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Name the Industrialists Who Supply Fire Arms to the Marxist Gestapo? CPIM Suffers from Nandigram Syndrome and Declares Latest Industrialisation Plan for Singur, Rejecting to Return Farm land to Peasants. |
| Published on October 23rd, 2008 In Uncategorized | Views 214 | |
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Name the Industrialists Who Supply Fire Arms to the Marxist Gestapo? CPIM Suffers from Nandigram Syndrome and Declares Latest Industrialisation Plan for Singur, Rejecting to Return Farm land to Peasants. Civil Society Stands United with UNWANTED Mahashweta Devi and Katyayani.Marxists Tracking Sensex! Protests Hit Tea, Tourism in Darjeeling. US Presidential Race alone is Expected to Cost USD 2.4 billions.Bleak global outlook rattles Indian markets. West Bengal Government is all set to ask Tata Motors Limited to Return to SINGUR Palash Biswas West Bengal, India, Singur, regimented stalinists, CPIM
Lalu calls for Rly reexamination Thackeray who is the Chief of regional Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) was arrested on charges of rioting till November 5 was granted bail within minutes of being sent to jail.An ANI Report CPI(M) seeks sine die adjournment of the House Noting that this year Parliament has been in session for less than 40 days, the CPI(M) Polit Bureau said that the next session should be a full-fledged Winter Session and “not a farcical continuation" of the July 21-22 session. “Parliament will have to be adjourned sine die so that the Winter Session can be convened in December. The presiding officers have the duty to see that this travesty of Parliamentary democracy is not perpetuated," the party said. The CPI(M) noted that the UPA government refused to convene the Monsoon Session and it then announced that a continued session of the July 21-22 special trust vote would be held from October 17 to November 21. “Now, barely a week after the convening of Parliament, it is being adjourned again on October 24. This exposes the narrow partisan interests which dictated the indefinite postponement of the Monsoon session and the doing away with of the Winter Session," the Politburo said in a statement. It said this “gross contempt" for Parliament is compounded by the refusal of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to honour his own commitment to seek Parliamentary approval for the nuclear deal. The party said if the government does not convene a fresh session, it would consult with all other like-minded opposition parties to decide on the next course of action. http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/001200810232053.htm Who finances Genocide culture in a state ruled by the Marxists who until yesterday was pusuing the line of Land Reforms, Decentralisation, Regional and Rural Development, Trade Union Movement, Peasant movement, Anti capitalism, anti Fascism and Anti Imperialism? for last thirty years in Marxist rule, the RED gestapo may boast of the Grassroot level integrity,which would make Adulf Hitler most happy man on this planet! Who supplies the mass destruction weapons to Marxist cadres? Why the Bengali brahmin Marxists opted for Marxist Capitalist Highway removing the Patriarch Jyoti basu from power and repcing him with BRAND BUDDHADEB! Why Salim, most infamous for killing communists in Indonesia was selected for nandigram Chemical Hub? Why DOWS known for Bhopal tragedy was so welcome in West Bengal? Why our Comrades want to transform the entire state into SEZ, Chemical Hub, Retail chain, Nuclear Park, Shopping Mall, multiplex, Housing and Health Complexes and resorts? Could we ever imagined this in sixties and seventies? Why Ratan Tata is Made an Icon of Industrialisation and development? Please name those distinguished industrialists who back Laxman Seth, Ashok bhattacharya, Nirupam Sen, Binoy Konar, Biman Bose, Subhash Chakrabarti, gautam Deb, Somanth Chatterjee, the expelled party Vetarn and, of course Buddhadev? It is quite clear now how Ratan Tata entered the WHITE HOUSE and what had been his role in the Indo US Nuclear deal! Opposing the deal, at least in public, how do the marxist ally with Ratan Tata who enjoys the investment in every part of the Globe just because of the Zionist Hindu White global economy? along with Mahashweta Devi, Hindi Poet and social activist Katyayani has also been declared UNWANTED by Ruling Marxist in Bengal. katyani has protested the move in a strong worded Press note released yesterday. She objected that the Marxists are branding all writers and artists, social activists and cultural troups with social and Human right concern, NAXALITES AND MAOISTS! Katyani has warned a nationwide agitation against this. On the other hand , the Civil society in Bengal consitsing of poets, writers, artists, cinema and drama personalities,scietists, intellectulas, doctors,advocates, intellectuals,cultural wrkers, has decided to stand united rock solid with MAHASHWETA as well as KATAYYANI! Shankho Ghosh, Joy Goswami, tarun sanyal, Amlan Dutt, tarun naskar, Nabo Dutt, Sujat Bhadra, Abhi Dutt Majumdar, Ratan basu Majumdar, shiladity, Pallab Kirtunia, Shaonli Mitra, Ashok Mitra, Sumit Sarkar, ARUNDHUTI ROY, Sukumari Bhattacharya, Pratul Mukhopaddhaya, Ganesh Halui, SUBHOPRASANNA, RUDRAPRASAD SENGUPTA, Arpita Ghosh, Sumon Mukhopaddhyaya, Bhaskar Gupta, Debesh Chattopaddhyaya and others have warned west Bengal Government and CPIM of intense agitation! Meanwhile, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee took the stage on Wednesday evening to award decorations to 156 state police officers for outstanding service. Among the beaming faces was Superintendent of Police, Malda, Satyajit Bandopadhyay — the man accused of leading his force against protesting farmers at the peak of the Nandigram protests on March 14, 2007. Fourteen had died in the firing. In Nadigram, the people demonstrated on the Police Station against the Honour bestowed on the Genocide Amasters! At the gala police honours — the West Bengal Police Investiture Ceremony -2008 — Bandopadhyay was given the Police Prashansha Padak, given to officers with consistent performance over 15 years of service and those who have not faulted much in the eyes of law. There was a medal and Rs 10,000 for Bandopadhyay. The incident has been a blot on the state’s police records as well as in terms of human rights violations. Successive official reports indicated that the officer — Satyajit Bandopadhyay — then an additional superintendent of Police (Rural), Howrah, had led a police force that had opened fire on a mob of villagers who protested the Government’s proposed land acquisition in Nandigram. The Calcutta High Court had described the firing of March 14 in Nandigram as “unconstitutional and illegal”. The CBI is investigating the case. Bandopadhyay was sent by the state Government to Nandigram in East Midnapore along with others. He was posted on that fateful day with a huge force near Tekhali Bazar outpost and had led the charge against the villagers. West Bengal is the most peaceful state in the country, still the state police need to be more people-friendly. This was Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee’s advice to the force at the ‘Investiture Ceremony of Bengal Police 2008’ at the Science City Auditorium in Kolkata on Wednesday. He also highlighted communal clashes breaking out in different parts of the country. “People are fighting over religion in other states. West Bengal is safe and peaceful,” he said. Bhattacharjee, however, said there is no cause for complacency because terrorism, especially ultra-Left terrorism, is posing a real threat to the state. He exhorted policemen to act as a friend of the people. “The police, from the level of superintendent of police to the officers of a police station, must gain confidence of the people. No discrimination should be made between the rich and the poor while addressing their complaints,” he