India News

New Delhi: The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has congratulated Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan for jointly winning the Nobel Prize for Chemistry for the year 2009.

In his congratulatory message to Dr. Ramakrishnan, Dr. Singh said his work in extending the frontiers of molecular biology would be serve as an inspiration to thousands of Indian scientists and researchers.

“This high honour is just and due recognition of your exceptional scientific achievements in your chosen field of study. The work done by you and the other prize winners in furthering the scientific understanding of one of life''s core processes has major applications in the field of medical science and drug development,” he said.

“It is a matter of great pride for India that a brilliant scientist, who has gained the highest international recognition, should have done most of his education in India. It is a tribute to the educational system in our country and the dedication of the teaching community that we are able to nurture such international excellence in the sciences,” he added.

He further said: “The work that you have done to extend the frontiers of Molecular Biology will be an inspiration to thousands of Indian scientists, researchers and technologists, who strive to follow in your footsteps.”

”I wish you all the very best in your future endeavours and hope that you will continue to make outstanding contributions to the scientific progress of humankind,” the Prime Minister added.

An Indian origin senior scientist at the MRC Laborartory of Molecular Biology at Cambridge, Ramakrishnan, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for 2009 along with two others.

The Nobel Committee announced on Wednesday that the Tamil Nadu born Ramakrishnan would share the Nobel Prize with Thomas E Steitz (US) and Ada E Yonath (Israel) for their “studies of the structure and function of the ribosome”.

Ramakrishnan graduated in B.Sc. in Physics from Baroda University in 1971 and did Ph.D. in Physics in 1976 from Ohio University.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, Vayalar Ravi, has congratulated Indian American Dr. Venkatraman Ramakrishnan on his being honoured with the Nobel Prize for Chemistry.

In his message, he said: "I express my hearty congratulations to Ramakrishnan upon his winning the Nobel Prize for Chemistry. His pioneering work on ribosome will benefit humanity. The people of India are proud by his unprecedented achievement and the
Indian Diaspora all over the world is also overwhelmed by his accomplishment."

"Ramakrishnan has honoured the country by joining the list of Nobel laureates," the Minister added.

Source ANI

Nagaland: In a glittering ceremony held at the Indira Gandhi Stadium at Kohima today, Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio declared the First North East Youth Festival open.

In his inaugural speech, Rio said that success at the regional or national level is no longer excellence.

He called on the youth from all over the country to strive to be the best globally, to reach out for international recognition to bring laurels to our people and glory to the country.

Youth and creativity is the theme selected aptly for the event.

Rio said that the theme is most appropriate for the present time and age as in the past two years, the entire world has undergone a time of crisis and economic melt-down.

"This global recession has put forward several questions, many of which are yet to find complete answer. But, there is one definite answer that is bound to be accepted in every walk of life and that is creativity. Companies, governments and entrepreneurs are all looking for creativity and this new creativity will have to emerge from the imagination and the courage of the youth," he said.

He urged upon the youth to follow the time honoured mantra of 3Ds that is Dedication, Discipline and Determination for success.

About 1300 youth from all over the country including all the north eastern states are participating in the three-day event. Majority of the participants are active volunteers of the NYKS and the NSS.

It is being jointly organised by the Department of Youth Affairs, Government of India and the Nagaland Government.

The closing ceremony will be held on October 10. It will be graced by Agatha Sangma, Union Minister of State in the Ministry of Rural Development.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The police custody of Kobad Ghandy, a polit bureau member of the banned CPI (Maoist), was on Thursday extended till October 15 by Chief Judicial Magistrate Kaveri Baweja.

Ghandy, who heads the CPI (Maoist) publication wing, was nabbed in South Delhi following inputs from intelligence agencies. He has been a part of the People''s War Group (PWG) since its initial stages.

Ghandy also played an important role in fostering the development of the front''s organisations. In 1994, he was allegedly active in floating a forum named the All India People''s Resistance Forum.

He had gone underground after the merger of the Communist Party of India (Marxist Leninist), the People''s War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre of India in 2004 when the CPI (Maoist) came into existence.

Source ANI

New Delhi:  Amid mounting concern over New Delhi''s slow preparation for the Commonwealth Games next year, a team of the games'' committee on Thursday visited the Thyagraj Stadium, which is expected to open at the end of December.

Led by Mike Fennell, the President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the team also visited the games village to assess the progress there.

The stadium is the only site that is expected to meet the completion deadline.

The stadium has been touted as the first green stadium in the country as environment-friendly material like fly-ash bricks and specialized glasses are being used for its construction.

The stadium would also be the first government building to use a gas-based turbine to meet its power needs.

The Commonwealth delegation was given a presentation on the stadium’s green concept.

Source ANI

Chennai: The Madras Union of Journalists (MUJ) condemned the arrest of the editor of the Tamil daily Dina Malar, B Lenin, saying it was unwarranted and that the police had overreacted.

Lenin was arrested on Wednesday, for publishing a statement issued by television actress Bhuvaneshwari in which she had made some allegations against several top Tamil film industry stars.

Dina Malar had claimed that Bhuvaneshwari had been arrested recently on charges of prostitution and had named some of Kollywood stars as her clients in her confession statement.

Lenin was charged under Section 4 of the Tamil Nadu Women Harassment (Prevention) Act  (TNWHA) based on a complaint filed by Radha Ravi, the general secretary of the South Indian Film Artistes Association.

The MUJ’s emergency meeting on Thursday would decide on the future course of action.

