Excelsior... Nation

'Ionic' calcium available in Indian markets

MUMBAI, Nov 7: Ionic Calcium, effective in preventing osteoporosis, developed by the Japanese Calcium expert Takuo Fujita has been introduced in the Indian market for the first time, pharma major US Vitamins Ltd said.

As more and more Indians are affected by osteoporosis, the new well researched 'ionic' calcium which is not only effective in preventing osteoporosis but also can reverse bone loss has been introduced by US Vitamins last week in India, Medical Advisor to USV Dr Vasant Joshi told PTI today.

The new product also called 'Active Absorbable Algal Calcium' (AAACa) is an advanced product of Fujita's latest discovery where he had added certain specially processed algae that could even further enhance the absorbility of Ionic calcium, Joshi said.

The introduction of 'Ionic' calcium was to enhance bioavailability of calcium in both women and men. It has been shown that in a trial of 136 patients (51 to 83 yrs) already suffering from osteoporosis, those taking ionic calcium had an increase in spinal BMD (Bone Mineral Density) of 4.5 per cent over three years, as against those taking a placebo lost about 3.5 bmd, Joshi claimed.

The study was followed after the successful clinical trial published by the Japanese scientist Fujita, he said.

According to Fujita, the director, Calcium Research Center and President of Osteoporosis foundation, Japan, the Ionic calcium is created via a unique processing technique ---the oyster shells are mechanically ground to powder (which is found to contain certain heavy elements including lead), is heated to extremely high temperatures (800 deg c), creating a fine ash.

This smelting process burns off any other heavy metals that might be present in the natural shell. "Even more importantly, it also releases the calcium from the tough calcium/carbon bond, yielding calcium hydroxide and calcium oxide. These two compounds have much weaker molecular bonds, allowing them to be broken down more easily in the digestive tract, Fujita said.

A mainstay in osteoporosis management is calcium supplementation. It is from exogenous sources like calcium carbonate preparations, or calcium maleate or calcium acetate till date failed to live up to the bio-availability requirements of clinicians, Joshi said.

Though most preparations promise 500 gm of elemental calcium, actually deliver about 8 to 40 per cent of it as calcium in salt form is almost never broken by gastric acid (in the stomach) and hence are excreted unchanged by the consumer to whom the drug has been prescribed, he added.

Anoop Bhargava, Vice-president, USV said Ionic calcium has the capacity to reverse bone loss and treat calcium deficiency and is a boon to Indian clinicians fighting osteoporosis. (PTI)

Apprehension of reprisal haunts Champaran voters

BETTIAH, BIHAR, Nov 7: Despite measures taken by the Election Commission to ensure free and fair polls, the spectre of post-poll reprisals from criminal elements haunts more than four million voters of Champaran range bordering Nepal.

Champaran goes to polls on November 13 in the third phase of Bihar Assembly elections.

Activists of CPI (Maoist), a proscribed extremist outfit, had also been campaigning for poll boycott in the flood-ravaged districts where development remains elusive.

Presence of central paramilitary forces in large numbers in remote areas have also helped instil some confidence among the people, especially dailits.

However, despite all efforts by the administration and the Election Commission on dispel the fear about possible revenge by gangsters and ultras for ignoring their directives, the extremist outfit is carrying on their anti-polls campaign.

Reports from far flung areas of West Champaran and Bettiah stated that self-styled area commanders of CPI(Maoist) Rajendra Master and Dwarika Mahto had covered at least 13 police station areas during the past three weeks addressing small gatherings at villages.

"Central para military forces would leave your place as soon as polls are over, leaving you in lurch and imagine the situation after their departure," warn the extremist leaders as well as the gangsters.

However, despite the risks involved in refusing to oblige the extremists, villagers this time seem to be determined to venture out for casting votes on their own provided the Government keeps its assurance to prevent booth capturing, visiting UNI correspondents were told.

