India News

New Delhi: With the looming threat of terrorism on this year’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi, Australian terrorism experts have urged Canberra to send its own armed guards to look after its athletes in the Indian capital.

ABC News quoted Professor Clive Williams, from ANU''s Strategic and Defence Study Centre, as saying: "We should take the kind of security the United States and Israel provides to their athletes at the Olympics and have a dedicated element that goes with them and can provide appropriate protection, liaise with the local authorities and so on.”

"I think we really need to be able to provide our own security for our own athletes so that if there is a flaw in the Indian security arrangements, we can step in and provide the necessary security,” he added.

Meanwhile, Athletics Australia said that athletes will have the option of turning up just for their own event and then flying out again, to minimise their time in India.

Professor Williams believes that attacks at the Games would most likely be against athletes from countries with troops in Afghanistan.

"There are something like 800 active terrorist cells within India and essentially they can mount attacks within the country at any time. We need to be conscious of the fact that having troops in Afghanistan will create problems for the teams from England, Canada and Australia,” he said.

However, Athletics Australia CEO Danny Corcoran has announced that the "fly-in fly-out" arrangement will be offered to athletes who are concerned about the risk of terrorist attacks on the games.

"That might very well be an outcome, where athletes express that they would like to come in at the last moment before they compete, and leave as soon as they finish their competition," Corcoran said.

"So we''re very conscious of the issue, but we are relying on the various authorities, the Commonwealth Games Association plus the Indian government and its resources to provide a safe Games for athletes and officials," he added.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia said on Monday that the current food inflation would be eased by the end of next month.

Ahluwalia said, "The dominant part of inflation that is a concern is food price inflation. I don''t believe that is the result of excess liquidity though clearly when inflation begins to go up, I mean, one of the instruments that people use is the monetary instrument. So I don''t want to speculate, I think to come to a conclusion because we have a problem with one set of prices, what is the ideal way of responding, that is a complex issue."

"I think in our case, a lot of it has to do with expectations, managing the supply side and better use of existing stock. Plus, I think that with fears of the negative effect of the drought being reduced there will be a softening in the food price inflation in the next month," he added.

The seminar, titled ''Global Economic Crisis: Back to Keynes'', was jointly organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) and Shri Ram Centre for Industrial Relations and Human Resources.

Lord Meghnad Desai, Professor Emeritus, Centre for Study of Global Governance at London School of Economics, spoke on the effects of recession on the economy and revival of the economy.

Lord Desai said, "We don''t have any major recessionary problems and now is the time to accelerate the growth of over and above 9 percent. I think the economy is capable of a double-digit growth rate but that will require serious reform, of the landmark nature."

"Is it going to happen? I am not so sure because I don''t know if the government is actually seeing that there are over all recession problems and that now they can confidently move ahead and face the longer term problems of the economy," he added.

The other speakers at the seminar included Lord Robert Skidelsky, Emeritus Professor, University of Warwick; Robert Zagha, Country Director-India, World Bank.

Rajiv Kumar, Director and Chief executive, ICRIER; Gurcharan Das, the chairman of Centre for Civil Society; and Suman K Beri, the member of Prime Minister''s Economic Advisory Council were the other distinguished guests.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Commonwealth Games Organising committee and the Central Bank of India on Monday signed a memorandum of understanding making the bank as the official banking partner for the games.

 

The MOU was signed between games organising committee chairman  Suresh Kalmadi, the bank chairman S Sridhar.

 

Addressing the media after signing the MOU Kalmadi announced that Central Bank will be the official banking partners for the upcoming Commonwealth Games.

 

"So the Central Bank, they will be our official banking partners. They will be the partners of all the 70 countries, which will be coming for the Games. All of them will open their accounts with the Central Bank of India," said Kalmadi.

 

The pan-India presence of the Central Bank of India with their 3541 branches and 218 extension counters in 27 states and four Union Territories impressed Suresh Kalmadi when he said that this will help to spread the moment of Commonwealth Games to the rural areas.

 

"Besides this they (bank)  will be selling tickets through all their banks all over India and I''m really very happy to associate with them because they have large number of banks in the rural areas. So that will help to spread the movement of Commonwealth Games to the rural areas," said Kalmadi.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah said here today that it would be made mandatory for all buildings of state-run offices to pass the energy requirement levels.

Speaking at a conference organised by Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment, Environmentalist Rajendra Kumar Pachauri, underlined the need for making necessary changes in the building sector to strike a balance between development and environment preservation.

