India News

Srinagr: Shutdown in Kashmir region continued for the eighth consecutive day following separatists outrage over the recently killing of two teenagers allegedly by security forces during an agitation.

 

All shops, business establishments and government offices remained closed, and the traffic stayed off the roads.

 

Violence had erupted, following a shutdown called by the separatist organization, Hurriyat Conference, to protest the death of Wanik.

 

Wanik Farooq, a resident of Rainawari, in Srinagar city, was killed on January 31, when police fired teargas shells to disperse demonstration.

 

Sixteen-year-old Zahid Farooq was also killed allegedly by security forces near the office of Inspector General of the Central Reserve Police Force (C.R.P.F.) at Kralsangri-Brain Nishat, on Friday (February 05).

 

Meanwhile, security arrangements have been made by the authorities at vital places to stop violent protests.

 

A curfew has been imposed to foil the intentions of chief of the moderate separatist leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq to march towards the UN military observers'' group after the killing of the two teenagers.

 

Farooq has been placed under house arrest for last three days including other leaders of the faction.

 

"A curfew has been imposed by the government to prevent people from coming out of their houses to thwart the call for march to the UNO by Mirwaiz Omar Farooq", said Imtiyaz Ahmad, a local resident.

Source ANI

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has announced that ten percent reservation in jobs would be given to Muslims socially, educationally and economically backward.

The state government has taken this step just after the conclusion of the central committee meeting.

It has been declared that Muslims reservation would be under the OBC category and those with an annual income of 4.5 lakhs will not be benefited under this act.

With this effect, the quota for Muslims in Bengal would be 17 percent compared to seven percent quota at present.

Source ANI

Kuala Lumpur: Malaysian Indian Congress (MIC) president S. Samy Vellu has said the party will submit 12 recommendations for the Malay Indian community’s development, for inclusion in the 10th Malaysia Plan (10MP).

Vellu said the recommendations will be tabled in Parliament in June. These recommendations have been drafted after dialogue with 75 Indian-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and Universiti Malaya’s Ethnic Studies department.

“We have prepared a comprehensive report that took us more than three months,” The Star quoted Vellu, as saying.

He said the recommendations included special initiatives for Indians in education, economy, training, housing, employment and aid for women.
 
“There is also a recommendation for an allocation from the Government to enable Indians to purchase unit trusts and shares,” Vellu said.

Vellu further highlighted that it was the first time the party had sought the views and proposals from various NGOs and an institution of higher learning to prepare recommendations for the 10MP.

“We wanted the ordinary people to give their input and feedback through the NGOs,” he said.

Meanwhile, commenting on the party’s rejuvenation exercise, Vellu said results have been “very positive”.

“We now get between 100 and 200 people coming to the MIC headquarters daily to seek our help, and if this is to be used as a yardstick to gauge the support of the Indians for the MIC, then we are on the right track,” he said.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The terms of reference of the Telangana committee are likely to be announced only after the Congress Core Committee discusses them in detail.

 

According to sources, the Home Ministry has indicated the same mindset as the matter has been politicised.

 

Last week, the Home Ministry indicated that the terms of reference would be announced this week.

 

It is believed Home Minister P. Chidambaram wanted to take every senior party leader in the “same boat” over the Telangana issue.

 

The Congress core committee generally meets every Friday.

 

On December 9, 2009, Chidambaram announced that the Centre would initiate the formation of Telangana state, which literally brought the Congress party’s Andhra Pradesh unit into a near split.

 

Chidambaram was severely criticised criticism for the announcement.

 

On Saturday, the Congress had constituted a co-ordination committee under the chairmanship of Union Law Minister M. Veerappa Moily to arrive at a consensus on the Telangana issue.

 

A section of the Congress MPs from Andhra Pradesh have demanded a time frame for the solution for the Telangana issue.

 

On Thursday, Member Secretary of the Telangana Committee V.K. Duggal, held talks with Chidambaram and Home Secretary G K Pillai to finalise the terms of reference.

 

He later discussed the same with panel’s chairman Justice B N Srikrishna in Mumbai.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh’s special envoy Shyam Saran on Monday focused on the use of the Hindi language in scientific works and other publications.

