Saturday, September 16, 2006

 

Health News

Rise of untreatable TB worries doctors

Scientists have found cases of virtually untreatable tuberculosis across the globe including in the US, Eastern Europe and Africa.Researchers are worried about the emergence of TB strains that are resistant to drugs, reported the online edition of BBC News. TB, a disease of the respiratory system spread by coughing and sneezing, causes about 1.7 million deaths a year worldwide.

Extreme drug resistant TB (XDR TB) is defined as strains that are resistant to not only frontline drugs but also three or more of the six classes of second-line drugs. A recent survey of 18,000 TB samples by the US-based Center for Disease Control and the WHO between November 2004 and November 2005 found 20 percent of them were multi-drug resistant and a further two per cent were extreme drug resistant.

Further detailed analysis of several countries found the prevalence was even higher. In the US, four per cent of all multi-drug resistant TB (MDR TB) cases met the criteria for XDR TB; in South Korea, the figure was 15 percent, according to WHO expert Dr Paul Nunn. In Latvia and other areas of the Baltics and the former Soviet Union, 19 percent of all multi-drug resistant cases were extreme drug resistant too.

XDR TB was present across several strains, Dr Nunn said, but added it was not yet clear how transmissible it was or whether it was limited to isolated pockets. “XDR TB is very serious - we are potentially getting close to a bacteria that we have no tools, no weapons against.” He added that it was key that new drugs were developed in future and said work was underway looking at new drugs, including research into TB vaccines. TB experts have convened in Johannesburg, South Africa, to discuss how to address the problem.


Eat nuts for healthy heart

Regularly eating a handful of nuts, including peanuts, could keep your heart healthy, says a major study spanning 10 countries. But scientists warn that it would not make up for an unhealthy lifestyle. Just two portions of nuts a week cuts the risk of dying from a heart attack by 11 per cent, said British researcher Elio Riboli, who along with others studied almost 400,000 people from 10 countries, including 90,000 from Norfolk and Oxford.

The participants were asked to complete food questionnaires, reported the online edition of Daily Mail. The participants gave blood samples in the early 1990s, which were followed up to establish links between dietary habits and disease. In the latest analysis, nut consumption was studied in 1,200 people who died of a heart attack and compared with people who are still alive. The study found that a small amount of nuts in the diet could help beat heart disease.A classic aperitif accompanied by a dish of nuts at least twice a week would be an ideal combination, Riboli said.

The results were presented this week at the World Congress of Cardiology in Barcelona. Riboli, professor of cancer epidemiology at Imperial College, London, said all nuts were counted in the assessment, including peanuts, which are actually legumes. Earlier studies have found eating nuts was linked to a lower risk of bowel cancer. Studies have also shown that nuts can lower cholesterol, reduce inflammation and improve the functioning of arteries. “The important thing is that very modest consumption is associated with protection. A small plate of nuts with a glass of wine would be a healthy amount,” Riboli said.

He believes the benefits come from the high concentration of Omega-3 fatty acids in nuts and says that unsalted nuts are best. He, however, warned that there was no point sitting in front of the TV, being obese and having high blood pressure, and expecting a handful of nuts to protect you from heart disease.


Try those foods that care for you
Next of skin: By Dr Anjali Mukherjee


There’s more to food than its calorific value. Calorie counting is a very superficial way of looking at food. Instead of looking at its calorific value, look for its health benefits. One should choose food based on its positive attributes such as colour, flavour, nutrients, fibre and hundreds of other compounds that take the food and health connection to an exiting new level.

For example, garlic contains sulphur compounds that act as a natural antibiotic and helps get rid of worms. It also helps improve the bacteria flora in the intestines. It is usually children who suffer from worms. Therefore, it is a good idea to give them garlic toast in the morning for their breakfast. Use whole wheat bread. You could lightly sauté crushed garlic (1-2 cloves) in one teaspoon of butter or olive oil and pour it on toasted whole grain bread. In this way it becomes highly palatable.

Methi seeds: The seeds of methi can be taken in the sprouted form and mixed with a salad or they can be roasted powdered and added to curries. They contain phytoestrogen (plant estrogen), which is beneficial for menopausal women. During menopause the body reduces its production of estrogen. This affect calcium uptake by the body and eventually leads to osteoporosis if the body’s calcium supplies have been poor over a long period of time.

Soya bean, most whole pulses, and methi seeds contain plant estrogen, which help prevent osteoporosis if other lifestyle factors are followed correctly. Folklore suggests that if you take one cup of sprouted methi seeds during your teens they may even help in breast enlargement. This is because methi contains diosgenin a compound which is used in making synthetic estrogen. The naturally occurring estrogen in methi seeds has many effects on the body. One of them possibly is breast enlargement. About 50 per cent of the methi seed is fibre.

This fibre contains about six compounds that can help regulate blood sugar. Methi sprouts should be consumed by diabetics. In addition, it helps to reduce cholesterol and prevent cardiovascular disease.

Turmeric: Fresh, raw turmeric is rich in vitamin C, E, beta-carotene and other carotenoids. It is used for its medicinal properties in a whole lot of disorders. It is known to help prevent cataracts, strokes; it is used for treating amenorrhea (lack of menstruation). It contains a compound called curcumin that increases solubility of bile, which helps prevent gallstones.

About 1-2 teaspoons of the powder in a curry may also help reduce gallstones. Turmeric helps reduce pain and swelling and helps protect the liver. It has an anti-parasitic action and helps get rid of worms. It is also a potent antibiotic. The best way to take turmeric is in the form of curries. You could also make a tangy soup or rasam with 1-2 teaspoons of turmeric powder to make use of its healing benefits. One should eat a variety of foods as each has its own set of known and unknown nutrients, which work in subtle ways to help our bodies become healthy.


 

Business News Sep 16th,2006

ONGC leads race with 45 bids

New Delhi, Sept. 15: A total of 66 companies, including 35 foreign and 31 Indian companies, have bid for the 55 oil and gas blocks offered under the sixth auction of the New Exploration Licensing Policy (NELP).
ONGC has bid for a maximum number of oil and gas blocks — 45 blocks. Three deepwater blocks KK-DWN-2004/2, KK-DWN-2004/3 and AN-DWN-2004/1 have not received any bid. For 13 blocks, only single bids were received and out of these, ONGC is the single bidder for seven blocks and Essar for two. Thirty-nine blocks attracted multiple bids. One block, CB-ONN-2004/3, received 10 bids.

“The government has received 165 bids for 52 blocks by the closing date on Friday,” said Mr Anil Razdan, additional secretary, petroleum and natural gas ministry. “One of the major achievements of NELP-VI has been that besides having received bids for 21 deepwater blocks, bids have been received for all the 12 frontier on-land blocks,” said Mr Razdan. He further said that the renewed interest of multinationals BG, BP, Petronas, ENI and TOTAL augurs well for the oil and gas exploration activity underway in India.

The government had offered 55 exploration blocks under the sixth round, this year on February 23, covering an area of 3.52 lakhs sq kms. Out of the 35 foreign companies, who have bid for the blocks, 20 are new companies. Malaysia’s Petronas bid for one shallow water block in prospective Krishna Godavari basin. Cairn Energy of UK made lead bids for seven blocks on its own and was junior partner in five others.

However, big players Chevron, ExxonMobil and Conoco Philips of US, who were expected to partner Reliance Industries, did not participate. “ “As India is new to these companies, they require more work to convince their boards to invest here,” said V.K. Sibal, DG Hydrocarbons. ONGC was the lead consortium bidder in 35 blocks and a junior partner in 10 blocks while state-owned Oil India Ltd (OIL) was leader in 9.

Reliance Industries have bid for 21 blocks. RIL bid for 17 deep-sea and blocks each in shallow water and onland. It took state-owned Oil India Ltd as partner in one Mahanadi basin deep-sea block. The Anil Ambani Group firm, Reliance Natural Resources Ltd, tied with Naftogaz of Ukraine to bid for 9 blocks.



GDP growth in S. Asia can ease poverty, says WB

Hyderabad, Sept. 15: Strong economic growth in South Asia is creating “political space” for much-needed policy and institutional reforms to accelerate and sustain growth, and tackle long-standing social and economic problems, according to a World Bank report. The report, to be discussed on Saturday at the World Bank/IMF Annual Meetings in Singapore, says strong growth has created an unprecedented opportunity: a chance of ending poverty in a generation in South Asia, the region with the world’s largest concentration of poor people.

“This is an opportunity that cannot be missed,” said Mr Praful Patel, World Bank vice-president for South Asia. “For the leadership of South Asia it is the chance of a lifetime. And for the poor people of South Asia, it is a real chance to emerge from destitution.” The report obse-rves that recent economic growth has made it possible for South Asian countries to address politically-difficult reforms.

“More info-rmed public debate about what works and what doesn’t combined with global experience is emerging as an important force for change in South Asia,” said Mr Shantayanan Devarajan, co-author of the report and World Bank Chief Economist for South Asia.



160 NGOs boycott IMF, WB meet at Singapore

New Delhi, Sept. 15: World Bank president Paul Wolfowitz’s assurance of Singapore agreeing to reconsider the blacklisting of 27 activists, including Indians, at the September 19-20 World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) meetings, came a little late in the day. More than 160 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) declared a boycott of the meetings to protest against a clampdown on free speech.

“On Thursday night, the Prime Minister said that based on the Bank and the Fund vouching for these people, that they would look at each case individually and open the door to let them in,” Mr Wolfowitz said. “I hope that will happen expeditiously and completely and we’re waiting for further developments.” Mr Wolfowitz said he raised the matter during a meeting with Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Thursday.

“It is really unfortunate that the government of Singapore seemed not to be honouring the memorandum of understanding to admit delegates that were accredited,” he said. The organising committee on Thursday said they had “security and law and order concerns” over the 27 individuals, some of whom had been involved in violence at other international meetings. The activists had been accredited as part of an official dialogue which the Fund and the Bank engage in with their critics.

