Month: September 2010

Maintain peace after Ayodhya verdict, urges: Sonia

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New Delhi, September 30: Congress president and United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi Wednesday asked the people to maintain peace and communal brotherhood “at any cost” after the court verdict on the “sensitive” Ayodhya dispute.

“I request you to accept whatever the court’s decision will be and keeping faith in the Indian judiciary maintain peace, mutual respect and brotherhood at any cost. Emotional unity is the greatest strength of India,” Gandhi said in her appeal written in Hindi.

Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka in Hyderabad

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Hyderabad, September 30: Hyderabad just can’t seem to get enough of Ranbir Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra who were in the city on Wednesday to promote their film Anjaana Anjaani. The duo who visited Villa Marie College were, as expected, the cynosure of all eyes. And shouts of “We love you Ranbir” was proof of the Bollywood mania that prevails. The two were gung-ho as they talked about their film, Gerard Butler’s guest appearance and the fact that Anjaana releases a day after the Ayodhya verdict.

Govt may extend ban on bulk SMS, MMS for two more days

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New Delhi, September 29: A cautious Government in all probability
will extend the ban on bulk SMS and MMS services for two more days,
that is till October 2, to prevent any misuse of this technology to
spread rumours or hateful messages in view of the verdict in the
Ayodhya land title suit that is likely to be pronounced by the
Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court tomorrow afternoon,
highly placed sources said today.

The likely decision to extend the ban on bulk messages, already
in place till September 30, is being taken on the advice of the ]

Pamela Anderson ‘blacklisted’ on Google!

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New Delhi, September 29: If someone was to tell you that Pamela Anderson was blacklisted on Google instant search, would you believe him? After all haven’t we all searched the voluptuous beauty online and found her successfully in her various avatars! But the fact is that Pamela Anderson is a blacklisted word on Google instant.

Rapist Inspector Rangaswamy’s anticipatory bail plea rejected

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Hyderabad, September 29: The anticipatory bail petition of controversial circle inspector N Ch Rangaswamy of Madannapeta in Hyderabad has been rejected by the additional district judge of Ranga Reddy.

Rangaswamy, has been on the run for the last few weeks in a case in which he was charged with raping a minor girl. The girl happens to be the daughter of a constable working under him. The police has shown no alacrity in tracking the errant cop.

I never take anything for granted: Tendulkar

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Chandigarh, September 29: Sachin Tendulkar will play his 170th Test at Mohali on Friday but even after over 20 years in international cricket the senior India batsman says he never takes anything for granted and his success is a reflection of his constant hard work.

“There are ups and downs when you complete a circle of life, its not always about being on the top and in life there are ups and downs but it’s important to complete that circle and that’s what has happened in my career,” Tendulkar said on the sidelines of the unveiling of Nike apparels for Team India.

Demand for adding Hindi in UN list increasing: Sibal

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New Delhi, September 29: Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal Wednesday said the demand for getting Hindi included in the United Nations’ list was increasing.

“The demand and support for getting Hindi a place in the UN’s list is increasing,” Sibal said.

Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin), English, French, Russian and Spanish are the six official languages of the United Nations.

Speaking after launching a bilingual website for the Central Hindi Directorate in Hindi and English, Sibal stressed on reducing the difference between spoken and written Hindi.

Mass killings in Maoist-hit areas: Mamata

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Kolkata, Sep 29 (IANS) Railway Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee Wednesday said the West Bengal government was carrying out mass killings in Maoist-hit areas in three districts with the help of the security forces.

“Has the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) been able to restore peace in Junglemahal by clamping prohibitory order and launching joint operation over the past one year,” questioned the Trinamool Congress chief while addressing newspersons at her residence here in Kalighat.

Sangh Parivar should behave responsibly: Digvijay Singh

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New Delhi, September 29: Joining issue with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) which Wednesday attacked him over his remarks about the party, Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh said he would reconsider his statement if the Sangh Parivar organisations behave responsibly after the Ayodhya verdict.

Krishna pitches for urgent reforms of UNSC

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United Nations, September 29: Contending that the UN Security Council should reflect contemporary realities, India today sought “urgent reform” of the powerful UN body to effectively meet emerging global challenges.

“The first step has to be the reform of the Security Council,” External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told the UN General Assembly, noting that “an overwhelming majority” of nations wanted expansion of both permanent and non-permanent seats.

“It is imperative that we take these negotiations to an early and logical conclusion,” he added.

Centre will be responsible for any incident: Mayawati

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Lucknow, September 29: On the eve of the Ayodhya title suits verdict by the Allahabad High Court, Chief Minister Mayawati tonight complained that enough security forces had not been made available to UP and the Centre would be fully responsible if any untoward incident took place.

“The state demanded 642 companies of the central forces against which only 52 companies had been allocated which is insufficient and if anything untowards happens then the Centre would be fully responsible,” she said in a statement read out to reporters by state Cabinet Secretary Shashank Shekhar Singh. .

All 15 acquitted in mosque burning case

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Mandi, September 29: A fast track court here today acquitted all the 15 accused in a case pertaining to burning of a mosque in Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh five years ago.

Pronouncing the verdict, Judge J N Yadav said none of accused was involved in the case and acquitted all of them.

All the 15 were charged with rioting, setting afire a mosque on Jail Road here and obstructing public servants from discharging their duties.

On May 27, 2005, several persons were injured when a youth threw acid on them, according to the prosecution.