Although polling in 20 constituencies under East and West Champaran districts is hardly a week away, campaigning, interrupted by festivals of Deepavali, Id-ul-Fitr and Chhath, is yet to pick up.

Defacement of roadside walls with slogans and posters of contesting parties and candidates, abundance of flags, posters and festoons and the din created by loudspeakers have remained absent for the second consecutive election, following the EC directive for strict enforcement of the relevant laws.

Rules regarding use of vehicles by a candidate, however, were not being adhered to. Almost all political party leaders were saying that their supporters may have used their personal vehicles on their own which had nothing to do with the expenditure of the party.

The Champaran districts, located on the the India-Nepal border derives benefit through trade and commerce, both legal and illegal, but on the flip side is the high crime rate. The National Highway connecting the Kolkata and Haldia ports with the land-locked Nepal terminates at Raxaul in East Champaran.

Rangdari(extortion) is a full time vocation for rowdy elements who would not hesitate to physically eliminate any defiant businessmen.

"Rangdari is a committed expenditure for the traders who want to carry on their business. We record such disbursements in our cash books and ledgers as payment of taxes to the Government," says businessman Harishankar Chaurasia in Motihari.

"Reopening of closed sugar mills in East and West Champaran districts would not only rehabilitate the retrenched employees but ensure remunerative prices to sugarcane growers for their produce," says Chaturi Thakur of Patkauli village under Nautan Assembly constituency.

Perennial floods coupled with crime perpetrated by organised gangs and lack of land reforms have made life difficult. The people's anguish was manifested when RJD could manage to win only four out of 20 assembly constituencies in the districts of East and West Champaran in the February 2005 election.

NDA had 13 seats in their kitty while LJP, NCP and Samajwadi Party captured one each. (UNI)

Society must reject corrupt people like murderer-CBI Chief

BHUBANESWAR, Nov 7: CBI Director Uma Shankar Mishra today said corrupt people in the country like dacoits and murderers should be rejected by the 'society.

Addressing the Vigilance week celebration here, Mr Mishra said the society ostracised and looked down at murderers and thieves for their crimes, while the corrupt never received such treatment from the society.

He said corruption was becoming deep-rooted and almost impossible to wipe out.

Like Diabetes, Corruption could be only controlled, the CBI Chief said adding that only a systematic campaign against corruption which was no more confined to only the government sector, but also spread to the private sector and among the various professionals, will be effective.

Mr Mishra said the 'bribe giver' is more liable than the 'bribe taker' and both of them should be equally treated to put a check on the growing corruption.

The state vigilance celebrated the Vigilance week this yer by the organising an awareness campaign in the state capital which said participation of by the senior police officials, film personalities and students of various schools and colleges.

The rally, passing through the main thoroughfare of the city with participants carrying placards and shouting slogan against corruption, finally converged at the Exhibition Ground where a public meeting was organised.

Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said corruption should not be a road block to development as Orissa was poised for economic development, adding that his government would not compromise with corruption and was committed to transparency at all levels.

Right to Information Commissioner in the state Prof Radhamohan said the awareness campaign against corruption should be taken to the district level so that a movement could be created against corrupt people.

He said the right to information would be the best tool which should be used by all to ensure transparency in all field. (UNI)

Bar council's decision not to enrol Priest and Nun quashed

KOCHI, Nov 7: The Kerala High Court today held that being a Priest or Nun in itself cannot be a disqualification for being enrolled as advocates and quashed the Bar council enrolment committee's decision not to take in a Priest and two nuns as advocates.

Allowing three petitions by two nuns-- Tina Jose and M Tessy and a Priest Thomas Pudussery, Justice K Balakrishnan Nair directed the Bar council to reconsider their applications within a month.

The petitioners had challenged the Bar Council's decision not to enrol them as advocates as they were nuns and priest.

"Being a Priest or Nun by itself cannot be a disqualification for enroling as advocates. If a Priest or Nun is employed as a full time teacher or nurse, then he or she may be inelligible," the court held.