“In solidarity with those denied entry into Singapore, we will stay away from all meetings and seminars at the World Bank and IMF 2006 annual meetings in Singapore,” they said. The Singapore government also deported an Indian activist who had come here in connection with the annual meetings. Meanwhile, the IMF was confident that its proposal for ad-hoc increase in powers of China, South Korea, Mexico and Turkey in the fund’s board would be carried through, but India, Brazil and 50 other developing nations opposed the move saying it was based on a “flawed” formula.

“What is clear is that there was a very clear majority in the board to endorse the resolution, if not, it would not have been brought here,” IMF managing director Rodrigo de Rato told reporters here in Singapore. He, however, said that he cannot definitely say anything until the countries have expressed their votes. “I have to keep some respect, if you want silence in that respect, for the time being.”



Sensex ends above 12K mark

Mumbai, Sept. 15: The Sensex ended marginally higher up 36.57 points after a choppy session, but closed above the 12,000 mark for the first time at 12,009.59. It is not a convincing close and the performance of the index next week will show whether it can sustain above the 12,000 mark. It had hit an intra-day low of 11,847.61 and a high of 12,041.70. The Nifty closed at 3478.60, up 7 points after touching a low of 3434.55 and a high of 3487.45 intra-day. The turnover on both the exchanges was Rs 33,353 crores with the F&O sector accounting for Rs 23,045.57 crores.



3 PSU banks join forces

Mumbai, Sept. 15: In a precursor towards consolidation of banks, three medium-sized public sector banks — Oriental Bank of Commerce, Indian Bank and Corporation Bank — have come together to share infrastructure and explore opportunities. A memorandum of intent to this effect was signed by the chairmen of the three banks here on Friday.

This alliance, christened Oriental Indian Corporation (OIC), aims to mitigate the disadvantage of size which medium-sized banks suffer from, while sharing benefits of economies of scale and provide all forms of money and financial services under one roof. Addressing reporters here, the chairmen of the three banks, K.N. Prithviraj (OBC), K.C. Chakrabarty (Indian Bank) and B. Sambamurthy (Corporation Bank) emphasised that “this alliance is not a merger and the three banks retained their independent legal entities.”

The alliance, which will work out the operational details in the next few months, will broadly focus on sharing treasury and IT resources, building an e-payment system, besides creating a new capital markets machinery, which ultimately will include an Asset Management Company, Venture Capital, wealth management and equity brokerage. The banks will be “preferred partners” of each other, the chairmen said, adding that in business syndication, for example, “This alliance will facilitate us taking exposures to big-ticket deals which as individual bank we might not have been able to.”

The three banks will also share training resources, economic research and marketing besides engaging in common procurement of IT and other assets, wherever feasible. The alliance has also identified bancassurance as an area where there could be collaboration and co-operation. “We will also look at any other mutually acceptable and beneficial areas,” they said.

The alliance was the next best option to a merger, which, in the present circumstances was a difficult proposition, Mr Chakrabarty of Indian Bank said. According to him, with this alliance, geographies of the three banks would become integrated and there will be considerable savings in both time and costs.



M&M picks up Tata gauntlet in mini pick-ups

Hyderabad, Sept. 15: The first challenger to Tata Ace’s supremacy in the mini pick-up segment is out on the roads from the Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) stable. Christened MaXX Maxi Truck, the new variant fills the gap between large three-wheeler and big pick-ups, and senior company executives claim that the “vehicle is going to shake-up the small cargo segment.”

Major players, including Bajaj Auto, Force Motors and Atul Auto, are developing vehicles that can take on the Tata Ace even as M&M has made the first move. The segment, growing at 22 per cent per annum, is 1,50,000-vehicle strong and is primarily dominated by the Tata Ace.
Mr Vivek Nayer, vice-president (marketing), M&M Auto, is confident of the superiority of both the vehicles in terms of power, speed, fuel economy and load-carrying capacity.

“The MaXX Maxi Truck is a much better entry-level product and it is better equipped with the ability for more turnarounds in a day which is important for the customer,” Mr Nayer said here on Friday. While the MaXX Maxi Truck is priced at Rs 3,40,900, the Bolero Pick-Up FB will be sold for Rs 4,52,200 and has been positioned to cater the higher-end cargo segment. With these two vehicles, Mahindra & Mahindra expects to increase its share in the small cargo segment to 50 per cent from the current 35 per cent, Mr Nayer said, without mentioning a timeframe.

On the other vehicles of the M&M group, Mr Nayer said, “After the upgradation of the Scorpio early this year, sales have jumped significantly. We sold 3,500 Scorpios last month when the competition managed sales in 100s for their SUVs.” Further, in a clear departure from the region specific launch model adopted by Tata Motors for its Ace, M&M has decided to launch the MaXX Maxi Truck throughout the country within 10-15 days. After evaluating the sales in the local market, the company is also open to export the vehicle, Mr Nayer added.


 

Movie News

Shiva
Cast: Mohit Ahlawat, Nisha Kothari, Upendra Limaye and others
Director: Ram Gopal Varma
Rating: **

Ram Gopal Varma’s latest Shiva is neither a remake of his old film of the same name, nor is it a remake of James as was the rumour. It is a new film about a cop turned vigilante, but everything about it has such a been there-done-that look. It doesn’t have that slightly provocative effect that all RGV films do. It’s as if the enfant terrible of Hindi films was trying to become teacher’s pet, but not doing a very good job of it.

Varma’s earlier films made heroes out of men like Bappu (he is a much less classy Sarkar), now Varma tells us that men like Bappu ought to get whipped. In a touch of irony, all Bappu’s men die violent deaths in the film, but he lives to tell the tale (pretty much like Arun Gawli on whom the character is allegedly based). Shiv Kumar (Mohit Ahlawat) joins the police force as a sub-inspector, and is annoyed by his superiors’ open camaraderie with Bappu and his bunch of thugs.

Varma adds some quirkiness to Bappu’s (Upendra Limaye) character — he rules from a swing, drinking nariyal pani, and asking peremptory questions to a near-comatose old woman. Shiva falls in love with a courageous crime reporter (Nisha Kothari) and marries her when she is attacked by Bappu’s men out to get him. When the home minister (Dilip Prabhavalkar) also turns out to be corrupt, Shiva and a few good cops quit the force and turn into independent crime fighters. Not clear what the film is getting at, but Varma has said in interviews that he was inspired by the films of Amitabh Bachchan. If an under-developed (but technically polished) Shiva is the result, then it’s back to school for Mr Varma.



This painful drag is best avoided

Bas ek pal
Cast: Juhi Chawla, Urmila Matondkar, Sanjay Suri, Jimmy Shergill, Rehaan Engineer
Director: Onir
Rating:**

Onir has been inspired by Pedro Almodovar’s Live Flesh, but his turgid melodrama Bas Ek Pal is far from being a masterwork. He has created a bunch of sophisticated urban characters, whose lives intertwine in destructive ways, but his story-telling is too heavy-handed. During a nightclub fracas, Rahul (Jimmy Shergill) is accidentally shot by his friend Nikhil (Sanjay Suri). The former ends up a cripple in a wheelchair, the latter goes to jail for three years and has a hellish time.

When he emerges from prison on bail, with the help of Ira (Juhi Chawla), the wife of their alcoholic, wife-beating buddy Steve (Rehaan Engineer), Nikhil finds that Rahul is engaged to Anamika (Urmila Matondkar), the girl over whom the barroom brawl had taken place. The characters go from antagonistic, to confessional, to accusatory, to suicidal mode, as the film, in the style of a stage play engineers conversations between the five characters in various permutations and combinations. Then, it goes on long after the audience’s patience over this endless emotional wrangling and self-flagellation has worn out. And you can’t sympathise much with any character, though feelings for them swing from mild sympathy (for Rahul) to rabid dislike (for Ira).

Sanjay Suri and Jimmy Shergill are the best of the lot, natural and restrained. The film may have started out as a study of relationships under conditions of sturm and drang, but all it does is tire the audience with its relentless grimness.



A tepid but time-pass comedy

Pyaar ke side effects
Cast: Rahul Bose, Mallika Sherawat, Sophie Chaudhary and others
Director: Saket Chaudhary
Rating:***

Pyaar Ke Side Effects tries to take a witty, urbane look at modern relationships, but first-time director Saket Chaudhary achieves a juvenile, but intermittently funny, comedy inspired by Trust The Man, Meet the Parents and other such Hollywood romcoms. Sid (Rahul Bose), a DJ, meets runaway bride Trisha (Mallika Sherawat), and falls in love with her. They squabble good-naturedly in a pub, sure that they will never date, but three years later they are together. Sid is absorbed in a cricket match when Trisha proposes to him (in three years she doesn’t know about his passion for the game?) and finds that he doesn’t want commitment.

But on the verge of a break-up, he says yes, and has to suffer her nesting instincts that include cooing over kids and avid shopping. There’s also the gargoyle of a father-in-law to please, who doesn’t think a bandwala is a suitable match for his daughter, particularly when she is taller than him and earns more than him. (You’d also think the same, but then it’s just a movie, anything is possible).

Sid keeps sharing his anguish with the audience looking straight at the camera and listing various “pyaar and engagement ke side-effects.” It’s all out of joke books and the internet-forwards kind instant research that passes off for psychological insights into the behaviour of males and females. The supporting cast consists of nitwits also having relationship problems — like Sid’s sexually frustrated flat mate Nanoo (Ranvir Sheorey— hilarious), and his more experienced brother-in-law (Aamir Bashir), who is not ready for fatherhood. On Trisha’s side are her frighteningly outspoken friend (Suchitra Pillai) and her rejected groom (Jas Arora) now back in her life. Even as she moves on smoothly, Sid’s potential romance with a sexy ‘item girl’ Tanya (Sophie Chaudhary) never takes off.

