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22 lakh poultry affected by birdflu, Govt announces relief.......

Explosives recovered, raids continue on naxal hideouts.......

Portal for job vacancies, education careers in France ........

Our education system has failed: Amjad Ali Khan

VARANASI, Jan 27: Indian education system has "failed" to create good human beings but music has contributed in a big way in bringing together different sections of the society, says Sarod maestro Amjad Ali Khan.

"In last sixty years, our education (system) could not make the human being compassionate. It could not do away with hatred or create harmony. Then what has education actually contributed towards the society?" Khan, a ‘Padma Vibhushan’ recipient, wondered, while speaking .

Stating that country’s education system needs urgent reforms as it failed in achieving its basic objectives, the Sarod legend requested former President and country’s missile man APJ Abdul Kalam, HRD Minister Arjun Singh and the leading social activists to come forward in reforming the system for the nation’s benefit.

The 62-year-old Khan apprehended that in the absence of an immediate and thorough introspection, the strides achieved by the country could take a backseat.

"The first teaching students should have got is that the almighty is one and only the names for calling him are different. But even this could not be conveyed. Is it not the failure of our system?" Khan, a devout, asked.

On the other hand, music has contributed in a big way in bringing together different sections of society, Khan said, adding across the globe wherever he performs, he requests the religious leaders to give freedom to their followers to use their wisdom to differentiate between the virtuous and the sinful acts.

Replying to a question on the North-South divide in Indian classical music, Khan said he had written letters to different gharanas and ustads saying that the artistes should do away with the words "Hindustani" and "Carnatic" music.

"We should use the term "Indian classical music of the North" and "Indian classical music of the South", said the renowned Sarod artiste who gave his first performance at the age of six in 1951.

"There is no essential difference between classical and popular music. Music is music. I want to communicate with the listener who finds Indian classical music remote," he added.

Taught by his father Hafeez Ali Khan, the musician to the royal family of Gwalior (MP), Khan was born to the illustrious Bangash lineage rooted in the Senia Bangash School of Music.

He said that "the Indian youth is peace loving but they should enjoy harmonious freedom, for which moral education is a must.

"I am performing across the world as an ambassador of the country and I get the same concern from the Indians living abroad. We are working to keep the esteem of the country high," Khan said.

He said that besides him, many others are doing the same service to the nation but they do not get the recognition.

"The real contributors in the society in our country remain unknown and the reason for this is that, even after so many reforms, actually babus (clerks) are ruling the country even today," he said.

The classical musician attributed his success to his wife Shubhalakshmi who has "contributed a lot". Moreover, Khan, who now sees his future in his two sons - Amaan and Ayaan - considers his audience to be the "soul of his motivation".

Amjad Ali Khan has mesmerised audiences at the WOMAD Festival in Adelaide and New Plymouth, Taranaki in New Zealand, WOMAD Rivermead Festival in UK, Edinburgh Music Festival, World Beat Festival in Brisbane, Summer Arts Festival in Seattle, BBC Proms, International Poets Festival in Rome, Shiraz Festival, UNESCO, Hong Kong Arts Festival, Adelaide Music Festival, 1200 Years celebration of Frankfurt and Schonbrunn in Vienna.

He also represented India in the first World Arts Summit in Venice and received Honorary Citizenship to the States of Texas, Massachusetts, Tennessee and the city of Atlanta in the US.

April 20^th, has been declared as Amjad Ali Khan Day in Boston, Massachusetts since 1984. In 1995, Khan was awarded the Gandhi UNESCO Medal in Paris for his composition ‘Bapukauns’.

He said that he has composed a piece for the Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Yoshikazu Fukumora titled Tribute to Hong Kong. He has also composed duets with guitarist Charley Byrd, Violinist Igor Frolov, Suprano Glenda Simpson, Guitarist Barry Mason and UK Cellist Matthew Barley.