said. The chief minister also said: “The government is trying to increase the number of police housing estates and police hospitals. We will provide treatment to all injured policemen on duty.” Bhattacharjee conferred four Sourya Padak, seven Nistha Padak, 42 Prasansha Padak and 57 Sewa Padaks to the policemen. Three Sourya Padak awards were given posthumously. Police medal for meritorious service and President’s police medal for distinguished services were also awarded. In lucknow,in a significant move ahead of Assembly elections in five states, CPM General Secretary Prakash Karat met Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati at her official residence in Lucknow on Wednesday evening. Karat, who was with Mayawati’s for two hours, discussed the political scenario in view of the upcoming Assembly elections. BSP’s National General Secretary Satish Chandra Mishra was also present during the meeting. The Bengali Brahmin Marxists are wooing the Matuas in bengal and the dalit Bengali refugges resettled out of Bengal despite betraying them with citizenship amensment act and launching a deportation drive. Mind you, in Kolkata, CPI (M) general secretary Prakash Karat recently said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati could be a prime ministerial candidate of a non-Congress and non-BJP alliance at the Centre depending on the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections. “BSP is an important party and the ruling party in UP. We expect them to do well in Lok Sabha elections and therefore the leader of the BSP is going to be one of the people who I think will be considered,” Karat told reporters in Kolkata. Though the BSP has not accommodated the CPI(M)’s wish for an electoral understanding in Uttar Pradesh, the The CPI(M) Central Committee, which met last week in Kolkata, decided that its cadre should vote for “non-Congress secular parties like BSP” in seats where the party and the CPI are not contesting. The party’s view is that in the current political situation, it is imperative to oust BJP from power in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh while keeping the Congress at bay. The meet has gained political significance in the wake of CPM’s decision to support BSP candidates in those constituencies of the five states, where the former has not fielded its own candidates. “This has signaled the formation of an alliance between the BSP and Left parties at the national level ahead of the Lok Sabha elections,” a source in the BSP said. “Wednesday’s meeting was an important step in the way of formation of the Third Front. CPM has already welcomed the idea by asking its supporters to vote for BSP in those constituencies, where its candidates are not contesting, a source in the state unit of CPM said. He, however, could not confirm whether both the parties would undertake joint campaign in the elections. Though what transpired between the two leaders at the meeting was not made public, a source said BSP may pass a similar resolution to support CPM candidates where its candidates are not contesting Another drama unfolded in THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Criticism against Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan and the CPI dominated the discussions at the CPM state committee meeting on the first day on Wednesday. While VS was criticised for `violating’ party discipline, CPI received brickbats for its `inconsistent stand’ on crucial policy matters. A section of the state committee members accused VS of behaving in a `non-communist way’ by citing his post-Cabinet press conferences in which he had even discussed politburo deliberations with mediapersons. “Such an instance is unheard of in the history of any Communist party,’’ pointed out a delegate. The controversial interview of V.S. Achu-thanandan by Communist Campaign Committee leader Babu Bharadwaj, published in Mathrubhumi weekly, also drew flak from the delegates. Commenting on CPI’s dilly dallying over SEZ, some delegates said that the party was following the same process in all critical policy issues faced by the Left Democratic Front Government. The meeting on Thursday will discuss strategies to be adopted for the coming Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the West Bengal government Wednesday said it will stick to its task of industrialisation and employment generation in Singur, where auto major Tata Motors abandoned its Nano small car project earlier this month.”We will continue with the process of industrialisation in Singur. We haven’t decided on any company yet,” Principal Secretary (Industry) Sabyasachi Sen told reporters here. Though Sen said the state government had not yet decided the nature of the project that will come up, he talked about the possibility of building an industrial park in Singur, about 50 km from here.Sen confirmed rubbishing claims of state transport minister Subhas Chakrabarty, who said that the state would be finalizing an agreement with an automobile spare parts manufacturing unit by the end of this month. There was also hint that government might use the land for setting up an industrial park or for light engineering units, which might be accommodated within 400 acres. Tata Motors Oct 3 announced it was relocating the Nano project from Singur to Gujarat and blamed the state’s main opposition party Trinamool Congress for the “painful” decision. Meanwhile, the state government had also issued a circular announcing that the Singur land, acquired for industrial project, has to be used for industrialization for generating employment and economic development of the area. It cannot be returned to land owners. The message was sent for the state’s main Opposition party — Trinamool Congress, which has lined up a series of agitation after Diwali in demand of return of 400 acres of land. As Recession setsin the Globe andthe people of United States of America have to bear the most of the burn, the battle for the White House between Republican John McCain and Democrat Barack Obama, which has witnessed one of the most acrimonious campaigns, is also expected to be the most expensive ever with over USD five billion estimated to be spent on the election cycle. As much USD 5.3 billions is expected to be spent, an amount that is over the Gross Domestic Product of several small countries but something that neither Senator Barack Obama nor Senator John McCain and all of their colleagues in the House of Representatives and Senate even wince about for a nanosecond. According to the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP), the Presidential Race alone is expected to cost USD 2.4 billions. Here you are! This happens to be the most dangerous Killing Instinct of the global ruling class engaged in power game and quite detached with the destiny of Black Untouchable Indigenous communities worldwide. We all know how India replicates the CORE nation as a worthy Periphery! Just because CPIM tried to CAPTURE darjeeling Hills taming gurkhas and ejecting out Subas ghishing, the original leader of Gurkha Insurrection. The Marxists never chose to address the social and economic problems in the Hils. Tea gardens starve. Turism sick. But the Bengali brahmins treated the gurkha community as SLAVE. they refused to acknowledge the Gurkha Identity! Rejuvinate with Singur VICTORY and Nandigram capture, they want to deal with the issue with the smae Gestapo culture. Meanwhile they projected BIMAL GURUNG and made him OSAMa BIN Laden! Gorkhas, who are ethnic Nepalis, are demanding a separate state of “Gorkhaland" be carved out of West Bengal state"s Darjeeling region to protect their Himalayan culture and heritage, and protests have picked up again this month. The communist state government in West Bengal opposes the idea, as do Bengali groups in the foothills to the south of Darjeeling. There have been sporadic outbreaks of unrest between ethnic Nepalis and Bengalis as a result. Caught in this battle are tea