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| BJP not a one-man party, says Advani NEW DELHI, Feb 28: As BJP pushes ‘brand Vajpayee’ ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Deputy Prime Minister L K......more Financial
institutions NEW DELHI, Feb 28: With a view to professionalise the managements of public sector carriers Air India and Indian.....more NEW DELHI, Feb 28: The first meeting of the Congress Central Election Committee will take place here tomorrow to....more S B Chavan
cremated NANDED, MAHARASHTRA, Feb 28: The mortal remains of former Chief Minister and erstwhile Union Minister .....more |
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Najma’s decision to join the BJP depends on her: PM NEW DELHI, Feb 28: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the decision whether Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairpe......more India
proposes ‘fund NEW DELHI, Feb 28: India has suggested creation of a ‘fund for Africa’ in collaboration with NEPAD, pledging a 100.......more Indo-Pak
trade could MUMBAI, Feb 28: A Pakistani business delegation, majority of them from textiles and commodity trade, is currently on....more Najma asks
Congress NEW DELHI, Feb 28: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah today........more |
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objection to Ram Temple issue, says Hussain ...... 23 IPS officials transferred in Bihar ahead of polls ...... |
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BJP not a one-man party, says Advani NEW DELHI, Feb 28: As BJP pushes ‘brand Vajpayee’ ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani has said it was not not a "one-man" party and denied any differences between him and the Prime Minister. "This is a very standard way, not not only in the manner in which you are putting (the question). You see the last five years and in those five years you can get hold of so many news items which keep on projecting a kind of dichotomy between Vajpayeeji and me and ultimately nothing turns out," he told NDTV. He was replying to a question that he was often referred to as the ‘iron man’ of BJP and whether he felt sad that it is Vajpayee and nobody else including him that NDA and BJP is banking on. Giving an example how privatisation and liberalisation in the UK had come to be known as ‘thatcherism’ after then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Advani said "similarly whatever has been achieved by the NDA Government has come to be naturally identified with Atal Bihari Vajpayee who within the BJP is no no doubt our tallest leader". Observing that Vajpayee has been his senior in the party, Advani said there have been many in BJP who have contributed. "I would say that today this is the only party in the country which is not not a one-man party where not not only the Prime Minister but the president of the party, even the officer bearers, even several ministers in the Government who are of a younger lot (are contributing). They have come up in a very effective manner,"he said. "Whenever there is an election campaign our adversaries have to rely on only one campaigner whereas we have a dozen campaigners going round the country," Advani said. On where would one see him after elections and whether he would like the post of Deputy Prime Minister or some other office, Advani said "I am happy with whatever responsibility is given to me by the party". Referring to Thatcherism, Advani said "that was not not deification of Thatcher or boosting the personality of Thatcher". On his charge that the Congress’ alliance with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS)amounted to supporting the Naxalites, he said "I believe whosoever directly or indirectly supports Naxalites, he is undermining democracy and I believe that today Naxalites are the biggest protagonists of Telangana. "If they condemn Naxalites it’s fine. But the Congress keeps on maintaining positions which indirectly encourage them. Therefore, it is that I criticised the Congress party (for)..." To a question about basic theme of his campaign, Advani said in the 1998 and 1999 General Elections, the people gave Vajpayee and the NDA a mandate to demonstrate what was good governance. "I believe that our track record of the last five years is a concrete proof that here is an alliance which can give good governance to the country and thus contribute both to the security and development of the country," he said. (PTI) |
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Financial institutions
