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Vajpayee disappointed CHANDIGARH, Jan 3: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today expressed disappointment at the bureaucratism prevailing in the country’s scientific and .....more CPI
(M) making first move CHENNAI, Jan 3: Coming together again after snapping ties with its once reliable ally DMK five years ago, the...more INS
Hamla: Power MUMBAI, Jan 3: ‘INS Hamla’, a shore-based naval training establishment .....more Government
sensitive CHENNAI, Jan 3: The Centre was seized of the issue of the continuing appreciation of the rupee ......more |
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RKP meet to decide LUCKNOW, Jan 3: Tomorrow’s proposed meeting of the Rashtriya Kranti Party (RKP) here could well decide on the ......more Ranvir
Sena kills ARWAL, Jan 3: Banned Ranvir Sena members today shot dead five persons, including three of a backward ......more Decision
on advancing CHENNAI, Jan 3: Amidst speculation on the preponement of Lok Sabha polls, BJP president M Venkaiah .....more PM
urges scientists CHANDIGARH, Jan 3: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today exhorted scienstits to face up to the formidable challenge.......more |
UGC announces fresh scholarships for PG students ...... Third Talwar class ship to arrive in first quarter ..... Thackeray not averse to NCP joining NDA, opposes Bhujbal ...... |
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CHANDIGARH, Jan 3: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today expressed disappointment at the bureaucratism prevailing in the country’s scientific and technological institutions. " A suggestion made by me at a previous science Congress in this regard should be implemented effectively without any further delay," the Prime Minister said in a speech read out in his absence by the science and technology minister, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi. Stating that Government was committed to raise the funding for science and techonology towards a goal of taking it to two per cent of GDP, Vajpayee said that excellence could not be acheived simply by increasing levels of funding. "I am deeply disappointed that in several projects and programmes even available funds are not sanctioned and used in time," Vajpayee said. "In my address at the Lucknow science Congress in 2001, I had called for an end to bureaucratism in our S and T institutions and overhauling of procedures for clearances and approvals," he said and added "I would like this to be mplemented effectively and without any further delay. Vajpayee said that time was a precious resource in R and D. "Ultimately good science is done by good scientists, not by committees or administrators, however, essential they may be," he said. Thus, to fill up the ranks of Indian reserachers with great scienists, country has to attract, nurture and retain the brightest minds in large numbers, the Prime Minister said. "Therefore, we simply can not let extraneous factors obstr uct the onward march of Indian science," Vajpayee said. He said that there was a need to encourage public-private partneship in the widest range of scientific programmes and projects. The area of S and T should be made attractive for the private sector so that it further increases its share, the Prime Minister said. Vajpayee said that country faced many challenges to overcome which effetcive S and T inputs were needed. Sacarcity of water which had become a serious issue in several parts of the country was one such area, he said. "I would like our S and T establishment to develop low cost and easy-to-handle technologies for water conservation and re- cycling. We should also find ways of making desalination of sea water more common," Vajpayee said. (PTI) |
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CPI (M) making first move to form secular front in TN CHENNAI, Jan 3: Coming together again after snapping ties with its once reliable ally DMK five years ago, the CPI(M) made the first move to form a formidable secular front in Tamil Nadu for the 2004 Lok Sabha elections with its general secretary Harkishen Singh Surjeet holding a meeting with Dravidian party supremo M Karunanidhi here today. The CPI(M) had snapped its ties with the DMK after DMK stalwart and former Union Minister late Murasoli Maran, cemented an alliance with the BJP at the Centre in 1998 and worked out the NDA coalition for the 1999 general elections. Speaking to newspersons after an hour-long meeting with Mr Karunanidhi at the latter’s Gopalapuram residence this morning in the presence of senior DMK leader and former Union Environment Minister T R Baalu, Mr Surjeet said although Mr Karunanidhi had been confining himself to the south, he had the stature to play a significant role in national politics. He said Mr Karunanidhi, in fact, had been playing a leading role in the national political scenario. The CPI(M) leader said "during the meeting we decided that secular forces had to come together to defeat the regressive communal forces." Mr Karunanidhi would decide on the composition of such a front, he added. CPI (M) state secretary N Varadarajan was also present at the meeting. The DMK chief, who also had a brief chat with newspersons after Mr Surjeet left to address a press conference at CPI(M) party headquarters, said he was confident that the DMK, Congress, CPI(M) and CPI would come together to form a formidable front in the state. Asked if the pmk would be left high and dry, he said he hoped that they would join this front like the MDMK. "But wherever they choose to be, they will always be in my heart." CPI leader A B Bardhan is also scheduled to come down to Chennai later this month to hold talks with Mr Karunanidhi on alliance. (UNI) |