traders, who say exports of premium Darjeeling tea may fall 20-25 percent this year due to political unrest in the hills. The region"s vast tea gardens ship highly prized and fragrant brews around the world, churning out about 10 million kg a year. “This third protest in the past few months has left the garden managers and workers jittery and we estimate 20 percent loss in production in tea gardens," Rajiv Lochan, secretary of the Siliguri Tea Traders" Association, told Reuters. Tea gardens in some areas were deserted and officials said regular protests had hampered plucking, a Reuters photographer said. In a statement on Wednesday evening, the government said that regardless of the circumstances, “the land would be used for setting up of industries only. The state government is mulling all options and planning to take definite steps in order to set up industries.” It reiterated that it had acquired land in Singur in step with the norms of the Land Acquisition Act. “The land was given to Tata Motors and several vendor companies, for setting up of the Nano factory and various auto component units. All the necessary infrastructural work was done in the mean time. The land was also converted to suit the industrial purpose. However, the project could not be completed due to disruption caused by a section of people.” Following this, ET specifically asked Tata Motors whether it would cancel its Singur land lease agreement with the West Bengal government or retain it for more time. In response, the Tata Motors spokesperson said: “We will discuss the lease issue with the West Bengal government.” The state government had offered Singur land to Tata Motors on a 90-year lease. Reacting to the development, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee reiterated her old demand of returning land to unwilling Singur farmers. “The state government can go ahead with its plans of setting up of new industries in Singur land. But the 400 acres which a section of displaced farmers were “unwilling” to part with, should be returned at any cost.” She said that members of the Save Farmland Committee will resume their agitation in Singur after Diwali. When contacted, commerce " industries secretary Sabyasachi Sen said: “The government wishes to send the message across that even if the Tatas decide to stay away from Singur, some sort of industry will definitely come up in the 997 acres. The state government already has some alternate plans — some light engineering or manufacturing units can set up their plants. If a number of small units are interested, there could also be some industrial park set up in the area. With land being so scarce in the state, any industrial group would lap up the proposal.” “We are no longer hopeful that the Tatas will return to Singur to set up any other project. Therefore, we would ideally want the land to be vacated at the earliest,” added a senior WBIDC official. How the gestapo works at grass root level? A CPI-M councilor and some party activists allegedly heckled three women whom they had detaining in their party office in Gayeshpur near Kalyani. TC-CPI(M) activists clash during Tufanganj bandh Trinamool Congress activists and CPI(M) cadre clashed at a number of places in Tufanganj sub-division of West Bengal"s Cooch Behar district on Tuesday during the 24-hour Tufanganj bandh called by the Trinamool Congress. The TC activists, who were enforcing the bandh and the CPI(M) cadre opposing it clashed in front of the SDO office, Beuchari bazaar and a few other places in the sub-division, police sources said. The police had to lathicharge the warring activists of the two rival political parties to disperse them, sources said. Trinamool Congress sources claimed that a number of party leaders including Ratan Das were injured when CPI(M) cadre attacked them. The CPI(M) sources refuted the TC claim and instead claimed that some of their leaders including Joba Pal and Shamsher Ali were injured when TC activists attacked them. The TC had called the 24-hour bandh alleging that a large number of policemen and police uniform clad CPI(M) men raided some residences at Bhairaber-tari village yesterday and opened fire in which two TC supporters were shot at and injured. Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has called for a 12-hour Tufanganj bandh tomorrow to protest today"s violence. Left to leave it to TRS As far as poll alliances for the next elections are concerned, the two Left parties - CPI and CPM - are likely to follow the path taken by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS). Amid efforts to forge a grand alliance to fight the ruling Congress in the next elections, the State leaders of CPI and CPM met here today to discuss the political situation and a common strategy on public issues. The State CPM secretary B V Raghavulu and his CPI counterpart K Narayana had a two-hour long meeting at the CPM headquarters here. While broad contours of tie-ups with other Opposition parties were discussed at the meeting, a final decision on alliances will be taken after the Central committee meetings of the two parties in November, the Left leaders said The CPM will discuss the issue of poll alliances during its meeting, scheduled to be held here from October 30 to November 5 before taking a final view, Raghavulu said. The CPI State executive committee meeting which was scheduled for October 29, 30 will also discuss the issue. After this, CPI national executive meeting will be held on November 1 and 2 in New Delhi. CPM State committee has been proposing a third front in the State on the lines of national level. Differing with the CPM proposal of replicating national level alliances in the State, CPI is trying to float a third alternative with Praja Rajyam Party along with TRS. CPI State leaders were in touch with their national leadership and were trying to convince them with this idea. CPI State committee will discuss the issue in its two-day meetings which would be attended by the party national leaders including party general secretary AB Bardhan. As the Left parties have considerable strength in Telangana region, they are likely to honour whatever decision TRS takes on alliances. however, the TRS is maintaining suspense on its poll strategy saying that it did not take any decision on alliances so far. Financial crisis The Marxists have always been posing ideologically sound and having latest national Interantional updates. The marxists are known to oppose nationalisnm as they believe in Internationalism. Thus, they could declare Laenin or mao as their leaders! Marxists always had a stance on every issue. but they have lost the vion as they suffer form NANDIGRAM SYNDROME! The Indian rupee plunged to a record low against the dollar and shares wilted on Wednesday on fears that foreign investors would keep pulling funds out of the country as they batten down for a severe global slowdown. Wipro Ltd (WIPR.BO: Quote, Profile, Research), India" third-largest outsourcer, reported flat earnings and joined its rivals in citing worsening economic conditions for a cautious outlook, and the government said it may overshoot its budget deficit target. “The global economic environment has deteriorated significantly over the past couple of months and our outlook is cautious in the near term, given the strain on the global economy," Wipro Chairman Azim Premji said. In order to counter the spillover of the global turmoil, the central bank has aggressively cut it key lending rate and banks" reserve requirements this month, and more steps could come at a policy review on Friday, but sentiment remains fragile. The rupee The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said on Thursday it was closely monitoring financial market developments and would respond swiftly and pre-emptively to adverse external developments that could affect financial and price stability. “The Reserve Bank is committed to maintaining financial stability and active and flexible