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Big B holds bureaucrats MUSSOORIE, Nov 12: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who has frequently played the role of a non-conformist fighting the system, in reality .......more Kipling’s
complete MUSSOORIE, Nov 12: Lovers of Rudyard Kipling’s poetry the world over are in for a treat as a new compilation of all his poems has been brought out, .....more Dissident
MLAs’ LUCKNOW, Nov 12: The move to get the ten dissident party MLAs disqualified may bring immediate’ relief to the BJP but Mayawati .....more TEZPUR, Nov 12: The Indian Air Force (IAF) is facing an acute shortage of manpower in the officers category especially in the flying section. ..more |
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RSS chief demands change in curriculum of Madrasas GUNTUR, ANDHRA PRADESH, Nov 12: RSS Sarsanghchalak K S Sudarshan has demanded that, taking a cue from Egypt, Madrasas in the ........more Soren
flays Marandi for RANCHI, Nov 12: Jharkhand Mukti Morcha chief Shibu Soren has urged the people to teach the State Government "a befitting lesson" for allegedly ......more Uma
for social justice NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Union Minister for Coal and Mines Ms Uma Bharti has called for redefining social justice by focusing it on dignity and empowerment for the Dalits, the women and the minorities. .....more HC’s suo motu NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Even as Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is focusing attention......more |
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India plans to develop sites associated with Gandhi, 2 others ... Rabi cultivation suffers in drought-hit Rajasthan.. Close shave for WB, cyclone changes direction to B’Desh....
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Big B holds bureaucrats in high esteem MUSSOORIE, Nov 12: Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan, who has frequently played the role of a non-conformist fighting the system, in reality holds bureaucrats in high esteem and believes that they determine the fate of a country. Addressing the 76th batch of civil services probationers at the Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA) here last evening, the Big B said this and expressed the hope that they would be "honest and dedicated" in their services. All the people of the country hold them in high esteem and "I have all the respect for bureaucrats," he said. He also told the gathering that "Deewar" was his favourite film and his favourite role so far. He said he had never been trained in acting. When he studied in school at Sherwood in Nainital, his father, eminent poet Harivansh Rai Bachchan, had told him "to follow his heart always". "And this is where my heart brought me in life," he said talking about Hindi films in the global context, he said they were among the best films in the world and the day was not far when they would gain international fame. "Language is a major barrier as far as winning the Oscar is concerned," he opined. Mr Bachchan, who is shooting here for Honey Irani’s "Armaan" these days, regaled the probationers with excerpts from Harivansh Rai Bachchan’s "Madhushala" and the poem "Agnipath, Agnipath, Agnipath". About the involvement of the underworld in Hindi film industry, the megastar said as far as he was personally concerned, he had never come across any such case or person. "But if it is happening, it is shameful. At least, artistes should not encourage this trend." Mr Bachchan had dinner with academy director Wajahat Habibullah, Mrs Babibullah and members of the LBSNAA staff. (UNI) |
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Kipling’s complete verse released in Woodstock School MUSSOORIE, Nov 12: Lovers of Rudyard Kipling’s poetry the world over are in for a treat as a new compilation of all his poems has been brought out, running into more than seven hundred pages. Kipling, the greatest English writer associated with India, was one of the two nobel laureates who worked for "The Pioneer," the other being Winston Churchill. "Rudyard Kilping: the complete verse," the first comprehensive Indian edition of his poetry published by Natraj Publishers, Dehradun, was released at the famous Woodstock School here yesterday by Mr Chandan Mitra, editor of "The Pioneer." Mr Mitra, speaking on the occasion, said that although Kipling was "a child of his time," and expressed his views in a way which might appear strange today, he had an intelligent insight into India and was not afraid to criticise both the British Governors of the country and Indian citizens themselves. Noted English author Ruskin Bond, who has written the foreword to the book, read out a passage from "Kim" which, he said, suggested that Kipling had visited Mussoorie during his stint as a correspondent for the "Pioneer." Speaking on the occasion, Mr