Indian government re-examines 1984 Bhopal disaster

BHOPAL'S DEATH TOLL

• Initial deaths (3-6 December): more than 3,000 - official toll
• Unofficial initial toll: 7,000-8,000
• Total deaths to date: over 15,000
• Number affected: Nearly 600,000
• Compensation: Union Carbide pays $470m in 1989
  Source: Indian Supreme Court, Madhya Pradesh government, Indian Council of Medical Research

There has been widespread anger in India following the conclusion of a court case last week.
More than 25 years after the Bhopal gas leak killed thousands of people, the court finally convicted seven former managers at the plant.
They received minor fines and brief prison sentences.
The disaster struck when a cloud of toxic gas leaked from a plant run by the American company Union Carbide. 'Inadequate justice'
But apart from the efforts of a determined group of campaigners, the incident had been all but forgotten in India.
That changed after last week's court verdict reminded people how long the victims have had to wait for what is widely seen as inadequate justice.
Now a group of senior ministers has been asked to look again at issues such as compensation for those affected, and continued pollution at the now abandoned site of the Union Carbide plant.
Home Minister P Chidambaram said recommendations should be finalised on Monday after a series of meetings over the weekend.
He said the ministers are looking into the number of people affected and the number of compensation claims which have been accepted so far.
The fact that the Bhopal tragedy is back in the news at the same time as the huge oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico has added to the sense that the victims of 1984 have been terribly let down.
Commentators in India have pointed out that the US government appears far more concerned about a disaster in its own back yard than it ever was about one which took place in the developing world.
There has also been trenchant criticism of the Indian government response over the years, and of Union Carbide - now owned by Dow Chemicals - for its failure to do more to help.
By Chris MorrisBBC News, Delhi
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/world/south_asia/10354583.stm

Summary of Last Week' s Happenings in India ( 12 to 18 June 2010)

Politics:
Congress decided that the government, not the party, would have to clarify on the various aspects of the Bhopal gas Tragedy case, as the facts are only with the government. The party was concerned that the former Prime Minister, Rajiv Gandhi's image should not be tarnished by the controversy.
Senior leader of the Communist Party of India Gurudas Dasgupta said, the Communist movement in India is at a crossroads and needs a restructuring and greater democratization to bring it closer to the people. Mr. Dasgupta regretted that despite several years at the helm in West Bengal, apart from a few initiatives such as land reforms and the strengthening of the Panchayati Raj system, the Left had not been able to reflect an alternative line.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a broadside against the United Progressive Alliance government over the Civil Nuclear Liability Bill and accused it of working for U.S. interests. Party says the bill failed to hold American and other foreign suppliers responsible in the event of a nuclear accident.
Minorities' Issues:
Sharp decrease in Muslim community’s support for Left Front causes concerns for the alliance. Muslim voters no more trust their unfulfilled promises. West Bengal government announced to implement Sachar Commission’s suggestions for Muslim backward class but it could not deliver well practically. Muslims constitute the most backward community of Left ruled states. As a result they are moving towards Trinamool Congress and other parties.
Insurgency Movements:
The interrogation of a senior Naxal leader caught recently by the security forces in Bihar has reportedly revealed a link between them and insurgent groups in the Northeast.