liquidity management by using all policy instruments," the RBI said in its review of macroeconomic and monetary developments. “The Reserve Bank is closely monitoring developments in the global as well as domestic financial markets and stands ready to take such pre-emptive action as may be necessary to contain excess volatility in the domestic financial markets," it said. The RBI will review its monetary policy on Friday, against the backdrop of a looming recession in developed economies which has rattled domestic financial markets. In a lighter vein, the Finance Minister said he knew the kind of money that the CPI(M) had made from the share market. “You made Rs 1.9 crore,” Chidambaram said adding, he was happy for that. When Sitaram Yechury asked Chidambaram to give the “devil (Left) its due” for saving the country from the global financial turmoil, the Finance Minister said the Congress-led UPA government had neither embraced capitalism nor communism. “We have never embraced capitalism nor communism. Congress party and the UPA have a particular philosophy which would be in tune with changing times,” he said. At 9:58 a.m., the 30-share BSE index had pared some losses to be down 3.81 per cent at 9,782.36, but all its components were in red. The index was trading at its lowest level since June 2006. Finance Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday advised investors in equity markets to take informed decisions and not to act in panic. On the fall in rupee value, he said, capital is going out of the country because there are redemption pressure on FIIs back home. Once these pressure eases, money will flow into the country in the form of ECB, FCNR, NRE. “I am sure once pressure on FIIs ease, FIIs will also bring in money to invest in corporate and government debt market," the minister said. He was supported by the CPI-M leader Basudeb Acharia who faulted the Government for “dispensing with” the Monsoon session of Parliament. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi, however, dismissed the allegations insisting that as per rules, there could be a gap of six months between two sessions. The Minister also charged the opposition with “wasting” 35 to 39 per cent of the time when sittings had taken place during the last four years. Noting that a conference of presiding officers had spoken of the need to have sittings of at least 100 days in a year, Dasgupta said this government appears to be “running away” from Parliament. Wondering why no session of Parliament was convened when the Indo-US nuclear deal was being finalised, he sought to know whether it was also part of the “deal” to ensure that no dissension was seen in Indian Parliament. He said there was a “hearsay” that the session will be adjourned onf Friday and would meet again in December. Even if that happens, the sittings this year would not be more than 50, he regretted. Rupee, shares punished; mkts look to RBI The rupee fell to a record low and shares dipped to their weakest levels in more than two years on Thursday as a global rout of equities washed through India"s markets. India"s annual inflation rate is still in the double digits but data on Thursday showed it is at least declining, allowing authorities to focus on maintaining expansion and liquidity to weather the global turmoil instead of price stability. And the oil minister offered the prospect soon of a possible cut in government-set fuel prices to ease the burden on consumers ahead of key state elections in the next two months. “Relaxation in the monetary policy as was witnessed in the recent past are in line with the softening trend in inflation," said Indranil Pan, chief economist at Kotak Mahindra Bank. The wholesale price index, the country"s most widely watched inflation measure, rose 11.07 per cent in the 12 months to Oct. 11, below the previous week"s annual rise of 11.44 per cent. Inflation peaked at 12.9 per cent in August and Economic Affairs Secretary Ashok Chawla said the government expected inflation at 9.5-10 per cent by the end of 2008. US crude oil has fallen to about $67 a barrel from a record above $147 in July, putting pressure on India to cut the price of fuels still controlled by the government, after it raised them by about 10 per cent in June. Some politicians urged the government for a cut to help the common man, just as it helped ailing airlines by giving them six months to pay jet fuel dues in instalments. Oil Minister Murli Deora said it was watching the price of crude and would decide in a week if administered prices should fall. SHARES, RUPEE PUMMELLED In the share market, the benchmark index dropped 4 per cent to its lowest since June 2006 as Asian stocks hit a four-year low for a second day on growing fears that a global downturn would depress corporate earnings further. “Valuations are attractive, but still people are not committing enough funds," said Neeraj Dewan, director at Quantum Securities. “There are views that our growth will slow down in the short term, though medium term would be ok, but people are more concerned about the short term." Shares of banks, companies involved in metal and software exporters were hardest hit. The key index has fallen by more than half this year, with foreigners selling a net $12.2 billion, compared with 2007"s record net inflow of $17.4 billion. The finance minister said the stock market regulator had asked foreign institutional investors not to lend Indian shares to offshore entities in a bid to ease selling pressure. The partially convertible rupee , which suffers when foreigners pull funds from shares, fell to a record low of 49.85 per dollar before heavy central bank intervention pulled it back to 49.79/80, although it was still down 1 per cent on the day. But government bond yields, which move inversely to prices, eased towards eight-month lows. The benchmark 10-year yield dropped to 7.57 per cent as market expectations grew that the central bank would take more liquidity boosting measures on Friday to prod banks into lending to firms after Monday"s unexpected cut in the repo rate, the first in more than four years. It has also boosted funds in the banking system by relaxing cash reserve requirements for banks and, late on Wednesday, raised the cap on overseas debt of domestic firms to $500 million from $100 million to encourage inflows to support the rupee. A Reuters poll showed few expect another rate cut on Friday or another drop in the cash reserve ratio from 6.5 per cent just yet, although more measures were expected further down the line. But Chawla at the finance ministry said there was a need to increase capital inflows and the government was monitoring liquidity, capital inflows and the rupee closely. Fuel prices to be reduced within a week: Deora In what could be a Diwali gift for the common man, government on Thursday said in the Lok Sabha that an announcement on reduction of fuel prices will be made within a week, keeping in view the falling global crude prices. Global crude prices have come down below 67 dollars a barrel from a high of 147 dollars and now the government should live upto its promise and reduce prices of petroleum products, the members said. Deora also faced wrath of members over the “bailout" package to airlines at the cost of the common man. The Petroleum Minister as also Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel denied that any bailout has been given and said only deferment of outstandings has been allowed. To a question from BSP"s Brajesh Pathak whether the government will give free diesel to farmers, Deora pointed out that even now, huge subsidy was being given on various petroleum products. He said the question was “wrong". But members of the BSP, Left and the NDA were in no mood to listen and they staged a noisy walkout. Earlier this week, Finance Minister P Chidambaram had said in the Lok Sabha that India"s administered prices of petrol, diesel, LPG and kerosene were based on Indian basket at 67 dollar