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Nine more trucks carrying scrap to Ghaziabad intercepted

         New Delhi: The Delhi Police today intercepted nine trucks on their way to Bhushan Steel Factory in Ghaziabad as part of its crackdown in tracing the origin of the explosives that were discovered in scraps imported into the factory's premises from Iran. Officials say that like the trucks earlier detained by the army in Ghaziabad, these too were carrying imported metal scraps, including some used ammunition shells in their cargo. Keeping in view the seriousness of the matter, police authorities have informed the army officials of the latest interception.

Major fire at Mumbai Central Railway godown

        Mumbai: A major fire broke out in a godown at the Mumbai Central railway station this afternoon. According to the fire brigade sources, the fire broke out at about 2 p.m. in a godown where garments were stored. Five fire engines, three water tankers and an ambulance were immediately pressed into service to extinguish the fire. Fire-fighting operations are still on and investigations are in progress to find the cause of the fire, the sources added.

UPA will complete full term despite Opposition's protests: PM (Go To Top)

         Mumbai: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today said his coalition government was stable and would complete its five year term despite the Opposition's protests against the `tainted' ministers in his government. Singh was addressing Congress workers in Mumbai while campaigning for the forthcoming Assembly polls in Maharashtra. "We were not allowed to work in parliament. They formed roadblocks in the functioning of our government. The BJP is doing all it can to not let this government be in power for five years. They wanted to topple this government before my birthday on September 26. But I want to assure you that this government is very stable and we will complete out five years in office," he said. It may be recalled that the Shiv Sena and BJP MPs, especially those from Maharashtra, had continuously stalled Parliament during the last monsoon session alleging step-motherly treatment of the state by the Centre as far as dealing with the drought situation was concerned.

Telgi case: CBI grills Tamil Nadu IPS officer (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The CBI questioned an IPS officer of Tamil Nadu cadre of the rank of Director General, after his name surfaced in the fake stamp paper scam, official sources said here today. To verify allegations that S. Ramani might have supported Telgi in spreading his network in the state, CBI summoned him to its office last week and asked questions about his suspected links with Telgi. Ramani's name had figured in the tapes allegedly containing telephonic conversation of Telgi, the prime accused in the case, with his contacts. CBI also claimed that Telgi, while in jail at Bangalore, had telephoned Ramani.

Five kg RDX seized in Meghalaya (Go To Top)

         Shillong: A joint police team of Meghalaya and Assam recovered five kg RDX and two-and-a-half kg gelatin sticks from a house at Tikrikilla in Meghalaya's West Garo Hill district, official sources said. Acting upon an information from some surrendered cadres of a militant group, the police team raided the house and recovered RDX and gelatin sticks. However, the police were yet to ascertain if the NDFB or ULFA was behind the move.

Two LeT militants killed in Srinagar (Go To Top)

         Srinagar: As many as two militants belonging to the Lashkar-e-Toiba terrorist group were killed on the outskirts of Srinagar today. In the nightlong encounter three Army personnel were also killed. The encounter took place on the Srinagar-Baramullah national highway. Officials say that while conducting search operations in Zainakot area of the city, the security forces came under heavy gunfire. They retaliated, and it resulted in the killing of the two extremists. Meanwhile, security forces were still conducting search operation in the area.

HC allows Jaya Jaitly's appeal against Tehelka chief (Go To Top)

        New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Wednesday revived former Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitly's defamation complaint against Tehelka Editor Tarun Tejpal for allegedly posting an article on the internet relating to a defence deal expose. In view of a recent Supreme Court ruling that a magistrate cannot recall his order once he has issued summons in a case, Justice R.C. Chopra reversed the trial court's order that had dismissed Jaitly's complaint against Tejpal, saying the trial judge had no power to dismiss the complaint once process had been issued. In July last year the trial court on the grounds of upholding the 'Freedom of Press' had rejected Jaitly's plea, observing that Tejpal ''did not commit any offence''.

Amritsar-Lahore bus service soon, says Amarinder (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: Punjab Chief Minister Captain (retired) Amarindir Singh has declared that the bus service between Amritsar and Lahore will begin soon. Singh was quoted by All India Radio (AIR) as saying that six buses would travel between Amritsar and Lahore every month to allow Sikhs to visit historical sites and places of worship in Pakistan and India. But he said that the service would start only after technical experts from India and Pakistan firmed up an agreement on modalities.

German Chancellor arrives on two-day visit to India (Go To Top)

        New Delhi: German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder arrived here on Wednesday a two-day state visit to further strengthen bilateral ties between India and Germany. Schroeder was accompanied by German Education and Research Minister Edelgard Bulmahn, Parliamentary State Secretary Ditmar Staffelt and a high-level official, business and media delegation. Schroeder, who was received by Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport this morning, will call on President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss new strategic dimensions in two countries' bilateral relationships. He will also address the Indo-German Economic Forum jointly organised by CII, FICCI and the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce and inaugurate "Science Circle", a network of Indian and German scholars and research institutions on either side. An MoU for enhanced cooperation in science and technology between the Department of Science and Technology and the Max Planck Institute of Germany will be signed in the presence of Schroeder and Minister of State for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal. During his visit, Schroeder will also inaugurate the global business park of Giesecke and Devrient-world's leading currency manufacturer at Gurgaon and will deliver the seventh Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Lecture on Peace and Stability at the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation here.