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INS Hamla: Power behind the punch MUMBAI, Jan 3: ‘INS Hamla’, a shore-based naval training establishment cradled in the picturesque western suburb of Malad here and generally hailed as the power behind the Indian Navy’s Punch, will complete 50 years on January 6. "The establishment is unique in many respects. Besides logistical support, another interesting feature of INS Hamla is the training of personnel from even foreign navies", said Captain Jayawant Korde, Commanding Officer of ‘INS Hamla’. Speaking to reporters here, he said Admiral Madhvendra Singh, Chief of Naval Staff, will attend the golden jubilee celebrations and inaugurate a logistics seminar here to be attended by the Indian Navy officers, corporates and PSUs. INS Hamla, among other things, offers a unique training course for cooks and Stewards, Capt Korde said. "We even provide training to cooks and Stewards from Rashtrapati Bhavan, the various Raj Bhavans, the Indian Army and Air Force. "Logisticians are the backbone of any defence force. They not only perform above the waterline but also on board submarines where the working conditions are as worse as they get, where there is great need for mental strength and endurance", he said. Besides training courses for cooks and Stewards, other courses offered here are for writers (accounts) and stores and long logistics and management course. "The logistics cadre is one of the most important and a pillar of strength of the Indian Navy," Captain Korde said yesterday. Before the World War II, ‘INS Hamla’ was part of the combined training centres’ network around Mumbai. The name ‘Hamla’ (attack) was the battle cry of the Indian troops training for landing during the World War II. With the commissioning of ‘INS Hamla’ of January 6, 1954 began the glorious chapter in the annals of logistics in the Indian Navy. People from 18 other friendly nations have also been trained at ‘Hamla’, an ISO 9002-certified institution, over the last five decades. "The success of ‘Hamla’ is indeed a manifestation of the navy’s and country’s endeavour of overcoming challenges in reserving the integrity and unity", Captain Korde said. "The established has fully justified the faith, trust and hope reposed in it at its inception". Besides being a training establishment, ‘Hamla’, with its picturesque surroundings, receives many visitors. It is a favourite weekend spot for people. Various facilities at the premier institute include beach shacks and a beach house for holidayers. (UNI) |
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Decision on advancing polls during national executive: Naidu CHENNAI, Jan 3: Amidst speculation on the preponement of Lok Sabha polls, BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu today said a formal decision on advancing the elections would be taken only at the party’s two-day national executive meeting beginning on January 11. Claiming that the party had come to the ‘feel great’ factor stage from ‘feel good’ factor, Naidu told reporters at the Meenambakam airport here that the party would campaign on the performance of the Vajpayee ministry during the polls. Naidu denied reports that the Centre had already decided to go in for a vote-on-account and to dissolve the Lok Sabha to facilitate an early poll. The issue was not discussed at the party or Government level so far, he said. A formal decision on advancing the Lok Sabha polls would be taken only at the BJP’s national executive in Hyderabad, he said. BJP party has not launched any formal discussion with AIADMK for the Lok Sabha polls, he said adding the issue of political alignments would also be discussed at the national executive. Naidu said any party, reposing faith in Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s leadership was welcome to join the NDA. Naidu said Congress was ‘feeling shy’ to project its Prime Ministerial candidate as other parties were not willing to accept Sonia Gandhi as the candidate. The process of political realignment had started in Tamil Nadu, he said. The issue for Lok Sabha polls from Tamil Nadu would not be different from that of the country, he said, adding "it is going to be a contest between Vajpayee and another, and not between two state leaders." Denying DMK president M Karunanidhi’s charge that DMK was compelled to leave the NDA because of some "acts of some BJP leaders," he said "I do not agree with his perception." BJP was one of the cohesive parties in which all Central and State leaders were able to speak in unison on all subjects, he said. Karunanidhi might have left NDA for "some local political conditions," he said. (PTI) |
