Let AAI take up Kolkata airport modernisation: WB

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: West Bengal’s Left Front Government has favoured roping in the Airports Authority of India for revamping the Kolkata airport and was intent on keeping private developers at bay, senior CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury said today.

"The State Government would like the AAI to go ahead with implementing the project... We hope that AAI would take it up as a challenge and accomplish the task even before Delhi and Mumbai (projects)," he told reporters here.

AAI has already selected the design presented by French firm, Aeroport du Paris that designed the Charles de Gaulle airport, out of a global tender.

Yechury, who is also the Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture, said that state Chief Secretary A K Deb has written to Civil Aviation Secretary Ajay Prasad in this regard.

The letter, dated July 31, says: "I would like to reiterate that the state Government would like the AAI to go ahead with the implementation of the project out of its own resources, as stated by the Chairman of the Authority.

"It will not favour induction of any private company in the project for upgradation and modernisation of the Netaji Subhash Bose International Airport, Kolkata", the letter said, adding "I would request that the stand of the State Government may kindly be kept in mind while implementing the project". (PTI)

Internet failure at SBI, J&K bank irks customers

SRINAGAR, Aug 2: Business activities at the State Bank of India (SBI) and Jammu and Kashmir Bank branches in the Kashmir valley today remained paralysed due to internet failure.

The internet failure also affected two national news agencies and other private TV channels taking the Sanchar-net service.

The functioning in the banks, which are connected through internet with other branches, including outside the state, remained affected.

"We cannot help it as the system is down," the bank officials said to customers, refusing to accept their cheques and other demand drafts.

The bank officials said that they were connected with outside the banks through Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) Sanchar net which was down.

They said the failure of the system has now become almost a daily routine affecting the business.

Thousands of SBI customers had to return disappointed after the officials refused to entertain their cheques and cash.

A BSNL official said the main cable, being used for internet connectivity, got damaged at three different places at Katra, Samba and Pathankot disrupting the system including internet.

He said efforts were being made to restore the cable. (UNI)

Not all my directors were good, says Naseer

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah, who recently opened his innings as a director is worried about falling acting standards and says he does not have happy memories of all the directors he worked with in his acting career.

"Not all my directors were good. There were only some who could help me when I was facing acting troubles. A director’s job is to relax the actors, put them at ease so that they can perform without inhibitions," says the thespian.

"I believe that there are no weak actors. There are only weak directors. There were a lot of films I did at one point in time, which I hated doing and hated watching."

Though he refuses to name the "bad" directors as he does not want to "offend" anyone, Naseer names Shyam Benegal, Gulzaar and Sai Paranjpye as those who helped him overcome his "troubles" everytime he struggled with a shot.

Now that he has embarked on his directorial journey, he has something equally interesting to say about his fellow-actors.

"I do not know when the standard of acting will improve in our industry. Here, actors feel they can start performing anytime they want. Elkazi (Ebrahim Alkaazi-the celebrated former director of National School of Drama) would say that no musician, singer or true artist would perform in front of an audience without practise. But actors feel they do not need to practise."

This explains why Naseer held rehearsals for all his actors before he started shooting his maiden film.

"There were newcomers in my film. Saroj Khan was there who had never acted before. So rehearsals were a must. Believe me, Saroj was the most industrious actor of all. I think some of the present day actors should take a cue from her," he says sacracastically.

Having directed both on stage and now films, Shah feels direction in cinema is a lot more easier than in theatre as you are "closer" to the performers in the former.

"The art is basically same but it is a little more challenging in theatre as you can’t pan the camera and focus on your performers. You cannot direct the viewer’s eye. On stage, the onus is on the actors to draw the audience’s attention to what they are doing," says the 56-year-old actor.

Calling theatre his "therapy" to survive the trials and tribulations of life, Naseer says, "Theatre is my passion. It is my life and blood. I can never leave it. I believe that theatre is not an actor’s medium. It is a director’s medium. But even then, I certainly like acting more than direction when on stage."

The plain-speaking actor whose directorial debut film got mixed reviews says critics’ opinions mean little to him.

"Personally, their opinion never mattered to me. Critics are free to have a take on any film but their opinion is just like any other ordinary man on the street," he says with a shrug.

"I seek collective opinions. The way an audience reacts on seeing my film, the observations that they have to make are the kind of opinions that I am concerned about."

