BJP takes credit for economic boom (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday took the credit for pushing the country on the path of economic boom. A strong "feel good" factor propelled by an expected over eight percent GDP growth rate, besides a morale boosting win in state polls in December, has prompted the BJP-led ruling coalition to gamble with an early national election. BJP spokesman Arun Jaitley said that their policies made Indian economy one of the fastest growing in the world. "Reserves are swelling. Currency is strong. Exports are growing. In service sector, the most powerful economy in the world, the U.S. is today feeling threatened by job cross overs to India. Even in manufacturing sector, there are now segments which are growing rapidly. And we believe, one of the principal reason why the economy got this fillip is because of the govenrment's, BJP's, particularly the Prime Minister's support behind the crucial economic decisions we have taken," Arun Jaitley told reporters in New Delhi.

          On Thursday, chief of central bank predicted a strong growth for the Indian economy, Asia's third largest, for this year and next year. India, home to one-sixth of the world's population, is currently one of the world's fastest-growing economies after growing 8.4 percent between the third quarters of 2002 and 2003. The economy is now expected to expand by 8.1 percent in the year to March 2004, double the previous year. The Indian currency, long accustomed to annual depreciation against the dollar, rose for the first time in a decade in 2002, gaining 0.55 percent as investments poured into a robust economy. The economic growth and a "feel good factor" after abundant monsoon rains last year, made the BJP-led government to opt for an early election, eight months ahead of scheduled time.

          The Election Commission is expected to announce the dates for the election this month. A recently held poll has predicted Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's BJP-led coalition would win 330-340 of the 543 seats at stake in the lower house of parliament. The coalition currently holds 303 seats. The opinion poll has also indicated that the Congress will suffer the worst drubbing in its 119-year- old history, winning just 105-115 seats in the elections expected sometime in April, down from the 140 it holds along with its allies at the moment.

Poultry farmers march to quell bird flu rumours (Go To Top)

          Pune (Maharashtra): Poultry farm owners here organised a march on Wednesday to allay fears about the bird flu. The rally was organized by the Maharashtra Poultry Farmers' Association (MPFA). "All the cases which have been found are outside India, not in the country. Not in India there been any case. Indian polutry is 50 years ahead of other countries. Central and state governments have said that there is no such case in India," said S.D. Zambare, the president of the MPFA.

          Over 12,000 healthy chickens worth 20,000 dollars were buried alive and 7,000 eggs destroyed following the avian flu scare at Saint Alphonsus Social and Agriculture Centre at Sipahidhura in West Bengal last week. The disease has not been reported in India, but the authorities are on a high alert, especially after Pakistan reported a different strain of the bird flu virus. The Indian government has also advised poultry farm owners in areas bordering Pakistan to be cautious. The Human death toll from the bird flu epidemic sweeping through Asia rose to 19 on Tuesday, and so far, more than 50 million birds have been culled in Asia. Health officials fear that the H5N1 avian flu virus might mix with human influenza and unleash a pandemic among people with no immunity to it.

Militants attack Manipur CM's house (Go To Top)

          Imphal: The house of Manipur Chief Minister Okram Ibobi Singh was attacked by heavily armed militants on Wednesday night, official sources said on Thursday. There was no casualty. The attackers later escaped in darkness. The motive behind the attack by the banned Manipur People's Liberation Front is not yet known. The MPLF militants had attacked Singh early last year in Thoubal district and killed two of his security guards, the sources added.

Fresh arrest warrant issued against Telgi (Go To Top)

          Nasik: A local court has asked Bangalore's central jail authorities to produce Abdul Karim Telgi, prime accused in the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, on March 31 in connection with two cases regarding the scam. Earlier, the same court had issued a production warrant asking Bangalore authorities to produce Telgi on February 11, but they could not produce him on Wednesday. Hence the court issued a fresh arrest warrant against Telgi, sources said. Telgi is wanted by the court in connection with two cases. The CBI has already arrested suspended general manager of Nasik Road- based India Security Press (ISP) Ganga Prakash and suspended ISP works manager Mahendra Singh for helping Telgi and selling printing machines in scrap without dismantling. Both the ISP officials are currently lodged in the central jail here in a judicial custody till February 23 and the court has already rejected their bail plea.

Indian death toll in Sharjah crash goes up to 13 (Go To Top)

          Dubai: With the death of an infant on Wednesday, the toll of Indian fatalities from Tuesday's air crash in Sharjah has gone up to 13. Reports reaching here said that the body of 14-month old infant Ula Pervez was recovered from the airline debris. It was reported that Ula was travelling with her father Ahmed Pervez, mother Shameem Pervez and her three-year old sister Naama Pervez. The family hailed from Karnataka's northern Bhatkal district. The Consulate General of India here is now waiting for Shameem's father, who works in Saudi Arabia, to arrive and identify the bodies, besides completing the rest of the formalities. The consulate, with the help of local authorities, has managed to get the documents of 10 of the 13 Indians who died in the crash. Two of the victims have been identified as being from Tamil Nadu.

Imran will train Pak bowlers for India series (Go To Top)

          Karachi: Pakistan's former cricket captain, Imran Khan, has agreed to train the country's current crop of fast bowlers for the forthcoming series against India. Confirming this news, Pakistan chief selector Wasim Bari said that Imran, now a leading politician, would make himself available to the cricket team from February 23, and would hold special training sessions with the fast bowlers, besides discussing the finer tactical points for the coming series with the team.

           "It is a very positive development as Imran is a highly respected figure in cricket and players tend to listen to his advice," the News quoted Bari as saying. Bari said the presence of someone like Imran would help motivate the players for the series and also allow the fast bowlers like Shoaib Akhtar and Muhammad Sami to learn from his experience. "Sami has been having some problems and Imran himself is keen to help out the youngster and give him some advice," he said.

          Meanwhile, the country's other veteran fast bowler Wasim Akram, is yet to respond to the PCB's calls for assistance. Skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq had a couple of days ago requested both Imran and Wasim to give a few bowling tips to the fast bowlers. The paper quoted the captain as saying that he would again request Akram to be with the players in the camp. "Imran and Wasim are our greatest fast bowlers and captains and they can play a vital role in mentally preparing our players for the tough series ahead," he said. Both the Pakistani bowlers, who were once considered as the most deadly duo, have a combined total of 776 Test wickets between them.

BCCI team visits Karachi Stadium (Go To Top)

          Karachi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) team on Thursday visited National Stadium and Rangers headquarters in Karachi on its tour to Pakistan. The officials arrived in Pakistan on Monday to assess security ahead of the Indian team's first test tour in more than fourteen years. The BCCI has sent a three-member delegation to Pakistan to oversee arrangements after reports of security concerns were expressed by some Indian players. Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf and the Pakistan board has assured tight security for the players during the tour. BCCI media manager Amrit Mathur, though said that the officials will be talking to the Pakistan Cricket Board and make their assessment. Security has dominated the build-up to the tour because of recent bomb blasts in Pakistan.

          India are due to tour Pakistan in March and April to play three tests and five one-day internationals. It will be their first full tour of Pakistan in 14 years. Indian selector Madan Lal said in Kolkata on Wednesday that security was an issue to be decided by the Indian government and the cricket board. Political animosity between the nuclear neighbours, who came close to war two years ago, has eased in recent months with the governments agreeing to hold talks aimed at ending the decades- old dispute over Kashmir and other issues.