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Left, Opposition condemn oil price hike

       New Delhi/Chennai/Kolkata: The Left and several opposition parties, including the BJP and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), on Friday condemned the UPA Government's decision to raise oil prices. Emerging out of the CPI-M's weekly state secretariat meeting, former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu said that he was quite surprised by the development and would be talking to other leaders of the Left before deciding the next course of action. He said the possibility of a nation-wide agitation against the hiken could not be ruled out. "We will hold demonstrations all over the nation to protest the price rise. We had asked them not to do it now and that it can be considered later. But I saw in the newspaper today that the government had effected it," Basu said. The Left claims the Centre did not explore the alternatives suggested by them. These included possible duty and excise cuts. It claims the rise in diesel prices will have a cascading inflationary effect on consumer prices.

      The government increased petrol prices by Rs 2.19, diesel by Rs 2.12 and LPG prices by Rs 20. However, the hike in fuel prices is only half of what India pays to import the fuel. Attacking the UPA government, the BJP dubbed it as an "inflation- filled Diwali gift" to the people. Party Vice President Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the ruling coalition was "increasingly putting the burden on the common people." "The way the prices have been raised is shameful," he said, adding that the issue would be discussed at the party's National Executive on November 24.

      Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and AIADMK president J. Jayalalithaa also condemned the Centre for the latest hike, saying that the UPA government would go down in history 'for being the most anti- people government in the shortest possible time'. "Just before the Deepavali festival, instead of bringing cheer to the people, the Congress-led UPA government has chosen to impose this crushing burden on the people, totally unmindful of the way it will affect each and every household in the country. The consumers will never forgive them for this condemnable anti- people action", she said in a four-page statement.

AP legislation on quota not permissible: SC (Go To Top) 

      New Delhi: The Supreme Court today struck down an Andhra Pradesh legislation in which it had sub-divided the Scheduled Castes reservation into four categories. A five-judge constitution bench headed by Justice N Santosh Hegde said that micro-classification of reservation was not permissible under the constitution, and therefore, the Andhra legislation was an invalid law.

SBI employees on token strike (Go To Top)

      Kolkata: The employees and officers association of the State Bank of India has called for a day-long country-wide token strike today to protest against the management's policies and decisions. The call for token strike came after United Forum of Bank Union's ignored its plan to call a two-day strike of all banking industry workers. Sources at SBI said that they had already served notice to the management in this connection and that the decision to go for the token strike was taken in view of the management's attack on trade union rights, unilateral actions and restoration of bilateralism.

SC criticises Centre over abattoir (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: The Supreme Court today criticised the Centre for moving an application objecting to the court's order to shift the Idgah slaughter house to Ghazipur. The apex court said that it could pose a security threat to the Hindon airbase in Ghaziabad. It said that the decision to shift the abattoir was taken one year back and asked why didn't the Air Force and the government not approach the court earlier. The court also summoned Union Urban Developement Secretary and Chief Sceretary of Delhi government to be personally present before the court on November 17 to explain why were they silent for one year.

Buta Singh takes over as Bihar Governor (Go To Top)

       Patna: Former Union Minister Buta Singh was today sworn-in as the new Governor of Bihar. The acting Chief Justice of the Patna High Court Justice Nagendra Roy administered him oath of office and secrecy at a function at Raj Bhawan. State Chief Minister Rabri Devi, RJD president Laloo Prasad, Union Ministers Raghuvansh Prasad Singh Jaiprakash Narain Yadav, Kanti Singh, Assembly Speaker Sadanand Singh, Legislative Council Chairman Jabir Hussain, Bihar Congress president Ramjatan Sinha, and a number of state ministers, MLAs and officials were also present on the occasion.

Kalam congratulates Karzai (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: President, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam has congratulated HE Hamid Karzai on his election as the President of Afghanistan. In his message, Kalam said, "I am delighted to extend my sincere congratulations on your Excellency's election as the President of Afghanistan. I am confident that under your leadership, Afghanistan will regain its rightful place as a strong and independent nation. He said the elections were indeed a historic milestone in Afghanistan's journey towards establishment and consolidation of democracy. It was the harbinger of Afghan people's quest for peace, stability and prosperity. Kalam added: "India and Afghanistan have a long history of friendship and cultural affinity, which we value greatly. We trust that under your continued guidance, our relations would further expand and intensify."