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Political parties agree NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Major political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, today met the Election Commission and said the poll panel......more TN
CM to campaign for PONDICHERRY, Feb 20: BJP national committee secretary and possible Lok Sabha candidate for the party, Lalitha .....more NE
Centre’s priority ITANAGAR, Feb 20: Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern .....more Film-making to me is another medium of expression: Hussain MUMBAI, Feb 20: Painter turned film maker Maqbool Fida Hussain has said that film .....more |
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‘Final solution’
wins two NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Final solution’, a hard-hitting documentary that examines the mindless violence that engulfed Gujarat......more BJP clears
reataurant BIJNORE (UP), Feb 20: In a bid to avoid yet another controversy ahead of the Lok Sabha polls.....more Jaitley
concerned over NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Expressing concern over media "driving" the decision making process of the executive, legislature.....more Disease
resistant rice HYDERABAD, Feb 20: Applying DNA marker technology, the Centre for Cellular Molecular........more |
| Tibetans
forced to study Chinese in their homeland ........ DMK regional conference launch pad for DPA’s poll campaign .... |
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Political parties agree on one day poll schedule except UP NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Major political parties, including the BJP and the Congress, today met the Election Commission and said the poll panel should take into consideration the issue of identity cards of voters, local weather conditions and religious events while finalising the schedule for the coming General Elections. The parties also urged upon Chief Election Commissioner T S Krishnamurthy, who chaired the ‘all party meet’, that except in Uttar Pradesh, polls should be conducted on a single day. Opposition parties, mainly the Congress and the Left parties, protested against the ‘misuse’ of tax payers money by the Government on the ‘India shining’ campaign and called for a mechanism to check such ‘unethical practices’. The three-hour meeting at Nirvachan Sadan, the EC headquarters, was convened by the Commssion to seek the views of the political parties and discuss the schedule for the polls and other related issues. Talking to reporters after the meeting, party representatives expressed satisfaction over the constructive suggestions that emerged at the conclave. While BJP general secretary Pramod Mahajan said, "we have demanded that the process of nominations should be stretched to four phases," Congress working commitee member Pranab Mukherjee said the " the EC should take initiatives to bring about a consenus on the implementation and operationalisation of the Model Code of Conduct of political parties." Leaders of six national and 48 regional parties were invited to the meet. Mr Mahajan said the EC had clarified that the Model Code of Conduct came into force only after notification for the poll schedule was announced, but declined to comment over the Commission calling upon political parties, particularly the Government, to adhere to the ‘Moral Code of Conduct’. His party also urged upon the EC to consider the religious events like the Baisakhi and the harvest season in Punjab, Kumbh in UP, and insurgency in Andhra Pradesh and Jharkhand while finalising the poll schedule, he added. Mr Mukherjee, on his part, said his party had drawn the EC’s attention towards implementing the ‘Moral Code of Conduct’ and the Government’s demand for according ‘special status’ to the Deputy Prime Minister during electioneering, which was "illegal and unconstitutional". We also raised the issue of voter I-cards throughout the country and pointed out that the Commission should find ways and means to ensure that those not issued such cards are not debarred from exercising their ‘right to franchise’. RJD supremo Laloo Prasad Yadav said the EC should find a mechanism to ensure that money and muscle power was not used during the polls. "We are satisfied with the outcome of the meeting," the RJD leader said adding that his party had demanded that the EC find ways and means to ensure that the largest chunk of voters, comprising the weaker sections and womenfolk were able to vote. "Wherever voters have not received voter I-cards, the Gram Panchyats and similiar authorties in the urban areas, should be authorised to issue certificates in this regard," he said. JD(U) leader Sharad Yadav said all political were of the view that the poll schedule should be finalised keeping in view the harvesting season and the board examinations. The meeting is expected to be one of the last major meetings with political parties before the announcement of the poll schedule, likely to be announced on February 23, when the Karnataka assembly is dissolved. The Commission has already completed consultations with the State and Central Governments. However, a final meeting with Home Secretary Anil Baijal could be a possibility. CPI national secretary D Raja said the Left parties drew the EC’s attention towards what they dubbed as unethical practice of indulging in spending huge amount of taxpayers money on the ‘India shining’ campaign to impress voters. "The EC should devise certain