Main Page                                                                 Archives

Maharashtra CM in a day

         New Delhi: Political Secretary to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, Ahmed Patel, has hinted that the chief ministership issue in Maharashtra is likely to be resolved by tomorrow. "Ninety percent will be resolved today and ten per cent tomorrow", Patel told reporters here after a two-hour long meeting between Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Union ministers Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Arjun Singh at Gandhi's residence 10, Janpath. Patel, however, denied reports that the Congress has decided to give up the Chief Ministership to NCP. He said that Congress would be having talks with Pawar this evening to sort out the vexed issue.

UP Govt recommends dismissal of RK Sharma

       Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh government today recommended to the Centre the dismissal of suspended IAS officer R.K. Sharma in connection with Taj Corridor case, official sources said. The government also recommended to put on hold, the pension and gratuity of the state's former chief secretary, D.S. Bagga, who has since superannuated. According to sources, the action follows an inquiry into the Taj Heritage Corridor scam on the directive of the Supreme Court. Sharma was the environment secretary when the multi-crore project was taken up by former Chief Minister Mayawati's government without proper environmental clearance.

PM says artifical restrictions on N-tech unwarranted (Go To Top)

        Kalpakkam: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today opposed artificial restrictions on genuine peaceful use of nuclear technology while launching a 500 MW Fast Breeder Reactor Project at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research here. He suggested a constructive dialogue between advanced nuclear powers and other countries to evolve more effective measures to stem the tide of proliferation without unduly constraining the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. " Our nuclear programme take a major step forward today with the launching of the commercial phase of the fast breeder programme. Constraining those who are responsible, amounts, in effect, to rewarding those who are irresponsible," he said. "We in India are willing to shoulder our share of international obligations, provided our legitimate interests are met. India has actively embraced globalisation. There is no reason why nuclear energy production should be an exception", he said. "In the last 50 years, we have crossed several milestones in this journey. This has been a tireless quest for scientific and technological excellence," Singh said, adding that nation owed a debt of gratitude to "the founders of our nuclear programme."

Khurana to resign as Rajasthan Governor (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: Rajasthan Governer Madan Lal Khurana has said that he has decided to resign from his post and would return to active politics soon. He will hand over his resignation to the President APJ Abdul Kalam on Monday. Khurana said that the decision was personal, and that there was no pressure from anywhere to resign. Meanwhile, according to the sources, BJP also has finally agreed to accommodate Khurana in the party.

Durga Puja festival comes to an end (Go To Top)

       New Delhi: The four-day long Hindu festival "Durga Puja" concluded on Saturday with the immersion of idols of Goddess Durga. Hundreds of devotees here marched in processions carrying idols of Goddess Durga to river Yamuna. The immersion symbolically ends the festivities. Goddess Durga is worshipped across the country during the nine day "Navratri" festival but public display of idols in Pandals or makeshift temples is held for four days and the idols are immersed in the sea, rivers and lakes on the last day. There was a mixture of emotions amongst the people who were present to bid adieu to their favourite goddess. "I am feeling sad, as we have immersed Ma Durga's idol but as she will be coming again next year, that makes me happy," said Basudha Das, a devotee.

Devotees bid farewell to Goddess Durga (Go To Top)

       Kolkata: Bijoya Dashami, a special ritual to reaffirm peace and good relations among people, was observed here today when thousands of devotees bid farewell to Goddess Durga with due religious zeal. Idols of Durga were immersed in rivers in different parts of the country early today. Mahadashami Puja, the last day of five-day long Durga Puja, was celebrated at Puja Mandaps all across the country with full enthusiasm. It has been believed that on Mahadashami Goddess Durga, accompanied with her children - Lakshmi, Saraswati, Kartik and Ganesh, sets for Kailash, which is her husband's abode. Revellers get intense in the days of Mahasaptami, Mahashtami and Mahanabami culminating in Bijoya Dashami that marks the end of Durga Puja.

BJP, VHP leaders meet to chalk out strategy in Babri case (Go To Top)

        New Delhi: Top Bharatiya Janata Party and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leaders met here on Saturday to work out a common strategy in the Babri demolition case pending before the Special Court in Rae Bareli. The meeting at former HRD Minister Murli Manohar Joshi's residence was attended among others by VHP supremo Ashok Singhal, former Uttar Pradesh BJP president Vinay Katiyar, VHP leaders Champat Rai and Sadhvi Rithambhara, highly placed sources said. Advocates representing all the accused in the case were also present on the occasion, they said, adding the two-hour long discussions centred around working out a common strategy for all the accused in the case. New BJP president L K Advani was scheduled to attend the meeting but was unable to do so due to some pressing engagements, the sources said. The court had already acquitted Advani, then Deputy Prime Minister, in the case but decided to frame charges against all others including Joshi. However, they denied any discussion had taken place on rapproachment between the two Sangh Parivar outfits. VHP has been highly critical of BJP for abandoning Hindutva with its firebrand leader Praveen Togadia even accusing Advani of having "betrayed" Hindus.