In such cases, they could be asked to quit employment as a condition for enrolment, the judge observed.

Full time engagement under the church or the institutions under it without remumeration can also be a disqualification. Being a parish priest is not a disqualification as the same would depend upon the time required to discharge his duties as priest, the court said.

The petitioners also sought a declaration that religious nunhood and priesthood were not professions and they should be allowed to enrol.

The Kerala bar council's enrolment committee had recently decided against permitting them to enrol, as they were engaged in religious activities.

According to the petitioners, the committee's decision was illegal, arbitrary and violative of the constitution of India. (PTI)

INSAT 4A being readied for launch at Kourou

BANGALORE, Nov 7: INSAT 4A, India's fourth generation communication satellite, is being readied at Kourou in French Guyana for a mid-December blast off atop an Ariane launcher.

Indian Space Research Organisation sources told UNI that the satellite, which reached the European Spaceport on October 25, was now being assembled for the launch.

Weighing 3,086 kg, the satellite would not only be the heaviest built by ISRO, but also have high power transponders both in KU Band and C Band. The KU Band transponders would be used for Direct to Home (DTH) television services. INSAT 3A, with a weight of 2,950 kg, was the previous heaviest satellite built by ISRO.

Though some of the transponders were being used for DTH operations, the KU band transponders would have more power and their footprint would be restricted only to India and parts of Bangladesh. However, the footprint of C Band transponders would touch Indonesia in the East and parts of Europe in the West, the sources said.

The sources said all the 24 transponders, including the 12 KU band transponders, have been booked with Tata-Sky Ltd. A Tata-Star DTH venture had leased eleven KU band transponders.

The solar sails onboard the satellite would provide a power of 5.5 kwh to the satellite.

Till the satellite was mated with the Ariane launcher, ISRO scientists camping in Kourou would carry out a series of activities preparing the satellite for the launch. (UNI)

Of ISI teachers and ULFA children!

NAGAON, ASSAM, Nov 7: The teachers are dreaded ISI agents and the students "ULFA children" .

Nothing sinister here but. This unique school with seven students and three teachers is inside a jail of Assam.

The students are mostly offsprings of the jailed ULFA leaders and the teachers are three dreaded ISI agents, condemned for life.

Their daily activities related to schooling have brought in a fresh air of expectation and happiness in the entire jail compound which has been resounding with nursery rhymes along with the usual sounds of thick heavy boots walking on the long verandahs.

The school curriculum is a healthy mixture of alphabets, English and games besides the lively nursery rhymes.

The school without a name is housed inside the Nagaon district jail,130 kilometer from Guwahati, where the three ISI agents and a group of ULFA detenues, many of whom are women, are jailed.

The jail has seven children. They are not prisoners, but are inside the jail by default as their mothers are prisoners who have no safe places to keep their children outside the jail. The jail authorities got in touch with the Sarba Siksha Mission who in turn provided them with a teacher.

But the three ISI agents, one each from Karachi and Bangladesh, came forward and,according to jail authorities, they are proving to be good teachers with children enjoying with them.

The three ISI agents are Fasiullah (45) from Karachi, Billal Miyan (35) of Shyllet, Bangladesh and Mosaha Samsed Khan (30) of Muzaffarpur of Uttar Pradesh. Of them Fasiullah is the dreaded one and his arrest five years back was considered as one of the greatest success of Assam Police as well as the Central Intelligence Agencies.

Fasiullah was the actual kingpin of the ISI racket in the North east India, supplying both money and material in the fertile land of Islamist Fundamentalists in bordering areas of lower Assam.

He, along with other two, were lodged in the Guwahati jail and only on August 8 were they transferred to Nagaon jail as the Guwahati jail had become overcrowded.

All the three were lodged at Hospital ward of the Nagaon jail where they have opened their school also. The ULFA detenues are kept a little away in the General ward or National Security Act (NSA) prisoner's ward.

