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38 Maharashtra ministers take office

       Mumbai: Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh's Council of Ministers was sworn-in at the historic Azad Maidan here on Tuesday. The state's Governor, Mohammed Fazal, administered the oath of office and secrecy to 38 ministers, including 25 of cabinet rank. Tuesday's ministerial expansion took place exactly nine days after Deshmukh and his deputy R R Patil were sworn in. Dropped from the Council were Deshmukh's ardent critic, former Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) President Govindrao Adik, and former state Home Minister Kripashankar Singh. While Nationalist Congress Party(NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar in his bid to strengthen the party in Thane and Navi Mumbai has inducted Ganesh Naik(who had defected from Shiv Sena), the Congress has made former Mumbai Mayor Chandrakant Handore, a cabinet minister, thus strengthening its Dalit vote bank in the metropolis.

      The cabinet ministers sworn in include former Deputy Chief Ministers Chhagan Bhujbal and Vijaysinh Mohite Patil and former ministers Ajit Pawar, Jayant Patil, Dilip Walse Patil, Suresh Jain, Anil Deshmukh, Babanrao Pachpute, Ramraje Nimbalkar, Sunil Tatkare, Dr Vimal Mundada, Dr Vijay Kumar Gavit and Nawab Malik (all NC) and Dr Patangrao Kadam, Surupsinh Naik, Satish Chaturvedi, Ashok Chavan, Anees Ahmed, Vasant Purke, Balasaheb Thorat and Chandrakant Handore(all Cong) and Congress-supported Independent Harshwardhan Patil and Mr Vinay Kore of Jana Surajya Shakti(JSS). The Shiv Sena tried to block the entry of the new ministers by resorting to road blockade on way to the Azad Maidan.

Banerjee probe panel inspects Godhra train (Go To Top)

      Ahmedabad: The four-member committee appointed to probe the technical aspects of the February 27, 2002 Sabarmati Express train carnage in Godhra arrived here this morning for another round of inspection. Sources said, the panel headed by the former Supreme Court judge, Justice (retd.) U.C. Banerjee, includes fire, mechanical and technical experts and was constituted by Union Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav.The Bannerji Committee inspected the S-6 coach of the train, stationed here since the incident. It is likely to visit Ahmedabad later in the day, police sources said. The committee, constituted by the Centre, had earlier visited the area on September 15. The torching of the coach had triggered widespread communal riots in North and Central Gujarat in which nearly 1,000 people died. The panel will probe into the exact cause of the fire that killed 59 Karsevaks inside the S-6 coach of the Sabarmati Express train.

Congress leader shot dead in J-K (Go To Top)

       Srinagar: A local Congress leader, Jalaluddin Sheikh, and his bodyguard were shot dead by militants in Budgam district of central Kashmir, official sources said here today. The militants attacked Sheikh's house in Wagroo-Chattergul last night and snatched weapons of the policemen posted at the house before escaping, they said. Sheikh had unsuccessfully contested the 2002 assembly elections in Jammu and Kashmir.

Seven die in building collapse in Ahmedabad (Go To Top)

      Ahmedabad: The death toll in the collapse of the under-construction Times of India building at Vejalpur area of the city has gone up to seven, fire brigade sources said here today. "We have wound up search and rescue operations in the morning. I don't think there are any more persons trapped inside. The officials have given a written statement along with a list of the labourers after verifying from the construction companies," fire inspector Rajesh Bhatt said. Five persons were killed and 27 others injured when a portion of the roof of the under-construction Times of India building collapsed last night. The rescue operations continued throughout the night and two more bodies were recovered this morning. According to the sources, several cranes and bulldozers were pressed into service while local volunteers and self-helped group members helped fire officials in rescue operations. The injured have been admitted to hospital, they said. State Health Minister I.K. Jadeja also visited the spot late last night and assured that the incident would be probed.

Social worker Baba Amte hospitalised (Go To Top)

      Nagpur: Distinguished social worker Baba Amte was admitted to a private hospital following high blood pressure late last night. But his condition was stable now and he was talking to the visitors. According to the family sources, Amte, who is a heart patient, complained of uneasiness after the routine morning walk and was thereby rushed from his 'Anandvan' residence to the nearby hospital. "Baba's condition deteriorated yesterday as his pulse rate became suddenly abnormal and he complained of uneasiness. At one point he was virtually on the brink of collapse," said his son, Prakash Amte.