India has strongly protested the inclusion of Naxal issue under the realm of an "armed conflict" in a UN report that deals with ‘Children and armed conflicts’ saying the violence being perpetrated by these groups does not make it a zone of armed conflict as defined by international law. The report, which is produced by the office of Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and submitted to the Security Council, highlighted the recruitment and use of children by the Maoist armed group in some districts of the Chhattisgarh. The report also pointed out that the Naxal's had carried out systematic attacks on schools in order to intentionally destroy government structures and to instill fear among the local community.
Economy:
India is quite capable of combating the impact of Eurozone crisis as India's exports to the European Union as a percentage of GDP (gross domestic product) was only 3.4 per cent. Although the stock markets are fluctuating, this is due to the global trends, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said. ADB has projected an 8.2 per cent growth and for 2011 the projection is 8.7 per cent for India.
Stock market benchmark Sensex climbed 273 points to settle at its highest level in more than one month on the back of a smart rally in IT stocks and RIL. Shrugging off concerns over double digit inflation, the 30-share barometer of the Bombay Stock Exchange rose 273.2 points, or 1.6 per cent, to finish at 17,338.17, a level last seen on May 3.
The inflation rate surging into double digits and it touched 10.16 per cent in May, the highest in the last 19 months.
Geo-Strategic Front:
India conveyed its concerns to US for Pak-China nuclear cooperation. India clearly told US that it has objections on such cooperation between China and Pakistan during strategic dialogue with US.
After failing to persuade Pakistan to resolve the Kishenganga hydel project dispute at the government level, India on Wednesday named a judge of the Geneva-based International Court of Justice Peter Tomka and a Swiss international law expert Lucius Caflisch to represent it. India’s greatest effort will go into ensuring that Pakistan should not get a veto on forthcoming water projects in India. Pakistan’s main disputes are first that India’s proposed diversion of the Kishenganga (its called Neelum in Pakistan) to another tributary, Bonar-Madmati Nallah “breaches India’s legal obligations under the treaty.” Pakistan also objects to India’s decision to deplete the level of the reservoir level of the plant to “below the dead storage level (DSL)”. Its reason being that it says the treaty places strict limitations on drawdown of water. Pakistan wants to prevent India from proceeding on the project until the verdict. India doesn’t want to do this because it’s a financial liability and then the project could become threatened. Pakistan also wants a legal declaration that the diversion is a breach of the treaty. Third, that India should not draw down the water level of the reservoir.
India successfully test-fired it’s nuclear-capable, ballistic missile Prithvi-II from a launch complex of the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur-on-sea. With a maximum striking range of 350 km, Prithvi-II is capable of carrying a pay-load of 500 kg.
Social Issues:
Britain has launched an inquiry into reports that millions of pounds of aid for education has disappeared into the depths of corruption without any benefit to the poor children the aid was intended for.
India has been ranked as a “Tier II Watch List” country only one level better than worst-performing Tier III countries such as Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe in the 2010 Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP) compiled by the United States State Department. India ranks among those countries whose governments do not fully comply with the Trafficking Victims Protection Act's (TVPA) minimum standards. The Government of India did not demonstrate sufficient progress in its law enforcement, protection, or prevention efforts to address labour trafficking, particularly bonded labour.