Upendra Arora of Natraj Publishers said that the book was in consonance with "our constant efforts to bring people back to literature." He expressed gratitude towards Woodstock School, the official host of the book launch. Mr David Jeffery, Principal of Woodstock, read out some of Kipling’s war poems during the launch held in the school’s huge Parker hall. Woodstock, he said, had one of the best Kipling collections in its vast library that houses 300,000 volumes and is probably the largest school library in the country. Librarian Brian Wilson is acknowledged in the book for the help Woodstock gave to the publishers in assembling the unique anthology of poems. Incidentally, Woodstock came into existence eleven years before Kipling was born in Bombay in the year 1865. The anthology has more than five hundred poems and has a first line index besides the contents. (UNI) |
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Dissident MLAs’ disqualification may be immediate relief to BJP LUCKNOW, Nov 12: The move to get the ten dissident party MLAs disqualified may bring immediate’ relief to the BJP but Mayawati Government’s majority in the Vidhan Sabha would be reduced to just three if they are disqualified. Their disqualification would bring do of the Assembly from 403 to 393 and for a simple majority the Government would require at least 197 members. Going by the assertions of the Governor Vishnu Kant Shastri after the withdrawal of support by the seven independent MLAs, the Government which has the support of 210 members, would come down to 200 after the disqualification, three more than the majority. The trouble for the Government does not end here as two more MLAs, Samar Pal Singh of the RLD and Jai Prakash Yadav of the BSP have been suspended from their respective parties and may oppose the Government in the House. In that case the Government’s strength would be further reduced to 198. Besides, after the election of the BJP national general secretary Rajnath Singh to the Rajya Sabha, he would also resign from the assembly bringing the Government’s strength to 197. Interestingly the State BJP leadership did not include the name of the leader of the dissident group Ganga Bhakt Singh in the petition submitted to the Speaker. State party president Vinay Katiyar, when asked about action against Ganga Bhakt, said that he would not like to comment on Singh’s case now which indicated the party’s concern over possible erosion in its strength. In any case Singh was not likely to come to the aid of the Government in a crisis situation in the Vidhan Sabha, the dissident camp said. The strategy of the dissidents would now be to stall their possible disqualification at least till the bye-election of the legsilative council in which their candidate former minister Yashwant Singh was locked in a straight contest with the ruling combine’s nominee Munna Singh. If they succeed in their attempt, a possible cross voting could ensure a victory for Singh, which would indicate that the Government’s majority support has been dented. The statement of the BJP legislature party leader Lalji Tandon that he had urged the Speaker Kesri Nath Tripathi to bar ten MLAs from voting in the council poll was only reflective of the party’s worries on this count. After a possible disqualification of the ten BJP MLAs, the strength of different parties of the ruling alliance would be BSP 99, BJP 78, RLD 14, Loktantrik Congress Party 2, Janata Dal (U) 2, Hindu Mahasabha 1 and independents 4. The opposition would have a strength of 193 comprising 142 of the SP, Congress 24, Rashtriya Kranti Party 4, Apna Dal 3, Lok Janshakti Party 1, CPM 2, SJP 1, JP 1 RJD 1, National Loktantrik Party 1 and independents 13. With the Council polls only days away all eyes would be on the Speaker’s decision which could very well decide the future political course of the State. (PTI) |
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Uma for social justice of Dalits, women and minorities NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Union Minister for Coal and Mines Ms Uma Bharti has called for redefining social justice by focusing it on dignity and empowerment for the Dalits, the women and the minorities. Condemning the caste politics being fostered in name of social justice, Ms Bharti said, the country should be vigilant against the designs of such parties and politicians. "Our past experience has shown that reservation alone has failed to give self-respect to the Dalits in the country, " she said. Delivering the 18th Des Raj Memorial lecture on "social justice-challenges ahead" here yesterday, Ms Bharti said, " for the Dalits social justice can be achieved by giving them food with self-respect, for women, by making them economically independent and for the minorities it can be achieved by giving them security, status and ensuring their prosperity." The poor among the Dalits have