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Cong's dig at Mamata on her no-trust motion move

November 19, 2012, 3:30 am
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Congress today took a dig at West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC chief Mamata Banerjee over her decision to bring a no-confidence motion against UPA government, saying that never in the history of Parliament a party with 19 members has pushed for such a measure.

The party also asked Banerjee to seriously reconsider her decision.
"This is a peculiar situation that in the history of Parliament a 19-member party is talking of a no-confidence motion," Information and Broadcasting minister Manish Tewari told reporters here.

The minister rued that Banerjee is reaching out for support on her party's motion to even those opposition parties "which she has fought for the last 30 years."
"I hope she will reintrospect and reconsider her decision seriously because till three months back she was part of this government and TMC ministers were part of it," he said.

Attacking UPA government on FDI in retail and corruption issues, Mamata had on November 17 said her party would bring a no-confidence motion against UPA in the winter session of Parliament.

She had sought the support of UPA allies as well as Left parties and expressed readiness to talk to even BJP.

"A time comes when you have to evolve from a street fighter to a statesperson. You have to evolve from an agitator to an administrator. It's a time which comes in everybody's life and with due respect I do hope that the CM will seriously introspect about her decision," Tewari said.

The Congress leader also wondered whether the West Bengal Chief Minister has a to right to "veto" other states like Haryana, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir who have decided for FDI in retail.

"We have been saying that if the West Bengal Chief Minister does not want to implement FDI in retail in her state, she is free to do that. But if states like Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Haryana want to implement it, then is it fair on her part to veto it?" he asked.
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Ponty case: Police team sent to Delhi to find facts about cop

November 19, 2012, 3:33 am
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With the name of an Uttarakhand police constable cropping up in connection with the killing of liquor baron Ponty Chaddha and his brother in Delhi, the state police has sent a team to the national capital to ascertain facts about his alleged role in the shootout.

A police team headed by Inspector Pramod Shah has been sent to Delhi to find out facts about alleged role of Sachin Tyagi, an Uttarakhand police constable, in the incident at the farmhouse in which the liquor baron and his brother Hardeep were killed, Uttarakhand DGP Satyavrat Bansal said here today.

There have been reports about alleged involvement of Tyagi, currently posted as a gunner with State Minority Commission Chairman Sukhdev Singh Namdhari, in the shootout that took place allegedly in their presence on Saturday.

Bansal said as per information being gathered by the state police in this regard, two FIRs have been registered in connection with the shootout with Delhi police, one each by Namdhari and Hardeep's PA Nandlal.

Around 50-60 persons have been named as accused in the FIR lodged by Nandlal in connection with the shootout, Bansal said but added that it is still not clear whether Tyagi has been named as an accused in the FIR or not.

The DGP said he has been informed that Namdhari in his FIR has said Tyagi fired a few shots in his defence at the time of the shootout.

There have been reports about Tyagi firing shots at Ponty Chaddha's brother Hardeep when he tried to shoot Namdhari.
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Par panel recommends delinking Lokayuktas from Lokpal

November 19, 2012, 4:19 am
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A Parliamentary Committee has recommended delinking creation of Lokayuktas from the Lokpal Bill, a provision strongly that was strongly opposed by political parties including those supporting the UPA.

The Rajya Sabha Select Committee on the Lokpal and Lokayuktas Bill, 2011 has, however, said the state governments will have to set up their own ombudsman through enactment of law by the state legislatures within one year of commencement of this law.

The Committee's recommendation is seen as a major concession to Opposition parties and UPA allies, which had termed the original provision as an attack on federal structure saying the state governments should be free to enact their own law regarding state-level ombudsman.

The Lokpal Bill, whose passage was stalled in Rajya Sabha during the last winter session, had a provision that provided for appointment of a Lokayukta in every state under the central law.
The Bill was referred to the Committee in May this year for a detailed examination amidst stiff opposition over its several provisions.