In the film’s funniest scene, the four meet for dinner, which of course, goes terribly wrong, as neither Sid nor Trisha can avoid jealousy. After all the complications, if the film actually had headed for an offbeat end, its many faults would have been forgiven, but no, the ending is as predicted. Rahul Bose, scruffily dressed, tries too hard to be cool, Mallika Sherawat doesn’t get to turn on the heat (no push-up bras and micro minis), so the comedy turns out to be tepid at best.



Moss’ earnings skyrocket

Kate Moss’ earnings have rocketed to £30 million since her cocaine scandal last year. Speculation was rife that the catwalk queen’s career could be finished after pictures of her snorting the Class A drug were published last September. The supermodel was immediately dropped by a number of top fashion houses, including H+M and Roberto Cavalli, in the wake of the scandal.

However, Kate has managed to bounce back from the incident with vigour, tripling her salary to £30 million. She is now the face of 14 brands, including Versace, Calvin Klein and Stella McCartney, and has even set a new record for having the highest number of advertising deals at one time of any celebrity. Advertising expert Francesca Newland said, “I can’t think of any other celebrity who has been the face of so many campaigns at once.”



Clooney asks for UN help

George Clooney has called on the United Nations to help stop the war in Darfur. The Ocean’s Thirteen actor, who has visited the war torn region several times, joined Nobel Prize winner Elie Wiesel for an informal briefing in New York recently to voice an appeal for help to the UN Security Council. He said, “The United States has called it genocide. For you it’s called ethnic cleansing. But make no mistake, it is the first genocide of the 21st century. And if it continues unchecked, it will not be the last.” Clooney said he understood there were several “sensible reasons” why little action had been taken to prevent the atrocities so far.


Crow’s dead dog’s spirit alive with her

Sheryl Crow says the spirit of her dead dog is “still with her”. The singer had her pet Labrador mix, named Scout, for a decade until his death last April. She revealed to the USA Today newspaper, “It was devastating but he’s still with me in spirit. We still call our tour company Scout Tours, and my dressing room still has his name.” She added, “Scout and I used to stare into each other’s eyes longingly, it was like a sick love affair.”

Sheryl, who is currently in the middle of a tour, also insists she is back on top after her split from her cycling legend fiancée Lance Armstrong and being diagnosed with breast cancer. She said, “I feel the best I’ve felt in a long time, mainly because I’ve changed the way I treat my life. I needed to feel like things were getting back to normal. A tour is a reminder of what my life is about. This one’s more celebratory than other tours have been, and at the same time it’s gotten me back to a sense of normalcy.”

The singer has also explained how a key part of her new life was a healthier diet. Sheryl revealed, “I’ve been eating plain, organic food. I probably haven’t had a doughnut for eight months. That’s a big thing for me, since those were the only sweets I would really eat.”



‘I hate comic films’

Heath Ledger has revealed that he hates comic book movies, just weeks after signing up for the Batman Begins sequel. The Brokeback Mountain star, who has a daughter with his actress fiancée Michelle Williams, has been cast as super-villain “The Joker” in the follow-up to the 2005 blockbuster, entitled The Dark Knight. He is quoted by website darkhorizons.com as saying, “I actually hate comic book movies. They bore me and they’re just dumb.”
Ledger claims he only agreed to star in the sequel because he liked director Chris Nolan’s work.

The actor explained, “I thought what Chris Nolan did with Batman Begins was actually really good, really well directed, and Christian Bale was really great in it.” Ledger insists his portrayal of “The Joker” was going to very different to Jack Nicholson’s critically acclaimed interpretation in the original 1990 movie Batman. He said, “My Joker is going to be less about his laugh and his pranks and more about just him being just a sinister guy.”



God helps her solve problems

Mariah Carey solves all her problems with a little help from God. The millionaire pop star, famed for her outrageous diva-like demands, claims her entire life has been a “struggle” but insists her faith in the Lord has helped her overcome any adversity she has experienced. She said, “My whole life has been some form of struggle that I’ve had to go through. And I think the main thing is if you’re in a good place, you put your trust in God and focus on your spirituality, everything will turn out the way it’s supposed to.”

Although she has seemingly enjoyed a charmed life Mariah has suffered some upheaval. She has often described her marriage to Sony records boss Tommy Mottola as a “disaster”. The singer was 23 when she first met Tommy, then 43, at a party in 1988. The pair eventually wed in June 1993. They separated in 1997 and divorced a year later. After their split, the Butterfly singer complained her husband had been so possessive and jealous during their marriage he would even spy on her when she had friends over to their house.


 

Andhrapradesh Regional News, Sep 16th,2006

Differences in Congress camp

Kurnool, Sept. 16: The ensuing visit of the All-India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi may be embroiled in a controversy. It is alleged that a section of Congress leaders are not keen on the success of Mrs Gandhi’s visit. It may be mentioned that Mrs Gandhi is visiting the district on September 27 to inaugurate the Kisan Ghat constructed on the banks of Handri river in memory of former chief minister Kotla Vijayabhaskara Reddy and a park. After inaugurating the Kisan Ghat she is expected to participate in a public meeting here.

However, rumours are do-ing rounds that many distri-ct Congress leaders are tur-ning a blind eye towards the arrangements as if it is the responsibility of Kurnool MP Kotla Suryaprakash Reddy to make the public meeting a success. Especially, those who differ with the Kurnool MP are showing disinterest on Mrs Gandhi’s interest. District minister M. Mareppa and a majority of MLAs are not in good terms with Mr Suryaprakash Reddy.

Recognising this, Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had sent district in-charge minister Konathala Ramakrishna to set things right, but to no avail, it is learnt. Mr Ramakrishna is not able to garner support of the Congress leaders for mobilising crowds to Mrs Gandhi’s public meeting. Ironically, Mr Mareppa, Nandyal MP S.P.Y. Reddy and five MLAs were conspicuous by their absence at the meeting. It is learnt that they abstai-ned from the meeting due to the differences they had with Mr Reddy.

There is another talk that Mrs Gandhi’s visit would benefit only the Kotla family, others are not enthusiastic over the programme.
Mr Reddy is facing a charge that he had failed in garnering the support of Congress leaders in the district. At the same time, he is unable to get the support of Congress leaders even in his constituency.

Moreover, the Congress MLAs are differing over the choice of place for the public meeting. While a majority of leaders including the district superintendent of police favoured the APSP II Battalion ground, Mr Suryaprakash Reddy is firm on holding the meeting in STBC grounds.



Policy on acquisition flayed

Visakhapatnam, Sept. 16: Andhra Pradesh Rythu Sangham president and former MLA from Anantapur, K. Ramakrishna on Saturday criticised the State government’s policy on acquiring lands belonging to farmers for the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR) project in Hyderabad.

Addressing a press conference, Mr Ramakrishna said that most of the displaced persons due to the land acquisition for ORR were farmers. He demanded that the government adopt ‘land for land’ policy while paying compensation to the farmers. “Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy had assured in the Assembly that the government will stop acquiring lands for the ORR and also said that a Cabinet sub-committee would be appointed to look into all the issues relating to the ORR, including the land acquisition. But to our surprise the State government had released a notification for further land acquisition,” he said.

Mr Ramakrishna came down heavily on the government saying that it was taking all the lands belonging to farmers without paying adequate compensation in the name of development of special economic zones and industrial corridors. The farmers’ leader pointed out that around 1,500 farmers committed suicide after the Congress government under Dr Rajasekhar Reddy came to power two-and-a-half-years ago. “Nowhere in the country have so many farmers committed suicide like in Andhra Pradesh.

But the AP government still claims theirs is a farmers’ friendly government. If the government is really committed to farmers’ welfare it should wipe off Rs 1 lakh loans which farmers have availed,” he said. The AP Rythu Sangham would devise a strategy to launch an agitation in protest against the alleged anti-farmer policies of the State government at its State council meeting to be held in Tirupati on September 20.

Member of Parliament and president of the All-India Kisan Sabha, K. Chandrappan and general secretary Atul Kumar Anjan would take part in the State council meeting. “We will also discuss about the issues relating to the coconut, groundnut farmers and also the problems faced by the farmers in the drought-hit areas in the State” Mr Ramakrishna said.




Gundlakamma bund breached

Ongole, Sept. 16: About 10 acres land adjacent to the Gundlakamma river diversion channel was eroded due to flash floods near the Gundlakamma river project site in Maddipadu mandal of Prakasam district on Saturday. Owing to heavy rains in the upper reaches of the Gundlakamma river, more than 15,000 cusecs of floodwaters gushed though the river near the project site on Saturday.

As a result, the canal bund eroded causing property loss of Rs 10 lakhs. Chinna Mallavaram villagers are concerned that in case of heavy rain the village would be badly affected by floodwaters. They blame irrigation officials for ignoring their pleas not to construct a diversion channel as sandy soil could not check the flow of water. They suggested that officials release floodwaters near the spillway area. But officials ignored their pleas and preferred the diversion channel.

It is expected that Saturday’s incident would further delay the construction of the project. As the gorge works are underway, irrigation officials have dug the diversion canal to the south of the Mallavaram hill and diverted river water towards the sea. They constructed canal bunds that could withstand flow of 5,000 cusecs of water.

However, on Saturday over 15,000 cusecs of water gushed through the Gundlakamma river. As a result, about 10 acres land was eroded adjacent to China Mallavaram village. Mango, subabul, teak trees and fodder were washed away. Gundlakamma reservoir special deputy collector Sri Latha visited the project site and spoke to project officials. She said that the loss was estimated at Rs 10 lakhs. A total of Rs 1.30 crores was spent for the diversion channel.

Anjan Rao, a villager, criticised officials for ignoring their pleas. Ongole RDO Naga-babu, Veligonda project SE Surya Narayana, special deputy collector, Gundlakamma project Srilatha visited the site and spoke to villagers. They assured compensation to the loss suffered due to flash floods.