Meanwhile, the Tamil Nadu film industry has shown unprecedented unity over the issue and voiced their discontent over the publication of the report.

They claimed that the publication had maligned actors and demanded action against the newspaper.

Though the newspaper also carried a regret note for its October 5 report it was published on the bases of the actress’ confession, the film industry is peeved over the wild allegations.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Australian speedster Brett Lee on Thursday said he hopes to try harder in the Champions League twenty20 tournament, which starts from today, after he missed out on test match in England.

Addressing a press conference here on the first day of the tournament, Lee said that as he was unable to play his earlier matches due to his injuries. He is planning to put his best in the present tournament.

"I didn''t play test match in England. I got injured and sort of missed the boat and a couple of things happened. But at this point of time, I can instead play the game of cricket that I am playing and that''s one-day cricket. So I will be trying harder in this tournament," said Lee.

Lee also said that the team has been assured that playing in India at present is safe.

Australia has two teams that will be participating in the CLT20 tournament, Victoria Bushrangers and NSW Blues.

The league will see 12 of the world''s best domestic teams sweating out for the trophy.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will take on Cape Cobras in the opening match. The final match will be held on October 23.

Source ANI

Srinagar: Security forces are continuing with their manhunt for Lashkar –e –Taiba (LeT) militants hiding in the jungles of Pampore in southern Kashmir.

Seventy two hours of their search and nab operation, the army has busted a terrorist hideout but failed to nab the militants who managed to flee under the cover of fire.

The manhunt was launched in the wee hours of Monday.

Choppers have been pressed into the operation to aid in the tracking down of the terrorists hiding in the forests.

Security forces suspect that over nine terrorists, including Lashkar’s South Kashmir commander Abu Rehman Bhai are hiding under the thick green cover.

Rahman, a Pakistani national, is said to be behind the IED explosion that was triggered off in front of the Srinagar Central Jail last month.

The security forces have announced a reward of Rs 10 lakh for anyone revealing the whereabouts of Rahman.

According to sources, Rehman was actively involved in convincing more youngsters of the state to join ranks of the Lashkar.

A red alert has been sounded across the state after the terrorists had fled.

A huge cache of arms and ammunition, blankets, mattresses, and cartons of food, dry fruits and even water has been recovered from the busted hideout.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Mike Fennell, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), was caught napping during the 2010 Commonwealth Games presentation here on Thursday.

Fennell, along with his team, is in India to inspect the sites ahead of the games.

The lack of preparations in New Delhi has been a cause of concern for Fennell, who had written to the organisers last month expressing his concern at the organisers'' reluctance to hire foreign experts and the tardy progress of work.

He also demanded an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to help "revive" the games.

The games'' organising committee has received a lot of flak for its tardy progress with the construction of many venues, including the athletes'' village, running behind schedule and forcing the postponement or shifting of many international meetings planned as test events.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Armed Forces have rescued 3,600 people in the flood-ravaged states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.

According to a Defence Ministry release, two Army columns each continue flood relief operations in Kurnool and Vijayawada districts of Andhra Pradesh, besides one column has been deployed in Guntur district.

As life returns to normalcy in Karnataka, the Army yesterday withdrew its last column of men, deployed in Karwar district.

The Navy has also withdrawn three teams of its divers from Kurnool district in Karnataka.

But two diving teams continue relief and rescue operations in Uttar Kannada and Karwar districts.

In Andhra Pradesh, five Naval teams remain deployed in Vijayawada district for relief operations.

The Naval teams have rescued 1740 persons and distributed 2000 food and 1000 water packets so far.

The Indian Air Force (IAF) has so far deployed thirty-two aircraft and helicopters, carrying out 340 sorties.

The IAF has delivered over 206 tons of rescue equipment and relief materials, besides airlifting around 1100 people, including doctors, paramedics, rescue teams and flood affected victims, who were rescued.

Source ANI

Kalpakkam (Tamil Nadu): The Madras Atomic Power Station conducted a mock drill at Kalpakkam in Tamil Nadu to prepare villagers around the site in case of any possible radiation leakage.

The drill was organised by the power station officials along with Kancheepuram district administration on Wednesday.

"We have stipulated the frequency for the offsite emergency exercise to bring the awareness in surrounding villages and to the district machinery what is to be done and what is not to be done in case of an emergency. We write the procedure and we have the offsite emergency manual prepared," said K Rama Murthy, director of the Madras Atomic Power Station.

The drill was conducted in the Manamai village near the atomic power station. As part of the exercise, the power station director messaged Kancheepuram district collector about the radiation leakage from the nuclear reactor.

After alerting other officials concerned, a team of fire service, medical personnel, police officials, revenue officials, transport officials, veterinary doctors arrived at the site.

The objective of the exercise was to check the preparedness of the district administration and the power station management to handle any emergency situation.

The nearby villages surrounding the power station, which can be affected by the leakage, were also alerted. They were asked to remain indoors with doors and windows shut.

In the second step, villagers and their cattle were medically examined. And finally the villagers were sanitised with water showers before they were transferred to a safer place.
The emergency exercise disrupted the normal routine of the villagers, but they welcomed it.

"No accident should take place at Kalpakkam atomic station. However, in case of any emergence or any accident, this mock drill is useful in preparing us how to tackle a possible mishap and also how to take tablets and clean us from radiation," said Ghandhimathi, a villager.

The drill is conducted once in every two years.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao on Thursday said the suicide attack in Kabul was directed at the Indian embassy.

