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Last action on procuring Ajts finalised: Fernandes NEW DELHI, July 24: Government today announced in Lok Sabha that it had "finalised the last action" on acquiring Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) for the Indian Air Force. "The AJT proposal is now before the Cabinet Secretariat. ......more Sudarsan
Pattnaik, NEW DELHI, July 24: Sudarsan Pattnaik has a unique passion. He crafts his thoughts and dreams in sand. Literally........more NEW DELHI, July 24: Government today justified in Lok Sabha the proposed introduction of the controversial conditional access system and ...more Gandhi
attacks NEW DELHI, July 24: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today accused the ruling dispensation of raking up the Ayodhya issue ahead of the Assembly Elections and attacked the manner in .....more |
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Ties between BJP and CHENNAI, July 24: Two days after BJP’s Tamil Nadu unit charged DMK, its partner at the Centre, with "flouting" coalition dharma by sharing platform with . .....more Trend
forecasting MUMBAI, July 24: Business development has received a shot in the arm at the Lakme India Fashion Week (LIFW) which concludes here today, with the ....more Eight per cent growth unlikely: Cong NEW DELHI, Jul 24: Opposition Congress today warned that eight per cent economic growth in the tenth plan would not be achieved without a .....more CBI
not pressurised LONDON, July 24: Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has denied that Prime Minister........more |
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George boycott on Tehelka ..... PM to visit Russia in near future ..... Heeding to SC’s word, TN agrees to take back...... I am not wary of being typecast in bahu roles: .....
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Last action on procuring Ajts finalised: Fernandes NEW DELHI, July 24: Government today announced in Lok Sabha that it had "finalised the last action" on acquiring Advanced Jet Trainers (AJT) for the Indian Air Force. "The AJT proposal is now before the Cabinet Secretariat. The last action on part of the ministry (of Defence) has been finalised," Defence Minister George Fernandes said during question hour. Fernandes said Government had "asked certain questions to the British Government pertaining to the AJT and is awaiting its answer". "If the reply comes today, then we will start our action tomorrow. If it comes during this week, we will start the process next week," he said replying to a question by National Conference chief Omar Abdullah after the entire opposition walked out to protest his presence as Defence Minister in the wake of Tehelka probe. In a written statement, he said various options for procurement of AJT have been under examination and "no contract has been finalised as yet". "Government is keen on finalisation of the issue and has taken necessary steps in this direction in accordance with the procurement procedures," he said, adding it would not be possible to lay down time limit for "such a major procurement project". Government had decided to induct the AJTs for smooth transition of trainee pilots on to frontline fighter squadrons which are equipped with high-technology aircraft, Fernandes said. Keeping operational requirements in mind, the air headquarters had made a desk survey in 1985 of a number of AJTs then available in the world market. Request For Proposals (RFPs) for AJT was issued on three occasions in 1986, 1992 and finally in 1999 to the two short-listed vendors — M/S British Aerospace (BAE) for the hawk aircraft and M/S Dassault Aviation for the Alpha Jet Aircraft, Fernandes added. (PTI) |
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Sudarsan Pattnaik, crafting dreams in sand NEW DELHI, July 24: Sudarsan Pattnaik has a unique passion. He crafts his thoughts and dreams in sand. Literally. It might sound a little far-fetched but this ability to create sculptures from something as slippery as sand has fetched Pattnaik many an international award. Pattnaik, who has been making sand sculptures for more than 13 years now and can get them to stand as tall as 20 feet, attributes this talent as being a "gift from God". The artist has participated in various sand sculpture events in China, Netherlands, Belgium, Japan, Italy, Denmark, Singapore, the United Kingdom, France and Spain where he has received accolades for his unique creations. Last month, Pattnaik created a ‘sensation’ once again, by bagging the third prize, from among ten participants, at the prestigious Berlin international sand sculpture championship. The artist won the ‘public prize’ for his creation of a 20-feet high Lord Ganesha statue titled ‘Ganesha visiting Berlin’. "Around 18,000 people in Berlin, including foreigners, voted for the public prize," says a happy Pattnaik, who received the honour on July 21. Russia got top honours while the Netherlands won the second prize in the competition, he says. Besides India, Denmark, Scotland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Russia, England, Ireland participated in the event. Pattnaik’s creations have been appreciated worldwide but the artist is yet to receive the same kind of recognition in India, where, apart from his hometown Puri, he is still an unknown face. Though sand sculpturing events get stupendous coverage abroad and