Rains benefit upland farmers

Rajahmundry, Sept. 16: Farmers from the upland areas would benefit from the rainfall in the last three days under the influence of a depression in terms of taking up transplantation of paddy during the kharif in areas where floods washed away crops in certain pockets in both East and West Godavari districts.

In East Godavari district, paddy is being grown in about 1.6 lakh hectares in the delta area and over about 50,000 hectares in upland areas. Floods in the Godavari river affected the crops which were in the primary stage over several thousand hectares in the district. Farmers who lost their crops in the floods raised paddy nurseries, especially in Tuni and other areas in the upland.

With the continuous rainfall in the last three days, farmers have taken up transplantation. In other parts of the district like the delta area, paddy crop is at the active tillering stage as of now. It will be premature to predict the yield at this stage. The district received an average rainfall of 16.2 mm on Saturday.

Under the influence of rains and floods, crops over about 30,000 hectares was lost in Amalapuram and some parts of Rampachodavaram divisions. Far-mers in areas like Mamidi-kuduru, Katrenikona and Uppalaguptam suffered crop loss. The government provided seeds at 50 per cent subsidy to the affected farmers, besides input subsidy to the tune of Rs 1,875 per hectare.

The affected farmers managed to take up replantation on about 24,000 hectares and are benefitted immensely with the current rainfall. The government has provided Rs 3,125 per hectare to farmers whose fields suffered sandcast, with about 6,000 hectares affected in the district.

East Godavari agriculture deputy director I. Rama Krishna Murthy said, “In certain areas, farmers have started to raise casuarina as their fields were badly affected. Such farmers can go for early raising of crops for rabi. Farmers in upland areas are being given seeds of pulses and maize at 50 per cent subsidy to help them overcome the crisis.”

The situation is same in West Godavari where farmers from upland mandals will be benefitted with the rainfall. The district registered 492 mm rainfall against the average normal rainfall of 784 mm on Saturday for the season showing some amount of deviation. West Godavari agriculture joint director MR C. Rameswaraiah said, “The current rainfall helps farmers to get rid of Nalli disease to paddy crop.”



Micro-irrigation makes strides

Kakinada, Sept. 16: A change in the attitude among farmers and government support has promoted many to take up innovative methods of farming. Under this backdrop, farming under micro-irrigation has gained momentum during the last four years. The basic idea of effective water management, better cultivation for higher returns with less water resources has gained significance.

Irrigation by means of drip, sprinkler and rain gun has gained popularity among farmers, especially from upland areas. In places where there is water shortage and groundwater availability is low, the process is found to be more viable with good financial returns.

The AP Micro Irrigation Project (APMIP) under the District Water Management Agency (DWMA) has taken up the project for farmers in an effective way in East Godavari district since 2003. The process was extended to horticulture, oil palm, agriculture, sugarcane and mulberry in the district in an extent of 6,000 acres in the first phase in November 2003.

It was completed successfully by March 2006. The entire project was financed by Nabard at acost of Rs 5.26 crores. A fresh target of 5,250 acres was taken up for 2006-07 at an estimated cost of Rs 7.80 crores in several mandals. The process was extended even to the delta areas where water is available in abundance when compared to upland areas. This process is being extended depending on water resources and the needs of individual farmers.

DWMA project director, Dr R. Amarendra Kumar, said the focus is on conservation of water resources with effective management. “We extend subsidy to farmers upto 60 per cent on drip and 50 per cent on sprinkler irrigation,” Mr Amarendra Kumar added.




People to fund for city’s growth

Warangal, Sept. 16: The Warangal municipal corporation (WMC) has come up with a novel scheme, ‘Fund Your City,’ in order to raise money through public contribution for the city development.
The money raised through the contributions from interested individuals and the business groups will be used for the city’s beautification and other developmental activities.

As a first step, various traffic junctions were identified for the beautification and plans are afoot to give a new look to the traffic islands. The Mulug Road Junction was earmarked for beautification in the first phase and a couple of business houses in the city have already responded and contributed funds under the new scheme.

“Beautifying junctions, laying roads, setting up of glow sign boards and even sponsoring the street name display boards were part of the Fund Your City scheme. There is no limit for the contributions from the people,” said municipal commissioner Smita Sabharwal. The main objective is to make the citizens partners in development and make them feel proud about their city.

Talks are also going on with many interested people and shopkeepers regarding the use of their proposed contributions in the city. Initially, it was planned to develop the lower tank bund area of the Waddepally Tank, which is turning out to be an important outing spot in the city. There were also plans to erect foot-over-bridges at busy junctions like Jeevanlal Complex, Chowrastha and other areas to facilitate easy movement of pedestrians.

Many people have already sponsored the signboards which indicate the street names and the lane markings.During the next one month, the projects to be undertaken under the Fund Your City would get a definite shape, municipal officials said.



Parties gear up for Liberation Day fete

Karimnagar, Sept. 16: The stage is set for the celebration of the Telangana Liberation Day on Sunday. All the major political parties, including the Congress, CPI, TRS and the BJP have planned separate ceremonies to pay tributes to the martyrs who laid down their lives in the Telangana armed struggle for the liberation of the Hyderabad State from the Nizam’s rule. The CPI has already been observing the Telangana Liberation We-ek all over the district from September 11.

Both the TRS and the BJP, which have been spearheading the separate Telangana movement, have proposed to organise different programmes in connection with the Telangana Liberation Day. While, the TRS has planned to conduct a meet at the Telangana martyrs memorial in Karimnagar, the BJP has proposed to organise mandal-level programmes.

The District Congress Committee has decided to hold a meeting at the party office in the morning. The district freedom fighters association will organise a flag hoisting ceremony at Swarajbhavan in the city.



Call from girl helps cops bust sex ring

Nizamabad, Sept. 16: Bodhan police busted a women trafficking racket and rescued minor girls belonging to Nizamabad, Anantapur and coastal districts. Police rescued 55 girls from a red light area at Chandrapur of Maharashtra and arrested five organisers, all belonging to Bodhan mandal at Chandrapur.

Speaking to mediapersons on Saturday, district superintendent of police Mahesh Chandra Laddha said that Bodhan police had conducted the raids on Friday night with the help of Maharashtra police. “The raids were conducted because a girl, who escaped from the brothel, telephoned the SP’s office on September 14,” he said.
The arrested were identified as Peeru Bai, 60, kingpin of the racket, Vasanth, Krishna, Gangadhar and Lavanya.

The superintendent of Police said that their modus operandi was to visit villages, identify poor girls and trap their parents by giving them false promises of jobs. and later transport them to Chandrapur for trafficking. The organisers would harass the girls, assault them and sprinkle dry chilli powder in their eyes, if the girls refused to coply with their orders.

The Maharashtra police made arrangements to enable the rescued girls to be sent back to their repective native places. The orphan girls will be sent to the Women and Child Welfare Department to rehabilitate them, Mr Laddha said. He said that they suspect the involvement of some more persons in the racket. A special team with five senior police officers has been formed to bust the racket. “We will arrest the other organizers, who are linked to the racket very soon,” the SP said.



Farmers ‘snatch’ power

Nizamabad, Sept. 16: About 150 farmers of Talla Rampur of Morthad mandal of this district thronged the 33/11 KV sub-station situated on the outskirts of their village and operated the equipment themselves by fixing electric fuses on Saturday morning.

Sources told this correspondent that the farmers reached the sub-station, displaying the dried crops to grill the three APTransco employees present there over irregular power supply. The farmers protested in front of the sub-station for about four hours. They forcibly entered the sub-station and detained the employees there.

On hearing the news, Morthad police arrived there and sub-inspector Rajesh tried to enter the sub-station to release the detained staff, but the farmers locked the gate. Farmers then took electric fuses, fixed these to the sub-station’s board.




City Congress gets new panel

Vijayawada, Sept. 16: Members of the newly constituted city Congress committee were sworn in at a ceremony held at Tummalapalli Kshetrayya Kalakshetram on Saturday . The city Congress committee was formed almost after a decade to appease the local party cadre by allotting them a suitable place. The strength of the committee finally crossed 230.

Hectic activity was witnessed at the venue as the members, along with their supporters, raised slogans and folk artistes presented a cultural programme. Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary and in-charge of city unit D. Satyanaranayana Rao presided over the function.

City Congress president Pyla Sominaidu said, “The city Congress committee members should work towards bridging the gap between the government officer and the public.” He said, “For instance, we will utilise their services at the government hospital to see that necessary medical care is available to the people. Similarly, they will also publicise the various government schemes to the needy.”

The Congress MLAs, MPs and others asked the newly elected members to take keen interest in highlighting the government schemes. Kankipadu MLA Devineni Rajasekhar Nehru, minister for sports and youth affairs M. Satyanarayana Rao, minister for higher education Pinnamaneni Venkateswara Rao and local MP Lagadapati Rajagopal were among those who spoke.



Renuka faces students’ ire

Khammam, Sept. 16: Union Minister of State for Women and Child Welfare Renuka Chowdary lost her temper after being gheraoed by activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI) and Progressive Democratic Students Union (PDSU) here on Saturday.

The student activists who assembled at the Road and Buildings guest house were waiting for finance and health minister K. Rosaiah but when Ms Chowdary reached the spot and got down from her car, they surrounded her and started shouting slogans.

Ms Chowdary, who was taken aback, told the student leaders angrily that their behaviour was deplorable and asked them to apologise. “Is it the way to seek justice?” she asked. “I don’t mind if you submit a memorandum but this is not the way to do it,” she added.

But, the irate students ignored her and continued to raise slogans against the government. SFI leader Y. Kishore said that the government was closing down colleges indiscriminately and was denying scholarships to poor students.The angry union minister refused to take a memorandum from the students and reiterated that they should apologise first.

The students, however, raised slogans and insisted that she should take the memorandum. In the end, police had to undertake a mild lathi-charge to make way for the union minister.




Vizag theatres to shut today

Visakhapatnam, Sept. 16: Cracking the whip against those theatres which were violating stipulated norms, the district administration has ordered stoppage of screening in five theatres in the city on Saturday. The theatres which were ordered not to screen were Leela Mahal, Poorna Picture Palace, Sri Rama, Sri Suryamahal and Rajkamal.

