News

Jats threaten to seal Delhi border

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New Delhi, September 23: Leaders of Haryana’s Jat community on Thursday threatened to block Delhi’s borders Oct 3 when the Commonwealth Games open if it was not promised jobs quotas by then.

The Jats are seeking reservation in government jobs and educational institutions and also a status as other backward class (OBC).

“So far we have not got any satisfactory reply from the Haryana government. We have decided to intensify our peaceful campaign. We will seal the Delhi borders Oct 3,” Yash Pal Malik, president of the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti, said on Thursday.

Ayodhya verdict deferred by one week

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Mumbai, September 23: In a significant decision, the Supreme Court has deferred the much awaited verdict on Ayodhya/Babri Masjid by one week.

Hearing a deferment plea, the apex court stayed the September 24 Allahabad High Court Ayodhya Verdict.

A retired bureaucrat Ramesh Chandra Tripathi approached the Supreme Court on Wednesday after the Lucknow Bench of Allahabad High Court dismissed his reconciliation plea and imposed a fine of Rs 50,000.

The Supreme Court has fixed September 28 for the next hearing.

Pakistan banned five armed groups

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Islamabad, September 23: Pakistan’s interior ministry on Thursday banned five armed outfits in southwestern Balochistan province.

Anti-state organisations like the Baloch Republican Army, Baloch Liberation Army, Baloch Liberation United Front, Baloch Armed Defence Organisation and the Baloch Liberation Front have been banned and all their assets have been frozen, Online news agency reported citing an interior ministry statement.

—Agencies

CGF Chief Fennell arrives in Delhi

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New Delhi, September 23: Commonwealth Games (CWG) Federation Chief Michael Fennell arrived in India on Thursday evening.

Fennell is likely to meet the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit.

Also read: Fennell may ask PM to intervene

Fennel will also oversee the accommodation facilities in Games Village, which was thrown open on Thursday morning for the players from the participating countries.

Earlier, Fennell on Monday had given ultimatum to the government to sort out issues in the residential zone of the Games village

Lalu launches son Tejaswi in politics

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Mumbai, September 23: Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad’s cricketer son Tejaswi Yadav will campaign for the party during the Bihar assembly elections in October-November.

Lalu Prasad on Thursday introduced his son Tejaswi at a press conference here and formalised his entry into politics by announcing that he would campaign for the RJD-Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) combine in the assembly polls.

“My son Tejaswi will campaign during the assembly polls,” Lalu Prasad announced, with a big smile.

Iran criticises Russia over S-300 missile deal ban

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Tehran, September 23: The Iranian defence minister has criticised Russia for banning all sales of S-300 anti-aircraft missile systems to Iran.

Today’s comments by Gen Ahmad Vahidi come a day after Russian President Dmitry Medvedev issued a decree on the ban.

Russia signed a 2007 contract to sell the sophisticated systems that could boost Iran’s ability to defend against air strikes.

Israel and the United States have objected to the deal, and no such missiles have been delivered yet.

Villagers block road over farmer’s suicide

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Bhubaneswar, September 23: Hundreds of villagers Thursday blocked a road in Orissa’s Bargarh district for more then three hours demanding compensation to the family of a farmer who allegedly committed suicide after failing to repay a loan, police said.

The farmer Kalia Beriha, 22, a resident of Tenganpali village, some 460 km from here, committed suicide by hanging himself from a tree Wednesday near his crop field, police officer T. Bag told.

IMD predicts minimum rains during Commonwealth Games

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New Delhi, September 23: After an extended monsoon wreaked havoc on the preparations of the Commonwealth Games, the Meteorological department today came out with some positive news that there would be no or minimal rainfall during the sporting event to be held between October 3 and 14.

“There will either be no or just scanty rain in the first fortnight of October. If at all, then only 15-20 per cent chances are there of showers,” Dr Ajit Tyagi of Indian Meteorological Department said here.