a barrel. When price comes down to 67 dollars a barrel, then oil companies are breaking even, Chidambaram had said. BJD member Braj Kishore Tripathy asked “what is the policy of the Government when global crude prices have declined." Deora said the government was waiting for further reduction in global crude prices and would consider the matter later. But as members got agitated and wanted an immediate response, he said a decision would be announced within a week. Govt likely to impose 25% cess on big diesel cars Government may impose a 25 per cent cess on big diesel cars and charge bulk users other than railways and state transport corporations Rs 22 a litre more for diesel as part of a dual fuel pricing policy. This is part of a dual diesel pricing proposal the ministry is preparing for the Cabinet, he said. “Diesel to industrial users other than railways and state transport departments will be sold at market price of Rs 57 a litre." At present, diesel in Delhi costs Rs 34.86 a litre. Industrial units like power generators in IT industry find subsidised diesel cheaper than freely priced fuel oil and naphtha, pushing demand that has forced refiners import the fuel to meet the requirement. “The idea is to limit sale of subsidised diesel to transport and agriculture sectors only," he said, adding the Petroleum Ministry was holding consultations with various stakeholders and will move a Cabinet note this month. While the cess on big diesel cars would give about Rs 150 crore additional revenues annually, charging bulk users higher price would reduce loss of state retailers Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum by Rs 14,000-15,000 crore. “More than half of the projected Rs 1,65,300 crore revenue loss on sale of petrol, diesel, domestic LPG and kerosene this fiscal is on account of diesel sales," the official said. Diesel demand in April-July had grown by 18 per cent, with bulk of the growth coming from industrial users like power plants. Fin min: Banks should lend aggressively Finance Minister Palaniappan Chidambaram said on Thursday there was adequate liquidity in the banking system and he has advised banks to l Chidambaram also asked investors not to sell stocks in panic. The minister"s comments came after the main stock index plunged to its lowest since June 2006 amid a gloomy global economic outlook. The government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have eased the norms on overseas borrowing for Indian companies to boost inflows and help corporates raise funds for projects. The revised rules provide for companies to pay a higher interest of upto 500 bps over the six-month libor on external commercial borrowings (ECBs). Companies can bring in the proceeds immediately and can also use dollar borrowings for rupee expenditure. The easing of norms comes at a time when a number of Indian companies, who are already in the international loan markets, are finding it difficult to raise funds. The turbulence in global financial markets has impacted this market significantly and with banks reluctant to lend to each other, raising foreign currency funds is going to be tough. Bankers say that liquidity is limited to the shorter end of the borrowing spectrum with global banks loath to lend for the medium and long term. According to the new rules notified by the RBI late on Wednesday, from now on, ECBs up to $500 million per borrower per financial year would be permitted for rupee expenditure or foreign currency expenditure for permissible end-uses under the automatic route. The norm of a minimum average maturity period of seven years for ECBs of more than $100 million for rupee capital expenditure by borrowers in the infrastructure sector has been dispensed with. The relaxation may not result in an immediate inflow of funds, given that overseas credit markets are frozen and spreads over libor have been widening. Roiled by the financial turmoil, banks abroad are reluctant to lend to corporates in emerging markets. They are looking at cutting down or are only maintaining their Indian exposure. However, the new norms could benefit many AAA and AA rated Indian corporates to access the markets as and when the market eases up. Telecom companies, who had earlier pitched for allowing the proceeds of ECBs for payment of licence/permit for 3G spectrum have been given that facility. At present, ECB proceeds are required to be parked overseas until actual expenditure takes place. Now, companies can either keep these funds offshore or keep it with the overseas branches or subsidiaries of Indian banks abroad or to remit these funds to India for credit to their rupee accounts with banks in India until it is used. Given the tight liquidity conditions in the market, RBI has said that banks have been allowed to pay upto 300 bps over six-month libor on ECBS between three and five years as against 200 bps earlier. For longer-term borrowings, corporates have been allowed to pay as much as 500 bps over six-month libor. Given that six-month libor is ruling at 3.7%, lenders will be allowed to pay out up to 8.7% interest on dollar borrowings. Other earlier restrictions including the $500-million limit per company per financial year under the automatic route as well as conditions relating to eligible borrower, recognised lender, end-use, average maturity period, prepayment, refinancing of existing ECB and reporting arrangements remain unchanged. Seshagiri Rao, finance director, JSW said: “This will benefit corporates as one layer of approval, from RBI, has now been removed. Top-rated companies should be able to roll-over existing liabilities within the enhanced spreads now allowed by RBI." He added that JSW group companies would definitely look at the option of raising foreign loans in the wake of this relaxation. According to Hemant Mishra, MD and head global markets (India), StanChart, “this is in line with the ministry and the RBI"s proactive approach of managing the dollar liquidity shortage in the local market. This step will make it easier for India Inc to tap into the overseas capital market and also helps domestic liquidity in the process. There would be incremental appetite for quality India paper at the right price, once the international liquidity situation gets better." Usually, the credit markets slow down towards the end of the calendar year. This might be accentuated this time because of the ongoing credit crunch. For the fiscal ended March 31,2008 Indian corporates had made overseas borrowings of $30.95 billion. This is as against borrowings of $25.35 billion in the previous fiscal. In the current fiscal, between April and August, corporates had borrowed $8.12 billion. Said Robin Banerjee, director (finance) Essar Steel: “This will encourage flow of foreign exchange debt into India since they are cheaper than Indian debt if you don"t consider rupee depreciation, which can be appropriately hedged. This is a positive step to build confidence and ensure flow of funds in tight market conditions. “We are yet to study the details, but at first brush, they appear to be very positive for the industry," said a top Vodafone-Essar official. Said Idea Cellular MD Sanjeev Aga, “While Idea is not affected, this may be a useful step for the sector. However, there are several loose ends in the preparation for the 3G auctions and it would be desirable that these are meticulously addressed instead of rushing through." Highlights " All in cost ceilings (libor plus spread plus issue expenses) have been relaxed by the RBI. More corporates can use the ECB window " $500 Mn for rupee expenditure " Telecom companies can use the ECB for raising money for license/permit for 3G Spectrum " Corporates can remit these funds to India for credit to their rupee accounts in India, pending utilisation for permissible end-use. " Monitoring of unhedged exposures of SMEs being put in places * Corporates unlikely to benefit in the short term as global banks are still not comfortable in