Tsunami
blow to Kanchi seer's bail plea
Chennai:
The Madras High Court today deferred hearing an application
for bail placed by the Kanchi seer, Jayendra Saraswati,
by a day after it was warned of the possibility of Tsunami
tidal waves hitting the city again. The Meteorological Department
informed the high court's registry of this possibility,
which was in turn conveyed to Mr. Justice R.Balasubramaniam.
The judge, who was to hear the bail plea in the 2002 Radhakrishnan
assault case then adjourned the proceedings till December
28.
Gaur
removes minister for demanding to install Uma as CM
Bhopal:
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minster Babulal Gaur has reportedly
dismissed his Animal Husbandry Minister Sunil Nayak for
putting forth his demand for re-installing Uma Bharti as
the state chief minister. As per the reports reaching here,
Nayak, a minister of state with independent charge, was
removed this afternoon. The CM is expected to address a
press conference at 5 p.m. to give his official version
over the matter. Later, Nayak will speak to the press persons.
Gaur was installed as the state chief minister after the
then CM Uma Bharti tendered her resignation following charges
against her for leading a mob to hoist the national flag
at a disputed area in Hubli. The case was pending against
her for nearly ten years. After putting in her papers she
had herself proposed Gaur's name for the chief minister's
post. But, Gaur earned her wrath after he supported the
BJP's central leadership's decision of suspending Uma's
primary membership for indiscipline. Following the revocation
of her suspension a few days back, the demand of her being
re-installed had gained momentum.
Pak,
Indian secretaries meet, express cautious optimism (Go
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by N Bhadran Nair
Islamabad:
The first session of the two-day India- Pakistan foreign
secretary-level talks, which began here today, has ended
with both sides expressing cautious optmism about the dialogue's
outcome. "I hope something good will come out of the talks,
that's everybody's expectation," said Pakistan Foreign Secretary
Riaz Khokhar prior to his talks with his Indian counterpart
Shyam Saran. The talks at the Pakistan Foreign Office lasted
for about two hours. On Monday as well as on Tuesday, Khokhar
and Saran will review the report card of talks on various
contentious issues between the two countries, including
Kashmir. Khokhar, however, was guarded in his reply, when
asked about his expectations. "Let us not pre-judge," he
said. The two delegations sat together for the first of
two forenoon sessions. The second session of the talks will
take place tomorrow.
Anil
Ambani lashes out at RIL share buyback plan (Go
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Mumbai:
Anil Ambani, the Vice Chairman of Reliance Industries
Limited (RIL), on Monday virtually created a divide between
himself and his elder brother Mukesh, the chairman of the
group, by saying that the group's announcement last week
to buy back shares is being done without his consent. Speaking
to reporters here ahead of a crucial board meeting scheduled
for Monday, Anil questioned the intentions of the move.
"There is more than what meets the eye. I was not consulted
or informed about the decision before they informed the
stock exchanges," Anil saidbefore entering the flagship
company's headquarters at Maker Chambers here to participate
in the 12- member board meeting. This is for the first time
that Anil has launched a direct attack on the happenings
in RIL ever since the proxy war between the Ambani siblings
started more than a month back after Mukesh said there were
some "ownership issues" in the Reliance Group founded by
his father, late Dhirubhai Ambani.
Bhakta
to continue as RIL Board member (Go
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Mumbai:
M.L.Bhakta, a member of The Board of Directors of Reliance
Industries Limited (RIL), has agreed to continue in the
same capacity. Taking note of the letter written by Bhakta
for reconsidering his request to be relieved from the Board
of the Company, the RIL Board said that it would continue
to look to the former for his sagacious advice on matters
relating to the group. On November 23, 2004, Bhakta had
expressed his inability to continue on the Board in view
of his advancing age and desire to reduce his busy schedule
in his professional and other commitments. He, however,
graciously responded to the request Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman
and Managing Director, RIL, to reconsider his decision.
RIL
rallies behind Mukesh, supports buyback (Go
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Mumbai:
The Board of Reliance Industries Limited today reposed
faith in the Chairman Mukesh Ambani and stood by him in
the midst of his battle with younger brother Anil. The board
stated, "present organically integrate structure of the
company should not be changed". It 'reiterated its full
faith and confidence in the leadership of the chairman and
managing director Mukesh Ambani to continue to lead it in
a challenging global environment". At the same time the
board also appreciated Anil, the board recorded its "deep
appreciation" of the tireless efforts of the entire management
team including vice chairman and managing director Anil
Ambani.....", the statement added. The board also fully
supported the buyback of shares brushing aside the criticism
and objections raised by Vice-Chairman Anil Ambani. The
RIL board approved the buyback at Rs 570 per share, sources
said. Earlier, in a statement, Anil Ambani said, "If you
look at the recent run up at the stock prices after the
announcement of buyback, I believe there is more than what
meets the eye in terms of what is happening in the market
place." For the first time in the history of corporate India
that a Vice Chairman and Managing Director of a company
is questioning the buyback proposal of his firm just before
the board meeting and after the announcement of the proposal
in terms of appropriateness while hinting at some behind
the curtain moves. At the same meet the board of Reliance
Industries Ltd nominated its director Y P Trivedi as its
representative in Reliance Infocomm and constituted a Corporate
Governance committee.
India
beat B'desh, win series (Go
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Dhaka:
India extracted suitable revenge for Sunday's loss
by drubbing Bangladesh comprehensively to win the series
2-1. India won the third and deciding ODI here by 91 runs.
Opting to bat first after winning the toss Indian skipper
Sourav Ganguly sought to leverage the strengths of Team
India - batting. The frontline batsmen did not disappoint.
Starting with Sachin Tendulkar's 47, Virender' Sehwag's
70, Sourav Ganguly's 55, Rahul Dravid's 60 and Yuvraj Singh's
fiery 69 off 32 deliveries took India to a mammoth 348/5.
Bangladesh started positively enough but lost its first
wicket in the seventh over. After that every time they tried
to effect a fightback, Indian bowlers broke through to nip
the effort in the bud. India have thereby won both the one-day
international series 2-1 and the Test series 2-0. Man of
the Match: Virender Sehwag . Man of the Series: Mohammad
Kaif .