mechanism to discipline the ruling party," all India forward bloc national secretary G Devrajan said. TDP leader Yerran Naidu said the EC should conduct polls in Andhra Pradesh in two phases - first in AP and the second in Tilangana, besides deploying adequate security personnel in view of the prevailing ‘insurgency conditions’ in several parts of the state. "As many as 24 BJP and TDP leaders and cadres have been killed by the Naxalites," he said adding "the EC should also conduct the polls in our state at an earlier schedule." NCP general secretary T Pitambaram said the EC should also devise a mechansim to curb illegal expenditure during the polls. Samajwadi Party leader and MP Ram Gopal Yadav and NCP national secretary S K Kohli said we hope our "constructive suggestions" would be looked into by the EC. (UNI) |
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TN CM to campaign for BJP nominee on March 25 PONDICHERRY, Feb 20: BJP national committee secretary and possible Lok Sabha candidate for the party, Lalitha Kumaramangalam, today said Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa would campaign for the party here on March 25. Stating that AIADMK-BJP joint campaign would be carried out, she told newsmen here that campaigning would take place even far flung regions like Karaikal, Mahe (in Kerala) and Yanam (in Andhra Pradesh). The Prime Minister A B Vajpayee and Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani were also likely to visit the Union Territory in near future to campaign for the alliance candidate, she said adding that her party and AIADMK together would bring out a "vision" document for the development of the Union Territory. She said she would strive hard for the development of the Union Territory and accused the Congress Government of failure to evolve schemes to ameliorate the lot of the poor, though it had won the lone Lok Sabha seat nine of the 12 times when polls were held. She said she was not facing any challenge from the PMK, which had been earmarked the seat by the Democratic Progressive Alliance. Lalitha Kumaramangalam was speaking to newsmen at AIADMK headquarters here where she addressed a meeting of AIADMK men. AIADMK secretary A Anbalagan, said Congress was also confusing its rank and file and people at large without telling them categorically whether it would contest the polls. Congress here has been seeking the seat, but PMK has stated it wont give up the seat. Anbalagan, also demanded that the two Communist parties, CPI and the CPI-M, should make their stand clear because they had been strident critics of the PMK, and had described it as a "casteist" outfit. He said Democratic Progessive Alliance had not allocated the Lok Sabha seat to Congress, only because the failure of Congress rule in the Union Territory. BJP legislator A krishamoorthy and party president R Kesavalu were among those who spoke.(PTI) |
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NE Centre’s priority agenda: Sikdar ITANAGAR, Feb 20: Union Minister of State for Development of North Eastern Region (DONER) Tapan Sikdar today said the Vajpayee-led Government at the Centre was committed to the speedy development of the region. Presiding over the 18th statehood day celebration of Arunachal Pradesh here today as the chief guest, Mr Sikdar said the constitution of DONER ministry and allocation of Rs 44,000 crore was the proof of Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s keenness to bring the region at par with the rest of the nation. Stressing on proper planning and accountability, the Union Minister clarified that money was not a problem. Describing Arunachal Pradesh as a unique state because of its strategic importance, historical, geographical and topographical peculiarity, he said the Centre was determined to extend "helping hand" to meet all due shares and legitimate demands, including the refugee issue after discussing with the leaders of this nascent state. The enromous potentiality of the state would be tapped through speedy development of air, road, rail and telecommunication connectivity as instructed by Prime Minister, who had directed all the Union Ministers to specially look after Arunachal Pradesh, he said. Congratulating the people of the state on the occasion, Mr Sikdar announced to provide air connectivity to this land-locked bordering state very soon. Earlier, State Chief Minister Gegong Apang, in his address, appealed to the Centre to deport the Chakma and Hajong refugees to solve the vexed tangle and abrogate conduct of the ensuing Parliamentary elections, and aborgate the lacunae in the Statehood Act, 1986 to assuage the sentiment of the peace-loving people of his state. The Election Commission has suspended the election process in four assembly segments of the state on the issue of registration of the refugees in State’s Electoral roll. This had prompted the State Government to move to the Court soon to Challenge EC’s order issued on January 2 last. Pleading for not confining the ongoing golden quadrilateral scheme to Guwahati and Silchar only but to extend it to parts of Arunachal, Mr Apang said it would boost the international trade with the bordering south east Asian countries. Aruanchal Pradesh with its vast natural resources could become a tourist destination of the country in the future while creating ample scope for employment opportunities for the unemployed youth, he said. Highlighting his determination to make Arunachal Pradesha prosperous state, Mr Apang, who was reinstalled as Chief Minister of BJP-led United Democatic Front (UDF) Government in August last after around four-year gap, called upon one and all to solve their differences and shun violence to ensure peace and tranquility to create a feel good factor. Earlier, the Chief Miniaster unfurled the tricolour and took salute of an immpressive march past. Mrs Lila Elwin, wife of noted anthropologist late verrier Elwin and Padmashree Ms Sylverin Swer, a pioneer educationist of the state, speaking as the Guests of Honour, lauded the fast growth of the state. (UNI) |