         The visit is part of annual summit-level interaction between India and Germany, which was institutionalised during the last visit to India of Schroeder in October, 2001. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee visited Germany in May, 2003. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to host a lunch in the honour of German Chancellor on Thursday.

Congress to expose CPI (M) `misrule' in W Bengal  (Go To Top)
by Gautam Ghosh

         Kolkata: The Congress high command's decision to bring out five booklets next month "to expose the CPI(M)'s misrule in West Bengal during the past 27 years" is likely to throw a spanner in the current bonhomie between the two parties for the purpose of keeping the BJP-led Sangh Parivar at bay. The move to reveal the Bengal Marxists' "misdeeds" was initiated by Salman Khurshid, AICC general secretary in charge of West Bengal affairs, after his just-concluded visit to the state to take stock of the party's organisational problems here. Khurshid, who had a detailed discussion with top PCC leaders on the question of revamping the organisation, is believed to have appreciated the state committee's misgivings about the party's relationship at the national level and promised to do the needful to counter the Marxists' political offensive against the Congress workers.

        According to informed sources, the proposed booklets will contain detailed information about "the huge assets accumulated by the Bengal Marxists, misappropriation of central funds by the CPI(M)- led panchayat bodies, murders of about eleven thousand Congress and other opposition party workers in the hands of CPI(M) supporters, reasons behind the growing unemployment, systematic closure of tea gardens and industrial units and other related issues." Khurshid has told the state Congress leaders that the booklets will highlight the "Left Front government's failure in the spheres of law and order, panchayati raj, health, education, industry as well as land reforms." The booklets intend to "a fitting reply to the Marxists' disinformation campaign regarding the state government's performance" and will serve as the basis of the state Congress' political offensive against the ruling party.

        Khurshid, who returned to Delhi from Kolkata yesterday, has been urged by the PCC leaders to prevail upon the central leadership to adopt a hard line vis-a-vis the CPI(M) which has been sparing no efforts to embarrass the UPA government at the Centre on some crucial political and economic issues. They have pointed out how the Marxists tried to have their way on the question of ridding the advisory committee to the Planning Commission of foreign representatives belonging to the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. Faced with pressure from the CPI(M) and other left parties, deputy chairman of the Planning Commission Montek Singh Aluwaliah was eventually compelled to dissolve the entire panel. The PCC leaders wonder why the Congress, which is heading the coalition government, should fight shy of adopting a tough stand regarding the Marxists in their strongholds like West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. Khurshid, who had submitted a report to Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi after a visit to Bengal last month, has conceded that the party need not try to placate the CPI(M) in the state despite the two parties' dependence on eacher other at the national level to serve a common political purpose. He also appreciated the PCC leaders's contention that the party should launch a vigorous anti-CPI(M) stir to maintain and strengthen its political existence in Bengal since Trinamul Congress led by Mamata Banerjee is still being viewed by the common people as the only credible anti-CPI(M) outfit. Sources said the Congress high command was worried over the erosion of the party's support base in Bengal after the formation of Trinamul Congress which turned out to be the principal opposition outfit following the 2001 Assembly polls.

Musharraf, Vajpayee in race for Nobel Peace Prize (Go To Top)

        Lahore: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee are two of the many frontrunners for this year's Nobel Peace Prize to be announced on Thursday. According to The Nation, the final list of hopefuls totals 194 candidates, including Musharraf and Vajpayee. The list of candidates also includes 50 organizations, including Europeon Union. Among the other 142 individuals in the running for the prestigious accolade are US President George W. Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, the Pope and former Czech president Vaclav Havel. If Musharraf wins, it will be the very first instance of a serving army general becomes recipient of such a prestigious award. On record, there has only been one case where a retired general winning the Nobel.

Australia 316 for five at close of play on day one (Go To Top)

          Bangalore: Australia ended the day at 316 for 5 on day one of the first Test against India at the Chennaswami Stadium here today. Michael Clarke is still batting at the crease on 76 along with Adam Gilchrist who was unbeaten on 35. The Indian spinners put some pressure on the visitors earlier in the day, picking up regular wickets in the first few sessions. India had their first breakthrough when Harbhajan Singh returning to international cricket after a six-month layoff picked up the dangerous Mathew Hayden for just 26, caught sweeping at square leg by Yuvraj Singh. Justin Langer (52) was beginning to look dangerous at the crease, but then Irfan Pathan struck with a brilliant delivery that uprooted Langer's off stump. Anil Kumble then struck and this time, Damien Martyn (3) was caught by Akash Chopra. Kumble then struck again and this time dismissed Darren Lehmann (17), caught by Dravid.