But he promptly admits that ‘Yun Hota...’ has not been completely flawless!.

"I’am not a great technical guy. I will say that I know a little more than a layman. I am sure there will be some flaws in ‘Yun Hota’... That can be overlooked. And I hope to be technically more steady next time around," he ends on a positive note. (PTI)

Benefits given to freedom fighters inadequate: Patil

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: The Government today assured Rajya Sabha that it will look into the demand to extend the freedom fighters’ quota in education to children of daughters of freedom fighters.

"I am in agreement with the demand but we will have to look into procedures for doing so," Home Minister Shivraj Patil said replying to supplementaries during Question Hour.

He was asked why the quota in educational institutions was restricted only to children of sons of freedom fighters.

"Procedure will have to be followed (for extending the quota)," he said.

Patil said benefits given to freedom fighters were perhaps inadquate and the Government was open to looking into any concerte suggestion in this regard.

"Whatever can be done, the Government is willing to do," he said.

He said of the six lakh applications for getting freedom fighter benefits, four lakh were rejected on technical grounds.

"Our objective is to help... We provide pension and other benefits to less than two lakh freedom fighters, though these are not the only ones who fought for the freedom of the country. There are many more," he said adding some freedom fighters had not come forward to take Government pension.

Pension for freedom fighters has been raised from Rs 4000 to Rs 6000 per month, Patil said and added freedom fighters are decided according to a list of freedom struggles that include the Goa liberation movement and the fight against the Nizam of Hyderabad. (PTI)

Unorganised sector workers should
get social security benefits

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: Workers in the unorganised sector should get minimum social security benefits such as health insurance and pension, the National Commission for Enterprises in the Unorganised Sector has recommended

The Commission, headed by Arjun Sengupta, submitted its report to the Government in May this year, Minister of State for Labour and Employment Chandra Sekhar Sahu told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

He said the recommendations include that any worker registered with the National Social Security Scheme for the unorganised workers, on payment of prescribed contribution, shall be entitled to the minimum social security benefits, including health insurance, maternity benefit, insurance to cover death, and old age pension for the below poverty line workers.

For the above poverty line workers, the Commission has recommended provident fund, Sahu said.

He said the matter of providing social security to the workers in the unorganised sector vis-a-vis enactment of a legislation and also the recommendations of the Commission are being examined by the Government.

In reply to another question, Sahu said his ministry proposes to set up a National Mission on Skills in order to meet the requirement for skilled workers.

He said the Mission was at a conceptual stage at present.

Sahu also informed that institute management committees have been set up in more than 500 ITIs where the industry is associated to improve the quality of skilled manpower.

States have been advised to conduct short-term employee courses in ITIs to improve the productivity of workers.

Wages: The wages earned by women workers in rural areas is far less than that earned by their male counterparts, according to official statistics.

As per the data compiled by the Labour Bureau for 2004-05, the wage rates among women workers vary from 58 per cent to 82 per cent of the male workers in rural areas, Sahu told Rajya Sabha in a written reply.

Employment: Economic liberalisation has resulted in an increase in employment in the country, with an additional five to seven million workers engaged in activity per year during the last three years, Sahu told the House in reply to another question.

He informed that as per the mid-term appraisal carried out by the Planning Commission, projected employment in the country in various sectors has gone up from 344.68 million in 2001-02 to 362.64 million in 2004-05. (PTI)

A total of 269 Indians committed suicides in Gulf in 2005

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: The Government today informed the Lok Sabha that 269 Indians committed suicides in Gulf during 2005.

Minister of State for External Affairs E Ahamed said in a written reply that this figure is as per the information collected by the Indian Embassies in Doha, Abu Dhabi, Bahrain, Muscat, Riyadh and Kuwait.

He said till date this year 166 suicides committed by Indians have come to their notice. The reasons are manifold including personal, financial, family and work related.

On the basis of the data collected the highest number of 100 suicides took place during 2005 and 69 so far this year in UAE. This was followed by 69 in Saudi Arabia during 2005 and 37 till date this year, followed by 44 and 23 in Oman respectively.

He said in order to promote the welfare of overseas Indian communities in countries of the Gulf, Indian Missions have designated officers to look after community welfare. Towards this end, the Missions by themselves and in concert with Community Welfare Associations facilitate social and cultural activities, along with provision of counselling and legal assistance. Some Missions also hold "Open House" once a month at which any Indian national is free to discuss with senior officials of the Mission any kind of personal or work related problem.

