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Govt gives green signal for Union Carbide clean-up

         Bhopal: The Central government on Thursday cleared the way for the first major cleanup, in over a decade, of the abandoned Union Carbide factory, site of the country's worst- ever industrial disaster. The leak of deadly methyl isocyanate from the Bhopal plant of the US-based Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) on the night of 2/3, December 1984 killed up to 6,500 people and caused serious harm to more than 20,000. Environmentalists say over 4000 metric tonnes of toxic waste lying untreated in the abandoned complex in Madhya Pradesh has been polluting underground water and soil posing serious threat to the local people.

         A case making UCC accountable for the mess has been pending in a New York court, which had ruled in favour of the locals earlier this year but a final order was awaiting approval of the Indian government. In a major victory for the activists, the Prime Minister has himself intervened in the matter and despatched a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to U.S authorities on Thursday, with immediate effect. Though relieved with the order, surviors of the horrific tragedy, say experts must step in to ensure no missing pieces are left behind now. The 1984 leakage also referred to as the Bhopal Gas Tragedy is one of world's worst industrial disasters. Tardy compensation, inadequate medical treatment and absence of economic rehabilitation to the debilitated survivors characterized the post-gas leak scenario in Bhopal. In 1989, the Government took upon itself to be the sole power to represent all the victims under the Bhopal Gas Leak Act and settled for a sum of 470 million dollars, nearly one- seventh of the original claim of 3 billion dollars. Squabbles over compensation amounts are continuing to this date.

13 Maoist rebels held in Patna (Go To Top)

          Patna: Bihar police on Thursday arrested 13 suspected Maoist rebels from a hideout in Patna. These rebels, belonging to the banned People's War (PW) group, were arrested while they were returning from a wedding ceremony. Police said they have seized some arms from them also. "According to a secret information, STF (Special Task Force) and the Patna police together raided and arrested some active members of the PWG who were returning from a marriage party. They are being questioned. We have also recovered some rifles from them," Vinay Kumar Singh, Deputy Inspector General of STF, said. Police said several cases have been registered against some of the arrested men. However, the arrested men said they were framed. "We are just farmers. We are being trapped. We have not gone anywhere and nothing done," Arun Sharma, one of the arrested rebels, told reporters. Binod Kumar, another arrested man, complained that his identity was mistaken.

Modi sued for 5 million dollars (Go To Top)

         Himatnagar (Gujarat): A court in Gujarat on Thursday asked the state government to file replies in a compensation case by the widows of two British Muslims burned to death by a mob in communal riots two years ago. The women have sued 14 of the state's top officials, including chief minister Narendra Modi, for 5 million dollars, accusing them of genocide and torture. The lawsuits, filed in a district court in Himmatnagar town, hold Modi responsible for "the acts of commission and omission committed by his officers in the command structure". A statement by the relatives of the dead men termed the riots as gruesome and targeted violence against minority Muslims and a clear case of a crime against humanity. The Gujarat government has till July 31 to reply. "The matter has been adjourned till July 31 for the defendants to file the written statement. That has all that has happened," Anand Grover, counsel for the complainant, said. The suits by the two men's widows, Sherin Dawood and Shamima Dawood, also seek damages for Imran Dawood, a relative who was stabbed and seriously wounded in the attack. Sakil Dawood and Saeed Dawood, both British, were visiting India when a mob turned on them and burned them to death in February 2002, at the height of communal bloodshed.

It was just a joke, says Vajpayee (Go To Top)

         Mumbai: Scotching speculation over his retirement from active politics, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Thursday said his surprise remarks on Wednesday night indicating such a course were made in "jest". Addressing the concluding session of the three-day BJP national executive here, he said his remarks in Marathi had raised a furore and that they were "made in jest". Vajpayee also asserted that there was "no power struggle" within the party. Kursi ki ladai nahin hai , he said. Vajpayee said the party's mission was not to capture power or occupy the chair but to "get India its place under the sun". "Our mission is incomplete and we should make efforts in that direction," he said. Party president Venkaiah Naidu declared that it has no proposal to remove Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and said this has been conveyed in no uncertain terms to rebel leader Keshubhai Patel. Vajpayee has been blamed by the Sangh Parivar for the Lok Sabha poll debacle and has been asked to retire.