"We now really have to act as missionaries and make sure that the entire building sector reaches a level of efficiency that not only serves the purpose of this country but stands out as a shining example for rest of the world," said Pachauri.

Farooq Abdullah, who also attended the conference, said that this would make an impact upon the State governments to raise their standards.

"It is mandatory for almost all government building that are going to come up, they will have to come 4-5 star rating that has to be done. We are now impressing on state governments also to get onto the same and we will assist them in that," Abdullah added.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Delhi Lt. Governor Tejinder Khanna on Monday ordered a magisterial inquiry into the escape of three Pakistani terrorists from the police custody.

 

Three Pakistani terrorists -- Abdul Razzaq, Rafaket Ali and Mohammed Saddique, convicted for carrying out blasts near Red Fort in 2000 managed to escape from police custody of Foreigners Regional Registration Office on Friday.

 

The convicts had served their prison term and were to be deported back to Pakistan.

 

Investigations so far have revealed that after the medical check up the convicts, along with the police escort, proceeded to a cycle market near Kotwali police station for lunch, where they gave the escort a slip.

 

The trio was arrested by the Delhi Police along with five other Pakistani terrorists in 2000.

 

The police escort, a sub-inspector from Meghalaya, is being questioned jointly by Delhi Police and Intelligence Bureau to find out whether there was any complicity from his side.

 

A massive manhunt has been launched by Delhi Police to trace the trio and alerts have been issued at Delhi’s border posts to ensure that the convicts do not flee the city.

Source ANI

Srinagar: The traffic has come to a still on the 300 kilometer Srinagar-Jammu national highway on Monday due to slippery conditions caused by heavy snowfall, leaving hundreds of trucks, passenger buses and tourist vehicles stranded.

The authorities had suspended traffic on Sunday around 1.10 p.m., on the highway connecting Kashmir to the rest of India.

The tourists here are facing a tough time due to the traffic suspension.
"The highway is completely blocked. There is no facility here like hotels to stay. Even the shoppers are charging high for goods. I have to get out of this place, let''s see when I succeed," said Suresh Kumar, a tourist from New Delhi.

The truck drivers have requested the concerned authorities to restore the traffic movement.

"We appeal to the government and the traffic police to restore the traffic movement. We don''t have any clue what''s happening and when will be the traffic restored," said Nasir Ahmad, a truck driver.

The inclement weather is hampering road clearance operations.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) SPS Rathore, who has been charged for allegedly molesting 14-year-old teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a promising young tennis star in 1990, may be stripped off his police medal on Monday.

As per reports, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda has written to the Home Ministry recommending that the police medal given to Rathore be taken back.

A decision in this regard will be taken after the Central Police Medal Awards Committee meets at the Home Ministry for a meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary G K Pillai.

Rathore was given the police medal in 1985 for his meritorious service. His name was recommended by the then Om Prakash Chautala government in Haryana.

Rathore was sentenced to six months in jail by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on December 21 for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika in 1990. The maximum punishment for the crime is two years'' imprisonment.

Rathore''s wife and counsel Abha Rathore is all set to challenge the CBI verdict on Monday.

Ruchika''s family lawyer Pankaj Bharadwaj had filed two First Information Reports (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 FIR for abetting Ruchika''s suicide though has not been filed yet.

However, Rathore managed to get an interim bail till January 7 in connection with the two FIRs filed against him.

But, Rathore will be arrested once the police lodges a fresh FIR - that of abetment to suicide against him.

Ruchika''s family has alleged she was driven to suicide following her expulsion from school and after her brother was tortured and implicated in false cases by the police at Rathore''s behest.

They said all this was done to mount pressure on Ruchika to withdraw her complaint against Rathore.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The all-party meeting convened by the Government on Tuesday is likely to devise a mechanism and roadmap to resolve the Telangana issue.

 

The meeting is expected to be a stormy one, as deep differences between leaders from Telangana and non-Telangana regions continue to persist.

 

Lat week, Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram had said the all party meeting “is the first step in consultations on the issue, and will devise a mechanism and a roadmap.”

 

Tuesday’s meeting is a follow-up to Chidambaram''s December 23, 2009 statement in which the Centre promised wide-ranging consultations with political parties on the Telangana issue.

 

Chidambaram is also likely to hold a one-on-one meeting with representatives of all eight recognised parties of the state—the Congress, BJP, TDP, TRS, CPM, CPI, PRP and MIM.

 

The Congress and the Telugu Desam Party are deeply divided along regional lines over the pro and anti Telangana movements.

 

The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, who arrived here last night to attend the meeting, made it clear that he will make a strong case for a separate state.