Sharan, who released a Hindi book written by Prem Chandra Srivastava here today, said that India is committed to reduce the Green House gas emissions and protect the environment.

Sharan said all efforts to achieve a sustainable growth would be possible only if the message reaches out to the common man.

Source ANI

Srinagar (Jammu and Kashmir): At least 16 soldiers have lost their lives and around four others are missing after they were trapped in an avalanche in Khilanmarg, 70 kilometers from Srinagar.

There are reports that around 70 army personnel have been rescued till now.

The avalanche took place at 11 a.m. on Monday. The Army’s High Altitude Warfare School at Gulmarg had established an advance camp at Gujjar Hut on Sunday, and 300 Army trainees, 100 trainers, 60 support staff and 50 civilians were present when the avalanche came down.

Army and police resue teams have reached the location and all efforts are being made to rescue all those trapped.

Snow Avalanche Study Establishment (SASE) had issued an avalanche warning last evening and asked the people living in high altitude areas not to venture in the area, which has been receiving heavy snowfall for the past three days.

High danger prone areas included Sonamarg, Gagangir, Bhimbat, Drass, Batalic, Dhudi and S M Hills in Kargil district.
 
The areas where low danger avalanche warning has been issued include both sides of the Jawahar Tunnel and the adjoining areas on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Centre on Monday estimated that the economy would grow by 7.2 in the current fiscal compared to 6.7 percent growth that was witnessed in 2008-2009.

The projected GDP growth for the current financial year as estimated by the Central Statistical Organisation is lower than the forecasts of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Finance Ministry.

The Finance Ministry predicted GDP growth at 7.75 percent in the mid-term economic review, while the RBI pegged 7.5 percent GDP growth in its quarterly monetary policy review last month.

It is speculated that the economy would grow at a higher level in the second half than seven percent in the first half.

The data released on Monday gave indications that the agriculture and allied activities would shrink by 0.2 percent in the current fiscal compared to a 1.6 percent decline that was witnessed a year ago.

The estimated GDP growth in the current fiscal is likely top be driven by 8.9 percent expansion in the manufacturing sector against 3.2 per cent a year ago.

Trade, transport and communication would rise by 8.3 percent against 7.6 percent in the last financial year. Construction is predicted to rise to 6.5 perecent in the current fiscal against 5.9 percent witnessed last year.

Financing, insurance, real estate and business services are predicted to witness a fall in expansion and growth by 9.9 percent compared to 10.1 percent in the last financial year.

Community, social and personnel services are likely to witness a fall by 8.2 percent compared to 13.9 percent in the last fiscal year.

Source ANI

Nagpur: A seven-wicket haul by South African fast bowler Dale Steyn in the first innings forced India to follow-on in the first Test being played here. Steyn’s piercing line and length overshadowed an exciting counter-attacking century (109) by Virender Sehwag on the third day of the match on Monday.

In the second knock, India was precariously placed at 37 for the loss of two wickets and still 288 runs in arrears when reports last came in. Both openers Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were back in the pavilion. Steyn and Morne Morkel had taken a wicket apiece in round two.

Steyn’s seven for 51 runs led to India collapsing for 233 in their first innings.

South African captain Graeme Smith enforced follow-on, as they were handed over an important lead of 325 runs.

Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell and Paul Harris grabbed a wicket each to make sure India was at some distance from the imposing South African total of 558-6 declared.

India lost wickets at regular intervals, including six wickets after tea.

Earlier, Sehwag displayed both class and resistance to score 109 off 139 deliveries with 15 boundaries. Middle-order batsman Subramaniam Badrinath scored a maiden Test half century (56 off 139 balls).

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday asked the trial court to conduct the hearing of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots case within six months, and informed that a special team has been formed to look after the case.

The court had on Wednesday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to appoint a special prosecutor for handling the case on the lines of the Gujarat riots case.

The Gujarat Legal Department had appointed special public prosecutors for seven Gujarat riot cases last year.