"I believe that the suicide bomb was directed against the embassy because the suicide bomber came up to the outside perimeter wall of the embassy in a car loaded with explosives, obviously with the aim of targeting the embassy," Rao said.

"All the personnel inside the embassy building at that time are safe. Three of our personnel from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), who were guarding the perimeter wall of the embassy have been slightly injured because of shrapnel from the bomb blast. But there has been no loss of life," she added.

"I have spoken to India''s Ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad and he has informed me that all the members of our embassy (officers and staff and personnel) are safe. The intensity of the blast was more or less similar to the one that occurred outside our embassy in Kabul in July 2008," Rao said.

A Ministry of External Affairs spokesman said the blast took place at 8.27 a.m., and added that the walls of the complex had sustained some damage.

Other unconfirmed media reports said that at least seven people had been killed in the incident.

Source ANI

Mumbai: Congress MP Sanjay Nirupam and party’s candidate Bharat Parekh were arrested by the city police on Thursday under charges of unlawful assembly and rioting at Charkop in Suburban Kandivali.

Both Nirupam and Parekh were later released on bail.

Parekh is Congress candidate from the Charkop Assembly constituency.

On Wednesday night, a scuffle broke out between Congress workers and activists from other political parties when the later objected to Nirupam and Parekh’s presence at the Laljipada slums in Charkop post midnight.

Nirupam, however, refuted the allegation saying that he had visited the slums after receiving information that certain leaders of other parties threatened people to vote against Parekh.

Source ANI

Dharamsala: The decision of US President Obama to meet Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama after Obama''s China visit has raised hopes amongst the Tibetan exiles living in India.

Obama will not be meeting the Dalai Lama during his five-day trip to the US capital. This is the first time in 18 years the exiled Tibetan leader has visited Washington without seeing the President.

Obama will wait until after his November summit with Chinese leader Hu Jintao before meeting the Dalai Lama, a decision that has made the Tibetan exiles hopeful of US help in resolving the Tibet issue with China.

"The fact that the meeting will take place after his China visit is significant. Perhaps, the President would have the chance to brief His Holiness of the discussion. He would hold with senior Chinese leaders on the issue of Tibet," said Thubten Samphel, spokesperson, Tibetan government-in-exile.

The decision to break the precedent and delay the meeting was conveyed to the Dalai Lama last month when Obama''s senior adviser Valerie Jarrett and State Department Under Secretary, Maria Otero travelled to Dharamsala, to explain the administration''s stand on Tibet.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president M Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday that, the party may not contest the 2014 Lok Sabha elections under the leadership of L K Advani.

In an interview to a private news channel, Naidu however maintained silence over the possible leader who can lead the party five years down the line.

He also agreed that it would be logical for the party to get a new leadership at that juncture.

Naidu also hinted that, Advani might not contest the next general elections and said that the change of guard would take place a couple of years before the polls.

Naidu, who is representing Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, said Advani had been chosen as the Leader of Opposition by party for the 15th Lok Sabha and it was for him to decide when to step down and added that it’s for Advani to choose to whom he has to hand over the guard.

He also defended the party’s decision to continue Advani as head of the BJP parliamentary party, though the latter was reluctant to accept and had to be persuaded.

Confirming the media reports over Advani’s opposition to Jaswant Singh’s expulsion from the party and revealed that Advani asked the parliamentary party to think of any other alternative action than the expulsion.

However, Naidu maintained the final decision was unanimous and said it was a painful decision as Singh had been with the party for over 30 years.

Naidu, who is considered as one of the close associates of Advani said his leader, had not suffered any image loss at all in the last few months, which have witnessed several controversies within the party.

Commenting on Arun Shourie''s recent outburst against Advani and party president Rajnath Singh through a series of newspaper articles, Naidu hinted action might be initiated after the assembly polls in three states.

Commenting on stepping down of Vasundhara Raje as Leader of the Opposition of the Rajasthan Assembly Naidu expressed confidence that Raje would abide by party decision.

Source ANI

Pune/Aurangabad: BJP leader L K Advani has termed the state of Maharashtra the record holder for most cases of suicide by the farmers.

The elections to the legislature of Maharashtra are scheduled to be held on October 13.

"In India, Maharashtra holds a record that is for the most number of suicidal cases of the farmers," said Advani in an election rally.

In Maharashtra, hundreds of farmers, mostly cotton growers, have committed suicide in the past five years. The suicides are still continuing despite various attempts by the State and the Central Governments to mitigate their financial woes and offer debt-relief from the creditors.

He also lashed out at the Central Government for being inefficient to curb inflation.

This has been caused because of growing corruption in the country, Advani said.

"The main reason behind price rise is corruption. The government cannot eradicate corruption, cannot stop price rise and electricity woes. Until they understand this reality, there won''t be any development," he added.

Source ANI

Dharamsala: Tibetan men and women sang patriotic songs to mark the 40th anniversary of the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) here on Wednesday.

The TYC was established on October 7, 1970.

Hundreds of Tibetans assembled at the Tibetan Institute of Performing Arts (TIPA) to participate in the programme.

The programme began with Tibetan national anthem followed by patriotic songs by some Tibetan artists.

"We have gathered here to pay tribute to all those Tibetan martyrs, who have sacrificed their lives for Tibetan independence," said Tenzin, secretary, TYC.

The TYC is the largest Tibetan organization, which has 85 chapters in 12 countries.
Sonam, president, Regional Tibetan Youth Congress, said the day also served as a sad reminder that Tibet was still ruled by China.