 

Prajarajyam Party (PRP) founder and cine star Chiranjeevi reiterated that he would pitch for a united Andhra Pradesh.

 

Congress, which is in a Catch-22 situation with deep divisions between its partymen from the three regions of the state, has done a delicate act by nominating one person each from Telangana and coastal Andhra regions for the meeting.

 

Huzurnagar MLA N Uttam Kumar Reddy, who hails from Telangana, and senior party MP from Eluru Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, representing coastal Andhra, will be part of the Congress team at the meeting.

 

Chief Minister K Rosaiah is expected to hold discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chidambaram and brief the Centre about the prevailing situation in the state.

 

Chidambaram has already dismissed the charge of a government flip-flop on the Telangana issue, saying the Centre "simply responded to the wishes of the people of Andhra Pradesh".

Source ANI

New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Monday inaugurated the Twizy Z.E. Concept, a new electric car from the stables of Renault, which will be out on Indian roads by 2011.

This blue and white coloured car is a two-seater car, which works on the green technology principle.

Welcoming Renault''s new car with enthusiasm, Dikshit said that Delhi roads would be much better off with electric cars as this.

"They are developing this new technology; Renault is introducing this at the automobile exhibition. They are still developing it. It is very beautiful to look at and they are saying it will take them one or one and a half year more to come out, then we will give as many incentives as we can to such cars to run on Delhi roads which do not contribute to the pollution." said Dikshit.

The General Manager of Renault India Marc Nassif was also present on the occasion and talked of his company''s commitment to green technology.

"First, our commitment to green technology and less particularly we call it zero emission, is obviously a world-wide commitment and their... alliance is the first one who has really invested in commitments and especially on battery technology," said Nassif.

New Delhi will host the 10th edition of the Auto Expo beginning from tomorrow. The model of the Renault''s Twizy Z.E. Concept will be displayed at the expo.

Source ANI

Vijayawada: Normal life was disrupted in the non-Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh on Monday following a shut down called by the All Party Joint Action Committee (JAC) in support of a United Andhra Pradesh.

 

Schools, colleges, shops and other business establishments remained closed.

 

The Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC) suspended its services in all three regions of  the state – Telangana, Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema  as a precautionary measure.

 

The APSRTC,however, is operating buses going to the temple town of Tirupati.

 

"We called for a complete shutdown to send a message to the Centre that majority of people want a United Andhra Pradesh," said United Andhra Pradesh JAC convenor Prof Samuel.

 

 In Vijayawada, former Mayor Mallika Begum was arrested along with supporters when she tried to lead a protest rally.

 

The United Andhra Pradesh JAC has urged the Centre not to make any hasty announcement.

 

The JAC is planning to hold a rally in favour of United Andhra Pradesh in Hyderabad also.

 

Meanwhile, the JAC has called to halt all the trains passing through the state on Tuesday to coincide with the crucial all party meeting convened by the Centre to discuss the Telangana issue in New Delhi.

Source ANI

Mumbai: At least eighteen students of Seth G S Medical College in central Mumbai here have been arrested by the police on charges of ragging.

The Bhoiwada Police station in the city has filed a First Information Report (FIR) against the students, who were interning with King Edward Memorial (KEM) Hospital.

"Enquiry is going on and once the investigation is over, we will be able to tell you the details. The students have been handed over to us," said Vikram B Patil, senior police inspector.

According to the police, the students are accused of physically and mentally harassing their juniors.
Earlier on Sunday, Mumbai Mayor Shraddha Jadhav held a meeting with the hospital authorities to discuss the matter.

A first year student had earlier claimed that his seniors at a New Year party ragged him.

Source ANI

Kolkata: The rescue operation is on to trace the 16 people, who went missing, after their boat capsized in the river Rupnarayan in West Bengal on Sunday.

Around 29 people belonging to Kolkata were on a joy ride in river Rupnarayan in Kolaghat in east Midnapore district, but after going to a certain distance, the oarsman could not take the boat further and it capsized.

Some people were able to swim ashore, but sixteen are still missing.

"We got into the boat and after going a certain distance the oarsman told us said he cannot row any further. One of the passengers asked him to somehow manage it to take it to the shores and suddenly the boat turned. We had children with us and we got so scared that we did not know what to do," said Amar Roy, one of the rescued.

"We were about 16 youngsters aged about 16-17 and rest were all about the age 4-7. Three children have been found and we are still looking for seven children and nine youngsters," he added.

Divers have been pressed into action to search the missing people.

