Month: January 2011

We empowered Fabindia family in 50th year: William Bissell

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New Delhi, January 02: Fabindia, the flagship store for Indian handloom textiles and apparel, has empowered its nearly 700 employees by giving them a stake in the company on its 50th birthday in 2010, the firm’s managing director William Nanda Bissell said.

‘We have made nearly 700 employees shareholders of the company this year. We felt that it went with the beliefs of the company. As stakeholders, they have developed a sense of ownership towards the company,’ Bissell, 43, told IANS in an interview here.

11 killed in separate road accidents in AP

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Hyderabad, January 02: Eleven persons, including two engineering students, died in separate road accidents in Andhra Pradesh today, police said.

Four persons, including a woman, were killed and two others injured after a speeding lorry hit the auto-rickshaw, in which they were travelling, from the rear-side on Gajwel-Pragnyapur route in Medak district at around 3:30 PM, they said.

Prince Harry to return to Afghanistan: Report

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London, January 02: Prince Harry is to return to serve in Afghanistan again, before the British troops are completely withdrawn from the war-ravaged country, a media report said.

According to insiders at a helicopter training centre, where the third-in-line to the British throne is learning to fly the Apache gunship, all students who pass the course will be deployed in frontline positions in Afghanistan, the ‘Sunday Express’ reported.

In March, Harry’s training will transfer to Scotland, where mountainous terrain resembles that in Afghanistan.

Pakistan, India cannot afford war: Gilani

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Islamabad, January 02: India and Pakistan cannot afford war, Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has said, stressing that dialogue is the only way to resolve outstanding issues between the two neighbours.

Responding to a question on India-Pakistan relationship during his maiden appearance in a live television show, the prime minister said dialogue is the only way forward because both the countries cannot afford war.

Onion prices off peak by Rs15-25

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New Delhi, january 02: Onion prices continue to rule at high levels in metros across the country, where the staple vegetable is being sold for Rs40-65/kg, depending on the quality.

Onion prices stood at Rs40-50 per kg in the retail markets of the national capital, Mumbai and Kolkata today, but the commodity was dearer in Chennai, at Rs60-65 per kg, according to reports from these centres.

Traders in Delhi’s Azadpur mandi said onion prices are unlikely to witness a sharp fall before the arrival of fresh crops, which is expected to begin by the middle of this month.

Pune FC to lock horns with Air India

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Kolhapur, January 02: Pune FC begin their New Year campaign with an aim to improve their unimpressive I-League record against bottom-placed Air-India in a round seven encounter at the Rajarshi Shahu Stadium here tomorrow.

Two losses to the Mumbai side makes the clash a dead-serious affair despite PFC going into the game, buoyed by the win against Salgaocar SC as compared Air India who were handed a humiliating 1-6 defeat by East Bengal at Kolkata.

To make matters worse, PFC so far have not managed force a win during their visits to Kolhapur which includes a loss and a draw.

BJP demands CBI probe into Maoist encounter of Dec 28

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Bhubaneswar, January 02: Accusing Orissa police of killing two civilians under the garb of an anti-Maoist operation in Bargarh district, BJP today demanded a CBI probe into the incident and Rs 25 lakh compensation to each victim’s family.

“The incident of December 28 should be investigated by CBI as one of the deceased has been identified as a BJP functionary,” BJP’s state unit President Jual Oram and party MLA J N Mishra told reporters here.

Agnivesh to move court against scams in UPA Govt

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Kolkata, January 02: Social activist Swami Agnivesh, as part of a citizen’s forum, is planning to move court in public interest against alleged corruption in the UPA government.

An FIR has been lodged with the Parliament Street police station, but it was yet to be registered, Agnivesh told reporters.

“We don’t have any agency to work against corruption, since the CBI is not allowed by the Centre to work independently and the CVC has no power at all,” he claimed.

“Many eminent personalities and celebrities had supported the proposal,” Agnivesh said.

–Agencies

Price rise matter of concern: Pranab

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Kolkata, January 02: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee today said price rise is a matter of concern and hoped that with steps being taken by the government, food inflation which has shot up to 14 per cent, may come down to 6.5 per cent by March end.

“I will definitely say that price rise is a matter of concern. But that we have failed I cannot accept because in last November the rate of food inflation was 21 per cent which has come down to 8.97 per cent,” Mukherjee said at a press conference here.

Advani compares the Emergency to Germany’s Nazi rule

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New Delhi, January 02: Senior BJP leader L K Advani today compared days of the Emergency in the country to the infamous Nazi rule in Germany under Adolf Hitler during which lakhs of jews were killed.

Advani headlined his latest blog posting, “Emergency of 1975 akin to Nazi rule”.

PM arrives on two-day visit to city

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Chennai, January 02: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh arrived here tonight on a two-day visit to the city to participate in the 98th Indian Science Congress.

Singh, who arrived here by a special aircraft, was received at the airport by Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister M K Stalin, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Union Textile Minister Dayanidhi Maran and a host of senior state Ministers and government officials.

Zardari signs into law key bill on appointments in top courts

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Islamabad, January 02: President Asif Ali Zardari has signed into law a key constitutional amendment bill aimed at resolving the judiciary-executive differences by changing the process of appointments in Pakistan’s superior courts, calling it “a New Year’s gift” for the country.

Zardari gave his formal assent to the 19th Constitutional Amendment Bill last evening at a ceremony in Karachi, where the President was camping.