"If you look back to the Tibetan freedom movement for the past forty years, it has gained a lot of support from the international community. So for us, it''s not all about working for Tibetan cause, but for the past forty-fifty years the Tibetan people inside Tibet are suffering under the People''s Republic of China. For us, it''s a very sad day and also for us a day to remember that Tibet is still under the People''s Republic of China," said Sonam.

China has controlled Tibet since People''s Liberation Army troops marched into the region in 1950 and Beijing considers Tibet as an integral part of its territory.

Critics have accused China of repressing Tibetans'' religious aspirations, especially their veneration for the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader.

Source ANI

Hindon (Uttar Pradesh): The Indian Air Force is all set to deploy its special Garuda forces against Naxals in self defence while operating in Maoist-infested areas, but ruled out any “Rambo-style” operation against the rebels.

The Indian Air Force is awaiting a nod from the Government, which is most likely to come today after a meeting of the Union Cabinet, to deploy Garuda commando units to defend its helicopters and men in Naxal-infested areas.

“It is not a free for all like ‘Rambo’ that we will go and fire in the countryside. In helicopters, we will be mounting guns which will be manned by IAF’s special force Garuda and they are the people who will be taking the fire if required,” said Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, on the sidelines of the 77th Air Force Day celebrations here.

Replying to a question on the government’s nod about the IAF request to allow the opening of fire in self-defence, ACM Naik said the Cabinet Committee on Security would decide on the matter.

He further said: “I want to reiterate that I am totally against armed forces - Army, Navy and Air Force - being used in internal situations. We are meant to defend threats from across the border.”

“If the states require any help, we are always there to give it in terms of casualty evacuation and insertion (of security forces),” ACM Naik added.

Referring to the killing of IAF personnel in a Naxal attack on November 14, 2008, last year while facilitating state assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, ACM Naik said this incident resulted in the IAF requesting the Defence Ministry to permit it to open fire on Maoists in self defence.

“There will be very stringent stipulations to help identify where the fire is coming from, and where to use minimum force to ensure minimum collateral damage and fire is to be permitted by the captain of the helicopter,” ACM Naik said while stating that permission of the copter’s commander is necessary to open fire if the CCS gives nod to IAF’s request.

The Air Force Chief, however, ruled out the deployment of armed helicopters or aircraft to bomb any area in Naxal-affected regions.

“We are not indulging in any armed aggression against any citizen of India. We would only like to undertake operations to protect our helicopters and men and women who fly these,” he said.

Source ANI

Chidambaram/Chennai (TN): Even as a student, Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, who won the 2009 Nobel Prize in chemistry, had the spark in him to climb great heights, his former teacher N.S Govindaraj said.

Ramakrishna''s former teacher recalled that the Nobel laureate was a bright and sincere student who would reach great heights like Sir C V Raman, who won the Nobel for physics in 1930.

"Even when he was a student, I knew that he would reach great heights, even more than Sir C V Raman. He used to study and was very sincere in his duties," said 82-year-old Govindaraj.

In Chennai, academics and students expressed happiness over the selection of
Ramakrishnan for the top award.

"It''s a very happy news. We should be proud of one of ours has got the Nobel Prize for science. Indians were known like C.V Raman was famous and was the first one to receive the Nobel Prize for physics from India. Later on there were other scientists who went abroad and then made names for themselves," said P. John, Vice Principal, Loyola College.

Saran Rajkumar, a college student, said: "I am very proud that Ramakrishnan has got a Nobel Prize in chemistry."

Ramakrishnan is the ninth person of Indian origin to bag the award.

Venkatraman along with Israeli Ada Yonath and American Thomas Steitz won the Nobel Prize for producing atom-by-atom maps of the mysterious, life-giving ribosome that has allowed researchers to develop powerful new antibiotics.

The Nobel prizes are given annually for achievements in chemistry, physics, medicine, peace, literature and economics. They were first awarded in 1901 in accordance with the 1895 will of Swedish millionaire Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite.

Presently, Ramakrishnan is a U.S. scientist at the Medical Research Council''s Molecular Biology Laboratories in Cambridge.

Venkatraman Ramakrishnan was born at Chidambaram in Tamil Nadu in 1952.

He had his early schooling in Chidambaram and later did B.Sc (physics) from the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, in 1976.

Source ANI

New Delhi: U.S. Ambassador to India Timothy J. Roemer today announced that the United States will contribute 100,000 dollars as assistance to victims of the recent floods in southern and western India.

On behalf of the American people, Ambassador Roemer offered his condolences to the families of those killed and to those rendered homeless in the disaster.

“The heart-breaking personal loss, the destruction of homes and property, and the loss of cattle and crops have been devastating,” the Ambassador said.  “Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families during this time of great loss and tragedy.”

Over the past seven years, the U.S. has provided over 16 million dollars for disaster management activities in India, working in partnership with Indian disaster experts to share knowledge and expertise, improve disaster preparedness, and protect India''s most vulnerable citizens.

Source ANI

Hindon (Uttar Pradesh): The Indian Air Force today celebrated its 77th anniversary with a breathtaking display of air power by its frontline fighter aircrafts, followed by a thrilling aerobatics performance by its Surya Kiran and Sarang teams.

Both the Sarang helicopter team and Surya Kiran Aerobatics Team (SKAT) on Thursday enthralled the audience with their display of synchronized low level manoeuvring in close formation on the occasion of the 77th anniversary of the Indian Air Force.

