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| PIL opposes decision to give Central seed farm land to Harijans NEW DELHI, Nov 18: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Central Government and Kerala on a PIL challenging.....more Dream
high, President MUMBAI, Nov 18: President A P J Abdul Kalam today urged students to "dream high" and strive to transform these......more CPI-M, PDF
urge PM SRINAGAR, Nov 18: Communist Party of India (Marxist) and People’s Democratic Forum, coalition partners in the.....more India
favours NEW DELHI, Nov 18: India today advocated the five principles of peaceful co-existence and cooperation, it follows with.....more |
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Govt assures NSCN (I-M) on peace talks, visit as per schedule NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Dismissing NSCN (I-M)’s apprehension that the Centre is "supporting" rival Naga rebel groups......more Puri beach
festival BHUBANESWAR, Nov 18: The 10th Puri beach festival will commence from November 23 to showcase the rich cultural........more Acharya
not informed KANCHEEPURAM, (TN), Nov 18: The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), one of the frontline supporters of the Kanchi.......more India
favours Panchsheel NEW DELHI, Nov 18: India today advocated the five principles of peaceful co-existence and cooperation, it follows with China, as a framework for improving relations with Pakistan.....more |
PIL
opposes decision to give Central NEW DELHI, Nov 18: The Supreme Court has issued notice to the Central Government and Kerala on a PIL challenging the State Government’s alleged decision to ‘distribute’ over 1500 hectares of Central state farm at Aralam, Kerala among Harijan families at the rate of Rs one per acre. A division bench comprising Mr Justice Santosh Hegde and Mr Justice S B Sinha issued notice limited to why a clause prohibiting further alienation should not be incorporated in the lease (when it was given to the Harijans). The agriculturist petitioner, N K Chandramohan through counsel P B Suresh and Vipin Nair, claimed the 3060 hectare farm, which had only recently been handed over to the State Government by the Union Government, would be ruined if it was given over to the underprivileged under the ostensible plea to help the Harijans. The real apprehension was that once the land was transferred (to the Harijans), the valuable land would again be alienated and sold for a song to third party or vested interests, at whose initiative the entire exercise seemed to have been done, the petitioner alleged. There were numerous precedents of these clandestine transfers in such "social welfare steps" undertaken by the Government, he added. "There are alternative sites available elsewhere and the main concern of the petitioner is regarding the handing over of the rich and lucrative land which forms our national treasure for pittance and for achieving certain doubtful goals of the Government." Considered the best seed farm in the world, the value of standing timber alone in the farm area was estimated to be around rs 4500 crore. Coconut, cashew, rubber, black pepper, arecanut, cocoa, lemon, mango, jackfruit and coffee was cultivated at the farm that exported coconut and cashew seeds to countries in Africa and Indonesia, Australia and China. About 30 types of plants and trees netted more than Rs ten crore annually. The State Government and several "interested parties" were trying to shift Harijans from Wayanad and Kasaragod areas to the farm where by the entire farm would be converted into a city, the petition alleged adding that this would also adversely affect the livelihood of the thousands of labourers and schedule caste families living on the farm at present. As soon as the farm was divided into pieces and given to the Harijans, within no time, the property would be further alienated to third parties or vested interests, the petition stated. "There were several well documented cases as to how such social welfare moves would be shortly followed by rampant transfers and assignments with the result that the precious standing trees would be cut and removed by the new owners." More than 6000 acres of fertile land available in nearby Kannur could instead be distributed among the Harijans, if the State Government was really interested in helping the underprivileged, it was added. The petitioner has come in appeal against the Kerala High Court’s order rejecting his plea on the ground that a case for the court’s interference with the policy of the State Government to settle adivasis on the land had not been made out. (UNI) |
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Dream high, President Kalam tells students MUMBAI, Nov 18: President A P J Abdul Kalam today urged students to "dream high" and strive to transform these dreams into thoughts and action. In an hour-long interaction with the students of the Gandhi Institute of Computer Education and Information Technology at the Bharati Vidya Bhavan here, Dr Kalam said: "Always dream great, no matter which strata of life you come from. Transform the dreams into thoughts and action." "Think high. The higher you think, you get elevated... Do not be deterred by problems. Those who work face problems. Be a master of the problem, defeat it and succeed," he told them. Earlier, Dr Kalam inspected the facilities at the Gandhi institute. Vice chairman of the Bhavan and Rajya Sabha member Murli Deora said the institute was planning to start a job placement cell soon and added that the suggestion of Dr Kalam to have a few seats reserved for handicapped students would be considered. Apart from being good students, President Kalam said, they should also learn to be good human