Chidambaram’s letter on the basis of proof: Pranab

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Kolkata, January 02: Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee Sunday said Home Minister P. Chaidambaram’s letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee asking him to rein in armed cadres of the ruling Marxists was based on “proof and information”.

“The union home minister, on the basis of proof and information, has sought the chief minister’s opinion on certain issues. And he has also advised the chief minister to take action regarding some issues, which is a part of his (home minister’s) duty and responsibility,” Mukherjee told mediapersons here.

Telangana Congress MPs threaten resignations

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Hyderabad, January 02: Congress MPs from Telangana Sunday threatened to resign if the Srikrishna committee recommends against forming a separate Telangana state.

The MPs, legislators and other leaders, who met here to chalk out their strategy on the Telangana issue, made it clear that they would not accept anything less than a separate state.

The meeting demanded that the central government table a bill in parliament during the budget session to carve out a Telangana state.

Jagan to contest LS seat, no intention of destabilising govt

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Hyderabad, December 02: Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who has revolted against the Congress leadership, intends to seek re-election from Kadapa Lok Sabha seat and says he is not keen on destabilising the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh.

The son of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy says he has fast-tracked the process to register and launch his new political party before the by-elections for Kadapa and Pulivendula assembly constituencies are announced.

Sania in third qualifying round of ASB Classic

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Auckland, January 02: India’s Sania Mirza advanced to the third qualifying round of ASB Classic tennis here Sunday.

Sania, ranked 144th, beat Silvia Soler Espinoza of Spain 6-2, 6-2.

She next plays Germany’s Sabine Lisicki, who upset second-seeded Croat Mirjana Lucic 6-3, 6-4.

–Agencies

Ahmadinejad’s car gets $1 mn bid

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Tehran, January 02: A 33-year-old car owned by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad that has been put up for auction has attracted an offer of $1 million from abroad, the state-run media reported Sunday.

Various online offers have been received from abroad and top bidders will be invited to the auction in mid-February.

The online offers can be made till January-end on a multilingual website set up Saturday for the auction, China Daily said citing the Iranian media.

The 1977 white Peugeot sedan is being auctioned to fund housing projects for the disabled.

Mayawati suspends BSP legislator accused of rape

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Lucknow, January 02: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati Sunday ordered the suspension of party legislator Purshottam Narain Dwivedi for his alleged involvement in the gangrape of a minor girl in the state’s Banda district.

The suspension would remain in force during the CID probe ordered by the chief minister Saturday night.

The announcement of the suspension came amidst strident criticism of the ruling party by opposition leaders, who accused Mayawati of “shielding” the rapist of a minor girl belonging to a backward community.

Meira Kumar mourns former speaker Bali Ram Bhagat’s death

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New Delhi, January 02: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Sunday condoled the death of the former speaker Bali Ram Bhagat, who passed away in a Delhi hospital at the age of 89.

“I am deeply pained to learn about the sad demise of Bali Ram Bhagat. Bhagat was one of those visionary leaders of independent India who guided the destiny of the nation during its early years and subsequently through its journey as a vibrant democracy,” Meira Kumar said in her condolence message.

She said Bhagat was a “veteran freedom fighter with a profound commitment to national welfare”.

PM did not consult us on appearing before PAC : Pranab

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Kolkata, January 02: Pranab Mukherjee, the senior-most member of the Union Cabinet, today caused a flutter in political circles by openly disagreeing with Prime Minister Mammohan Singh’s offer to appear before the PAC in the 2G spectrum scam, saying that the decision had been taken “without consulting us”.

The Finance Minister, who is also Leader of the Lok Sabha, said that the Prime Minister was accountable to the Lok Sabha and “not to any committee”.

Trinamool’s language in Chidamabaram’s letter: Buddhadeb

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Howrah (WB), January 02: Adopting a more aggressive posture on the letter controversy, Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee today questioned how Home Minister P Chidambaram used “Trinamool Congress’ language” in his missive but remained silent on the party’s link with the Maoists.

“Suddenly, Chidambaramji has written me a letter. I was surprised to see the language (in his letter). He has used the used the word ‘harmad’ (hired killers) which TC uses while referring to CPI-M workers.

Agnivesh demands Binayak Sen’s immediate release

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Kolkata, January 02: Social activist Swami Agnivesh today demanded immediate release of rights activist Binayak Sen, who was sentenced by a trial court to life imprisonment for sedition.

Terming the judgement by the court in Raipur as “miscarriage of justice”, Agnivesh alleged that Sen, a prominent doctor and social worker in Chattisgarh’s backward area, was framed in a false case as he used to meet CPI(Maoist) Politburo member Narayan Sanyal in Raipur Central Jail.

Pak should discard posture of ‘compulsive hostility’: Krishna

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New Delhi, January 02: In a forthright message to Pakistan, India today said its posture of “compulsive hostility” will not help a “serious and sustained” dialogue between the two countries.

Noting that the country “walked the extra mile in reaching out” to its neighbours, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said, “We earnestly hope that our neighbour would see the merit in constructive engagement and discard the posture of compulsive hostility.”

TRS not to attend meeting on Telangana

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Hyderabad, January 02: TRS on Sunday decided not to attend the meeting called by Home Minister P Chidambaram in New Delhi on Thursday to discuss the Justice Srikrishna Committee on Telangana, saying there would be divergent views at the meeting as parties will have members from both regions.

Party chief K Chandrasekhara Rao said divergent views by representatives of political parties from Telangana and non-Telangana regions at the meeting will lead to “further contradiction and confusion.”