the creations are watched by millions of people on the spot as well as on television, it goes virtually unnoticed here, Pattnaik laments. "When we are abroad, the events are telecast live and get lot of media coverage but it is not the same case here". No one here knows that I have won an award at an international competition, he says. "Sand sculpture has its roots in the 14th century in Puri and we have been attempting to recreate it," says the 26-year-old sand artist. To give a fillip to this art, Pattnaik has started his own "open air golden sand art institute in Puri", existing since 1995, where almost 50 students receive training in sand sculpturing daily. Pattnaik says the important aspect in sand sculpturing is to get the structure to stand tall and for that an appropriate amount of sand and water has to be used. He says he mastered this technique at international events and thankfully, none of his structures have collapsed so far. Recalling the competition in Berlin, Pattnaik says, "the sculpture had to be made within five days but if it collapsed during this period, the participant would be disqualified from the competition." "The name `Ganesha visiting Berlin’ signified that a Hindu God was giving his blessings to the people of the country," says Pattnaik of his creation. Earlier this year, Pattnaik won the second prize at the International Sand Sculpture Championship in Spain for a 20 feet-high creation on world peace. He had also made an exhibit during the 1999 cricket World Cup in England. Pattnaik is well-known in Puri for making sculptures by the beach side. Some of his popular ones are on the September 11 attacks on the United States, Buddha, Bin Laden, world peace etc. He has received commendation letters from the Governor as well as the Chief Minister of Orissa. But despite having taken part in 18 international events, he is hardly known outside his State, rues pattnaik. "I still have not been able to find a sponsor for myself in India," he says. Even at international events, the prizes are only trophies and flowers. But at least all the participants are sponsored by big companies, he says. The sad part is that the Government is not recognising sand sculpturing as a form of art. They say it is ‘temporary’ so how can it be termed as art. But Pattnaik counters, "everything in life is temporary. Sand sculpturing is just a demonstration of the thoughts of an artist". Pattnaik’s dream is to organise an International Sand Sculpturing Championship in India. But for that a sponsor is required, he says, but not quite sure if he is going to find one. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, July 24: Government today justified in Lok Sabha the proposed introduction of the controversial conditional access system and said it would ensure a "consumer-friendly" roll over to the new regime. "CAS is designed to empower the consumer.... We will make sure that it is consumer-friendly," Information and Broadcasting Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said replying to questions. He said Government had decided on a phased roll-out from September one because of non-availability of the required number of set-top boxes, which would be required to access pay channels under the CAS regime, and to ensure a smooth implementation. Prasad said cable TV rates had gone up by 11 per cent in the last six years and CAS would give the consumer the right to choose pay channels and pay only for those. Asked why the Government had notified only a minimum of 30 free-to-air channels in the basic tier which would cost Rs 72 plus taxes, he said the figure of FTA channels placed before the task force on CAS was 35. In a country with eight crore television homes and four crore cable TV homes, 60 per cent had only black and white television sets which can show only 12 channels. However, he said cable operators have assured they can provide 60-80 free-to-air channels. Government has decided to roll out CAS in a zone-wise manner in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata and at one go in Chennai from September one, Prasad said adding the intervening period will be utilised to step up preparedness for a smooth implementation and educating subscribers. As per data furnished by the customs and Central Excise authorities, 50,050 set-top boxes have been imported by various Multi-System Operators (MSOs) till July 16, he said. The MSOs have said orders for large volumes of set-top boxes have been placed and these are expected to arrive in phases in the next few months. Prasad said the cost of the set-top boxes would range from Rs 2,500-3,000 and the MSOs and cable operators have come out with different schemes for making them available through instalments, hire and loan or refundable deposit schemes. The indigenous manufacturing industry is yet to gear up fully since the technology deployed is quite new but with the incentive of waiver of Central Excise Duty by the Central Board of Excise and Customs and reduction of duties on components, indigenous production is expected to pick up, he said. (PTI) |
