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Pakistan elections ‘largely fair’: US........

India Inc counters claims outsourcing causing US unemployment..........

No plans to quit, says Musharraf........

Budget should address women, farmers’ concerns: Sonia

RAE BARELI, UP, Feb 20: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi today hoped that Finance Minister P Chidambaram will address women and farmers’ concerns in the Budget 2008-09, to be presented on February 29.

"The Finance Minister will be presenting the Budget at the end of this month and I am sure he will keep the common man’s difficulties, especially faced by women and farmers in mind while preparing the Budget," Gandhi said at a Bank of Baroda’s function in her Parliamentary constituency.

While noting that 8-9 per cent economic growth rate was by no mean an achievement, she said real happiness will come when the common man’s difficulties are wiped off.

Health and eduction for all is key to achieving real happiness, the UPA Chairperson said.

At the PSU bank’s function to launch 1,000^{th
self help group in 151 krishak club,
Chidambaram said, "banks are not
doing a favour when they lend money to
you (farmers). Banks are discharging
their duty when they are lending
money."}

^{The
lending ratio in Rai Bareli and Sultanpur
district is 35 per cent at present and
will be increased to 50 per cent in the
next 12 months, he said.}

^{With
Central Statistical Organisation
projecting a slowdown in farm growth to
2.6 per cent this fiscal from 3.8 per
cent in 2006-07, the government is
expected to announce some measures to
address the issue faced by farmers and
the farm sector in the Budget.}

^{Recently,
a women delegation met the Finance
Minister asking him to address the
concerns of women left in lurch after
their farmer husbands commit suicide in
some parts of the country.}

^{They
also asked him to lay special emphasis on
softer loan for them, especially for
housing. (PTI)}

Girl students goes missing

SONEPAT, Feb 20: Three girl students studying in Class XI of a school are missing since Monday last and the police registered a case in this connection.

A complaint lodged with the police by the parents of the missing girls alleged that youths, including Chander of Kurar village and Surjeet of Dewru village, had lured the girls and taken away with them.

Police are still investigating into the case, but failed to achieve any breakthrough so far. (PTI)

Sonia Gandhi lays foundation stone of petroleum institute

JAIS, RAE Bareli, UP, Feb 20: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi today laid the foundation stone of Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology, being set up to create engineers capable of addressing nation’s energy needs.

RGIPT will have a governance structure and legal empowerment to grant degrees similar to that enjoyed by the IITs.

The institute will be set up at a total cost of Rs 435 crore in Rae Bareli, the parliamentary constituency represented by Sonia Gandhi. Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi was also present at the ceremony.

The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas piloted the enactment of the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Petroleum Technology (RGIPT) Act 2007 with a view to incorporate RGIPT as an ‘institute of national importance’, which will have a governance structure similar to that available to IITs.

RGIPT is envisaged to serve as the fountainhead for nurturing world-class technical human resources capable of serving as leaders and innovators of tomorrow in the field of petroleum technology, Petroleum Minister Murli Deora said at the function.

"India is the fifth largest consumer of energy globally, and to support the targeted growth of Indian economy, our energy needs are projected to grow by 40 per cent in the next five years," he said.

As per a study by PricewaterhouseCoopers, India would have a gap of 36,000 trained professionals in the petroleum sector by 2019 and the existing institutes would not be able to bridge it.

The proposed institute, which will start admitting students from academic year 2008-09, is expected to meet this shortfall to a significant extent.

Of the estimated cost, Rs 285 crore would come through budgetary support and Rs 150 crore from Oil Industry Development Board.

The total estimated recurring expenditure of Rs 260.58 crore would be met from the accrual of interest on Endowment Fund of Rs 250 crore, which will be created with contribution from public-sector oil companies, student fees, donations, institute’s earnings through research and development, consultancy, and placement.

The institute is envisaged to be self-sufficient and self-reliant by 2015-16, he said.

"The institute would have its campus at Jais. To start with, the programmes would commence from temporary campus," Deora said.