Summary: 5 to 12 June 2010

National Summary:
BJP and Left parties linked the Bhopal gas verdict to the civil nuclear liability Bill and said the government should reconsider the nuclear legislation. The contentious nuclear liability Bill which allows for Rs 500 crore compensation in case of nuclear accidents is under discussion and CPM and BJP criticised it in a present form.
BJP dispel reports of differences in the party on the inclusion of caste in census, saying there is no confusion in the party. During the debate on inclusion of caste in census in the Lok Sabha, party deputy leader Gopinath Munde had backed inclusion of caste in census. But there were reports that senior leaders like Murli Manohar Joshi was opposed to the suggestion. Joshi, who was of the view that inclusion of caste in census would "disintegrate" the society.
Job opportunities for minority communities have gone up over three per cent in the last three years. According to the latest figures released by the minority affairs ministry, the number of minority community candidates selected for government jobs has risen from 6.9 per cent in 2006-07 to 9.24 per cent in 2008-09.
Members of Parliament from Naxal-affected states said that the right time for involving the Army in anti-Naxal operations has not yet come. The sentiment was expressed at the second meeting between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and MPs representing the worst Naxal-affected regions.
Gold prices jumped Rs 430 to an all-time high of Rs 19,070 per ten grams in the bullion market as investors rushed for the metal, considered as a safe bet, after global equity markets crashed on concerns over worsening euro zone debt crisis. Trading sentiment turned extremely bullish after gold in overseas markets rebounded from a one-week low as investors opted to buy less riskier assets against melting stocks and forex markets. The pure gold (99.9) surged by Rs 430 to set a new peak of Rs 19,070 per ten gram. The gold with 99.5 purity shot up by Rs 420 to Rs 18,970 per ten gram. Sovereign followed suit and traded higher by Rs 50 to Rs 14,650 per piece of eight gram.
There is likely to be a flight of capital from equity markets in emerging economies, including India, as a result of the Greece debt crisis, claims a survey conducted by Ficci. Consequently, capital flows to India could be on the lower side in the next six months or so. With capital flows into India expected to slow down if not completely reverse in the coming six months, the liquidity situation will also be a little tight in the days and months ahead.
The Indian IT sector is grappling with high attrition rate even as firms are doling out financial and other benefits to employees, says industry body Nasscom. “As a result of the slowdown, the IT industry was rather thin on the bench, but now everyone is hiring laterally. As a result, attrition has already become a problem. The problem will intensify over the next four-five months,” Nasscom chairman Mr Som Mittal said.
After last fiscal's double-digit expansion, industrial production picked up more steam to grow by 17.6 per cent in April, boosting the prospects of achieving 8.5 per cent economic growth in 2010-11. The April figure is almost equal to the 20-year-high output of 17.7 per cent achieved in December 2009.
India has been given access to David Coleman Headley, who has confessed to his role in the Mumbai attacks.
India on Tuesday said the continued blockade of Gaza and denial of food and medicine supplies created an immense humanitarian crisis. Condemning the Israeli attack on a ship carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza, India deplored the loss of life and injuries to people on the flotilla.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) on Friday opened the doors for India’s entry into the regional grouping, as it lifted the moratorium on new membership. The SCO, which comprises of China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan, changed the rules 10 years after its inception. This happened at the SCO summit in the Uzbekistan Capital.
Fifteen persons were injured in clashes between the police and stone-throwing youths who were protesting against an alleged blasphemous depiction of the holy city of Madina on some products, which disrupted life in parts of this city and Baramulla in north Kashmir on Saturday.
Twenty-six years after the world's worst industrial disaster that had left more than 15,000 people dead, a local court convicted all eight accused persons and sentenced them each to two years' imprisonment. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 100,000 on the eight, including former Union Carbide India Ltd (UCIL) chairman Mr Keshub Mahindra. A Rs 500,000 fine has been slapped on UCIL.
India ranked a low 128th on this year’s Global Peace Index (GPI) after it slipped six positions. Internal conflicts, terrorism and human rights abuses were the factors assessed by the Institute for Economics and Peace (IEP) to quantify global peacefulness in the only study of its kind in 149 countries. India was ranked 122nd last year while it was in the 109th position in 2007 when the first GPI was compiled.
Regional Summary:
BJP's two-day national executive meeting held from June 12. Gujarat Chief Minister Modi attended the meeting. On his arrival in Bihar all newspapers highlighted the Muslims comparatively better status in Gujarat under his administration, while Bihar Congress criticised Modi government for ill-treatment of Muslim community in Gujarat.
Most parts of north India on Tuesday received moderate to heavy rainfall, causing the mercury to dip sharply as flash floods triggered by Cyclone Phet inundated low-level areas of Rajasthan.
The Polit Bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday began a two-day meeting. The Polit Bureau, being held in the backdrop of the recent municipal elections in West Bengal in which the Left Front suffered reverses, also heard a preliminary report on the debacle.
As many as 35 lakh families in Kerala are likely to figure in the below poverty line (BPL) list. The Centre is likely to approve the list.
State energy minister Saurabh Patel has strongly objected to Planning Commission member Sayeeda Hameed’s remarks about the plight of minorities in Gujarat, saying Muslims here were in a better position than anywhere else in the country.

