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Union Cabinet expansion likely by June-end
by Pankaj Yadav

          New Delhi: A Union Cabinet expansion is likely to take place between June 20 and 25, Congress sources said Monday. It would be preceded by a revamp of the Congress set-up, they added. At present there are nearly 70 ministers in Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's Cabinet, whereas as per the set rules the Union Cabinet can have a maximum of 81 ministers. As per the new rules, the strength of the Union Cabinet can go up to the extent of 15 per cent of the total strength of the Lok Sabha (545). Among those who can be given Cabinet berths is Congress general secretary and party's key economist Jairam Ramesh, besides a few young faces. It may be recalled that at the time of formation of the UPA government, voices were raised that youths were not given their due representation in the Union Cabinet. Meanwhile, according to sources, Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil and Union Power Minister PM Sayeed, both of whom lost in the recent held Lok Sabha polls, would get a back-door entry into Parliament. The Congress has almost decided to bring both these leaders into the Rajya Sabha from Maharashtra.

India condemns Saudi militant attack (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: India on Monday condemned the latest militant attack in Al Khobar city of the oil-rich Saudi Arabia in which 22 civilians, including eight Indians, were killed. Saudi commandos late on Sunday stormed a housing complex and freed dozens of foreign hostages from militants, after a 25-hour drama, but the attackers managed to escape after holding hostages at gunpoint for cover. "We express deep regret at the unfortunate deaths of 22 persons of different nationalities including eight Indians in Al Khobar. We condemn this wanton act of terrorism which has led to the loss of innocent lives and damage to property," Navtej Sarna, Indian foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters in New Delhi. Sarna said Indian casualties, including a reporter and a plumber and a lawyer were just caught in the cross-fire. Sarna said the Indian embassy in Saudi capital Riyadh was making arrangements for repatriation of bodies. "The Indian casualties were victims of the circumstances rather than premeditated targets for attack. Our embassy in Riyadh has placed two teams in Al Khobar for rendering consular and other assistance including informing the next of kin and for repatriation of bodies to India. The embassy will also address the issue of compensation with the Saudi authorities concerned," said Sarna. An Internet statement purporting to come from Osama bin Laden's al Qaeda network said it carried out the unprecedented hostage- taking, which raised the stakes in a battle the world's biggest crude exporter has waged against the group for a year. A later statement signed by the "al Qaeda network in the Arabian peninsula" vowed to rid the peninsula of "infidels".

           In a dramatic end to the standoff, helicopters dropped commandos onto the roof of the complex. The Saudi Interior Ministry said 41 foreigners were rescued and 201 other residents who had been trapped in the compound were evacuated. It was the second major attack on the Saudi oil industry-a lifeline of the West's economy-in less than a month and raised fears that oil prices, already high, could go up still more, although the government said production was unaffected. The standoff began on Saturday when gunmen in military garb shot at oil firms and housing compounds before fleeing to the posh Oasis housing complex.

Vajpayee paves way for Advani to lead Opposition (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Marking the end of an era, former prime minister Atal Behari Vajpayee will hand over charge as the leader of BJP's Parliamentary Party to his second-in-command LK Advani. While Advani will play the role of the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Vajpayee is likely to stay on as the head of NDA. It could also mark a strategic shift in BJP's policies with the new leadership expected to define the issues on which it will target the Congress-led coalition. Primarily, we will decide on what issues to target the government," said BJP spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi.

Congress-led UPA offers LS Dy Speaker post to Opposition (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has said Congress-led UPA government offered the post of Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker to the main Opposition. Azad told reporters on Monday that he had made the offer at separate meetings he had with BJP leader L K Advani and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) convener George Fernandes. "We have told them that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress Parliamentary Party chairperson Sonia Gandhi have decided that the Deputy Speaker's post should go to the Opposition," Azad aid. Asked about the response of Advani and Fernandes to the offer, he said they would have to consult their colleagues before taking a decision.

40 per cent turnout in Chapra repoll (Go To Top)

          Chapra: Barring stray incidents of clashes and shoot-outs in which eight persons were injured, the repoll in the Chapra Lok Sabha constituency of Bihar on Monday passed off peacefully with an estimated 40 per cent voter turnout. RJD candidate and Railway minister Laloo Prasad Yadav locked horns with BJP nominee Rajiv Pratap Rudy, on whose complaint the Election Commission had ordered repoll in the entire constituency after its two-member team confirmed large-scale electoral fraud during the April 26 polling. District Magistrate-cum-Returning Officer B Pradhan has said four persons were injured in a clash between supporters of rival candidates at a booth at Marhaura. Two persons suffered gun-shot injuries in an exchange of fire between supporters of RJD and BJP at Gopalpur Tola. In Dahiyawan area, two persons were attacked and injured by RJD men, he said. Some clashes and explosions also took place at a few booths under Sonepur and Marhaura segments but no one was injured, Pradhan said.

Dr Sanjaya Baru appointed media advisor to PM (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: Dr Sanjaya Baru, Chief Editor of the Financial Express, has been appointed the media advisor to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Baru, who is a well-known business journalist and has served in the Times of India and some other newspapers will take over his new assignment shortly. Baru is also related to PVRK Prasad, the controversial IAS officer from Andhra Pradesh who was the media advisor to PV Narasimha Rao during his tenure as Prime Minister. However, unlike Prasad, Baru enjoys tremendous goodwill in the journalistic fraternity.