lending. Investors" loss in market mayhem crosses $1 trillion mark At the end of today"s trading when the benchmark Sensex dropped by over 500 points, the investor wealth measured in terms of cumulative market capitalisation of all listed firms dropped to Rs 32,20,682 crore (about 650 billion dollars). This represents a fall of over 1.1 trillion dollars from a life-time high of close to 1.8 trillion dollars (Rs 72 trillion) on January 10 — the day when Sensex scaled its life time high before embarking on a downslide. The figure is even bigger than the estimated size of Indian economy of just about one trillion dollars. India"s GDP is estimated at Rs 46,93,602 crore for the latest fiscal 2007-08, which translates into about 950 billion dollars at the current foreign exchange rate. Indian stock markets had moved out of the trillion-dollar club this July, nearly a year after joining this league. The Sensex has more than halved from its record high of 21,206.77 points to 10,169.90 points. It even slipped below the 10,000-point mark late last week when it dropped to 9,911.32 points on October 17, its lowest in over two years. At the end of previous year, the total market cap of all the listed companies in India stood at Rs 71,69,985 crore. In rupee terms, the loss in the ongoing about 10-month meltdown stands at about Rs 40 trillion. Besides, the fall in market valuation, the sharp plunge in rupee against the US currency has also contributed to the sharper fall in the Indian market"s dollar valuation. Early this year, when the market was at its peak, the rupee value stood at about 39.25 to a dollar, but it has now fallen to near 49.32 level. India does not want refugees from Sri Lanka, says Pranab India on Thursday said it does not want influx of Tamil refugees from Sri Lanka into its territory, saying it is the responsibility of the island nation to provide food and shelter to civilians displaced because of hostilities there. “We will not like influx of refugees to Tamil Nadu because of a situation over which we have no control. We are prevailing upon them (Sri Lanka), it is your responsibility to provide food, shelter and medicine to your displaced people," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said in the Rajya Sabha. He was replying to clarifications sought on his suo motu statement made in the House yesterday on the situation in Sri Lanka. When senior Indian officials visited Sri Lanka recently, they told their counterparts that New Delhi would like to have an overall assessment before meeting their requirements. This was because “we would not like international players in our backyard", Mukherjee said. He was specifically responding to the concerns of Leader of the Opposition Jaswant Singh over China, Sri Lanka and Pakistan forging strategic relations in the region. Mukherjee said Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa was sending his Senior Political Adviser Basil Rajapaksa to India “by the weekend" and there will be some discussion. “We will provide whatever assistance they require for rehabilitation, relief and succour to the displaced persons," he said. He maintained that the ultimate solution could be achieved through implementation of the recommendations of the high-powered committee, devolution of power and giving autonomy in certain areas. On the killing of Indian fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, over which several members from Tamil Nadu expressed serious concern, he said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already taken up the issue with the Sri Lankan leaders. “There is no justification for Sri Lanka Navy shooting Indian fishermen. You can arrest them as it often happens in Pakistan. But there is no reason why the Sri Lankan Navy will fire upon our fishermen," Mukherjee said. He said they have agreed to work out a mechanism for a practical solution to resolve the issue and added that some arrangements were being worked out to ensure that the fishermen are adequately warned. CPI(M) protest against Malabar Exercises tomorrow The CPI(M) will organise protests along the west coast on Friday against the Indo-US naval exercises. The party is holding protest rallies in 15 centres along the coast in four states of Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala against ‘Malabar Exercises" which involve US naval ships led by Reagan. In Kerala, there will ten rallies in nine coastal districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Kozhikode. The rally in Karnataka is scheduled at Mangalore while in Goa, it will be held in Vasco da Gama. In Maharasthra, there will be protest rallies at Thalasseri (Thane district), Uran (Raigad) and Mumbai. Senior CPI(M) leaders V S Achutanandan, S Ramachandran Pillai, Brinda Karat, K Varadarajan and Pinarayi Vijayan will be addressing some of these rallies, a party release said. Centre practising double standards: CPI(M) In wake of reports that some Hindu groups were allegedly involved in the Malegaon and Modasa blasts, the CPI(M) pn Thursday charged the central government with practising double standards in taking action against different extremist groups. “I believe that there are double standards. After all this if you do not take action against Bajrang Dal and other Hindu outfits against whom similar charges have surfaced in other places like Nanded as well, the message you send is that of practising double standards," CPI(M) Polit Bureau member and Rajya Sabha MP Brinda Karat told reporters outside the parliament. The Central government should take uniform action on all and the message should go that nobody will be spared irrespective of his community affiliations. The campaign that terrorists belong to only one community is atrocious and the attempt to targe Muslims only is strongly condemnable, she added. Karat made a forceful demand for banning Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch. “These organizations should be banned the their names have figured in the report of the Anti Terror Squad (ATS) for the attacks," she said. Congress MP and Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal, however, chose to be guarded in his comments despite the fact that Congress MP Rashid Alvi earlier demanded banning ABVP. “Violence should not be equated with any community. Those who carried out violence at Malegaon or Modasa are criminals and action should be taken against them under Indian Penal Code (IPC)," Sibal said. Congress member Rashid Alvi earlier said, “The report says that ABVP, the student wing of BJP is behind the attacks. A student wing of any political party was never before found involved in such attacks. This is a very serious issue." “What will happen to the country if student wing of a national political party, which ruled the country for six years does this," Rashid argued. US economy to remain in downturn till 1st half of 09: IMF Presenting a grim outlook of US, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said it expects the world"s largest economy to remain in downturn till the first half of 2009. “… notwithstanding accommodative monetary, financial and fiscal policy - the IMF staff expects the US economy to enter a downturn in the second half of 2008 and first half of 2009," the IMF said. In its report on the Regional Economic Outlook ‘Western Hemisphere, Grappling with the Global Financial Crisis", the multi-lateral lending agency asserted that prospects for the American economy are weak. According to the report which makes use of data as recent as October, the economic recovery would begin in the H2 of 2009 and would be more gradual than previous recoveries, due to the exceptional nature of the asset price adjustments taking place. Moreover, the IMF pointed out that overall growth in the advanced economies as a whole would be close to “zero at least until the middle of 2009." IMF noted that although the emerging markets are slowing, Asia"s leading economies - India and China - are still expected to be