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Uttarakhand goes to polls today
‘Betrayed’ Uttarakhand women to take on biggies
Persuade Mulayam to resign on moral grounds: Cong to CPM |
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UP Imbroglio
Mulayam finds unexpected friend in Nitish
VP meets President, seeks Mulayam govt’s sack
SP suspends MLA in AP Assembly
Blasts bare sick medical services
Condition of Pakistani
family improving
Relatives throng Safdarjung
List of 22 missing Pak passengers released Bomb scare hoax on Karnavati Express
Railways to hold public hearing
at Ambala
Delhi-Lahore bus leaves amid security
Mumbai anti-terror squad to study blasts
SC has no jurisdiction over water dispute: Haryana Centre to release wheat at Rs 9.86 per kg
Reconsider Justice Bhayana’s appointment: Kalam
India opposes repairs around Al Aqsa mosque
Total lunar eclipse on March 4
CITU leader dead
Badals’ review plea in graft cases rejected
NDA to raise issues of blasts, prices
Speaker to meet party leaders tomorrow
Guild flays attempt to pressurise Editor
Police officer shot dead
23 drowned as boat capsizes
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Uttarakhand goes to polls today
Dehra Dun, February 20 Though a peace loving state, the government is leaving nothing to chance and has deployed its 18,000 police force, 6,000 home guards and 65 companies of paramilitary forces, summoned from different parts of the country to ensure a fair and smooth election. Many Uttarakhand police trainees that are undergoing training at the Punjab Police Training Academy at Phillaur have been recalled and put on duty. Unlike in Punjab, where those put on election duty had reached the polling stations a day in advance, in Uttarakhand officials have to undertake days of arduous journeys on feet and horse backs, carrying election material on mules to remote inaccessible areas in the hills. An election party that left two days ago for Badiakot village in Kapkot Assembly segment in Bageshwar district close to the Pindari glacier will arrive there on the election eve after covering a distance of 35 km on foot through the snow covered mountains, carrying with them backpacks and accompanied by mules laden with electronic voting machines. To setup another electronic voting machine in Matiyali Village in Kanda Assembly segment, officials have been trekking for the past two days and would arrive there tonight. The same goes for Majkot Village in the Bageshwar Assembly segment. Getting there too requires a two-day trek. Election to the Bajpur Assembly seat in the Terai, comprising of a lot of Punjabi and Sikh population, was put off after Congress candidate Janak Raj Sharma died in a road accident while returning home after canvassing on Sunday night. Flag marches were held at various parts of the state to make the presence of the security forces felt. “A general alert has already been issued following a threat perception from terrorists and Maoists. Preparations for peaceful and smooth conduct of the polling have been completed,” Chief Electoral Officer N. Ravishanker said.
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‘Betrayed’ Uttarakhand women to take on biggies
Jaspur (Terai), February 20 Names of women candidates will be hard to find on the ballot list in the polling that will take place tomorrow. Ironically, while Ms Sonia Gandhi and Hema Malani have been the star campaigners for the Congress and the BJP, respectively, all political parties while allotting seats have ignored women. Every election speech during the past few weeks has lauded the role of women in the formation and running of the state. “The movement for the separate hill state of Uttarakhand was led by women who have repeatedly proved their worth at local self-governance”, Mr L.K. Advani repeated this in every election speech. But when it came to fielding women, the BJP has only seven women candidates this time, the same as in 2002. Ms Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh too made specific references to the women of the state, asking them to help the family make an informed decision about the choice of the candidate. “By voting the Congress back to power, you will help us reduce inflation and your home economy will run smoother,” she said. But the Congress too fielded only five women candidates, the same as the last time. “Women have been ignored because they are politically astute. Keeping women out of the fray has been deliberate so that they do not become competitor for power,” says Rudrapur-based CPI (ML) activist Ms Sushma. However, women in the hill region have come out with their own response to the “male indifference” by putting up a common women candidate, contesting as an independent and supported by a large number individual women and women groups. Ms Hema Negi is seeking mandate on specific issues like construction of dams, conservation, menace of wild bores and monkeys, fate of forests and natural resources. During the 2002 elections, 72 women were in the fray out which only four won - two each from the BJP and the Congress - while 60 forfeited their deposits. A Dehradun-based NGO has come to the help of women candidates. The NGO, Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra, is supporting independent women candidates and helping them with resources and volunteers besides canvass for them. Interestingly, Ms Madhu Chauhan, wife of senior BJP leader Munna Singh Chauhan, is contesting as an independent against the wishes of her husband and his party. She is pitted against Congress minister Pritam Singh. “If women do not get their due, they will have to fight for it,” she tells her supporters.
