RDA members threaten to quit if Venugopal resigns

NEW DELHI, Jun 17: Rallying behind its Director P Venugopal embroiled in a war of attrition with Union Health Minister Ambumani Ramadoss, members of AIIMS Resident Doctors’ Association (RDA) today threatened to resign in case he quits and some senior faculty association office-bearers of the institute expressed their solidarity with the Director.

A day after a high-pitched war of words between the Director and Union Health Minister, the RDA and Faculty Association, which claimed that most faculty members supported Venugopal, demanded removal of Ramadoss from the post of hospital’s President for alleged "over interfering" in the functioning of AIIMS.

"Despite our differences with the Director on various issues in the past, we are fully supporting his demand for the institute’s autonomy," vice president Faculty Association Binod Khaitan told reporters and added "how can the Health Minister be so indifferent to his (Venugopal) threat of resignation?"

"On one hand, Ramadoss says the Ministry is working on retaining the competent faculty of AIIMS and on the other he is not bothered when Venugopal says he would resign," he said.

Khaitan claimed most of the faculty members were with the Association and supported Venugopal.

Venugopal had yesterday threatened to resign from his post after three officials were removed from their posts in his absence by the Health Ministry. The Director had taken vacation from June 3 to June 23 but had briefly resumed his duty yesterday after these developments.

"He (Venugopal) is an internationally renowned surgeon and we have full confidence in his capabilities as administrator... We will resign if he is made to resign under the situation," said Sudip Sen, a member of RDA.

Meanwhile, AIIMS sources said Venugopal has again gone on leave and appointed T D Dogra as acting Director.(PTI)

Fake currency racket busted in Ahmedabad, 3 held

AHMEDABAD, June 16: The police today claimed that they have busted a fake currency racket with the seizure of fake notes worth nearly Rs one lakh and arrested three persons, including a medico, in this connection.

Police sources said acting on a tip-off, a Local Crime Branch (LCB) team attached to the Sarkhej Police Station area of the city had conducted a series of raids at several places in the city in last two days to arrest the trio and seized fake currency worth Rs nearly one lakh from them.

Police said the counterfeit notes with denomination of Rs 1,000, Rs 500 and Rs 100 were seized in three different operations conducted by the LCB sleuths.

The LCB team have also seized a laser printer, chemical dyes, special inks, water mark seals, reams of special paper and other gadgets used by these criminals in making the fake currency notes.

The accused have been identified as Dev Chand Mirani, a registered medical practioner from nearby Bagodra Town, Ramesh Pagi, a resident of another nearby town Bawla and Purshottam Patel, a resident of Naroda area of the city.

The hunt for the other six persons, believed to be a part of the gang, is on, police added. (UNI)

Women files application for nullifying childhood marriage

BHILWARA, June 16: Disillusioned with waiting for a Jati Panchayat verdict on nullifying her marriage with Firoze, Mafia Bano, a victim of child marriage has filed an application with city quazi for speedy disposal of her case.

Mafia had got married to Firoze when she was just three years old. On March 27 this year, 19-year-old Mafia got married to Idris without divorcing her first husband Firoze. But her second marriage is now being considered illegal by her community, who I inisting on a divorce from Firoze first.

Rajasthan Quazi Council’s Qazi Council and city quazi Hafizurrahman told UNI that he would serve notices to the both the parties and after hearing their sides would try to find a solution to the problem. (UNI)

Foreigner arrested with hashish

MUMBAI, June 16: The air intelligence bureau at Sahar International Airport here arrested a foreigner and recovered 6,580 gm of hashish the price of which is estimated to be Rs 32.9 lakh.

Acting on a tip-off, a woman was intercepted at the airport, when they found the contraband concealed in her bag.

The woman was leaving for Phuket in Thailand via Bangkok by Thai Airlines when she was arrested by the air intelligence officials.

The accused has been arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. (UNI)

Tarn Taran gets district status

TARN TARAN, PUNJAB, June 16: The border town of Tarn Taran was today accorded district status and several schemes announced for development of the area.

The announcement was made by Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh while addressing a gathering to mark the 400th anniversary of the martyrdom of fifth Sikh Guru, Arjan Dev here.

On the occasion, Singh also announced establishment of regional centres of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar and Guru Angad Dev Veterinary Sciences University.

Singh said a college of physical education for girls would be set up here besides developing a Guru Arjan Dev Nagar.

The Chief Minister also announced setting up of a Tarn Taran Development Board for the development of the area and providing 100 per cent drinking water facility to the town.

Singh and many other leaders of the state Congress highlighted the supreme sacrifice made by Guru Arjan Dev and asked the people to take inspiration from his teachings and sacrifice. (PTI)

Goa to chalk out programmes for farmers

PANAJI, June 16: With Goa Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane declaring 2006 as the ‘year of the farmers’, the state machinery is all set chalk out various programmes for the farming community, officials stated.

Rane, who himself is a farmer by profession, has convened a meeting of all heads of departments and other agencies tomorrow to discuss programme for the year.

"While agriculture continues to be an important sector of economy, it supports about 16 per cent population and accounts for 6 per cent of GDP", officials stated.

The national horticulture mission, launched by the Union Government, which has also been implemented in Goa, provides assistance to farmers for establishment of nurseries, new gardens, cultivation of flowers and others, officials stated.

The state agriculture officials are optimistic as the state budget 2006-07 has increased the support price for sugarcane and arecanut.

