Soren re-inducted, TRS' Rao given portfolio
New
Delhi: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today effected
three changes in his cabinet. He re-inducted JMM chief Shibu
Soren, who had resigned a few months back following re-
opening of a murder case against him, and gave him his original
Coal portfolio, restricted Sisram Ola to Mines only, and
assigned Labour and Employment Ministry to TRS chief K.
Chandreshekhar Rao. "The reasons why Shibu Soren left the
cabinet, those reasons do not remain now. That was the reason
he has been brought back," the PM said after the swearing
in ceremony. He hoped that the Opposition would allow parliament
to function smoothly for the brief winter session beginning
December 1. Singh further said: "Yes, it is the honourable
Vice President and the Speaker had a very good meeting.
All parties have assured them of their fully possible co-operation.
On behalf of the government I stated that we will make every
effort to ensure that this session is as smooth as possible.
The opposition wants to raise any issue I think we would
welcome an opportunity to debate those issues." Later, speaking
to reports, Soren said: "The Opposition does not have any
issue. If they try to make any issue then we cannot do anything.
There is no issue as such."
Lt
Gen JJ Singh to be new Army chief (Go
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New
Delhi: Lt Gen Joginder Jaswant Singh, a highly-decorated
officer, was on Saturday appointed the next Chief of the
Army Staff, becoming the first Sikh ever to be named to
the high post. Lt Gen Singh, at present General Officer
Commanding-in-Chief of the Western Command, will take over
from Gen N C Vij, who retires on January 31, 2005, an official
announcement here said. Born on September 17, 1945, at Bahawalpur
(now in Pakistan), Lt Gen Singh was commissioned into the
Maratha Light Infantry on August 2, 1964. He is married
to Anupama and has a son and a daughter. A third generation
Army officer, Lt Gen Singh has worked in a variety of Command
and Staff appointments during his long and distinguished
service spanning over 40 years. He has the distinction of
commanding two Army Commands -- the Shimla-based Army Training
Command and the Chandimandir-based Western Command. He was
the Additional Director of Military Operations during the
Kargil conflict.
Sonia
can play pro-active role in Indo-Pak ties: PM (Go
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New
Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today endorsed
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf's statement that Congress
president Sonia Gandhi should play a proactive role in the
resolution of Kashmir and other outstanding issues between
India and Pakistan. "Definitely yes. She is the Congress
President and the Chairperson of the UPA," Singh told reporters
who asked about his views on Gen Musharraf's comments that
Ms Gandhi can help achieve a breakthrough in Indo-Pak ties.
In a recent interview, Gen Musharraf had said that since
Sonia Gandhi was not in the government, she could contribute
in a more informal way. All the Left parties and the BJP
and other Opposition parties could also play a positive
role, he had said.
Four
militants killed in Srinagar (Go
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Srinagar:
The Jammu and Kashmir police today killed as many as
four militants in Srinagar. The extremists fired at a patrol
party. In the return fire the police gunned down the militants.
The incident occurred at Nishat here. One of the four militants
killed was identified, but his identity was not disclosed.
In other incident, militants chopped off the hands of one
Mohd Sultan in Tral Area in Pulwama district. In yet another
incident, extremists shot at and injured one Bashir Ahmed
Mir in Anantnag district in South Kashmir, police said.
Lt.
Governor B. L. Joshi at IITF 2004 award ceremony (Go
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New
Delhi: The annual India International Trade Fair (IITF)
came to an end today with an award ceremony by Lieutenant
Governor B. L. Joshi. IITF is organised every year by ITPO
or the India Trade Promotion Organisation. The 24th International
Trade Fair theis year went on from November 14 to November
27 and featured the twin themes of agriculture and information
technology. Joshi gave away awards at the fair's closing
ceremony. The Best Pavillion Award went to Kerala. Punjab
came in second and Chhattisgarh and Uttaranchal got commendations
for their efforts. The Best Foreign Pavillion Award went
to Brazil while the runners-up was Thailand. Among the Northeastern
states, Assam was adjudged the best. Meghalaya came in a
close second. Joshi congratulated every body on the success
of 24th India International Trade Fair and wished them luck
for next year's IITF. He said the twin themes reflected
our tradition and strength. He also mentioned that the development
of the country depends on the modernization of agriculture
and IT will play an important role for India to become a
developed country by 2020. He appreciated all the organisers
and Delhi Police for IITF 2004 being a success. The
fair, which is becoming an increasingly important trade
event in Asia, is an ideal platform for businessmen from
all the world to exchange views, export and import orders,
exploration of joint venture and technology transfer opportunities
as well as launch of new products and test marketing.
S
M Krishna appointed new Governor of Maharashtra (Go
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New
Delhi: Former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna was
today appointed Governor of Maharashtra, a Rashtrapati Bhavan
press release said. Krishna succeeds Mohammad Fazal, who
recently completed his term. Born in 1932, Krishna has been
a Rajya Sabha member and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee
Chief and Deputy Chief Minister.
PM
hints at new pricing system for petrol, diesel (Go
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New
Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today hinted at
replacing the current practice of fortnightly revision of
petrol and diesel prices with a more stable pricing policy
once the volatile international crude prices stabilise.
Singh told reporters at the swearing-in ceremony of JMM
leader Sibu Soren at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, said, "A stable
pricing system should be there... We will try and evolve
a system to deal with prices (of petroleum products) once
the international prices stabilise". As per the current
practice, petrol and diesel prices are fixed on the 1st
and 16th of every month based on the average of international
prices in the preceeding fortnight. This has led to wide
fluctuation in the prices of the two auto fuels. "International
prices are going up and down. If international prices change,
we have to act accordingly as bulk of our crude oil (requirement)
is imported," the prime minister said.