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Eight per cent growth unlikely: Cong NEW DELHI, Jul 24: Opposition Congress today warned that eight per cent economic growth in the tenth plan would not be achieved without a meaningful district development planning and empowerment of Panchayati Raj institutions. "There has to be a linkage of district level planning to State level planning," senior Congress member Pranab Mukherjee said initiating a discussion on a Government motion on the progress of Panchayats and municipalities since the 73rd and 74th amendment to Constitution. He said there was a big gap in district level planning and unless it was bridged through proper devolution of resources and removal of legal and other lacunae in the Panchayat Raj institutions, eight per cent growth would not be possible. Terming 73rd and 74th amendment as "milestone" in the process of consolidating the democratic structure, Mukherjee recalled the contributions made by late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in promoting Panchayati Raj institutions. Earlier, moving the motion Minister of State for Rural Development Annasaheb M K Patil said a lot has been achieved in empowering people at the grass root level since the constitution amendment but more needed to be done for devolution of power and revamping the election machinery and audit system. It was significant that elections to Panchayat Raj have been held in all States except Jharkhand and Pondicherry and about 30 lakh people, including ten lakh women, have been elected to Panchayats. Former Rural Development Minister and senior BJP member Venkaiah Naidu lamented that even ten years after passage of a number of constitutional amendment bills, devolution of powers to Panchayats and Zila Parishads was still a dream. He said further amendments should be carried out making it mandatory to hold panchayat elections as well as empower Panchayats and Zila Parishads with tax levying powers. Ravula Chandrasekar Reddy (TDP) said State Governments should be consulted before launching of new rural schemes. He wanted the three-tier system of Panchayati Raj to be scrapped. Prasanta Chatterjee (CPI-M) stressed on imparting modern training in Information Technology to Panchayati representatives and said local bodies should be allowed to levy taxes to raise resources for carrying out developmental work. Calling for decentralisation of power, Arjun Singh (Cong) said a Panchayat Raj Commission should be set up to draw a blueprint for empowering local bodies and Panchayati Raj institutions. Kalraj Mishra (BJP) said elections to zonal and district Panchayats should be held directly by people to check corruption and use of money. Uday Pratap Singh (SP) said provisions should be made to check extra-constitutional agencies misusing the position of women Panchayat representatives. "At many places in UP, husbands even sign cheques on behalf of their wifes," he said. Congress leader Arjun Singh called for consensus among political parties on the issue to further strengthen democracy and demanded setting up of a Panchayati Raj Commission comprising representatives of political parties and experts. Supporting the motion, he said the Prime Minister should himself take the initiative for bringing about such a consensus and the efforts should focus on "modelling and streamlining" the set-up. Describing the opposition to the Panchayati Raj system as a mindset of the colonial era, which had percolated down to post-independence bureaucrats and politicians, he stressed the urgent need for a change of that mindset. Mr Kalraj Mishra (BJP) lamented lack of coordination between villages, Districts and States on many issues, which, he said, resulted in financial irregularities. He demanded that Panchayat elections should be kept free from the State Government influence and made more transparent. He also said there should be separate allocation in State Government’s budgets for these elections and called for strong political will to make villages more strong. Mr Uday Pratap Singh (SP) called for empowering women in households and asked why women were more educated in Kerala than in Uttar Pradesh. He said elections to district Panchayats and Block Pramukhs should be made more transparent. (UNI) |
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CBI not pressurised by Govt in Ayodhya case: Joshi LONDON, July 24: Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi has denied that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee pressurised the CBI to drop cases against Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and others in the Babri Masjid demolition case and said the Government had not interfered in the matter. "It is baseless. I am one of the accused and the matter is sub-judice. The allegation that Prime Minister has pressurised the CBI to drop the cases is baseless and there has been no interference from the side of the Government," Mr Joshi told reporters here during his one-day stopover in London on his way to New York. The legal position had been clarified by the Law Minister as well as the counsel for the CBI, he said and added "all those FIRs were lodged during the Congress regime and we were not in power. Whatever is argued is on the basis of those FIRs." When asked about the resumption of dialogue with Pakistan, the minister said that Mr Vajpayee had shown "great leadership by extending his hand of friendship to Pakistan. But what is happening in Kashmir will certainly disrupt the peace process." "It is for Pakistan to see how this cross-border terrorism is stopped," he added. He said although it was difficult to put a complete end to "suicide attacks", Indian security forces had destroyed many ISI "addas" (operation