BBC Magazine had voted one of his CDs titled "Bhairav" among the best 50 classical albums of the world for the year in 1995. (PTI)

Case registered against students
for attacking nursing home

GHAZIABAD, Jan 27: Police today registered a case against a few college students who have allegedly vandalised a nursing home here following death of one Akhilesh, who was under treatment.

Following the incident at the nursing home in Modinagar South last Friday, the city doctors have launched a protest demanding the arrest of those behind the incident.

The students of K N Modi Engineering college attacked the nursing home after the second year B Teck student had died last Thursday due to alleged medical negligence on the part of the hospital authorities, police said.

The students were demanding the arrest of the college management and the chairman of the Jeevan nursing home Doctor Devendra Siwach. The students had alleged that the management did not grant the leave to the "sick" student, they added.

The police have already registered a case of negligence against the nursing home and the collage administration following the protest by the students on Friday.

However, the doctors denied the charges of medical negligence saying that the student had already died before he was brought to the hospital. (PTI)

Govt services to be online soon

MUMBAI, Jan 27: Government services would soon be available online in Maharashtra as bidding for the e-governance project is under evaluation.

The Maharashtra government has marked this calendar as the IT year and the computerisation process in is in full swing and will soon reach the people’s door steps.

"There is an urgency in the state to set up e-governance as the Chief Minister has declared the year as IT year. The expectations are also very high from the state," IT Chief Secretary Kshatrapati Shivaji said.

"Currently the bidding is in process," he added.

There are many plans under e-governance among which computerisation of Government system and setting up kiosks is on priority, he said.

The state is planning to computerise the government offices from Mantralaya upto Tehsil level by using broadband of 6 Mbps line which can be upgraded to 32 Mbps if required.

"There is lack of communication among Government servants. Computerisation of the Government offices will connect all offices up to Tehsil level," Shivaji said.

It will also be helpful in bringing transparency in the system and working procedure. People will become more accountable and efficiency will certainly increase, he hoped.

The Government is also planning to set up around 7,285 and 924 kiosks in rural and urban areas respectively. The kiosks will work on build, operate, own and transfer-BOOT system.

The kiosks will offer services regarding land records, various licenses, caste or domicile certificates, payment of taxes and enrolment forms for the State Government’s various schemes.

The operators, running the kiosks, will be allowed to charge users for these services, Shivaji said.

"The kiosk service is for 24 hours", he added.

People require various Government services and need to go to Tehsil, District offices or Mantralaya. Most of them are middle class or poor people. It is a time consuming and tedious process. Besides, many people cannot afford such visits.

The computerisation of offices and the kiosk facility can provide them all the information they want at one place. Eventually, the decision-making process becomes fast and accurate, he added. (PTI)

Threat to Indians in Afghanistan, security stepped up

NEW DELHI, Jan 27: In the wake of recent terror attack on a convoy of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) workers in Afghanistan, the security of Indians engaged in reconstruction work in the trouble-torn country is being beefed up.

The security measures are being intensified by the Afghan Government after a fresh assessment suggested increased threat to the Indians, particularly those engaged in construction of a crucial highway from Delaram to Zaranj, sources said here today.

The assessment of the threat was carried out by a two-member team of senior officials of External Affairs Ministry which went to Afghanistan.

The team, led by Joint Secretary (Afghanistan) T C A Raghavan, was sent in the backdrop of a suicide attack on a BRO convoy in South West Afghanistan earlier this month, in which two ITBP jawans guarding them were killed and five injured.

The team held detailed discussions with the officials of Afghan Foreign and Internal Security Ministries during which it came to be known that the threat to Indian workers was high, the sources said.

The officials also went to Jalalabad, where the Indian consulate and the Mission staffers are facing a high degree of threat from Taliban, the sources said.

The Consulate has come under attack in the recent times but all staffers are safe and no damage has been done to the heavily-fortified Mission, they said.

After a thorough review of the security, the team gave its report to the Government. Subsequently, India asked the Afghan Government to step up security measures for Indians and its Missions there, the sources said, adding the Hamid Karzai dispensation has assured that it will take all protective steps.