A team of revenue department officials headed by revenue divisional officer (RDO) M. Venkateswara Rao conducted surprise checks upon 14 theatres. The orders were issued for violating the conditions of B-form licenses and for not providing basic facilities to the cine goers. The RDO said that it was found that the owners of the theatres were not providing drinking water, not maintaining required space between the screen and the first row of seats, selling soft drinks at more than the normal price and have not fixed price board.

“The theatre managements did not fix the meters showing the temperature levels in the halls which is mandatory. We have ordered them to stop screening until further orders. Normally we will give the nod for screening after they rectify the defects detected by us. We will again go to those theatres, check them and will give screening orders,” he said.

Meanwhile, the Visakhapatnam Cinema Theatre Owners’ Association has decided to close down all the 125 theatres in the district on Sunday. The move is in protest against the raids on some theatres and subsequent issuance of orders to stop screening of films in five theatres for not providing basic amenities to the spectators. The association members after holding a meeting in the evening informed that the raids were an act of vendetta and demanded that the authorities stop harassing the managements.



No propagation on Tirumala Hills: TTD

Visakhapatnam, Sept. 16: Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanams (TTD) chairman B Karunakar Reddy on Saturday denied that propagation of non-Hindu religions was going on the Tirumala Hills.He said some parties are levelling such allegations to gain political mileage, malign the TTD board and tarnish the image of the State government.

Speaking to reporters at Sri Sarada Peetham in China Mushidivada, 20 kms away from here, Mr Reddy said that even the Pejawar seer had complimented the board after going through the steps taken by the TTD to protect the sanctity of Tirumala Hills.

He denied allegations levelled against the TTD, for its inaction in the issues related to non-Hindu religious propaganda in various educational institutions in and around Tirupati, including Sri Venk-ateshwara and Sri Padmavathi Mahila Universities.

Sarada Peetham seer Swamy Swaroopanandendra suggested that the TTD board must provide medical facilities in the tribal areas of the State with the funds intended to construct TTD kalyanamandapams in rural areas.


 

Hyderabad News, Sep 16th,2006

Indo-Pak talks to resume

Havana, Sept. 16: India and Pakistan on Saturday decided to resume foreign secretary-level talks at the earliest in New Delhi, and to set up a joint anti-terrorism institutional mechanism and to together implement counter-terrorism investigations. Announcing a series of decisions in the presence of Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf after an hour-long meeting here, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said: “We have decided to work for peaceful negotiated settlement of all issues between the two countries, including Jammu and Kashmir, in a sincere and purposeful manner.”

On the Kashmir boundary issue, the joint statement read out by Dr Singh said both leaders had useful discussions. “There is a need to build on convergence and narrow down divergence.” The statement said the two leaders had directed their foreign secretaries to meet shortly in New Delhi to continue the dialogue and to maintain consultations for an early solutions of various issues.

On Siachen, experts from both countries will work on finding a solution to the issue. A joint survey of Sir Creek and adjoining areas will commence by November this year. Discussions will also be held on maritime boundaries. The two sides will facilitate the implementation on understandings reached on confidence-building measures, including bus services, crossing points and truck services.

Gen. Musharraf said: “I am very happy with the talks... I have invited the Prime Minister.” Asked whether he would visit India, Gen. Musharraf said: “If invited, I will go.” Reading out a joint statement, the Prime Minister said he and Gen. Musharraf had cordial, frank and detailed exchange of views on all aspects of Indo-Pak relations. “In furtherance of carrying the dialogue process, we reiterated our commitment to implement the joint statements of January 2004, September 2004, April 2005 and September 2005”, the statement said.

It was agreed that the peace process must be maintained as its success is important for both the countries and the people of the entire region. “We directed the foreign secretaries to resume the composite dialogue process at the earliest,” the joint statement said. Noting that they had met in the aftermath of the July 11 Mumbai blasts, the two leaders said: “We condemn terrorism in all forms.” Dr Manmohan Singh also accepted in principle an invitation by Gen. Musharraf to travel to Pakistan, and said he was looking forward to a “purposeful visit”.

The invitation was extended by Gen. Musharraf during his hour-long meeting here with Dr Singh. “I told the President I’m looking forward to a purposeful visit at a time to be decided through diplomatic channels”, Dr Singh said at a joint media interaction with Gen. Musharraf. Asked whether he would travel to India, Gen. Musharraf said: “If invited I’ll go.” Expressing satisfaction over the outcome of the talks with Dr Singh, Gen. Musharraf quipped: “Mohabbat Zindabad (long live the love).”



Congress will not fight KCR

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: The AP Congress Committee (APCC) on Saturday took another step back in its row with the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), with president K. Keshava Rao stating that the party would not field a candidate against Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao in the event a byelection became necessary to the Karimnagar Lok Sabha constituency.

[Mr Chandrasekhar Rao has been invited by Speaker Somnath Chatterjee to New Delhi on September 23 to discuss his resignation]. “The TRS is still part of the UPA. How could there be a contest against a friendly political party,” Dr Keshava Rao rhetorically asked mediapersons at Gandhi Bhavan. And provided the answer. “The Congress will not field its candidate in Karimnagar should there be a byelection.”

This paper has however already reported that the Congress was hard-pressed to find a candidate against Mr Chandrasekhar Rao if an election came about. What if the TRS pulled outof the UPA? Dr Keshava Rao said: “Dekho tamasha dekho (Watch the fun).” He said the Congress would not fight against the TRS to benefit a third political party.

Dr Keshava Rao denied that the Congress high command had pulled him up for his comments against Mr Chandrasekhar Rao. “No one asked me to resign or apologise. It is all a media creation,” he said adding he had 18 months of his tenure left as APCC chief. He said he would not accept ministership even if offered to him. On the Telangana Statehood demand, he said party president Sonia Gandhi was clear in her views.

“I have not closed my eyes on Telangana. I am still trying for a consensus of the Left parties. Not me, even KCR does not want BJP’s support,” Mr Keshava Rao and Congress MP Madhu Yashki Goud quoted Mrs Gandhi as saying. When would Telangana State be carved out? “I am ready to shout in the streets if shouting will fetch Telangana. If dharnas and rallies would bring Telangana I am ready for them. What is needed is a consensus and the Congress is trying for it,” he said.

Referring to the Pothireddypadu head regulator aimed at diverting Krishna water to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s native Kadapa district, Dr Keshava Rao said the Congress stand was that the rights of farmers in Telangana and Krishna-Guntur districts should be protected. “Water for Rayalaseema should be sent only after the Nagarjunasagar dam is full. There should be no apprehensions on Pothireddypadu,” he said.


5 churches attacked in West Asia

Protests in J&K, UP; Pope upset

Nablus (West Bank) /Srinagar/Lucknow/Vatican City, Sept. 16: Palestinians wielding guns, firebombs and lighter fluid attacked four churches in the West Bank town of Nablus on Saturday, while gunmen opened fire at a fifth in Gaza, following remarks by Pope Benedict XVI that many Muslims view as disparaging.

No injuries were reported in any of the attacks, which left church doors charred and outer walls pocked by bullet holes and scorched by firebombs. Churches of various denominations were targeted. Relations between Palestinian Muslims and the small Palestinian Christian minority are generally peaceful, so the attacks on four of Nablus’ 10 churches, and on the Greek Orthodox Church in Gaza City sparked concern that tensions would widen.

In India, meanwhile, protests against the Pope’s comments on Prophet Mohammed continued in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir for the second day on Saturday, with Muslim scholars and groups keeping up their demand for an unconditional apology. Several groups held protests in Srinagar and the radical women’s organisation Dukhtaran-e-Millat asked people to withdraw their children from schools run by Christian missionaries.

In Uttar Pradesh, protests were held in Lucknow, Kanpur and Allahabad. All-India Muslim Women’s Personal Law Board chairperson Ahaista Amber, who led a march in Lucknow, warned that if the Pope did not offer an unconditional apology, the protests would snowball across the world. The Vatican said on Saturday that Pope Benedict XVI was “extremely upset” that Muslims had been offended by some of his words in a recent speech in Germany, which had spurred demands for apologies from much of the Islamic world.

The new Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, said the Pope’s position on Islam is unmistakably in line with Vatican teaching that says the Church “esteems Muslims, who adore the only God.” Thus, the Pope is “extremely upset that some portions of his speech were able to sound offensive to the sensibilities of Muslim believers and have been interpreted in a way that does not at all correspond to his intentions,” Cardinal Bertone said in a statement.

“On the other hand, faced with the fervent piety of Muslim believers, he has warned secularised Western culture so that it avoid ‘the scorn of God and the cynicism which considers the mockery of the sacred a right of freedom,’” the cardinal said, citing words from another speech that Pope Benedict gave during the German trip. “In reiterating his respect and his esteem for those who profess Islam, he hopes that they are aided in understanding the right sense of his words, so that this not easy moment be quickly overcome,” the cardinal said.

The words, in a speech Pope Benedict gave to university professors on Tuesday during a pilgrimage to his homeland, angered many in the Islamic world and raised doubts over whether a trip to predominantly Muslim Turkey in late November would go ahead as planned. Leaders across the Muslim world have demanded an apology for the Pope’s remarks on Islam and jihad. Meanwhile in Hyderabad, Archbishop Marampudi Joji met Muslim leaders to explain Pope Benedict’s comments. He apologised for the hurt caused to Muslims.

He also met Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy and AP State Minority Commission and other Muslim leaders.The Catholic Bishops Conference of India clarified that the Pope is no way intended to hurt the religious sentiments of Muslims. “I express deep regrets to those who are hurt by this. On behalf of the six million members of the Christian community in the State I convey my apologies to Muslim brethren,” said Joji.