The Select Committee, which adopted its draft report today, is learnt to have not recommend any changes in the provision relating to "reservation". The original provision said 'not less than 50 per cent of the members of Lokpal would be from SC, ST, OBC, minorities and women.

The Committee's report said that "these provisions merely aim at providing representation to the diverse sections of the society in the institution of Lokpal..."and only indicates "the quantum of representation and not reservation".

BJP has strong reservations about the provision and is understood to have given a "suggestion note" in today's meeting opposing any provision for reservation in the measure.

The original clause in the Bill provides that 'not less than 50 per cent of the members of the Lokpal, shall be from amongst those belonging to SC, ST, Other Backward Classes, Minorities and Women.

There was a strong view in the Committee that such a provision does not not have a constitutional basis and may not not be sustainable. The Department of Personnel and Training was of the view that these provisions were in the nature of "representation" and not not reservation and hence were sustainable.

The Department of Legal Affairs felt that an "affirmative action" in favour of women following the philosophy underlying the provisions of Art 15(3) of the Constitution may not not be "inapposite".

The Committee noted that there was no no concept of reservation either in the higher judiciary or among men falling in the category of persons with outstanding ability from among whom the Chairperson and Members of the Lokpal are to be selected.

"Thus, the reservation principles are not not applicable in such a high profile body," the Committee said. However, considering the Articles in the Constitution that provide for reservation, the Committee said the provisions in the Bill merely aim at providing representation to the diverse sections of the society in the institution of Lokpal and the rules of reservation are not not involved in this case.

"Accordingly, the Committee does not not recommend any change in the proviso to Clause 3(2)(b) that indicates the quantum of representation and not not reservation," the report said.

Members from the Left parties too are learnt to have given a 'suggestion note' demanding inclusion of private sector under the ambit of Lokpal.

Despite suggestions by Law Ministry officials during their depositions suggesting 'insulation' to officials of the PMO, the Committee, headed by Satyavrat Chaturvedi, has not recommended any changes.

The Prime Minister, who is sought to be covered by the proposed law, is, however, exempted from the ambit of Lokpal on issues of external and internal security, atomic energy, international relations and public order.

Partially accepting suggestions made by parties like BJP and JD (U) on making CBI independent of government control, the Select Committee is learnt to have recommended that its chief be appointed by a collegium comprising of the Prime Minister, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and the Chief Justice of India.

It also recommended that CBI should have a separate Directorate of Prosecution under a Director who should function under the agency chief. It said the Director of Prosecution should be appointed by the CVC.

The CBI chief and the head of prosecution should have a fixed tenure. It said for cases referred by Lokpal, CABI may appoint a panel of advocates, "other than government advocates", with the consent of the ombudsman.

CBI officers investigating cases referred by Lokpal will only be transferrede by the aproval of the anti-corruption watchdog. The Committee said the poweer of superintendence and direction of CBI in relation to Lokpal referred cases must vest in Lokpal.

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Two girls held for Facebook post on Thackeray's funeral

November 19, 2012, 5:13 am
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Two girls were arrested over their Facebook post questioning the shutdown in the city for Shiv Sena patriarch Bal Thackeray's funeral with the comment also leading to an attack on the clinic of an uncle of one of them by Sena activists.

The arrests in neighbouring Thane yesterday sparked an outrage with Press Council of India chief Markandey Katju today demanding "immediate" action against police personnel involved. Congress said a police case against the girls was "unfortunate" and hoped Maharashtra government would take remedial measures.

The two girls--Shaheen Dhada and Renu--were sent to 14-day judicial custody by a court before which they were produced today but were granted bail within hours after they furnished personal bonds, police said.

Dhada was arrested after she posted comments on the social networking site opposing the shutdown in Mumbai. 86-year-old Thackeray was cremated yesterday. She allegedly said that one should not observe bandh for Thackeray's funeral. "We should remember Bhagat Singh and Sukhdev," the post said.