As an answer to its energy needs, India in 1999 introduced the New Exploration Licensing Policy, which has been progressively made attractive. The policy has evoked great enthusiasm among foreign firms as well as Indian private and public sector companies for acquiring exploration acreages in India.

As on date, only 30 per cent of the sedimentary basins in India has been explored. It is planned to increase the exploration coverage to an extent of 100 per cent by 2015. In this context, apart from technology, availability of adequate number of qualified personnel would be a prime requirement in the coming years.

Deora said the institute will commence admitting students from the academic year 2008-09. To start with, there will be two undergraduate courses, namely B Tech in Petroleum Production and Reservoir, and B Tech in Petroleum Refining. It will also have one MBA course on Petroleum Management.

The institute will become fully operational in 2015-16 and would have seven B Tech, six Integrated Masters Degrees, eight M Tech/MBA and 12 PGD and Ph D programmes. (PTI)

Cong hits back at Khanduri

DEHRADUN, Feb 20: Hitting back at Uttarakhand Chief Minister B C Khanduri for his charge of "discrimination" by the Centre against the state, Congress today alleged that his Government had "failed" to utilise the funds provided by the Union Government.

Ahead of Feb 24 Pauri Lok Sabha by-poll, the party today released a document, which claimed that during the previous Congress tenure, the size of annual plan increased annually at the rate of 48 per cent.

"But in the first year of BJP Government’s tenure, the annual increase has come down to only 9.28 per cent," state Congress President Yashpal Arya said at a press conference here quoting from the document.

Arya criticised the Government for "failing to utilise the budgetary allocations meant for different departments for the year 2007-08.

"The Government has only spent 25 per cent of its budget so far. We are unable to understand as to how it would spend the remaining amount in just over one month’s time," he said.

Claiming that the Centre was releasing funds in time to the state, Arya dismissed Khanduri’s "propaganda" last week in this regard as "false and baseless".

"By blaming the Centre, Khanduri is trying to hide his inability, inefficiency and incompetence," he said.

The lack of proper utlilisation of the central funds was reflecting on the overall development of the state, which, he alleged, had come to a "grinding halt".

The opposition party in its document also alleged that Khanduri made only 19 welfare announcements in his 11-month tenure and also stopped 1,252 schemes, which were announced by the previous Congress Government. (PTI)

School where India’s first CJ studied in dilapidated state

NURPUR, HP, Feb 19: Housed in the ancient Nurpur Fort, a Government school, which has country’s first Chief Justice Mehar Chand Mahajan on its roll, is in a ramshackle state as educational authorities and the ASI were engaged in a slugfest over the repair work.

The roof and walls of the Senior Secondary School, set up during pre-independence days, have developed cracks putting to risk lives of students and teachers.

"We have written to the ASI several times seeking its permission to carry out repair work, but no response has been received so far," Principal Nirmala Bharti said.

"A fresh request has been made to the ASI recently citing danger to lives of students studying in the school," she said.

Besides India’s first Chief Justice, Bakshi Tek Chand, a member of the Constitution Drafting Committee, and former Air Chief Marshal Suresh Chand are products of the school set up nearly 80 years ago.

The school is located in the Nurpur Fort built by Raja Jagat Singh. The Archaeological Survey of India is assigned to carry out maintenance work at the monument.

In the absence of permission from the ASI, the school authorities are unable to carry out repair of the dilapidated building, teachers said.

According to a 1992 notification, area up to 200 metres within the vicinity of the Fort was declared prohibited.

When contacted, Archaeological Department Superintendent (Shimla) K C Naryal said that since the school is located within the prohibited zone, no vertical or horizontal construction can be carried out without permission.

He said the department was bound by the Act.

Naryal said he has received a fresh request from the school authorities and has sent it to the head office in Delhi for necessary action.

Octogenarian Congress leader Sat Mahajan, who passed out from the school in 1943, alleged the ASI had posed problems from to time-to-time.

