Howrah News Service - Latest news and headlines on Howrah and West Bengal

Stay on the death sentence of 2 mumbai blast convicts

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:45:00 -0400

The Supreme Court has today stayed the death penalty of two 1993 Mumbai blasts convicts who were awarded the capital punishment by a TADA court in July 2007. Hearing the petitions filed by Asgar Yusuf Mukadam and Mohammed Mushtaq Musa Tarani against the verdict, the apex court bench headed by Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan issued notices to Maharashtra government and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Asgar Mukadam and Musa Tarani were sentenced to death for planting RDX filled vehicles at the explosion sites on the fateful day of March 1993 that killed 10 people and injured 36.

Hearing other petitions filed in relation to the case, the apex court also issued notices to the Mumbai government and CBI on bail petitions filed by three other convicts of the blasts - Suleman Mohammed Basam Ghawake, Bashir Ahmed Usman Gani and Dawood Phanse.

Thirteen serial blasts rocked Mumbai on March 12, 1993, killing 257 people and injuring around 1400. Around hundred people were convicted in the case including Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt who was sentenced for six years. Presently he is out on bail.

Bal: Big B India’s superstar

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:42:57 -0400

By Our Correspondent

Mumbai, April 7: Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray was cross with a section of the media for twisting his statement made in an item in Saamna last week in the context of Rajinikanth being loyal to Tamil Nadu, the place which gave him his name and fame rather than Karnataka from where he is.

"Mr Amitabh Bachchan is a family friend. I have not spoken or written anything about him. However, the controversy created by the media following the item in Saamna is in poor taste," the Sena Supremo said. He added that his relation with the Bachchans are not so flimsy that the rumours in media could affect the same. At the top of the editorial on Monday, the paper wrote "Mr Bachchan is not an actor of one state but he is a mega star of the country. Let’s not get him in to controversy about his birthplace and work place."

Mr Thackeray was speaking on the controversy played up in the media about the editorial published in the Sena mouthpiece. The media inferred that the Shiv Sena was trying to target Big B passing a message that Mr Bachchan should be more loyal to Maharashtra than his native Uttar Pradesh since it was the former which gave him the status of being one of the most famous Indians ever. The item cited the example of Rajnikanth who was born in Karnataka, educated in Mumbai but got his fame in Tamil Nadu. Rajnikanth sided with Tamil Nadu against Karnataka on the water issue. He said, "Even though Mr Thackeray is news in itself, how come something I never said becomes news? We write many things in the Saamna editorials and even issue special articles on the same if required. That is our viewpoint."

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Big B speaks in Marathi

Mumbai, April 7: Mr Amitabh Bachchan joined superstar Rajnikant in speaking the language of the state where some sections are targeting the Bollywood actor on the "outsider" row in a bid to calm tempers.

Reaching out to Maharashtrians, the Bollywood actor spoke in Marathi language to tell he holds them "close to my heart." (PTI)

BJP to intensify stir on inflation

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:42:26 -0400

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, April 7: The BJP has decided to intensify its agitation against price rise with BJP president Rajnath Singh set to address a rally in Patna on April 9. The BJP is also planning rallies in Mumbai on April 11 and in Ahmedabad on April 12.

BJP spokesman Prakash Javadekar said, "The agitation against price rise is currently in the states. If the results are not seen on the ground, the party will be forced to take it up at the national level."

Mr Prakash Javadekar said, "Inflation management is the primary duty of the Central government in which it has failed. Now passing the buck on the states is an act of desperation and hence deplorable." The BJP on Monday launched a week-long agitation against the government on the issue of price rise and plans to raise it in Parliament.

The BJP on Monday accused the Centre of passing on the buck of taming the price spiral to states and said the UPA’s attempts to wash its hands of inflation was an act of desperation.

The main Opposition party said all effective policy measures to contain soaring inflation could be taken only by the Central government and it is "deplorable" to shift the burden onto the states.

Mr Prakash Javadekar argued that all effective measures like fiscal and import and export policy, giving more teeth to the laws dealing with essential commodities, regulation of forward and futures trading, crackdown against cartelisation and duty restructuring rest with the Centre.

Attacking the Central government on the issue of price rise, the Leader of Opposition L.K. Advani said the common man would make the Congress pay a heavy price for the government’s failure to contain inflation.

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Yechury meets Cong chief on price hikes

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, April 7: After the just concluded 19th party congress, CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury met UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Monday and briefed her about deliberations at the meet, including the burning issue of price rise and concern over the escalating inflation in the country.