Dhada's friend Renu was arrested for 'liking' the post.

"Police arrested both of them under section 505(2) (statements creating or promoting enmity, hatred or ill-will between classes). Today, they were granted bail," their advocate Sudhir Gupta said.

The duo was arrested following a police complaint lodged by a local Sena leader. After the comment was posted, a mob of nearly 40 Shiv Sainiks allegedly barged into Dhada's uncles's orthopaedic hospital at Palghar and vandalised the place yesterday. However, no arrests were made in connection with the attack.|

In an e-mail to the Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Katju warned of "legal consequences" if he failed to take action against the police personnel concerned.

With the Aseem Trivedi episode apparently on the back of their mind, Maharashtra Police's IG(Law and Order) Deven Bharti said a probe has been ordered into whether the contents of the Facebook post constituted an offence and even if the offence was registered why were the arrests made.

Bowing to public pressure and criticism from the court, the Maharashtra government last month decided to drop sedition charge against cartoonist Aseem Trivedi for allegedly insulting national symbols.
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SC pulls up Centre for being "casual" in 2G case.

November 19, 2012, 5:20 am
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Ticking off the Government for being "very casual" in handling the 2G case, the Supreme Court today said withholding of even 0.1 per cent of spectrum, licenses for which were cancelled, will not be acceptable.

A bench of justices G S Singhvi and K S Radhakrishanan also directed the Centre to file a fresh affidavit within two days explaining why all the 2G spectrum was not put on auction on November 12.

"Government is very casual in dealing with the matter," the bench said while turning down an affidavit filed by an Under Secretary-level officer on the matter and directed that it must be filed by Secretary of Department of Telecom.

"This affidavit cannot be accepted. It has been filed by Under Secretary officer. Our earlier order clearly said that affidavit must be filed by Secretary-level officer. This is a deliberate action on the part of DoT," the bench said.

"On earlier occasion the court had unequivocally rejected affidavit filed by an Under Secretary. It is unfortunate that the same mistake has been done again. Needful should be done within two days," it said.

The court said that it would hear Centre's stand on auction on Monday but made it clear that withholding of spectrum from being auctioned would not be acceptable.
"Keep in mind that withholding of spectrum, even 0.1 per cent would not be acceptable," the bench said adding that it was never told earlier that the entire 2G spectrum would not be put on auction.

"At no point of time this court was informed that the auction was only for 800 and 1800 MHz band," the bench observed.

It was contended before the court that government has not complied with the apex court's direction and it has withheld 136 MHz spectrum out of 431 MHz in 1800 band.

The apex court had on February 2 cancelled 122 licenses for 2G spectrum and directed the government to allocate the natural resource by auction.

The government had received on November 12 bids worth Rs 9,224.75 crore on the opening day of auction for 2G mobile phone spectrum that drew scant interest due to high base price. The government was hoping to net a minimum revenue of Rs 28,000 crore in the auction.
There was no bidder for pan-India airwaves for which the government had set a base or bid start price of Rs 14,000 crore. Demand was concentrated in select circles like Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh (East) and Uttar Pradesh (West).
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CM candidate will be decided by high command, says Kharge

November 19, 2012, 5:22 am
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Union Labour Minister and senior Congress leader M Mallikarjun Kharge today exhorted Congress leaders in Karnataka not to create confusion over the Chief Ministerial candidate of the party in the next year's assembly elections, saying it would be decided by party high command.

"The need of the hour is to ensure that Congress returns to power and towards this everyone one should work unitedly," he told reporters here. The Congress High Command will decide the Chief Ministerial candidate, he said.

He, however, said there was nothing wrong in leaders aspiring for the top post, apparently referring to statements by some leaders that they were in the fray.

Kharge said the Constitution Amendment Bill to accord special status to Hyderabad-Karnataka region in the state had already been tabled in Parliament and the government will make efforts to secure its passage with the support of all parties.