The Afghan Government, despite facing severe manpower crunch, has assured that additional security personnel will be deployed to ensure safety of Indians there, the sources said.

This is the second time in over two years that India has sent a team to Afghanistan to assess security of its nationals there. The earlier one was in January 2006 after the abduction and killing of a BRO driver Maniappan Kutty by the Taliban.

After that review, India had sent additional ITBP commandos to Afghanistan for security of the BRO workers. At present, about 380 ITBP personnel are providing proximate security to the BRO workers and Indian Missions in Afghanistan, in addition to the local policemen.

Over a thousand Indians are engaged in recontruction and developmental works in Afghanistan for last six years as part of New Delhi’s commitment to help in rehabilitation of the war-torn country.

Of them, about 300 personnel of Border Roads Organisation (BRO) are engaged in construction of Delaram-Zaranj highway, which will provide a shorter connectivity between Kabul and Iran.

Taliban are against India’s engagement in the reconstruction work, particularly building of the highway, and have made it known time and gain. After kidnapping Kutty, the Taliban had demanded that all Indians engaged in reconstruction work leave Afghanistan.

India, however, has made it clear that its engagement in the reconstruction and development work in Afghanistan will continue as per its commitment. (PTI)

‘Congress is not any party’s doormat in Bihar’

NEW DELHI, Jan 27: In a signal to the RJD supremo Lalu Prasad ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Congress has given clear hints that it was against anyone playing the big brother in Bihar, telling the key UPA ally that it was "not a doormat".

"Everytime is a new situation. It is not the same situation as was there five years back....There is no question of Congress becoming a doormat of anyone," AICC General Secretary V Kishore Chandra Deo said in an interview. Dev is in-charge of party affairs in Bihar.

Deo’s remarks came in response to a question whether the Congress was satisfied with its lot in the key state of Hindi heartland where in the last Lok Sabha elections, the RJD had offered just four seats as against its demand for 14 and was forced to keep quiet in view of the larger national goal. RJD is the second largest constituent of the Congress-led UPA and Lalu projects himself as the staunchest supporter of Sonia Gandhi.

"Congress is a national party and definitely any party which can stand on its own legs, it is the Congress and certainly, every effort will be made to achieve this", was the refrain of Dev, who is a senior MP from Andhra Pradesh and is also heading the Lok Sabha’s prestigious Privileges Committee.

Deo was cautious about questions whether he saw a "new political mix" for Congress this time in Bihar and whether he saw any merit in LJP Chief Ram Vilas Paswan’s suggestion for a alliance of secular parties barring the RJD. Paswan is a known detractor of Prasad.

There have also been muted suggestions from local Congress leaders that it was time the party dumps Lalu Prasad in Bihar and goes in with a combine of political parties including LJP, CPI and NCP.

"It is too early to discuss the matter now. These things will be discussed at an appropriate time. Politics is the art of the possible", he said, adding that the Congress would like to be "in the forefront of all activities including in Bihar".

Asked whether the UPA existed in Bihar, he said "the UPA is a political arrangement and adjustment as regards the Central Government is concerned". At the same time, he said that the natural allies of Congress in the state were the UPA partners, "but one cannot predict how situation will develop".

Congress has been on the decline in Bihar for the past two decades in the wake of the Mandal and the Mandir issues and has generally remained the camp follower of Lalu Prasad. The RJD has itself seen erosion of its base since the loss of power in the Assembly polls in 2005 to the NDA led by JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar.

Referring to the recent police firing in Bihar on the issue of shortage of power, he said it showed that the disenchantment over the Nitish Kumar Government is also spreading. "It is the most appropriate time for the Congress to fill this political vacuum". (PTI)

SC dismisses petition seeking
cancellation of alimony to wife

NEW DELHI, Jan 27: The Supreme Court has dismissed a petition challenging the Delhi High Court’s order directing payment of maintenance to second wife.