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Persuade Mulayam to resign on moral grounds: Cong to CPM New Delhi, February 20 Armed with the backing of the Congress Working Committee (CWC), Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and external affairs minister Pranab Mukherjee held separate meetings with CPM general secretary Prakash Karat to explain the implications of the apex court order which, according to the Congress, is clear that the formation of the Mulayam Singh government three years ago was unconstitutional. It, therefore, could not continue in office. While the Congress leaders made a firm case regarding Mulayam Singh’s resignation, Mr Karat said he had told the Prime Minister that imposing Article 356 would create a political breach. He, however, refused to say anything when asked if his party would withdraw support to the UPA government if it went ahead and imposed Central rule in UP. The Congress is adamant that the coming Assembly elections in UP should not be held under Mulayum Singh Yadav’s chief ministership. Since its plans to impose Central rule have hit a roadblock, it has now chosen to appeal to the CPM’s conscience to seek the resignation of Mulayum Singh. Although the Marxists have been very vociferous on their opposition to the use of Article 356, the CPM has not come out with a clear-cut position on the Supreme Court order on the defected BSP legislators. CPI leader A.B. Bardhan, on the other hand, has gone on record to say that the apex court judgement had “morally indicted Mulayum Singh Yadav.” However, his party does not want any rift in the Left Front and has, therefore, decided to go along with the CPM on this issue. Yesterday’s late night meeting of the Congress Working Committee had made a strong plea to the government for the removal of the Mulayum Singh Yadav government in the light of the apex court verdict. Stating that the UPA had no option but to dismiss the UP government they also wanted the UPA to act within the next two days. While resistence from the CPM continues, all other UPA allies have said they would support the move to impose Central rule in UP. DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, RJD president Lalu Prasad Yadav and Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Jan Shakti Party have all given their consent to the Congress move. Today, NCP chief Sharad Pawar also said his party would go along with the majority view in the ruling coalition.
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UP Imbroglio
Lucknow, February 20 Making a not so veiled reference to a leading industrialist having major interests in oil and gas in Gujarat, the chief minister, in a hurriedly convened press conference, declared that the businessman was the “bridge” between UPA chief Sonia Gandhi and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi. Expressing surprise over the fact that Ms Gandhi was “not averse to Mr Modi whose government committed grave crimes against humanity,” Mr Yadav said, “Strangely enough the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had ranked Mr Modi the best chief minister of the country”. Criticising NCP chief Sharad Pawar and DMK chief M. Karunanidhi, Mr Yadav said they would soon regret shifting their stand regarding the dismissal of his government as the “Congress was no one’s friend and may make them a scapegoats sooner than later”. Reiterating that the 14 February Supreme Court judgment had not passed any strictures against his government, the chief minister declared that his party members had met the President today who assured them that he was studying the judgment and would act accordingly. Labeling those who were opposing his government as “immoral and unconstitutional”, the Mr Yadav was all praise for the Left parties who he said always stood by him during any crisis.