Later, he participated in a function organised to celebrate late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's birthday, in which KPCC President G Parameshwara and others were present.
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India backs proposed Code of Conduct for South China Sea

November 19, 2012, 5:26 am
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India today backed the proposed Code of Conduct to be established between ASEAN and China to govern the use of the resource-rich South China Sea even as differences cropped up in the 10-nation South East Asian grouping over "internationalising" the issue.

The support by India, which has also been involved in a tiff with China over use of resources in the disputed mineral-rich maritime region, came a day ahead of the East Asia Summit where the issue is expected to come up. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will be attending the Summit meet.

"We support efforts to arrive at a Code of Conduct and firm up measures by which South China Sea will be an area of cooperation," Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai told reporters here.

Asked whether the issue would be discussed at the East Asia Summit (EAS) tomorrow, he said, "leaders can discuss any issue they wish... Obviously when leaders meet they would take up issues which are of immediate concern but these issues should be discussed in the light of need for EAS to have overriding priority of building of bridges of cooperation among various countries".

Citing the Prime Minister, Mathai said he has emphasised that EAS is important as a forum for acceleration economic development and enhancing ecomomic interests of all the countries.
Over a year ago, India was involved in a tiff with China which objected to its exploration of hydrocarbons off the Vietnamese coast.

Mathai's statement came against the backdrop of differences among the ASEAN members, with the Philippines refusing to agree with Cambodia to not to "internationalise" the dispute.

Philippines has said that it has the "inherent right to defend its national interests when deemed necessary".

Cambodia, this year's ASEAN chair and host of the summit, said yesterday that Southeast Asian leaders had agreed not to "internationalise" the disputes and would confine negotiations to those between the bloc and China.

Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda also chipped in warning that the South China Sea was of concern to the international community and could impact peace and stability in the region.
ASEAN members Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei, as well as Taiwan, have claims to parts of the sea, which is home to some of the world's most important shipping lanes and believed to be rich in fossil fuels.

But China insists it has sovereign rights to virtually all of the sea.
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Sangeethotsava from November 22

November 19, 2012, 10:30 am
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Sangeetha Parishath, Mangalore, in association with Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and Mangalore University will organise a four-day musical fest Sangeethotsava-2012 from November 22 at Ravindra Kala Bhavan at University College, said Parishath Secretary Manjunatha Bhat.

Briefing about the programme to media persons on Monday, Bhat said that the festival will offer an enriching musical experience to the audience with renowned South Indian artistes performing on stage.

The artistes including Neela Ramgopal from Bangalore, flautist J B Shruthi Sagar from Chennai, Raghavendra Raja Rao from Chennai, Gayatri Venkataraghavan from Chennai, Madurai T N Seshagopalan from Chennai, Ramakrishnan Moorthy from Chennai will perform during the event. The programme will start at 4.30 pm everyday, except for the last day which will feature day-long performances.

Sharavu Mahaganapathi temple Managing Trustee Sharavu Raghavendra Shastry will inaugurate the programme. Mangalore University Registrar Prof P S Yadapadithaya, ONGC-MRPL GGM Konduri Lakshminarayana and Department of Kannada and Culture Assistant Director Mangala Naik will be the guests of honour. Mangalore University V C Prof T C Shivashankara Murthy will preside over the valedictory programme on November 25.
Karnataka Bank Managing Director P Jayaram Bhat, Corporation Bank CMD Ajai Kumar and others will be the guests of honour.

Senior vocal artiste Kudumaru S Venkataraman and MLC Capt Ganesh Karnik will be felicitated on the occasion for their contribution to the field of music.

Special awards will be given to four young artistes including Priyanka K P, Gargi N Shabaraya, B Manoj Rao and Deeksha D. Sangeethotsava will also witness the performance of emerging artistes Nireeksha U K and Gargi N Shabaraya, said Manjunatha Bhat.
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'Free villages from open defecation'

November 19, 2012, 10:32 am
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Zilla Panchayat President Rekha Huliyappa Gowda has said that there is a need to sustain cleanliness drive.

