts including damage to the brain and nervous system, chromosomal abnormalities, damaging liver and blood cells, Chandra Bhushan said.
The court also imposed a fine of Rs.100,000 on the eight, including Keshub Mahindra, who then headed the UCIL from whose pesticide plant tonnes of lethal gas leaked on the night of Dec 2-3, 1984, killing thousands instantly and many more later.
"This has been reduced to a street crime. It is a complete failure of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) which seems to be working under some corporate pressure. It is a ridiculous order and a mockery of the judicial process," said Gopal Krishna of ToxicsWatch Alliance.
Tonnes of methyl-iso-cyanate (MIC) spewed out of the now shut pesticide plant that was located in a congested part of the city.
A study by the Bhopal Memorial Hospital and Research Centre (BMHRC) in Bhopal has found that the toxic gas altered the immune system of those who were still in their mothers' wombs when the disaster struck.
"Our study shows, for the first time, that in-utero MIC exposure during the Bhopal gas tragedy has caused a persistent immune system hyper-responsiveness in affected individuals," said Pradyumna Kumar Mishra, who led the study.
Funds for farm growth unused, but allocation raised
Even as the central government increases allocation under the Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) for the current fiscal, a major chunk of the funds allocated to states during 2009-10 remains unused.
The RKVY (National Agriculture Development Scheme) was started in 2007 to raise production of crops with an outlay of Rs.25,000 crore for the 11th plan. A sum of Rs.6,755 crore has been allocated for the scheme in 2010-11, almost double of the Rs.3,806 crore allocated last year.
The scheme aims at giving incentives to state governments to work towards achieving the target of 4 percent annual growth in agriculture sector by the end of the 11th plan.
However, data compiled by the agriculture ministry shows only Rs.1,122 crore were used by the states during the last fiscal against a total release of Rs.3,761 crore.
According to the figures, Punjab, the hub of the green revolution and one of the largest producers of wheat in India, has not used a single rupee from a grant of over Rs.43 crore.
Similar is the case of Maharashtra, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal which have no spent anything from their allocated funds, official data shows.
Among the major farm producers, Haryana spent Rs.49 crore out of Rs.112 crore allocated under the scheme.
According to ministry officials, the increased allocation is aimed at spreading green revolution in eastern states.
"We have given additional allocation for extending the green revolution in eastern states comprising West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgrah, Orissa and eastern Uttar Pradesh," an official said.
Official records show that during the last fiscal Bihar spent only Rs.31 crore against Rs.110 crore released for the state, Uttar Pradesh spent Rs.76 crore out of Rs.390 crore, Jharkhand and West Bengal made no expenditure against the allocation, while Orissa spent Rs.19 crore out of an allocation of Rs.121 crore.
Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are the only states which fully spent the funds allocated under the scheme, records show.
The agriculture sector recorded the lowest growth in five years during 2009-10 at 0.2 percent due to widespread drought.
The agriculture sector contributed around 17 percent to the country's total economy in the 2009-10 fiscal.
The RKVY (National Agriculture Development Scheme) was started in 2007 to raise production of crops with an outlay of Rs.25,000 crore for the 11th plan. A sum of Rs.6,755 crore has been allocated for the scheme in 2010-11, almost double of the Rs.3,806 crore allocated last year.
The scheme aims at giving incentives to state governments to work towards achieving the target of 4 percent annual growth in agriculture sector by the end of the 11th plan.
However, data compiled by the agriculture ministry shows only Rs.1,122 crore were used by the states during the last fiscal against a total release of Rs.3,761 crore.
According to the figures, Punjab, the hub of the green revolution and one of the largest producers of wheat in India, has not used a single rupee from a grant of over Rs.43 crore.
Similar is the case of Maharashtra, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and West Bengal which have no spent anything from their allocated funds, official data shows.
Among the major farm producers, Haryana spent Rs.49 crore out of Rs.112 crore allocated under the scheme.
According to ministry officials, the increased allocation is aimed at spreading green revolution in eastern states.
"We have given additional allocation for extending the green revolution in eastern states comprising West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgrah, Orissa and eastern Uttar Pradesh," an official said.
Official records show that during the last fiscal Bihar spent only Rs.31 crore against Rs.110 crore released for the state, Uttar Pradesh spent Rs.76 crore out of Rs.390 crore, Jharkhand and West Bengal made no expenditure against the allocation, while Orissa spent Rs.19 crore out of an allocation of Rs.121 crore.
Tamil Nadu and Madhya Pradesh are the only states which fully spent the funds allocated under the scheme, records show.
The agriculture sector recorded the lowest growth in five years during 2009-10 at 0.2 percent due to widespread drought.
The agriculture sector contributed around 17 percent to the country's total economy in the 2009-10 fiscal.
India has 'negligible risk' for mad cow disease
The government today said India has received "the most secure status" for the deadly mad cow disease, which means the country has a "negligible risk" for the illness.
"The World Organization for Animal Health, at its 78th general session held in Paris recently, recognized India as having 'negligible risk' for mad cow disease, known technically as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This category represents the most secure status of a country with reference to BSE," said an agriculture ministry statement.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is an international inter-governmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide.
With this recognition, India joins an exclusive group of 12 other countries which includes Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
"Several advanced countries like the US, Britain, Switzerland, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan, figure in a lower category of 'controlled risk' for the mad cow disease," said the statement.
"The latest recognition has been hailed by India's livestock sector and, in particular, by the country's meat industry, which exports about 50,000 tonnes of bovine meat to over 60 countries annually, earning valuable foreign exchange of nearly Rs.5,000 crore," it added.
BSE or mad cow disease is a fatal disease of the nervous system of cattle. It has acquired the "mad cow" name as one of its common symptoms is aggressive behaviour in the affected animals.
"The World Organization for Animal Health, at its 78th general session held in Paris recently, recognized India as having 'negligible risk' for mad cow disease, known technically as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE). This category represents the most secure status of a country with reference to BSE," said an agriculture ministry statement.
The World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) is an international inter-governmental organization responsible for improving animal health worldwide.
With this recognition, India joins an exclusive group of 12 other countries which includes Argentina, Australia, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Finland.
"Several advanced countries like the US, Britain, Switzerland, Canada, France, Germany, and Japan, figure in a lower category of 'controlled risk' for the mad cow disease," said the statement.
"The latest recognition has been hailed by India's livestock sector and, in particular, by the country's meat industry, which exports about 50,000 tonnes of bovine meat to over 60 countries annually, earning valuable foreign exchange of nearly Rs.5,000 crore," it added.
BSE or mad cow disease is a fatal disease of the nervous system of cattle. It has acquired the "mad cow" name as one of its common symptoms is aggressive behaviour in the affected animals.
Controversial book on Sonia to be out by year-end?
Indian publisher Roli Books said today that it intends to bring out the English translation of the book "El Sari Rojo" on Congress president Sonia Gandhi's life by the end of this year but was not sure if it will be able to publish the book due to the raging controversy.
"We are yet to schedule the book, but if all goes well than it should be ready by the end of this year," Nandita Bhardwaj, editor, Roli Books, told media. Referring to the controversy over the book, which deals with Sonia Gandhi's life, Nandita Bhardwaj said there was some ambivalence in bringing out the book. "We are still ambivalent whether we shall be able to publish it at all with the controversy that is raging," she said. Congress leader Abhishek Singhvi, who is handling legal matters for Sonia Gandhi, has sent a legal notice to the Spanish writer Javier Moro, asking him to substantiate the contents of the book. Singhvi, who sent the notice more than six months back, said: "We have given more than 20 examples from the book and challenged him to substantiate even one." The book, translated into Italian, French and Dutch, deals with Sonia Gandhi's origins in Italy, her meeting Rajiv Gandhi and their marriage, the difficulties she faced after his assassination and her entry into politics. "His (Moro's) silence is deafening and eloquent. If he cannot substantiate hundreds of pages and thousands of lines which are in inverted commas in first person, of which he has no personal knowledge, no documents and it impairs reputation of any person, then it is clearly defamation," said Singhvi. Moro, on the other hand, has threatened to sue Singhvi. Singhvi said if anything impairs the reputation of a living person, it has to be either factual or written with that person's consent. Singhvi said Moro had about five months ago agreed to a disclaimer at his request in the book saying that the book lacked Sonia Gandhi's authorization. "But perhaps (due to) his greed for commercial benefit, at the last minute, he backed out because he did not want any limitation on exploitation of this work in other media forms," Singhvi claimed.Bhopal scenes like aftermath of chemical warfare: Raghu Rai
As the court today convicted eight people in the Bhopal gas tragedy case after more than 25 years, veteran photographer Raghu Rai recalled the scenes of the world's worst industrial disaster as being similar to an aftermath of a chemical warfare.
"It was like an aftermath of a chemical warfare... you saw dead bodies lying everywhere, dead animals, bloated bodies, dead being brought... there was no end to it," Rai said in an interview to a news channel.
Rai, known for his heart rending photographs of the tragedy, said that the doctors did not know how to treat the victims.
"So many sick people coming in and the worst thing was that none of the doctors knew what treatment to give. Nobody announced the antidote for this poisonous gas and till today in the government analysis nothing has been revealed," he said.
"Everything was so chaotic and nobody knew what to do. The doctors were giving normal treatment but still people were dying," he added.
The recipient of Padma Shri award said nobody knew what exactly the gas was.
"We did not know what exactly happened and how it happened? What kind of a gas it was? We were told that this gas when mixed with water or air, multiplies and changes the whole make up of the gas," he said.
"It was kind of a silence of death all over where nobody talked to anybody... you saw death everywhere," he added.