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Mulayam finds unexpected friend in Nitish
Patna, February 20 Talking to mediapersons here today, Mr Nitish Kumar strongly disapproved of the idea of dislodging any elected government by invoking Article 356. “Barring any extraordinary situation, the imposition of President’s rule should be avoided”, he asserted. His uncompromising stand against the imposition of President’s rule also strengthened the hands of the CPI(M), which from the very first day, had been acting as a shield for the Mulayam government. Clarifying his stand, Mr Nitish Kumar said whether a government was good or bad should be decided only by the people. Regarding the majority of any government, he said the best place to ascertain it was through a floor test in the Assembly. He referred to the imposition of President’s rule in Bihar after the February Assembly poll in 2005 and the way the people rebuffed it during the October-November poll the same year. He pointed out that constitutional experts too had said any attempt to dismiss the Mulayam government in Uttar Pradesh by invoking Article 356 would be illegal and unconstitutional. He argued that dismissing the government on moral grounds was not countenanced in Article 356 and would also be in conflict with the Sarkaria panel recommendations, accepted by the Supreme Court in the Bommai case. He maintained that in Bommai and Bihar dissolution cases, the court had deprecated the bogey of horse trading for dismissing governments. His objection to the use of Article 356 apparently landed the BJP, alliance partner of the JD(U), in trouble. The BJP had said it would support any move by the Centre to dismiss the Mulayam government. Sources in the JD(U) disclosed that other partners of the NDA like the BJD and the SAD had expressed reservations against the imposition of President’s rule in violation of the Sarkaria panel’s recommendations. “The court has only disqualified 13 MLAs, but has not doubted the vote of confidence obtained by Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav”, the sources said. His stand was in contrast to that of his arch-rival and RJD supremo Lalu Prasad Yadav, who had openly supported any move by the Centre to dismiss the Mulayam government.
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VP meets President, seeks Mulayam govt’s sack
New Delhi, February 20 Talking to TNS Jan Morcha general secretary Vinod Singh said the delegation was with the President for 30 minutes during which the former Prime Minister said the Mulayam Singh government had no right to stay in power in the light of the Supreme Court verdict that held the BSP split of 2003 illegal. The delegation presented a one-page memorendum to the President in which the morcha demanded the dismissal of the state government and imposition of Central rule. The memorendum has cited the Supreme Court’s verdict extensively to justify the party’s demand. The issue here is not the use of the Article 356 to which “I have always been opposed” but is of saving the sanctity of the Constitution which has been under attack by the continuation of the Mulayam Singh Government, Mr Singh told the President. The former Prime Minister said that even the vote of confidence won by the Mulayam Singh government was manipulated as 17 MLAs belonging to the BJP, the RLD and BSP had voted in favour the motion defying their respective party whips. Comparing Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav to a “bank robber” who wants to be counted among the rich on the basis of his looted wealth, Mr Singh said that the present UP government was not constitutional but was based on “loot” of the MLAs. The President heard the views of the delegation patiently, the morcha general secretary said and added that party MPs Raj Babbar, Sarvraj Singh, and Baleshwar Yadav besides him were the other members present at the meeting. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party General Secretary also met the President and demanded the recall of UP Governor T V Rajeshwar. The SP leader alleged that the Governor was plotting to destabilise the state government at the behest of the Congress.
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SP suspends MLA in AP Assembly
Hyderabad, February 20 Party general secretary Amar Singh sent a fax to Speaker K Suresh Reddy informing of the party’s decision. “She has been suspended for her anti-party activity,” the fax said. Aruna, who was denied a Congress ticket in the 2004 elections, won from the Gadwal constituency in Mahbubnagar district on the Samajwadi Party ticket. She, however, has been moving closely with the ruling Congress and even participating in the ruling party legislative party meetings. After SP and the main opposition in the state TDP became close allies, Aruna’s known proximity to the ruling Congress became a sore point to the two regional parties. Aruna said as much when she reacted to her suspension, saying the TDP was behind her suspension, which she welcomed. “From now on, I can be an associate member of the Congress and expose the opposition parties.” she said.