a special need in comparison to the needs of the poor in other castes in the Indian society. As they not only need eradication of poverty but also social transformation, which can progressively reinstate their self-respect and social dignity, she said. On the question of social justice of women in the country, Ms Bharti said that their empowerment is linked to their economic self-independence. "Women should not be dependent on their husbands as this breeds in them a sense of servitude, they should think of themselves as masters and at par with the men," she asserted. "Assimilation of the minorities would have be a two-way process, involving a pro-active participation by the majority community, and so far as their well being and security is concerned the country’s history shows that the minorities in this country are safe," Ms Bharti said. "Traditionally, the Indian society has been tolerant and has always welcomed reforms and changes, caste discriminations were never a trend in our society," she claimed. "The incidents of Sati and dowry deaths have been blown out of proportion, to give an image that Indian society is archaic and primitive, while in reality these were law and order problems, which can be tackled," said Ms Bharti. "If at all there were any conservative aspects in the Hindu religion, there have been movements from time to time that have reformed it," she added. Calling upon the people of the country to start a silent, non-violent revolution to achieve the goals of social justice, as confrontation would further the cause of people whom is out to malign the image of the country. Earlier, former mayor of Delhi, Shakuntla Arya, who presided over the lecture, paid rich tributes to noted social-worker and politician Des Raj Arya. (UNI) |
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HC’s suo motu notice to Centre, Delhi Govt on HIV patient NEW DELHI, Nov 12: Even as Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is focusing attention on AIDS in India, city hospitals shunning away an HIV positive patient drew attention of the Delhi High Court, which today issued suo motu notice to the Centre and NCT Government seeking their replies on the issue. Taking cognizance of the reports about hospitals shunning away 45-year-old Bahadur of Sultanpuri area, a bench comrising acting Chief Justice Devinder Gupta and Justice A K Sikri also issued notices to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), St Stephen’s, Sanjay Gandhi Memorial, Lok Nayak Jai Prakash and Maharaja Agrasen Hospitals seeking their replies by December 10 why treatment was not given to him. Directing registration of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the basis of the reports published in a local daily yesterday and about the follow up action by Delhi Government today, the court said the notices would accompany the copies of the news items and Centre’s guidelines for treatment of HIV positive patients. According to an Indian express report, Bahadur, who has been diagnosed as HIV positive, did not get proper attention in these hospitals. Referring the city administration taking note of the matter, the bench said "we appreciate the efforts of the Government to take action, still we feel it is appropriate to issue notice to various authorities managing the hospitals in Delhi." The court said the way the particular patient was being dealt by some of the hospitals in the city, it was "prima facie" of the view that such treatment to a HIV patient was in violation of the human rights and fundamental rights. "Such treatment to a person on the ground that he/she is HIV positive, is in violation of human rights and fundamental rights guaranteed in the constitution," the court said. According to the news reports, the patient though was getting full support from his neighbours, the hospitals were not ready to give him proper treatment. He recently was operated upon in a private clinic and his condition deteriorated after that, the report quoting one of his neighbour said. His trips to various hospitals had cost him the expense he hardly could afford, it said. (PTI) India plans to develop sites
associated LONDON, Nov 12: II an effort to attract more domestic and global tourists, India plans to develop places associated with Mahatma Gandhi, Swami Vivekananda and philosopher-saint Sankaracharya, Tourism Minister Jagmohan has said. "We are developing Gandhi Yatra, Vivekananda Yatra and Sankaracharya Yatra," he told reporters here yesterday. Jagmohan, who spoke about Government’s new tourism agenda at the world travel mart 2002, said as part of Gandhi Yatra, Porbandar, where Gandhi was born, Agha Khan Palace in Pune, where he was imprisoned and Raj Ghat, his memorial, were being developed. In addition, places like Sabarmati Ashram, Wardha Ashram, August Kranti Maidan in Mumbai and Mandir Marg in Delhi were being improved. "Our idea is to offer a