"It was like an aftermath of a chemical warfare... you saw dead bodies lying everywhere, dead animals, bloated bodies, dead being brought... there was no end to it," Rai said in an interview to a news channel.
Rai, known for his heart rending photographs of the tragedy, said that the doctors did not know how to treat the victims.
"So many sick people coming in and the worst thing was that none of the doctors knew what treatment to give. Nobody announced the antidote for this poisonous gas and till today in the government analysis nothing has been revealed," he said.
"Everything was so chaotic and nobody knew what to do. The doctors were giving normal treatment but still people were dying," he added.
The recipient of Padma Shri award said nobody knew what exactly the gas was.
"We did not know what exactly happened and how it happened? What kind of a gas it was? We were told that this gas when mixed with water or air, multiplies and changes the whole make up of the gas," he said.
"It was kind of a silence of death all over where nobody talked to anybody... you saw death everywhere," he added.
Rajya Sabha nominations close in 12 states
Nominations for biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha for 49 seats across 12 states ended today with the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) making efforts to maximise their strength in the upper house of parliament. In Andhra Pradesh, where the last date for filing nominations was on June 4, six candidates were declared elected unopposed. Among them was union Minister of State for Environment Jairam Ramesh. While some states such as Karnataka and Orissa are expected to witness interesting contests, some others are likely to return the candidates unopposed. Prominent Congress leaders in the fray are Ambika Soni from Punjab, Anand Sharma from Rajasthan, Mohsina Kidwai from Chhattisgarh, Capt Satish Sharma from Uttar Pradesh and Oscar Fernandes from Karnataka. The prominent BJP leaders in the fray include Venkaiah Naidu from Karnataka, Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi from Uttar Pradesh and Rajiv Pratap Rudy from Bihar. Former union minister and Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) leader Ramvilas Paswan is contesting the biennial poll from Bihar with the support of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD). The BJP has fielded former union minister Ram Jethmalani as its candidate for second seat from Rajasthan. The party needs support of some Independent legislators to enable Jethmalani to sail through. A by-election is also being held in Rajasthan to fill a seat caused by the death of BJP MP Krishan Lal Balmiki in April. In Karnataka, the election scenario has become interesting with liqour baron Vijay Mallya filing his nomination papers Monday as an Independent backed by Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S). Mallya, who also runs Kingfisher Airlines and owns Indian Premier League team of Royal Challengers Bangalore, is banking on the support of the ruling BJP also to return to the Rajya Sabha. Mallya had won as an Independent in the 2002 polls to the Rajya Sabha from Karnataka. A candidate from Karnataka requires 45 first preference votes of the state assembly members. The JD-S has 27 members in the 225-member assembly. The BJP with 122 votes, including those of six Independents, is assured of winning two seats for its nominees - Naidu and state party leader Ayanur Manjunath. The BJP will have 32 surplus votes and Mallya is confident of getting the 18 votes he needs to sail through. In Orissa, the opposition Congress has backed businessman Tara Patnaik as an Independent candidate for the Rajya Sabha. "We don't have the required numbers to field a candidate of our own, therefore we supported him," Leader of Opposition in the state assembly and senior Congress leader Bhupinder Singh told the media. Elections in the state will be held to fill three vacancies caused by retirement of Biju Janata Dal's (BJD) Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, the Congress' Radhakanta Naik and the BJP's Bhagirathi Majhi. They are completing their tenures on July 1. The BJD has renominated Mohapatra for the poll to be held on June 17. It has also fielded former legislator Sashi Bhusan Behera and party general secretary Baishnab Parida for the other two seats. In the 147-member assembly, the BJD has 103 members, the Congress 27, BJP six, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) four and the Communist Party of India (CPI) one. There are six Independent members. The BJP had on Sunday said it would abstain from voting for the poll in the state to keep equal distance from the BJD and the Congress. In Andhra Pradesh, only six candidates had filed their papers for as many seats and their election was a mere formality. Congress candidates Janardhan Reddy, V. Hanumantha Rao and former bureaucrat J.D. Seelam were re-elected to the upper house along with Ramesh for the second consecutive term. Industrialist Y. Sujana Chowdary and G. Sudharani of main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) were elected for the first time. Nominations for elections to the Rajya Sabha were held in the following states - Chhattisgarh (two seats), Madhya Pradesh (three), Tamil Nadu (six), Karnataka (four), Orissa (three), Maharashtra (six), Punjab (two) Rajasthan (four) Uttar Pradesh (11), Uttarakhand (one) Bihar (five) Jharkhand (two).
Crucial meeting on hiking fuel prices today evening
Transport fuel prices in India may rise by up to Rs.3.5 per litre if a high-power group led by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee that meets here today evening permits state-run oil firms to charge market rates for such products. According to officials, also on the cards could be a hike in prices of kerosene and cooking gas, when the empowered group of ministers meets at 4.30 p.m. at North Block. Petroleum Minister Murli Deora, who is a member of this empowered group of ministers on fuel pricing, has already briefed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Mukherjee on the issue ahead of today's meeting.
Both the finance and oil ministries now feel large subsides on fuels are unsustainable and want action taken on the Kirit Parekh Committee report that has favoured the freeing of transport fuel products pricing for oil marketing companies, officials said.
"The decontrol of fuel pricing - at least for petrol and diesel - now looks certain," an official said, but conceded that some constituents of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, notably the Trinamool Congress, were opposed to such moves.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of the oil ministry's estimate that under-recoveries on fuels - the industry jargon for selling fuel products below cost - have risen to an alarming Rs.72,000 crore ($16 billion).
International crude oil prices rose from $28 per barrel in 2003 to $147 per barrel in 2008 and now quotes at around $75 per barrel (159 litres make a barrel), putting major burden on government resources, as also on state-run oil firms.
The group also includes Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M.K.Azhagiri, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Oil marketing companies had to contend with under-recoveries of Rs.46,051 crore last fiscal, for which the government provided them assistance of Rs.26,000 crore, while the upstream oil companies contributed around Rs.14,430 crore.
The balance had to be absorbed by the oil marketing companies.
During this year, the government has already approved prices of transport prices to be raised twice, so that the fuel subsidy bill does not shoot up from the Rs.90,000 crore ($20 billion) budgeted for the current fiscal.
In the federal budget for this year, presented Feb 26, the finance minister hiked petrol and diesel prices by Rs.2.71 and Rs.2.55 a litre, respectively. Then July 2, their prices were raised by Rs.4 and Rs.2 a litre in that order.
As a result, petrol in the national capital, for example, costs Rs.47.93 per litre, while diesel costs Rs.38.10 per litre.
Both the finance and oil ministries now feel large subsides on fuels are unsustainable and want action taken on the Kirit Parekh Committee report that has favoured the freeing of transport fuel products pricing for oil marketing companies, officials said.
"The decontrol of fuel pricing - at least for petrol and diesel - now looks certain," an official said, but conceded that some constituents of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, notably the Trinamool Congress, were opposed to such moves.
The meeting comes against the backdrop of the oil ministry's estimate that under-recoveries on fuels - the industry jargon for selling fuel products below cost - have risen to an alarming Rs.72,000 crore ($16 billion).
International crude oil prices rose from $28 per barrel in 2003 to $147 per barrel in 2008 and now quotes at around $75 per barrel (159 litres make a barrel), putting major burden on government resources, as also on state-run oil firms.
The group also includes Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar, Chemicals and Fertiliser Minister M.K.Azhagiri, Railways Minister Mamata Banerjee, Road Transport Minister Kamal Nath and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.
Oil marketing companies had to contend with under-recoveries of Rs.46,051 crore last fiscal, for which the government provided them assistance of Rs.26,000 crore, while the upstream oil companies contributed around Rs.14,430 crore.
The balance had to be absorbed by the oil marketing companies.
During this year, the government has already approved prices of transport prices to be raised twice, so that the fuel subsidy bill does not shoot up from the Rs.90,000 crore ($20 billion) budgeted for the current fiscal.
In the federal budget for this year, presented Feb 26, the finance minister hiked petrol and diesel prices by Rs.2.71 and Rs.2.55 a litre, respectively. Then July 2, their prices were raised by Rs.4 and Rs.2 a litre in that order.
As a result, petrol in the national capital, for example, costs Rs.47.93 per litre, while diesel costs Rs.38.10 per litre.
Restrictions to prevent violence ahead of PM's Kashmir visit
Restrictions were imposed in parts of Jammu and Kashmir's summer capital Srinagar to prevent violence as a general shutdown against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's visit today affected life across the city.
Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in strength to thwart violence in five police station areas of the old city.
"There is no restriction on movement of civilians. Preventive measures have been taken to ensure safety of civilian life and property," a senior police officer said.
The shutdown has been called by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani against the visit of the prime minister, who arrives here in the afternoon.
Markets remained shut as public transport, schools and other business establishments also remained closed in the city.
The prime minister will address the convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). He is also scheduled to meet delegations of mainstream political parties in the evening.
Police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were deployed in strength to thwart violence in five police station areas of the old city.
"There is no restriction on movement of civilians. Preventive measures have been taken to ensure safety of civilian life and property," a senior police officer said.
The shutdown has been called by hardline separatist leader Syed Ali Geelani against the visit of the prime minister, who arrives here in the afternoon.
Markets remained shut as public transport, schools and other business establishments also remained closed in the city.
The prime minister will address the convocation of the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology (SKUAST). He is also scheduled to meet delegations of mainstream political parties in the evening.
ULFA militant held in Bangladesh
A militant of India's banned United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) has been arrested in Bangladesh's northern Mymensingh district, a media report said today.