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PM urges scientists to meet challenges CHANDIGARH, Jan 3: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today exhorted scienstits to face up to the formidable challenge relating to water scarcity, treatment of infectious diseases, agriculture and application of science and technology to the informal sector. In his inaugural address to the 91st session of the Indian Science Congress here, Mr Vajpayee said the daunting challenges that confront the country can only be met by effective application of science and technology. Due to the inclement weather conditions the Prime Minister cancelled his visit to Chandigarh in the last minute. His speech was read out in absentia. Dwelling upon the main challenges, he said scarcity of water has become a serious issue in several parts of the country. I would like S and T establishment to develop low-cost and easy to handle technologies for water conservation and recycling,. We should also find ways of making desalination of seawater more common. In our bid to increase the use of renewable sources of energy, we look for research and development breakthroughs that will help make solar energy affordable and scale up the use of bio-fuels . Similarly, we are expecting biotechnology to provide affordable solutions to two of the biggest challenges in health care—cure and prevention of numerous infectious and non-infectious diseases— and improving the nutritional status of the people, especially the women and children. We have to vigorously introduce S and T inputs in our agriculture, cottage and small-scale industries, as well as services in the informal sector. Afterall, making these economic activities more productive and profitable is the key to unleashing their huge potential for employment generation , the Prime Minsiter said. Vajpayee said the country’s success in self-reliance in food production was made possible by it’s science and technology establishment. "Today there is not a single area of India’s socio-economic development that does not bear the signature of science and technology in some form or the other," the Prime Minister said. Complementing the Biotechnology Ddepartment and Indian Biotech Companies for quickly matching global standards of excellence, he expressed hope that biotechnology would provide affordable solution to two biggest challenges in health care - cure and prevention of infectious and non-infectious diseases. Expressing disappointment over non-sanctioining and non-utilisation of funds in time for several projects, he said excellence cannot be achieved simply by increasing levels of funding. Vajpayee said he recently flagged off a special train, called Vigyan rail, which would travel to different parts of the country and hoped "hundreds of such creative programmes would be organised throughout the year to create mass enthusiasm about science and technology and pride in India’s achievements in this important field." Sharing Vajpayee’s thoughts on "science and society in the 21st century: Quest for excellence", Joshi said high level of excellence of scientific and technological skills of our human resource was imperative to be heard internationally. "Strong and speedy efforts, along with adequate investment are needed for providing high quality science and technological education to our burgeoning human resource," he said. The year 2004 has been declared as the year of ‘science awareness’, Joshi said and gave a motto for the scientists-‘India innovates India leads and India excels’. The minister said Allahabad University would become a Central University and four national institutes of science would come Ubaneshwar and allaence, Joshi said. The minister announced insitution of India Science Awards for outstanding contribution to Science which, he said would be given for ‘big’ achievement and the benchmark will be ‘global’. The award comprising Rs 25 lakhs will cover all areas of research in science including engineering, medicine and agriculture and would be given to a scientist, without any age limit, for major contributions of a path breaking nature, based on work primarily done in India. Observing that there was a mismatch between the number of bright students opting for a career in science, scientific research and development and the national requirements, Joshi said his ministry was taking measures to increase the number of children in schools. Joshi also announced two more science awards ‘Mahila Vigaynik’ and ‘Purush Vigaynik’ of Rs 50,000 each for the scientists from this year onward, in addition to the other existing awards in the field of science. Prior to his address, the minister released a road map for scientists, logo of scientific awareness and a brochure