He said he got the requisite money sanctioned for setting up a laboratory in the school.

But, due to ASI’s opposition, the lab was constructed outside the school premises, Mahajan added.

Several former students say the school should be declared a heritage monument and the ASI should take responsibility of its maintenance. (PTI)

Salem’s former lawyer attempts suicide

MUMBAI, Feb 20: Extradited gangster Abu Salem’s former lawyer Pallavi Ashar allegedly attempted suicide by consuming sleeping pills at her residence in suburban Ghatkopar.

Ashar (41), who reportedly had an affair with Salem, took the step late last night, police said today.

She has been admitted at a nearby hospital and her statement is being recorded, a senior officer from the Ghatkopar police station said.

The exact reasons as to why the lawyer had tried to end her life were not immediately known, they said.

Ashar used to work under advocate Ashok Sarogi, who represented Salem in all the cases till early this year since the gangster’s extradition from Portugal in November 2005. (PTI)

19 Cong MLAs suspended from Chhattisgarh Assembly

RAIPUR, Feb 20: As many as 19 Congress MLAs, including Leader of Opposition Mahendra Karma, were suspended from the Chhattisgarh Assembly today for ‘violating’ House rules.

The Congress and NCP members attempted to move an adjournment motion on the Dantewada jailbreak incident, immediately after the Question Hour, stating that it was the biggest ever incident in the world where 300 inmates, including 105 naxalites had escaped on December 16.

The Opposition members accused the jail officials of laxity in security arrangements, resulting in the escape of 300 inmates of the district jail, and demanded the resignation of state Home and Jail Minister Ram Vichar Netam.

Netam said action had been taken against the erring officials and termed the allegations of the Opposition as "baseless".

Following this, the Chair asked the Opposition to put forth their arguments for acceptance of the motion.

However, they opposed it and pressed for discussion on the adjournment motion and not on its merit for acceptance. While raising anti-Government slogans, they entered the well of the House along with one NCP member Novel Verma.

Chhattisgarh House rule says that anyone entering the well of the House would be automatically suspended. Following this, Deputy Speaker Badirdhar Diwan suspended 19 Congress MLAs. (PTI)

Country’s first water tunnel to come up

MUMBAI, Feb 20: With a view to meet the growing demand of water and overcome the problem of its inequitable distribution, the BMC has begun work on the country’s first underground tunnel, from Malabar Hill to Cross Maidan in South Mumbai.

The Bhoomipuja ceremony for the project, took place yesterday in presence of Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray and Mayor Shubha Raul.

The tunnel, at a depth of 70-metre below the surface, is 3.6 km long will be complete by 2011. The cost of the project is Rs 157 crore as given under the JNNURM.

The project will benefit Kalbadevi, Dhobitalao, Thakurdwar, CST, Fort, Colaba, Nariman Point and Cuffe Parade areas in South Mumbai.

Currently, the BMC provides 3,350 mld water per day to the city’s 1.6 crore population. The real demand is for 4,200 mld of water.

Besides, the pipe lines in the South Mumbai are 100 years old and small in the diameter, which need to be replaced.

Mayor Shubha Raul said that presently, BMC faces 20-30 per cent of water leakage which is equal to the water supply of Pune city and the underground tunnel will prevent encroachments and water theft.

Also, there are other problems like contamination of water due to aging network and intermittent supply which peaks during monsoon. The average duration of water supply is from 20 minutes to four hours depending upon the areas.

This is also one step towards making a 24-hour water supply to the city possible, BMC Commissioner Jayraj Phatak said.

There are other three tunnels which are coming as a part of this project - the Gundwall-Bhandup Complex tunnel (17 km) costing Rs 800 crore; Maroshi-Ruparel (Matunga) tunnel (12 km) costing Rs 350 crore and Yerawall-Yari road (Andheri) tunnel (6.1 km) - costing Rs 250 crore. (PTI)

A Taj Mahal in Brussels?