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Blasts bare sick medical services
Karnal, February 20 The decision to shift the passengers to the Safdarjung Hospital was taken soon after they were given first aid at the Panipat Civil Hospital. The authorities subsequently realised that the institute was not equipped to provide treatment in the time of such crisis and opted to shift them. Though the state’s only trauma centre at Karnal is barely a 40 minutes drive from the blast site in Panipat where the passenger, mostly Pakistanis, suffered serious burns, they were taken to the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi. Reason: The local trauma centre was built in January 2003 to provide quality medical facilities along the GT Road but it lacked any regular staff. Owing to the callous attitude of successive state governments, the centre works merely as a ”referral centre”. Investigation by this correspondent revealed that the Panipat Civil Hospital administration puts its own medical, paramedical and other staff at the trauma centre. There is no super specialist staff at the centre and it also lacks emergency facilities. The posts of a neurosurgeon, neuro-physicians, psychologist, cosmetic surgeon, cardio-thoracic surgeon and radiologist had not been sanctioned by the government, the sources confirmed. Inquiries further revealed that another trauma centre awaiting inauguration at Sirsa was also without medical and para medical staff. The sources said the 16-bedded centre needed five doctors (one SMO) and 16 nurses. Though two state of the art mobile vans had been provided, which may work as mobile ICU, the lengthy process of appointment of staff was yet to start, the sources added. Moreover, there was a dearth of trained manpower to handle the sophisticated life saving medical equipment at the government hospital. There was a proposal to construct trauma centres at Rohtak, Jind, Rewari and Panchkula. Admitting that dependence on the Civil Hospital often caused problems in tackling any emergency, the sources said these centres should have separate staff. Moreover, there was no CT scan or MRI facility available at the local trauma centre.
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Condition of Pakistani family improving
New Delhi, February 20 Shaukat Ali Rana and Ruksana’s one-year-old daughter Aksa, who was also injured in the blast, is out of danger, their relatives at the hospital told PTI today. The couple, who had come to India to attend a marriage ceremony and were bound to Lahore Sunday night, lost their five children in the train explosion that claimed 68 lives and injured many. “The couple and their daughter who are admitted in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) are in good condition and I have spoken to them. They are recuperating well,” said Jannat Ali, cousin of Shaukat Ali. Congress president Sonia Gandhi met the couple and other injured at Safdarjung Hospital this morning, he said. “The bodies of the five children which are in the mortuary of Panipat Civil Hospital are yet to be handed over to the relatives,” said Jannat Ali. Rana’s family had come to attend the marriage ceremony of daughter of Jannat Ali here.
— PTI
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Relatives throng Safdarjung
New Delhi, February 20 As the train, which had resumed its onward journey after the tragedy, reached Lahore station, kin of many passengers could not find them following which they asked their relatives in Delhi to look for them among those injured. “I came looking for my mother Nayab Khatun (55) and aunt Khurshida (37), both whom left for Lahore on Samjhauta Express but have not reached Pakistan yet,” said Arif Mohammed from Moradabad. “Just now I spoke to my relatives at Lahore and they informed me that my mother and aunt haven’t reached there. I am really worried but I could not gather any information about their whereabouts,” he said. Mohammed Akram from Agra, also looking for his two Pakistani relatives Mohhammed Hussain Sabri and Salammudin, said, “I came to know from the railway enquiry that the injured passengers are admitted at Safdarjung Hospital. But my relatives are not among the list put out here.”
— PTI
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List of 22 missing Pak passengers released New Delhi, February 20 The MEA said these 22 Pakistanis boarded the train at Delhi, but did not cross Attari on February 19. The persons in this list had not so far been accounted for, the MEA said.
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Bomb scare hoax on Karnavati Express Surat, February 20 Dog squads and bomb-disposal teams were used to search the train after an anonymous caller claimed a bomb had been planted on it, they said. The search was called off after no explosives were detected, the police said. — PTI
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Railways to hold public hearing
at Ambala
New Delhi, February 20 A top official of Northern Railway told UNI that Mr Bhupinder Singh, who is the CRS, Northern Circle, would conduct public hearing to gather evidences and record statements of eyewitnesses and others. — UNI
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Delhi-Lahore bus leaves amid security
New Delhi, February 20 Anxious passengers were thoroughly frisked and baggages scanned before the Delhi Transport Corporation bus left the terminal for its onward journey to Lahore. There were 48 passenges aboard the "Sada-e-Sarhad" bus, including 19 Indians. The bus service between Delhi and Lahore was launched in March 1999 and suspended in December 2001 after the terrorist attack on Parliament. The bus service was restarted in July 2003.