Ranjan Chowdhury alias Masud Ranjan Chowdhury, a 'major' of the outfit, was taken into custody from Rupa Nursing Home in Sherpur where he was undergoing treatment, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency said quoting police officials.
The nature of his illness was not known. The report added that he may be handed over to India.
According to the media, his wife Sabitri Sangma confirmed over telephone from Latakura, a border village in Jhenigati, that Chowdhury had been arrested.
Official sources said Ranjan had married Sabitri, a Garo, and often used to enter Bangladesh through the border from Meghalaya.
ULFA operates in northeastern India's Assam and Meghalaya and uses Bangladesh territory as its sanctuary.
Five ULFA leaders, including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, were arrested and handed over to India earlier this year.
Ranjan Chowdhury alias Masud Ranjan Chowdhury, a 'major' of the outfit, was taken into custody from Rupa Nursing Home in Sherpur where he was undergoing treatment, United News of Bangladesh (UNB) news agency said quoting police officials.
The nature of his illness was not known. The report added that he may be handed over to India.
According to the media, his wife Sabitri Sangma confirmed over telephone from Latakura, a border village in Jhenigati, that Chowdhury had been arrested.
Official sources said Ranjan had married Sabitri, a Garo, and often used to enter Bangladesh through the border from Meghalaya.
ULFA operates in northeastern India's Assam and Meghalaya and uses Bangladesh territory as its sanctuary.
Five ULFA leaders, including its chairman Arabinda Rajkhowa, were arrested and handed over to India earlier this year.
Plan for external aid agency dropped
Three years after being first mooted, the proposal to have a central agency that would oversee assistance to other countries has been given a quiet burial by the Indian ministry of external affairs (MEA). The proposal had first surfaced in 2007 in the budget speech of then finance minister P. Chidambaram, who had been sounded out on the concept by then external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee. The proposal was finally given a quiet burial this year after having been plagued by long delays and debates of inter-ministerial jurisdiction. "It was a simple turf war. Nobody wanted to give up their powers," said a senior government official, who was privy to the process. The proposed institution had even got a name - India International Development Cooperation Agency (IIDCA). It was supposed to bring all activities related to development cooperation, as reflected in its name, under one umbrella. "In keeping with India's growing stature in international affairs, we must willingly assume greater responsibility in promoting development in other developing countries," Chidambaram had said in 2007. It was an expression of the fact that in line with its rising international profile, India has been using aid, grants and soft loans as an instrument of diplomacy, especially in Africa and South Asia. In a presentation before the parliamentary standing committee in early 2007, then foreign secretary Shiv Shankar Menon had said the agency would be the one-stop shop for coordinating all projects, lines of credit, technical cooperation, deputation of experts and training of foreign nationals in India. It was envisioned that the activities will be managed more professionally so that "delivery will be much more prompt and efficient than it has been in the past". The MEA then had three months to get the agency on its legs. At present, the ministry administers the deputation of experts, special projects and management of training for over 5,000 foreign personnel through the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme. The finance ministry, however, is the nodal agency for managing over 130 lines of credit worth $4.5 billion, extended to 94 countries. Other major donor countries usually have an autonomous agency to administer aid, like USAID and Britain's Department For International Development (DFID). An internal taskforce was formed to prepare the concept paper, chaired by the additional secretary (economic relations). The recommendations were submitted to the foreign secretary in April 2007, with the external affairs minister formally approving the concept. A draft cabinet note was prepared in May 2007, which was circulated to the ministries of finance, commerce and industry and the Planning Commission. According to official records, the commission approved the IIDCA proposal "without any reservation or qualification". But once the note left the external affairs ministry, the idea did not seem to go anywhere, getting stuck in circular consultations and numerous revisions. The MEA forwarded it to the Cabinet Secretariat, which forwarded it to the Committee of Secretaries for scrutiny, sources in the ministry said. In July 2007, the finance secretary had asked for a modification of the draft cabinet note at a meeting with the foreign secretary and commerce secretary. A redrafted note was submitted for cabinet approval in March 2008. Further changes were suggested, which delayed the submission of the note. But the cabinet had sent back the proposal a second time for revision. The official reason for the delay was the "long-drawn process" of inter-ministerial consultation. In between, the agency had even been renamed the Indian Agency for Partnership in Development (IAPD). Finally, this year in April, the ministry gave up, formally. The official last straw was the objections of the department of personnel and training, which had "questioned the rationale" behind the agency. Answering a query from the standing committee, the ministry said decision had been taken that the "proposal regarding IIDCA/IAPD may be dropped and the desired objectives be met by strengthening the MEA Divisions concerned".
Sri Lanka's only Tamil chief minister visits India
Formerly a Tamil Tiger child soldier, Sri Lanka's only Tamil chief minister is visiting India to learn a little more about how to run local self government.
Sivanesathurai Chanthirakanthan, better known by his former nom de guerre Pillayan, says he would be happy to pick up points that can help him tone up his administration in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province.
The 34-year-old Pillayan on Friday flew into Thrissur in Kerala where he will attend workshops on Panchayati Raj and governance at the grassroots. He will be there for about a week.
"Our aim is to strengthen our provincial government," Pillayan told the media in a telephonic interview. "We want to study how the system works in India, more so in Kerala. It will be useful to us."
Pillayan is at the head of a 30-member Eastern Province delegation that includes members from his own Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) party.
In all, a total of 90 provincial council members and their aides will visit Kerala in three batches.
Including those now accompanying Pillayan, they are and will be from President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the United National Party, the All Ceylon Muslim Congress and one faction of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front.
"We feel that local self-governance is the best way to achieve real unity in the eastern province," Pillayan said, underlining that the region was home to all three leading communities of Sri Lanka: Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims.
"Our aim is to do what we can to strengthen Sri Lankan unity," he said, speaking in Tamil. "We want to better the lives of our people."
Pillayan joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) when he was in his early teens and a school student, attracted by the fighting abilities of an outfit he was later to disown.
And so Pillayan, dropping out of school, became one of the thousands of "child soldiers" of the LTTE, fighting against the Sri Lankan security forces to carve out a Tamil homeland called Eelam.
Pillayan's base was in the Eastern Province which, unlike the Tamil-dominated north, is multi-racial. While in the Tamil Tigers, he came close to V. Muralitharan alias Karuna, the powerful eastern regional commander of the LTTE.
When Karuna revolted against the LTTE in March 2004, Pillayan was one of the thousands who sided with him, shaking up the Tigers and triggering a process that ultimately led to the rebels' destruction last year.
In 2007, for the first time after more than a decade, the Sri Lankan military captured the Eastern Province from the LTTE. Pillayan was elected to the eastern provincial council in elections held in April 2008.
In May 2008, backed by Rajapaksa to the point of alienating Muslim politicians who claimed the right to form the provincial administration, Pillayan became the first chief minister of the Eastern Province.
Since then, Pillayan has ploughed on for two years with a mixed bag of successes and disappointments, a former guerrilla now wedded to democracy.
Sivanesathurai Chanthirakanthan, better known by his former nom de guerre Pillayan, says he would be happy to pick up points that can help him tone up his administration in Sri Lanka's Eastern Province.
The 34-year-old Pillayan on Friday flew into Thrissur in Kerala where he will attend workshops on Panchayati Raj and governance at the grassroots. He will be there for about a week.
"Our aim is to strengthen our provincial government," Pillayan told the media in a telephonic interview. "We want to study how the system works in India, more so in Kerala. It will be useful to us."
Pillayan is at the head of a 30-member Eastern Province delegation that includes members from his own Tamil Makkal Viduthalai Puligal (TMVP) party.
In all, a total of 90 provincial council members and their aides will visit Kerala in three batches.
Including those now accompanying Pillayan, they are and will be from President Mahinda Rajapaksa's Sri Lanka Freedom Party, the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, the United National Party, the All Ceylon Muslim Congress and one faction of the Eelam People's Revolutionary Liberation Front.
"We feel that local self-governance is the best way to achieve real unity in the eastern province," Pillayan said, underlining that the region was home to all three leading communities of Sri Lanka: Sinhalese, Tamils and Muslims.
"Our aim is to do what we can to strengthen Sri Lankan unity," he said, speaking in Tamil. "We want to better the lives of our people."
Pillayan joined the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) when he was in his early teens and a school student, attracted by the fighting abilities of an outfit he was later to disown.
And so Pillayan, dropping out of school, became one of the thousands of "child soldiers" of the LTTE, fighting against the Sri Lankan security forces to carve out a Tamil homeland called Eelam.
Pillayan's base was in the Eastern Province which, unlike the Tamil-dominated north, is multi-racial. While in the Tamil Tigers, he came close to V. Muralitharan alias Karuna, the powerful eastern regional commander of the LTTE.
When Karuna revolted against the LTTE in March 2004, Pillayan was one of the thousands who sided with him, shaking up the Tigers and triggering a process that ultimately led to the rebels' destruction last year.
In 2007, for the first time after more than a decade, the Sri Lankan military captured the Eastern Province from the LTTE. Pillayan was elected to the eastern provincial council in elections held in April 2008.
In May 2008, backed by Rajapaksa to the point of alienating Muslim politicians who claimed the right to form the provincial administration, Pillayan became the first chief minister of the Eastern Province.
Since then, Pillayan has ploughed on for two years with a mixed bag of successes and disappointments, a former guerrilla now wedded to democracy.