Source ANI

Bodh Gaya (Bihar): Buddhist monks converged at Bodh Gaya here to witness a musical play depicting the life cycle of Karmapa Ujjain Trinela Dorjee, their 17th spiritual leader.

A huge crowd that had gathered to witness the breathtaking performance got deeply involved in the play.

"The play was based on the story of Karmapa, as when his father died, he was sent to live with his uncle and aunt till he becomes ready to take control of his father''s property. But in greed his uncle and aunt torched him and he went through a very bad phase in his life," said Gempo Chering, secretary to Karmapa.

Buddhist scriptures describe Bodh Gaya as the navel of the Earth and the place where Lord Buddha attained spiritual enlightment.

Source ANI

New Delhi, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh: With temperatures dipping below normal and snowfall witnessed in the upper reaches of Himachal Pradesh and the Kashmir Valley, the normal routine of the people was disturbed for the third consecutive day and over 100 deaths were reported in Uttar Pradesh.

The states of Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh have been the worst affected by the intense cold conditions.

A dense fog continues to prevail in Uttar Pradesh and the maximum temperature was recorded at 2 to 10 degrees Celsius below normal in most parts of the state.

Meanwhile, the death toll has risen over 100 due to the severe cold, with several fresh casualties reported during the last 24 hours.

Delhi too is finding it tough to fight the cold.

According to the Meteorological Department, the visibility level was recorded at 600 meters.

In Delhi, around 20 trains were cancelled due to the dense fog.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 9.5 degrees Celsius, two degrees above normal, as against Saturday''s 8.4 degrees.
 
The maximum and minimum humidity levels were pegged at 97 and 78 per cent respectively.

In Punjab, night temperatures showed an upward trend, but Amritsar continued to shiver under sub zero temperature.

The temperature recorded at Amritsar last night was minus 0.8 degree Celsius.
  
Fog disrupted rail and air traffic in Chandigarh and several other parts of the state.

Adampur Meteorological Department has forecast cloudy weather for Monday morning.

Source ANI

Allahabad: Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat has said that with Pakistan and China adopting hostile stances, there is a threat to India''s security.

Addressing a rally in Allahabad here, Bhagwat criticised the Central Government for offering an olive branch to Pakistan despite its hostile attitude.

"Pakistan is hostile towards us. Sometimes we feel that after knowing all these facts we allow it to go ahead, we should give a befitting reply for once with all our strength but we are extending our hand of friendship towards it," said Mohan Bhagwat.

Bhagwat also criticised India''s foreign policies, especially towards China.

"We ourselves allow our friends in the subcontinent to be the friends of China. These countries even today wants friendship with us and also wants that India should lead them because they are familiar with the intentions of China. We were also betrayed by China once, still our policies are same but the language seems changing," added Bhagwat.

Source ANI

Mumbai: The Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) and the National Stock Exchange (NSE) new timings for trade from Monday will be 9 a.m. instead of 9:55 a.m.

The bourses will close the trade at the usual time of 3:30 p.m.

The decision to implement the new trade timings was taken on December 18, 2009.

Market regulator SEBI had on October 23 permitted the stock exchanges to extend business hours from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

"Trading will start in equity segment of the BSE at 9 a.m. with effect from January 4, 2010, Monday," said an NSE official.

The BSE in a statement said, "Based on the market feedback, it has been jointly decided by BSE and NSE that the revision of market open timing to 9 a.m. shall be effective from January 4, 2010."

In October 2009, the SEBI had allowed stock exchanges to fix trading timings between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Source ANI

Patna: With the temperature dipping below normal, the authorities of Patna''s Sanjay Gandhi Jaivic Udyan (Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park) have taken the initiative and made special arrangements for the animals to beat the biting cold wave.

Animals corrals have been covered with straw mats and electric heaters switched on to keep them warm.
This has come as a respite for lions, tigers and giraffes.

The snakes and reptiles on the other hand warm themselves up by taking shelter under the high voltage bulbs.

"Arrangement of heaters and blowers are made for big animals like lion, tiger, bear and giraffe. Heaters have been installed for leopard, golden cats and others. High power bulbs and blankets are arranged for snakes to keep them warm while cages of birds are being covered from all sides by polythene sheets," said Praveen Kumar, the assistant director of Patna''s Sanjay Gandhi Jaivic Udyan.

"Open shades of inmates are also being covered to brave the chill. The steps taken by the zoo authorities have pleased the visitors as well," he added.

Source ANI

Rait village (Himachal Pradesh): Tibetan Prime Minister in exile Samdhong Rinpoche attended a peace ceremony in Rait village of Himachal Pradesh.

