Advani to inaugurate Maan irrigation project in MP

INDORE, Oct 4: Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, L K Advani, will inaugurate Maan irrigation project at Zirabad village in tribal-dominated Dhar district of Madhya Pradesh tomorrow.

The Rs 176.75 crore project on Mann, a tributary of Narmada, is expected to ensure round-the-year irrigation of 19,200 hectares of land in otherwise drought-prone area, officials said here today.

The reservoir of the 297.65 metre high dam will be spread over 11.1 square kms encouraging the growth of the fisheries industry, they added.

On the other hand, Dhar's Congress MLA Karan Singh Pawar and district party president Mujeeb Qureshi questioned the "re-inauguration" of the dam since, they claimed, it had already been inaugurated by the then deputy chief minister Subhash Yadav.

However, officials of Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA), which constructed the dam, said Yadav had only inaugurated canal network during Congress rule and not the dam. (PTI)

Badal flays Amarinder

HOSHIARPUR, Oct 4: After meeting the President today, the SAD-BJP MPs of Punjab alongwith Arun Jatley, former Union Law Ministrer, would meet Dr Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister, for seeking CBI inquiry in all the so called mega projects of the state Government through which various Ministers of Punjab including Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh have allegedly amassed crores of rupees. Parkash Singh Badal, former Chief Minister and SAD Chief said today.

In case, the President and the Prime Minister failed in executing their demand of CBI inquiry, the SAD-BJP wouold file a public interest litigation (PIL) in the court, he tld reporters here.

Besides, a mass dharna would also be staged at Matka Chowk, Chandigarh, jointly be SAD and BJP workers on October 15,2006, for showing their resentment against the failure of the Prime Minister for announcing any package to Punjab during his recent visit in state and to pressurize the Government for constituting CBI inquiry into all the scams of so called mega projects including Ludhiana City Centre scam of Rs 2100 crore.

Rferring to the recent visit of Prime Ministrer to Punjab, Badal said that though Dr Manmohan Singh was belonging to Punjab, but being a Congressman he had not provided any package deal to Punjab for boosting its economy and to benefit state farmers who were heavily indebted of Rs 24000 crore.

He said that the Congress Government in Centre had always showed disparity with Punjab. Two non-congress Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and Atal Behari Vajpayee had extended complete financial assistance to it for waiving its Central government loan and for setting up various industrial units and power generation project.

All the ongoing projects including rail link between Ludhiana-Chandigarh, converting Raja Sansi Airport into international status, completion of Thein Dam project and installation of refinery at Bhatinda etc had been sanctioned during the regime of NDA government.

Referring to the recent consitution of State Vigilance Commission and appointing retired Justice Amar Dutt as its Chairman by the state government, Badal sadi that the latter was a well known friend of Capt Amarinder Singh. His appointment was done to sidetrack the cases of scams to be got registered by the coming government of SAD-BJP after the forthcoming election of state assembly.

He said that such appointments could be quashed by the newly elected Government.

Badal said that he was holding public meeting throughout state and would cover all 117 constituencies of state assembly before the announcement of election.

He would contest the election from his old Lambi constituency. Party tickets would be provided to almost all sitting MLAs.

He made it clear that his son Sukhbir Singh Badal would not contest from any seat in these election. (PTI)

Alert to check dengue in Bihar

PATNA, Oct 4: Following reports of symptoms of dengue in some patients undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Biharsharif in Nalanda district, the Government today alerted the health machinery to prevent its spread.

Bihar Health commissioner Deepak Kumar said here that steps had been taken to check its spread. He said arrangements for treatment of the afflicted at all medical college hospitals had been made and facilities were being provided there for tests to detect the disease.

Mr Kumar said the health and urban development departments had decided to jointly launch public awareness campaign to inform the people about the preventive measures.

He said directives had been issued to clear heaps of garbage lying around and pump out water clogged in ditches and on roads, lanes and other residential areas. "People have been advised to use mosquito nets and they should keep their surroundings clean," he added.

Mr Kumar said pesticides were being sprinkled in water logged areas.