Missing Tata Steel engineer traced

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Jajpur (Orissa), September 29: The six-day mystery over the whereabouts of a missing Tata Steel engineer, who was suspected to have been abducted from a project site at Kalinga Nagar here, ended today with the police tracing him at his in-laws place in Karnataka’s Hubli district.

Doctor arrested for death of patient due to negligence

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Bangalore, September 29: A doctor working for a private hospital was arrested today for allegedly causing death of an 18-year-old boy due to negligence, police said.

Nadeem performed a surgery on Rakesh, a PUC student, for a minor nose ailment and the patient did not regain consciousness post-operation. He was taken to another hospital where he was “declared brought dead”, police said.

“Apparently, something went wrong with the dosage of anaesthesia that was administered to Rakesh. We have arrested Nadeem as he was the one who conducted the surgery on Rakesh”, police said.

Power nerve line for economic metamorphosis: Omar

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Jammu, September 29: Describing power generation as vital for economic progress, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah today said a multi-faceted approach has been introduced to harness hydro-electric potential of the state.

“Power is nerve line for economic metamorphosis. Our government is focussing on power sector in a major way. A multi-faceted approach has been introduced to harness hydro-electric potential of the state,” Omar said, while inaugurating the 120 MW SEWA Hydel Project in Basholi belt of Kathua district.

CBI case against Koda aides for cheating bank

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New Delhi, September 29: CBI has registered a case against Binod Sinha and his brother Vikash, aides of former Jharkhand Chief Minister Madhu Koda, and two others for allegedly cheating the Bank of Baroda to the tune of more than Rs three crore.

Sinha, arrested by the agency on September 16, is being questioned by it and other agencies in connection with a disproportionate assets case related to alleged illegal investments in India and abroad involving Koda and others.

India slams Pakistan for terrorism

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Islamabad, September 29: India on slammed Pakistan for sponsoring militancy and terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and said Islamabad should not impart lessons to it on democracy and human rights.

Hitting back at Pakistan a day after its Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi harped on giving the Kashmiri people the right to “self-determination through plebiscite”, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said Islamabad must stop its state-sponsored militancy and terrorism in the state.

Audi launches upgraded Q7 quattro

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New Delhi, September 29: German car maker Audi on Wednesday launched a petrol variant of its sports utility vehicle Q7, priced at Rs.59.29 lakh (ex-showroom Delhi) to consolidate its position in the luxury SUV space in India.

Deliveries for this new variant would begin in January 2011.

“We are confident that it will further help us consolidate our leadership position in the luxury SUV space,” said Michael Perschke, Head, Audi India.

PM calls for calm ahead of Ayodhya verdict

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Mumbai, September 29: A day ahead of the Babri Masjid-Ramjanmabhoomi verdict that will put to test India’s ideal of religious tolerance, India was on alert Wednesday with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, among others, appealing for peace and mutual respect.

While the central and state governments stepped up security to ward off any communal trouble following the verdict on the 61-year-old dispute, some said India had moved on since 1992 when the Babri Masjid was demolished by Hindu radicals who believed it was built on the birthplace of Lord Ram.

Tech Mahindra-Satyam to merge

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Mumbai, September 29: The merger of Satyam Mahindra with its parent firm Tech Mahindra will start after Nov 15 and is likely to be completed within a year, company chairman Vineet Nayyar said on Wednesday.

Before we start the merger process, the company has to be current in terms of its account. That will happen hopefully by Nov 15. Thereafter we will commence the procedure, which involves approaching the high courts of Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, Nayyar told reporters.

5 die in flood-hit UP

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Lucknow, September 29: Five more persons died in flood- related incidents in Uttar Pradesh, taking the toll this season to 420 in the state, officials said today. “Five deaths have been reported from different parts of the state since yesterday as 644 more village were inundated by the flood waters in UP,” a spokesman of Relief Commissioner Office said.

India for urgent UNSC reforms to reflect contemporary realities

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New Delhi, September 29: Speaking at United Nations Genral Assembly, Indian External Affairs Minister SM Krishna on Wednesday demanded reforms in the United Nations Security Council, clearly hinting at the demand of a permanent seat for India.

Addressing the UNGA, Krishna said, “Urgent reform of United Nations Security Council needed to reflect contemporary realities.” “Steps must be taken to expand the council”, he added.

Respect Ayodhya verdict: PC to people

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New Delhi, September 29: Amid apprehensions of breach of peace following the Allahabad High Court’s verdict on the Ayodhya case, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Wednesday appealed to people for respecting the judgment and maintaining composure.

Swine flu claims two more lives in MP, toll rises to 75

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Bhopal, September 29: Two more persons today succumbed to swine flu in Indore, taking the death toll due to the disease to 75 in Madhya Pradesh since August, officials said.

A 30-year-old woman and a 38-year-old man succumbed to the viral influenza at different hospitals in Indore, they said.

So far the disease claimed 32 lives in Bhopal, 27 in Indore, 11 in Jabalpur, four in Gwalior and one in Harda.

Meanwhile, five more persons were tested H1N1 positive here, taking the total number of patients suffering from swine flu in the state to 303.

–Agencies

US Homeland Security apologises to Praful Patel

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Washington/New Delhi, September 29: The US Homeland Security has apologised to Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel who was questioned by the immigration authorities in Chicago as his name and date of birth happened to match with that of a person on America’s watch-list.

Patel, who was in Chicago on a private visit and flew to Montreal for attending an official engagement, was stopped and quizzed at the O’Hare airport.

The Minister was asked why he was visiting the US and whether he had stayed in the country earlier.