China-made Ganesha idols flood Delhi's Diwali markets (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Imported idols of Lord Ganesha and the Goddess Laxmi have proved to be a hit with the masses preparing for Diwali this year. Devotees have particularly taken a fancy for clay idols from China and Thailand which are both good looking and inexpensive. Suresh, a shopkeeper, admits that these Chinese-manufactured idols are doing brisk business. "We sell more Chinese idols. They are cheaper. People want to save their money and buy these idols," said Suresh. "People are buying these Chinese Ganeshas because they are auspicious. They are cheap and good to look at," said Rashmi Aggarwal, a customer. The festival of lights,which was traditionally celebrated with the lighting of diyas, has also now been taken over by Chinese bulbs. With the free-trade policy between India and China, the latest designer electronic items, the light bulbs and even electronic idols of Hindu gods and goddesses are freely available in the Indian market and attract huge customers.

Henry Kissinger meets Pranab (Go To Top)

      New Delhi: Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger today met Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee in the Capital. He had arrived here last week to participate in an international seminar organised by a national daily. Kissinger, a critic of India during Cold War era, has in recent times eulogised the country as a global power and backed its candidature for permanent membership of an expanded UN Security Council. A 1973 Nobel Peace Prize winner, Kissinger has repeatedly said that the US felt more comfortable with India than with its arch- rival Pakistan. Kissinger has also justified US attack on Taliban in Afghanistan in 2001 but disfavoured a similar action by India against Pakistan terror camps after a strike on Indian parliament, saying it would have had huge consequences. He also called for international support to help stabilise Iraq, after the government declared a 60-day emergency in the war-torn nation. Kissinger also called on Leader of the Opposition Lal Krishna Advani.

47 Kashmiri rebels surrender arms (Go To Top)

      Jammu: As many as 47 Kashmiri rebels today surrendered before the Indian Army after indulging in terrorist activities for several years. The rebels belonging to the Pakistan-based Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT), Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and the Hizbul Mujahideen laid down their arms at a special ceremony in Jammu. All the three outfits have been extremely active in the region in recent months as violence escalated in the run up to a fresh peace dialogue between India and Pakistan. Under a new rehabilitation plan by the government, the surrendered rebels will be given a monthly stipend of Rs 2000 and will be enrolled into free vocational training schools being run by the army. Each surrendered rebel will also have a fixed deposit account of 150,000 rupees ($3,300) encashable after three years of civilian life with good behaviour. "We are working all with the police whether it is BSF(paramilitary Border Security Force), Army or other paramilitary forces. Those who want to surrender and want to take the right path, we will help them and ensure their rehabilitation," Ashok Kapoor, General Officer Commanding of the Army's 16 Corps, said. Disillusioned and disappointed with the "Jehad" or holy war they were being made party to, the men said they were tired of the jungle life and wanted to join the mainstream. The rebels said that they had been forced into joining the groups and stayed on due to poverty and unemployment back home. "It was in 2003 when some militants circled me and asked me to show the way, I joined a militant group. They said that if I try to run away they would kill me. I did what they said and in this way, I became involved in militancy," Mushtaq Ahmed, a surrendered rebel said. "I joined it out of helplessness. I have a mother, father and a brother at home. I was in HM (Hizbul Mujahideen) group but now I have left it," Ghulam Ali, another rebel, added.

AIADMK protests against recent petro hike (Go To Top)

       Chennai: AIADMK activists today took to the streets denouncing the recent hike in fuel prices announced by the Centre. Carrying placards and LPG cylinders, the AIADMK activists shouted slogans against the UPA government. "We are conducting a state wide demonstration against the recent price hike of petrol, diesel and LPG. After coming to power, the UPA government raised the price three times. They should immediately withdraw the price hike," said party treasurer Dindigul Srinivasan. The Centre raised prices of petrol by nearly six percent and diesel nearly nine percent in a bid to align prices with global trends. LPG or cooking gas prices were hiked by seven percent, with a provision to raise prices by nearly two percent every month. The government said petrol prices would be charged at the same rate as import prices while diesel prices will be increased to a lesser extent. The sharpest hike in fuel prices drew flak from the opposition while the communists demanded its roll back.