BJP wants deployment of Central forces in Kannur

KOCHI, Mar 8: Describing the violence in Kannur as "state-sponsored terrorism", BJP today said it had urged the Centre to deploy Central forces to restore normalcy in Kannur district where clashes between the CPI-M and BJP-RSS workers have claimed seven lives since Wednesday.

Senior BJP leader L K Advani has asked Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil, to send central forces to Kannur to bring the situation under control, party vice president M Venkiah Naidu told reporters here.

If the state government failed to discharge its duties, the Centre can intervene under Art 355 of the Constitution and deploy central forces, he said replying to a query.

The state police had failed to take action against the CPI(M) workers, he alleged.

Warning that the BJP would be forced to think of "other methods" to check the attacks on its party workers in Kannur if the killings continued, Naidu said the fate of the Marxists would be "pathetic" if the BJP also resorted to violence in its strongholds.

BJP MPs would visit Kannur next week to take stock of the situation, he said. (PTI)

Flexi hours for women scientists in DST-aided institutions

NEW DELHI, Mar 8: All 23 institutions aided by the Department of Science and Technology will have flexible working hours for women scientists having children up to the age of three years.

Announcing this on the International Women’s Day today, Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal said his Ministry would allocate funds for setting up state-of-the-art creche facilities and support the construction of women’s residential blocks in all the aided institutions.

The Ministry would also provide a research grant of up to Rs ten lakh per annum for five years for young women scientists who are associates of the Indian National Science Academy (INSA), he said.

Admitting that gender equality would not be achieved by such measures alone, Mr Sibal called for creating conditions for an increase in the number of women scientists in positions of excellence and leadership.

"We must stop rewarding only one of the sexes. We must create a competitive, yet cooperative, gender inclusive, knowledge-based society," he said at the inauguration of the National Conference of Women Scientists.(UNI)

BJP against Indo-US nuke deal in present form

KOCHI, Mar 8: The BJP today said the party was against the Indo-US nuclear deal in its present form as it would mean surrendering the country’s sovereignty to the United States.

"Like the Marxists, the BJP had no anti-US policy," party vice-president M Venkaiah Naidu told a press meet here.

Asked about the threat by the CPI(M) and CPI to withdraw support if the UPA Government went ahead with the deal, he said both the "Left parties are doing nothing, but merely threatening."

Both the Congress and Marxists should end the "hide and seek" with regard to the deal and take the Parliament and country into confidence, he said.

Alleging that the UPA Government was "insensitive" to the issues concerning commonman, he said the price of essential commodities were shooting up and the Government had not taken any steps to control the same.

The Congress’ slogan of ‘Aam Admi Ka Government’ will boomerang on the party in the next election, he said. (PTI)

Rahul pitches for youth power in politics

GUNPUR, ORISSA, Mar 8: Pitching for youth power in the country’s polity, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi today lamented that there was no space for young people in any political party, including his own.

"In every party, including Congress, I see that there is no space for the younger lot," he said adding, to change a country, "you have to work together with a new force and involve the youth in the initiative".

Change was possible only if young people joined the political process, Gandhi, who is on his "Discover India" tour, said addressing a rally here in memory of his father and late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.

This place is significant for the Congress party as well as the Gandhi scion as Rajiv had addressed his last political rally from here before being assassinated in Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu.

"Seventeen years have gone since my father passed away. He was not my father alone. In fact, he was the voice of the Indian youth. With the death of Rajiv Gandhi it was the voice of the country’s youth that faded away," he said.

Continuing his tirade against the Orissa Government, Gandhi said earlier he used to think that Uttar Pradesh was the most backward state, but he has changed his opinion after visiting Orissa.

Gandhi said he would give opportunities to youngsters to work with the Youth Congress and the NSUI, which is a true youth organisation of the country.

"There is no discrimination on the basis of religion and caste," he said.

Meanwhile, the Youth Congress is holding a massive membership drive on the sidelines of the Gandhi scion’s four-day rally in the state.

Gandhi has constituted a separate task force to ensure that youth from all states are represented in the organisation.

Yesterday, the young Congress MP visited the poverty-stricken district of Kalahandi. (PTI)

RSS unimpressed by denunciation of terror by Madrasas

NEW DELHI, Mar 8: The RSS has termed the declaration by Darul Uloom Deoband-denouncing terrorism as unislamic-a "cosmetic sermon", saying such exposition was of "little solace for India to tackle the menace".

The saffron organisation, however, described the first All India Anti-Terrorism Conference held under the aegis of the Asia’s most revered Islamic seminary a "welcome initiative".

"It was for the first time a responsible segment of Islamic denomination had addressed the issue," an editorial comment in the RSS mouthpiece Organiser said.