The parade was led by Group Captain S.K Vidhate and comprised 30 officers and 213 air warriors.

The 28-member rifle drill team’s performance with a motto Drill to Thrill was a treat to the eyes.

The air display commenced with Para Motor and powered Hang Glider performance followed by flag bearing skydivers of Akash Ganga Team dropping out of an AN-32 aircraft.

The commencement of the Air Force Day Parade was marked by a fly past of three Mi-17 helicopters in Vic formation trooping the Air Force Ensign at a height of 60 metres at the speed of 80 kmph.

A Chakra formation comprising three Mi-25/Mi-35 then came in followed by a spectrum comprising of one Dornier in the lead with two AVRO and two AN-32 aircraft in echelon position on wither side.

The spectators for the first time saw the AWACS (Airborne Early Warning and Control Systems) aircraft, which was escorted by two SU-30 MKI.

The fighter fly past was be led by three Jaguars in Vic formation closely followed by Vic formation of three each Bison (Mig-21), Baaz (Mig-29), Vajra (Mirage 2000) aircraft and a SU-30 MKI aircraft.

One Sukhoi aircraft of the formation then carried out four turn in Vertical Charlie manoeuvre.

The IAF was officially established on October 8, 1932, as an auxiliary air force of the Indian Empire and the prefix Royal was added in 1945 in recognition of its services during the World War II.

After India achieved independence from the British in 1947, the prefix Royal was dropped and replaced by the word Indian.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Amid mounting concerns over New Delhi''s preparedness for holding the Commonwealth Games next year, a games'' committee team visited various sites here to take stock.

Led by Mike Fennell, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), the team visited the games village to assess progress.

The lack of preparations in New Delhi has been a cause of concern for Fennell, who had written to the organisers last month expressing his concern at the organisers'' reluctance to hire foreign experts and the tardy progress of work.

He also demanded an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to help "revive" the games.

The games'' organising committee has received a lot of flak for its tardy progress with the construction of many venues, including the athletes'' village, running behind schedule and forcing the postponement or shifting of many international meetings planned as test events.

"They have a lot of work to do," a member of the Commonwealth Federation accompanying Fennell said.

Organising committee chairman Suresh Kalmadi has insisted his team had sufficient experience, but India has not hosted a major event since the 1982 Asian Games.

Fennell had said personnel with games experience must be appointed in management, planning and operational roles including transportation, technology, ticketing and logistics.

While Fennell praised the government for it''s backing of the games, he targeted the organising committee.

The games village near the Akshardham Temple in East Delhi will house more than 8000 athletes during the event.

As part of the railways'' preparations for the games, the Railways have given their nod for covering rail tracks running close to the games village.

The 1.1 km-long sound proof corridor will be constructed by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA).

As many as 600 trains pass through this area every day, making it one of the busiest and congested stretches in the country.

Besides this, several beautification programmes in New Delhi station would also be carried out.

Source ANI

New Delhi:The Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday confirmed news of an explosion taking place outside the heavily fortified walls of the Indian Embassy in Kabul.

A spokesman of the ministry said that the blast took place at 8.27 a.m., and added that the walls of the complex had sustained some damage.

Other unconfirmed media reports said that at least seven people had been killed in the incident.

Earlier, an Indian Embassy official speaking on the condition of anonymity told ANI over phone that all embassy staff were reportedly safe and that only one Afghan policeman had been killed in the explosion.

He also confirmed that four others had been injured.

According to the official, since the blast had occurred early in the day, the toll was minimised as staff was yet to turn up for duty inside the heavily fortified complex.

The embassy Official said the explosion took place at around 9 a.m. local time.

Though, he did  not mention the nature of the attack, local television stations said it was a car bomb attack.

Source ANI

Gaurur village (Bangalore): Flood-hit people have started returning to their homes in Gaurur village, which falls in Karnataka''s Gulbarga district.

Villagers came back only to see their washed away homes.

"I came back to the village only to discover that there is nothing left here. The house is damaged. There is no food," said Laxmi, a villager.

Their joy of coming back to their homes is overwhelmed by helplessness. They have to start their life from scratch.

"We stayed at the rehabilitation centre where there were no facilities. Now we come back to our village and here also nothing is left for us," said another villager.

On Wednesday, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa along with other legislators walked through various localities to mobilise funds for rehabilitation of the flood victims.
Thousands of people gathered here to give money in cash as well as cheques.

Yeddyurappa said that people have whole-heartedly come forth and supported the cause.
"More than three lakh houses collapsed. People are supporting us. This is a very good cause. As a politician, for the sake of public, I am doing this," he said.

The lawmakers representing the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said that each one of them would also contribute one million rupees for the rehabilitation of the flood victims.

The floods in northern parts of Karnataka, described by officials as the worst in many decades, has killed over 212 people besides rendering several thousands homeless.

Similar havoc was witnessed in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh after River Tungabhadra, which flows from Karnataka and joins River Krishna went in spate.

At least five million people are crammed in temporary government shelters.

Floodwaters have swamped millions of acres of farmland and damaged standing crops of sugarcane, maize, rice and wheat.

The loss of sugarcane has given rise to worries of sharp fall in the output of sugar in Karnataka, the country''s third-biggest producer.

Source ANI

Khagaria (Bihar): One person died and 21 others were injured when the Amritsar-Katihar-AmrapaIi Express derailed in Bihar''s Khagaria district on Wednesday.

The actual cause of the train mishap is unknown, but the officials attribute to damage in tracks because of heavy rains.