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Mumbai anti-terror squad to study blasts
Mumbai, February 20 “The team will study the nature and modus operandi of the terror strike in order to learn more about the methods of the terrorists”, ATS chief K. Raghuvanshi said. He added that there were no similarities between the Sunday blasts and the explosions in Mumbai’s trains on July 11 last year. Mr Raghuvanshi noted that unlike the blasts in Mumbai’s trains, the explosions on board the Samjhauta Express were not caused by high intensity explosives.
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Sanjay’s lawyers seek probation officers
Mumbai, February 20 Dutt was convicted last year under the Arms Act in the 1993 Mumbai bomb blasts case for illegally possessing an AK-56 rifle and a 9mm pistol. The court has the discretion to appoint a probation officer and obtain a report before deciding on an application under the Act. On February 23, Dutt’s lawyers will move a written application for appointment of probation officers. The officers could be a state-appointed, or, in special circumstances, the court could appoint any person as a probation officer. Earlier, Sanjay’s lawyer V.R. Manohar stressed in his arguments in the court of Judge P.D. Kode that the actor came to know absconding gangster Anees Ibrahim through producer Feroze Khan during the shooting of “Yalgar” in Dubai in the early 1990s. The prosecution had earlier highlighted Dutt’s association with criminals like Anees. Manohar also pointed out Dutt never asked for a AK-56 rifle but, seeing his apprehension, Hanif Kadawala and Sameer Hingora — his producers — offered to get him an automatic weapon. Dutt feared an attack by Hindu groups as his father, late Sunil Dutt, was involved in relief work in the riot-affected Muslim areas, according to the actor’s confession. Even when Dutt was given an AK-56, he never intended to keep it for long and asked Kadawala to take it back as soon as the communal violence subsided in 1993, Manohar said, relying on the actor’s confession recorded soon after his arrest. — PTI
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HC orders CBI probe into Abhishek’s death
Ranchi, February 20 Abhishek's body had been found on December 9 near the Dassam Falls, a day after he along with his friends, including Railway Minister Lalu Prasad's daughter, had gone for a picnic there. A Division Bench comprising of Mr Justice Muthuswamy Karpagyavinaygam and Mr Justice Permod Kohli have asked the state government to hand over the case to the CBI though the government had earlier ruled out any need for the probe by the investigating agency. The court has further maintained that if required it could assist the CBI in this case. Initially, the state police had termed the case as an accident, but Abhishek's father S. Mishra, Chief Medical Officer of Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi, had written a letter to the high court in this regard. The case had made headlines when opposition had raised the issue, accusing Madhu Koda-led UPA government of trying to conceal the truth as a ''big shot'' had been involved. Even the Chief Minister had premised his statement on the post-mortem report, saying that it was only a drowning case. Mr Koda had refused to give in to the demand for a CBI enquiry on the pretext of investigation having been carried out by the state police. The court had taken suo motu cognisance of the matter and had asked the state government to submit the case diary. The amicus curiae had pleaded for a CBI probe as many photographs found from Abhishek's laptop had also been submitted before the court.
— UNI
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SC has no jurisdiction over water dispute: Haryana New Delhi, February 20 In an application placed before a three-judge Bench, headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, the government said under Article 262 of the Constitution and the provisions of the Inter-State Waters Disputes Act, 1956, the court had no jurisdiction to adjudicate upon the river water disputes, hence, the order passed by it on February 29, 1996, for sharing of water with Delhi be recalled. In the order, the court had directed Haryana to make available a certain quantity of water to Delhi throughout the year. It further said in the changed situation the court directives had become “unworkable”. The court took on record the application and sought reply from the Delhi Government and the Centre. The Haryana Government’s application assumes significance in the backdrop of the state earlier filing a suit for the building of the controversial Sutlej-Yamuna-Link (SYL) canal which was adjudicated by the court in its favour and the state then moving another suit for the execution of apex court decree against the Centre on the SYL after the failure of Punjab to build the canal. Haryana’s suit for execution is still pending before the court. Referring to the February 29, 1996 order, the Haryana Government said, “The order has been rendered in contravention of express constitutional and statutory provisions dealing with the subject matter in question and by the said order this Hon’ble Court sought to direct the supply of water to Delhi, contrary to the MoU which could not have been done under the Constitution”. The state cited the bar of Article 262 of the Constitution on courts to decide interstate water disputes. It also accused the Delhi Government of lifting water from Wazirabad pond through Sangam Pump House for its Bhagirathi treatment plant unauthorisedly.