CBI Advocate Vikas Pahwa informed the High court today that senior advocates R S Cheema and Y K Saxena have been appointed to handle trial court cases, while Additional Solicitor General A S Chandhiok would be looking after the 1984’ riots cases in the High Court.

In tune with this, the High Court informed that senior Advocate B S Joon would be handling its trial court cases of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, while senior advocate H J S Ahluwalia will look after the cases pending in the High Court.

The decision of the Delhi High Court comes in the wake of a public interest litigation (PIL) filed by an NGO asking the court to appoint special lawyers into the 1984’ riots case and to look after the case on a day-to-day basis.

Source ANI

Chandigarh: The assailant, who was arrested by the police following his attacks on former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) SPS Rathore has been identified as Utsav, a resident of Ahmedabad. He posed as a journalist to get up close to Rathore.

Rathore, who has been charged for allegedly molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a young promising tennis star in 1990s, was punched and stabbed thrice with a blunt instrument by Utsav outside the court promises today.

Union Territory Home Secretary Ram Niwas has said the incident is being investigated.

Meanwhile, Rathore has been taken to the General Hospital in Chandigarh.

Earlier today, the Punjab and Haryana High Court agreed to hold in-camera proceedings in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case that involves Rathore.

No media personnel will be allowed during the trial.

The decision of the court comes after an application moved today by Rathore’s wife Abha Rathore in which she pressed for the hearings to be conducted in-camera.

In her application to the court, Abha Rathore had mentioned that her husband and client SPS Rathore had over the period gone through a lot of harassment from the press, which is affecting his mental state.

The court was to hear Rathore’s bail plea today against the six-months sentence and conviction in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.
The CBI had on Thursday filed an appeal in the district and sessions court for enhancing the sentence of Rathore.

In the appeal, the CBI has questioned the leniency shown to Rathore and the short sentence given to him, which had allowed him to get bail immediately after the orders were pronounced.

As per provisions of law, the maximum punishment for molestation under Section 354 is a jail term of two years.

The High Court had on January 18 extended the two anticipatory bail applications and a petition demanding cancellation of abetment to suicide charges against Rathore till January 25.

The High Court had earlier on January 12 rejected the interim bail plea of Rathore, and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its reply in this case by January 18.

The former cop has been charged for allegedly molesting 14-year old teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a budding young tennis star in 1990s.

Rathore has three cases pending against him in the court; all filed by Ruchika’s family and friends.

Ruchika’s family lawyer Pankaj Bharadwaj had earlier filed two FIRs against Rathore.

The lawyer had claimed that the first FIR was filed for forging documents like the inquest report and the other for illegal detention of Ruchika’s brother, Ashu, who was kept in illegal detention at the behest of Rathore and given tortures.

The third case is that of abetment to suicide against him. The family has claimed that Ruchika was expelled from Sacred Heart Convent in Chandigarh due to Rathore’s influence.

Teenager Ruchika had killed herself three years after the incident by drinking poison.

Source ANI

Chandigarh: Former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) SPS Rathore, who has been charged for allegedly molesting teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a young promising tennis star in 1990s, was on Monday punched and stabbed thrice with a blunt instrument by an unidentified assailant outside the court promises. The assailant has been arrested.

Earlier today, the Punjab and Haryana High Court agreed to hold in-camera proceedings in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case that involves Rathore.

No media personnel will be allowed during the trial.

The decision of the court comes after an application moved today by Rathore’s wife Abha Rathore in which she pressed for the hearings to be conducted in-camera.

In her application to the court, Abha Rathore had mentioned that her husband and client SPS Rathore had over the period gone through a lot of harassment from the press, which is affecting his mental state.

The court was to hear Rathore’s bail plea today against the six-months sentence and conviction in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

The CBI had on Thursday filed an appeal in the district and sessions court for enhancing the sentence of Rathore.

In the appeal, the CBI has questioned the leniency shown to Rathore and the short sentence given to him, which had allowed him to get bail immediately after the orders were pronounced.

As per provisions of law, the maximum punishment for molestation under Section 354 is a jail term of two years.

The High Court had on January 18 extended the two anticipatory bail applications and a petition demanding cancellation of abetment to suicide charges against Rathore till January 25.