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Jaitley concerned over media
"driving" decision NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Expressing concern over media "driving" the decision making process of the executive, legislature and judiciary, Union Law Minister Arun Jaitley today said it was a "dangerous trend" which needs attention. "I have not the least hesitation to say that our Parliament and legislative bodies are media-driven, our judiciary is becoming media-driven, our Government is media-driven. This is a very dangerous trend because all those who drive the system can’t be pushed by populism," he said here. Jaitley expressed concern over the non-serious news taking over the front pages of certain news papers. "The front pages are going to be with non-serious news. That is the new trend which is coming up. This is the impact of television news in print media in which we are in the process of trivializing the news," he said inaugurating a seminar "media credibility & accountability," organised by NUJ(I) School of Journalism & Communication. He said that media should try to address the expectations of larger audience and not to set the agenda. "The media is not to set the agenda. Now the trend is that instead of reporting to larger audience, we must not report what has happened but we must report what we want to report," the minister said. Taking a dig at television news channels, Jaitley said the defichanged. "News is no longer facts. News is what camera can capture. And camera can capture all kinds of odd things," he said. The seminar was also addressed by Chairman of Press Council of India Justice K Jayachandra Reddy and Chairman of Centre for Media Studies N Bhaskar Rao. The minister stressed the need for placing authentic and reliable news before people so that they can judge themselves about its implications and effects in the society. "Reader is the king. He has a remote in his hand. He can ignore you and go ahead. Therefore the budzzword is - the credibility and accuracy and that is what readers really expects from you,’" he said. PCI chairman Justice Reddy also emphasised the need for putting forth the correct picture of any news story. "Journalists should change their attitude in promoting proper news," he said. Asking the journalists unions to come together for the service of fraternity, Justice Reddy said "it would definitely increase their credibility and accountability." Observing that vast majority of people in India live in rural areas, centre for media studies chairman N Bhaskar Rao said media reach to rural masses was "still negligible." "The reach of mass media has not gone much because the competition is for the same ones (people) having deeper pockets," he said. (PTI) |
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Disease resistant rice developed through DNA technology HYDERABAD, Feb 20: Applying DNA marker technology, the Centre for Cellular Molecular Biology (CCMB) and Directorate of Rice Research (DRR) have developed Bacterial Leaf Blight (BLB)-resistant Samba Mahsuri and Triguna rice lines in a unique collaborative effort. At a press conference here today, DRR Director Dr B Mishra said that BLB was one of the serious production constraints of rice in India, limiting the yields by more than 15 per cent in endemic areas like Punjab, Haryana and western Uttar Pradesh. He said Samba Mahsuri was a premium rice variety of Andhra Pradesh and was also cultivated in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Orissa. Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and West Bengal, where BLB-problem is also severe, were also taking it up in a big way. Triguna, another rice variety, grown in some areas of Andhra Pradesh was resistant to pests like brown plant hopper but susceptible to BLB, he explained. Scientist Ramesh Sonti said that in the past several BLB-resistant varieties were developed and released by All India Coordinated Rice Research Programme through traditional breeding based mostly on single source of resistance. In view of frequent breakdown of resistance in varieties with single gene for resistance, development of varieties with durable resistance through the process of gene pyramiding had taken place. Mr Sonti said Punjab Agricultural University and Central Rice Research Institute, Cuttack, used DNA markers for pyramiding BBL-resistance genes. But, CCMB-DRR group, in addition to using DNA markers from public domain, for selection of disease resistant lines (possessing three blb-resistance genes, XA21, XA13 and XA5) also used markers distributed throughout the rice genome to select plants that were likely to have other characteristics like yield and quality like that of original parent—Samba Mahsuri or Triguna. He pointed out that the innovation reduced the time required for development of durable resistance to a short period of less than three years which through