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Centre to release wheat at Rs 9.86 per kg New Delhi, February 20 The wheat will be released by the Food Corporation of India (FCI) directly to the state governments at a rate of Rs 986.06 per quintal, an official press note said tonight. The wheat to be released is meant for distribution to the public through state agencies whose work will be directly supervised by the state governments. The official statement said the Centre hopes states would add only reasonable handling and transportation costs on the issued price. The decision came a day after an FCI tender, which closed yesterday, of four lakh tonnes of wheat for open sale found no buyers. FCI could not find buyers for the tender it floated on February 9 to sell wheat, both domestic and imported of all origins except Australian, at the floor price of Rs 1,232.50 per quintal. The floor price was fixed by the government and a high-level committee, comprising of officials from the food, commerce and agriculture departments, after taking into account several factors.
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Reconsider Justice Bhayana’s appointment: Kalam
New Delhi, February 20 Justice Bhayana was appointed Additional Judge of the High Court on February 28, 2006. A few days before his elevation from the post of Additional Sessions Judge, he had acquitted Jessica murder case key accused Manu Sharma, holding that the evidence against him were not sufficient to convict him. Apparently, taking note of media reports about adverse observations made by the High Court against him for the judgement, Dr Kalam has sent the file back to the government. In quick succession, this was the second case relating to the appointment of a judge that has been returned to the government by the President recently. Earlier, Dr Kalam had sent the file pertaining to the appointment of Justice Jagdish Bhalla of the Allahabad High Court as the Chief Justice of Kerala High Court following media reports alleging that his wife had purchased a plot in Noida at throwaway price from land mafia in 2005. Since the initial appointment as an Additional Judge of a High Court is made on probation for two years, a panel of the court’s three senior most judges, including the Chief Justice, could make recommendation for his early confirmation. The recommendation for Justice Bhayana’s conformation as a regular judge was made last year even before he had completed a year’s probation. The High Court panel’s recommendation was approved by the Supreme Court Collegium, which had forwarded it to the Law Ministry.
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India opposes repairs around Al Aqsa mosque New Delhi, February 20 “India notes with concern the possible consequences of the repair activities in the ‘Al Maghreba’ section of the wall,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Navtej Sarna said in a statement here. He said the old city of Jerusalem, including the excavation site, are places of great spiritual significance to the followers of the three monotheistic religions. “The peace, sanctity and spiritual heritage of this holy city should be maintained,” the spokesman said. In a separate statement, the MEA said India supports the establishment of a sovereign, independent, viable state of Palestine, within the well-defined and recognised borders, living side by side at peace with the state of Israel, through a negotiated solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict keeping in view the relevant UN resolutions. — PTI
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Total lunar eclipse on March 4
Kolkata, February 20 The Moon’s eclipse would begin from 3 am and enter totality from 4.14 am with the ‘greatest eclipse’ being at around 4.50 am, Director (Research and Academics) of M P Birla Planetarium here D. P. Duari said today. The total eclipse would end by 5.27 am and the Moon would emerge around 7.53 am. The celestial phenomenon will be visible from the Arctic, Asia, except the eastern part, Europe, including British Isles, Africa, South America and eastern parts of the region, South America and eastern parts of Central and North America. “People of Kolkata will enjoy the first part of the partial eclipse followed by the totality,” Duari said, adding that the end of the partial eclipse would not be visible in Kolkata since the Moon would set around 6 am. Weather permitting, it will be a wonderful opportunity for Kolkatans to view the total eclipse which coincides with Holi. The official said the next lunar eclipse would also be a total one on August 28, adding that only the extreme north-eastern states would be able to witness it. — PTI
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CITU leader dead
Kolkata, February 20 He was 71. He had been suffering from lung diseases. Mr Mozumdar was a CPM Politburo member and the party’s Rajya Sabha MP from West Bengal. A prominent trade union leader and a whole-time member, the late Mozumdar was known to be a hardcore who had always opposed to the pro-management policy. During the first Left Front government in 1977-82, he was the Minister-in-Charge of Small and Cottage Industries. But afterwards, he got himself involved more and more in the trade union activities, taking an active leadership of the CITU’s state unit. Later, he became the CITU’s state general secretary and subsequently the national general secretary and an MP from the state.