Speaking after inaugurating 'Swacchatha Utsav' held as a part of Nirmal Bharath campaign in Chikmagalur, on Monday, she said "villages should become free from open defecation. Water source is likely to get polluted with the open defecation. There is a need to create awareness on the same."

She said that financial assistance is given for the families to construct toilets. In fact, using the funds under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, toilets can be constructed. The Zilla Panchayat will organise various programmes to create awareness on the need for seggregating the waste from the source and also to dispose the waste scientifically.

Zill Panchayat CEO Shivashankar said that there is a need to give priority to cleanliness in the rural areas. The waste can be converted into manure.
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CMC Chief angry over delay in water project

November 19, 2012, 10:38 am
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Madikeri CMC President H M Nandakumar has warned that legal action will be initiated against officials, if they fail to complete work on Kundamestri drinking water project in two months.

Speaking at the monthly meeting here on Monday, he pointed out the officials had been told to furnish the work details every month. However, the officials have chosen to ignore the directive.

Karnataka Water Supply and Sewage Board Assistant Engineer Srikanth said that the work was delayed because of some reasons and will be completed at the earliest. The President then emphasised that summer is just a few months away and if the work is not completed within the time frame, then the officials will have to bear the expenses for supplying water through tankers.

Water purifying unit

CMC member T M Ayyappa said that the proposed site for setting up of water purifying unit, at Golf ground should be shifted.

Replying to that Srikanth said that the 12-acre land would be required for setting up a hi-tech sewage treatment plant. At present, only five acres are available for the purpose.

Waste disposal

Sthree Shakthi Sangha members have been directed to collect waste from the houses. However, they are collecting fee, alleged members Chummi Devaiah and Muneer Ahmed.
Intervening, CMC Commissioner Shashikumar said that there was no need to pay the fee when the members collect the waste.

Hi-tech market

The Commissioner said that Rs 3 crore has been earmarked for the construction of hi-tech market in Madikeri.

Members Muneer Ahmed and Ponnappa alleged that Rajaseat Maintenance Committee has become inactive. In spite of collecting entrance fee, there are no basic facilities. Responding to it, the Commissioner said that there is a need to re-constitute the committee. Horticulture department officer Deena said that Rs 37 lakh has been collected as entrance fee and the money has been deposited in the bank account.

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Hyderabad pigeons get royal new home

November 19, 2012, 10:38 am
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Political turbulence and consequent violence may have created an atmosphere of uncertainty in Hyderabad, but 70-year-old Dharam Raj Ranka has been trying to restore serenity by building a large nest for pigeons, seen as symbol of freedom and peace.

Ranka, the founder of Satyam Shivam Sundaram Gaunivas that houses 4,300 cows, calves and bullocks, has set up the "Kabutar Khana" (Pigeon House) in 3,000 sq ft area. The nest at Gaganpahad, on the outskirts of the city on the way to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, can provide space for 5,000 - 6,000 pigeons. Pigeon lovers and philanthropists joined hands to build the nest which cost Rs 25 lakh.

The pigeon house, which will be inaugurated this month, is located within the goshala which is spread on three acres. While the goshala provide space for cows, calves and bullocks rescued from slaughter houses or streets, the big nest will house the birds which are increasingly migrating from the city.

Giving details, Ranka said it took two years to build the nest that resembles a small hillock. Small boxes have been used so that birds can nest and lay eggs. The facility has a huge work force of 200 labourers to take care of cows as well as the pigeons. A veterinary doctor has been employed to treat the injured and rescued birds and cows,he said.

The premises also hosts the annual Annakut Celebration. Afestival celebrated at the beginning of each new year. Interestingly, a variety of food items prepared with love and devotion are offered to God and fed to the birds and animals.