Chinese not given Haj visas in Pak

Jeddah, Sept. 16: Saudi Arabia on Saturday reiterated that Muslims applying for Haj or Umrah visas must be residents of the countries where they make their applications.The statement follows reports from Islamabad that angry Chinese Muslims from the restive province of Xinjiang had protested outside the Saudi embassy in Pakistan.

An official at the Saudi foreign ministry in Jeddah said: “According to Saudi rules, non-Saudis are only issued Umrah and Haj visas in their countries of origin. If a British Muslim were to apply for an Umrah visa in New Delhi, his application would be denied. The individual would have to apply for the visa in his or her country of origin, which in this case would be the UK.”

The foreign ministry official did, however, add that “in very rare and exceptional cases, embassies may provide people with visas but there is a lot of paperwork involved.” The foreign ministry official denied reports that there were any protests outside the Saudi embassy in Islamabad. “Some Chinese Muslims, mostly Uighurs, applied for Haj visas and were informed by (Saudi) embassy officials about the rules.

In their case, our embassy would need a letter of approval from the Chinese embassy in Islamabad and that takes time,” he pointed out. He said it was certainly not Saudi policy to deny visas to Muslims hoping to “come here on pilgrimage, but we do have certain rules to be followed.” According to a report on the Uighur Human Rights Project website, the Chinese Muslims were refused visas to travel to Saudi Arabia “as a result of interference from the Chinese embassy in Islamabad.”

According to UHRP estimates, as many as 6,000 Chinese Muslims in Rawalpindi are awaiting visas. “The vast majority of Chinese Muslims, who are all hoping to perform Umrah and Haj and have travelled to Pakistan on Chinese passports, were told to return to Xinjiang by the Chinese ambassador, and threatened with various punishments if they did not do so immediately,” said the UHRP report.


‘Ultra-thin’ is out: Milan wants healthier models

Milan, Sept. 16: Mayor Letizia Moratti of Milan wants designers to do a little maths before the coming fashion week: calculate the body-mass index of their catwalk models to be sure they meet healthy standards.Like the Spanish organisers who recently banned overly thin models from the shows at Madrid fashion week, which begins on Monday, Ms Moratti echoed that it was time to stop “offering the public an unhealthy model” of the female form and urged designers to adopt less preternatural standards.

Unless a “mature solution to the problem” is found, Ms Moratti told the Milan newspaper Corriere della Sera, City Hall will come up with its own. “We care about the health of our teenagers, and there is a problem of imitation and anorexia,” Tiziana Maiolo, the city councillor responsible for fashion, said in a telephone interview from China. In today’s society, young women are being raised to think that being an American size 10 is obese, she said.

“That means something isn’t working.” The regional government of Madrid, which subsidises the seasonal fashion show, called Pasarela Cibeles, decided that it would monitor the body mass of models after a particularly spindly group strutted down the runway during the last shows. “The weight has been going down and down,” said Cuca Solana, director of the Madrid shows. “We want our girls to be tall, thin and beautiful, but not skeletons, where you can see the ribs not only in the front but the back. Some of those girls were like clothes hangers.”

In the coming shows, models’ body-mass index must fall within the optimal range of 18 to 22 set by the World Health Organisation, which means that a 1.75-metre, or 5-foot, 8.5-inch, model can weigh no less than 55 kg. Body-mass index is calculated in imperial measurements by multiplying weight in pounds by height in inches squared and multiplying by a conversion factor of 703; in metric measure, it is weight in kilograms divided by height in metres squared.

Designers have little leverage to oppose the restriction because the Madrid government foots the bill for everything except the clothes. “All they have to do is waltz in with their collections,” Solana said. So far, fashion show organisers have selected 49 models — and rejected many others — for the shows next week. But industry insiders in Milan, where fashion week is a much more high-profile event than in Madrid, noted that its government did not have the same leverage because it does not support the shows financially.

State is the biggest buyer of Trust land

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: The State government may have bitten off more than it can chew in the Gurukul Ghatkesar Trust lands issue.While it is trying to evict residential plot owners from the land in Madhapur terming them illegal purchasers, the fact remains that a major chunk of the land was purchased by a government agency itself.

Out of 627 acres belonging to the trust, the Andhra Pradesh State Housing Corporation, a State government undertaking, had purchased 167.11 acres. Later, the Swamy Ayyappa Cooperative Housing Society purchased 140.50 acres and the Visweshwaraya Engineers Cooperative Housing Society purchased 49.24 acres.

In the remaining land, a popular cine actor developed Annapurna Gardens in 6.30 acres and Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s brother and Kadapa MP Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy constructed a two-storeyed building for a software company. In fact, Discom authorities erected a separate transformer for providing uninterrupted power supply to the company.

A prominent Telugu film producer, a Telugu Desam leader and a couple of Congress legislators also have stakes in the lands belonging to the Trust.The film star entered into compromise with the endo-wments department for an amount of Rs 3.88 crore in May 2005. He also paid 25 per cent of the price seeking regularisation, but the amo-unt was returned to him af-ter the controversy erupted. It was in 1982 that the AP Housing Corporation purchased the land for housing needs.

However, it was later transferred to the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. Between 1998 and 2000, APIIC allotted the land for Hitex Exhibition Centre, Hyderabad International Convention Centre and Emar Properties for construction of star hotels such as Novotel. “If we are illegal purchasers, then the State government, too, falls in the same category,” said K.V. Rao of Swamy Ayyappa Society. “If our houses are to be demolished, then all these structures should also be demolished.”

Registrations of the lands purchased from the Trust were allowed up to 1999. Later, the government declared all the registrations done up to September 2000 as “null and void.” Meanwhile, sources in the chief minister’s office said that Dr Rajasekhar Reddy had asked the revenue department to find ways to regularise the constructions in the trust land.



Kids grow better with micro aid: Study

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: Children grow well if they get a well-balanced nutritional diet during the schooling years.A study conducted by the city-based National Institute of Nutrition showed micronutrient-rich supplement would increase tissue growth and skeletal shell in apparently normal children.

Schoolchildren who receiv-ed micronutrient-rich food recorded growth of up to three cm in height and four kgs in weight during a 14-month study as compared with children fed with regular normal diet. The city-based reserach institute carried out the study among residential sc-hoolchildren, between six and 16 years of age, in Hy-derabad. In all, 268 children were selected randomly from two classes of each grade (1 to 9) and were provided a micronutrient-enriched beverage.

While 146 got the micronutrient-rich beverage, 122 children received a placebo drink. Bone parametres and bone area at various sites and the entire body were measured with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry at the beginning and end of the study. After 14 months, increments for height, weight, fat-free mass, percentage of fat, whole-body bone mineral content, whole-body bone area and bone mass density at the neck of the femur were significantly greater in the supplemented group than in the placebo group.

NIN deputy director Veena Shatrugna, who conducted the research study, told this correspondent that diets in the boarding school provided 745 mg/d of calcium, including the calcium from milk used to reconstitute the respective supplements. This is the first time that data on bone parametres in children between the ages six and 16 years is reported from India.

The baseline values appear to correspond to reported values from the West. In addition, the beneficial effects of an additional calcium intake of 224 mg with other micronutrients in the supplemented group compared with the placebo group have been demonstrated, she pointed out.

The children in this study belonged to middle-income group from the semi-urban areas of Hyderabad with apparent adequate intake of energy and protein, but intakes of vitamin A, iron, folate, thiamin, and niacin were less than 60 per cent of recommended dietary allowance and calcium intakes were only 700 mg/d which is much below the Western RDAs.



Developed plots plan dropped

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: The State government is likely to go back on its promise to allot developed plots in the growth corridor to those whose lands were acquired for the Outer Ring Road project.Instead, the government is planning to compensate them with agricultural land and certain amount of cash.

Sources said that the cabinet sub-committee finalising the compensation package was working out the payment in two categories. People who lost 80 per cent or more of their land will be given 25 per cent of the land lost and Rs 10 lakh per acre. For the second category, a uniform price of Rs 20 lakh per acre will be paid. About 1,200 acres are estimated to fall in the first category.

The sub-committee chaired by Finance minister K. Rosaiah will meet on Sunday to give final shape to the package. It will brief Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy after that. It is estimated that the compensation package will amount to a whopping Rs 1,000 crore.
Of the total 6,750 acres being acquired for the project, 950 acres belong to the government and 300 acres is forest land. All the rest of the land has been acquired from people.

A member of the sub-committee said that the rethink occurred because of the opposition criticism that the government was destroying livelihood by acquiring agricultural lands. “The idea is that the farmers can continue their profession in the alternative agricultural land,” said the sub-committee member.

In the meeting of the sub-committee, there was a general feeling that the package should be more sympathetic to those who lost more than 80 per cent of their land. “People who lost 50-60 per cent land in the project will get an unimaginable appreciation for the rest of the land abutting the ORR,” said a minister.

“In such cases, the government need not provide alternative land and will just pay compensation,” the minister added. There were also apprehensions on the capabilities of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority to provide developed plots.



Restrict water level in Almatti: AP

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: The State government has sought a direction from the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal to Karnataka to restrict water levels in Almatti dam between June and August, in view of delayed and decreased inflow into the State which force the postponement of the crop calender here.

The State is filing a petition before the Tribunal to that effect, while giving clarifications to various issued raised by the latter in the interim orders given on May 19, 2004. Advocate on Record for the State government T.N. Rao, in his petition, has pointed out that the delayed and decreased inflow into the State was affecting the crop yield and also exposing the crops to cyclones at the time of harvesting.

Mr Rao quoted an affidavit filed by Prof Ramprasad of Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, at the instance of Karnataka government, which admitted that there would be delayed inflow into Andhra Pradesh by three months due to construction of Almatti Dam and that the dependability of Srisailam Reservoir would also come down.

