BJP accuses Centre of being unfair to Punjab

PHAGWARA, Sept 30 : Former BJP president and former Punjab Food and Supplies Minister Madan Mohan Mittal today accused the Congress-led UPA Government of ignoring the interests of the state.

Citing the Centre’s Rs 16,978.69 crore "rehabilitation package" for farmers in suicide-prone districts of Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka, the BJP leader lamented that despite being a Punjabi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh completely ignored the state.

The BJP leader said at a news conference here that Congress was adopting anti-people, anti-farmers policies. He alleged that crore of rupees were spent on the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently, but neither did the PM show interest in the welfare of the state’s people during his two-day tour nor did he bother about Punjab’s farmers during the Union Cabinet meeting.

Mr Mittal also charged Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh with failing to represent the case of Punjab properly.

Mr Mittal said farmers, traders, industrialists, employees, teachers and dalits were crying for welfare measures but the Government had so far extended only empty promises.

Because of problems like rising price of essential commodities, widespread corruption in almost all Government Departments and the anti-people policies of the Congress the public was eagerly waiting for the return of SAD-BJP regime, he claimed.

Replying to a query, Mr Mittal denied the media reports about friction between SAD and BJP and asserted that the alliance was as strong as rock. (UNI)

Advani asks Govt to intervene in UNI takeover issue

NEW DELHI, Sept 30: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L K Advani today asked the Government and stakeholders to find a solution to retain the independent and impartial character of the United News of India (UNI) following a stay by Delhi High Court on transfer of the bulk of its shares to a private media group.

Mr Advani’s remarks came when a five-member delegation of the Joint Action Committee of UNI employees called on him at his official residence this morning.

"The Government and the news agency management and employees should use the interlude after the court stay for arriving at an acceptable solution," the former Deputy Prime Minister said.

The delegation impressed upon appraised the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha the ‘’urgent need" on the part of the Government to intervene to stop the sale of majority shares of the news agency to the Zee Group.

During the nearly 45-minute meeting, Mr Advani suggested creation of a mechanism to ensure that the independent character of the news organisation and the interests of nearly 1,000 employees were not adversely affected.

Sharing Mr Advani’s concern, the delegation asserted that this objective could be achieved only if the control of the news agency did not go to any individual or a group of individuals.

The delegation told upon Mr Advani that the Rs 4 crore loss presently incurred by the news agency was "artificial" and only six years ago UNI had a surplus of Rs 30 crore, which was "siphoned off" to create a case for sale.

The current loss could be made up if Public Broadcaster Prasar Bharti streamlined and modestly revised its subscription rates, it said.

The Government could also bring the news agency at par with the Press Trust of India in terms of giving Ministry of External Affairs projects for dissemination of news and building India’s image abroad, the delegation said.

The Government could also consider a one-time liberal revival package for the news agency, the delegation told Mr Advani.

The delegation also made a strong case for representation of employees on the Board of Directors of the news agency and converting UNI into a full-fledged trust.

Hearing a complaint from Bhopal-based newspaper group Sandhya Prakash Limited, the Delhi High Court yesterday asked UNI to maintain status quo till October 5 and restrained it from selling shares to any company or individuals. (UNI)

Mumbai blast accomplice arrested

KOLKATA, Sept 30: The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a member of Lashker-e-Taiba from the city in connection with the 7/11 serial blasts in Mumbai bringing in the dragnet altogether four suspects over the past 72 hours.

According to highly placed sources, Mohammad Majid arrested by an ATS team from Rajabazar, in the centre of the city, on Thursday night under the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) was immediately taken to Mumbai.

Besides, three other people— Mohammad Sajid Ansari, Mohammad Vaiudduin and Mohammad Safi were arrested in Mumbai yesterday.

All of them were produced in the court and had been remanded to police custody till October 13.

Earlier, nine others were arrested in connection with the incident which claimed more than 200 lives.

The sources said Majid, a shoe businessman, was a member of the sleeper cell of Lashker-e-Taiba and had been arrested for providing logistic support to five LeT members, allegedly involved in the blasts.

ATS stumbled on to the trail of Majid following interrogation of those arrested earlier.

Majid had allegedly provided shelter to Zaibuddin Ansari, one of the key accused in the Mumbai blast here in Rajabazar area and had helped him to escape to Bangladesh.

The sources said Majid was a frequent visitor to Bangladesh in connection with his business. (UNI)

Dilapidated manas being renovated
for ayurvedic treatments

KOCHI, Sept 30: Blending the modern and traditional, dilapidated manas and tharavads (traditional homes) in Kerala are being renovated to suit the tastes of tourists and packaged with ayurvedic treatments.

The 500 year-old Poomully Mana at Peringode in Kerala’s Palakaad district has been renovated and is being used as a heritage ayurvedic treatment centre with all facilities to suit modern lifestyles without losing sight of traditional values.