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Badals’ review plea in graft cases rejected
New Delhi, February 20 A Bench of Mr Justice Arijit Pasayat and Mr Justice S.H. Kapadia, which had earlier rejected the petitions of Badals and some Shiromani Akali Dal leaders, heard the matter in their chamber and dismissed the review petitions of the SAD leaders, holding that there was no merit in those. The court in its main judgement, delivered on December 6 last, had allowed the Punjab Vigilance Bureau to go ahead with the prosecution of Parkash Singh Badal and Sukhbir Singh Badal and other SAD leaders by a special court at Ropar. The review petition is listed only before the same Bench, which had given the delivered the main judgement. Badals in their petitions had alleged that the case was initiated against them due to political reasons by Chief
Minister Amarinder Singh and also questioned the procedure of investigation adopted by the Vigilance Bureau. Besides, they had also questioned the setting up of special court at Ropar to try all corruption cases and setting up of a special cell of the Vigilance Bureau at Mohali, to probe the cases registered in any part of Punjab.
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NDA to raise issues of blasts, prices
New Delhi, February 20 Top NDA leaders, including former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and L.K. Advani, who had a meeting with Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee, said escalating prices and the train blast at Panipat would be raised prominently in the House to take on the UPA government, sources said. Besides Vajpayee and Advani, others who participated in the luncheon meeting with Chatterjee included V.K. Malhotra, Santosh Gangwar (both BJP) and B.K. Tripathy (BJD). The Speaker also hosted a dinner for senior UPA leaders who discussed with him ways and means to ensure smooth conduct of the House.
— PTI
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Speaker to meet party leaders tomorrow
New Delhi, February 20 The meetings have been planned to ensure smooth conduct of the session, with a customary luncheon meeting
on the eve of the session planned with leaders of all political parties on February 22.
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Guild flays attempt to pressurise Editor
Chandigarh, February 20 A statement issued by the Guild said that there have been reports that the authorities are planning to obtain a search warrant against the offices of Eenadu and Mr Rao, ostensibly to search for papers connected with a financial company owned by Mr Rao. “Any move by the police to search the offices of the newspaper and its editor amounts to a direct attack on the freedom of the press,” the statement said. “The guild strongly and unequivocally condemns the planned moves as a blatant move to muzzle the media and a violation of the constitutional protection to the press,” it added. Cautioning the state government not to use the investigations against the financial company to settle scores with an independent newspaper, the guild has asked the government to stop any witch hunt against the newspaper or its editor. “A newspaper cannot be hounded just because the government of the ruling party dislikes its editorial policy,” the statement said.
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Police officer shot dead
Patna, February 20 The incident took place at Biharsharif, when the miscreants fired at the police officer Shiv Ram, who was driving a motor cycle, killing him on the spot. The DSP of Nalanda district, Mr S.K. Satyarthi, said the assailants escaped with the officer’s service revolver. Nitish Kumar has asked the police to make every effort to nab the culprits. According to police sources, the speedy trials of over 5,000 criminals in the past one year had apparently unnerved the law-breakers.
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23 drowned as boat capsizes
Kochi, February 20 Ernakulam’s District Collector A.P.M. Mohammad Haneesh told PTI that 23 bodies had been recovered and a search was on for 20 more occupants of the boat who were swept away. The dead children were below 10. A total of 103 students and staff of Elavoor school near Angamaly had gone to Thattekkad bird sanctuary in two boats and one of them capsized at around 6 pm. Eight children were rescued, Haneesh said. Some reports said at least three teachers were believed to be among the dead.
— PTI
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