There is no fixed time for the school and it all depends on the children's waking up and getting ready.

The jail authorities have provided each child books, pencils and rough books, besides elementary facilities and the children are very happy to be with their teachers.

According to jail authorities the teachers focus more on English, which have made their mothers happier.

Although there is no official record, in various jails there are more than 30 such children of ULFA parents. Most of these young ULFA boys and girls joined the militant outfits with romantic illusions and got married and down the years were arrested by police.

The maximum number of mothers and children got arrested when the Bhutan camp was busted as they all surrendered peacefully.

The eldest child of Nagaon jail is Abinav Deka (6). (UNI)

Former CJI Pathak to head judicial probe

NEW DELHI, Nov 7: The Government today appointed a judicial commission headed by former Supreme Court Chief Justice R S Pathak to inquire into findings of the Volcker report naming External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and Congess party as beneficiaries in Iraqi oil deals.

Making the announcement, the Prime Minister's Media Advisor Sanjaya Baru said the scope of the inquiry and the terms of reference would be announced shortly.

Pathak, a former judge of the International Court of Justice at the Hague, "will head the inquiry into matters relating to the report of the Independent Inquiry Committee (headed by Paul Volcker) appointed by the Secretary General of the U N to inquire into the UN oil for food programme" for Iraq during Saddam Hussain's regime in 2001.

Today's decision follows the appointment of a special envoy Virendra Dayal to verify the allegations made in the Volcker report which implicates Natwar Singh and Congress Party as non-contractual beneficiaries in the pay offs.

Baru made it clear that the tasks entrusted to Pathak and Dayal were independent in nature.

While Dayal has been authorised to travel to UN to collect information as "unverified references" have been made in the Volcker report to Congress Party, Natwar Singh and other Indian companies, Pathak would conduct a judicial inquiry, he said.

Shortly after the announcement, 81-year old Pathak, who relinquished the office of the Chief Justice of India in 1989 on his appointement as a judge of the International Court of Justice, said it will be a one man commission which will probe into the entire findings of Volcker reprot.

"I will inquire into the issue that arises out of the Volcker reprot concerning the two entities named there--the Congress party and Natwar Singh," he said.

The entire objective, Pathak said "will be to find out what is the truth."

Asked if the commission would restrict its probe only in India or extend beyond the country, he said "we will have to consider all the legalities."

Natwar Singh on his part maintained that there was no question of his stepping down from Government. "What should I resign for? The (Volcker) report has no validity and as I have said it is meaningless."

Reacting to Volcker's admission that he had shielded UN Secretary General Kofi Annan by agreeing to change the language of his controversial report that referred to Annan's son Kojo's business dealings, Singh said he has always maintained that the document was without any credibility.

"I have steadfastly maintained that the Volcker report had no validity. This is underlined by his own admission now. The report was and is meaningless more so after Volcker himself has conceded," the minister told PTI.

Insisting on a CBI probe, the opposition said it would seek President APJ Abdul Kalam's intervention for removal of the External Affairs Minister and registration of criminal cases in the matter. (PTI)

Karunanidhi's wife relinguishes her shares in SUN TV group

CHENNAI, Nov 7: Dayalu, wife of DMK President M Karunanidhi, has relinguished her shares in the SUN TV group and Sumangali Publications, which runs a Tamil weekly Kungumam and some other magazines.

Disclosing this, Karunanidhi told reporters here, that she had divided the proceeds for relinguishing and had given him a sum of Rs 10 crore by cheque.

The division was made after allocating sufficient amount for income tax, he said. Dayalu had 20 per cent stake in the SUN TV and Sumangali punlications, floated by former Union Minister late Murasoli Maran.

He had earmarked a 'specific amount' from the Rs 10 crore to start a turst called 'Kalaignar Karunanidhi Charitable Trust", with him as the Chairman, he said.

The Trust would follow the objects and rules of the already functioning DMK Trust, which was giving financial assistance for distress relief, medical treatment and educational expenses to the poor, he said.