The daylong seminar named ''''Education for Peace'', organised by the local Dronacharaya College witnessed the participation of trainee teachers from various parts of the country.

Rinpoche, who was the chief guest, hailed the theme of the seminar.

"Today the greatest challenge to the world is violence and destruction and the teaching community need to prepare the coming generation who can work for peace and stability," said Rinpoche.

"This seminar, I think is beneficial for requirement of the times and the participants are good scholars, and I am very much impressed by their participation," he added.

The orgainsers said the main aim of conduction the seminar was to train teachers, so that they educate the people on peace.

"The seminar, basically we have planned because there is a lot of problems in the country and it was thought probably the teachers or specially the trainee teachers will be the best people to educate people on the process of peace," said Y. D. Singh, the organiser and director of Dronacharaya College.

The seminar also aims at training teachers, so that they understand the problems faced by students and help them to tackle those problems in an efficient manner.

Source ANI

Shimla: The season''s first snowfall has brought smiles on the faces of several tourists, who have thronged the country to celebrate the New Year.

Tourists played with snow and clicked pictures to mark their visit.

"We came to know that snow will be arriving here soon, we were waiting at Shimla but we came to know about Kufri, and now we are enjoying the snow it is a wonderful experience," said Anubhuti, a tourist from Delhi.

Meanwhile, the hazy weather in Agra did not deter the tourists from flocking to the Taj Mahal.

"It is foggy day, but when you get close enough, you could see the details. It was very-very beautiful and very enriching," said Jessica, a tourist from the USA.

With the temperature dipping below normal, most parts of Northern India are experiencing chilly days amid foggy conditions.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Vice-President Hamid Ansari will embark on a three-nation official visit to Africa from Tuesday.

During the week-long trip the Vice-President along with Union Minster of State for Labour and Employment Harish Rawat and his delegation will visit Zambia, Malawi and Botswana.

Addressing the media in the national capital, Secretary (West) Ministry of External Affairs, Vivek Katju said: “This visit is the highest level visit from India to these countries in recent years and emphasises the commitment that India has to continue to foster a multifaceted and mutually beneficial relationship with African countries.”

He further said that there would be a bilateral component attached with the visit, which would include trade, foreign offices interaction, technology, hospitality, agriculture, power, banking sector and health.

Katju also emphasised that there is a huge prospective of development policies with the three countries.

He highlighted that as India’s relationship with Africa is of a traditional and historical nature, the Government will be guided by the choices made by the African counterparts for their development.

Source ANI

Gangtok: Sikkim which is situated amidst Himalayan Hills is a paradise for tourists. Now the state Government has stepped up its efforts to promote many Budhist sites and festivals as tourist’s destinations.

 

Kagyad chaam is the one of the four forms of masked dances in the state.

 

Performed by Lamas of Buddhist monastery on the every 28th and 29th day of Tibetan calendar, the dances symbolize exorcizing of evil spirits of previous year and welcoming the good spirits at the dawn of New Year.

 

During the dance costumed Lamas with gaily-painted masks holding the ceremonial swords jump and swing to the rhythm of resounding drums.

 

The vibrant dance not just enthralls locals, but foreign tourists as well.

 

Kagyad dance enacts various themes from the Buddhist mythology and culminates with the burning of effigies made of flour, wood and paper.

 

A congregation of local Buddhist followers and tourists gather once a year to witness this extraordinary dance.

 

The Buddhist festivals, which reflect centuries-old tradition of Buddhism in State also contribute to the growth of tourism industry.

 

According to Sikkim Travel Agent Association General Secretary Lukendra Rasily, “Tourists finds it very very interesting, very different and when they come to Sikkim they go back with lot of memories which are not available easily anywhere in the world.”

 

“The tour operator is marketing; the Government of India is also marketing through their Incredible India slogan,” he added.

 

Sikkim has a lot more to offer to the visitors–snow clad mountains, thick green forests and monasteries.

 

Peace and normalcy have brought in many visitors to the state. Over 3 lakh tourists visited Sikkim this year alone.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Vice President Hamid Ansari on Monday said that the potential of India as a global power, its vision of inclusive growth and optimal utilization of the human potential of all its citizens, cannot be realized without encouraging greater participation in quality higher education and scientific research.

Addressing at the presentation function of “Infosys Prize 2009” in the national capital, Ansari said that it needs to be done by harnessing the resources and efforts of all stakeholders namely the government, universities, national laboratories and institutes of excellence, public and private sector companies, and even venture capitalists.