Look into central ministers' role in Bengal violence: CPI-M
The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Sunday alleged that the Trinamool Congress indulged in violence after the results of civic elections, and asked the central government to look into the role of its ministers in inciting such violence. The party said that five of its activists and supporters have been killed in the violence. A CPI-M statement said that the party politburo strongly condemned "the attack launched by the Trinamool Congress and its allies in various parts of West Bengal after the results of the municipal elections". "So far, five activists and supporters of the CPI-M have been killed in Birbhum, Murshidabad and Bankura districts. There have been attack on the houses of CPI-M supporters and other places too," it said, calling on all democratic forces to condemn such violence. Without naming Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee, the party said "the central government should look into the role of its own cabinet minister in inciting such violence." The Trinamool won the elections to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation and performed well in the other civic body elections across the state held on May 30.
Husband Raj plans surprise trip for Shilpa's birthday
Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty's husband Raj Kundra has planned a surprise trip for his wife's birthday on June 8.
An ecstatic Shilpa wrote on her blog: "Glad Raj is back to celebrate my 1st birthday after marriage on the 8th of June. He has instructed my manager to keep 7th, 8th, 9th free to surprise me with a break (Yes, he's full of surprises! He's made arrangements for a trip but I have no idea where to... too sweet, all very exciting)."
Meanwhile, the actress re-lived her good old filmi days during the shooting of dance reality show "Zara Nach Ke Dikha" when the female participants paid tribute to her by performing on her songs.
"The girls performed on a medley of my songs for an act and in similar costumes that I wore in my songs... made me very nostalgic and brought back some beautiful memories that made me a tad bit emotional (don't know why) in a good way," she added.
An ecstatic Shilpa wrote on her blog: "Glad Raj is back to celebrate my 1st birthday after marriage on the 8th of June. He has instructed my manager to keep 7th, 8th, 9th free to surprise me with a break (Yes, he's full of surprises! He's made arrangements for a trip but I have no idea where to... too sweet, all very exciting)."
Meanwhile, the actress re-lived her good old filmi days during the shooting of dance reality show "Zara Nach Ke Dikha" when the female participants paid tribute to her by performing on her songs.
"The girls performed on a medley of my songs for an act and in similar costumes that I wore in my songs... made me very nostalgic and brought back some beautiful memories that made me a tad bit emotional (don't know why) in a good way," she added.
'Raajneeti' hits jackpot at box office
Multiple controversies notwithstanding, Prakash Jha's much-awaited and much-hyped dark political thriller "Raajneeti" has set the cash registers ringing - courtesy its widely-appreciated content.
"'Raajneeti' released on Friday is a super-duper hit. The movie is being massively appreciated and will have a definite second weekend run. We have had an average occupancy of close to 95 percent for 26 shows per day and we sold off 4,200 tickets in advance till today," Amit Awasthi, senior manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, told the media.
"We have collected a gross of Rs.28 lakh and all shows are full today" he added.
Amit Shah, chief manager (programming) of DLF DT cinemas, echoed the view.
"'Raajneeti' is a must-watch film. The content of the movie is being highly appreciated and it is moving towards being the highest grosser over the weekend for this year till now," Shah said.
"We've had an average occupancy of close to 90 percent and we are running around 15-17 shows in prime properties and around 9-12 shows in other properties. The movie will bring a good second weekend," he added.
Produced by UTV with around Rs.45 crore, the movie has been distributed by Prakash Jha Productions, Walkwater Media and UTV Motion Pictures with over 2,100 prints worldwide.
Inspired by the Hindu epic Mahabharata, "Raajneeti" takes a behind-the-scenes look at the working of Indian politics and features an ensemble line-up, including the likes of Nana Patekar and Naseeruddin Shah, Ajay Devgn and Manoj Bajpai.
Heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, along with model-turned-actor Arjun Rampal, also play pivotal roles in the movie.
The film was in soup when it was first denied a certificate by the censor board for Katrina's character reportedly having a resemblance to Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Jha, however, dismissed the allegation saying that the movie is actually a modern re-telling of the Mahabharata.
Some intimate scenes and excessive violence sequences were also removed before the movie was given a U/A censor certificate.
"We've had a very good response till now and most of the shows have been running housefull with an average occupancy of close to 85 percent over the weekend. Everyone has liked the movie and the storyline is pretty strong. Word of mouth publicity is very good," said Jayendra Banerji, vice president (operations) of Satyam Cineplexes.
Deepak Taluja, senior vice president (business and operations) of Fun Cinemas, added: "The movie is going very well and almost all the shows have been housefull with an occupancy of close to 80-90 percent. People are really praising the movie and we are hopeful that this one will have maximum shows in the second week too."
Fun Cinemas is running 11 and 13 shows of "Raajneeti" for all three and four screen properties respectively.
"'Raajneeti' released on Friday is a super-duper hit. The movie is being massively appreciated and will have a definite second weekend run. We have had an average occupancy of close to 95 percent for 26 shows per day and we sold off 4,200 tickets in advance till today," Amit Awasthi, senior manager (programming and operations) of Spice Cinemas, told the media.
"We have collected a gross of Rs.28 lakh and all shows are full today" he added.
Amit Shah, chief manager (programming) of DLF DT cinemas, echoed the view.
"'Raajneeti' is a must-watch film. The content of the movie is being highly appreciated and it is moving towards being the highest grosser over the weekend for this year till now," Shah said.
"We've had an average occupancy of close to 90 percent and we are running around 15-17 shows in prime properties and around 9-12 shows in other properties. The movie will bring a good second weekend," he added.
Produced by UTV with around Rs.45 crore, the movie has been distributed by Prakash Jha Productions, Walkwater Media and UTV Motion Pictures with over 2,100 prints worldwide.
Inspired by the Hindu epic Mahabharata, "Raajneeti" takes a behind-the-scenes look at the working of Indian politics and features an ensemble line-up, including the likes of Nana Patekar and Naseeruddin Shah, Ajay Devgn and Manoj Bajpai.
Heartthrobs Ranbir Kapoor and Katrina Kaif, along with model-turned-actor Arjun Rampal, also play pivotal roles in the movie.
The film was in soup when it was first denied a certificate by the censor board for Katrina's character reportedly having a resemblance to Congress party chief Sonia Gandhi.
Jha, however, dismissed the allegation saying that the movie is actually a modern re-telling of the Mahabharata.
Some intimate scenes and excessive violence sequences were also removed before the movie was given a U/A censor certificate.
"We've had a very good response till now and most of the shows have been running housefull with an average occupancy of close to 85 percent over the weekend. Everyone has liked the movie and the storyline is pretty strong. Word of mouth publicity is very good," said Jayendra Banerji, vice president (operations) of Satyam Cineplexes.
Deepak Taluja, senior vice president (business and operations) of Fun Cinemas, added: "The movie is going very well and almost all the shows have been housefull with an occupancy of close to 80-90 percent. People are really praising the movie and we are hopeful that this one will have maximum shows in the second week too."
Fun Cinemas is running 11 and 13 shows of "Raajneeti" for all three and four screen properties respectively.
Why three bridges were built for one in 'Raavan'?
The climactic fight between Abhishek Bachchan and Vikram in "Raavan" on a wooden bridge actually required three different bridges to be built so that the scene could be captured from different angles, says production designer Samir Chanda. And director Mani Ratnam personally oversaw the construction work.
"I had to build three bridges - one for the actors' long shots that was 210 feet long, another for their close-ups at 70 feet and the third was 30 feet long for the actors's leg work like running and falling," Chanda said.
The three bridges were built between two mountains in a road-less stretch at Malshej Ghat in Maharashtra. And 40 artisans were flown in from Himachal Pradesh to build them.
Chanda revealed that Mani Ratnam would stand at the construction site from early morning till late evening, refusing to budge from the bridge-building venue.
"Mani's enthusiasm was like that of a child. We had first thought of building this bridge in Sri Lanka because they have the infrastructure and the experience of working in Hollywood units that required wooden bridges. Then we thought of building the bridge in Australia, and then South Africa. Finally I suggested we do it near Mumbai. Why spend crores when the same quality of construction is possible at a fraction of that cost?"
And to get to the bridges, Abhishek, Vikram and Aishwarya Rai and the rest of the cast had to wade through slush and mud infested with crabs. Luckily for Aishwarya, husband Abhishek would carry her in his arms to the bridge.
Chanda, who has worked on several films with Mani Ratnam, Shyam Benegal and Vishal Bharadwaj and has an experience of 26 years behind him, takes offence at the rumour that the bridges were built by Seshadri Srinivasan, the architect who designed the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
"The bridge that you see in 'Raavan' has been designed and constructed by me and my 40 brothers from Kulu-Manali," Chanda said.
"How can anyone take away credit from us? How can Mr. Seshadri build a bridge that had to be designed according to cinematic specifications? It wasn't only about safety and architectural correctness but camera angles and actors' manoeuvring power.
"Also, the bridge had to look convincing as the actors fought on it. And then it had to look equally convincing being blown up," the production designer explained.
"I had to build three bridges - one for the actors' long shots that was 210 feet long, another for their close-ups at 70 feet and the third was 30 feet long for the actors's leg work like running and falling," Chanda said.
The three bridges were built between two mountains in a road-less stretch at Malshej Ghat in Maharashtra. And 40 artisans were flown in from Himachal Pradesh to build them.
Chanda revealed that Mani Ratnam would stand at the construction site from early morning till late evening, refusing to budge from the bridge-building venue.
"Mani's enthusiasm was like that of a child. We had first thought of building this bridge in Sri Lanka because they have the infrastructure and the experience of working in Hollywood units that required wooden bridges. Then we thought of building the bridge in Australia, and then South Africa. Finally I suggested we do it near Mumbai. Why spend crores when the same quality of construction is possible at a fraction of that cost?"