After his life time, the Trust would be managed as a 'distinct trust', by the newly elected president of the DMK as its the Managing Trustee.

General Secretary, Treasurer and four persons, nominated by the party's executive, would be the trustees, he said.

The monthly interest of Rs.2.5 lakh earned would be spent toward development of Tamil lanugage and financial assistance to the poor for medical treatment, marriages and educational expenses, Karunanidhi said.

He gave a cheque for Rs five crore for the trust to the party General Secretary K Anbazhagan at a meeting of the party's district secretaries.

Earlier, the meeting condoled those who died in the recent floods in the state, including the six in a stampede here yesterday. (PTI)

AP HC quashes ordinance for five pc reservt to Muslims

HYDERABAD, Nov 7: Andhra Pradesh High Court today quashed a state government ordinance providing for five per cent reservation to Muslims in government jobs and educational institutions.

The verdict was pronounced by a five-member bench of the High Court headed by Chief Justice Bilal Nazki.

The court disapproved of the reservation policy on the basis of religion.

It also found fault with the procedure adopted by the state Backward Classes Commission whose report had formed the basis for the government to decide on 5 per cent reservation for Muslims keeping in view their social and economic status.

Several BC organisations and students had moved the High Court, challenging the reservation policy.

The petitioners had contended that with the Muslim quota, the total reservations in the state had exceeded 50 per cent.

The state cabinet had, in May this year, approved a report of the Backward Classes Commission which had recommended inclusion of Muslims in the list of Backward Classes by creating a separate category and providing five per cent reservation in jobs and educational institutions.

An ordinance was issued in June categorising Muslims, who constitute 9.2 per cent of the state's total population of 7.5 crore, as BC 'E' group for the purpose of reservations. The creamy layer among Muslims, with an annual income above 2.5 lakh, were excluded from the purview of reservations.

With this, the total percentage of reservations in the state had gone up to 51, exceeding the 50 per cent ceiling suggested by Supreme Court.

The Reservation Bill was adopted by the state Assembly on October 5 during the monsoon session.

A larger Bench, comprising Chief Justice Bilal Nazki, Justice Raghuram, V V S Rao, N V Ramana and R Subhash Reddy, unanimously felt that the BC Commission did not do its job properly and failed to evolve any reasonable criteria for categorising Muslims as Backward Classes.

"The entire process is vitated by arbitrariness and failure to adopt reasonable criteria. Thus the reservation act is ultra vires of the constitution," the court observed.

However, the Bench refused to set aside the admissions made to the professional colleges recently on the basis of the impugned ordinance. It said there will be a status quo as regards the admissions already made.

Speaking for the Bench, Justice Nazki observed that the BC Commission went about the job "mechanically" and did not look into the peculiar customs prevalent among Muslim community which may have contributed to their backwardness socially and educationally.

On the whole, the Commission did not adopt "proper methodology" and hence categorisation of entire Muslim community as Backward Class based on "defective advice" given by the Commission was untenable, the court said.

The BC Commission, which was entrusted with the task of identifying different castes which could be included in the list of Backward Classes, was made to address the only issue of identifying whether Muslims could be classifed as Backward Classes for the purpose of providing reservations.

Meanwhile, the Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) said it would approach the Supreme Court challenging the High Court's verdict. The opposition BJP welcomed the judgement saying it was a "slap on the face" of both the Congress and TDP which had indulged in competitive populism promising reservations for Muslims with an eye on their votes.

The ruling Congress responded cautiously saying it was awaiting the copy of the verdict. (PTI)

Silver: Diwali sweets wrapped in toxicants

NEW DELHI, Nov 7: If you had eaten sweets wrapped in silver foils this Diwali, there is a good chance you had consumed toxic metals because the silver foils used are not pure.

A study by scientists at the Industrial Toxicology Research Centre (ITRC) in Lucknow has found that they contain "appreciable residues of nickel, lead, chromium and cadmium."