Mr Yechury, who met Mrs Gandhi in a one-to-one meeting late on Monday afternoon, stressed on the need to implement a complete ban on future trading on commodities. He informed Mrs Gandhi about the public distress over rising prices of essential commodities and the need to control it, informed party sources. He told her about the points the party has been stressing on to control inflation.

Congress angered by Maya remark

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:42:40 -0400

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, April 7: The Congress on Monday hit back at BSP chief Mayawati for her allegation that AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi bathes with a "special soap" after his visit to dalit homes, saying she was "jealous" and "scared" of the "extremely successful" visits of the young leader.

"I might not use such language as some other person or party. They are jealous and scared of the extremely successful visits of Rahul Gandhi," AICC spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters. "Instead of shedding crocodile tears for such groups, Rahul Gandhi has shown true concern for them," he said.

"I don’t want to react in the same idiom and make the same choice of words which have been used because I don’t believe in this. I believe that in democracy there must be dignity of discourse," Mr Singhvi said.

He said if Mr Gandhi’s "extremely successful" yatras are causing alarm and "stomach aches" to someone or some political party, then "I could only say it reflects their own inherited insecurity and does not have anything to do with Rahul Gandhi, who, in a very candid, sincere, open and transparent spirit, is criss-crossing different parts of India."

India seeks energy cooperation with Kazakhstan

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:43:00 -0400

India today sought Kazakhstan's help to ensure its energy security as the two countries agreed to enhance bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

"We held discussions on means of increasing bilateral trade and expanding the areas of economic cooperation, particularly in the hydrocarbon sector," Vice President Hamid Ansari said after delegation level talks with his Kazak counterpart Kassym Jomart Tokayev in Kazak capital.

The parleys saw Kazakhstan extending its support for India's membership in an extended United Nation Security Council with Tokayev hailing New Delhi as a "reliable partner" of Astana in international forum.

Kazakhstan, the biggest of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries after Russia, is among the top ten countries in terms of hydrocarbon energy reserves as also mineral resources including uranium.

The Kazak leader said that the two sides had reached an agreement on setting up a friendship group. Khazakhstan has been consistently supporting India's representation in an expanded UNSC.

Addressing the Kazakhstan Senate, Ansari, who also met Kazakhstan Prime Minister Karim K Massimov said, "Greater economic engagement between India and the countries of the Central Asian region is not only mutually beneficial for the countries but also for the whole region and the world." .

Describing Central Asia as "our extended neighbourhood,"he said with the economies of India and Kazakhstan registering impressive growth, there are "wide ranging opportunities" to expand areas of economic cooperation.

The Vice President also expressed India's readiness to cooperate in the higher education sector by sending Indian professionals in Kazak and training Kazakh students and professionals in various disciplines in India.

‘Climate change to affect health’

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:40:11 -0400

By OUR CORRESPONDENT

New Delhi, April 7: India may play host to a plethora of health problems as a result of global warming, the WHO has warned. The WHO said on Monday that vector and water-borne diseases can especially see an increase in the northern region of the country as a result of climate change. The six health concerns likely to arise due to climate change in the region are — respiratory diseases, vector-borne diseases, water-borne diseases, malnutrition, injuries and psychological stress.

Talking about the ‘’serious and damaging’’ effects of climate change on human health, WHO representative in India Salim Habayeb said, "The window of transmission for a disease like malaria would go up by nearly three months. Other vector-borne diseases would see a rise in northern region of the country." Speaking to to reporters on the occasion of World Health Day, WHO regional director Samlee Pilanbangchang said, "Air quality will suffer greatly and respiratory diseases will increase." "Heat waves will be more intense and of longer duration, mainly affecting the most vulnerable populations in children and elderly through heat strokes and cardiovascular complications," he said, adding that six health outcomes are likely to be affected by climate change in the region.

Stating that the most vulnerable in the region will be the poor, the WHO warned that while in Bangladesh, production of rice and wheat might drop by 8 per cent and 32 per cent, respectively, by the year 2050, for India, recent studies predict a 2-5 per cent decrease in yield potential of wheat and maize for a temperature rise of 0.5 to 1.5°C. "The net cereal production in South-East Asian countries is projected to decline by at least 4 to 10 per cent by the end of this century under the most conservative climate change scenario," it said.

Warning governments against taking the threat of climate change lightly, chairperson of the Inter-Governmental Panel for climate change R.K. Pachauri said in a message, "though as of now there is no evidence to link the changing disease patterns to climate change, if we wait for evidence before taking any action, it might be too late".

BJP wants legal action against PDP president

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:41:08 -0400

By OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Srinagar, April 7: The BJP has asked for initiating legal action against People’s Democratic Party (PDP) president Mehbooba Mufti for suggesting a dual power sharing on Jammu and Kashmir during her recent trip to Pakistan.