He said in India, it has been made mandatory from November 15, 2003 for the recruiting agents to submit all the employment documents, demand letter, power of attorney and specimen employment contract in original for obtaining emigration clearance. Further, in respect of vulnerable categories such as unskilled labour, housemaids/domestic workers, these employment documents are also required to be attested by the concerned Indian Missions, Mr Ahamed added. (UNI)

Himachal receives more showers

SHIMLA, Aug 2: Various parts of Himachal Pradesh experienced light to heavy rains as the region witnessed cloudy and humid weather conditions today.

Palampur, with 55 mm of rains, was the wettest spot in the region while Dharamsala recorded 50.2 mm of rains, followed by Bhang Manali (35.2 mm), Shimla (30.3 mm), Rampur (24.2 mm) and Sunni (22 mm).

Nadaun experienced 13.5 mm of rains while Jogindernagar, Sujanpur Tira and Amb received 17 mm, 12.2 mm and 10 mm of rains respectively.

Heavy rains damaged a culvert on the Shimla-Bilaspur road at Ukhali, 125 km from here, disrupting traffic.

Dharamsala has recorded 1,405.4 mm of rains since June 1, which is more than the average.

The minimum temperatures remained steady in the region with Shimla recording a low of 17.5 degrees Celsius, Sundernagar 22.7 degrees, Bhuntar 22.7 degrees and Sundernagar 22.2 degrees. The minimum temperature rose by 2.5 degrees at Patseo in Lahaul Valley.

A report from Kaza said heavy rains in Spiti Valley damaged crops and caused massive soil erosion. (PTI)

TADA court refuses to give Abu Salem’s
custody to Delhi police

MUMBAI, Aug 2: A TADA court, hearing the 1993 serial bomb blast case, today disallowed the plea of Delhi police to hand over custody of extradited gangster Abu Salem in an extortion case.

Designated Judge P D Kode said at this juncture Salem was required in the 1993 bomb blast case and in other trials pending in various courts in Mumbai.

The court told a team of Delhi police to return to the capital and said it would inform them at a later date when Salem’s custody would be given.

The prosecution submitted that Salem had filed a petition in the Bombay High Court challenging separation of his trial from other accused.

The matter was pending and would be heard on August eight.

Besides, Salem was also required in Ajit Dewani and Pradeep Jain murder cases which are pending in other courts.

A team of Delhi police had filed an undertaking yesterday in the court saying they would take Salem to the capital with proper escort and take care of his life and security. They also undertook to bring him back to TADA court here as and when the designated judge directed them.

Earlier, they had submitted a production warrant to seek the custody of Salem in the extortion case registered against him in Delhi.

The 1993 bomb blast case, Ajit Dewani murder case and Pradeep Jain murder case are among the eight cited by the government in a Portugal court to seek his extradition. The trial of Salem in these cases is not yet over.

Salem was extradited from Portugal in November last year and since then he is custody. (PTI)

SIMI continuing its clandestine activities: Patil

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: Eventhough Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) has been banned and cases registered against it, the organisation was continuing its clandestine activities, the Rajya Sabha was informed today.

Home Minister Shivraj Patil told the house in response to a question by BJP leader S S Ahluwalia that as many as 179 cases had been registered against SIMI by various states and the Delhi Government and were at different stages in the court.

He said the activities of SIMI were under constant watch of law enforcement agencies. However, regarding steps being taken to prevent its subversive activities, he said that since the law and order is state subject, he could not answer about it.

About a supplementary on the role of SIMI in the accident involving Shramjivi Express near Jaunpur, Mr Patil said that since the incident happened in the state, it was the state police handling the case and the Central para military forces had no role in it.

However, Mr Ahluwalia was not satisfied with the reply and said that since the Centre could hold an inquiry into the Godhra train fire through G C Banerjee Committee why the similar inquiry was not ordered in this case as both the incidents involved railways. He said that since railway was a central subject, the union government should answer it.

Regarding the question whether SIMI had infilterated the educational institution as evident from the Uttar Pradesh Governor refusing the request to set up a Johri Arbi Farsi Vishwavidyalaya, Mr Patil said law and order was a state subject so he would not interfere. Also the communication between the Home Ministry and the Governors could not be revealed in the house as it was not proper.