The High Court had earlier on January 12 rejected the interim bail plea of Rathore, and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its reply in this case by January 18.

The former cop has been charged for allegedly molesting 14-year old teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a budding young tennis star in 1990s.

Rathore has three cases pending against him in the court; all filed by Ruchika’s family and friends.

Ruchika’s family lawyer Pankaj Bharadwaj had earlier filed two FIRs against Rathore.

The lawyer had claimed that the first FIR was filed for forging documents like the inquest report and the other for illegal detention of Ruchika’s brother, Ashu, who was kept in illegal detention at the behest of Rathore and given tortures.

The third case is that of abetment to suicide against him. The family has claimed that Ruchika was expelled from Sacred Heart Convent in Chandigarh due to Rathore’s influence.

Teenager Ruchika had killed herself three years after the incident by drinking poison.

Source ANI

Nagpur: Kerala pacer S Sreesanth is likely to play in the second Test match of the ongoing series between India and South Africa.

Sreesanth is expected to undergo a fitness test on February 10.

He was left out of the squad for the Nagpur Test due to a hamstring injury that he got during the series against Bangladesh.

India plays the second Test against South Africa in Kolkata from February 14.

Source ANI

Nevada (US): Oscar winner A.R. Rahman’s music for “Sultan The Warrior” film will be released in the near future, according to reports.

This computer-animation film, starring the animated version of Tamil megastar Rajnikanth (Chandramukhi), directed by his daughter Soundarya Rajnikanth, is expected to be released in April in 18 different languages, including English, Tamil, and Hindi.

Tamil actress Vijayalakshmi Agathiyan (Chennai 600028) will provide the voice for female lead. Rahman has been reportedly quoted as saying that his compositions in “Sultan The Warrior” would be “distinctly different”.

Rahman’s music of Telugu film “Ye Maaya Chesaave” was slated for February three release. Produced by Sanjay Swarup and directed by Gowtham Vasudev Menon, it stars Naga Chaitanya and Samantha. Anantha Sriram provided the lyrics.

Its Sony Music album contains seven tracks—Kundanapu Bomma, Manasaa, Swaasye, Ee Hridayam, Aakaasam, Vintunnavaa, and Aaromale—sung by Benny Dayal, Kalyani Menon, Devan Ekambaram, Chinmayi, Karthik, Vijay Prakash, Suzanne, Blaaze, Naresh Iyer, Shreya Ghoshal, and Alphonse.

Indo-American statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, commended Rahman for creating pride and respect among India’s youth about their own rich musical heritage.

Zed, who is chairperson of Indo-American Leadership Confederation, credited Rahman for opening new doors to East-West relationship in music.

Source ANI

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday agreed to hold in-camera proceedings in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case that involves former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) SPS Rathore.

No media personnel will be allowed during the trial.

The decision of the court comes after an application moved today by Rathore’s wife Abha Rathore in which she pressed for the hearings to be conducted in-camera.

In her application to the court, Abha Rathore has mentioned that her husband and client SPS Rathore has over the period gone through a lot of harassment from the press, which is affecting his mental state.

The court was to hear Rathore’s bail plea today against the six-months sentence and conviction in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

The CBI had on Thursday filed an appeal in the district and sessions court for enhancing the sentence of Rathore.

In the appeal, the CBI has questioned the leniency shown to Rathore and the short sentence given to him, which had allowed him to get bail immediately after the orders were pronounced.

As per provisions of law, the maximum punishment for molestation under Section 354 is a jail term of two years.

The High Court had on January 18 extended the two anticipatory bail applications and a petition demanding cancellation of abetment to suicide charges against Rathore till January 25.

The High Court had earlier on January 12 rejected the interim bail plea of Rathore, and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its reply in this case by January 18.

The former cop has been charged for allegedly molesting 14-year old teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a budding young tennis star in 1990s.

Rathore has three cases pending against him in the court; all filed by Ruchika’s family and friends.

Ruchika’s family lawyer Pankaj Bharadwaj had earlier filed two FIRs against Rathore.

The lawyer had claimed that the first FIR was filed for forging documents like the inquest report and the other for illegal detention of Ruchika’s brother, Ashu, who was kept in illegal detention at the behest of Rathore and given tortures.