Everything will be ready on time: Kalmadi

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New Delhi, September 23: Amid concerns of safety and hygiene expressed by some participating nations, Commonwealth Games Organising Committee (CGOC) chairman Suresh Kalmadi said Thursday that he has not received any letter of withdrawal from any country and also declared that all the 71 chefs de mission are now happier than ever before.

“I have not received any letter from any member country. We had a meeting with all the chefs de mission in the morning and they are now happy,” said Kalmadi.

Muslim Personal Law Board terms Supreme Court order ‘unfortunate’

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Hyderabad, September 23: The All India Muslim Personal Law Board, the apex body of Indian Muslims, Thursday termed as “unfortunate” the Supreme Court order deferring the pronouncement of the verdict in the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi case.

The board demanded immediate pronouncement of the court saying “we must face the truth”. It suspects malafide intentions behind the petition against delivering of the verdict.

US still open to diplomacy with Iran: Obama

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Washington, September 23: The US remains open to diplomatic negotiations with Iran to resolve the dispute over the Islamic state’s nuclear activities, US President Barack Obama said Thursday.

Speaking at the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York, Obama called on Iran to demonstrate that its nuclear work is solely for peaceful purposes and not designed to a acquire an atomic weapon.

“The US and the international community seek a resolution to our differences with Iran, and the door remains open to diplomacy should Iran choose to walk through it,” he said.

–Agencies

No rains during Commonwealth Games: Prithviraj Chavan

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New Delhi, September 23: Allaying fears that rains may play spoilsport during the Commonwealth Games, Science and Technology Minister Prithviraj Chavan Thursday said that weather predictions show that it would not rain during the mega sporting event.

“The northwest monsoon will begin to withdraw from northern India by Sep 27 and there is no possibility of rains during the Games,” Chavan told reporters.

Delhi, this year, has reported the wettest September in past several years. The Games Organising Committee has been apprehensive about possibility of rains during the Games.

No outright ban on cotton exports: Pawar

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New Delhi, September 23: Amid demands from the textile ministry for freezing cotton exports for the next three months, Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar today made it clear that no outright ban will imposed in the interest of farmers.

“Textile industry is making noise, but this is the golden opportunity for farmers to get some better price,” Pawar told reporters here.

He said while the interest of the domestic industry needs to be protected, “I will not accept total ban.”

Obama for urgency in Israeli-Palestine peace deal

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Washington, September 23: US President Barack Obama will underline the need for urgency in an Israeli-Palestine peace pact and call upon world leaders to help seal a deal in his address to the UN today.

“Consider the alternative. If an agreement is not reached, Palestinians will never know the pride and dignity that comes with their own state. Israelis will never know the certainty and security that comes with sovereign and stable neighbors who are committed to co-existence,” Obama will tell the UN General Assembly in New york.

Omar hopeful of a positive outcome from all-party visit

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Jammu, September 23: Advocating sustained dialogue with the Centre for settling issues in Jammu and Kashmir, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said he was hopeful something positive would emerge from the all-party delegation’s visit to the state.

“We are hoping for a positive outcome. We appreciate the current visit of the all party delegation. Sustained interactions are a must to move ahead purposefully to settle issues amicably”, Omar told civil society representatives in Doda and Kishtwar districts.

Mirwaiz, Malik welcome UN’s call for restraint to Army

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Srinagar, September 23: Hurriyat moderates and JKLF today welcomed the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon’s statement asking the security forces to exercise restraint while dealing with protesters in Kashmir.

“We welcome the statement of the UN Secretary General and are hopeful that he will use his office to put an end to the unabated killings, atrocities and curfew in the valley and help in resolving Kashmir issue,” moderate faction of Hurriyat Conference chairman the Mirwaiz Umer Farooq said in a statement here.