A Bench comprising Justice B N Agrawal and Justice G S Singhvi dismissed the petition of Manjeet Singh Chawla, a resident of Defence Colony, who challenged the Delhi High Court order dated September 20, 2007 directing the trial court to decide the claim for maintenance under the Hindu Marriage Act, filed by Narinder Pal Kaur Chawla on merit.

The High Court also directed that the husband should pay interim maintenance of Rs 1500 per month as per the order of the Supreme Court dated April 21, 2004.

The apex court directed the wife should be allowed the rights of separate residence on the second floor of the husband’s house.

Narinder and Manjeet were married on December 11, 1977 according to the Sikh Rights at Jalandhar and later shifted to Defence Colony, New Delhi.

The wife came to know that her husband was already married to one Amarjeet Kaur and filed a case of bigamy against him.

The wife contended that the second marriage may be illegal, still she was entitled to alimony as she had been cheated by her husband who concealed the fact that he was already married and had deserted his first wife.

The trial court dismissed Narinder’s petition on the grounds that the second wife was not entitled to maintenance as the second marriage during the subsistence of the first marriage is null and void.

The petitioner, however, contended before the High Court that the Hindus, particularly from royal family, had been keeping more than one wife and the society had accepted the position. While the second marriage had been declared illegal only after the Hindu Marriage Act came into force but prior to that customary Hindu law like Mohammedan law permitted bigamous marriage and the bar had been created only by section 5 (i) of the Act.

The High Court accepted the contentions and directed the trial court to reconsider the whole controversy on merit.

The apex court refused to entertain Manjeet Singh’s petition holding that the trial court had already seized the matter.

Manjeet Singh was an employee of the Oriental Bank of Commerce at the time of marriage. (UNI)

Municpal Comm violates protocol, hoists flag on R-day

GUNTUR, AP, Jan 27: Violating the protocol, the Muncipal Commissioner hoisted the national flag at the civic body building here, marking the Republic Day celebrations.

According to the protocol, the Mayor should hoist the national tri-colour and in his absense the Deputy Mayor should complete the ceremony but Mayor K Nagaraju and Deputy Mayor T Murali reached the Muncipal office to find that Commissioner Siddharth Jain has already unfurled the flag.

The Commissioner told reporters that he hoisted the national colour as the Deputy Commissioner informed him that the Mayor was attending another programme.

A complaint was faxed to the state Chief secretary in this regard. (PTI)

Rahul visits dalit village

AMETHI, Jan 27: In an apparent bid to garner support of dalits, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited a village of dalits and spent the night in the house of a community member.

The MP, who is on a three-day visit to his constituency visited Jawaharpur village in Sangarampur block to hold meeting with 20 groups associated with Rajiv Gandhi Women Development Project last evening.

Immediately after the meeting, Gandhi visited house of one Sunita, a dalit in the village, and took some eatables offered by her and spent the entire night on a cot in her house.

During his stay in the village, Rahul also discussed problems being faced by dalits, party sources said.

SPG men and security personnel were on their toes due to Gandhi’s unscheduled night stay in the hut of the dalit.

Rahul spent the entire night in the village and reached Sanjay Gandhi Hosptial Guest House, where he stays during his visit in the morning at about 7 am today to hold meeting with people of his constituency.

District panchayat representatives and Congressmen registered their complaint regarding discrepancies and corruption in implementation of National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme and "non-effective implementation" of Central schemes with Gandhi and sought his intervention.

During the meeting Gandhi told partymen that while youths were being given responsibility in the party, old partymen would also be given due respect. (PTI)

22 lakh poultry affected by birdflu,
Govt announces relief

KOLKATA, Jan 27: The West Bengal Government today said 22 lakh poultry in 11 districts have been affected by birdflu and announced financial help and waiving of loans to people who lost their poultry in the culling operation.

"As the five lakh families whose birds have been culled cannot start their business for the next three months we have decided to give Rs 500 per family as one time relief and for that we need 25 crore," West Bengal Finance Minister Asim Dasgupta told a press conference here.