The third case is that of abetment to suicide against him. The family has claimed that Ruchika was expelled from Sacred Heart Convent in Chandigarh due to Rathore’s influence.

Teenager Ruchika had killed herself three years after the incident by drinking poison.

The Special CBI court had earlier held the former cop guilty under Section 354 IPC and sentenced him to six months imprisonment and had imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on him.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) on Monday flagged of its fourth women contingent to Liberia for a United Nations Peace Keeping assignment.

 

Addressing the contingent on the occasion, CRPF Director General Vikram Srivastav asked personnel to handle peacekeeping operations carefully.

 

“When you are away from the country, please keep in mind that you are not only representing the CRPF, but also the country. The country will be assessed by your individual behaviour,” Srivastav said.

 

Though family will always be a matter of concern, he expressed confidence about the contingent delivering its best.

 

“Family is always a matter of concern and the CRPF will make every arrangement to look after the family when the men are away on international assignment,” Srivastav said.

 

Speaking to ANI, Commandant Usha Kiran said, she was proud to lead the contingent in a peacekeeping operation on behalf of the country.

 

“I am proud to lead the contingent and we are confident that we will bring glory to the country as well as to the CRPF,” Commandant Kiran said.

 

The CRPF is sending 125-member contingent to Liberia to assist the civilian administration there.

 

Liberia is expected to elect a new government this year after experiencing years of civil war.

 

The CRPF contingent will be in that country for a year.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Newly appointed Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) Director General Vikram Srivastav o n Monday described Naxal violence in some parts of the country as more challenging than dealing with terrorist groups.

 

Interacting with media here, Srivastav said: “Naxalism which challenged the development activities, is more challenging than terror groups.”

 

“We are capable to win this challenge under the able leadership of Home Minister P Chidambaram,” he added.

 

Srivastav also expressed confidence that things will improve very soon, but refused to share operational details.

 

The CRPF, country’s largest counter insurgency force and involved actively in assisting the state police in all the Naxal affected areas.

 

The CRPF has deployed over 20,000 personnel for anti Maoist operations at different parts of the country.

 

On Sunday Maoists blew away a portion of railway tracks causing derailment of a goods train and disruption of train services on the Howrah-Mumbai route in Jharkhand.

 

The 72-hour shutdown call given by Maoists has paralysed normal life in Jharkhand.

 

The shut down is observed ahead of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram’s meeting to review the anti Maoists operation in Kolkata.

 

During the Chief Ministers’ conference on internal security Chidambaram expressed displeasure over Maoists rejection of government’s offer for talks.

Source ANI

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday striked down the four percent quota for Muslims calling it unsustainable.

As per the verdict of the High Court: “Four percent quota for Muslims in jobs and educational institutions is unsustainable.”

The state government had introduced four percent quota for Muslims.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao had also promised political reservation and a quota in education and employment based on population for Muslims in separate Telangana.

Rao had earlier said that Muslims would not be assured of social justice unless they get reservation.

He had assured the Muslim community that a special provision in Constitution would be invoked, as was done by Tamil Nadu government, to extend reservation to Muslims in education and employment.

TRS chief had promised that Muslims would get the reservations proportionate to their population, which was 13 per cent to 15 percent in Telangana.

The TRS chief also assured a budget for welfare of Muslims based on their population.

He had appealed to the members of the Muslim community to shed self-defeatism and assert themselves in separate Telangana.

Source ANI

Jharkhand/ Orissa/ Bihar/ West Bengal: Maoists blew up two railway tracks on the second day of the 72-hour shutdown call given by them on Sunday across the four states of Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar and West Bengal.

A railway track has been blown up in Bhalulata in Sundargarh on the Orissa-Jharkhand border. The explosive was planted under a compartment of a goods train and the blast resulted in its derailment.

Another explosive that was planted on the Up-line tracks was detected and de-fused by the bomb squad early on Monday morning.

At least eight pairs of express and mail trains, and a large number of freight trains have been cancelled following the accident.