conventional breeding would have taken at least five years. The lines of Samba Mahsuri and Triguna developed through molecular breeding exhibit excellent resistance to BLB under green house conditions, and in limited field trials, they were found to possess yield and morphological characteristics that were similar to Samba Masuri or Triguna parents. Additional trials were planned for the forthcoming Rabi season for their evaluation on a larger scale. The lines would eventually be nominated for evaluation under all India coordinated rice testing programme to expedite their release, Mr Sonti added. CCMB Director Dr Lalji Singh said that CCMB-DRR collaboration was a demonstration that the important practical capabilities emerging from advances in rice genome studies could be converted quickly into tangible ouitputs. (UNI) Tibetans forced to study Chinese in their homeland SHIMLA, Feb 20: The Chinese authorities distortion of the educational policies in occupied Tibet have thrown Tibetans into a difficult and complex dilemma of choosing either preservation of their age-old culture which could only be transmitted through the tibetan language or learning chinese for securing a job in China’s new economic system. The annual report-2003, released by the Tibetan Centre for Human Rights and Democracy from Dharamshala yesterday, said the Chinese authorities were trying to diminish the minority language (Tibetans) step-by-step. Despite Chinese laws, mouthing clauses of promising the protection of the native language of Tibet, in practice the Tibetan language is being marginalised and denigrated, the report said. According to a study by the United Nations Development Programme, the educational index for Tibet ranks last against the 31 provinces of China. The gross enrolment rate and adult literacy rate for tibet are also the lowest in comparison with provinces in China. The report pointed out that despite legal guarantees of protection of the Tibetan language, in reality higher education in Tibet is conducted in Chinese which is replacing Tibetan language even in Government offices, as a result the number of UN-employed Tibetans was on the increase. The report says most Tibetan students study only their native language at the primary level while at the secondary level they are exposed the Chinese language as a result they find it extremely difficult to compete with the Han Chinese, who have migrated from China and settled in Tibet. In the rural areas of Tibet, the children are introduced to the system of education in the language of their homes and later on when they move up to the secondary level they have to study Chinese to get a job, the report said. Jobs for Tibetans only come by embracing an alien culture, the report added. According to the report, the study of Tibetan is often viewed as being anti-Chinese and unpatriotic as it promotes feelings of nationalism towards Tibet and against China. In 2002 and last year, Chinese authorities closed down two privately-funded Tibetan schools, alleging that these taught ‘splittist’ ideologies, the report said while referring to the closure of Ngaba Kirti Monastic School and TSA-SUR school. The report further said the number of Tibetan nationals as compared to the Han Chinese residents at tibet university were very few as the university entrance exams require knowledge of Chinese and English and not Tibetan. Those who choose the Tibetan track begin to study English at the secondary level (if they desire)while those on the Chinese track begin English at the junior level, the report said while pointing out that even at the college level Tibetan students often do not get admission as English is required to gain entry into a college. Regarding rural education, the report claimed that schools only existed in name and they are often closed as the children who are from poor families are also engaged in other activities like fetching water, harvesting barley and gathering dung. High school dropout rates and low enrolment go in tandem in rural areas of tibet, the report added while pointing to the reasons which include under funding of education in rural areas. The report further said most of the families in rural tibet cannot send their children to school as they do not have the resources and prefer to engage their children in work at home. Referring to the politicisation of education in tibet the report said students are doctored to respect China and communism. The report also referred to UN-trained teachers in rural areas while at the secondary and higher education levels a majority of the teachers are those who migrated from China. (UNI) DMK regional conference launch
pad for VIRUDHUNAGAR,(TN), Feb 20: In a happy frame of mind after having sewn up a formidable alliance, the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) is all set to inspire its cadres to work for the success of the party, heading the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA), in the coming Lok Sabha elections, at its two-day regional conference, beginning here tomorrow. The conference, only the second the party is holding at the regional level, would virtually be the launch pad for the DPA’s election campaign along with its allies — the Congress, PMK, MDMK, the two Left parties and the IUML, whose leaders would be gracing the show on the second day. The party had held a state-level conference only once before in the form of ‘Thenmandala Manaadu’ at adjoining Madurai in the 80s. While DMK chief M