complete package to tourists," he said. Similarly, places like Kanyakumari, Kaladi, Belur Mutt, Dakshineswar and Goa associated with Vivekananda and Sankaracharya are also being improved, he said. Besides, the Government has identified for development a ‘world heritage tourism corridor’ connecting 10 world heritage sites out of the 16 declared by UNESCO in India from Delhi to Mumbai. This covers heritage sites in Delhi, Agra, Khajuraho, Sanchi, Ajanta-Ellora in Aurangabad and Elephant Caves in Mumbai and would enable tourists to see the ten world heritage sites in one tour, the minister said. Referring to the new tourism agenda, Jagmohan said "diversity, sustainability, environmental sensitivity, modernity and cultural heritage are the watchwords in India’s new tourism policy." "We have already improved some significant areas of historical and cultural importance, such as the Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra. The beautiful, ancient paintings and carvings have been lovingly restored, new facilities are now open and we have purchased a fleet of environmentally friendly, battery-operated buses to transport tourists from nearby parking areas to these heritage sites," he said. "This is the first of many projects India is planning over the coming months and years to deliver a world-class experience for visitors throughout india. All the projects the ministry is undertaking are firmly focused on a strong approach to eco-tourism and ensuring that the beauty and historical values of these sites are maintained." The new priorities and initiatives for Indian tourism have been activated on the solid foundation of a new ‘national tourism policy,’ and a five-fold increase in budget allocations to the tourism sector. "India is branding itself for the first time as a tourist destination and has been working hard on giving the country a brand that tour operators can use to market their products and that consumers can readily recognise," Jagmohan said. (PTI) Rabi cultivation suffers in drought-hit Rajasthan JAIPUR, Nov 12: Drought, falling energy production and the resultant decline in Rabi cultivation has led to increasing discontentment among the farmers, compunding problems for the ruling party in Rajasthan an year before the Assembly elections. According to the State Agriculture Department, the cropped area is expected to fall from 70 lakh hectares last year to 30.15 lakh hectares this rabi season. Not even 20 per cent of the targetted area had been sown so far. This comes after a more than 50 per cent drop in kharif cultivation. Rainfall was 61.75 per cent less than normal this year. Not even one district recorded normal rain. "Fifty-five per cent of our big dams don’t have water... The water table had already fallen due to the fourth successive drought. The power position also is very bad," Agriculture Minister Govind Singh Gurjar said. "An estimated 54 lakh farmers have been affected," (by the drought) he said. The rabi loss, it is being estimated, will be to the tune of Rs 7,000 crore. "Almost all Government work is already attuned to managing the drought," he said. The plan size too has been cut. So acute is the problem in villages that Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, with over five decades of experience on the state’s political stage, was constrained to request the task force under Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani to meet today. Facing allegations that over two dozen tribals had died due to starvation in Baran district, State Ministers have been attacking the Centre, claiming the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has not been extending the necessary help to Rajasthan in tackling the drought crisis. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has been regularly writing to the centre seeking food, fodder and funds to meet the crisis and to compensate farmers who had lost crops due to the Army presence on the border. Main opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), on the other hand, has been regularly highlighting the Government’s ‘failures’. The BJP will showcase its strength in the state capital at a Kisan Morcha rally against the Gehlot Government’s ‘anti-farmer’ policies later this month. The party is planning to target the Government for the way it has handled drought, the alleged starvation deaths, poor availability of food, water, fodder and power in villages, among other things. "Rabi farmers need seven to eight hours of electricity so that they can irrigate fields and carry out sowing," a field officer of the Agriculture Department said. But electricity is in short supply, not only in Rajasthan, but also in neighbouring states. Alarmed at the possible negative impact poor power supply will have, the Government yesterday started power cuts in urban areas, causing resentment among sections of businessmen. "Business has already been