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Centre approves repeal of POTA

          New Delhi: The Union Cabinet today approved an ordinance tto repeal the controversial Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA). Prime Minister Manmohan Singh chaired the meeting of the cabinet. The act lapses after a month. Among those who attended the meeting were Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram and Chemical and Fertilizers Minister Ram Vilas Paswan. The draft of the ordinance was cleared by the Law Ministry and was presented to the Union Cabinet. The UPA had promised to repeal the draconian law in its Common Minimum Programme. (CMP). Reliable sources said that the cabinet will provide a sunset period of a year during which all pending POTA cases would be reviewed by various committees. Once the ordinance is promulgated, there would be no arrests under POTA, they added. The Ordinance is understood to have incorporated certain provisions required to deal with various aspects of global terrorism, in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967, through amendments, the sources said. The amended Act would be the defining the word "terrorist" and was likely to extend the penalty up to capital punishment for anti-national activities. The amended Act would also take care of India's global obligation and all foreign militant outfits like al-Qaeda would be banned under it, the sources said.

Cabinet discusses FDI in telecom, aviation sectors (Go To Top)

          New Delhi: The Union Cabinet today discussed plans to raise foreign investment (FDI) limits in the country's telecom and aviation sectors. The foreign direct investment in telecom was raised to 74 percent from 49 percent, and from 40 to 49 percent in aviation. The Left, which is giving outside support to the government, is opposed to the move. A cabinet nod on increasing FDI limits in the cash-guzzling telecom and aviation sectors would have helped Singh showcase his government's ability to push through reforms during a trip to the United States beginning next week, newspapers said. The government also plans to increase FDI limits in insurance to 49 percent from 26 percent, but this is considered to be even more difficult because it will require parliament approval. The left parties, which control 63 seats in the 545-member lower house of parliament, fear massive job losses in these sectors which are dominated by state firms.

Uma Bharti carries on with Tiranga Yatra (Go To Top)

         Akola: Undeterred by Election Commission's notice, BJP leader Uma Bharati flashed the national flag as she addressed a public meeting in Akola. The EC has demanded an explanation from BJP on Uma's "Tiranga Yatra", which analysts say, is a precursor to a ban on the rally, terming it a violation of the model code of conduct during the election mode. "Programmes are being organised with the tricolour, but why impose restrictions on the Tiranga Yatra, this is not a yatra over any religion, caste. This is a Yatra for symbol of the country in this, the UPA and the communists should also come and support us," she said. Bharati embarked on a nationwide march soon after the southern Karnataka state government withdrew rioting charges against her. Bharati had to resign from chief ministership of Madhya Pradesh after Hubli court ordered her arrest in a 10-year old case for instigating communal violence in the state.

CPM for alliance with Congress for Maharashtra polls (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The CPI-M today said that it wanted to contest the forthcoming Maharashtra Assembly elections in alliance with the Congress. Senior party leader Sitaram Yechury said they wanted to consolidate "secular" vote to defeat the opposition Hindu nationalists. "We have declared our intention of wanting to...we have shortlisted 18 seats. Our objective is to minimise if not eliminate the division in the secular vote so that the communal forces do not benefit. So for that we are open to discussions," Yechury told reporters after a meeting with Maharashtra Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde. Shinde said that the final decision of forging an alliance with the Communists would be taken by the party high command. "This issue is with the high command of the Congress party. I alone cannot decide this. But CPM is a secular party. CPM and Congress have been working together to fight against fundamentalism and establish secularism. That is our main principle," said Shinde.

Shiv Sena announces second list (Go To Top)

         Mumbai: The Shiv Sena today announced its second list of 27 candidates for the next month's Assembly elections. The list has been published in the party's mouthpiece Saamna. The party has given tickets to 14 new people. Among the prominent names that were dropped include sitting MLAs Dinaz Patrawala, Chandrakant Padwal and Vishakha Raut. The party had announced the names of 84 candidates' on Thursday and is likely to declare the remaining nominees for the 171 seats it would contest by Saturday, the paper said.