involvement in IA, AI NEW DELHI, Feb 28: With a view to professionalise the managements of public sector carriers Air India and Indian Airlines before privatising them, the Ministries of Finance and Civil Aviation have considered a proposal to involve financial institutions to issue additional equity to reduce Government stake in them, official sources said today. Even though no decision is expected before a new Government takes over after the general elections, few rounds of meetings have been held in the past two months in which representatives of organisations like State Bank of India, HDFC, ICICI and LIC were also present, the sources said. The proposal to involve these institutions could run parallel with the Government’s final aim of privatising the two carriers and strengthen them before the process culminated, the sources said. The move came in the backdrop of the Naresh Chandra Committee Recommendation that Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) should be allowed in the aviation sector up to 49 per cent. While the proposed Civil Aviation Policy is primarily based on the recommendations of this panel, no decision has been taken on the issue of allowing 49 per cent FDI. The sources said further consultations were essential. The prime objective of the proposal to allow funding by financial institutions was to ask them to invest in the two Premier Airlines and issue additional equity so as to reduce Government’s stake in them. The sources said the total Government stake in IA was worth Rs 105 crore and Rs 125 crore in AI and added that the financial institutions would not have to cough up large amounts. Investments by these financial institutions would make them stakeholders and allow them to involve professional managements in both these organisations, the sources said, adding the move would also free them from Government control and unshackle their operations. They said these organisations could also decide on what kind of Consortia could be brought about when the privatisation process was initiated. In the past two months, the Civil Aviation Ministry officials also sought the views of top global experts in this regard. One of the experts consulted was Pierre J Jeanniot, Director General Emeritus of International Air Transport Association (IATA), who is understood to have opposed the idea of allowing 49 per cent FDI to foreign airlines. The sources said Jeanniot opined that such a move could lead foreign carriers, which would hold stake in IA or AI, to ensure that their international hubs abroad be strengthened, adversely affecting the Government proposals to promote aviation hubs in Indian metropolitan cities. On fleet acquisition plans of both the carriers, they said in most of the countries funding of this process was carried out by financial institutions like the Exim Bank in the United States. The international financial institutions also did not have to cough up the money in one go and spread it over a period of time, they said. (PTI) |
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NEW DELHI, Feb 28: The first meeting of the Congress Central Election Committee will take place here tomorrow to finalise candidates for the coming Lok Sabha polls in West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Chattisgarh. "The CEC headed by Sonia Gandhi will meet here tomorrow to discuss four states, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim and Chattisgarh," party spokesman Anand Sharma told reporters here. The pradesh election committees of the four states have already submitted the lists of probable candidates, including sitting members to the CEC, party sources said. The four states together have a total of 94 seats. In Tamil Nadu, the party, which had won two seats in the last elections, would contest ten Lok Sabha seats as per the agreement reached with DMK-led front. In West Bengal and Sikkim, Congress has decided to go it alone but it would have some kind of electoral adjustment with NCP headed by Sharad Pawar in Chattisgarh. Sharma said the party’s manifesto committee, headed by Pranab Mukherjee, will meet here on March 3 to discuss issues to be incorporated in the document. Congress has already identified unemployment, poverty, plight of farmers, disinvestment and problems faced by youth, women and weaker sections to be included in the manifesto and is likely to come out with a "vision document" on these issues, sources said. (PTI) |
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Indo-Pak trade could go up by