NEW DELHI, Feb 20: Belgians will get a chance to see the Taj Mahal as the 17th century monument of love will be brought alive on sand by noted artist Sudarshan Patnaik, who says he wants to do it for French President Nicolas Sarkozy too.

Patnaik will create a replica of the Taj on sand as part of the Asia fair in Belgium.

"The replica will be exhibited for two days from February 23 at the community Centre De Zandloper in Wemmel in Brussels," Patnaik said from the Belgian capital.

"It will be a four-dimension replica, 10 ft high and 15 ft wide for which the work is currently underway. It will be ready on February 23," said Patnaik, who will use 30 tonnes of sand and will be assisted by co-artist Manas Kumar Sahoo in his endeavour.

The Orissa-based artist, who had so far participated in over 34 such sand sculpture events, said he has an ambition to create as many as 100 sand Taj Mahals across the globe.

"Recently French President Sarkozy visited the Taj and said `see you again’. I want to create it in Paris for him and the French people, if I get a chance."

He has already exhibited the replicas of the Shah Jahan-built structure in Berlin and New York during the incredible India at 60 festival.

The Asia fair is being organised in Belgium in coordination with the Indian embassy.

"Sand is a unique and soft medium, so people like to see this Taj Mahal for a few hours in their cities," he said.

Earlier Patnaik had created a black Taj Mahal at Agra on the occasion of 350 years of anniversary of the "monument of love." (PTI)

Pakistan elections ‘largely fair’: US

WASHINGTON, Feb 20: Terming the elections in Pakistan "largely fair", the US today said President Pervez Musharraf appeared to have put the country back on the "road to democracy" and hoped whichever party forms the government there would be no change in Islamabad’s anti-terror efforts.

Asked whether the elections in which Musharraf’s allies were routed have "weakened" his clout, White House spokesman Dana Perino only said, "well, we’ll have to see".

"I think that what we can say is that they (the polls) seem to have been largely fair and that people were able to express themselves, and that they can have confidence in their vote," she said in a briefing in Accra in Ghana as US President George W Bush arrived there on the fourth leg of his five-nation tour.

Noting that "President Musharraf’s party has conceded that they lost seats in that election", Perino said "now the next step on the path to democracy is establishing what that new Government will look like".

"In democracies you have situations sometimes where your party loses in the Parliament or in the Congress, as President Bush knows very well, since in 2006 the Republicans lost a majority in the House and the Senate. And we’ve continued to work as a strong, functioning Government... And I think a country like Pakistan can get there," she said when asked to comment on Musharraf’s "standing" in the aftermath of polls.

"We asked him (Musharraf) to try to get the country back on the road to democracy and it appears that he has done that with these elections," Perino said.

"I think what President Musharraf has shown is an ability to provide for the country a chance to be confident in their Government and confident in their democracy enough that they can go ahead and concede that they have lost seats, but continue to work together for the good of the country," Perino said.

In the State Department, deputy spokesman Tom Casey said "Pakistan has taken a step towards the full restoration of democracy," something the US wanted to see happen.

At a briefing later, spokesman Sean McCormack, as did his colleague with the travelling White House, refused to be drawn into any inferences for American foreign policy based on the developments in Pakistan or get into a debate on the possible gains and losses for Washington.

The officials said the US will look forward to working with Musharraf and "whatever Government flows from these elections" and expressed optimism that Pakistan will continue to be its "partners in counterterrorism" as that is only in the best interests of the country.

"Whatever the outcome, you have a number of different political parties that have, in one form or another, expressed a deep interest and abiding commitment to fighting violent extremists and fighting terrorists," McCormack said.

Referring to the Pakistan People’s Party, he said it "feels acutely threat from violent extremists and terrorism, having had their party leader recently assassinated. Other moderate forces within Pakistan’s political system have pledged to work against violent extremists".

He urged the "moderate forces" to work together for deepening Pakistan’s economic and political reforms and remain committed to "fighting violent extremists and terrorists in the region and on Pakistani soil".