“We do need new investments and incentives from the private sector so that our young people will be encouraged increasingly to pursue and thereafter seek a career in science,” Ansari said.

The Vice President further said that scientific research and technological innovation is the key to a nation’s prosperity.

“Equally essential is scientific study of the past and present of our society, and of its pursuit of material wellbeing. For this reason, inculcating a scientific temper among citizens has been a national goal since the time of our freedom movement. It was deemed essential for political and economic emancipation of our people. This is reflected in Article 51 A of our Constitution and the duty it imposes on every citizen to “develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform”,” Ansari said.

“Our achievements in the knowledge industries, especially in Information Technology, bio-technology and pharmaceutical industries, have come about due to considerable public investment in tertiary science and technology education. Our nuclear energy, space and defence-related industry, and the Science and Technology establishment, have created the demand for and incubated these science and technology graduates, who thereafter either became entrepreneurs or moved to the private sector,” he added.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Curtain Raiser to the 10th India Auto Expo took place in national capital, a day before the seven-day auto exhibition kicks off on Tuesday.

Auto Expo is the Complete Automotive Show organized jointly by Automotive Component Manufacturers Association of India (ACMA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM).

Pawan Goenka, President of Society Of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), an apex Industry body representing 44 leading vehicle and vehicular engine manufacturers, said: “There is a lot that has changed between the 9th auto-expo and the 10th auto-expo that is in the last two years.”

“In these two years the auto industry has gone through one of the worst showdowns which we have witnessed in many years and right now we are going through the faster growth also in many, many years and therefore this auto-expo becomes special for us especially in India because what it shows that the Indian auto-industry is very resilient and very robust and growing in spite of the difficulty that we have faced in the last year or so,” he added.

Car sales in India are set to jump about 16 per cent this year to 1.4 million vehicles, buoyed by robust economic growth and government incentives, in contrast to a slump in many developed markets.

The first Auto Expo was held in 1986, the second in 1993, and the third in 1996. Since then, Auto Expo has been institutionalised as a biennial show.

Source ANI

Imphal: Theatre is an artistic medium, which is often used to take a look at the social situation.

 

A mime Theatre Repertory in Manipur is screening their new play “The Will of Soul” that deals with prevailing uncertainty in the state.

 

“Mirel Mashingkha” that means the will of Soul, is an experimental mime play presented by Kanglei Mime Theatre Repertory.

 

The play deals with the strong resolve of Irom Chanu Sharmila, who has been on fast since 2000, demanding an end to violence in the state.

 

In the last few decades, the state has witnessed instability, violence, abduction and various other crimes.

 

The play is an effort towards creating a better society.

 

“We are producing this play which is totally different from my earlier play. This play is very strong. I’m using the word ‘very strong’ in terms of music, setting, props, body movement and facial expression,” said Yumnam Sadanand, Director Kanglei Mime Theatre Repertory.

 

“In mime, we tell story without dialogues, by just using our feelings and channelzing that feelings into expressions through body movements. It is hard as we are not able to communicate directly with the audience through dialogues. It takes us two years to complete the play,”said Hembati an artist.

 

Usage of powerful body movements and facial gestures for a more poignant enactment of violence is seen in the play.

 

Another highlight of the play is the participation of deaf and mute artists, who showed their artistic skills.

 

A large number of people thronged the venue to see the play.

 

The play, takes a look at the scenario in the state. It is hoped that it will help in bringing realization amongst people in the state that peace is the need of the hour.

Source ANI

Imphal: The volatile security situation in Manipur is threatening the academic careers of thousands of students.

Since September 9, 2009 all schools and colleges in the state have been closed indefinitely by some of the rights organisations protesting against an alleged fake encounter.

A boycott of all schools and colleges under the banner of the Manipur Students Organisation has affected the future of thousands of students into risk.

In a bid to understand and analyze the situation in the state, the All Manipur Recognized Private School Welfare Association organized a debate competiotion on the impact of closing education institutions at Imphal''s Gandhi Memorial Hall.

More than fifty students from all over the state participated in the debate and placed their views both against and in favour of the topic.

The debaters highlighted the importance of education and how it is impacted by prolonged closures of educational institutions.

The debate''s consensus emphasized the importance of education undisturbed by social and political disruptions.

Parents are extremely worried that their child may lose an academic year. They are against the forcible closure of schools and want studies to resume.

Parents felt that as their children haven’t been to school from some time, they have forgotten what they have learnt.

They felt that all organizations should come up with a solution that ensures resumption of classes.