beings and citizens, which is possible only in a good teaching environment. To a question on lack of accountability among people, he said accountability came with responsibility. "There are different dimensions of responsibility and monitoring is important". Replying to a question on lack of funds for welfare programmes, Dr Kalam said there was no shortage of funds and the Government spends Rs 20,000 crore annually on rural development. "First we should know what we want to achieve, empower the person to spend the amount rightly, select the honest person to manage the funds." There should a proper plan, proper people and schedule for spending the money. "In case of difficulty, a proper mechanism should tackle it. Management of any welfare programme is possible with proper monitoring", he said. Dr Kalam said networking of rivers was the largest programme of the Government by which surplus water could be diverted to deficit areas. "When Brahmaputra floods, 20 per cent of Assam is submerged and when there is flooding in the Ganges, north Bihar is affected, while in rest of the country there is drought due to shortage of water", he said. Enhancing forest cover by 20 per cent would also help reduce the acute drought and devastating floods, he added. He said employment generation programmes and providing urban facilities to rural areas would lead to physical, electronic and knowledge connectivity. When asked about providing quality education to the poor, Dr Kalam stated that the Central Government was working in this direction and providing bank loans to needy students to complete their education. "Banks have been told to provide hassle-free loans to aspiring students," he said. To a query on what he felt was the country’s achievement apart from successes in the fields of atomic energy and space, the President said food security in the country was among the greatest achievements since Independencem and lauded the visionary efforts of former Union Minister late C Subramaniam and Agriculture Scientist M S Swaminathan in this direction. He also felt that the boom in the Information Technology sector provided immense opportunities to young people. Governor Mohammed Fazal, executive secretary and director general of the Bhavan Dhiru Mehta and president of the Bhavan Pravinchandra Gandhi were also present on the occasion. (UNI) |
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CPI-M, PDF urge PM to begin
dialogue SRINAGAR, Nov 18: Communist Party of India (Marxist) and People’s Democratic Forum, coalition partners in the Jammu and Kashmir Government, urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to initiate dialogue with political leaders in the state on the issue of "greater autonomy". "We suggest initiation of a meaningful dialogue with the representatives of political parties in the State Assembly over the resolution on autonomy adopted by the Assembly in 2000", a CPI (M) spokesman told PTI today. "This would facilitate in rectifying the wrong done by the previous BJP-led NDA Government which summarily rejected the resolution", the spokesman said. A joint delegation of the two parties including State Revenue Minister Hakeem Mohammad Yaseen and CPI (M) secretary M Y Tarigami called on the Prime Minister here yesterday and expressed happiness over troop reduction in the State. The delegation said identifying some "peace zones" in the State and "demilitarising" them would be a step in the right direction, the spokesman said. It also asked for review of cases of all detenues not involved in heinous crimes and urged the Prime Minister to facilitate the return of the youth who had crossed the Line of Control inadvertently and now wanted to lead a peaceful life on their return here, he said. (PTI) India favours Panchsheel
principles to NEW DELHI, Nov 18: India today advocated the five principles of peaceful co-existence and cooperation, it follows with China, as a framework for improving relations with Pakistan. Addressing a seminar here to mark 50 years of Panchsheel, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh made it clear that an end to the atmosphere of violence and terrorism would have to be an "essential part" of the process of confidence-building with Pakistan. Panchsheel envisages mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression and non-interference, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. "And what can be a better framework for furthering relations with Pakistan than the five principles of Panchsheel," he stressed. His remarks come ahead of next week’s visit here by SAARC Chairman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who is expected to discuss a host of issues with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh Singh recalled the statement made in Parliament in 1956 by Jawaharlal Nehru when Panchsheel was offered by him to the then Pakistan Prime Minister. Nehru had observed "I have every faith that we base our dealings with one another on these five principles, the nighmare of fear and suspicion will fade away". Singh said over the last year or so, India and Pakistan have embarked on a process of confidence building, enhancing interaction and cooperation so as to create an atmosphere conducive to giving an even firmer basis to their relationship. "Needless to say, an end to the atmosphere of violence and terrorism would have to be an essential part of this process," he said. Singh released the 50th anniversary of Panchsheel commemorative volume, edited by former diplomat C V Ranganathan. The seminar on ‘50 years of Panchsheel : Towards a new international order based on genuine multilateralism’ is being attended by among others representatives from Asia, Africa, Eruope and Latin America. If the 21st century was to be morally and materially different from the 20th century, then there was need for new paradigm of international relations, he said. He said while Panchsheel might not be a panacea for all the ills afflicting mankind, it certainly provided a road map that promised to usher in an era of friendly and mutually rewarding inter-state relations. "In 1954, the world was too intent on pursuing the path of confrontation to consider the alternative path that Panchsheel represented. Now 50 years later, in a world still searching for moral certainties, panchsheel represents a moral compass," he said. (PTI) |