According to reports from Biharsharif, two people undergoing treatment at a private hospital had symptoms of dengue while another case was confirmed. Dr Sujeet Kumar said 40-year-old Suresh Prasad was ill for the last 20 days and dengue was confirmed after necessary tests. The blood samples of two other patients had also been sent for the test. (UNI)

India worst performer on Transparency Bribe Payers Index

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: In a global recognition of a different kind, India has been ranked as the worst performer by Transparency International on its global Bribe Payers Index, which is based on the propensity of companies from the world’s 30 leading exporting countries in bribing abroad.

The international corruption watchdog today said overseas bribery is still common among the world’s export giants despite the existence of international anti-bribery laws, while companies from emerging export powers-India, China and Russia are the worst performers.

India has been ranked at the 30^{th position in the Transparency International 2006 Bribe Payers Index (BPI), with a score of 4.62. A score of 10 indicates a perception of no corruption, while zero means corruption is seen as rampant.}

^{Switzerland has been ranked at the top slot with a score of 7.81, followed by Sweden, Australia, Austria and Canada at the top five positions on the index. The US and UK have been ranked at 10th and sixth positions respectively.}

^{Transparency International said Switzerland has managed a leading score of only 7.8, which is far from perfect. This indicates there might be variations here but there are no real winners, it added.}

^{According to the report, businesses from India, China and Russia, who are at the bottom of the index, have the most propensity to pay bribes.}

^{This year’s BPI data shows that leading exporters are undermining the development with their dirty business practices overseas, while the foreign bribery by emerging export powers is "disconcertingly high".}

^{Companies from the wealthiest countries have been ranked in the top half, but they still routinely pay bribes, particularly in developing economies, it added.}

^{"In the case of China and other emerging export powers, efforts to strengthen domestic anti-corruption activities have failed to extend abroad," the report said.}

^{"Bribing companies are actively undermining the best efforts of Governments in developing nations to improve governance, and thereby driving the vicious cycle of poverty," said Transparency International Chairwoman Huguette Labelle.}

^{"It is hypocritical that Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)-based companies continue to bribe across the globe, while their governments pay lip-service to enforcing the law," Transparency International CEO David Nussbaum said.}

^{"The enforcement record on international anti-bribery laws makes for short and disheartening reading," he added.}

^{"Domestic legislation has been introduced in many countries following the adoption of the UN and OECD anti-corruption conventions, but there are still major problems of implementation and enforcement," he added.}

^{The index has been prepared on the basis of responses of more than 11,000 business people in 125 countries polled in the World Economic Forum’s Executive Opinion Survey 2006.}

^{The watchdog said India consistently scores worst across most regions and sub-groupings, while China is the world’s fourth largest exporter and ranks second to last in the Index.}

^{Transparency International Chairwoman said, "With growing influence comes a greater responsibility that should constitute an opportunity for good."}

^{"This is the right time for Russia, China and India to commit to the provisions of the OECD Convention against Bribery and contribute to the vitality of tomorrow’s markets. In doing so they will become part of the effort to make corruption history."}

^{In Asia, strong domestic anti-corruption measures at home are not consistently translating into responsible business practices abroad, especially for Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan. They are assessed significantly worse by respondents from non-OECD countries - the same divide is evident for the United Arab Emirates - indicating a sharp double standard in business practices.}

^{The survey found out it is the subsidiary companies of multinationals that are being ranked by many of the respondents of this survey.}

^{"However, the companies must be ready to take responsibility for actions along their supply chains," Transparency International Board Member Jermyn Brooks said.}

^{"MNCs cannot be absolved of the corrupt activities of their foreign branches, subsidiaries or agents, and they must conduct due diligence before engaging with joint venture or alliance partners. The purchasing, export, and marketing and sales departments remain the business functions most vulnerable to bribery and corruption," Brooks added.}

^{Progress has been made with the adoption of the OECD Anti- Bribery Convention, but this progress would be undermined as long as major players such as China, India and Russia remain outside the framework, the report said.}

^{China, India and Russia should voluntarily adopt the provisions of the OECD Anti-Bribery Convention, it said. (PTI)}

Chouhan meets Vajpayee and BJP leaders
to discuss MP nominees

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan met top BJP leaders at the residence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee ahead of the selection of party nominees for Vidisha Lok Sabha and Bada Malhera Assembly constituency.