"To encourage paddy growers, the Government has enhanced the incentive amount from Rs 500 per tone to Rs 1000 per tonne", they stated. (PTI)

Mahila Cong president injured in accident

LUCKNOW, June 16: President of All India Mahila Congress Reeta Bahuguna Joshi was today injured when her car collided with a truck in neighbouring Barabanki district, about 25 km from here.

Joshi suffered minor injuries on the left side of her head and broke her right hand in the accident, said Dr O P Singh of the private nursing home in Lucknow where she was admitted.

Her condition is stated to be stable.

Joshi was on her way to Lucknow from Ambedkar Nagar district when the accident occured, UPCC spokesman Akhilesh Pratap Singh said. (PTI)

Muslim forum opposes ban on women at Ajmer dargah

INDORE, June 16: Taking exception to the ban on Muslim women offering prayers at the "dargah" of Sufi Saint Kwaja Moinuddin Chisti in Ajmer Rajasthan, the Bharatiya Muslim Ekta Manch today sought strict action against those who issued the edict.

In a release here today, manch convenor Akbar Ahmed sought the immediate intervention of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and the Ajmer district administration to ensure that women were able to offer prayers. The Muslim community were offended by the ban, he pointed out.

He suggested that a partition be erected to separate the enclosures for men and women to facilitate unhindered prayers. Pilgrims from across the world visit Ajmer dargah and women constitute a sizeable number.

Mr Ahmed demanded that unauthorised occupants, particularly ‘Khadims’ (servers), should be removed from the dargah premises and those involved in criminal activities should not be given entry there. (UNI)

PAU inks MoU with two US universities

LUDHIANA, June 16: Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has signed agreements of cooperation with two American Universities—University of California, Davis and University of Florida to enhance academic interchange and to further the development of basic scientific and technological research and faculty tudent exchange programmes.

The agreement of cooperation was signed by PAU Vice Chancellor Dr K S Aulakh and University of California Chancellor Dr Larry n Vanderhoe. The Government is for a period of three years.

The MoU between PAU and University of Florida was signed by PAU Director Research Dr B S Dhillon and Dean International Centre of Florida University, Mr Dennis C Jett. This agreement terminates on June 30, 2009.

Dr Aulakh yesterday said these agreements were signed during his visit to the USA in the last week of May at the invitation of the two universities. He was accompanied by Dr Dhillon and Punjab Horticulture Post Harvest Technology Centre Director Dr A S Dhatt. (UNI)

Rajasthan Governor hindering anti-conversion
bill: Singhal

AJMER, June 16: Accusing Rajasthan Governor Pratibha Patil of wilting under Congress pressure, Vishwa Hindu Parishad president Ashok Singhal said she was unnessarily obstructing the smooth passage of Rajasthan Dharam Swatantra Bill, 2006.

Mr Singhal is here to unveil the statue of Prithiviraj Chauhan in Byavar. While speaking to reporters at the railway station during his brief halt here yesterday, he said many other states in India have already implemented the anti-conversion bill in their states and Rajasthan should do so immediately without any hitch.

Mr Singhal said Vatican’s Pope had no rights to interfere in country’s internal affairs and as such his remarks on Rajasthan Dharam Swantantra bill were uncalled for.

Reiterating that the Ram Mandir will be built despite hindrances, Mr Singhal said the issue will assume important issue in the days to come, which will clearly indicate whether India is actually a Hindu nation or not.

In an answer to a query, Mr Singhal said there were no differences between VHP and the Bharatiya Janata Party and there were cordial relations between the two parties. (UNI)

CPI(M), TDP alliance indicates weakening
of UPA: Venkaiah

HYDERABAD, June 16: BJP national leader M Venkaiah Naidu today alleged that the alliance between the Communist Party of India CPI (M), coalition partner of the UPA, and the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was an indication of 'disintegration of UPA'.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Naidu claimed that the alliance between the TDP and CPM for the ensuing Panchayat elections in Andhra Pradesh would be a serious consequence to the Congress-led UPA Government in future. The Left parties have increased 'road blocks' against the UPA and putting speed breakers by not supporting its policies, he added.

Terming that the UPA had become DPA (Divided Progressive Alliance (DPA), he said the UPA Government was surviving with the 'blind support' of the Left parties at the cost of people in the country.

Stating that the CMP has become as Minimum Common Programme (MCP) and the Congress and Left parties were not concerned about the sufferings of the common people, Mr Naidu said and added that the Left parties were making 'noise' at the Centre after their recent Assembly elections victories in West Bengal and Kerala. (UNI)

Two die in police custody, officer suspended

SAMASTIPUR, BIHAR, June 16: Two men arrested in connection with the abduction of a trader's son today died in police custody in this district, triggering angry protests that forced authorities to suspend a police officer and order a probe into the incident.

The two men -- Ramjatan Ram and Rajesh Kumar Singh -- died in "mysterious circumstances" in Shahpur police station with clothes found tied around their throats, official sources said.

As news of their death spread, hundreds of villagers gathered outside the police station and shouted slogans against police officials, accusing them of "killing" the two men in the lock-up.

B K Mishra, the officer in-charge of the police station who was suspended, rubbished the charge and claimed the duo had committed suicide in the lock-up.

Ram and Singh were among five persons who were taken into custody from Harpur Bhindi for interrogation after the kidnapping of Alok, the five-year-old son of textile trader Devendra Sah, on June 13.

The agitated villagers marched to the District Collectorate, carrying the bodies of the two men, and blocked the road for several hours.

The blockade was lifted after District Magistrate M P Singh announced the Superintendent of Police had suspended Mishra and an FIR had been registered against him.

Singh also ordered a magisterial inquiry into the deaths. (PTI)