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India favours Panchsheel
principles to NEW DELHI, Nov 18: India today advocated the five principles of peaceful co-existence and cooperation, it follows with China, as a framework for improving relations with Pakistan. Addressing a seminar here to mark 50 years of Panchsheel, External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh made it clear that an end to the atmosphere of violence and terrorism would have to be an "essential part" of the process of confidence-building with Pakistan. Panchsheel envisages mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty, mutual non-aggression and non-interference, equality and mutual benefit and peaceful co-existence. "And what can be a better framework for furthering relations with Pakistan than the five principles of Panchsheel," he stressed. His remarks come ahead of next week’s visit here by SAARC Chairman and Pakistan Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz who is expected to discuss a host of issues with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Singh recalled the statement made in Parliament in 1956 by Jawaharlal Nehru when Panchsheel was offered by him to the then Pakistan Prime Minister. Nehru had observed "I have every faith that we base our dealings with one another on these five principles, the nighmare of fear and suspicion will fade away". Singh said over the last year or so, India and Pakistan have embarked on a process of confidence building, enhancing interaction and cooperation so as to create an atmosphere conducive to giving an even firmer basis to their relationship. "Needless to say, an end to the atmosphere of violence and terrorism would have to be an essential part of this process," he said. Singh released the 50th anniversary of Panchsheel commemorative volume, edited by former diplomat C V Ranganathan. The seminar on ‘50 years of Panchsheel : Towards a new international order based on genuine multilateralism’ is being attended by among others representatives from Asia, Africa, Eruope and Latin America. If the 21st century was to be morally and materially different from the 20th century, then there was need for new paradigm of international relations, he said. He said while Panchsheel might not be a panacea for all the ills afflicting mankind, it certainly provided a road map that promised to usher in an era of friendly and mutually rewarding inter-state relations. "In 1954, the world was too intent on pursuing the path of confrontation to consider the alternative path that Panchsheel represented. Now 50 years later, in a world still searching for moral certainties, panchsheel represents a moral compass," he said. (PTI) |
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Western Army Commander visits forward areas CHANDIGARH, Nov 18: The General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command, Lt Gen J J Singh today visited the forward areas of the Vajra Corps to review the operational preparedness and interact with unit and formation commanders. While speaking to the commanders and troops in the field, the Army Commander stated that inspite the thaw in the relations with our neighbour, the armed forces cannot afford to let their guard down, a defence release said here. He emphasised the need to remain operationally fit for which training must he done realistically, troops familiarised with their operational tasks and the serviceability levels of arms and equipment maintained at high levels, and at the same time enhance the motivational level of all ranks so as to forge a war wining team. He underlined the need to adopt new techniques for individual and collective training to enhance combat effectiveness. During the review of the operational plans, he stated that a very realistic appraisal of the capabilities of adversaries must be made while formulating these plans. He said that while the Army was modernising and upgrading its equipment, it was also refining its war doctrine and operational concepts to keep pace with the emerging battlefield environment. He stressed the need or systematic and pragmatic training of all ranks in order to absorb this new technology and doctrine. (PTI) ICRA upgrades rating of BBHFI’s FD programme NEW DELHI, Nov 18: Credit rating agency ICRA has upgraded the rating assigned to the fixed deposit programme of BHW Birla Home Finance Ltd (BBHFL) from MA" to MAA. The rating upgrade primarily reflects the strength derived from its status as a 100 per cent subsidiary of BHW holding ag consequent upon the change in ownership of the company with Chambal fertilisers and chemicals limited, the erstwhile 50 per cent joint venture partner, selling its entire stake to bhw holding AG. In ICRA’s view, the company would benefit substantially from BHW’s ownership in the form of access to funding sources at competitive rates, besides continuing management and systems support, that would place BBHFL in a significantly better position in the high growth but highly competitive Indian mortgage market. (UNI) |
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