The meeting lasting over one-and-a-half-hour was attended by Leader of Opposition L K Advani BJP President Rajnath Singh is understood to have been discussed the candidates to be fielded for the October 30 byelections. The sudden summons for Mr Singh does not auger well for Mr Chouhan who is inclined to get the nomination for his wife while the party elders are in favour of launching Varun Gandhi or senior BJP leader Sushma Swaraj.

The party is worried about the possibility of facing former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and Bharatiya Janshakti Party leader Uma Bharti and wants to retain the seat at all costs. Vacancy in Vidisha is caused by the quitting of the seat by Mr Chouhan while Ms Bharti had quit her Bada Malhera seat. The BJP is fairly certain that Ms Bharti is contesting from Vidisha although she has not made the announcement so far.

Sources said the meeting was convened to send in the message to everybody concerned that none could take things for granted till the party finalises its decision on October six. (UNI)

Nearly 600 cases reported so far in country: Ramdoss

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Nearly 600 cases of dengue have been reported so far in the country, of which a majority of cases are from the national capital, Union Health Minister Anbumani Ramdoss said today.

Thirty deaths have been reported in the country, including 12 in Delhi.

"There have been 589 dengue cases in the country. In Delhi 352 cases were reported while 237 are from other states," he told reporters here after releasing a national report on street food survey.

Nearly, 131 dengue cases have been reported from Uttar Pradesh, 52 cases from Haryana and nine in Rajasthan.

The minister claimed there is no epidemic and no need for panic.

"There is no need to panic and harbour apprehensions. We have a problem and it is a matter of concern. It is not an epidemic. We need to create mass awaressness and for that we need public participation. We have roped in school children and the Indian Medical Association for the purpose," he said.

There is enough blood and platelets to meet the demand, Ramadoss said and added that the authorities cannot check each and every house to prevent breeding of Aedes mosquito.

The minister said NDMC and MCD were doing a good job in checking mosquito breeding in Delhi.

The Health Minister said he has asked All India Institute of Medical Sciences to fix responsiblity on officials who failed to prevent the spread of dengue on the campus.

"I sent a letter yesterday to AIIMS and I am expecting a response for them very soon," Ramdoss said.

A seventh semester AIIMS student, Kamal Raj Kiran, died last week due to dengue.

"We are working in a systematic manner to combat the viral disease," he said.

The minister said construction work in Delhi, especially in and around AIIMS, has led to the present situation. (PTI)

Garib Rath takes no-frills airlines, Rajdhanis headlong

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Picking up the gauntlet from the low-budget airlines, the Railway Ministry today announced that the fare for the Saharsa-Amritsar Garib Rath, the first-of-its-kind fully airconditioned train for the common man, will be 50 per cent less, not 25 per cent, as compared to a normal three-tier AC train.

The ministry also exuded confidence that Garib Rath trains would earn Rs 2.5 lakh more per trip than a Rajdhani train.

"In the Railway Budget 2005-06, it was announced that the fare for Garib Rath trains would be 25 per cent less as compared to a normal three-tier AC train. We have taken a bold step, based on sound economics, to reduce it by 50 per cent," Mr Sudhir Kumar, OSD to Railway Minister Lalu Prasad, told reporters here.

Mr Prasad flagged off the first Amritsar-Saharsa Garib Rath at Saharsa, once his parliamentary constituency in Bihar, this morning.

The fare for Saharsa-Amritsar in Garib Rath train will be Rs 695 (Rs 580 base fare and Rs 115 as other charges like safety surcharge, reservation harge and suferfast charge) as compared to Rs 1279 (Rs 1164 base fare and Rs 115 as other charges) for a three-tier travel in a normal AC train.

For AC chair car in Garib Rath, the fare will be Rs 595 as compared to Rs 905 in a normal AC train, less by 45 per cent.

"This is our challenge to low budget airlines like Air Deccan that have taken away our AC three-tier travellers," Mr Kumar said.