lacklustre because of the drought. Introduction of power cuts and asking markets to close at eight pm will once again affect trade by 20-25 per cent," said Babulal Gupta, general secretary of the Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh. Government servants are unhappy they have not been paid bonus. A section of Government teachers have been agitating for revised pay scales. Local bodies have been protesting the stoppage of grant in lieu of octroi. "Already the salaried class has been spending less. The electricity charges have been so high...And now to top it all this power cut," said Mr Gupta. According to Information Minister Jitendra Singh, the Government is incurring an additional rs 250 crore to provide electricity to farmers to irrigate their new crop. Alarmed at the possible negative impact poor power supply will have, the Government yesterday started power cuts in urban areas, causing resentment among sections of businessmen. "Business has already been lacklustre because of the drought. Introduction of power cuts and asking markets to close at eight PM will once again affect trade by 20-25 per cent," said Babulal Gupta, general secretary of the Rajasthan Khadya Padarth Vyapar Sangh. Government servants are unhappy they have not been paid bonus. A section of Government teachers have been agitating for revised pay scales. Local bodies have been protesting the stoppage of grant in lieu of octroi. "Already the salaried class has been spending less. The electricity charges have been so high...And now to top it all this power cut," said Mr Gupta. According to Information Minister Jitendra Singh, the Government is incurring an additional Rs 250 crore to provide electricity to farmers to irrigate their new crop. The Government has also taken a string of measures to increase fodder availability in villages. As per the latest order, fodder will be cultivated at all 45 Government farms. Plans are also afoot to boost cultivation of ‘Sewan’ grass, which requires less care after it is sown. According to Mr Singh Rs 100 crore have been allocated to save cattle during the current drought. But there have been reports that farmers have been forced to sell off their cattle due to the high cost of fodder and lack of water. Very weak business was reported from a fair in Kota last month with the cattle not even fetching one fourth of their normal price. The fodder shortage had led to clashes between villagers and authorities in the Ranthambhore National Park two months back. Cattle breeders and villagers have clashed in many parts of the state over the past few months. Four villagers were injured in the Raipur area of Jhalawar district yesterday in one such incident. Mr Gurjar said efforts are on to encourage cultivation of barley and other crops which can withstand the changed weather conditions and could also be used as fodder. Observers say the way the Government handles the situation over the next few months may well decide how it fares at the hustings in December next year. (UNI) Close shave for WB, cyclone changes direction to B’Desh KOLKATA, Nov 12: West Bengal had a narrow escape when the cyclonic storm heading its way changed course towards Bangladesh after weakening today, but there would be more rain the weatherman said. The storm, which was to make landfall in Orissa and gangetic West Bengal this evening, crossed the West Bengal Coast near Sagar Island at about 2:30 pm and lay centred 100 km south off Kolkata. Sources in the Regional Meteorological Centre issued a dewarning note that the system was likely to move in a north north easterly direction and weaken further. "The cyclone is now heading towards Bangladesh coast though in a weakened form," the sources told PTI here. Under its influence, squalls with a windspeed of 50 to 60 kmph was likely along coastal districts. Rain was likely in many areas with heavy falls at isolated places in all districts of Gangetic West Bengal in the next 24 hours, they said. Chief Minister Buddhadev Bhattacharjee had earlier said the administration of Howrah, Hooghly, East and West Midnapore, North and South 24-Parganas districts were on alert. The disaster management group along with police and civil defence personnel would, however, remain in a state of alertness, while fishermen were asked not to venture into the sea despite the weakening of the cyclone. The Meteorological Centre Director K K Chakraborty said that the cyclone would weaken gradually. The State’s Relief Secretary Nikhilesh Das said that there was no report of any casualty due to rains and storm in any coastal district. Two persons were injured when a tree keeled over at tollygunge in South Kolkata. One of them was admitted to hospital in a serious condition, the police said. The cyclonic storm was formed out of a deep depression about 700 km from Kolkata yesterday. (PTI) |
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