All the traditional ayurvedic treatments are administered in the special ‘Poomully way’ which follows the texts and documents of the ancient sages, says Sajeev Kurup, president and CEO of the ‘Ayurveda Mana’, which has been showcased at the Kerala Travel Mart (KTM).

A variety of treatments for panchkarma, beauty care, weight loss, arthritis, spondylitis, slip disc, backache, sports injuries and various other skin diseases and diabetes are all avaiable here, Kurup said.

Treatments for cancer, infertility, arthritis and rheumatism are also available.

Among the facilities are 12 heritage rooms with antique furniture, expert ayurvedic physicians and an ayurveda diet menu prepared at the mana and yoga rooms.

Kurup, who had signed a JV with the Aram Thampuran family, said he had renovated the ancient Mana at an estimated cost of Rs 50 lakh. They were also looking at other such heritage properties.

The herbal plants used for various treatments are grown at the Mana farm itself.

The three-storeyed mana has eight rooms and 12 treatment rooms. It has a restaurant with dining facilities for 16 persons.

Kurup said they were also looking at the 160-year-old Kurungad Mana for developing it to a ayurvedic heritage centre.

Poomully Neelakandan Namboodiripad, renowned as Aram Thampuran, was a legend in his lifetime. He was an authority in the diverse disciplines of ayurveda, Kalarippayat (martial art), yoga and other performing arts.

Aram Thampuran of Poomully Mana became the last word in ayurveda treatment. (PTI)

Housing scheme has benefitted 22,000
poor families: PUDU CM

PUDUCHERRY, Sept 30: Puducherry Chief Minister N Rangasamy has said that the Perunthalaiver Kamarajar Housing Scheme launched on the occasion of the birth centenary celebrations of the late leader, a few years ago, has benefitted 22,000 poor families in the Union Territory.

Under the scheme, huts were replaced by concrete houses, Rangasamy said while addressing a meeting organised by Pondicherry State Agricultural Workers Union here today.

The Chief Minister said the Government was keen on addressing the issues of the poor and havenots. The officially constituted committee would soon present its report to the Government on the modalities the Government should adopt to provide monthly assistance to the educated unemployed youth.

Once the report was available, the allowance would be extended by the Government. Rangasamy said that the cooperative spinning mills(spinco) has been sanctioned Rs 42 crores for its expansion and developmental programmes.

The free colour television sets to poor families would be distributed soon.

Among those who spoke on the occasion included the Tamil Nadu CPI leader R Nallakannu, secretary of the Pondicherry state CPI committee N Kalainathan, party legislator R Viswanathan and president of the farm labourers union V S Abishegam.

The occasion was also marked the memorial day of veteran farm labourers’ leader B Srinivasa Rao. (UNI)

East India Company being billed for electricity!

KENDRAPARA, Sept 30: The British might have left the country long ago, but one of its establishments managed to thrive till recently on official records at least, in this coastal Orissa district.

A warehouse owned by the erstwhile East India Company at Danpur village on the outskirts of this town that continued to be on the list of the local power distribution company, CESU, and was marked a "chronic defaulter."

"The British warehouse was probably drawing electricity more than few decades before the country’s Independence," N K Mishra, Sub-Divisional Officer (Commerce) of CESU said.

"It is one of the few structures which was electrified by the Britishers much before others enjoyed the luxury of electricity," Mishra said.

"We were surprised to detect the name of the company in the official list of defaulters. We made spot verification but failed to locate the warehouse."

"It was a mistake that it continued on the list of consumers till its deletion earlier this week," he said.

Outstanding arrears against the warehouse were listed as Rs 68,902.

Purushottam Nayak, president of the Orissa Freedom Fighters’ Association, said Danpur then was a prominent navigation centre and commercial hub."

Nayak, a former MLA from Kendrapara, said the British warehouse had gloriuous past as far as maritime trade was concerned.

"The building collapsed a few years after Independence with declining trade coupled with lack of maintenance," he recalled. (PTI)

Woman arrested for cheating bank of Rs 80 lakh

BANGALORE, Sept 30: City police today arrested a 35-year old woman on charges of cheating a bank of Rs 80 lakh.

Police said that Drakshayani from Basaveshwaranagar had cheated ICICI Bank in the city of the cash by producing fake documents.

They said that the accused was arrested when she tried to raise a loan of Rs 40 lakh for a second time.

They said she had taken a loan of Rs 45 lakh earlier by producing fake documents.

Police arrested her following the complaint lodged by the bank officials. (UNI)

‘Caring’ Govt to introduce in LS a bill to protect elders

NEW DELHI, Sept 30: Government is likely to introduce in the coming winter session of Parliament a comprehensive legislation aimed at ensuring maintenance, care and protection for senior citizens.

Protecting elders is one of the thrust areas of the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry, whose salient features included providing them maintenance, housing, clothing and companionship expected to be given by their families.

For providing maintenance to elderly, sources said, the bill proposes setting up of tribunals headed by officers of the rank of Sub-Divisional Officer (civil).