"We hope to turn the economics on its head by increasing the volume of passengers in Garib rath trains," he pointed out.

The introductory Garib Rath train has altogether 18 coaches, comprising 12 sleeper coaches, four chair cars and two generator cars. Which will supply power for the air-conditioning system.

It has 75 berths in sleeper coach as against 64 in the normal AC three-tier coaches. In chair cars, the number of seats has been augmented from 72 seats to 104.

"A full-capacity Garib Rath can carry 1828 passengers as against 799 in a Rajdhani train which has normally 17 coaches, including a pantry car and two power cars," Mr Kumar said.

"This is a win-win situation both for the Railways, because it will earn more, and for the passengers, who can now travel in AC comfort by shelling out Rs 130 more for a non-AC sleeper class."

Pointing out that seven lakh passengers travelled in non-Ac sleeper class daily, he said the basic objective behind the launch of a Garib Rath train was to provide air-conditioned comfort this segment of passengers.

Mr Kumar said long distance mail and express traisn were incurring an annual loss of Rs 2000 crore. "If Garib Rath experiment becomes successful-and we are quite confident about it-we will turn the economics of train travel on its head. By reducing the fare, we intend to make profits, a proposition which was difficult to think three-four years ago."

Apart from its maiden run from Saharsa (Bihar) to Amritsar, the Garib Rath will also be run on three other routes-Nizammuddin-Patna, Nizammuddin-Bandra (Mumbai) and Nizammuddin-Chennai.

"We hope to introduce the three remaining Garib Rath trains before the introduction of next year’s Railway Budget," he said. (UNI)

Two kidnapped girls recovered

SONEPAT, Oct 4: With the arrests of a dreaded criminal and his wife, the police have recovered two minor girls allegedly kidnapped while they were returning to their homes from thier school on September 4 last in this city.

Superintendent of police Yoginder Nehra told mediapersons here today that the arrested criminal was identified as Rajesh and his wife Parveen and girls recovered were both sisters of Anil Vihar of this city.

After the kidnapping, both the girls were taken to Rathivas village in Gurgaon district where one of them was allegedly raped by the culprit.

Thereafter, both the girls were taken to Pilibhit, Nanital and Hardwar and kept there in various hotels by the culprit.

Both the girls were also taken to Balaji, a holy shrine in Rajasthan were they were kept in a Dharamshala.

Whenever, the girls resisted they were threatened with dire consequences by the culprit.

Nehra further disclosed that earlier cases of murder, loot and dacoity had been registered against the culprit Rajesh in Sampla, Narnaund and Rohtak police stations.

Both the culprints Rajesh and his wife were produced before the Judicial magistrate of Sonepat Davinder Yadav who remanded Rajesh in police custody for seven days whereas parveen was sent to the Rahtak jail.

Both the recovered sisters were taken to the local civil hospital for medical examination.

Giving the details of the arrests and recovery of the girls, he disclosed that the police got a secret information about the suspects and the girls and the police conducted a surprise raid at Bilaspur chowk along the National Highway at Gurgaon and nabbed the culprits and recovered the girls from their possession. (PTI)

PM’s grandson in AIIMS with suspected dengue

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s grandson, Rohan, has been admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences for treatment of suspected dengue.

Rohan was admitted to the AIIMS last evening, hospital sources said.

They said he was undergoing medical tests, one of which has turned out to be "dengue negative." (PTI)

Mamata faces political dilution as Left comes out stronger

KOLKATA, Oct 4: Once the firebrand opposition in West Bengal, Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee’s absence in today’s All Party meet, convened by chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee, reflects the political void in her camp to take up a cause.

The all party meet which has virtually given the green signal to the Tata’s Singur project has not only marginalised Trinamool Congress, but also left the main opposition party with little option but to fall in line.

The Congress have also put forward certain clauses, that the chief minister has agreed to fulfil, but failed to stop the handover of the land to Tata Motors by this December. As a result in actual term it would mean that the industrial giant is not withdrawing from the state.