"It seems that due to the heavy rains, the mud has slipped around the bank and because of which the track has been damaged leading to derailing of the engine. The actual cause will only be known after the enquiry," said RK Agarwal, Divisional Railway Manager (DRM), Central-East Railways.

The deceased has been identified as 22-year-old Puran Singh, a resident of Chainpur village in Purulia district of the state.

A woman of around 35 years, Shanti Devi has sustained grievous head injuries. She is last said to be in critical condition.

Injured were relieved after being administered first aid by the authorities.

The mishap has hit the traffic on the line. Around five passenger trains have been cancelled. Besides, route of 15 trains has been diverted.

Source ANI

New Delhi / Kabul: An Indian Embassy official speaking on the condition of anonymity told ANI over phone that all embassy staff were safe and that only one Afghan policeman had been killed in a bomb explosion that took place outside the embassy premises on Thursday morning.

He also confirmed that four others had been injured.

According to the official, since the blast had occurred early in the day, the toll was minimised as staff was yet to turn up for duty inside the heavily fortified complex.

The embassy Official said the explosion took place at around 9 a.m. local time.

Though, he did  not mention the nature of the attack, local television stations said it was a car bomb attack.

Source ANI

Bangalore: Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi on Thursday said that the launch of the league matches would lead to a rapid growth of the game at the club level around the world.

Talking to media in Bangalore before the start of the Champions League, Modi said: “Launch of the Champions League definitely is going to result in growth of club level cricket. It has been there, but it will lead to a rapid growth of club cricket around the world.”

In the inaugural match of the Champions League, which will be held at Bangalore, the host team Royal Challengers will take on Cape Cobras.

The league will witness 12 teams of which three are Indian squads, sweating it out for the trophy by contesting against world''s best domestic teams.

On being asked whether the tournament earnings will be donated for flood relief operations in Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, Modi said that they have been discussing it with their counterparts in Australia and South Africa and a decision as to how the flood victims could be helped would be known in the coming days.

“The objective (aid of flood and drought victims) is yes. This is a calamity that has hit our nation and we will seriously examine it and how we can give back to the community and our people. This is something that is on the cards for discussion in the next few days,” Modi said.

Source ANI

Chennai: Hundreds of Tamils and pro- Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) supporters staged a demonstration in Chennai on Thursday, demanding the Indian government to initiate steps to immediately send back Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner Vadivel Krishnamoorthy.

Krishnamoorthy was recently involved in a controversy over his comment that the camps of displaced Tamils in Lanka were not zoos to be visited by outside people.

“This is irresponsible, Sri Lankan Deputy High Commissioner is not required to comment. He should be removed immediately. Therefore we, as part of Naam Tamilaer movement, have assembled here and are protesting for this cause,” said Seeman, Tamil film director and organisor of the Naam Tamilaer lobby group.

“The Central and the State Governments should understand our feelings and take steps. Only one Sri Lankan High Commissioner is enough. The Deputy High Commissioner is not needed,” he added.
 
India has around 60 million ethnic Tamils who have historical and cultural links with the Tamil minority in Sri Lanka.

More than 260,000 Tamils live in camps in northern Sri Lanka, displaced during the 25-year war between the Government and the LTTE.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will conduct an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka during his two-day visit to the states from Friday.

Singh will first go to Andhra Pradesh, where he will review the flood-affected regions with Chief Minister K. Rosaiah.

He will then visit Karnataka where after the aerial survey, he will take stock of the flood situation with Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa at Raichur.

The floods have wrecked havoc in northern parts of Karnataka, described by officials as the worst in many decades, killing over 280 people besides rendering several thousands homeless.

While in Andhra Pradesh, River Tungabhadra, which flows from Karnataka and joins River Krishna went in spate and has made at least five million people suffer.

Floodwaters have swamped millions of acres of farmland and damaged standing crops of sugarcane, maize, rice and wheat.

The loss of sugarcane has given rise to worries of sharp fall in the output of sugar in Karnataka, the country''s third-biggest producer.

Following the calamities, the Centre has already released the second installment of over Rs. 209 crore from the Calamity Relief Fund to the two states. And Prime Minister had announced Rs. one lakh each of ex-gratia from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund to the next of kin of those killed in the floods.

The Armed Forces have rescued 3,600 people in the states.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Defence Minister A K Antony said on Thursday that the Government has been taken no decision so far on the Indian Air Force’s request to fire at Naxals in self defence while operating in Maoist-infested areas.

The Indian Air Force is awaiting a nod from the Government to deploy Garuda commando units to defend its helicopters and men in Naxal-infested areas.

“The defence ministry is studying the proposal and we will take the decision (soon),” Antony told reporters in New Delhi.

Earlier in the day, Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal P V Naik, said the IAF is all set to deploy its special Garuda forces against Naxals in self-defence while operating in Maoist-infested areas, but ruled out any “Rambo-style” operation against the rebels.

“It is not a free for all like ‘Rambo’ that we will go and fire in the countryside. In helicopters, we will be mounting guns which will be manned by IAF’s special force Garuda and they are the people who will be taking the fire if required,” said Air Chief Marshal P V Naik on the sidelines of the 77th Air Force Day celebrations here.

Replying to a question on the government’s nod about the IAF request to allow the opening of fire in self-defence, ACM Naik said the Cabinet Committee on Security would decide on the matter.

He further said: “I want to reiterate that I am totally against armed forces - Army, Navy and Air Force - being used in internal situations. We are meant to defend threats from across the border.”