Senior BJP vice-president and Rajya Sabha member Shanta Kumar, in charge of Jammu and Kashmir, told a press conference in Jammu that his party will not tolerate such utterances which, he asserted, undermines the sovereignty of the country. "We stand for total integrity of Jammu and Kashmir with our great nation and oppose all such nefarious designs perpetrated by the (Kashmir) Valley centric parties with an aim to garner votes ahead of elections," Mr Kumar said.

He pointed out that Parliament passed a resolution in 1994 setting at rest all speculations about the status of Jammu and Kashmir, including the part of its under Pakistan’s occupation. "We all stand by it and there is no question of changing this stand," he said.

Mr Kumar released a 7-minute DVD titled Maa Tujhe Salam depicting flag hoisting ceremony at Srinagar’s historic Lal Chowk (Red Square) by BJP leader N.P. Singh.

Congress defends induction of Gill

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:39:55 -0400

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, April 7: The Congress on Monday defended the induction of former Chief Election Commissioner M.S. Gill as a minister of state in the Union Cabinet after the BJP raised questions of propriety.

"If Gill has been a member of Parliament for the last several years, I would like to ask whoever is objecting in the BJP how he has been an MP for several years but is suddenly ineligible to become a minister," AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi told reporters here. "Fortunately, the BJP doesn't decide the UPA government's ministerial reshuffle. I think it will be a very sad day when the Opposition starts deciding that," he said. The BJP sought to raise a question of propriety over Mr Gill's induction, saying that giving ministerial berths to those who have held constitutional posts can be interpreted as "rewards for past work". Mr Gill, 72, has been given the youth affairs and sports portfolio.

Congress insiders, meanwhile, said Mr Gill's inclusion in the Council of Ministers should be seen as an effort to ensure that preparations for the Commonwealth Games in 2010 are completed in time. "His administrative ability will be useful here and he has also been a sportsman himself," a leader said.

Mr Singhvi also hailed Tamil Nadu chief minister M. Karunanidhi.

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CM says thanks

Mumbai, April 7: Maharashtra chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh on Sunday thanked Congress president and UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi for making it clear that there was no threat to his position.

"It was very important for this message to go to the people. It is good that it has come from Mrs Gandhi herself. I hope speculation doing the rounds in the media for some months now will end as this was giving an impression of instability in the state," he said here.

He lamented a trend has emerged in recent times in media about speculation over his impending ouster from the CM's post and every time it was left to him to clarify. (PTI)

Maha PCC chief calls on Sonia

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:37:08 -0400

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, April 7: Maharashtra PCC chief Prabha Rau on Monday met Congress president Sonia Gandhi at a time when chief minister Vilasrao Deshmukh’s detractors have stepped up their campaign against him within the party.

"The meeting lasted nearly 15 to 20 minutes," sources close to Ms Rau said here on Monday night. Ms Rau, who has been camping in New Delhi for the last few days, is said to have submitted a report to Mrs Gandhi on the defeat of Congress nominee Sudhakar Gangane in the recent elections to the Legislative Council. She also requested Mrs Gandhi to address more public meetings in the state on the farm loan waiver issue. Ms Rau later met the AICC general secretary in charge of party affairs in Maharashtra, Ms Margaret Alva, and apprised her of her meeting with Mrs Gandhi, sources said. On Sunday, Mrs Gandhi had virtually given a clean chit to the chief minister, saying his position was "very stable". Meanwhile, AICC spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi, in reply to a question on whether Mr Deshmukh was on his way out, said, "You have already heard the answer to that question yesterday."

Speaker panel idea not dropped: Ravi

Mon, 07 Apr 2008 16:35:04 -0400

By Our Special Correspondent

New Delhi, April 7: Parliamentary affairs minister Vayalar Ravi on Monday said the government has not dropped Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee’s "good idea" on the setting up of a permanent mechanism to decide the salaries and allowances of MPs.

"The government has only decided to keep it pending for the next Lok Sabha. It is not rejected. The idea is good," Mr Ravi, who was given additional charge of parliamentary affairs, said when asked about the Speaker’s unhappiness at the Union Cabinet deferring the issue in the last Cabinet meeting. He was talking to reporters after taking additional charge of the parliamentary affairs portfolio.

Noting that the government has welcomed the idea mooted by the Speaker, he said it was felt that the present Lok Sabha might not be able to implement it and decided to leave it to the next House.

After the Cabinet decided to put off the issue, an upset Speaker had said it was a matter of great sorrow that a resolution unanimously adopted at an all-party meeting.