Karunanidhi, in the presence of TNCC president G K Vasan, MDMK leader Vaiko, PMK founder-leader S Ramadoss, CPI State Secretary R Nallakannu, his Marxist counterpart N Varadarajan and IUML leader Kader Mohideen, would be releasing the DPA’s manifesto on the concluding day, it is unlikely that the DMK supremo would announce the candidates for the 15 constituencies from where the party is contesting the General Elections, according to a senior party leader. Party cadres of six districts — Kanniyakumari, Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Sivaganga, Ramanathapuram and Virudhunagar — would assume a predominant role at the conference, with senior leader and Virudhunagar District Secretary K K S S R Ramachandran heading the reception committee. Coming in the wake of the DMK snapping its ties with the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and renewing its truck with the Congress for the approaching Lok Sabha polls, and being the second state-level meet, the conference assumes more hype and colour, already visible at the venue. The conference would begin with the hoisting of the party flag, followed by senior leader and former Union Minister T R Baalu delivering the Presidential address. Actor-turned-politician and Rajya Sabha MP Sarat Kumar is slated to deliver the inaugural address. The day would then see several podium speakers expressing their views. On the concluding day, apart from the leaders of DPA’s allies, Mr Karunanidhi as well as other top leaders of the party would be the star speakers. The DMK president would also release the resolutions adopted at the meet. Predictably, the partymen would be waxing eloquently about the "misuse" of POTA by the AIADMK Government, focussing on the ordeal of Mr Vaiko. The failure of the Jayalalithaa Government to get Cauvery waters from Karnataka for the benefit of Delta farmers would also be highlighted. The dmk leadership would be at pains to explain the compulsions behind the party ultimately quitting the NDA at the Centre, after severing its ties with the state unit of the BJP. They might lay the blame at the NDA’s doorstep, alleging that it had not stuck to its agenda and not made any effort to "check" the State Government. (UNI) Vaiko firm on not contesting LS polls CHENNAI, Feb 20: Marumalarchi DMK (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko today ruled out reconsidering his decision, not to seek re-election to the Lok Sabha in the coming polls, saying the decision was final. Talking to newspersons here, he said he had taken the decision to strengthen the party right from the grassroots level and prepare it to "throw out the anti-people" AIADMK regime in the 2006 assembly elections. "I am determined to devote my full time to strengthen the party," he said, asserting that he would not reconsider the decision even if DMK president M Karunanidhi requested him to do so. Mr Vaiko rejected as totally two different issues when asked if Mr Karunanidhi could influence him to seek bail after 19 months of imprisonment following his arrest under POTA, why could he not in changing his decision. Mr Karunanidhi asking him to seek bail was totally different from asking him to change the decision as the latter was an Intra-party issue, he said. Mr Vaiko said he had decided against seeking re-election from his Sivakasi constituency on January 17 itself, when he was still in the Vellore central prison. "I have written in my diary on January 17 that I will not seek election to the Lok Sabha," he said, adding that this was even before the seats were allocated to the party by the DMK, heading the Democratic Progressive Alliance (DPA). There was an urgent need to protect the principles of the Dravidian movement in the state and he could not afford to spend seven months in a year in Parliament, he reasoned. Mr Vaiko replied in the negative when asked whether his decision to strengthen the party was aimed at capturing power in the state in the 2006 assembly elections. "This party is in an embryo stage and it still has a long way to go," he said. The real reason for strengthening the party was to give a "death blow" to the AIADMK in the next assembly polls and ensure that it never came back to power in the state, he said. Mr Vaiko said it was a shock and surprise to his senior party colleagues when he disclosed the decision, just ten minutes before he left for the public meeting last evening to announce the list of candidates. His family members also came to know about the decision only two days ago, he claimed. Senior leaders urged him to reconsider his decision, but he explained to them the reasons and convinced them, he said. Mr "Sippipaarai" a Ravichandran, the Sivakasi candidate, who had unsuccessfuly contested from Kovilpatti, one of the six assembly segments in Sivakasi Lok Sabha constituency, was present at the press conference. Asked whether his absence and that of late DMK leader Murasoli Maran in the Lok Sabha would create a vacuum for the Dravidian parties, the MDMK leader said there could not be a vacuum as nobody was indispensable. Mr Vaiko said it was very unfortunate that the BJP, heading the National Democratic Alliance Government at the Centre, was using public money for its ‘India shining’ advertisement blitz. He said Defence Minister and Janata Dal (United) leader George Fernandes being with the people’s alliance in Tamil Nadu and opposing the AIADMK-BJP combine was news to him. (UNI) |
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