“If the states require any help, we are always there to give it in terms of casualty evacuation and insertion (of security forces),” ACM Naik added.

Referring to the killing of IAF personnel in a Naxal attack on November 14, 2008, last year while facilitating state assembly elections in Chhattisgarh, ACM Naik said this incident resulted in the IAF requesting the Defence Ministry to permit it to open fire on Maoists in self defence.

“There will be very stringent stipulations to help identify where the fire is coming from, and where to use minimum force to ensure minimum collateral damage and fire is to be permitted by the captain of the helicopter,” ACM Naik said while stating that permission of the copter’s commander is necessary to open fire if the CCS gives nod to IAF’s request.

The Air Force Chief, however, ruled out the deployment of armed helicopters or aircraft to bomb any area in Naxal-affected regions.

“We are not indulging in any armed aggression against any citizen of India. We would only like to undertake operations to protect our helicopters and men and women who fly these,” he said.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Mazagon Docks Limited (MDL), Goa Shipyard Limited (GSL) and Garden Reach and Shipbuilders and Engineers Ltd, (GRSE) presented their cheques to the Defence Minister A. K. Antony in the national capital on Thursday towards dividend to the Government of India for the financial year 2008-09.

Vice Admiral (Retd) HS Malhi, Chairman and Managing Director of MDL presented a cheque of Rs. 49.80 crore, S Anathasayanam, Officiating Chairman and Managing Director of GSL presented a dividend cheque of Rs. 8.47 crores, while Chairman and Managing Director of GRSE, Rear Admiral (Retd) KC Sekhar, presented a cheque for Rs. 24.77 crore.

RK Singh, the Secretary of Defence Production and other senior officials of the Ministry of Defence were also present on the occasion.

Source ANI

Ranchi: Indian cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be fined for delay in filing the registration papers for his new Hummer H2 luxury sports utility vehicle (SUV).

According to the District Transport Officer, A K Banka, Dhoni will be fined as his new car''s registration papers are incomplete.

“Dhoni has bought a Hummer, which is a foreign car. We got the papers for filling registration of his car last month, but he was short of papers. Some papers were missing like insurance, photographs. He had said that he would send them, but we have not received the papers yet,” Banka said.

“Thus the registration is incomplete and as per the Motor Vehicles Act any person who purchases the car must get the vehicle registered within a week after the date of purchase,” he added.

Banka further emphasized that he would have to pay Rs. 100 under the rules.

“If one does not register then he will have to pay the fine of Rs. 100. So, it is but natural that since the Dhoni''s car is not yet registered and he will have to pay Rs 100 as fine,” he added.

Source ANI

New Delhi: In the third episode of ‘Twitternama’, Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor said that India will not be intimidated by suicide bomb attacks like the one that rocked the Indian Embassy in Kabul on Thursday.

“India will not be intimidated by these criminal killers. We will take all steps necessary to protect Indian lives and installations in Afghanistan,” Tharoor said in his posting on Twitter, a social networking site.

Tharoor also condemned the bomb blast that killed 17 people and injured 83, and said: “Tragic news from Kabul of another bomb attack near our embassy. Indians safe, but many Afghan casualties. Our condolences.”

Earlier in the day, a Ministry of External Affairs spokesman said the blast took place at 8.27 a.m., and added that the walls of the complex had sustained some damage.

The blast tore through a market building across the street from the heavily fortified embassy compound, leaving rubble and debris strewn across the road, where the Afghan Interior Ministry is also located.

Source ANI

Gadchiroli, (Maharashtra): At least 18 policemen were killed by the Maoists in an ambush in Gadchiroli District of Maharashtra on Thursday afternoon.

According to the police the left wing ultras attacked the police out post near Lahir village of Bhamragadh tehsil of Gadchiroli District.

All the dead policemen belonged to the C-60 anti-Naxal force raised by Maharashtra, the police said.

Gadchiroli is situated in the southeastern corner of Maharashtra, and bordering Chhatisgarh to the east, and Andhra Pradesh to the south and southwest.

According to sources, an intense gun battle was on near Lahir as reinforcements, which were rushing to the first ambush site, also came under attack by the red ultras.

Sources said that a team of commandos from the C-60 force and local police went to some villages on election related duties and were returning to Lahir when they were ambushed by nearly 200 Maoists.

As the Maoists attacked, the reinforcements too, indicated that the attacks were planned well in advance.

On Wednesday, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram asked the Naxalites to abjure violence and take up the path of dialogue and democracy.

Source ANI

Amritsar: The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) has requested Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari  to intervene and undo  the illegal  sale  of land  attached to Sikh shrines in Pakistan.

In a letter sent to Zardari, SGPC president Avtar Singh Makkar drew his attention towards the  sale of  land  near Defence  Colony  in Lahore. The letter was sent through the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi.

He said that it was a travesty of justice that Sikh  gurdwara land was being sold at throwaway  prices by the Pakistan  Evacuee  Trust Property Board (PETPB).

It is  pertitent  to mention here that the  PETPB recently  sold nearly 850 kanals  of  land  belonging to the gurdwara Deh,  Mota Singh village and  Smadh bhai Maan Singh for approximately  six crore of rupees,  whereas the  actual cost of the land was much more.

Makkar said that according to a pact reached between the former Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan -- Jawaharlal Nehru and Liaqat Ali Khan -  no property of any religious places in Pakistan could be put up  for  sale.

Earlier, 35 acres of land  belonging to the Gurdwara Bebe Nanki in Pakistan was to be sold, but the PETPB had to cancel the move after protests from the Sikh diaspora and  intervention of the high court.