And to get to the bridges, Abhishek, Vikram and Aishwarya Rai and the rest of the cast had to wade through slush and mud infested with crabs. Luckily for Aishwarya, husband Abhishek would carry her in his arms to the bridge.
Chanda, who has worked on several films with Mani Ratnam, Shyam Benegal and Vishal Bharadwaj and has an experience of 26 years behind him, takes offence at the rumour that the bridges were built by Seshadri Srinivasan, the architect who designed the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
"The bridge that you see in 'Raavan' has been designed and constructed by me and my 40 brothers from Kulu-Manali," Chanda said.
"How can anyone take away credit from us? How can Mr. Seshadri build a bridge that had to be designed according to cinematic specifications? It wasn't only about safety and architectural correctness but camera angles and actors' manoeuvring power.
"Also, the bridge had to look convincing as the actors fought on it. And then it had to look equally convincing being blown up," the production designer explained.
Manisha, Jackie together again in 'Ek Second...'
After starring together in movies like "1942: A Love Story", "Agni Sakshi", "Grahan" and "Lajja", Bollywood actors Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff will be sharing screen space again in "Ek Second Jo Zindagi Badal De", which releases on Friday.
Produced by Sunil Singh and Agastyaa Singh for Rs.4 crore, the thriller has been directed by Partho Ghosh. Also starring Aman Verma, Nikita Anand, Pakistani actor Moammar Rana and Roza Catalano, it is releasing worldwide with 300 prints.
Manisha, who was last seen in the Bengali movie "Khela" in 2008, plays a complex role in "Ek Second...".
"It's not a double role but shows two characters within a single person. One side of the character is very submissive, docile and innocent. The other side of her is very strong; she is decisive just like women of today's world. I am playing two shades of the same character. It's quite an interesting concept," Manisha had told the media.
Shot and based in Malaysia, the movie revolves around Rashi (Manisha) who is engaged to Vikram Sehgal, a famous novelist. But she is unaware about his numerous affairs with other women.
One day destiny plays a game. Rashi misses the metro train to office and loses her job as creative head in a big company. The story then on splits into two parts.
In one part, the narration continues with her being unable to catch the train while the second shows what would happen if she got on board the same train. The incidents that happen in both the situations come out as shocking and surprising.
In the first part, when she comes out of the station dejected at not being able to catch the train, a robber snatches her purse and she gets hurt. She is then taken to a nursing home by a taxi driver.
On the other hand, when she boards the train, she meets a stranger and falls for him. However, after the journey she comes out of the train and heads to her fiance's house where she catches him with another woman.
Then both the stories are merged to show that Rashi goes to her beau's house from the hospital. Both the stories of Rashi's life go on differently and separately. In one part she has her fiance and in the other part she finds another man.
Both the stories, however, come to one end and show that a decision made in one second can turn the way of life.
A low-budget venture with almost no buzz, one wonders if this solo Bollywood outing manages to strike a chord with the audiences.
Produced by Sunil Singh and Agastyaa Singh for Rs.4 crore, the thriller has been directed by Partho Ghosh. Also starring Aman Verma, Nikita Anand, Pakistani actor Moammar Rana and Roza Catalano, it is releasing worldwide with 300 prints.
Manisha, who was last seen in the Bengali movie "Khela" in 2008, plays a complex role in "Ek Second...".
"It's not a double role but shows two characters within a single person. One side of the character is very submissive, docile and innocent. The other side of her is very strong; she is decisive just like women of today's world. I am playing two shades of the same character. It's quite an interesting concept," Manisha had told the media.
Shot and based in Malaysia, the movie revolves around Rashi (Manisha) who is engaged to Vikram Sehgal, a famous novelist. But she is unaware about his numerous affairs with other women.
One day destiny plays a game. Rashi misses the metro train to office and loses her job as creative head in a big company. The story then on splits into two parts.
In one part, the narration continues with her being unable to catch the train while the second shows what would happen if she got on board the same train. The incidents that happen in both the situations come out as shocking and surprising.
In the first part, when she comes out of the station dejected at not being able to catch the train, a robber snatches her purse and she gets hurt. She is then taken to a nursing home by a taxi driver.
On the other hand, when she boards the train, she meets a stranger and falls for him. However, after the journey she comes out of the train and heads to her fiance's house where she catches him with another woman.
Then both the stories are merged to show that Rashi goes to her beau's house from the hospital. Both the stories of Rashi's life go on differently and separately. In one part she has her fiance and in the other part she finds another man.
Both the stories, however, come to one end and show that a decision made in one second can turn the way of life.
A low-budget venture with almost no buzz, one wonders if this solo Bollywood outing manages to strike a chord with the audiences.
'Kajraare' music an overdose of Himesh Reshammiya
The music of "Kajraare" is very unlike the soundtrack of films directed by Pooja Bhatt. It suffers from an overdose of composer-singer-actor Himesh Reshammiya's presence. He has not only acted in the film but also composed and sung all the songs. The album offers seven originals and four remixes. It opens with the title track "Kajra kajra kajraare" sung by Himesh and Sunidhi Chauhan. Himesh sings the romantic number, which is high on beats, in his signature style. There is nothing engaging about the song and hence it falls flat. It has a remixed version called the party mix. Next is "Rabba luck barsa" and Himesh goes solo in this. With uninspiring lyrics and mediocre composition and rendition, the love song can be described as an average number. This too has a party mix. Then there is "Afreen" for which Himesh and Harshdeep go behind the mike. There is an Indian flavour to the song but it offers nothing fresh to attract listeners. Himesh fails to create any magic through this slow number sung on a high pitch. Up next is a song with a folk touch. "Tujhe dekh ke armaan jage", which has been crooned by Shreya Ghoshal along with Himesh, starts with minimal background music, but later the orchestration picks up. Lyrics are average and the composition uninteresting. No luck with this track too. "Teriyan meriyan" begins with a soft prelude. Once again Himesh sings it with Shreya. This one too is very Indian in its approach, but quite boring. Himesh hasn't gone that extra mile to make the song interesting. "Woh lamha phir se jeena hai" is a fast- paced, high on beats track. It's very similar to the other songs in the album. It also has remixed version. Finally, there is "Sanu guzara zamana", a song with a Punjabi touch. This poignant track has a heard before feeling and is sung by Sunidhi and Himesh again. This one has a lounge mix attached to it. On the whole, the music of "Kajraare" has nothing extraordinary to offer. Himesh has stuck to his signature style, making all the songs sound very similar.
Canadian Tamils hail Big B
The 300,000-strong Canadian Tamil community has hailed Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan for not attending the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards ceremony in Colombo.
While labelling Bachchan as the "great ambassador for mankind", a community leader Sunday hit out at other Bollywood actors, including Salman Khan, who took part in the three-day event, calling them a "disgrace" to India.
"Big B is really big. This name suits him, and he is our hero today. We Tamils salute him. By not going to Sri Lanka, Big B stands tall among Tamils around the world," said Canadian Tamil Congress national spokesman David Poopalapillai here.
"Tamils are proud of Big B, his family and all the Indian actors who refused to become hosts of Sri Lanka which has innocent Tamil blood on its hands. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts," the Tamil leader said.
"Bachchan has shown that he cares for us. He has shown to the world that he is a great ambassador for mankind and a great champion of human rights"
Poopalapillai said the Tamil diaspora would "suitably reciprocate" his gesture at appropriate time.
Hitting out at Bollywood actors who attended the awards function that ended early Sunday, the Tamil leader said: "By standing with those who have our blood on their hands, these stars have disgraced themselves. Sri Lanka held this ceremony on thousands of bodies of innocent Tamils. These actors have brought disgrace to India which believes in the Gandhian principle of respect for human rights."
He said the awards ceremony was a ploy by Sri Lanka to divert world attention from its "war crimes".
Taking a dig at Salman Khan who has criticised Amitabh Bachchan for not attending the extravaganza, Poopalapillai said, "Who is this Salman Khan? He stands nowhere near Big B. So how can people like him criticise Mr Bachchan?"
South Indian film personalities such as Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam boycotted the 11th edition of IIFA Awards.
While labelling Bachchan as the "great ambassador for mankind", a community leader Sunday hit out at other Bollywood actors, including Salman Khan, who took part in the three-day event, calling them a "disgrace" to India.
"Big B is really big. This name suits him, and he is our hero today. We Tamils salute him. By not going to Sri Lanka, Big B stands tall among Tamils around the world," said Canadian Tamil Congress national spokesman David Poopalapillai here.
"Tamils are proud of Big B, his family and all the Indian actors who refused to become hosts of Sri Lanka which has innocent Tamil blood on its hands. We thank them from the bottom of our hearts," the Tamil leader said.
"Bachchan has shown that he cares for us. He has shown to the world that he is a great ambassador for mankind and a great champion of human rights"
Poopalapillai said the Tamil diaspora would "suitably reciprocate" his gesture at appropriate time.
Hitting out at Bollywood actors who attended the awards function that ended early Sunday, the Tamil leader said: "By standing with those who have our blood on their hands, these stars have disgraced themselves. Sri Lanka held this ceremony on thousands of bodies of innocent Tamils. These actors have brought disgrace to India which believes in the Gandhian principle of respect for human rights."
He said the awards ceremony was a ploy by Sri Lanka to divert world attention from its "war crimes".
Taking a dig at Salman Khan who has criticised Amitabh Bachchan for not attending the extravaganza, Poopalapillai said, "Who is this Salman Khan? He stands nowhere near Big B. So how can people like him criticise Mr Bachchan?"
South Indian film personalities such as Kamal Haasan and Mani Ratnam boycotted the 11th edition of IIFA Awards.