However, the raising of the question of refusal of grant permission to establish the university evoked strong protests from the Samajwadi Party members who said that the state Governor was not granting permission for many other bills also so why cite this incident only. (UNI)

Soz calls CMs meeting on Sep 26 in
Delhi on Polavaram issue

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: Water Resources Minister Saif-ud-din Soz today said in the Lok Sabha he has convened a meeting of the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh, Orissa and Chhattisgarh here on September 26 to resolve the Polavaram reservoir issue, and assured that Orissa will be fully compensated in accordance with the Godavari Tribunal Award.

However, BJD leaders from Orissa-Arjun Charan Sethi, Bhartruhari Mahtab and Braja Kishore Tripathy-who had moved the calling attention motion on the issue led their party members out in protest, saying the Minister had failed to give a satisfactory reply why environmental clearance was given to the project when it was still being appraised by the Central Water Commission.

At one point, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee was so much annoyed by continual interruptions by Orissa members to the Minister’s reply that he begged Karabela Swain (BJP) to take his seat. "With folded hands, I ask you to take your seat."

Before the BJD members staged a walk-out, Mr Soz said there was no question of constructing the project to FRL 180 ft.

Any level above FRL 150 ft will have to be with CWC approval, and compensation will be fully paid for land and property likely to be submerged above that level due to all effects, including backwater effect, he said.

"I assure the House that Orissa will not be at the receiving end. Everything will be on the verdict of the Godavari Tribunal."

Mr Soz said the Andhra Pradesh Government had also given assurance that it will abide by the Godavari Award.

He said the project was under appraisal by the CWC and investment clearance from the Planning Commission had not been granted to it.

He said it was not his Ministry but the Ministry of Environment and Forest which had given the environment clearance.

He, however, added that clearance from the Tribal Affairs Ministry was yet to be obtained by the project authorities.

He said the CMs meeting was scheduled to be held this month, but owing to the Parliament Session it, had been postponed to September 26. (UNI)

NCDRC asks Consumer Fora not to
entertain students’ plea

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: In a stern message to its subordinate consumer courts, the National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC0 has asked them to desist from entertaining students’ plea seeking permission to pursue studies or to appear in the examinations.

Highlighting that the students cannot reap benefits of being consumer under the Consumer Protection Act, the apex Consumer Court asked all the inferior courts not to entertain such cases by saying, "that was not the function of the Consumer Fora and hence, granting such interim orders would amount to misconduct."

The Commission Bench comprising Justice M B Shah and Member Rajyalakshmi Rao, citing the Supreme Court ruling, said "if the High Court is not permitted to pass such orders, it is to be held without any hesitation or reservation that Consumer Fora have no jurisdiction to pass such orders."

The verdict came on seven revision petitions filed by Maharishi Dayanand University and others against the order of the Haryana State Consumer Commission which had allowed one Ruchika Jain, a student of Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) course, to pursue her studies and appear into examinations.

Earlier, Jain, in 2004, had got the admission in to the Sudha Rastogi College of Dental Sciences and Research following an interim order of Faridabad District Consumer Forum which was later upheld by the State Commission.

Jain was admitted to the BDS course under the management quota and she did not have the minimum required marks for the admission.

She, with the help of such orders passed by District and State Consumer courts, kept on appearing into her semester examinations.

Against those interim orders, the Unversity administration filed as many as seven revision petitions which were allowed by the Commission.

"In our view, a student who appears in an examination conducted by a university can not be held to be consumer. Such a persron does not hire or avail of the services of University or Board for consideration...," said the Commission. (PTI)

Eight people connected with Punjab
militancy deported to India

NEW DELHI, Aug 2: A total of eight people, connected with the Punjab militancy, have so far been extradited or deported to India and three of them were convicted, the government today said.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal quoted latest reports to inform that three people had been convicted while one person was acquitted.

The eight people, who have been extradited or deported, are: Devinder Pal Singh Bhullar, Daya Dingh Lahoria, Ranjit Singh, Sukhwinder Singh, Harpal Singh Cheema, Kulbir Singh Barapind, Kamaljeet Kaur and Gurbachan Singh.

Mr Jaiswal said continuous efforts were being made to get the remaining people, whose locations are known, extradited or deported to India.

Replying to another query, the minister said the Government would not give any assurance to the countries concerned about the punishment to be given to the alleged accused. (UNI)