"Over half of the analyzed silver foils had lower silver purity than the 99.9 per cent purity stipulated by the prevention of food adulteration act of India," ITRC scientists Mukul Das and S K Khanna said in a report.

They have called for stringent quality control in the interest of protecting the health of consumers.

In the Indian subcontinent silver foil has been used for centuries to garnish and embellish several food items including betel leaf.

The practice is so widespread that, according to the scientists, roughly 275,000 kilograms of pure silver are converted into edible silver foil each year in India. (PTI)

Bharat Sangeet Utsav from Nov 16

CHENNAI, Nov 7: After successfully holding a gliterring national level "Virtuoso" Mega Music award function here in August last, the Carnatica Com, an organisation promoting Indian music, today said it is organining a nine-day extravaganza called "Bharat Sangeet Utsav" from November 16.

The Utsav would be featuring the "very best musical talent" in the country and one of the doyen of the Hindustani classical, Parveen Sultana would kick-off the festival, Carnatica's directors Shasikiran and Sowmya told PTI.

The list of those who would be enthralling the city's music lovers reads like a veritable who-is-who of Indian music and includes stalwarts like Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Grammy award winner Pandit Viswa Mohan Bhatt and his son Salil Bhatt, Pandit Ajoy Chakraborty, Ronu Majumdar and Sanjeev Abbyankar, they said.

On the carnatic music side, violin expert Padmabhushan T N Krishnan, expert percussionists Umayalpuram Sivaraman and Vellore Ramabhadran, well known vocalists O S Arun, T N Seshagopalan, O S Tyagarajan, and youngsters like Sowmya and Gayatri Venkataraghavan, Shasikiran said.

Other highlights of the event included a unique "Mel-Rhythm" ensemble led by "Chitravina" Ravikiran and Umayalpuram Sivaraman, he said adding that popular musician Keith Peter would also be participating.

The nine-day event would also have devotional presentation by Rajhesh Vaidya in tandem with young vocalist Suryaprakash a and a musical presentation of "Shree Shakti" by Anuradha Pal, Shasikiran and Sowmya said.

The popular duo Sriram Parasuram and Anooradha Sriram would be presenting a carnatic-hindustani jugalbandhi with stress on devotionals and "abhangs", they said.

They said while donor passes for the entire nine-days was kept at Rs 500, daily donor passes have been priced at Rs 100 per day. However, free unreserved seats was also being made available on first come first basis, they said. (PTI)

23 new industrial units to set up base in HP

SHIMLA, Nov 7: The Himachal Pradesh Government has given clearance to 23 new industrial units to set up their base in the state, taking the total investment in the state to Rs 14,818 crore after the announcement of the industrial package to the state.

The decision was taken up at the seventeenth meeting of the state level single window clearance and monitoring authority, held under the chairmanship of state Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh, here last evening.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Singh said the new units would invest a sum of Rs 395 crore besides providing employment to 3,320 people.

He said global pharmaceutical companies had also offered to set up their manufacturing units in the state keeping in view the pollution free environment, industrial friendly Government, round the clock power supply and other incentives being offered by the State Government.

Himachal was fast emerging as the industrial hub of the country, he said, adding that this was possible due to the facilities that were being provided by his Government.

The Chief Minister said suitable sites for developing information technology and biotechnology parks would soon be identified.

The state had over 12 per cent of the total biotechnology of the country, which had to be exploited with environmental safeguards, he said.

Mr Singh said his Government would encourage the setting up of sugar industry in the Una area as cultivation of sugar cane was widespread in the district. This would help the farmers of the area to grow sugar cane and sell it to the mills, which would revolutionise the agricultural economy of the area.

State Industries Minister Kuldeep Kumar, who was also present on the occasion, said that with the announcement of additional incentives to the entrepreneurs for setting up industries in the interior parts of the state, more proposals were being received.

He said the industrial sector would help in solving the unemployment problem of the youth of the state. (UNI)