"It was seen as Muslim clergy extending an olive branch to the Congress," it added.

The RSS sees no problem regarding the first part of the resolution which says Islam has taught its followers to treat all mankind with equality, mercy, tolerance, justice and denounced all kinds of violence and terrorism.

But the next part of the document, as posted on the Darul Uloom website, says that Deoband’s definition of terror was simply different, which is a cause for concern.

"For us, the idea of terror is killing of innocent people but the website is referring to is state-sponsored terror and terror of the West against Islam. It is eloquent against terror of the West in Iraq, Palestine and Afghanistan but not against attacks in India on Parliament, Red Fort, Mumbai trains, Hindu temples in Varanasi and Akshardham and blasts in Delhi markets," the paper said.

"Darul Uloom Deoband, has no faith in democratic institution and is seen more as a sanctuary for the fundamentalists of Taliban school. It has no faith in impartiality of judiciary or law enforcing agencies. Nothing better should have been expected from an institution frozen in seventh century," the paper alleged.

The resolution adopted at the Conference and and the explanatory comments give an impression that the anti-terror meet was infact a facade to warn and attack the Government against acting decisively against terror.

"It was not a reciprocal gesture towards UPA but a bargaining chip to promote jehadi cult, they are preaching through madrasas in the name of religious education," the paper said. (UNI)

Prez for scholarship scheme in science for girl child

NEW DELHI, Mar 8: President Pratibha Devisingh Patil urged the Government on the International Women’s Day today to launch a scholarship scheme for the girl child who wishes to pursue science courses.

"As the enrollment of girls in the science discipline is limited, our efforts to nurture women scientists must, therefore, begin at the school level," Ms Patil said, after inaugurating the National Conference of Women Scientists and presenting the National Awards for Women’s Development to five scientists.

She also asked the agricultural scientists, including women, to usher in the second green revolution in the country.

Commending the role played by Chennai-based biotechnology park in promoting entrepreneurship among women, the country’s first woman President called upon agencies in the Government and outside to take similar initiatives in harnessing women’s potential.

Pointing out that women were extensively involved in farming, dairy production and the fishery sector, Ms Patil urged the scientific community to produce women-friendly tools and equipment.

She said the industries such as communications, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and automobile should involve women scientists in their Research and development efforts.

"The time has come to look at the contraints that women face while pursuing the scientific discipline and find solutions to facilitate their participation," she said.

Recalling the contribution of Nobel laureate Madam Curie to the scientific world, the President stressed the need for developing a spirit of entrepreneurship among women, thereby creating more jobs for them. (UNI)

Farm loan waiver a woman-friendly initiative: Sonia

NEW DELHI, Mar 8: Congress president Sonia Gandhi today projected the Government’s decision to waive off farmers’ loans as a woman-friendly initiative, noting that women are the first victims of any crisis.

"I have often said this and you all know from experience that the first victim of any crisis is a woman. For example, when a farmer commits suicide, not only is that the end of his life, the others in his family, his wife and children, suffer," Gandhi said at a function here to give away the ‘Stree Shakti Puraskar’ on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

"We are sensitised to this and the UPA Government at the Centre in its new Budget has announced a Rs 60,000 crore scheme to waive off farmers’ loans," she said at the function which was also attended by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s wife Gursharan Kaur.

Gandhi expressed the hope that happiness and peace will come to the homes of the farmers who benefit from the scheme.

The Congress president enlisted the Government’s other woman-friendly initiatives such as income tax exemption, changes in law, help to micro-finance projects and self-help groups, NREGA and increase in the salary of Anganwadi workers.

She also referred to her husband, late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s initiative to provide women with reservation at the panchayat level, saying it has led to ten lakh women playing an active role in decision-making process at the grassroots level.

Gandhi said the scourge of female foeticide should be eliminated and said it was her dream that no girl child is killed in the womb and no child remains uneducated.

Gandhi gave away the ‘Stree Shakti’ awards for 2004, 2005 and 2006 to 15 women achievers from various fields and from all across the country.

The awards, named after women leaders like Rani Lakshmi Bai, Kannagi, Rani Gaidiliu Zeliang, Devi Ahilya Bai and Mata Jijabai, are given by the Union Government to honour the services of such women who have made outstanding contributions in different spheres.

She also felicitated two elderly women from Haryana-Prakashi Tomar and Chandro Tomar-for learning shooting despite their age and participating in sporting events as well as an Anganwadi worker Sunita Yadav for stopping child marriage in her village.

Addressing the function, Women and Child Development Minister Renuka Chowdhury said her ministry has tied up with the ITC Group and VLCC in a public-private partnership to uplift girls from underprivileged families. (PTI)