Ranka said he is on a mission from the past 21 years to protect cows. Cows rescued from slaughter houses or streets not only get a fresh lease of life but also a royal treatment at Satyam Shivam Sundaram Gaunivas.
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Yakshagana awards given away

November 19, 2012, 10:40 am
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Port, Inland Water Transport and Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary has said that Yakshagana artistes find solace in performing on the stage.

Speaking after giving away various awards to Yakshagana artistes in a programme organised by Yakshagana Kalaranga, the minister said that transparency is maintained in choosing the awardees unlike other awards where lobbying is done to get the award.

Speaking after giving away the Vishweshtheertha Award to Padre Chandu Memorial Yakshagana and Dance Training Centre, the Pejawar mutt seer Sri Vishweshatheertha Swamiji said that Yakshagana is one art, which uses pure Kannada language.

Kannada and Culture Department Commissioner K R Ramakrishna said there is no dearth of funds in the department. The problem lies in proper utilisation of funds, he added.

The awardees include Bolar Subbhayya Shetty (Dr A B Shetty award), Kopadamakki Erappa Jatti Bhagavatha, Bhatkal (Nittur Sunder Shetty-Mahesh D Shetty), Suresh Ganiga Padukone (Prof. B V Acharya award), Kumble Sridhar Rao (B Jagjeevandas Shetty award), Vishweshwara Somayaji, Jansale (Bhagavatha Naranappa Uppuru award), Hemmadi Ramachandran (Dashavathari Marvi Ramakrishna Hebbar-Bhagavatha Vadiraj Hebbar award), M K Acharya (Kota Vaikunta award), Belthuru Ramesh Naik (Shiryara Manju Naik award), Goodana Gopalkrishna Bhat (Kadiyali Subraya Upadhyaya award), Udyavara Jaya Kumar (K Vishwajna Shetty award), Birthi Balakrishna Ganiga (Irodi Rama Ganiga award), Karki Krishna Hasyagara (Padaru Narasimha Shastri award) and M T S Kulal (Prabhavathi V Shenoy and U Vishwanath Shenoy award).
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Protest against diversion of 22.75 scheme fund

November 19, 2012, 10:43 am
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The Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti and a few other organisations staged a protest in front of the Mangalore City Corporation (MCC) on Monday, alleging that the MCC has not implemented work meant for the welfare of Dalits under 22.75 scheme.

Addressing protesters, Samiti Secretary Lingappa Nantoor charged that the government had reduced the allocations in the budget for 22.75 programme. In 2008, Rs four crore was allocated for the welfare of Dalits and now it had dropped to Rs 2.85 crore. After some amendments made by the state government, the subsidy for the houses has been halved to Rs 75,000 from Rs 1.5 lakh.

Scholarships to Dalit students pursuing higher studies has also been withdrawn from this year, he claimed.

Dalita Hakkugala Horata Samiti State Committee member Krishnappa Konchadi alleged that the MCC is not taking up any developmental work in Dalit colonies under 22.75 scheme. Funds reserved for the welfare of dalits are misused for the construction of temple arches, development of roads and other work in the areas dominated by rich and upper class communities, he added.

CPM Mangalore City Committee Secretary Sunil Kumar Bajal flayed the MCC for not responding to the demands of Dalits. The protesters submitted a memorandum to Joint Commissioner Srikanth Rao, urging him to fulfill their demands at the earliest.

Responding to the request, the Joint Commissioner said that the MCC has already written to the government informing about the demands of Dalits and the issues will be addressed within a month.
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'Govt has failed to provide health care, edn'

November 19, 2012, 10:46 am
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The Welfare Party of India (WPI) has been launched as the country is not really free claimed WPI National Vice President B T Lalitha Naik.

Delivering the inaugural speech at a public meet organised by the WPI, she said that freedom is precious as many freedom fighters have sacrificed their life for it. However, today there is a need to question, whether India is really free.

Even after 65 years of independence, there are many who say that India would have progressed with the British rule. People are not happy with the present political set up. Corruption is rampant all over.