Centre-NSCN to hold further talks in India (Go To Top)

       Bangkok: Indian government and the Naga militant group National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) today agreed to hold further talks on Naga peace issue when they arrive in India in November end to meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, said a joint statement issued here. The Prime Minister's invitation to the Naga leaders to visit India showed that the Indian government was committed to finding an early and mutually satisfactory solution to the Naga issue, said the Naga leaders at the end of two-day talks between Centre's interlocutor K Padmanabaiah and NSCN General Secretary T Muivah. The two sides agreed that the Prime Minister's invitation would give a further impetus to the peace talks. Describing the bomb blasts in Dimapur as "barbaric and inhuman", NSCN said that it was a despicable act which took place on the birth anniversary of the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi.

Pak PM to visit India on November 23 (Go To Top)

        Almaty: Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz will visit India for two days from November 23 in his capacity as the current SAARC Chairperson. During the visit, Aziz will also discuss matters of bilateral importance with Prime Dr. Minister Manmohan Singh, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh said here. He said Dr Singh and Aziz will again meet on the sidelines of the SAARC conference in Dhaka next January. The External Affairs Minister was here to attend the Ministerial- level Conference Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA). Singh also said that he will also be going to Islamabad in February to hold talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri.

Indian team arrives at Nagpur to play 3rd Test against Australia (Go To Top)

        Nagpur: The Indian Cricket team arrived in Nagpur today to play the third test match against Australia on October 26, sources at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) said. Indian skipper Saurav Ganguly and the batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, who has been declared fit to play the third test, didn't come with the team today. According to the sources, the two are expected to reach here by tonight or tomorrow morning. The Indian squad, which arrived today, includes Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Mohammad Kaif, Rahul Dravid, Murli Kartik, Ashish Nehra, Virendra Sahwag, Harbhajan Singh and coach John Wright.

Tendulkar fit to play in Nagpur Test (Go To Top)

       Mumbai: Batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar has been declared fit to play the third test against Australia commencing in Nagpur on October 26. "Tendulkar is fit to play the third Test and will be on the plane to Nagpur tomorrow," Indian cricket team physiotherapist Andrew Leipus told reporters here. Meanwhile, the master blaster is happy to play the third test and is feeling pretty confident and comfortable. "I am very happy to play in the Nagpur Test," Sachin said. Tendulkar underwent the fitness test at the MIG club in suburban Bandra and batted for 30 minutes in two sessions. He has been out of cricketing action since mid-August due to tennis elbow and had also missed the first two Tests against Australia. Now, Tendulkar's fans hope that his comeback in the Indian cricket team could help India to win the third test match against Kangaroos.

Ponting arrives in Mumbai (Go To Top)

       Mumbai: Australia cricket captain Ricky Ponting, recovering from a broken thumb, is confident he can improve his poor record in India and help his team win the current test series. Ponting, however, ruled himself out of the third test starting in Nagpur on Tuesday. "Last few weeks sitting at home watching the last two test matches, I guess you must be wondering that I shall take any part in the series or not, but I am excited being here. The cricket so far played has been outstanding. We are in a good position. So, I am looking forward to the last two test matches. I have no chance of playing in the third test match. Everything keeps recovering in the last few days. I should be playing the fourth. My preparations all this week are geard up for the fourth test match," Ponting told reporters here on Saturday.

        Ponting missed the first two tests because of the broken thumb he suffered at last month's ICC Champions Trophy. He re-joined the squad on Friday, but is set to play only in the fourth and final test in Mumbai starting on November 3. Australia, who lead the hosts 1-0, are aiming to win their first series in India since 1969-70. Wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist led the team in the first two tests and will also captain them in the third match. Ponting said he had been doubly frustrated by the layoff because of his past failures in India, particularly during Australia's 2- 1 test series defeat in 2001. Ponting made just 17 runs in five innings in 2001, dismissed each time by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. He has scored just 149 runs in seven tests in India at an average of 12.41. His seven home tests against India have produced 1081 runs at an average of 108.10. Ponting, praising his replacement Gilchrist, said with the return of Sachin Tendulkar to the India squad, they will face tough competition. "As players 's point of view, Sachin has not played his part in the series so far. As players we want to be judged against the best and so far we haven't played the best Indian team. So, I am sure some Indian players will gain some confidence after having Sachin around as well," Ponting said.