“Due to delayed releases, the command areas under Nagarjunasagar and Prakasam Barrage, which was 19.57 lakh acres before the construction of Almatti dam in 1997-98, has come down to 0.7 lakh acres of paddy and 1.98 lakh acres of dry crop during 2002-03. The Kharif wet crops are affected in the post-Almatti period even in dependable years,” Mr Rao pointed out



Congress admits to power failure, sets up kisan cell

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: The Congress on Saturday admitted that farmers in the State were hard-pressed for electricity in view of the acute shortage of power and increase in demand from the agricultural sector. Though Opposition parties have been blaming the Congress government for acute shortage of power and consequent drying up of Kharif crop, the Congress leadership in the State has thus far remained quiet.

With the Congress activists from districts mounting pressure, the APCC on Saturday announced that farmers in some districts had indeed been put to inconvenience. The APCC has decided to set up a kisan cell at Gandhi Bhavan and form committees at mandal level to ensure that farmers get seven hours of power a day. The State government has agreed to appoint staff on temporary basis to repair transformers. The APCC has also convened a meeting of DCC presidents on September 23 to discuss the problems of farmers and suggest remedial measures to the government.

APCC chief K. Keshava Rao told reporters at Gandhi Bhavan here that instructions had been given to the Congress cadre to meet farmers for a first-hand assessment of the problems they have been facing. “The government should ensure that seven hours of power is supplied to farmers. It should also take measures to curb sale of spurious seeds and fertilisers,” Mr Keshava Rao said. He, however, rejected the demand of the TRS and the TD for 12 hours power supply to the farm sector.



Life convicts donate eyes

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: The most notorious criminals in the Cherlapally Central Prison have come forward to donate their eyes after death. According to jail authorities, 425 out of 925 convict prisoners have given their written consent to donate eyes. B. Venkanna, a resident of Khammam district, who was convicted for life for murder, said “Most of us have committed murders in a fit of rage. We too have hearts. So, we have volunteered to help others to see this world through our eyes.” According to jail officials the prisoners want to give their consent letters on Gandhi Jayanti.

K. Santosh Reddy of Sur-yapet, who was involved in a faction killing, said “For the past 30 months, I am in jail. Usually, people think that the prisoners are notorious. This perception has to be changed. We want to donate our eyes.” Meanwhile, the Lok Adalat, conducted in the prison on Saturday, has settled cases relating to at least 199 persons. They will be released from Monday over the next month based on their sentences.

Cherlapally Central Prison superintendent Jayawardhan said, “The undertrial prisoners who are going to be released are elated over the settlement of their cases.” Speaking to this correspondent, Shaik Aman, a resident of Talapakatta, said, “I was involved in four cases of house breaking. I have been in this jail for past seven months as an undertrial after the Saroornagar police arrested me. I could not secure bail due to financial problems. Now, I pleaded guilty and I will be released as I have already undergone the punishment.”



Baby found, ayah held

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: An abandoned baby who was stolen by an ayah and sold to a couple may finally get a home of her own. Police on Saturday arrested P.D. Sulochana, 38, an ayah of Niloufer Hospital, for stealing the baby and selling her to a childless couple for Rs 10,000.

However, police has taken a lenient view of the couple from Adoni in Kurnool district who bought the baby and has promised to help them adopt her. The 10-day old female infant was found abandoned in the Satavahana Express at Secunderabad Railway Station on August 25. She was shifted to the Sisu Vihar run by the women development and child welfare department and was named Karunasri.

However, she fell sick and was shifted to the Niloufer Hospital on the evening of September 12. But the next morning she was found missing. Police suspected from the beginning that one of the ayahs might have been involved in the incident. Nampally inspector K. Chakrapani said that Sulochana did not go home for two days after the theft in order to keep a tab on the probe and this made the police suspicious.

“We questioned a ward boy who spilled the beans,” he said. “Following this, we questioned Sulochana and later contacted the couple at Adoni”. On interrogation, Sulochana admitted that she took away the baby and gave it to a couple. “But I did not sell her,” she added.
Police learnt that on the night of September 12, Sulochana handed over duty to the other ayah, Suseela. When Suseela went downstairs Sulochana took the baby.”

“There she called up one Shyam and his wife, a childless couple whom she met in the hospital earlier,” said Mr Chakrapani. “On the night of September 13, Mr Shyam and his wife came to her house in a car and she handed over the baby. They paid her Rs 10,000”.
Mr Shyam, a teacher in private school, said that the ayah had told him that the baby was an orphan. “We love the baby very much,” he added.“The couple has no criminal intention so we are going to help them to adopt the baby who has been admitted in Niloufer Hospital again,” said the police.



DGP’s cricket tourney in Oct.

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: Director-general of police Swaranjit Sen said on Saturday that the police would conduct a DGP’s Cricket Cup. The police would also conduct a ‘Star Nite’ of Bollywood and Tollywood celebrities on the final day of the tournament on October 15.
Mr Sen said that the objective of two day tournament was to bring together all the four wings of the democracy, the legislature, executive, judiciary and the media, together.

Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekar Reddy, AP High Court Chief Justice Singhvi and chief secretary J. Hari Narayana would be invited. “To add colour to the tournament, we will be extending an invitation to Tollywood film stars to play the final against a combined eleven formed from the participating teams to entertain the crowds,” he said.



MIM leader hacked to death in city

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen leader Mohammed Afsaruddin Khan alias Afsar Nawab was chased and hacked to death in broad daylight at Amberpet crossroads on Saturday afternoon. Nawab, 48, of Amberpet was reportedly involved in a land dispute and his attackers are believed to be his rivals.

Two persons surrendered about half-an-hour after the incident, police sources said. They identified them as identified as Ghore Mahmood and his associate Yousuf. Deputy commissioner of police, east, B. Balakrishna said that Nawab was not involved in any serious offence and that the murder was the fallout of a land dispute.

Police sources said that preliminary investigations into the murder had shown that Ghore Mahmood was one of the attackers. Mahmood is an former historysheeter and was running a gym, Mr Balakrishna said. “At least three persons were involved in the killing,” he added.
Nawab is survived by wife Muktarunnisa Begum, two sons and three daughters.

Nawab’s brother Moham-med Raheemuddin Khan said, “My brother went to Amberpet crossroads aro-und 1 pm and got down from his vehicle to buy paan. They came on a motorcycle and attacked him with swords.” “They killed him in the middle of the road when everyone was watching,” he added.

Mr Khan said that there was court case going on for the past year regarding a property at Amberpet, Nawab’s associates and relatives closed down shops in the locality after the murder. Police went to the spot and dispersed them.



Man shoots family, ends life

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: Thirty-five Vemula Kumar Goud shot his wife and two children and then killed himself using his licensed weapon at Ghanapur outskirts in Ghatkesar under Cyberabad police commissionerate in the wee hours of Saturday. His son Manjunath, 12, succumbed to bullet injuries. Goud’s wife wife Rajeswari, 30, and daughter Lakshmi, 10, are fighting for life in hospital. Their condition is listed as critical.

Goud of Ram Nagar used to work as a supervisor with an excise contractor. The family had tried to end their lives at a field near their house. In the statement given by Ms Rajeswari and in the suicide note found in their house, the Gouds alleged that they were threatened and humiliated by excise contractor V. Balraj Goud and his brother Venkatesh Goud.
Ms Rajeswari’s father Narasimha Goud said, “I received a call from my daughter around 1 am saying that they were in trouble. We rushed to the spot and shifted them to the hospital.”

Ghatkesar inspector P. Ramulu said, “Kumar Goud had been working with Balraj for the past 15 years. Recently, Balraj Goud slapped Narasimha Goud following a dispute. Angered by this, Kumar Goud had stopped working with Balraj for a month.” “As per Rajeswari’s statement and suicide note they were killing themselves before Balraj eliminated them,” he added.

A case has been booked against Balraj Goud and Venkatesh Goud for abetment to commit suicide. Police said a hunt had been launched for them. Fingerprint experts who were pressed into service by the police ruled out any other angle. The bodies of Vemula Kumar and Manjunath were buried in the land that the family owned near the NTPC plant as was requested in the suicide note.



PCB asks 4 factories to stop dumping

Hyderabad, Sept. 16: In its efforts to reduce pollution in the Kukatpally Nala, the task force of the Pollution Control Board (PCB) has directed four industries located in Balanagar to remove an unauthorised pipeline through which they were discharging ind-ustrial effluents into a nala.

The industries were asked to make arrangements to treat and dispose of the effluents through effluent treatment plants. This was disclosed on Saturday at a seminar marking the international day for preservation of the ozone layer. The ozone layer prevents the sun’s ultra-violet rays from reaching the earth. Global warming, diseases including cancer and respiratory problems and threat to plants and aquatic life is directly related to the disappearance of the ozone layer.

PCB secretary Rajeshwar Tiwari, said that ozone depleting substances should be discouraged from being manufactured. He also mentioned a list of 95 substances which had been identified as harmful to the ozone layer. U-Foam Mattresses chairman M. Sarangapani said that steps to phase out ozone damaging substances like Chlorofluorocarbon were implemented during foam manufacturing. PCB senior environmental engineer Raghavendra Rao said the Montreal Protocol had asked developing countries to a phase out all ozone depleting substances by 2010. “India is ahead of the schedule,” he added.

PM tries to control foreign policy

New Delhi, Sept. 16: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, under orders from the Congress party to appoint a full-fledged minister for external affairs, has been working overtime to ensure he keeps a level of control over essential elements of foreign policy.The appointment of outgoing foreign secretary Shyam Saran as special envoy for the India-US civilian nuclear energy agreement is one such step in this direction, as it will retain the PMO’s control not just over the nuclear deal, but also allow Washington to deal with a pointperson directly answerable to the Indian Prime Minister.

Pakistan and China also come under the purview of the PMO essentially with the MEA having been reduced to a “filing” body with the policy being determined by the Prime Minister in consultation with his select group of advisers. National security adviser M.K. Narayanan is also the special representative for the border talks with China, and works directly under Prime Minister Singh. Former envoy Satish Lamba is in charge of the crucial Track II process with Pakistan and again works under the Prime Minister.