centres). On the Ayodhya issue, Mr Joshi accused the opposition of using the issue to achieve "electoral gains.... From the Government’s side the best solution is either through dialogue or through the Supreme Court verdict." Pointing out that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) Government led by Mr Vajpayee had successfully completed five years in office, he said, "this is for the first time a non-Congress Coalition Government has been in office continuously for five years. About two dozen parties constituted the NDA and this itself is a mark of achievement and tribute to the leadership of Vajpayee." He also said the economy has performed very well during this period. The foreign exchange reserve has reached almost 83 billion dollars and inflation was under control. "Despite last year’s drought, the economy grew almost at the rate of five per cent and with this year’s good monsoon and favourable trends in services and industrial sectors, we are poised to reach a growth of seven to eight per cent." "In the fields of education, science and technology, the country has demonstrated its will to provide free education and compulsory education by amending the constitution and making education a fundamental right for all children in the age group of six to 14," he said. In the sector of technology and technical education, 17 regional engineering colleges have been converted into national institutions of technology, he said and added that a new award—India Science Award— of Rs 25 lakhs has been instituted to encourage research in science. "The number of technical institutions have been trebled in five years and the in-takes in all the IITs have been doubled." Mr Joshi informed that India’s second satellite launch pad will soon be ready and the second educational satellite would be launched in the next few months. (UNI) NEW DELHI, July 24: Continuing their boycott of Defence Minister over the Tehelka expose, Congress, Left and other opposition parties today walked out of Lok Sabha as soon as George Fernandes rose to reply to a query during question hour. Soon after Speaker Manohar Joshi asked V M Sudheeran (Cong) to put a question to Defence Minister, the member declined to do so. As Fernandes rose to reply to a query from G J Javiya (BJP), Congress members rose in their seats protesting against the minister answering questions. They along with Left party and RJD members then staged a walkout. The Congress and other opposition parties have been protesting against Fernandes’ re-induction into the Union Cabinet saying he is still to be cleared in the Tehelka expose. (PTI) PM to visit Russia in near future NEW DELHI, July 24: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said he hoped to visit Moscow in the near future as part of the decision by India and Russia to hold annual summits. Making a suo motu statement in the Rajya Sabha on his recent visits to Germany, St Petersburg, Evian and China, Mr Vajpayee said he had reasons to be satisfied with the results of his trips, which povided him an opportunity to explain to world leaders India’s viewpoint on various international issues and the situation in South Asia. Referring to his meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at St Petersburg on the sidelines of the tercentenary celebrations of the city, he said the two sides had agreed to continue the wide-ranging and extensive interaction between them. President Putin reiterated Russia’s commitment to further deepen defence relations with India. He also referred to his meetings at St Petersburg with French President Jacques Chirac, Chinese President Hu Jintao and British Prime Minister Tony Blair and said all these leaders expressed support and appreciation for the hand of friendship India had extended to Pakistan and hoped Islamabad would reciprocate. They all spoke against the menace of terorism, Mr Vajpayee said, adding he believed his interlocutors had a proper appreciation of India’s policy of promoting peace regionally and internationally. The Prime Minister, who had made an identical statement in the Lok Sabha yesterday, said India and China concluded ten agreements and, for the first time, signed a joint declaration, outlining the principles and shared perspectives which would guide the future development of their bilateral ties. The declaration also confirmed the commitment of the two countries to work more closely together internationally to strengthen the trend towards multi-polarity on wto issues and on other areas of concern to developing countries, he added. On his visit to Germany, he said the German leadership wanted uncompromising global action against the scourge ot terrorism, wherever it occurred and against whomever it was directed. India, he said, looked forward to welcoming German Chancellor Schroeder to New Delhi next year. On the Evian extended dialogue of G-8 leaders with developing countries, Mr Vajpayee said there was a common understanding of the importance of a multipolar world for which, it was felt, a restructured UN was essential. Mr Pranab Mukherje (Cong) said the members would like to read the joint declaration signed by India and China in detail and it would be in the fitness of things if the House was allowed to have a full-fledged debate on the issue on a day convenient to the Prime Minister. Parliamenatry Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj readily accepted the suggestion