"The tribunals will consider and dispose of claims of parents for maintenance from their children in a time-bound manner," they said adding that lawyers would be barred from participating in the proceedings of the tribunals.

A District Magistrate would be the appellate authority and only one appeal would be allowed, they added.

Providing better medical facilities to senior citizens, protection for their life and property and setting up old age homes in each district for the destitute older persons are other important provisions of the proposed legislation.

Tomorrow is the international day for elderly persons.

Besides, the sources said, other ministries and departments concerned with the welfare of senior citizens are offering many concessions for their welfare at the behest of the Social Justice and Empowerment Ministry.

The Finance Ministry is granting Income Tax rebate, higher rates of interest on saving schemes and introduced a senior citizens saving scheme offering 9 per cent per annum interest rate on deposites of senior citizens in post offices.

Under Antyodaya Scheme of Consumer Affairs Ministry, below poverty line families, which have elderly persons, are provided 35 kg foodgrains per family every month.

Rice is sold to these families at Rs three per kg and wheat at Rs two per kg, they said adding that those above the age of 60 from BPL category were given priority during the identification process.

Under Annapoorna Scheme Under Implementation by the state/UTs, 10 kg foodgrains per beneficiary every month are provided free of cost to senior citizens who are not covered under the old age pension scheme.

They said that instructions to State Governments to give priority to ration card holders above 60 years of age in fair price shops for issuance of ration.

Under the national old age pension scheme of the Ministry of Rural Development, various states/UTs give monthly pension at a premium rate of Rs 200 to the destitute old, the sources said. (PTI)

SC clears deck for release of ‘Black Friday’

NEW DELHI, Sept 30: The controversial film "Black Friday", based on 1993 Mumbai bomb blast, will now be screened across the country as the Supreme Court has given a go ahead to its release.

A bench comprising Justice B P Singh and Justice Altamas Kabir permitted the release of the film with the rider that it would not be shown till the ongoing pronouncement of the judgement gets completed by TADA court in Mumbai.

However, the court clarified that the producer can go with the release of the film without waiting for the pronouncement of quantum of sentence against the convicts.

The order which came on a petition filed by the producer of the film, mid day multimedia, was pending before the court for almost one and half year.

The producer had challenged the Bombay High Court order staying the screening of the film untill the judgment in the case was finally delivered.

Mustafa Moosa Tarani, one of the accused, now convicted by the TADA court, had objected to the screening of the film pending trial contending that it may cause prejudice against him and could have adverse impact on the Judge trying the case.

The film is based on the book written by S Hussein Zaidi narrating the sequence of the events starting from three days before the blast till the case was finally investigated by the police. (PTI)

Dengue grips Delhi; 15 cases reported in AIIMS

NEW DELHI, Sept 30: Dengue outbreak in the national capital appears to have assumed dangerous proportions, with as many as 15 cases, including seven of resident doctors and medical students, reported from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) campus alone.

As many as 22-25 cases of dengue are being reported everyday, a senior MCD official said.

Five other staff members were were also suffering from dengue on the AIIMS campus and these cases were reported in the last four to five days, Hospital’s Medical Superintendent B K Sharma said.

Raj Kiran, a seventh semester medical student whose condition is critical has been kept in the ICU, he said.

Three other patients are relatives of AIIMS staff, he added.

AIIMS authorities have begun a drive to check all coolers in the hospital premises. Water left in coolers at the end of summers helps aedes mosquito, the dengue vector, breed.

Delhi is witnessing a spurt in dengue cases, with 327 persons reported to be suffering from the disease till September 24 this year, nine of which have proved fatal. (PTI)

Ex-Army Vice Chief to head HPPSC

SHIMLA, Sept 30: Former Vice Chief of Army B S Thakur has been appointed Chairman of the Himachal Pradesh Public Service Commission.

An official notification issued today said Thakur has been appointed to succeed Arvind Kaul whose term expired on September 27.

He is likely to take oath on October 5.

Commissioned in June 1965, Thakur retired as Vice Chief of Army on September 30 last year. (PTI)

UP regime of capitalists and musclemen will go: V P Singh

BARABANKI, Sept 30: Former Prime Minister and Jan Morcha leader V P Singh today said the ruling dispensation of "capitalists and musclemen" in Uttar Pradesh would be replaced by a Government of farmers and labourers in the 2007 Assembly polls.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr Singh alleged that criminals and capitalists were ruling in the state. "This regime would soon come to an end."

Pressing for a change in the law governing land acquisition, he assured if Jan Morcha formed the next Government, the law would be abolished.

"A bill that bans aquisition of farmers’ land should be introducted in the next session of Parliament," Mr Singh demanded.

He also reiterated his demand that the State Government should reduce reduced the 22.5 per cent cess on diesel to 6 per cent.

"Only Jan Morcha is fighting for the casue of farmers."

Replying to a question, the former Prime Minister observed clemency to Mohd Afzal Guru — awarded capital punishment in the 2001 Parliament attack case — was the sole prerogative of the President. (UNI)