India falter against Philippines in Five Nations Rugby
India went down 12-34 to the Philippines in the HSBC Five Nations Rugby Tournament (Division II) at the Delhi University grounds here on Saturday.
As a result, Division II winners the Philippines will be promoted to Division I while China, who finished fourth in the tournament after losing to Thailand 3-56 Saturday, will be demoted to Division III.
India, who defeated favourites China 94-0 in their tournament opener on Wednesday, began on a strong note in the final with Surinder Singh scoring a try in the opening minutes of the match. However, the Philippines bounced back with five straight penalties before Matt Saunders helped the visitors finish the first half with a lead of 22-7.
The Philippines carried the momentum in the second half, adding 12 more points while India could only manage another try through Surinder Singh again.
As a result, Division II winners the Philippines will be promoted to Division I while China, who finished fourth in the tournament after losing to Thailand 3-56 Saturday, will be demoted to Division III.
India, who defeated favourites China 94-0 in their tournament opener on Wednesday, began on a strong note in the final with Surinder Singh scoring a try in the opening minutes of the match. However, the Philippines bounced back with five straight penalties before Matt Saunders helped the visitors finish the first half with a lead of 22-7.
The Philippines carried the momentum in the second half, adding 12 more points while India could only manage another try through Surinder Singh again.
India's Ashis Roy completes 104th marathon
Running his third marathon in 33 days, India's grand old marathon man Ashis Roy has completed his 104th marathon finishing the Sunburst Marathon in South Bend, Indiana, in pouring rain.
Roy, who turned 78 on June 1, finished the 26.2 mile run through South Bend town and along St Joseph River on Saturday in 6 hours and 43 minutes - four minutes more than his last run in Bob Potts Heritage Rail Trail Marathon in York, Pennsylvania two weeks ago.
It was pretty hot when the race started at 6 a.m. but he still managed to complete the first half in a comfortable 3 hours and 15 minutes, but around the 19th mile on the return run it started raining heavily slowing him down a bit.
The veteran Indian runner, who completed his 100th marathon in Mumbai Jan 17, has no plans to hang his boots yet. "I want to keep running to show to the world that Indians too can do well in sports," Roy, the oldest of 840 participants told media on phone.
Amazed that he was still running at 78, a few came up to him and said: "You are a superman". "It was a grand feeling," said Roy.
Another reason that keeps him going is: "I want to tell the sports authorities in India that they should not restrict sports to youth only. But it should be open to all."
Roy, who has penned a book on "Joy of Running" is listed in the Limca Book of Records, and has, to date, competed in 37 marathons in India and 67 marathons in 20 other countries, including the International Veterans Marathon in Athens in 1986.
Roy, a resident of New Delhi, began running marathons at the age of 52 when he retired as a cardiologist with the Indian Air Force.
Roy, who turned 78 on June 1, finished the 26.2 mile run through South Bend town and along St Joseph River on Saturday in 6 hours and 43 minutes - four minutes more than his last run in Bob Potts Heritage Rail Trail Marathon in York, Pennsylvania two weeks ago.
It was pretty hot when the race started at 6 a.m. but he still managed to complete the first half in a comfortable 3 hours and 15 minutes, but around the 19th mile on the return run it started raining heavily slowing him down a bit.
The veteran Indian runner, who completed his 100th marathon in Mumbai Jan 17, has no plans to hang his boots yet. "I want to keep running to show to the world that Indians too can do well in sports," Roy, the oldest of 840 participants told media on phone.
Amazed that he was still running at 78, a few came up to him and said: "You are a superman". "It was a grand feeling," said Roy.
Another reason that keeps him going is: "I want to tell the sports authorities in India that they should not restrict sports to youth only. But it should be open to all."
Roy, who has penned a book on "Joy of Running" is listed in the Limca Book of Records, and has, to date, competed in 37 marathons in India and 67 marathons in 20 other countries, including the International Veterans Marathon in Athens in 1986.
Roy, a resident of New Delhi, began running marathons at the age of 52 when he retired as a cardiologist with the Indian Air Force.
Malaysian Indians top walking marathon
An ethnic Indian woman and her two daughters bagged the top three prizes in a walking competition in Malaysia.
The Ipoh Starwalk 2010, the annual walking marathon, turned out to be a family affair for 49-year-old K. Kamaladevi, a nurse from Penang who won the first prize in the Women Veteran's category here on Sunday.
Kamaladevi's daughters - N. Vithiaa, 20, and N. Nithiyaa, 23 - came in the second and third spot respectively in the women's category. In the fourth place was her 29-year-old niece M. Nalienaa.
Kamaladevi said her youngest daughter Mashni, 13, came third in the Girl's category.
She has been participating in Ipoh Starwalk since its inception in 2004.
"I'm proud to say that I have managed to get into the top three placing each time since the competition category was introduced in 2005," Kamaladevi said.
She insisted all her family members participate in the competition. Her husband S. Nilamani, 53, an insurance agent, walked in the non-competition category.
"We decided to make it a family affair, starting off by visiting my in-laws in Batu Gajah where we stayed the night prior to the walk," said Kamaladevi.
Ipoh Starwalk 2010 attracted a record participation of 12,000 people, said a newspaper, one of its organisers.
The Ipoh Starwalk 2010, the annual walking marathon, turned out to be a family affair for 49-year-old K. Kamaladevi, a nurse from Penang who won the first prize in the Women Veteran's category here on Sunday.
Kamaladevi's daughters - N. Vithiaa, 20, and N. Nithiyaa, 23 - came in the second and third spot respectively in the women's category. In the fourth place was her 29-year-old niece M. Nalienaa.
Kamaladevi said her youngest daughter Mashni, 13, came third in the Girl's category.
She has been participating in Ipoh Starwalk since its inception in 2004.
"I'm proud to say that I have managed to get into the top three placing each time since the competition category was introduced in 2005," Kamaladevi said.
She insisted all her family members participate in the competition. Her husband S. Nilamani, 53, an insurance agent, walked in the non-competition category.
"We decided to make it a family affair, starting off by visiting my in-laws in Batu Gajah where we stayed the night prior to the walk," said Kamaladevi.
Ipoh Starwalk 2010 attracted a record participation of 12,000 people, said a newspaper, one of its organisers.
Reliance Communications scrip opens sharply higher
The shares of Reliance Communications, led by billionaire industrialist Anil Ambani, opened sharply higher today, a day after its board approved a 26 percent equity sale to a strategic investor. The company's scrip, which had closed at Rs.168.15 on Friday, opened 5.86 percent higher at Rs.178, and was ruling at Rs.175.35 some 10 minutes into trading. This was the only scrip among the 30 stocks of the sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange that opened in the green. The company's scrip had risen 14.03 percent during the last week on reports that the UAE-based Etisalat was interested in acquiring a stake in the company, which has a subscriber base of 109 million and offers mobile services on both GSM and CDMA platforms. "The board of directors of Reliance Communications has approved in-principle the induction of strategic or private equity investors into the company for an up to 26 percent equity stake at an appropriate premium," the company said in a statement on Sunday. The company, however, neither disclosed the name of the strategic buyer nor fixed any time frame for realising the proposal. The speculation of stake sale started after Etisalat, which has been bullish on India and wants to be a major player in the country, withdrew from the third generation (3G) telecom airwaves auction after the bids surpassed the $2 billion-mark. Such reports of stake sale had seen the shares of Reliance Communications soar 14.03 percent on the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) during the week ended on Friday at Rs.168.15. The media had reported last week that Etisalat chairman Mohammed Omran had plans to acquire companies in India, which is the second-largest and the fastest-growing mobile market in the world. In September 2008, Etisalat, which has over 100 million customers across 19 countries globally, had bought 45-percent stake in Swan Telecom for a cash consideration of close to $900 million. The company's Indian operations, now called Etislat DB, has also unveiled its tariff for telecom services in the country under the "Cheers Mobile" brand name. In July last year, Etisalat had entered into a 10-year long-term infrastructure sharing pact with Reliance Communications. The deal was worth an estimated $2.2 billion. Reliance Communications, which has been in talks for an overseas partner or strategic sale for nearly two years now was earlier non-committal about such specific moves but also did not rule out such a possibility. "The company has been receiving various proposals from time to time from reputed international telecom companies expressing interest in acquiring a strategic equity stake in Reliance Communications," the company said last week. "The company evaluates such proposals in line with the company's policy to constantly endeavour to enhance overall shareholder value," it said, adding it would disclose any developments at an appropriate time.
Canadians offer cheaper substitutes for costly Indian lentils
With prices of pulses skyrocketing in India, Canada's Saskatchewan province is offering a much cheaper version of the humble 'dal', which also promises not to compromise hugely on the taste and texture of some time-tested recipes.
So the next time you have dosas, idlis, vada, dhokla, laddu, pongal, mysorepak or any other traditional Indian delicacy, don't be surprised if the basic ingredient is imported from Canada.
"We have tested the Canadian lentils, small and big, and the lentil flour in various traditional foods, including ready-to-eat or heat-and-eat items," said Prof. G. Pushpa of the Coimbatore-based Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
"In many cases, the lentil flour can be substituted for bengal, green, red or black gram. Also, while making some dishes one can add a portion of the lentil flour and that can reduce the overall cost," Pushpa, who specialises in post harvest technology, told the media.
"The Canadian lentils cost around Rs.50 per kg, while pulses cost more. These lentils also get cooked faster in a pressure cooker." The tur dal, one of the most common pulses used in the state and the main ingredient for sambar, costs Rs.100 per kg.
The university's finding is part of a $110,000 research project it undertook in 2008 for a Canadian association called the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) for developing green lentil-based food products and transfer the technology to the food industry.