“For the functioning of a state, education is highly needed. The class boycott that is going on since the last 3-4 months is not right. I appreciate the initiative of organizing such debate,” said K Premoda, a parent.

“We know students are facing the brunt of the class boycott. But at the end we have to choose between studies or the right to life. In my opinion right to life is more significant. That is why we are supporting class boycott and hope it will be effective,” said Luwang a participant.

Three student union bodies - All Manipur Students'' Union, the Manipuri Students'' Federation and Kangleipak Students'' Association - had called for boycott of classes earlier in 2009.

The boycott was in protest of allegedly fake encounter killings that took place on July 23, 2009.

Several schools which defied the boycott and tried to resume teaching were reportedly burnt down by agitators.

Education is the key to success in the modern world and the closure of educational institutions will affect the current generation of Manipuri children’s ability to make a place for themselves and compete in the contemporary society.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday said that justice should be provided immediately in women harassment instances.

Addressing the media in the national capital, Kumar sighted the Ruchika case and expressed concern over delayed justice.

Ruchika’s case that lingered on for nearly two decades, Meira Kumar said the whole nation is awaiting justice in terms of punishing the guilty.

"If any crime is committed against women, the justice should be provided as soon as possible. There shouldn''t be any delay. Justice should be given immediately. This however is a case of a small girl and it is very sad for the society and the entire nation is waiting for due justice," Kumar said.

She said that there should be instant relief for victims of atrocities, specially when the women are at the receiving end.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Indian arm of Mercedes-Benz, a unit of Daimler, expects to post double-digit sales growth this year, as it launches new models in Asia''s fourth-largest auto market, its chief executive said on Monday.

Wilfried Aulbur, Managing Director and CEO of Mercedes -Benz India Limited, on the sidelines of the launch of two new cars, S 500L and GL 350 350CDI, informed that the company sold 3,220 cars in India last year, as compared to 3,250 in 2008.

“We think that 2010 is going to be a very exciting year for Mercedes-Benz. We are looking at a significant double-digit growth going forward. And we think we have the product, we have the network, that we have the schemes that are necessary to leverage the economic upswing in 2010 to our fullest advantage,” Aulbur said.

Keen to boost sales, global automakers will unveil a slew of cars at India''s Auto Expo, which runs from Tuesday to January 11 as they turn to one of the few remaining growth markets to keep their engines humming.

The car manufacturer is focusing on non-metro cities to achieve its targets.

“What we are seeing in India is that growth actually is happening across the country. And there is lot of wealth available in tier-2 cities in some tier-3 cities as well. So, we make sure that with our network expansion that we are as close as possible to our customers. We will open a dealership in Goa. We are about to open a dealership in Surat,” said Aulbur.

“So, as the market potential grows clearly we follow market demand and make sure that our customers get the best in terms of sales and after sales experience,” he added.

Source ANI

New Delhi: General Motors India launched the much-awaited Chevrolet “Beat” car on Monday.

The car will also be introduced in 150 countries around the world including those in Europe, other parts of Asia and North America in the coming days.

Introducing the car, Karl Slym, President and Managing Director of the company, said that to be successful in India it is very important to be a player in the small car segment.

“If you want to be a global, high volume player then you got to be in the mini segment so we already have two cars, Spark and Yuva, this would be our third here in India,” Slym said.

The company took 27 months to develop the car in three models.

Source ANI

Srinagar: At least 10 employees of the Jammu and Kashmir Power Development Department (PDD) were injured when police resorted to baton charge daily-wage earners of the department, who were staging a demonstration for the regularisation of their posts and jobs in Srinagar on Monday.

The daily wage earners of the PDD took to the streets and gathered outside the Civil Secretariat to voice their demands of confirming their services as well as an increase in their wages.

They raised slogans against the Government for its high-handedness and being insensitive to their problems.

The primary demand of these employees is for regularisation of 3000 daily wagers who have more than 15 years of work experience.

Police officials ordered baton charge when the demonstrators tried to force their way into the Civil Secretariat. Section 144 is in force in and around the secretariat as per which any gathering of more than four people is banned and subject to penal action.

Source ANI

Gwalior: Country’s premier youth travel and adventure organisation Youth Hostels Association of India (YHAI) is conducting adventure sports training to students of Madhya Pradesh.

 

According to YHAI, the training is aimed at overall development of the youth and also to reduce internal fear.

 

The students are trained in rock climbing, archery, shooting, wall climbing, night tracking and etc.

 

The training not only enhances physical fitness but also the concentration level.