Maoists also blew up a meter of the track in the Kiul-Jamalpur-Bhagalpur section in Bihar, thereby targetting the Howrah-Delhi route for the second consecutive day.

Earlier on Sunday, a railway official was killed and a railway track was blown up near Narganjo in Bihar.

Two other railway tracks on the Delhi-Howrah route were also damaged on Sunday affecting train services between Howrah and Delhi.

There were also reports of a railway supervisor being killed on the Jharkhand-Orissa border.

West Bengal has been put on a state of high alert after Maoists killed a CPM leader near Veerbhum on Sunday.

Several trains were cancelled and a few trains including the Ranchi Rajdhani Express were diverted on Sunday to avoid untoward incidents.

All four states are on high alert ahead of the shutdown and extra vigilance is being maintained by police stations in the Naxal-affected districts.

Additional forces of Special Auxiliary Police, Bihar Military Police and central para-military forces have also been deployed.

The shutdown has been called to protest against joint police operations in the four states.

Source ANI

Chandigarh: The Punjab and Haryana High Court will on Monday hear the bail plea of former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) SPS Rathore against the six-months sentence and conviction in the Ruchika Girhotra molestation case.

The CBI had on Thursday filed an appeal in the district and sessions court for enhancing the sentence of Rathore.

In the appeal, the CBI has questioned the leniency shown to Rathore and the short sentence given to him, which had allowed him to get bail immediately after the orders were pronounced.

As per provisions of law, the maximum punishment for molestation under Section 354 is a jail term of two years.

However, Rathore, who retired as Haryana’s DGP in 2002 has asked the abetment of suicide charges be cancelled against him as the Supreme Court had rejected it in the past.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has also issued a show-cause notice to Sacred Heart Convent School, Sector 26, on the basis of the magisterial inquiry conducted by the Chandigarh Administration into the school’s role in the expulsion of Ruchika Girhotra.

The CBSE has threatened the school management with withdrawing its affiliation, if the authorities fail to provide an answer.
The Board has given 30 days time to the school authorities to reply to its notice.
The High Court had on January 18 extended the two anticipatory bail applications and a petition demanding cancellation of abetment to suicide charges against Rathore till January 25.

The High Court had earlier on January 12 rejected the interim bail plea of Rathore, and asked the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file its reply in this case by January 18.

The CBI had on January 12 taken over the case and begun its investigation into all the three fresh FIRs filed against Rathore, leveling various allegations, including attempt to murder, abetment to suicide and doctoring the post mortem report and other documents.

The former cop has been charged for allegedly molesting 14-year old teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a budding young tennis star in 1990s.

Rathore has three cases pending against him in the court; all filed by Ruchika’s family and friends.

Ruchika’s family lawyer Pankaj Bharadwaj had earlier filed two FIRs against Rathore.
The lawyer had claimed that the first FIR was filed for forging documents like the inquest report and the other for illegal detention of Ruchika’s brother, Ashu, who was kept in illegal detention at the behest of Rathore and given tortures.

The third case is that of abetment to suicide against him. The family has claimed that Ruchika was expelled from Sacred Heart Convent in Chandigarh due to Rathore’s influence.

Teenager Ruchika had killed herself three years after the incident by drinking poison.

The CBI is investigating whether Rathore drove Ruchika to suicide after she filed molestation charges. An inquiry by the Chandigarh administration has found that Ruchika was unfairly expelled from her school in 1990. The report also concluded that the expulsion took place under pressure from ‘an external influence’.

The Special CBI court had earlier held the former cop guilty under Section 354 IPC and sentenced him to six months imprisonment and had imposed a fine of Rs 1,000 on him.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Monday upheld the conviction and life sentence of prime accused Rahul in the 2005 ‘Khooni Darwaza’ rape case.

Pronouncing its judgement, the court held Rahul’s accomplice Amit guilty of rape charges and sentenced him to 7 years rigorous imprisonment.

The two have been charged for allegedly raping a fourth-year student of the Maulana Azad Medical College at knifepoint in January 2005.

The victim was allegedly raped by the duo at knifepoint on the terrace of the famous Mughal monument ''Khooni Darwaza'' in central Delhi.