three times MUMBAI, Feb 28: A Pakistani business delegation, majority of them from textiles and commodity trade, is currently on fact-finding mission in Mumbai to explore the possibility of setting up joint ventures with Indian enterprenuers. The delegation members led by president of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Siraj Kassam Teli, today held one-to-one interactive meetings with their Indian counterparts from Mumbai, Surat and Ahmedabad and identified areas like garments, oilseeds, computer accessories, agriculture produce and consumer goods for possible tie-up to promote trade. "If all goes well with the present detente, the bilateral trade between India and Pakistan could go up by three times in the next three years", said Mr Teli. Addressing a gathering at the Indian Merchants Chamber (IMC), Mr Teli said that India and Pakistan should work tegether through people-to-people contact and compliment each other’s strength and weakness for facing the emerging challenges in the world trade. As the trade barriers are dismantling in the WTO regime, there was a the need to promote the bilateral trade mainly in areas of textiles, diamonds cutting, commodities and manufacturing components, he said. At present, the bilateral trade between the two nations through unofficial channels are estimated to be around 6-billion. (UNI) |
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Najma asks Congress to "raise their level" NEW DELHI, Feb 28: Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairperson Najma Heptullah today launched a scathing attack on the Congress leadership asking them to "raise their level." "It is their weakness if they cannot appreciate the good work done by the Prime Minister," she told journalists on the sidelines of a function at the Prime Ministers house at 7-Race Course road. "Unko Chahiye Apna Star Ooncha Karen," (they should raise their level) she said in the presence of the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister, asked whether Ms Heptullah was joining the BJP, said "it depends upon herself." (Yeh Unpar Nirbhar Karta Hai). The Prime Minister earlier released the Hindi translation of the holy Quran written by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and brought by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR). Heaping praises on the Prime Minister earlier in her address before he released the book, Ms Heptullah credited him with removing the "debris of partition" through his peace initiative with Pakistan. "I was in Pakistan recently and the feelings and sentiments for the Prime Minister I saw there, are remarkable...You are clearing the debris of partition," she said amid applause. Referring to the Prime Minister’s National Highway Development Project (NHDP), she said the highway that was conceived by him, does not only join states and villages, but the hearts as well. In fact they cross the national boundaries and go across the borders to unite the hearts. "The road that you have built, does not unite villages only. It is a road that unites hearts. The roads are not confined to India alone. But they cross the borders as well. You have lit the lamps of love," she told the Prime Minister. Ms Heptullah said the Prime Minister had achieved all this despite disappointments, criticisms and difficulties. "You faced difficulties, disappointments and criticisms. But you did not give up," she told Mr Vajpayee. Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani was present at the function which was also attended by several ulemas and religious leaders. She said Maulana Abul Kalam Azad had also translated Ramayana and Mahabharata in persian and Arabic which were at the ICCR for the past fifty years. "I will bring those also to the Prime Minister for release," she added. About the Quran, she said nowhere was it written in the holy scripture to eat beef. In fact, when Hazrat Musa came there were no cows in Arabia. "I felt this and other such misunderstandings needed to be and should be removed. For that purpose, I thought the Hindi translation of the holy Quran would be useful so that those who cannot read urdu, can also read what the quran says," Ms Heptullah added. This would benefit the not only the younger generation from other religions, but also those Muslim children who do not read Urdu, she said. Ms Heptullah said Maulana Abul Kalam Azad’s observation that the two-nation theory would not stand for 25 years, had become prophetic because exactly after 25 years, Bangaladesh got separated. "But under your leadersship, Maulana Azad’s dream could come true," she added. (UNI) No objection to Ram Temple issue, says Hussain NEW DELHI, Feb 28: BJP leader and Textiles Minister Shahnawaz Hussain today said he would stand by the party even if it included the Ram Temple issue in the party’s manifesto for the coming general elections. "I am part of the BJP and also a Cabinet Minister. I don’t have any objection if the party raises the Ram Temple issue, especially after the Prime Minister has stated categorically that the issue would be resolved through talks or Court," Mr Hussain told newspersons here after inaugurating India carpet expo. The leader, who is a Lok Sabha MP from Kishanganj Parliamentary constituency in Bihar, said the BJP-led NDA Government had taken several steps to boost the confidence of the minorities, especially Muslims. "For an example, against the four places from where flights would leave for Haj pilgrims, now there are twelve," he said. Mr Hussain claimed that Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a well-accepted leader for the minorities who had faith in his leadership. Also, he boasted of the massive road construction project, "which has provided employment to many, including from the minority community.’’ (UNI) 23 IPS officials transferred in Bihar ahead of polls PATNA, Feb 28: In a major reshuffle ahead of Lok Sabha elections, the Bihar Government has transferred 23 IPS officials including five Inspector Generals of Police, seven DIGs and 11 SP rank officials. According to a Government notification issued here last night, C Lima Imchen, IG (special) branch has been made the IG of Darbhanga in place of R L Kanaujia who goes to Bihar Military Police in the same capacity. The IG (operations) N C Dhondiyal has been asked to join as zonal IG Bhagalpur in place of a S Nimbran who has been appointed IG (railways) while IG (CID) Ashok Gupta has been given the additional charge of IG, Special Branch. The seven DIGs who have been shifted are — S K Bhardawaj, R Singh, K P Singh, Gupeteshwar Pandey, K K Bhatt, R P Singh and G N Sharma. Among the SP rank officials who have been shifted include Patna city SP Ganesh Kumar who goes to Saran in the same capacity. The Saran SP Shahrukh Majid has been asked to join as SP (C) in the CID department. Gopalganj SP Amrit Raj has replaced Kumar in Patna and the Jehanabad SP Anil Kumar Yadav has replaced Raj in Gopalganj. Wasirudding Ahmed (SP-C) has been made the new SP of Naugachia while Sahilesh Kumar Singh has been asked to join as Commandant BMP 8 at Begusarai. The Commandant of BMP 13, Darbhanga, Raghubans Prasad Yadav has been made the SP of Jehanabad in place of Anupama Nirelka who has been appointed SP (women cell). The Khagaria SP Ajit Joy has been shifted to Vigilance Department and Commandant, Home Guards, D N Gupta has been made the Khagaria SP. Another SP, B B Prasad who was waiting for posting for the past six months has been made the SP of Munger. (PTI) SIT grills Sameer Bhujbal in fake stamp paper case MUMBAI, Feb 28: Sameer Bhujbal, the high-profile nephew of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, was today grilled for three hours in the third round of questioning by the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam. In response to summons issued by SIT, Sameer arrived at its Worli office in central Mumbai at about 11 am and was questioned for almost three hours, SIT sources told PTI. He was earlier grilled on January 19 and February 25 and was called again as the questioning was incomplete, the sources said. Sameer was quizzed on the alleged links of politicians with the prime accused in the fake stamp paper scam Abdul Karim Telgi. SIT sources said scamster Telgi had got some police officers transferred using his proximity with some Mantralaya functionaries. SIT questioned Sameer to find out whether he was aware about Telgi’s inroads into Mantralaya or if he was ever introduced to Telgi. The scientific tests of multi-millionaire Antim Totla and his brother-in-law Prakash Jakhete has yielded important information. Sameer was also questioned on these lines as he is a close friend of Totla. Totla is alleged to have financed the Bangalore trip of DF legislators during the political turmoil of July 2001. Although Totla denied the allegations he admitted that he was close to some politicians. The SIT has also come across names of some political figures in the transcripts of conversation of Telgi recorded by Bangalore police. The SIT sought clarifications from Sameer on them, the sources said. Chhagan Bhujbal has been summoned for questioning on March 2. (PTI) 13 PW Naxalites surrender before DGP HYDERABAD, Feb 28: Disillusioned with the ideology of the outlawed People War (PW), 13 Naxalites of the outfit surrendered before Director General of Police Sukumara today. Briefing newspersons here, he said the surrendered comprised two commanders, a deputy commander and ten dalam members. Of the surrendered, 24-year-old M Naresh (Narsampet local guerilla squad (lgs) commander), 21-year-old G Laxmi (gundala lgs commander in Khammam district) and 25-year-old M Ramesh (nallamalla (Medak) platoon deputy commander) were involved in various crimes including grave ones. They carried a reward of Rs three lakh, two lakh and Rs 20,000 on their heads respectively. While Naresh was involved in nine grave cases, Ramesh had committed various crimes including a murder, bank dacoity and famine raid, the DGP added. Talking to newspersons, the ultras said they surrendered due to various reasons including severe combing operations by the police, developmental activities taken up by the Government, loss of people’s support to the outfit, owing to ill health and internal differences among the party cadre at every level and party’s weak military network.(UNI) |
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