Sources  informed that after the report  of  the sale  of  land  belonging to  Sikh shrines at throwaway prices was published, the Pakistan government has summoned a PETPB official to Islamabad to enquire about it.

Source ANI

Srinagar: The Archeology and Museum Department of Jammu and Kashmir has found a pond dating back to the Mughal era during renovation work at a historical monument.

The department was carrying out a survey at the Dhara Shikoon Masjid, when the pond was discovered.

“This is an important constituent of the monument as it has remained untouched for a long time. It was hidden under the ground for a long time, but after excavations, it became visible. It was used as an important water source,” claimed Khurshid Ahmad Qadri, the Director General of the archives department.

The pond has attracted hundreds of visitors who are impressed by its architecture.

Mir Mehraj-Ud-Din, a local said: “You can''t even imagine what all monuments you have here. We have the Pir Mahal. Besides this, there are other monuments which are buried underground.”

Source ANI

New Delhi: The 15th Battalion of the Jammu and Kashmir Rifles will replace the outgoing 6th Battalion of the Assam Rifles during the Ceremonial Changing of the Guard Ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Saturday.

The ceremony is held on Saturdays at Rashtrapati Bhavan, and this time the taking over session will have added attraction and special features.

The ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. and end at about 9.45 a.m. and the spectacle can be watched free of charge.

The Changing of the Guard Ceremony has been attracting tourists, as it has a very ancient tradition in which the Infantry Army Guards and the President''s Body Guards change guard with clock-work precision.

This tradition days back to the raising of the president’s body guards in 1773.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The blast that occurred outside Indian Embassy in Kabul this morning was more powerful than the last year''s blast, sources here said.

According to them, the blast created a "deeper crater" than the July 7, 2008 blast in which 41 people, including an army brigadier and a foreign service officer was killed  and about 150 people were injured.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao in New Delhi and India''s Ambassador to Afghanistan Jayant Prasad had said that the intensity of the blast was similar to last year''s explosion.

No embassy staff is killed in the attack but three ITBP personnel deployed received minor injuries.

Officials of the Indian embassy present inside the mission during the attack have told ANI over phone that the intensity of the blast was so much that majority of the doors and windows are destroyed and shattered.

At least 17 people have been killed and more than 60 injured in the explosion.

According to government sources, India is taking this issue "very seriously" and will launch a deep investigation of the event.

Sympathizing with the families of the Afghan nationals killed in the bombing, New Delhi expressed its appreciation of the bravery shown by Afghan soldiers who had intercepted the bomb laden car physically at the embassy''s front gate, thus averting a bigger catastrophe.

Source ANI

Mumbai: Indian Premier League (IPL) Commissioner Lalit Modi has confirmed that he has had talks with filmmaker Madhur Bhandarkar to document his life.

Modi said that apart from Bhandarkar, he has been consulted by other movie makers.

The IPL Chairman told TIMES NOW that it was a compliment that so many filmmakers were interested in making a movie on his life.

Modi said Bhandarkar had discussed options of making a movie with him, but added that he hadn''t signed on the dotted line with anyone as yet.

Meawhile, Percept Movie Management MD Shailendra Singh claims to have entered into a deal with the IPL Chariman and has also released initial promotional posters of the movie.

Modi was in the news last month, when he and the IPL Governing Council asked the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to take a final call on whether or not to terminate the services of IMG as an organiser of the event.

The IPL and the BCCI then reviewed the issue during the BCCI’s working committee on September 24 and it was decided to extend the contract of the IMG subject to certain alterations.

The decision was taken to end an alleged dispute between Modi  and another BCCI official N Srinivasan.

Earlier, the BCCI’s decision to terminate the services of the IMG from the IPL was seen as an attempt to clip Modi’s wings.

But with seven IPL franchises and even the former BCCI president Sharad Pawar throwing their weight behind Modi, the IPL Governing Council took the decision to take the matter before the BCCI Working Committee.

Earlier, a ‘disturbed’ Pawar had expressed his disappointment in no uncertain terms in a letter addressed to Manohar.

‘‘When I was the board president, we signed a 10-year agreement with IMG to conceptualise, formulate and implement a new league along with Lalit Modi and the same was approved at all appropriate levels,’’ he stated.

‘‘IMG has been instrumental in day-to-day operations of the league and we should come to a suitable arrangement (with IMG). In IPL, there are many stakeholders and anything we do that may jeopardize their investments will show BCCI in a bad light. With the overwhelming success of the IPL, it is our duty to protect not only BCCI but also all its stakeholders,’’ Pawar said.

Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, was of the view that the IMG has been overcharging the BCCI, and therefore, its services should be terminated.

Source ANI

Panvel: Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi said on Thursday that it’s only his party would ensure better governance for people of Maharashtra.

Addressing a election rally adjacent to a hospital, here Rahul said that the past five years of Congress rule in India and 10 years in Maharashtra had ensured that the fruits of development reach the common man.

He claimed that the Congress has fulfilled its given promises and it looking ahead to do more for the people of the country, especially those living in rural areas.

Referring to the National Rural Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) Rahul said it had benefited many unemployed rural folk in the country.

Rahul said that it was only his party, that considered the aam aadmi (common man) the country’s real strength.

He also urged that people of Panvel to give their whole hearted support to party candidate Prashant Thakur, whom he described as an emerging leader representing the aspirations of the youth and the elderly.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan was also present on the occasion.

Source ANI