DA hike for Central employees (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The Centre has decided to hike dearness allowance (DA) by three percent for the central government employees following a rise in inflation. "The proposal to hike D.A. to Government employees has been approved by the cabinet," Fertiliser Minister Ram Vilas Paswan told reporters in the Capital today. Earlier, in September last year the NDA government had hiked the DA by 4 per cent and increased pension benefits thereby imposing a burden of about Rs 1450 crore.

US is India's worst enemy: RSS chief (Go To Top)

          Bhopal: Terming the US as "India's worst enemy," RSS chief K S Sudarshan has alleged that Washington was running undercover operations aimed at converting country's entire population into Christians. Addressing RSS workers on Thursday, he said that America was India's worst foreign enemy as its funding missionary organizations for practicing conversion. He, however, praised the Indian government for not joining US-led coalition forces in the battle against Iraq. "America claims to be a people democracy but they are least interested what the people of the country have to say. They believe in the United Nations. Why did they attack Iraq and Afghanistan for?" asked Sudarshan. " The US feels that India should be divided and that is the reason Christian missionaries have gained a stronghold in our country after Bush came to power," he added. Sudarshan also cautioned RSS activists against the increase in Muslim population and saying that if the rate continues Hindus would be a minority community by 2060.

Muslim group appeals to community for family planning (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The All India United Muslim Front has appealed to the Muslim community to adopt family planning measures after the recent census showed it was burgeoning in a nation already bursting at its seams. The statement came barely two days after a similar plea by a member of an apex board of the Muslims evoked sharp reactions. "We appeal to the entire Muslim community to please keep their number of children to only one or two. It is in your best interest. If you want good upbringing, good education and a prosperous future for your children then have lesser numbers. Adopt family planning, the same way as many of our educated brothers and sisters have done. There is nothing wrong in this for Muslims. This will only lead to their progress and that of the nation," Mohammad Reyazuddin, National General Secretary of the front, told a news conference in New Delhi. Reyazuddin also slammed political groups, especially Hindu nationalists, saying it was an extremely serious cause of concern for the nation- already billion plus and growing. "I appeal to all political parties to act responsibly. Being emotional and making provocating statements and speeches is not going to help anybody. If you want the Muslim vote, be it any party, then you have to focus on their development, their employment, only then will the Muslims align with you," Reyazuddin said. The Muslims believe contraception as unholy and have shut doors on the two-child norm saying more children would ensure the sustenance of the community. Muslims account for about 13.5 percent of India's more than 1 billion people, up from 12 percent a decade ago.

Tripura, Meghalaya CMs press for their demands (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: Chief Minister Manik Sarkar of Tripura and his Meghalaya counterpart D D Lapang met Union Minister for Tribal Affairs and Development of North-Eastern Region (DONER) P R Kyndiah today to discuss their respective demands. Sarkar said that he intended the Centre to help the state financially in order to set up a medical college in Agartala. "From six years, we have been trying to have a medical college. Unless we get financial aid from the Government of India, this can't be done by the state alone because our kit is very small. Keeping that in mind, I have just talked to our honorable minister and he has been very kind to take up the matter with all seriousness. Already we have submitted our application through our health ministry to the Medical Council of India. We want to start this medical college in the next academic session," said Sarkar. Other issues relating to infrastructural development, connectivity problems, development of district hospitals and improvement of school education too were discussed. Lapang also met Kyndiah and raised similar development-related issues. One of the most pressing demands of Meghalaya is the grant of central funds to set up a satellite township called 'New Shillong'.

I'm watching the inflationary trend: Chidambaram (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: Union Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram today said that the wholesale inflation, which fell from 3-1/2-year highs, needs to be carefully watched but there was no reason for price rises as there were enough stocks of essential commodities. "The situation requires to be carefully watched. We have adequate stocks of all essential commodities. There is no reason at all for price increase of any essential commodity. There are adequate stocks of foodgrains, pulses, edible oils, sugar and we will ensure that there are not supply side constraints," Chidambaram told reporters after a union cabinet meeting in the Capital. He said consumers should resist attempts to artificially hike prices, especially of fruit and vegetables, and hoped recent fiscal and monetary steps will help rein in inflation. "Consumers must resist any attempt by anyone pushing prices artificially, particularly in the local wholesale markets. There is absolutely no reason for any of these prices to go up," Chidambaram said. India's annual wholesale price inflation rate fell to 7.81 percent in the year to Sept. 4 due to lower prices of oilseeds and poultry and a higher base effect.