of Mr mukherjee. (UNI) Heeding to SC’s word, TN agrees to take back employees NEW DELHI, Jul 24: Heeding to the suggestion of the Supreme Court, the Tamil Nadu Government today agreed to take back from tomorrow all its 1.76 lakh employees sacked for striking work except those booked for indulging in violence and aiding and abetting the State-wide agitation. In addition to this, a bench comprising Justice M B Shah and Justice AR Lakshmanan allowed the Jayalalithaa Government to initiate disciplinary proceedings against those who had forced the employees to strike work. The court made it clear to the employees willing to join work from tomorrow to tender an unconditional apology to the Government for joining the strike which began on July 2 protesting against withdrawal of certain pensionary benefits. It also said that each employee before being reinstated would have to give an undertaking to abide by the rule 22 of the Tamil Nadu Government employees conduct rules which stated that "no Government employee shall engage himself in strike or similar activities...". Declaring that the employees had no fundamental right or even legal right to go on strike, the bench said that as the employees have realised their mistake, it was now the turn of the Government to show some grace. Responding to the suggestion made by the court on Monday, senior advocate K K Venugopal, appearing for Tamil Nadu Government, stated that the State was willing to take the employees back. He criticised the Government employees for thinking that they were a class apart and having the mentality that they could paralyse the administration at their whims and fancies. The bench made it clear that the employees would receive salary from the date of their joining and the absence from duty due to the strike and subsequent dismissal would not be taken as a break in their service. It said that in a detailed order to be passed on July 31 it would deal with the ways and means to reconcile the absence from duty in the service records without it being construed as a break in the service. Venugopal said the State Government spends Rs 13160 crores on the salaries and pensionary benefits of the employees with paid holidays for around 169 days a year. However, the employees have an attitude that they were a class apart and due to their agitation nearly 312 mandays have been lost in the last two years, he said adding "at some stage the State Government had to make up its mind and day that this far and no more." The bench said "there is a section of employees who believe that they have a fundamental right to go on strike. We would like to know which part of the fundamental rights chapter of the constitution provides for this." The counsel for the employees unions, T R Andhyarujina and P Chidmabaram, immediately conceeded that there was no fundamental right available to the employees to strike work but when pushed to a corner they resort to such a step. Appearing for the State, senior advocate P P Rao stated that none of the petitioners represented the Government employees and accused them of rushing to the Supreme Court to gain political mileage. (PTI) I am not wary of being typecast in bahu roles: Sakshi Tanwar CHANDIGARH, July 24: This software engineer, hailing from Alwar in Rajasthan, always aspired to be an IAS officer. But a sudden twist of fate landed her in Mumbai from where began her long and famous journey of playing a ‘Bahu’ with a pristine heart in ‘Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki’, which made her a celebrity overnight. Talking to UNI here yesterday, Sakshi, who was in the city to promote her serial ‘Devi’ on Sony, said, " I Graduated from Lady Shriram College in Delhi and later did a three-and-a-half-year software engineer course from NIIT. I then appeared for the Civil Service Examination but did not get through. And one suddent twist of fate landed me in Mumbai from where this journey into acting began. I also acted in two serials earlier —Bhanwar and Rajdhani— but yes, I do admit that it was ‘Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki’which brought me into the spotlight." On being asked whether she fears being typecast in such ‘goody goody’, roles, the anchor of ‘Gurukul’ on starplus said," I do not mind being offered stereotype roles. What is the harm of having such a goody goody image on the small screen. I am not complaining and rather I enjoy playing such sugary roles." Sakshi, who was first seen in Albela Surbela on DDI, has also done a songless digital movie titled ‘Kahi Door (miles to go) directed by writer Sandeep Varma (of Arjun Pandit fame). Today, this ‘Gayatri’ of ‘Devi’ serial is not averse to making her foray into tinseltown."If a substantial role comes my way, I will definitely lap it up. But I only want to play some good roles and do not want to run around trees only." On her personal life, she said,’’ I am a fun-loving person. And as I am not married yet, I do not have those responsibilities on my shoulders which parvati has. I believe in fate and destiny, but at the same time I also believe in hard work. For me, it is fifty-fifty. I love cooking and watching TV.’’ Does this gayatri of ‘Devi’ get time to watch other serials on the idiot box? " I manage to see many a serial on tv, but let me tell you the truth that I hardly get any time to watch my own serials." (UNI) |
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