in English and Hindi on this subject. He gave away science awards to ten prominent scientists and researchers for their outstanding contribution in their respective fields. Among others who spoke on the occasion included Prof Asis Datta, general president of the ISC, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology B S Rawat, Punjab and Haryana Governors O P Verma and Babu Parmanand, Haryana Chief Minister Om Prakash Chuatala and Punjab Higher Education Minister Harnam Dass Johar. (PTI) UGC announces fresh scholarships for PG students HYDERABAD, Jan 3: The University Grants Commission (UGC) today announced 1,000 scholarships to post-graduate students with a view to fostering research in "conventional" subjects like humanities and social science. Addressing a press conference at the Osmania University here, UGC Vice-Chairman V N Rajasekharan Pillai said the scholarship of Rs 2,000 each would be awarded to deserving students every month for two years. Stating that the Commission proposed to increase the scholarship in due course, he said the students would be selected through a national selection process by March this year. The guidelines for the scholarship, which had been recently approved by the Union Government, would also be formulated shortly, Dr Pillai said. Basically, the exercise was aimed at encouraging studies in arts, science and commerce streams by selecting students who have a consistently good performance in the respective subjects right from school, he said. Besides, the UGC would also embark on a search for 500 eminent academicians with national and international acceptance for undertaking research in various fields during this year, Dr Pillai disclosed. "Those selected will receive pay equivalent to that of a university Vice-Chancellor or Director," he said, adding that the age of retirement of these selected professors would also be increased to facilitate unhindered research of their chosen subject. The Commission would look for excellent teaching and research qualities in these professors, who would be selected following international academic norms, he said. Dr Pillai announced that the UGC would henceforth bear the accreditation expenditure of colleges to the tune of Rs two lakh, hitherto borne by the respective varsities. He informed that the Union Government had recently approved the ‘private universities regulation act for maintenance in standards,’ empowering the UGC to regulate the functioning of these varsities. Under the law, only those universities which have a main campus would be allowed to open "off-campus centres." He said the Commission would consider requests from foreign universities for setting up their institutions here. (UNI) NCP open to tie-up with NDA, other options too PUNE, Jan 2: The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president Sharad Pawar today said that his party has kept all options open including a tie-up with the BJP-led NDA coalition at the Centre. "We are looking at three options including a tie-up with the Congress, the Left parties and the NDA," Mr Pawar said at a press conference here adding that the NCP national executive meeting at New Delhi on January 25 will look at all the options. "Whatever we decide at the Centre, will not affect our relationship in the state," he said. Alluding to the options, Mr Pawar said, "these are suggestions from party workers from the north-east. As a president, I have to look at what they are suggesting, especially as these have come in writing." However, he said there is no question of a merger with the Congress. "I have to take along the party workers when I make a decision for the Centre, which will be discussed at the national executive meeting." Mr Pawar said the Congress has taken away six MLA’s from NCP in the eastern states. "My party workers were unwilling to go along with the Congress, this happened a day before the amendment to the anti-Defection Bill." Asked about Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray’s demand for dropping former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal in case of an alliance with the NDA, Mr Pawar categorically said, "we will not sacrifice any party worker". He said for the past five to ten years he has refused to comment on what all the Sena chief says. When asked about the recent Advani-Thackeray meeting in Mumbai, Mr Pawar remarked, "its their personal matter". On what he thought about aligning with the BJP hitherto considered the "untouchable", Mr Pawar said "there are no untouchables in politics. However, we will take a final decision about it at the meeting". "When any party lacks the strength to fight an election alone, alliances become necessary as is clear in present-day politics. However, we do not believe that any party’s leader can be forced on US," Mr Pawar retorted when asked about his stance on Congress chief Sonia Gandhi’s leadership. When asked about regional alliances, Mr Pawar said one has to gauge the situation, the state’s stability and "Janadhar" (public pulse) while aligning with a party. Local issues