Poverty drives national woman boxer to sell hooch (Go To Top)

          Bhubaneswar: For a national woman boxer, the knockout punch came from poverty. Under heavy debts, Margirita Tirkey, a bronze medallist in the 2001 National Games, now sells brew. The 26-year old promising champion from Orissa says that her world turned upside down after the death of her father. Tirkey, who has to support a family of three, sells pouches of country- made liquor in Bhubaneswar, earning less than one hundred rupees a day. Originally hailing from a tribal village of Sundergarh, Tirkeys are now settled in the city's shabby slum area. Tirkey says she also has to work as housemaid to meet the medical expenses of her ailing elder brother. "I have won medals and everybody knows that I am a good player and so I should get a job but nothing happened. And since I had no other alternative, I was forced to do daily chores and selling liquor," she says. In a fit of despair, Tirkey set ablaze a bunch of certificates and notes of appreciation from the authorities and sports personalities. Tirkey's coach Sarkar A. Adhikari said she has extraordinary footwork and a particular punching style resembling veteran boxers. "For a girl like her, the government should come forward to help. She is very talented and had she been playing, she could have gone further but her financial condition did not permit her to continue further," said Adhikari. After hearing about Tirkey's plight, the State Sports Ministry has decided to offer her a job.

Key Jaish leader critically injured in Pak (Go To Top)

        Lahore: Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) leader Maulana Ibrahim Khalil is reported to be in critical condition after being shot at by some unidentified assailants in Sahiwal early this morning. Khalil was returning after offering his morning prayers when he was attacked near the Montgomery Bridge at 6:30 a.m. "The case is under investigation but we don't know the reason behind the attack," the Daily Times quoted District Police Officer (DPO) Malik Khuda Bakhsh Awan as saying while giving details of the incident. The JeM is a banned terrorist organisation in Pakistan.

44 killed in US air strikes near Fallujah (Go To Top)

         Baghdad: At least 44 people were killed on Friday as US forces continued their relentless strikes against targets allegedly connected to Al-Qaeda-linked extremist Abu Musab al- Zarqawi near Fallujah, medical sources said. Many of the victims were women and children. Several air raids were carried out after midnight on the village of Zoba, some 16 miles south of the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah. Thirteen houses were demolished, the sources said. The final death toll was 44 dead and 27 injured, the Iraqi health ministry said.

IHF retain Rach as chief hockey coach (Go To Top)

         New Delhi: The Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) has retained German Gerhard Rach as the national team's chief coach. Rach, who had returned to Germany after India's seventh place finish in the Athens Olympics, is expected to reach here tonight before heading to Chandigarh where the probables for the Pakistan series are training under the supervision of assistant coach Jagbir Singh. An 18-member Indian team for the four-match Test series, starting at Karachi on September 24, is likely to be announced in a couple of days. The team is likely to be without the services of senior players like Dhanraj Pillay and Baljit Singh Dhillon, who have made themselves unavailable for the series. Gagan Ajit Singh, Deepak Thakur and Prabhjot Singh have also opted out. The Indians are scheduled to leave for Karachi on September 22.

1000 personnel to guard Indian hockey team in Karachi (Go To Top)

         Karachi: Pakistan has reportedly made elaborate security arrangements for the Indian hockey team when it arrives in the country to play four of the eight Test matches against the hosts. More than 1000 security personnel will guard the Indian players, the stadium, and the hotel where they would stay for three days in Karachi. The Indian team would arrive at the Quaid-e-Azam International Airport and will depart for Quetta on Sept 26. Sindh Inspector General of Police Syed Kamal Shah gave the briefing to the Pakistan Hockey Federation (PHF) president Gen. Aziz Khan, The Dawn reported today.