Cong welcomes SC order on deferring Ayodhya verdict

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New Delhi, September 23: Congress today hailed the Supreme Court order staying by a week the Ram Janambhoomi- Babri Masjid title suit verdict, saying the party has always given first priority to a solution arrived through mutual agreement.

“The Supreme Court has given the order with good intentions and everybody should welcome it. Congress has always believed that the first priority is that the issue is resloved through mutual understanding, goodwill and appreciating the feelings of each other.

Anand refuses to become part of CWG mess

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New Delhi, September 24: World chess champion Viswanathan Anand does not wish to become part of the chaos and controversy surrounding the Commonwealth Games here and only wants to focus on the number of medals India would win in the October 3-14 event.

“I really don’t want to become a part of all this (mess).

I don’t wish to comment on what’s going on. At the moment, I am just hoping that we (India) win lots of medals. I am concerned about our medal tally.

Maoists have to be tackled politically: Buddhadeb

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Kolkata, September 23: Admitting that the police and administration had failed to rid Maoist menace in West Bengal, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today said that the ultras have to be tackled politically as it was done in 1977 when the Left Front came to power.

“This time too we will be able to deal with Maoists politically and that is the only way out,” Bhattacharjee told a primary teacher’s rally while stating that the administration and police had failed to counter the problem.

State-wide alert to remain in WB: Buddhadeb

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Kolkata, September 23: Despite the Supreme Court staying pronouncement of the verdict on the Ayodhya title suit for a week, the state-wide alert will remain in West Bengal.

“The state-wide alert will remain despite the Supreme Court’s stay on Allahabad High Court verdict in Ayodhya title suit for a week,” Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee told reporters here today.

State Home Secretary Samar Ghosh and DGP Naparajit Mukherjee held a high-level meeting with senior police officers at the police headquarters at Lalbazar to review security measures.

–Agencies

Tendulkar salutes ‘Magnificent Mary’

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New Delhi, September 23: Star cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has become the latest to heap praise on Indian woman boxer M C Mary Kom for her unprecedented feat of five world titles, describing her achievements as “remarkable”.

The 27-year-old mother-of-two from Manipur is the only woman boxer to clinch a medal at each of the six World Championships, starting with a silver in the inaugural edition in 2001.

And Tendulkar, an iconic figure in international cricket, lauded the diminutive boxer after coming back from South Africa from the Champions League Twenty20.

Rahul meets students protesting his visit

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Dibrugarh (Assam), September 23: Rahul Gandhi today took by surprise a group of students protesting his visit to the Dibrugarh University when he got down from his vehicle and spoke to them amid slogans of “go back, go back”.

Wearing black badges and holding banners, the Post Graduate Students Union (PGSU) members said his visit was for political reasons and accused the vice-chancellor of inviting him without consulting them.

I”m disappointed with stars pull out of CWG: Saina

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Mumbai, September 23: Ace shuttler Saina Nehwal fears that mass pull out by top athletes from the Commonwealth Games will rob spectators of a chance to witness some great contests. Reports of tourist-attack and foot-bridge collapse, coupled with fears of dengue epidemic and doubts over hygiene of Games Village have let to the withdrawl of many top stars and Saina said she is disappointed.

Hyd police slap 3 cases against Vedanti

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Hyderabad, September 23: The Hyderabad Police today slapped three cases against the senior Sangh Parivar leader and former BJP leader Ram Vilas Vedanti for making inflammatory speeches during the Ganesh immersion.

According to the sources the sleuths of Special Branch and Intelligence Department have recorded Vedanti’s speech yesterday and after the analysis of speeches the city police has decided to book a case against him.

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26/11 case: Faheem Ansari remanded in 14-day judicial custody

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Mumbai, September 23: Faheem Ansari, who was acquitted in the 26/11 terror attack case, was today produced before a sessions court which sent him to 14-day judicial custody. The sessions court had on August 29 issued production warrants against Faheem and Sabauddin as the Bombay High Court had admitted the prosecution”s appeal against their acquittal in the terror attack case.