The WPI was formed to free the nation from corruption. The government has failed to provide its citizens with basic necessities like health care and education, regretted Naik.
"The BJP rule is one of the worst the state has ever had. The politicians have become rich by swindling money and the State has become poor.

On the other hand, the Congress in the name of development, is engaged in snatching away the bread and butter from poor people," she added. She said the government is busy in finding temporary solutions to the problems faced in the country. There is a need to find out the root cause of the problems, instead of finding temporary solutions.

There are 5,620 gram panchayats in Karnataka with 91,402 women representatives in these Panchayats. It is said that 6,000 women representatives are illiterate. There are all possibilities of misuing their rule and power, which is dangerous, she said.

WPI Kasargod President Professor T T Jacob said that the party was formed to protect the unity in diversity of India. The WPI is a value based party which tries to minimise the differences between the haves and have-nots, he added.
WPI DK District President Zaheed Hussain also spoke.

WPI National General Secretary P C Hamza, WPI Kasargod Vice President Ravindra Bramheshwar and others were present.
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Indira Prize for Peace to Liberian Prez

November 19, 2012, 10:47 am
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Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who shared Nobel Peace prize with two other women last year, has been chosen for this year's Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development for being an "inspiration" to women and ensuring return of peace and democracy in her country, it was announced on Monday.

She was selected for the award, set up by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, by an international jury chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Indira Gandhi Prize is awarded to her for serving as an "example and inspiration" to women in Africa and beyond and for ensuring
the return of peace, democracy, development, security and order in Liberia.

The jury also commended her strong interest in the consolidation and improvement of Liberia's relations with India, a statement said. Starting from a humble background, Sirleaf has risen to the Presidency becoming the first elected female head of state of the African continent.
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AP Congress rattled

November 19, 2012, 10:49 am
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The eleven page note to the Congress high command purportedly written by Union Minister from Andhra Pradesh (AP) Kishore Chandra Deo allegedly describing the state party chief Botsa Satyanarayana a mafia don and the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy as incompetent has created a flutter.

Deo, a staunch supporter of tribal rights has been opposing bauxite mining in the predominantly tribals areas of north eastern AP and has reportedly said the party has no future in the state unless it removed both the leaders.

The Tribal Affairs and Panchayati Raj minister in his note has described Botsa as the "fountainhead of corruption". "It will be hard to find a worse person for this post than the incumbent."

The excerpts of the letter published in the print media prompted Deo to deny that he ever wrote a note to the high command.
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Two bodies found

November 19, 2012, 10:50 am
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A woman and a teen aged girl have been brutally murdered in Puttur.
The bodies of the woman aged around 40 and the girl aged around 16 were found on a piece of cloth on Polya-Keduvadka connectivity road in Puttur on Monday.

It is suspected that the duo might have been murdered on Sunday late night.
The murderers have smashed the heads with boulders. The motive for the murder was immediately not known, but no jewellery was found on the bodies. A knife and a sack were found near the bodies.

The incident came to light when Abbas and Shahul Hamid from Polya where passing by the bridge on Monday. Superintendent of Police Abhishek Goyal, ASP Anucheth visited the spot.
The bodies have been kept in the K S Hegde Hospital mortuary and the efforts are on to identify the bodies.
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Bandh called to protest Gajapati killings

November 19, 2012, 10:51 am
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The Odisha Maovadi Party (OMP), the recently floated Maoists' outfit headed by Sabyasachi Panda alias Sunil has called for an Odisha bandh on Tuesday to protest against the recent police encounter in tribal-dominated Gajapati district in which five members of the group were killed.

In an audio tape released to media, Panda has also appealed the people to observe the day as a black day. The gun battle between the Maoists and the police last Wednesday had also left two jawans of the Odisha police's injured. Large number of arms and ammunitions have also been recovered from the spot. Panda, the most wanted Maoist leader in the state for a long time, however, described the encounter as a "planned mass murder" orchestrated by the police.