"The Congress wanted an Agricultural Commission and a comprehensive plan on the general state of agricultural land and the government is already working on it," state Industry Minister Nirupam Sen told reporters after the meeting.

So what had begun as a political struggle to allegedly protect the multi crop land at Singur has trickled down to a protest against the attack on the Trinamool activists on September 25.

"The main opposition should understand that industrial development in the state will receive a death blow if the project does not materialise. It was unfortunate that they did not attend the meeting, but hopefully they will understand the importance," Sen said.

Mr Bhattacharjee had held out an olive branch calling an all-party meeting to discuss the misgivings of Opposition parties over the setting up of the proposed small car manufacturing plant by Tata Motors at Singur in Hooghly district.

Trinamool Congress will certainly not be wanting to associate themselves with Tata retreating from Bengal and being a blockade in the industrial progress of the state. At the same time ‘Didi’, as Ms Banerjeee is popularly called, and her close aides need an honourable excuse to beat a hasty retreat.

The Congress, showing political maturity, attended the meeting even as Trinamool leadership maintained the status quo. (UNI)

Indian Navy to increase fleet strength

KOCHI, Oct 4: The Indian Navy will increase its fleet strength by acquiring several ships, submarines and aircraft besides developing infrastructure to ensure that by the end of the decade it would be a force to reckon with, Chief of Naval Staff, Admiral Arun Prakash, said today.

Addressing the Naval personnel here after inspecting a 50-man ‘Nishan Guard’ (Guard of Honour with the President’s colours) and the 36 platoons on parade, he said what was significant was that most of these acquisitions would have about 90 percent indigenous component.

He also spoke on the ‘Networking of the Navy’ which will facilitate all naval units to share information using Computer and Satellite once the project is completed.

The Naval chief also spoke about the various threats at sea like piracy, gun running and the need for the Navy to be strong and powerful to counter such threats.

Earlier,arriving for the parade after laying a wreath at the war memorial, he was received by Vice Admiral J S Bedi, Flag officre Commanding in Chief Southern Naval command.

Admiral Arun Prakash, who was on a two-day farewell visit to Kochi, later left for Mumbai along with his wife, Kumkum Prakash.

The parade ground reverberated with three ‘Jai’s for Admiral Arun Prakash by those on parade which was a deviation from the laid down practice. (PTI)

SAD, BJP seek Kalam’s intervention for farmers’ relief

NEW DELHI, Oct 4: Shiromani Akali Dal-BJP combine today accused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of neglecting farmers’ issues in Punjab and sought immediate intervention of President A P J Abdul Kalam so that relief could be provided to them without any delay.

A SAD-BJP delegation comprising Akali Dal Secretary General S S Dhindsa and BJP leaders Arun Jaitley and Navjot Singh Sidhu called on the President to draw his attention to "the dangerous and continued neglect of state farmers, both by national policy makers and the State Government, as shown in the exclusion of Punjab from Rs 17000 crore package announced by the Centre for farmers of four states".

"It was a cruel joke when he visited Punjab he did not announce anything for the people of the state," Dhindsa told reporters after meeting the President.

A memorandum submitted by the two parties said Punjab was in the grip of a major crisis in the farm economy, ridden with reports of alarming rise in the incidents of farmers’ suicides. Despite this, the state had been left out of the Rs 16,978 crore relief package announced by the Centre for farmers of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Karnataka.

Blaming the State Government, especially the Chief Minister, the memorandum said the exclusion of the state’s farmers from Rs 17000 crore package was also due to failure of Amarinder Singh to send the state’s case for consideration by the Union Government.

It sought presidential action to persuade the Centre to announce a major relief package for the state.

The two parties also sought Presidential intervention to get a CBI probe ordered into the Rs 2100 crore scam in the Ludhiana City Centre project in which the state Chief Minister is the "principal accused."

The memorandum also focused on growing cases of brutal police misconduct, including molestation of innocent girls in the state and said "Punjab is fast spiraling out of the orbit of civilised democracy."

On the issue of graft, the memorandum said corruption by persons chosen to be the custodians of state exchequer was eating into the body politic of the state. (PTI)