Month: July 2010

Best possible security during Games: CM

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New Delhi, July 09: Allaying apprehensions, Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit today said best possible security cover will be provided to everyone, including the athletes and tourists, during the Commonwealth Games in October.

“Best possible security cover will be put in place in the city during the event,” she said addressing a seminar titled “From Commonwealth Games to Olympics”.

The security aspect of the Games is being looked after by Lt Governor Tejendra Khanna in coordination with the Union Home Ministry.

Experts call for electoral reforms

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Thiruvananthapuram, July 09: Legal experts and politicians today called for a re-look at the electoral process to enhance representativeness of legislators and freeing the system from ominous influences like money power and criminalisation.

Speaking at a seminar on electoral reforms here, CPI national secretary D Raja said it was time for a review of the Representation of People Act and suitable amendments brought in the light of experience in the last six decades.

Orissa Police yet to trace abducted ASI

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Bhubaneswar, July 09: The Orissa Police is yet to trace an assistant sub-inspector taken hostage by Maoists during an attack on a police station in Keonjhar district.

“We are keeping a close watch (on the developments),” Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik told reporters here.

Senior police officers are in Daitari area from where the Maoists had kidnapped the ASI, he said.

ASI Umesh Chandra Marandi was taken hostage during an attack on Daitari police station on Wednesday night, a Maoist leader had claimed yesterday.

Fire in Jammu Mail; no injury to passengers

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New Delhi, July 09: A minor fire broke out in a Udhampur-bound train minutes after it left Old Delhi railway station here tonight, but there was no report of any injury.

Passengers of Delhi-Udhampur Jammu Mail reported smoke emanating between S-2 and S-3 coaches and raised an alarm.

The train had barely picked up speed after leaving at 8.30 pm when the driver stopped it about 100 metres from the station, near Chandni Chowk. The coaches were separated from the train as it pulled back into the station.

Five killed by speeding train in Jalgaon

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Jalgaon, July 09: Five children, including the son of a local corporator, were killed after being hit by a speeding passenger train on a bridge over a river in Jalgaon district of north Maharashtra, police said today.

Two of their friends managed to escape unhurt, they said.

Haj accommodation to be based on set guidelines: MEA

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New Delhi, July 09: Following reports of certain “issues” relating to accommodation of Haj pilgrims in 2008, the Ministry of External Affairs today said it will be based on set guidelines and assured that immediate remedial steps are taken in case of complaints.

“Due care is being exercised to ensure that accommodation hired both in 2009 and 2010 is strictly according to the guidelines laid down by the competent authority and in keeping with the local conditions,” an official spokesperson of the ministry said.

Call rate drops, bond prices decline further

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Mumbai, July 09: Call rates finished lower at 4.00 per cent on the overnight call money market here today in view of ample liquidity in banking system and the Government bond prices declined further due to sustained selling pressure from banks and corporates.

The call money rate ended lower at 4.00 per cent from yesterday’s closing level of 5.50 per cent after moving in a range of 5.70 per cent and 4.00 per cent.

The 7.80 per cent government security maturing in 2020 dipped to Rs 101.02 from 101.36 yesterday, while its yield rose to 7.65 per cent from 7.60 per cent.

PDP not to attend all-party meet

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Srinagar, July 09: Jammu and Kashmir’s main opposition PDP today decided to stay away from the all-party meeting called by Omar Abdullah government on Monday to discuss the present situation in Kashmir valley dubbing it as a “purposeless exercise”.

“PDP is unable to appreciate the purpose of calling a meeting of political parties at this juncture. We see no merit in it and therefore would want to be excused out of this purposeless exercise”, the party said.

Youth arrested for making hoax calls

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New Delhi, July 09: A 20-year-old youth from Ghaziabad who allegedly made three hoax calls threatening to blow up two Delhi Metro stations, has been arrested, police said today.

Anup Kumar was apprehended by a team of Delhi Police’s Special Cell led by ACP L N Rao, Additional Deputy Commissioner (Special Cell) Shibesh Singh said.

A senior police official said Kumar was under the influence of alcohol and wanted to have fun by making the hoax calls.

Jagan yatra: Cong says issue is state specific

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New Delhi, July 09: Congress today refused to be dragged into the controversy surrounding the yatra of Andhra Pradesh MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy saying it was a case of an individual MP and as it was limited to one state, only the PCC president concerned could comment on it.

“It (the yatra) is a state specific issue. This is a case of an individual MP and a state. Only the AICC in-charge of the state or the PCC President can comment on it after ascertaining the facts,” party spokesman Shakeel Ahmed told reporters here.

Jagan supporter served notice over ‘anti-CM’ remarks

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Hyderabad, July 09: The Andhra Pradesh Congress today served a notice to a supporter of Kadapa MP Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy for alleged insulting remarks against Chief Minister K Rosaiah, but the Jagan camp warned of protests if action is taken against him.

The disciplinary panel of the APCC served the notice on Ambati Rambabu, asking him to appear before it on July 12.

12 cops among 20 injured as security forces open fire

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Srinagar, July 09: At least 20 persons, including 12 policemen, were injured today as security forces opened fire on a mob which hit the streets defying curfew and allegedly hurled stones at a police post and a security camp in Kakapora area of Pulwama district of South Kashmir.

The trouble started shortly after Friday prayers when people, defying curfew, came out on the roads in the town, 25 km from here and started demonstrating, official sources said.

Panchayat members held for defalcation of fund

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Rewari (Har), July 09: Four members of panchayat and son of a sarpanch were arrested today for their alleged involvement in panchayat fund defalcation in Jatusana village here, police said.