"The progress of the project is satisfactory," said Murray Purcell, SPG chairman who is here as part of a trade delegation from Saskatchewan, led by Minister for Advanced Education Employment and Labour and Immigration Rob Noriss.
"We arrived at the proportion of the lentil or its flour to be used for more than 30 dishes. We did sample tasting across the state. We also did other tests like consumer acceptability tests," Pushpa said.
According to her, the next stage of the project was to train food processors in using the lentil or its flour in preparing the dishes, even as SPG is looking at another big order from the Tamil Nadu government for its produce.
The Tamil Nadu government has been importing these lentils from Canada for its public distribution system for quite some time. Last year, the Saskatchewan province exported $500 million worth of peas, lentils and chickpeas to India, said Norris.
"Our province accounts for more than 30 percent of global pea and lentil exports," Minister Norris said. Saskatchewan, Canadian officials added, also accounts for nearly 99 percent of the country's lentil and chickpea crops and 77 percent of its pea crop.
So the next time you have dosas, idlis, vada, dhokla, laddu, pongal, mysorepak or any other traditional Indian delicacy, don't be surprised if the basic ingredient is imported from Canada.
"We have tested the Canadian lentils, small and big, and the lentil flour in various traditional foods, including ready-to-eat or heat-and-eat items," said Prof. G. Pushpa of the Coimbatore-based Tamil Nadu Agricultural University.
"In many cases, the lentil flour can be substituted for bengal, green, red or black gram. Also, while making some dishes one can add a portion of the lentil flour and that can reduce the overall cost," Pushpa, who specialises in post harvest technology, told the media.
"The Canadian lentils cost around Rs.50 per kg, while pulses cost more. These lentils also get cooked faster in a pressure cooker." The tur dal, one of the most common pulses used in the state and the main ingredient for sambar, costs Rs.100 per kg.
The university's finding is part of a $110,000 research project it undertook in 2008 for a Canadian association called the Saskatchewan Pulse Growers (SPG) for developing green lentil-based food products and transfer the technology to the food industry.
"The progress of the project is satisfactory," said Murray Purcell, SPG chairman who is here as part of a trade delegation from Saskatchewan, led by Minister for Advanced Education Employment and Labour and Immigration Rob Noriss.
"We arrived at the proportion of the lentil or its flour to be used for more than 30 dishes. We did sample tasting across the state. We also did other tests like consumer acceptability tests," Pushpa said.
According to her, the next stage of the project was to train food processors in using the lentil or its flour in preparing the dishes, even as SPG is looking at another big order from the Tamil Nadu government for its produce.
The Tamil Nadu government has been importing these lentils from Canada for its public distribution system for quite some time. Last year, the Saskatchewan province exported $500 million worth of peas, lentils and chickpeas to India, said Norris.
"Our province accounts for more than 30 percent of global pea and lentil exports," Minister Norris said. Saskatchewan, Canadian officials added, also accounts for nearly 99 percent of the country's lentil and chickpea crops and 77 percent of its pea crop.
Restoring traditional farming methods to meet food security
Maharashtra's Korku tribe stores grain with dried neem leaves, while the Konda Savara tribe of Andhra Pradesh has an irrigation system where water is diverted through pipes made of banana trunks. These are some examples of local wisdom sustaining agriculture, which will now be backed by a specialised UN agency.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialised agency working to improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition and food security for all.
"We need to preserve traditional agricultural practices if we want to ensure food security," says FAO land and water division director Parviz Koohafkan.
The Rome-based director was in Delhi last week to attend a workshop on tribal heritage agricultural techniques.
"Agriculture heritage is similar to the world heritage sites of Unesco. Twelve countries have already joined and now India is also joining," Koohafkan told media.
Koohafkan is the coordinator for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), which identify traditional agricultural systems as heritage and preserves them.
India last week joined the GIAHS aiming to identify and preserve its traditional agriculture forms.
Globally, several systems of traditional agriculture have been given special status by the FAO identifying them as 'heritage systems'.
In the Andean ranges of Peru, potato is cultivated at an altitude of over 2,000 metres without a greenhouse. Rows of water canals run along intermediate rows of potato plantation absorbing heat during the day and keeping the crop warm during the night.
Similarly in China, the traditional practice of cultivating fish in rice fields was coming to an end due to increased use of fertiliser when a GIAHS initiative restored it.
"These are regions of outstanding biodiversity that reflect the natural evolution of farming and may help provide natural solutions to climate change in the future," Koohafkan said.
India, which attained self-sufficiency in food production after the green revolution in the 1960s, has already taken steps towards framing a bill for ensuring food security.
However, Koohafkan feels that this is not possible without preserving the traditional forms of cultivation.
"Green revolution has been successful in India, but the environmental degradation cannot be ignored. The crops need more fertiliser and water. The green revolution has survived mainly on subsidies. It has also added to the social problems, we have invested in good land and ignored the poor land," he said, adding that carrying both together is the need of the hour.
Orissa's Koraput region, India's first candidate for GIAHS status, has been nominated for the variety of rice, millet, pulses, and medicinal plants developed using traditional cultivation practices by tribal groups.
The Kuttanad region of Kerala, where cultivation is done below sea level has also been proposed for the status.
India is now planning to formulate a strategy for preserving its traditional agriculture forms.
"This is the first step, we still have to make the road map," G.B. Mukherjee, secretary in the ministry of tribal affairs, told media.
"These systems have sustained agriculture through centuries and they are likely to survive in the next century also. We need to tell the tribals you have something special," Mukherjee added.
The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) is a specialised agency working to improve agriculture, forestry and fisheries practices and ensure good nutrition and food security for all.
"We need to preserve traditional agricultural practices if we want to ensure food security," says FAO land and water division director Parviz Koohafkan.
The Rome-based director was in Delhi last week to attend a workshop on tribal heritage agricultural techniques.
"Agriculture heritage is similar to the world heritage sites of Unesco. Twelve countries have already joined and now India is also joining," Koohafkan told media.
Koohafkan is the coordinator for Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), which identify traditional agricultural systems as heritage and preserves them.
India last week joined the GIAHS aiming to identify and preserve its traditional agriculture forms.
Globally, several systems of traditional agriculture have been given special status by the FAO identifying them as 'heritage systems'.
In the Andean ranges of Peru, potato is cultivated at an altitude of over 2,000 metres without a greenhouse. Rows of water canals run along intermediate rows of potato plantation absorbing heat during the day and keeping the crop warm during the night.
Similarly in China, the traditional practice of cultivating fish in rice fields was coming to an end due to increased use of fertiliser when a GIAHS initiative restored it.
"These are regions of outstanding biodiversity that reflect the natural evolution of farming and may help provide natural solutions to climate change in the future," Koohafkan said.
India, which attained self-sufficiency in food production after the green revolution in the 1960s, has already taken steps towards framing a bill for ensuring food security.
However, Koohafkan feels that this is not possible without preserving the traditional forms of cultivation.
"Green revolution has been successful in India, but the environmental degradation cannot be ignored. The crops need more fertiliser and water. The green revolution has survived mainly on subsidies. It has also added to the social problems, we have invested in good land and ignored the poor land," he said, adding that carrying both together is the need of the hour.
Orissa's Koraput region, India's first candidate for GIAHS status, has been nominated for the variety of rice, millet, pulses, and medicinal plants developed using traditional cultivation practices by tribal groups.
The Kuttanad region of Kerala, where cultivation is done below sea level has also been proposed for the status.
India is now planning to formulate a strategy for preserving its traditional agriculture forms.
"This is the first step, we still have to make the road map," G.B. Mukherjee, secretary in the ministry of tribal affairs, told media.
"These systems have sustained agriculture through centuries and they are likely to survive in the next century also. We need to tell the tribals you have something special," Mukherjee added.
Sensex apes global negative sentiments, down 2.19 percent
A benchmark index for Indian equities today aped the negative sentiments ruling other Asian markets and was ruling 2.19 percent lower in morning trade.
Asian bourses, predictably opened in the red, after the disappointing job data from the US released Friday. Europe too is expected to be weighed down by these fears.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,069.77 points, was ruling at 16,743.25 points, 374.44 points or 2.19 percent down from its previous close at 17,117.69 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,020.3 points, down 2.24 percent from its previous close.
Broader markets indices also in the red, with the BSE midcap index ruling 1.68 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index trading 1.74 percent down.
Of the 30 scrips on the Sensex, Reliance Communications and ONGC were among the only gainers at this time.
Shares of Reliance Communications opened sharply higher today, a day after its board approved a 26 percent equity sale to a strategic investor.
The company's scrip, which had closed at Rs.168.15 on Friday, opened 5.86 percent higher at Rs.178 and touched an intra-day high of Rs.179.
Asian bourses, predictably opened in the red, after the disappointing job data from the US released Friday. Europe too is expected to be weighed down by these fears.
The 30-scrip sensitive index (Sensex) of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), which opened at 17,069.77 points, was ruling at 16,743.25 points, 374.44 points or 2.19 percent down from its previous close at 17,117.69 points.
At the National Stock Exchange (NSE), the broader 50-share S&P CNX Nifty was ruling at 5,020.3 points, down 2.24 percent from its previous close.
Broader markets indices also in the red, with the BSE midcap index ruling 1.68 percent lower and the BSE smallcap index trading 1.74 percent down.
Of the 30 scrips on the Sensex, Reliance Communications and ONGC were among the only gainers at this time.
Shares of Reliance Communications opened sharply higher today, a day after its board approved a 26 percent equity sale to a strategic investor.