"This is in the long-term interests of Pakistan and the Pakistani people," he added.

Perino, on her part, said "we hope that the new government, once it’s formed-whatever form that process takes-at the end of the day that we hope that they continue to help work with us as partners in counterterrorism."

"We are going to continue our work with President Musharraf and whatever that new Government may be on goals of our national interests. And we have a deep national interest in fighting violent extremists, breaking up those terrorist cells that may either operate from or from time to time operate from Pakistani territory," McCormack said.

"Fundamentally, regardless of who’s sitting in the Prime Minister’s chair or the foreign minister’s chair or the defence minister’s chair, primarily, that’s our interest, is remaining committed to the Pakistani people," he said.

On if the US would urge opposition parties to work with Musharraf, he said "We have and will continue to urge moderate political forces within Pakistan’s political system to work together to strengthen and broaden Pakistan’s democracy".

Emphasising that "any instances of fraud should be taken seriously and reported", the State Department spokesman said the US will also look to see what the electoral process looked like through the eyes of outside observers, but reiterated that "we will look forward to working with President Musharraf and whatever Government flows from these elections".

McCormack was asked to comment on a statement made by the leader of the PPP that the party is not interested in working with any member of the Musharraf Government.

"We’ll see. Again, let’s let Pakistani politics play out according to their rules and the results of the election. I would expect that there are going to be a lot of statements in the period of the next week, and even after that, a lot of political posturing. I’m not going to get drawn into it."

Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell meanwhile said the Defence Department has a relationship with the institutions of Pakistan, "rather than the individuals". (PTI)

India Inc counters claims outsourcing
causing US unemployment

CHICAGO, Feb 20: India Inc, which is facing the heat from US Presidential candidates who blamed ‘shipping jobs’ to China and India for rising US unemployment, has launched a counter-offensive here telling Americans that the industry is creating new work opportunities for them.

A full-page advertisement in the Chicago Tribune yesterday, by industry body FICCI and the Commerce Ministry, gives an elaborate account of how the legendary Tata Group, along with several others like Ranbaxy, Mahindra USA, Bharat Forge, ITC Kitchens of India and HCL America have created thousands of jobs in America by investing in different sectors of the US economy.

The FICCI ad insertion in the leading US paper coincided with Barack Obama, who is engaged in a tight race with Hillary Clinton for the Democratic Presidential nomination, making a strong pitch to Ohio’s blue-collar workers with a plan to reward American firms that do not ship jobs overseas.

"This is a six-month roll out before the Presidential elections. We will be talking to the US Congressmen and other opinion-makers about the positive impact of the increasing Indian investment in the US," Secretary General of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) Amit Mitra said.

The Tata Group that operates 16 companies in the US-from luxury hotels and beverage business to manufacturing, telecom and IT consulting-employs over 5,000 Americans.

Likewise, Ranbaxy is creating jobs and stimulating the economy in North Carolina, New Jersey and Florida, FICCI said.

"Where is the job loss? We are creating jobs for them," Washington-based Ranjan V Khanna, who heads the chamber in the US said.

At a lunch hosted by The Executive’ Club of Chicago, Rajinder Bedi, Managing Director, Office of Trade and Investment, State of Illinois, US, said the exports from Illinois alone to India have doubled in the last four years. "That way, you (India) have created jobs for the people of the Illinois state," Bedi said.

While outsourcing has become an election issue here, the US exports account for 40 per cent of the country’s GDP and are growing at 12 per cent per annum.

"Opening markets ultimately is the best thing we can do for the US economy," US Trade Representative, Susan Schwab said at the luncheon meeting in honour of Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath.

Expressing hope that a global trade deal under the Doha Round can be worked out within this year, Nath also raised concern over the unfolding the "protectionist" political environment. "I do hope that we complete the Round this year-end, especially with the domestic political situation becoming more protectionist," he said.