The court had earlier awarded Rahul and Amit life imprisonment in connection with the case.

The Delhi police had filed a chargesheet against them in 2003 in the concerned case.

Source ANI

Ranchi: Ahead of the presentation of the 2010-11 budget, the Jharkhand Government invited representatives of farmers to note their grievances and suggestions for the agriculture sector.

"Our government has decided to give at least 60 percent to the agriculture department and along with that we have taken measures to increase a part of the budget for the power sector also as electricity power is equally important for the development of the state. That is why, as per the state plan, we considered the opinions from the farmers who experienced varied problems in their tasks and also sought practical suggestion from them," said Raghuvir Das, Deputy Chief and Finance Minister of Jharkhand.

He also mentioned that as for the pre-budget proposals concerning agricultural sector all the grievances and suggestions of the farmers were reckoned in right earnest and these would be given due prominence in the ensuing budget.

Farmers expressed confidence of their views being implemented in the state''s policy and plans by saying they have faith in the leadership of Chief Minister Shibu Soren.

"We are sure that he will work towards the development of farmers, villages and workers. We are in close contact with him and will also speak to him when necessary," said Rameshwar Mahto, a farmer.

India''s inflation hit a one-year high in December 2009, fuelled by almost 20 percent jump in food prices, due to weak monsoon rains and flooding in parts of the country.

Although food price inflation remains a major concern, Asia''s third largest economy is expected to grow by around 7.75 percent in the fiscal year to March 2010.

Source ANI

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has slammed Central Government for the price rise.

Addressing a rally here to protest against the rising prices on Sunday, Bhattacharjee said that he had advised the Central Government not try to increase the prices of products since it could result in serious repercussions.

"We have repeatedly said that the agriculture in the country is in critical condition. If the production of the rice and wheat comes down, the price would increase. The ration system can''t function. We want ration for every one. We give subsidy at least for rice, wheat, sugar, and edible oils. People can''t buy these at the market prices. We told (central government) about our views. It is now up to the government to take decision on it we do not know," said Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.

Sending out a message to the people that the opposition Trinamool Congress was trying to prevent the Left Front government from carrying out any pro-people programmes, Bhattacharjee said, "We want good panchayats and municipalities to serve the people better."

He also said that some foreign powers have joined hands with forces harbouring vested interests to thwart the ruling CPIM in the state as these forces don''t want the CPIM to play a crucial role in Delhi.

He also announced that his government would not surrender to the Maoists who have turned West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura districts into hugely troubled spots.

Source ANI

New Delhi: UN Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) chief Dr. Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, already under fire over errors in a key 2007 report, has raised eyebrows for accepting help from Reliance Industries to promote his new novel.

The novel called ‘Return to Almora’ was released in Mumbai by Reliance Industries chairman Mukesh Ambani.

Reliance has close links with Dr. Pachauri’s The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), and has received environmental awards from it, including one for its work on HIV/AIDS in 2007.

Ambani has also been on the steering committee of TERI’s Centre for Research on Energy Security.

The release of his book highlights the links between TERI and large corporations, including big polluters.

However, sources close to both of them have denied a conflict of interest, saying that they were friends and that Ambani had released the book to highlight climate change.

“If they wanted to boost sales, they could have got (Bollywood superstar) Shahrukh Khan,” The Times quoted a source close to Ambani, as saying.

TERI is a not-for-profit company that works “towards global sustainable development”, advises the Government and gives awards for environmental excellence. It also does consultancy work for corporations such as Coca-Cola and India’s National Hydroelectric Power Corp (NHPC).

Last year, TERI had awarded NHPC one of its corporate environmental excellence awards, which was criticized by activists who persuaded the judging panel to reverse its decision after showing that the corporation’s environmental commitments were eight years behind schedule.

However, TERI, which had received more than Rs ten million from NHPC in the past three years, rejected that decision. Three members of the judging panel resigned in protest.

Dr. Pachauri has defended his relationship with such companies, saying that there is no conflict of interest. Environmental activists disagree, saying that he needs to draw clearer lines between his personal interests, TERI, its sponsors and the IPCC.

Source ANI