and local questions impact the relationships between parties, but that would not come in way for an understanding at the Centre, he pointed out. On Parliamentary elections, he said, "it appears that they are being advanced, we did not realise it would come soon as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee had earlier indicated of seeing the full term of five years completed but its possible that they may be held in may going by reports". (UNI) Thackeray not averse to NCP joining NDA, opposes Bhujbal MUMBAI, Jan 1: Amid reported talks of BJP persuading Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray to allow NCP to get into the NDA fold, the Sena chief today said he was not averse to Sharad Pawar’s fledgling party joining the ruling coalition. However, Thackeray categorically stated that the proposed move would not have any place for his bete noire and former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. "It is impossible", he told mediapersons at his residence in suburban Bandra when asked if he would allow Bhujbal to be part of the proposed alliance. Thackeray’s statement assumes significance in the wake of his recent closed-door with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani in the metropolis. Though, Advani met Thackeray to discuss advancing the Lok Sabha polls, the issue of allowing NCP into the NDA fold also cropped up, Sena sources said. Thackeray also admitted that the issue came up for a while during his talks with the Deputy Prime Minister but the talks remained inconclusive. "I will have to talk to Uddhav", the Sena chief said referring to his son and executive president of the party. "I will arrive at a decision after consulting Uddhav and the Sena leaders", Thackeray added. According to the Sena chief, every political party tries to strengthen itself before polls, and this (NCP’s joining) could be an attempt to strengthen the NDA. "But since the NCP is in alliance with the Congress in Maharashtra, the change in the political equations in the state in case the NCP joins the NDA, will have to be discussed with other Sena leaders", Thackeray said.(PTI) ‘Telgi possessed cellphone in Mumbai police custody’ MUMBAI, Jan 1: The Special Investigation Team (SIT), probing the multi-crore fake stamp paper scam, has alleged that the prime accused Abdul Karim Telgi frequently used mobile phones to say in touch with outside world when he was in custody of the Mumbai Crime Branch. Apart from facilitating his stay in luxury hotels and his Colaba home, Mumbai police allowed Telgi to keep mobile phone in police lock up and use it to strike several financial deals, the SIT alleged in the chargesheet filed in a Special Court at Pune on December 29. Billing records, seized by SIT and scrutinised later, have revealed that he used mobile number 98216-88182 when he was in Crime Branch custody from November 28, 2002 to January 21, 2003. SIT has alleged that Telgi was in touch with another arrested accused Manoj Mehta (from January 8, 2003 to January 11, 2003), with Abdul Rashid Kulkarni (on January 11 and 12, 2003) and legislator, Anil Umrao Gote and other persons. On January 11, 2003, when the SIT was conducting search of Telgi’s residence at Sunny house, near hotel Taj Mahal, in Colaba, a person named Feroz Khan reached there with cash Rs 19,000. Feroz Khan told SIT that Telgi had asked him to deliver the money to his wife. The SIT has alleged that apart from controlling his fake stamps and stamp paper business from the lock up through mobile, Telgi also contacted estate agent, Brijbhan Singh and asked him to search buyers for his flats at Mathuradas estate, and Sunny house, both in Colaba. It was also during his stay in the police lock up that Telgi used mobile phone to expedite sale of his property, Thane polyorganics, a firm located at Turbhe in neighbouring Thane district. It is alleged that the firm was run by Telgi and family members of arrested legislator Anil Gote. The SIT has alleged that Telgi could not have carried out his operations from police lock up or use mobile phones, but for the support of policemen including Inspector Dattatraya Dal and Api Kamath, and tacit support of then Joint Police Commissioner, Sridhar Sumant Vagal. The chargesheet filed in Pune Court sheds light on how the above trio allowed Telgi to stay at hotel Ashray in Suburban Sion, and at his residence in 7, Cuffe parade, Colaba. All the three police officers have been arrested and are in custody. Incidentally, DIG Subodh Jaiswal of the SIT was inspecting premises of Telgi along with additional DGP, Karnataka, Sree Kumar, on January 9, 2003, when they noticed Telgi enjoying cosy comforts at his cuffe parade residence, while Api Dilip Kamath, who was supposed to accompany him, was no where to be seen. But, joint CP, Sridhar Vagal, did not act on the default report sent by DIG Jaiswal, SIT sources alleged. Almost all the 85 days Telgi spent in Police Custody Remand (PCR) in a lavish manner, SIT alleged in the chargesheet. (PTI) |
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