The counter-campaign by the Indian industry to the election slogan of ‘job-shipping’ also talks about how several American firms, which went down under and were even facing bankruptcy, have been revived by groups like Bharat Forge.

The Pune-based group had acquired in 2005 bankrupt Federal Forge, Inc in Lansing, Michigan and opened its plant without downsizing. "By stepping in and maintaining the Michigan plant, the newly-named Bharat Forge America protected the jobs of 150 skilled American auto workers-the jobs that otherwise would have been lost," the apex Indian chamber said.

Likewise, the Eight O’Clock Coffee firm acquired by Tata Coffee division for 220 million dollars in 2006 has been modernised and its manufacturing facility at Maryland is able to compete with big coffee players in the US market and abroad, it said. (PTI)

No plans to quit, says Musharraf

WASHINGTON, Feb 20: Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has said he is not planning to resign or retire despite his allies suffering a crushing defeat in the general election and asserted that he intends to stay in office to guide the democratic transition in the country.

A day after pro-Musharraf PML-Q was hammered at the hustings, the former military ruler told ‘The Wall Street Journal’ he is neither contemplating retirement nor resigning.

"No, not yet. We have to move forward in a way that we bring about a stable democratic Government to Pakistan," he said adding, he is even prepared to work with former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, who was accused by Musharraf at one time of trying to kill him.

"We are running a parliamentary system. The Government is run by the Prime Minister. The President has no mandate to share governing power with the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister runs the Government. The President has his own position but has no authority running the Government."

"The clash would be if the Prime Minister and President would be trying to get rid of each other. I only hope we would avoid these clashes," Musharraf maintained.

Musharraf also made it known that there was no possible way in which the sacked Chief Justice of the Pakistan Supreme Court and other deposed Judges could be brought back.

"Legally there’s no way this can be done. I can’t even imagine how this is doable," he said.

The Pakistani President said he has not met either Sharif, the chief of PML-N, or Asif Ali Zardari of the Pakistan People’s Party since the election.

"I’m not heading a political party. Let the political parties meet with each other and form a coalition," Musharraf said.

"f anyone thinks I can facilitate in a positive way for Pakistan, I would like to do it,"Musharraf said.

After the polls threw up a hung assembly, the PPP and PML-N, together having a majority to form a Government, began consultations yesterday for joining hands.

At a time when questions are being raised in Washington on the implications of the the election result on American foreign policy, especially as it related to the war on terror, Musharraf argued that relationships between two countries are not tied to individuals and it is in the interest of Pakistan to fight terrorism and extremism.

"I don’t think relationships between nations are tied to individuals. There are mutual, national interests that lead to personal relationships. It’s not the other way around. It’s the mutual interests in the region, especially the fight against terrorism, that has led to our strategic relationship.

"Now it is broad based, and long-term. So it is an issue-related relationship, which has led to a personal relationship with President (George W) Bush, and I cherish the relationship," he said.

"The fight against terrorism has a strategic context and we are looking for social and economic assistance especially for the tribal areas. It is the economic bonds that cement relations. We are looking for an increase in market access into the US This is at the core of poverty-job creation-which is at the core of our anti-terrorism drive," he said.

The Pakistan President was asked how military ties with the US might change in the context of him not being in uniform and in having a new Prime Minister.

"It’s in Pakistan’s interest to fight terrorism and extremism. So whatever Government there is I’m pretty sure they will continue to fight terrorism and extremism. Why would any Government change its priorities? I think the policy will remain consistent," Musharraf replied.

Calls for Musharraf to quit mounted yesterday as the opposition scored a sweeping victory over his allies.

"Musharraf has said he would quit when people tell him. People have now given their verdict," Sharif had said.

Top lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan, under house arrest since Musharraf imposed a state of emergency in November last year, said the President should quit because he was the "most hated man in the country."

Musharraf’s spokesman, however, had rejected such calls and said the former General was ready to work with whoever forms a Government. (PTI)