 

The participants were excited to attend the training camp, as it would help them in pursuing their career.

 

"I want to join the armed forces for that I will have to undergo hard training. If I continue to undertake such exercise I would not face much problems in future," said Nishant Singh, a student.

 

According to organiser of the camp Shahnaz Khan training helps students to gain physical fitness and reduce their internal fear which is indeed required for coming generations.

 

“We want that children should not sit at home. They should come forward and participate in these events," Khan said.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday asserted that the Union Government should take the attacks on the youths in Australia seriously.

Badal’s comment came after a young Indian man living in Australia named Nitin Garg was stabbed to death at West Foorscray, a suburb of Melbourne by some goons on Saturday night.

Addressing the media after his meeting with the Union Sports Minister M. S. Gill in the national capital, Badal said that Indian Government should discuss the issue strongly with the Australian Government.

“It is quite unfortunate that such incidents are happening quite frequently in Australia. Government of India should strongly react to this and have a serious discussion with Australian government. Thousands of youngsters from our state are in Australia for either studying or working,” Badal said.

“If they would have belonged from other states then the respective state Government would have taken up the issue quite strongly. Indian Government and especially External Affairs Ministry should take up this issue seriously,” he added.

Nitin Garg was walking to his workplace of a fast food restaurant in Melbourne when he was attacked in a park. Police said that Garg managed to stagger 300 metres to the restaurant before collapsing. He was rushed to Royal Melbourne Hospital where he later died.

A series of attacks on Indian students in 2009, attributed by police to opportunistic criminals, escalated into a diplomatic issue between Australia and India after some Indian students and Indian media labelled the attacks as racist.

The attacks prompted protests and calls for better protection of international students by local authorities, with some saying they no longer felt safe in Australia.

Source ANI

New Delhi: Former Haryana Director General of Police (DGP) SPS Rathore, who has been charged for allegedly molesting 14-year-old teenager Ruchika Girhotra, a promising young tennis star in 1990, will be stripped off his police medal.

The decision was taken after the Central Police Medal Awards Committee met at the Home Ministry in a meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary G. K. Pillai.

According to reports, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda had written to the Home Ministry recommending that the police medal given to Rathore be taken back.

Rathore was given the police medal in 1985 for his meritorious service. His name was recommended by the then Om Prakash Chautala government in Haryana.

Rathore was sentenced to six months in jail by a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) court on December 21 for molesting 14-year-old Ruchika in 1990. 

Ruchika''s family lawyer Pankaj Bharadwaj had filed two First Information Reports (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 FIR for abetting Ruchika''s suicide though has not been filed yet.

However, Rathore managed to get an interim bail till January 7 in connection with the two FIRs filed against him.

But, Rathore will be arrested once the police lodges a fresh FIR - that of abetment to suicide against him.

Ruchika''s family has alleged she was driven to suicide following her expulsion from school and after her brother was tortured and implicated in false cases by the police at Rathore''s behest.

They said all this was done to mount pressure on Ruchika to withdraw her complaint against Rathore.

Source ANI

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday refused to entertain a petition filed by Himanshu Sabharwal challenging the acquittal of student union leaders for the murder of his father Professor H S Sabharwal in Ujjain.

 

The apex court bench headed by Justice P Sathasivam asked Himanshu to approach the appropriate High Court for remedy.

 

Justice P Sathasivam  said in his order that as per procedure the acquittal order of the sessions court should be challenged in the High Court.

 

Prof. H S Sabharwal, who was heading he the political science department in  Madhav College, was allegedly beaten up by Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) activists.

 

He later succumbed to injuries in a hospital in August 2006.

Source ANI

Puri (Orissa): Mahodadhi Arati was conducted at the Shankaryacharya Mutt of Gobardhan Peeth here on Sunday.

 

The ritual was performed under the supervision of Nischalananda Saraswati.

 

"We consider sea as our god. If it gets angry then it can destroy the world. That''s why we perform prayer in order to calm the sea," said Srikant Ji, A Devotee.

 

According to Vijayramanuj Das, Mahant  the ritual is performed to destroy the evil forces.

 

"The prayer is done to fight against terrorism that we have before us and also against violence spread by the Maoists. In order to stop all this we need a revolution and that''s why we are performing this ritual,” Das said.

 

The ritual was also attended by Puri King Gajapati Dibyasingh Deb. Devotees, saints and seers from all over the country were present on the occasion.

 

A total of 1008 aratis, a Hindu ritual, in which light from wicks soaked in ghee  or camphor is offered to the deity, was offered to the sea god for world peace.

Source ANI