In fact, even after the Mumbai blasts, the Track II interlocutors kept the doors open and have worked hard to put together an agenda for the Havana meet between Dr Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Pakistan high commissioner Shiv Shankar Menon will be taking over as the foreign secretary from October 1, but as his senior colleagues who have now retired point out, the “takeover will be bittersweet.”

He will not have a free hand on the US, China and Pakistan and will have to work under officials far senior to him. Mr Menon will also face some concealed hostility within the ministry, particularly as he has superseded a large number of officials of whom only a few will be effectively re-located. His appointment has created murmurs of discontent within the MEA, with secretary (east) Rajiv Sikri having put in his papers.

Senior envoys see the present exercise as an effort by the Prime Minister to retain control over some crucial areas of foreign policy even after a Cabinet minister for external affairs is appointed. He told reporters accompanying him on his foreign tour that the appointment would be made shortly after his return. Earlier, he had indicated that a foreign minister would be appointed in early September to represent India at the UN General Assembly.

This did not happen and defence minister Pranab Mukherjee is now representing India at the United Nations. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, sources said, is now convinced of the need to appoint a Cabinet minister for the Indian foreign office. India has been under-represented at important international meetings with the ministers of state substituting for a Union minister.

This has been found to be unsatisfactory with several foreign ministers, including Pakistan’s Khurshed Mehmood Kasuri, pointing towards the need for India to have a Cabinet minister for external affairs. The underlying tension between ministers of state E. Ahamad and Anand Sharma, sources said, has not helped with the latter particularly keen to intervene in policy concerning Pakistan and West Asia that the former has come to look upon as his turf.

Congress party whispers suggest that the Prime Minister is not keen to give up the ministry for two reasons. One, the sources said, it will leave him without influence in essential matters of government, particularly as his Cabinet colleagues do not allow him to intervene in the running of their ministries. Two, the sources added, the minister will be a Congress party member and hence more accountable to the Congress president than to him.



India, Burma talks end in accord

New Delhi, Sept. 16: The four-day long 12th home secretary level meeting between India and Burma concluded in the capital on Saturday with the representatives of the two countries signing an accord on mutual cooperation and understanding. The Indian delegation was led by Union home secretary V.K. Duggal and the 12-member Burma delegation was led by their deputy minister, ministry of home affairs, Brig. Gen Phone Swe.

The discussions centred around India’s security concern and issues related to it, such as activities of militant organisations functioning from Burmese territory on the Indo-Burma border, arms smuggling and drug trafficking from Burma into India. Border management issues, including maintenance of border pillars, border fencing and rationalisation of free movement regime between the two countries were also discussed, the joint statement issued by the two countries said. Earlier the delegation also called on Union home minister Shivraj Patil.

Mr Patil emphasised the need to further strengthen cooperation between India and Burma on various issues of mutual concern, including those related to security, drug trafficking and border management.Sharing Mr Patil’s views, Brig. Gen. Phone Swe requested India to provide training to civil servants and police officers of Burma in India to enable Burma to curb such activities better.

Mr Duggal and Brig. Gen. Phone Swe stated that their discussions took place in an atmosphere of utmost cordiality, reflecting excellent bilateral relations between India and Burma. In his meeting with Mr Shivraj Patil, Brig. Gen. Phone Swe also extended an invitation on behalf of his government to visit Burma.The 13th round of the annual talks will now take place in Burma, it was announced.



UP tense over Krishna in jeans

Lucknow, Sept. 16: Dressing up Lord Krishna in a pair of jeans and T-shirt in the famous Bankey Bihari temple in Mathura has caused a furore in the township and has led to public outrage in the state. Members of the Yuva Brahmin Sabha and several other organisations, including the district unit of the Samajwadi Party, burnt effigies of the priests in Vrindavan and Mathura on Saturday and demanded action against the offenders.

Sadhus and saints in Varanasi and Hardwar have demanded that the offenders should be booked under the National Security Act because they have hurt the sentiments of millions of Hindus. According to sources, the sewadars in the Bankey Bihari temple on Thursday — Anand Kishore Gosain and Jugal Kishore Gosain — dressed up the idol of Lord Krishna in jeans and T-shirt.

They even made the Lord wear a watch and carry a mobile in his hands. About 10,000 devotees who were present during the morning aarti at the temple saw the Lord in this unusual attire and even complained about it to the sewadars, but nothing happened. The Lord’s attire was again changed in the evening as per tradition. However, a local news channel, called Neo-News, even interviewed the two sewadars who patted their back for this modernisation of the Lord’s attire.

“It is simply blasphemous. How can anyone — least of all the sewadars — make a mockery of the Lord in this manner. The two sewadars responsible for this should be sacked and jailed. We will not let this matter rest and the VHP will shortly be holding a meeting to discuss the issue,” said another sewadar on condition of anonymity. The district administration, meanwhile, has sought a report on the incident.



Villagers burn hand to prove innocence

Jaipur, Sept. 16: In a shocking incident, at least 40 villagers in Chittorgarh district were allegedly forced by the panchayat to dip their hands in boiling oil to prove they had not stolen some foodgrains. Police arrested five village panchayat members in connection with the case and they were remanded to seven days in judicial custody on Saturday.

The Devgarh police station in charge in the district has been suspended. The panchayat of Ranpur village conducted the orthodox agni pariksha (trial by fire) on September 10 after it was found that foodgrains meant for schoolchildren were stolen on August 31, Pratapgarh additional superintendent of police Om Prakash Bohra said. The villagers were told to dip their hands in a pot of boiling oil and those who suffered burns would be “proven guilty”, he said.



Orissa to fight for IIT aspirant

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 16: The Orissa government on Saturday took up the cause of Balram Tudu, a tribal student who could not get admission into IIT, Kharagpur due to an alleged postal delay. It requested the National Tribal Commission to probe into the incident.

It also requested the Centre to intervene and ask IIT Kharagpur to create a seat for Balram as a special case. Balram who had secured 83rd rank in the IIT entrance examination, could not get admission as the intimation letter for counselling did not reach him on time.

The SC and ST department on Saturday wrote to the National Commission and sought a probe into the delay. It also asked the commission to request IIT Kharagpur to create a seat for Balram as a special case. Orissa Chief Minister Navin Patnaik had asked chief secretary Subash Pani to take up the matter with the premier institute.



Vikram Seth fights against anti-gay law

New Delhi, Sept. 16: Leading writer Vikram Seth launched a campaign on Saturday against a legislation making homosexuality a criminal offence in India, saying the country must fight laws that abuse human rights.In an open letter signed by more than 100 influential Indians and supported by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, Seth said that the law, banning homosexuality had led to public intolerance and abuse of homosexuals in the country.

“This is why we support the overturning of Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, a colonial-era law dating to 1861, which criminalises romantic love and private, consensual acts between adults of the same sex,” the letter said. The legislation, which came into effect during the British rule in India, bans “carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal.”

The novelist, who divides his time between India and Britain, said he launched the drive because he was gay. “The reason why I decided I would participate in this is that I am gay or at least partially gay,” said Mr Seth, author of the best-selling books A Suitable Boy and An Equal Music. Seth, whose writing has touched upon the theme of homosexuality, said that the law would affect millions in a country of 1.1 billion people.

“It (homosexuality) has to be discussed, it’s going to be discussed more and more. One cannot suppress the happiness of 50 or a 100 million people,” he said. The Delhi high court is to hear a petition challenging the law next month. The Indian government, in response to a petition in the Supreme Court, in 2005 said that public opinion in the conservative country did not favour a change in the law.

“It’s a strange argument. The law has to protect the rights of all people regardless of popular opinion,” said gay rights activist Gautam Bhan. “We want to raise public discussion ahead of the court hearing,” Mr Bhan said about the letter to the government and all citizens. “This letter will send a strong message. It will send a message that people care,” Mr Bhan said at the release of the letter at a news conference.

This is the first time such a large number of well-known people have urged the Indian government to act on an issue which has so far largely been taken up by AIDS activists and gay organisations.



Ticketless UP minister fined

Lucknow, Sept. 16: Haji Yakub Qureshi, Uttar Pradesh minister for Haj, is back in news for all the wrong reasons once more.The minister, along with three supporters, was caught by the railway authorities for ticketless travel and had to pay a fine of Rs 14,056 before he was allowed to go.

The minister had boarded the airconditioned coach of the Lucknow Mail at Hapur railway station and was finally caught by the railway authorities at Alamnagar, about half an hour before the train reached Lucknow on Saturday morning. The minister later told reporters in Lucknow that he had a valid ticket with him, but the railway authorities misbehaved with him with the intention of maligning his image.

“I even gave them a photocopy of the ticket, because I feared that they may destroy the original to implicate me. I am writing to the Central government about the incident. The railway authorities acted at the behest of my political rivals who want to defame me. I will reveal their names at the appropriate time,” he said.

The minister added that his name was on the reservation chart at Hapur station and a cabin had been allotted to him in the AC-1 coach. “If I did not have a ticket, how come my name was there in the reservation chart and why was I allotted a cabin?” he asked.



8 held with yellow crystals, police runs uranium test

Bhubaneswar, Sept 16 : Police on Saturday arrested eight persons, including a local politician, and seized about half a kg of a yellowish colour material from Digapahandi area in Orissa’s Ganjam district. Those nabbed during the undercover operation claimed the material was uranium.

The police has sent the substance to the Orissa Forensic Laboratory for chemical analysis to ascertain whether it is really uranium and radioactive, as claimed. Police is taking no chances as the Indian Rare Earths Limited, a government of India undertaking located in Ganjam, was not able to identify the substance , which is in the form of round crystals.

“Scientists at IRE did not rule out the possibility that it was uranium. We rushed the material to the forensic laboratory for chemical examination and analysis, Berhampur SP Rajesh Kumar said According to sources , uranium, usually metallic grey or white in colour, could turn yellow or green in colour and have fluorescence when exposed to certain chemicals.


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