the largest contributor to global growth. “Levels of uncertainty and volatility are very high, presenting policymakers with a challenging environment to navigate," it said. Even though inflation should ease in many emerging countries, the IMF said it expects elevated price pressures to remain in number of these nations. RBI survey projects 7.7 pc GDP growth; policy to focus on prices The Reserve Bank on Thursday pegged the country"s economic growth at 7.7 per cent for this fiscal and said the monetary policy would continue to focus on price control and stability in financial markets. The policy stance would also be conducive to continuation of growth momentum, RBI said in its mid-term review of Macro-economic and Monetary Developments released here. The medium forecast (according to a survey conducted in September by professionals authorised by RBI) of GDP growth for 2008-09 was 7.7 per cent against 7.9 per cent in the earlier survey done in June, the report said. Global commodity and crude oil prices along with food have eased somewhat during second quarter of the fiscal but they still remain at elevated levels, it said. Metal prices too have eased during this period, reflecting weak construction demand in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries and some improvement in supply, especially in China, RBI said. On food prices, the report said that they too have declined during the period under review on the back of improved supply prospects, particularly for oilseeds and grains in major producing countries. However on a year-on-year basis, prices of several food items are still high, the apex bank said. International sugar prices, which had declined somewhat during the first of this fiscal, have increased thereafter by about 12 per cent during the June-September 2008 period. Cotton production too was expected to fall by about 11 per cent and its prices are expected to rise by about 8 per cent in FY 09, the report said. In a new twist to the blast at Malegaon in Maharashtra and Modasa in Gujarat during Ramzan on September 29, Maharashtra police on Thursday sa “All aspects of the matter are being investigated and we cannot say presently if a particular organisation is behind it," a senior Maharashtra police official said to a question if an Indore-based Hindu group was involved in the blasts. Media reports on Thursday said suspects from a Indore-based Hindu extremist group known to have links to the BJP student wing Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had been taken in for questioning by the Maharashtra police. “We are investigating the matter currently and will share the details of investigations at the appropriate time," an ATS official said, without giving further details. Home minister R R Patil and DGP A N Roy declined to comment on the issue. Five persons were killed in the Malegaon blast while one was killed in Modasa. In both the cases, bombs were placed on motorcycles parked in crowded area to cause maximum human casualty. Reports said investigators had tracked down the right wing group while investigating origins of the motorcycle used in the Malegaon blast. However, officials refused to confirm this. Aries Agro to start two units by December Nutrition solutions major Aries Agro will start production at its upcoming manufacturing units in Lucknow and Panvel within two months, a top official said in Kolkata on Thursday. “Operations at our Lucknow plant would start next month while Panvel unit would be commissioned in December," Aries Agro executive director Rahul Mirchandani said on the sidelines of a conference. Once the Panvel plant in Maharashtra is commissioned, Aries Agro"s annual capacity will touch 100,800 million tonnes from the present 73,800 million tonnes, he said. Aries Agro inaugurated its sixth manufacturing unit at Ahmedabad in August, which produces bio-fertilisers. Talking about the company"s global ventures, he said: “Following the acquisition of Mapco, we are now planning to enter geographies like Eqypt, Syria and the Middle East, markets which use advanced agricultural technologies that fit perfectly with our product profile." Aries Agro has recently acquired 75 percent stake in Golden Harvest Middle East, creating Aries" first manufacturing base abroad for micronutrients. Through Golden Harvest, Aries Agro owned 25 percent stake in the UAE-based Mapco Fertilisers that makes water-soluble NPK (Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium) fertilisers. Bihar simmers as anti-MNS students take to streets Violence continued unabated in Bihar on Thursday with agitated students indulging in arson and vandalism at several places as Biharsharif obse Scores of violent protestors ransacked the railway station at Motihari, headquarter of East Champaran district, smashing glass doors and panes of reservation and ticket counters before setting a police jeep ablaze, Superintendent of Police N H Khan said. Khan said the protestors, who resorted to violence two days ago, also damaged kiosks and eateries on the platform and badly damaged a fire tender, following which the police baton charged and chased them away. “The situation is completely under control with the arrival of CRPF reinforcements to assist the district police in controlling the situation," he said. Biharsharif, headquarter of Chief Minister Nitish Kumar"s home district Nalanda, observed a complete shutdown to protest the killing of Pavan Kumar, who was brutally assaulted by MNS activists. The government has already announced a compensation of Rs 1.5 lakh to the family of Pavan, a resident of Bara-khurd under Noorsarai police station. Protestors clashed with the police at several places in the town leading to “mild" baton charge in which a few agitators received minor bruises, Superintendent of Police Vineet Vinayak said. Vaiko held for making ‘highly inflammatory speeches" MDMK Chief Vaiko was on Thursday arrested on the charge of making “highly inflammatory speeches supporting the LTTE", police said. This is the second time that Vaiko was arrested for supporting the banned outfit. He was arrested under POTA by the previous AIADMK government for speaking in support of LTTE. Vaiko had at a public meeting here on Tuesday said a separate Tamil Eelam under the leadership of LTTE chief Prabhakaran would come into existence soon in Sri Lanka. “LTTE and Sri Lankan Tamils could not be separated. Though we are against any violence, we should differentiate between violence and right", he said. “Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who had assured me no military aid would be supplied to Sri Lanka, had gone back on his word," he alleged. Vaiko said “if the need arises, I will be the first man to take up arms in support of Sri Lankan Tamils. I will gather youths all over the country for this purpose". The MDMK presidium chairman, M Kannappan, had told the meeting that time would come to demand for a separate Tamil Nadu. In that meeting, a two-hour film on Sri Lankan army"s alleged atrocities against Tamils was screened. In a statement on wednesday, AIADMK chief Jayalalithaa had demanded that all LTTE supporters be booked. The Tamil Nadu government"s decision to arrest Vaiko was to make it clear that the ruling DMK"s support was only for the suffering Sri Lankan Tamils and not for LTTE. Vaiko, now an ally of Jayalalithaa, was detained under POTA by her government in 2004 on his arrival from the United States after he had made a pro-LTTE speech at a public meeting in Tirumangalam in Madurai. DMK chief M Karunanidhi had condemned Vaiko"s arrest at that time. BEIJING: The Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 7) beginning here on Friday is expected to call for stiff regulatory measures to save the world from t The meeting presents a major opportunity for India, which recently became a member of the ASEM, to play a key role in the formulation of policies aimed at alleviating the world economy from the financial crisis. European Union nations are particularly keen to obtain the join hands with Asian giants, India and China, in setting up policy barriers to protect the two continents from happenings in the US financial markets. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who is attending the meeting, will also use the opportunity to hold separate meetings with leaders from eight nations in Europe and Asia including German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. He is also expected to meet Chinese premier Wen Jiabao to address the political bottlenecks affecting growth of trade and investment between the two countries. “There is need for more effective supervision of financial flows across the world," Liu Jieyl, China"s assistant minister for foreign affairs said in an interview with the official television this evening. “ASEM can make a great contribution for joint and concentrated efforts to overcome the financial crisis," he said. The meeting will discuss and possibly adopt a resolution on how countries of Europe and Asia can work together to counter the financial crisis. Though it is not expected to specifically criticize the United States, the resolution will signal a determination by Asia and Europe to lessen its influence on their respective markets, sources said. ASEM will also come out with a “Beijing declaration" detailing specific measures on sustainable development and environment. This will be a significant move because there are sharp differences on issues like emission standards between western nations and Asian nations like China and India. Liu said Asian and European nations are in favour of giving primacy to multilateralism in world affairs and enhancing the role of the United Nations. China has been using the idea of multilateralism to spread its idea that the world should reduce its dependence on the US in both political and economic affairs. Lessening the dependence on the US is also of crucial importance to India, which is in the process of discussing a possible free trade agreement with the European Union. The ASEM secretariat is also working on theme papers for FTA between EU and Asian nations like India, South Korea and ASEAN. Chinese premier Wen Jiabao, who will chair most of the ASEM sessions, is also expected to separately meet world leaders including the Indian prime minister separately. Singh is expected to discuss ways to further boost the growing trade relationship between India and China without letting political and border issues coming in the way. PM to hold talks with Hu Jiantao, Gilani at ASEM summit BEIJING: For India, the importance of the seventh Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM7) beginning on Friday goes beyond participating in global issues like the Chinese foreign minister spokesman Liu Jianchao on Thursday indicated that China expects to work closely with India to get ASEM7 to approve policies aimed at protecting Asia and Europe from the financial crisis. China wants to ensure that developed countries “shoulder more responsibility" in the worldwide efforts to overcome the financial crisis, Liu said. Hu"s decision to meet Singh instead of leaving the task to premier Wen Jiabao at a time when heads of 45 nations will be in Beijing is a special gesture indicating the importance China attaches to India. The two leaders will exchange views on regional and international issues, Chinese foreign minister spokesman Liu Jianchao said on Thursday. Singh will also meet Italian Prime Minister Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Mongolian President Nambaryn Enkhbayar tomorrow before his meeting with Hu at the Great Hall of the People on Saturday. The time and venue of the proposed meeting with Gilani was still being worked out, sources said. A meeting between Singh and Gilani in Beijing has a significance of its own as China is a factor in the bilateral relationship between New Delhi and Islamabad. China"s approach to India is usually influenced by worries that Pakistan might be unhappy at any significant gestures towards New Delhi. “We welcome the Indian prime minister to Beijing. Chinese leaders will use this opportunity to discuss a wide range of regional and international issues with him and also enhance the mutual understanding between the two countries," Liu said soon after Singh landed in Beijing late evening on Thursday. Also on the sidelines of the ASEM meeting are efforts by ASEAN+3 nations to create a foreign reserves fund that will help member countries tide over any future financial crisis. The proposal made under the Chanmai Initiative after the 1997 Asian financial crisis is being discussed among ASEAN leaders arriving in Beijing. The ASEM will also discuss issues relating to climate change and energy, disaster relief measures, Millennium Goals of the United Nations and need for dialogue among civilisations besides the current financial crisis. Pranab throws rulebook at CPM Saroj Nagi, Hindustan Times The CPM’s breach of privilege notice against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appears to have run into trouble in Lok Sabha. Although Speaker Somnath Chatterjee is yet to give his ruling on an issue which is still under his consideration he told the House, the matter came up at the meeting of party leaders in the presiding officer’s chambers when Lok Sabha was adjourned on Monday morning amid din. At the meeting, Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee is believed to have ticked off CPM’s Basudeb Acharia saying that a breach of privilege notice against a member has to be given in the House of which he belongs. Singh, who has been accused by the Left of not abiding by his promise to revert to Parliament before the government signs the nuclear deal, is a member of the Rajya Sabha. At the CPM’s regular briefing, Sitaram Yechury alleged that the ruling party was taking recourse to technicalities. He said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had given his assurance in Lok Sabha. The CPM had given breach of privileges notices in both Houses. “We want the Rajya Sabha chairman to give his ruling,” Yechury said, ruling out any discussion on External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee’s statement on the nuclear deal until this issue is settled. “Till the matter of privilege notice is settled, we don’t think any discussion is warranted on the nuclear deal which has been signed…We do not want to provide any legitimacy to a government which has not stuck to its own assurance and also gone against the majority view of the House on the deal,” he said. After moon, it’s mission Mars for Indian scientists BR Srikanth, Hindustan Times There was no uncorking of champagne, no historic poses for the cameras, no after-launch parties, no grand statements. Seconds after India’s moon rocket rode a blaze of flame into the dawn sky from Sriharikota spaceport, a gaggle of reserved, mostly south Indian scientists at Mission Control on this Bay of Bengal island pumped fists, briefly hugged each other, flashed a thumbs-up sign to the media, shared a meal and travelled back to their facilities across south India. Wednesday’s flight of the 316-tonne polar satellite launch vehicle (PSLV-C11) from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre was a dream come true for about 1,000 space scientists and technologists.“We met for a mission review and later shared a meal. That’s all,” said Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre Director K Radhakrishnan. “The Chairman has left for Bangalore, and we are heading back to our places (of work).” The launch marked the beginning of new initiatives to study other celestial bodies of the solar system — Mars, asteroids and comets. These efforts would coincide with plans to send an Indian into space by 2015. Deceased Naxalite’s family awaits fulfilment of LF vows Tarun Goswami Haldia dock closure poses threat for corporates Biswabrata Goswami | |
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