The company's scrip, which had closed at Rs.168.15 on Friday, opened 5.86 percent higher at Rs.178 and touched an intra-day high of Rs.179.
Railways move to cut cancer patients' quota opposed
Akali Dal MP from Bathinda Harsimrat Kaur Badal today urged Railways Minister Mamta Banerjee not to reduce the quota in railways for cancer patients and their attendants.
In a letter to Banerjee, she said that due to ground water problems, Bathinda and Malwa region of Punjab witnessed a steep rise in cancer cases and the union government has already initiated studies to determine the exact cause.
"Most of the cancer patients from Bathinda are going for their treatment to Rajasthan and New Delhi. We want railways to start a New Delhi-Bathinda Shatabdi besides adding new bogeys to the existing trains," Badal said.
"It is regretful that instead of meeting our demands for the benefit of cancer patients, railways have now reduced the existing quota for them," Badal, the wife of Akali Dal president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, said in her letter.
Badal particularly opposed the Railway Board notification of May 19 in which a lesser number of berths, in various classes, have been earmarked as the emergency quota and the first priority for cancer patients in the quota has been withdrawn.
"We had to struggle hard to introduce emergency quota for cancer patients as in my constituency Bathinda, cancer patients going for treatment to other places were finding problem in train bookings. This quota vacated by cancer patients would be used for railways and other government officials," she said.
Seeking immediate withdrawal of the May 19 notification, Badal said: "Railways must stick to the original quota and any encroachment by other categories in this quota should not be allowed. I urge the minister to take a humanitarian view of whole problem of critically ill cancer patients".
In a letter to Banerjee, she said that due to ground water problems, Bathinda and Malwa region of Punjab witnessed a steep rise in cancer cases and the union government has already initiated studies to determine the exact cause.
"Most of the cancer patients from Bathinda are going for their treatment to Rajasthan and New Delhi. We want railways to start a New Delhi-Bathinda Shatabdi besides adding new bogeys to the existing trains," Badal said.
"It is regretful that instead of meeting our demands for the benefit of cancer patients, railways have now reduced the existing quota for them," Badal, the wife of Akali Dal president and Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal, said in her letter.
Badal particularly opposed the Railway Board notification of May 19 in which a lesser number of berths, in various classes, have been earmarked as the emergency quota and the first priority for cancer patients in the quota has been withdrawn.
"We had to struggle hard to introduce emergency quota for cancer patients as in my constituency Bathinda, cancer patients going for treatment to other places were finding problem in train bookings. This quota vacated by cancer patients would be used for railways and other government officials," she said.
Seeking immediate withdrawal of the May 19 notification, Badal said: "Railways must stick to the original quota and any encroachment by other categories in this quota should not be allowed. I urge the minister to take a humanitarian view of whole problem of critically ill cancer patients".
Boeing to deliver 199th C-17 aircraft to USAF June-end
The US Air Force (USAF) will get its 199th C-17 Globemaster-III strategic lift aircraft by June-end.
The aircraft has successfully been test flown and is due for delivery to its designated squadron, a company spokesman told the media.
The aircraft was shown to an Indian media team recently at its Long Beach manufacturing facility as part of Boeing's efforts to showcase the capability of this aircraft to various countries for possible sale.
The latest version of the aircraft is marked Block 18, and that is what is on offer to India.
The C-17 programme will end in about five years, just after Boeing delivers the last and 223rd of this highly successful strategic lift aircraft to the USAF, and some others to international customers.
The production is being slowed to keep the manufacturing facility going for some time longer, just in case there are more orders, particularly in view of the aircraft's utility in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief role.
According to Tommy Dunehew, Vice President, Boeing's Global Mobility Systems, Boeing is committed along with the US Government to support and service the aircraft for their lifetime, say another 30 to 40 years. The spares will be produced amply for a global supply chain.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to replace and augment its fleet of 17 Soviet vintage IL 76 aircraft which should retire in about 10-15 years.
IAF acquired the first lot of its six IL 76 aircraft in April 1985. The IL 76 is now out of production, although Russia has been able to sell some of its second-hand machines after refurbishing them to some countries.
India with its order for 10 C-17s is the largest non-US customer, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which ordered six of these aircraft last year.
India should get its fist C-17 in about two to three years after signing the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) with the US government, now that US Congressional approval has been accorded to the Indo-US deal in this regard.
Dunehew said that normally, it should take about three years to deliver an aircraft. But if India wanted, the delivery period could be cut short as Boeing could request other customers to delay their deliveries.
Notably, barring an odd case of pilot error or attacks in combat, the aircraft has never had any accident, said Dunehew.
The aircraft has successfully been test flown and is due for delivery to its designated squadron, a company spokesman told the media.
The aircraft was shown to an Indian media team recently at its Long Beach manufacturing facility as part of Boeing's efforts to showcase the capability of this aircraft to various countries for possible sale.
The latest version of the aircraft is marked Block 18, and that is what is on offer to India.
The C-17 programme will end in about five years, just after Boeing delivers the last and 223rd of this highly successful strategic lift aircraft to the USAF, and some others to international customers.
The production is being slowed to keep the manufacturing facility going for some time longer, just in case there are more orders, particularly in view of the aircraft's utility in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief role.
According to Tommy Dunehew, Vice President, Boeing's Global Mobility Systems, Boeing is committed along with the US Government to support and service the aircraft for their lifetime, say another 30 to 40 years. The spares will be produced amply for a global supply chain.
The Indian Air Force (IAF) has decided to buy 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft to replace and augment its fleet of 17 Soviet vintage IL 76 aircraft which should retire in about 10-15 years.
IAF acquired the first lot of its six IL 76 aircraft in April 1985. The IL 76 is now out of production, although Russia has been able to sell some of its second-hand machines after refurbishing them to some countries.
India with its order for 10 C-17s is the largest non-US customer, followed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which ordered six of these aircraft last year.
India should get its fist C-17 in about two to three years after signing the Letter of Acceptance (LoA) with the US government, now that US Congressional approval has been accorded to the Indo-US deal in this regard.
Dunehew said that normally, it should take about three years to deliver an aircraft. But if India wanted, the delivery period could be cut short as Boeing could request other customers to delay their deliveries.
Notably, barring an odd case of pilot error or attacks in combat, the aircraft has never had any accident, said Dunehew.
BJP adopts resolution on good governance
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)at the conclusion of its two-day national convention here today evening adopted a resolution emphasising "pro-active and pro-people good governance" in states under its rule.
The resolution - coined as P2G2 - was passed at the concluding day of the convention on good governance - "Su-raj Sankalp" - held at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini here at Uttan, around 40 km north-west of Mumbai.
The resolution in detail dwells on rule of law, participatory democracy, consensus - not conflict, institutional reforms, accountability and transparency.
According to the resolution: "The BJP remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure governance with a difference, governance that is sensitive to the aspirations of all sections and strata of society, including minorities. Governance that would socially, politically and economically empower women, SCs and STS (the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes)."
The resolution added: "The BJP would strive for Saksham, Samriddhishali and Shaktishali (capable, prosperous and powerful) Bharat, a nation which can truly aspire to emerge as a superpower, a country with happy, contented people. In keeping with the philosophy of integral humanism, this Su-raj Sankalp (good goverance resolve) reflects our determination to guarantee excellence in governance."
Making her concluding remarks, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj urged the assembled delegates, including chief ministers of five of the six BJP-ruled states, to give attention to minor details, accord recognition and respect to the opposition in their respective states.
Illustrating her point, Sushma Swaraj explained how, when she was the health minister at the centre, she made it a habit to check out whenever any member of parliament was admitted to hospital and also send flowers.
"Wherever the party is in power, it must also behave on similar lines as an example of good governance," she said.
As many as 67 ministers, ministers of state from eight states - six BJP ruled states and two where the party is an alliance partner - took part in the convention.
The six BJP ruled states are Gujarat, Karnakata, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The two states where the party is an alliance partner are Punjab and Bihar.
Besides the chief ministers of BJP ruled states, 20 office bearers and 40-odd central leaders attended the convention.
The resolution - coined as P2G2 - was passed at the concluding day of the convention on good governance - "Su-raj Sankalp" - held at Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini here at Uttan, around 40 km north-west of Mumbai.
The resolution in detail dwells on rule of law, participatory democracy, consensus - not conflict, institutional reforms, accountability and transparency.
According to the resolution: "The BJP remains steadfast in its commitment to ensure governance with a difference, governance that is sensitive to the aspirations of all sections and strata of society, including minorities. Governance that would socially, politically and economically empower women, SCs and STS (the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes)."
The resolution added: "The BJP would strive for Saksham, Samriddhishali and Shaktishali (capable, prosperous and powerful) Bharat, a nation which can truly aspire to emerge as a superpower, a country with happy, contented people. In keeping with the philosophy of integral humanism, this Su-raj Sankalp (good goverance resolve) reflects our determination to guarantee excellence in governance."
Making her concluding remarks, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj urged the assembled delegates, including chief ministers of five of the six BJP-ruled states, to give attention to minor details, accord recognition and respect to the opposition in their respective states.
Illustrating her point, Sushma Swaraj explained how, when she was the health minister at the centre, she made it a habit to check out whenever any member of parliament was admitted to hospital and also send flowers.
"Wherever the party is in power, it must also behave on similar lines as an example of good governance," she said.
As many as 67 ministers, ministers of state from eight states - six BJP ruled states and two where the party is an alliance partner - took part in the convention.
The six BJP ruled states are Gujarat, Karnakata, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand. The two states where the party is an alliance partner are Punjab and Bihar.
Besides the chief ministers of BJP ruled states, 20 office bearers and 40-odd central leaders attended the convention.
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