According to police, the village sarpanch Sukh Deyi had withdrawn Rs 9.34 lakh from panchayat funds in October 2009 for construction of three roads and a drain. But the work was not done and the amount was paid to the construction company entrusted to do it.

The matter came into light after a panchayat member filed a police complaint regarding it.

‘Dhoni would perform better with lady luck’

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Kolkata, July 09: With the lady luck arriving in his life, India cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s performance would improve, former wicketkeeper Syed Kirmani hoped today.

Kirmani, a member of India’s 1983 World Cup winning team, said, “Even the lady in my life was very lucky for me. I hit my first century after getting married.

“Dhoni has always been lucky for the Team India and now he will be performing even better than during his bachelorhood days. A lady always brings luck with her,” Kirmani said on the sidelines of a promotional event here.

Israel unlikely to surprise with Iran attack: Obama

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Jerusalem, July 08: US President Barack Obama said in an Israeli TV interview broadcast today it is highly unlikely the Jewish State would surprise Washington with an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“It is unacceptable for Iran to posses nuclear weapons and we are going to do everything we can to prevent that happening,” Obama told Israel’s Channel 2 television in an interview taped yesterday.

“Neither of us try to surprise each other,” he said, when asked if he was concerned Israel would surprise the US with an attack on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

‘Zaheer’s absence opportunity for youngsters’

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Kolkata, July 09: Pace spearhead Zaheer Khan’s absence from the India-Sri Lanka Test series is a golden opportunity for the youngsters, including Karnataka fast bowler Abhimanyu Mithun, to prove their mettle in the highest level, feels former stumper Syed Kirmani.

“I think, Zaheer’s absence will be a good opportunity for the youngsters to fill the gap. It’s a motivating factor for them,” Kirmani, a member of the 1983 World Cup winning team, said here today.

Kirmani made it clear that he has no doubt about Mithun’s potential but reminded that all will depend on performance.

RBI issues fresh guidelines on credit cards

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Mumbai, July 09: The RBI today warned banks and financial institutions to strictly follow its guidelines on credit cards regarding transparency in charging interest rates and levying other fees on customers or face penal action.

“All banks are once again advised to strictly adhere to the guidelines… both in letter and spirit,” an RBI circular said, adding that the violation would invite penal action.

Centre blocked several mega projects in Bihar: Nitish

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Patna, July 09: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today criticised the Centre for allegedly blocking implementation of proposals for mega projects for ethanol and power in the state and renewed his demand for according a special state status to it.

“Several private enterpreneurs submitted proposals for investing thousands of crores of rupees for setting up projects for manufacturing ethanol and thermal power,” Kumar told a press conference.

Gehlot govt losing grip: Raje

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Kota, July 09: Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje today claimed that the Congress government in the state was losing its grip on its own MLAs whom she accused of defying party whip and indulging in cross-voting during recently held biennial polls to the Rajya Sabha.

SC wants stringent curbs bull fight

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New Delhi, July 09: The Supreme Court today asked the Animal Welfare Board (AWB) and Tamil Nadu to explore stringent measures to deter people from patronising the traditional “Jallikattu” (bull fight) which it said was virtually emerging as an industry in the state.

A Bench of Justices R V Raveendran and H L Gokhale, expressed disatisfaction with the recent legislation enacted by the state to curb the traditional sport and suggested imposition of high deposit fee of Rs 20 lakh and restrict the event to just two months.

NCP pinpricks to Congress

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New Delhi, July 09: In an apparent bid to give pinpricks to major ally Congress, the NCP today announced that it will form a secular democratic front in poll-bound states like Kerala and Assam.

But the NCP tied itself up in knots when it said it will protest against the Union government of which its leader Sharad Pawar is a part.

“We would like to be with the Congress but Congress does not want us to be with them…. If Congress does not give us space, we will try to find our own space,” NCP General Secretary D P Tripathi told reporters here.

Cong staves off embarrassment

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New Delhi, July 09: Congress today sought to stave off an embarrassment by cancelling at the last minute induction of a Bahujan Samaj Party leader from Tamil Nadu after it came to know of pending criminal cases against him.

Some Union Ministers and party functionaries from Tamilnadu and those from the AICC were slated to be present when Selvaperunthogai, a sitting MLA who was recently expelled from BSP, was to join the party.

Blueprint for measurement of TV viewership soon

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New Delhi, July 09: The Broadcast Audience Research Council, an industry body formed to measure TV audience, shall in the next few weeks initiate its blueprint for measurement of viewership.

The blueprint shall capture key concerns, requirements and a proposed road map to the new measurement service.

The research parameters shall be regularly updated so as to reflect developments in delivery platforms, growth in viewership and ensuring financial viability of the service, the Indian Broadcasting Federation (IBF) announced here today.

Forex reserves up at USD 278.27-billions

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Mumbai, July 09: Country’s foreign exchange reserves jumped to USD 278.27-billion for the week ended July 2, up by around USD 1 billion from USD 276.98 billion in the previous week, backed by a healthy growth in the foreign currency assets and gold reserves.

Foreign currency assets, a major component of the reserves, increased to USD 252.129 billion, up USD 746 million from the preceding week’s USD 251.383 billion, the Reserve Bank’s weekly data showed today.

Two arrested for software engineer’s murder

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New Delhi, July 09: Two persons were arrested today here for allegedly stabbing to death a young software engineer for resisting their robbery attempt while he was returning home after celebrating a birthday, police said.

The accused Raju and Shashi also attempted to kill one of their rivals barely 2-3 hours after murdering the software engineer Vivek Bharadwaj in west Delhi’s Janakpuri on July seven.