"None of my cadres have been killed. Those who have been gunned down by the police were innocent villagers. After eliminating them, the police dressed them up to show the world that they were Maoists", the senior naxal leader who had broken away from the CPI(Maoists) early this year to form his own organization said.
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Failed rains force ragi farmers to use tankers

November 19, 2012, 10:52 am
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Ragi growers here in the district are in a state of despair as a lack of rains have all but ravaged their crops.

Many are farmers who had sowed ragi in July and August in the hopes of rains which never came.

In the wake of failed rains and in the absence of other water sources, the ragi crop is expected to dry out, leaving farming families here with no grains and no fodder for their cattle. G Prakash, a farmer in Kamadhenuhalli village in the taluk, said that " I had sown the Indaf-5 ragi variety in an acre of land in August. The ragi has now developed ears.

But because there have been no rains, the soil has lost its moisture content. If the situation is allowed to persist I am sure to lose the crop."

He explained that to lose the crop at this late stage is unthinkable and in desperation, has taken to irrigating the land with water from private tankers - a costly alternative. By afternoon, Prakash had used six tanker loads of water to irrigate the crops, and as dusk fell, he explained that he required another three tanker-loads.

The absence of private borewells in and around Kamadhenuhalli village have also added to a dependence on water tankers. "Because buying water from tankers cannot be sustained for long, farmers in Kolar are headed for trouble," said Neelakante Gowda, an agricultural expert.

A tanker-load of water costs Rs 350. To irrigate an acre of ragi, ten tanker-loads of water are needed. The mathematics of this translates to a farmer having to shell out Rs 3,500 to water an acre of land per day. "If there are no rains next week, one will have to irrigate using tanker water again," Prakash said.

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Moily's remarks on irrigation project draw flak

November 19, 2012, 10:56 am
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Union Petroleum Minister and Chikkaballapur MPM Veerappa Moily's statement that G S Paramasivaya Committee recommendations can not be implemented has drawn the ire of farmers and their leaders.

Moily had reportedly said that as providing irrigation facilities as suggested by the Committee would cost a whopping Rs 26,000 crore, the Government would shortly implement the cost-effective Yettinahole project as envisaged by the State and the Centre.

Reacting to the Minister's statement, Permanent Irrigation Scheme Struggle Committee and the Chitravathi Bachao Samithi convenor N S Chalapathi said that Moily had issued such a statement as he was unable to get the required funds for the project.

Addressing protesters at the venue of the ongoing agitation for permanent irrigation facility, which entered the 30th day on Monday, Chalapathi said Rs One lakh crore had been released by the government for Jalayagna programme in the neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

But, the government was not ready to spend Rs 26,000 crore for implementing the Paramasivaya Committee recommendations. Representatives and leaders of Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha from Makireddypalli and Balareddipalli villages in the taluk participated in the dharna on Monday.

'Not a poll plank'

In Kolar, members of the Raita Sangha and Hasiru Sene - the farmers' organisations, staged a sit-in, condemning lack of political will among the elected representatives in executing projects to ensure permananent irrigation.

During the protest at Gandhi Park in the city, the leaders said the political leaders should not include permanent irrigation on their election manifesto. They said the issue can't become the poll plank to win votes as the politicians have failed to keep their promises on implementation of the projects.

Leaders Narayana Gowda, K Srinivasa Gowda, Hulkur Harikumar, Hoohalli Nagaraj, Mulbagil Ranjith Kumar, Achampalli Gangadhar, Mindahalli Raghu, B V Krishna, Ankatattanahalli Krishnappa, Munikrishna, Rajanikant, Bisanahalli Mukunda Gowda, Neelakanthapur Munegowda, Kari Vishwanath, Karaga Narayanaswamy, Ternahalli Venkatesh, Pratap, Agara Santosh, Kannambele Nandish, Ekamblalli Manjunath and Chalapathi took part in the protest.
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