Let Parliament function, PM to political parties (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today voiced deep concern over disruption of Parliament and appealed to political parties to respect the institution. Addressing the nation over television and radio, he said the country would have benefited if Parliament had been allowed to discuss the President's address, which outlines the comprehensive agenda of the government. The address detailed the priorities of his government in various areas, mainly economic, and made it clear that it was keen on continuing dialogue with Pakistan while maintaining a credible nuclear deterrent as a responsible power. Though he did not directly refer to the inclusion of "tainted" ministers in his government, an issue on which the BJP-led opposition disrupted Parliament, he said he shared the concern about "decline of moral and ethics in public life".

          Regretting that there has been "no helping hand" to farmers who have been in distress in many parts of the country, Singh said there has been a neglect of their interests in recent years and this was reflected in a significant slowing down in agricultural growth in the past five years. The UPA Government's Common Minimum Programme was committed to giving a "new deal" to rural India. Agriculture must receive the priority attention it deserves. Public and Private investment in agriculture has to be greatly increased, he said, adding there are still too many internal barriers to farm trade that must go. Higher rates of economic growth, urbanisation and the modernisation of agriculture will continue to increase the demand for energy, Singh said "we will evolve an energy policy package that will cover all sources of energy and will address all aspects like energy security, access, availability, affordability and pricing, efficiency and environment."

EU team confers with Hurriyat leaders (Go To Top)

          Srinagar: A delegation of members of European parliament on Thursday met Kashmir's separatist leaders in Srinagar. The 14-member team led by John Cushnahan held discussions with the leaders of All Parties Hurriyat (Freedom) Conference on various issues regarding the Kashmir dispute. Keeping New Delhi's sensitivities in mind, Cushnahan walked the fine line between understanding the complexities and interfering in the Kashmir dispute. "We have to be very careful, we are not mediators and we are not people who would seek to interfere. We have come here to learn more about the situation and develop our own policy because it's a conflict, which is just not located in Kashmir or the people or Kashmir. It's a conflict, which in Pakistan...in relations between the two powers threatening regional stability and because of the nuclear issue in the background that threatens world stability. So we have an interest in and I am sure EU will continue its dialogue with separate parties," Cushnahan said.

96 killed in Iraq car bombings, 233 injured (Go To Top)

          Baghdad: In a series of car bombings in northern Iraq and attacks on police stations 96 people were killed and 233 hurt, a US TV reported on Thursday. The deadly attacks happened just six days before transfer of power in the war ravaged Iraq. Insurgents launched simultaneous attacks on Thursday on police stations in Iraqi cities of Ramadi and Baquoba, while a series of car bombings in the northern city of Mosul killed at least 50 people and injured 170, hospital officials said.

Parminder Nagra, Fauja Singh to carry Olympic torch in London (Go To Top)

          London: "Bend it like Beckham" actress Parminder Nagra and Fauja Singh, a 92-year-old Sikh who recently set a world record of being the oldest man to run in London Marathon, are among the prominent British Asians who would carry the Olympic torch acrss the streets of London. Other prominent torch-bearers include former England cricketer Ian Botham. Nagra and Singh will carry the torch next week through Asian- dominated Brick Lane, as part of the celebrations to welcome the Athens 2004 Olympic Torch Relay. This would the first time after 1948 when the Olympic Flame be passed through the streets of London. "This is the first time that the Olympic Flame has visited Britain since 1948. It is a great honour for London, the most diverse city in the world, to take part in this unique global event," London Mayor Ken Livingstone was quoted by Online News as saying.

Reliance buys German polyester firm Trevira (Go To Top)

         Mumbai: Reliance Industries Ltd announced on Thursday the purchase of Frankfurt-based polyester maker Trevira, making it the world's largest polyester fibre and yarn company. The value of the takeover of Trevira, which had annual sales of 316 million euros in 2003, was not disclosed. Reliance Chairman Mukesh Ambani said acquisition of Trevira gave the firm an access to potential growth in Eastern Europe. "I am delighted to announce that Reliance has finalised the acquisition of Trevira an erstwhile division of the German giant Hext, a leading polyester producer and a well-known brand in Europe. Trevira is headquarterd in Frankfurt and operates polyester plants in Germany, Belgium and Denmark. Trivera gives Reliance a well timed entry into Europe to capture the growth potential in eastern Europe," Ambani told shareholders in the Annual General Meeting here.