For culling and relief operations the state needs 42 crore, he said

"Directly and indirectly the state has faced a huge loss not only in terms of money but in terms of poultry operations and loss of lives. The state is yet to figure the entire loss but it would be not less than 150 crore," Dasgupta said.

He said the Government would like to compensate all those affected due to birdflu.

Dasgupta said "we need Rs 17 crore for culling operations of which half the money should be provided by the Centre. We have released our part (Rs 8.5 crore) and the Centre has given three crore so far."

Dasgupta said that the Government has released Rs 12.5 crore for relief operations. He said they would ask the Centre to provide the rest of the money so that relief can be provided to the affected families.

He added that loans will not have to repaid immediately and that they would ask the banks to convert loans into long term ones.

The Finance minister also urged the Centre to give a subsidy of 50 per cent on fodder so that the affected families

Can start their business in an effective way.

"Like in Jalgaon we will ask the Centre to provide financial assistance in case of fodder so that the families can buy the food and start their business," Dasgupta said.

State Animal Resource Development Minister Anisur Rahman said "we have been able to cull nearly 15.75 lakh hens and cocks and 1.25 lakh have died out of the target of 22 lakh. The rest of the lot will be completed by tomorrow."

"Four districts- South Dinajpur, Nadia, Burdwan and Bankura have completed their culling operations," Rahman said. (PTI)

Explosives recovered, raids continue on naxal hideouts

RAIPUR, Jan 27: Explosive material belonging to naxals was recovered from different places of Chhattisgarh and eight persons taken into custody, police said today.

"The seizure from various places are continuing even five days after recovery of about 100 weapons, 23 wireless sets and huge amount of cash and other materials of the Maoists," a top police official said here today.

"Among the seizures there are live and destroyed explosive material and correspondence between various naxal leaders and others and they are being analysed," the officer said.

"We are conducting raids today also in some places, based on information and interrogation of the eight persons and more people could be detained for further probe," they said.

In connection with the recovery of weapons and other materials from Raipur, Bilaspur and Mahasamund districts, four persons including two women naxal commanders and a freelance journalist were arrested, who are presently under police remand and four others are currently under detention, the sources said.

All the eight have been taken to various destinations during interrogation to collect evidences of the activities of the banned naxal organisation CPI (Maoists), the sources said adding on their information raids have been conducted in many places and several materials including thousand uniforms have been seized, they said.

Police sources said fresh seizure revealed the presence of Maoists in districts like Bilaspur, Mahasamund, Raipur and Durg, which are yet to register any naxal violence, and more raids in those areas are being conducted.

After the recovery of weapons and wireless sets, the police, on a tip off, reached the Birbira jungle, near Kodar reservoir of Mahasamund district, about 90 km from the state capital and seized huge numbers of destroyed naxal uniforms and damaged explosive materials, the sources said.

On Friday, Raipur police detained two persons, after about 500 sets of stitched uniforms were recovered on information of the arrested naxal commanders.

From Bilaspur, two persons were detained yesterday and police was looking for a railway employee after they recovered about 300 naxalite uniforms, police said.

Earlier on investigating the two arrested woman naxal top commanders, police raided a place in Raipur city and seized huge amount of objectionable literature related to the banned naxal organization CPI (Maoist) and arrested one Ashit Sen Gupta, who is currently being interrogated, police added. (PTI)

Portal for job vacancies, education careers in France

NEW DELHI, Jan 27: Education careers and job opportunities in France is now just a mouse click away.

Indo French Alumni Network (IFAN), a community of students who have studied or are studying in France, has created a website that serves as a platform for organising events, accessing job vacancies in French or Indian companies, or simply walking down memory lane.

The website was launched last evening by French Minister for Higher Education and Research Valerie Pecresse who accompanied President Nicolas Sarkozy on his two-day State visit to India.

A network of networks, the website will facilitate linkages between alumni, students and the diverse body of people such as businessmen, artists, engineers, scientists, civil servants, administrators or journalists.

IFAN will encourage other students to go to France to study and benefit from a French and European exposure in personal and professional lives and share cultural diversity in a globalised world.(UNI)