Summary: 29 May to 4 June 2010

National Summary:
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal supports the inclusion of cast in census and said there need not be any apprehension that the demand would lead to a division in society.
The Left parties on Tuesday condemned Sunday night's attack by Israeli armed forces on a flotilla of six ships carrying humanitarian aid to Gaza. The CPI(M) called upon the Government of India to condemn the dastardly act, which the statement described as both unprovoked and a criminal attack on ships carrying 10,000 tonnes of aid to Gaza , which has been under siege for almost three years now. The party said India must work actively with other countries from the non-aligned nations in the United Nations and other bodies to force Israel to lift the illegal siege. The CPI Central Secretariat said the belligerent act once again showed to what extent Israel could go to defy world public opinion and humanitarian values.
RSS is seriously concerned about their escalating image as a terrorist outfit in media and masses. The proved link of its personnel in bomb blast and terrorist activities make parties worried and it decided not to support any of its member involved in such activities. The extremist Hindu organization took this stance after continuous news of involvement of extremist Hindu outfit terrorist activities in Malegaon in Maharashtra, Macca Masjid in Andhra Pradesh, Ajmer in Rajasthan and blasts in the Samjhauta Express.
Maoists blew up a panchayat office building and a godown in 's Malkangiri district early on Sunday in an apparent bid to prevent security personnel from camping there.
To enhance capability in fighting against Maoist and Naxal insurgents central government wants states to enhance their police training capacities and recruit at least double the number of policemen and women that are being recruited, at present, every year.
As the government cut duties and stepped up public expenditure, its fiscal deficit rose by 24.89 per cent to Rs 4,12,307 crore in 2009-10 compared to the year ago period. Fiscal deficit had stood at Rs 3,30,114 crore during 2008-09. Initiating the stimulus measures to spur the slowing down economy after global financial crisis deepened, the government cut excise duty by four per cent in December, 2008. It again cut excise duty as well as service tax by two per cent in February, 2009. So higher impact of stimulus measures in the form of tax cuts came in 2009-10, which resulted in widening of fiscal deficit.
Pushed up by soaring prices of pulses, milk and fruits, the annual food inflation went up by 0.32 per cent to reach 16.55 per cent for the week ending 22 May. It was 16.23 per cent the week before.
Chinese said it is ready for “a new starting point” to improve relations with India in talks with visiting President Pratibha Patil Chinese officials also underscored the difficulties the two countries face in their efforts to start afresh, with issues that had challenged the relationship in the past, from Tibet to trade, expectedly finding mention. Chinese officials sought “a reiteration” of India's position that it recognised Tibet as a part of China and did not permit “anti-China activities by any Tibetans resident” on the Indian soil
Canada has regretted the use of the language that “cast false impressions” in the denial of visa to former or serving members of the Indian armed forces and security institutions and assured India that it is reviewing the admissibility policy set forth in the legislation on visa policy. This followed a sharp Indian reaction to the Canadian authorities citing reasons such as human rights violation while declining visas to Indians who were or are associated with the security and intelligence organisations.
In four days talks of Indus Water Commission, the Pakistani delegation expressed its desire to visit the 45 MW Nimoo Bazgo project near Alchi village on the Indus river in Leh district, and the site of the 44 MW Chutak hydel project on the Suru, a tributary of the Indus in Kargil district. Islamabad has raised objections to both projects. Pakistan has reservation on Kishenganga power project in Jammu and Kashmir as well, which it alleges violates the 1960 Indus Water Treaty as water would be diverted. Pakistan is said to have appointed two arbitrators to contest its case, though it is yet to formally approach the World Bank.
India, which is seeking a permanent berth in the UN Security Council, has said that expansion of only non-permanent seats does not constitute reform of the world body and demanded that membership, be increased in both categories. India along with Japan, Germany, South Africa and Brazil is seeking permanent membership of the Security Council.
India and the USA concluded their first Cabinet-level Strategic Dialogue, pledging to deepen ties between two countries for mutual benefit and global stability while committing to work to strengthen global legal regimes against terrorism. Secretary of state Hillary Clinton and external affairs minister SM Krishna pledged to deepen people-to-people, business-to-business, and government-to-government linkages for the mutual benefit of both countries and for the promotion of global peace, stability, economic growth and prosperity.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said no untreated waste and industrial effluents would flow into the Ganga river by 2020. “Under ‘Mission Clean Ganga', it would be ensured that by 2020 no untreated municipal sewage and industrial effluents flow into the Ganga,” Dr. Singh said, in the Report to the People on completion of one year of the UPA's second term in office.
In a major embarrassment for the Indian army, a Lieutenant General has been forced to resign following allegations of sexual misconduct against him by the wife of an officer during a visit abroad last month.
The Government declared Indian Mujahideen as a terrorist organisation. The terror outfit, which has been allegedly involved in serial bomb blasts in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bangalore and Mumbai, has been added by the Government in the list of terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
A month after being sentenced to death for the Mumbai terror attacks, Ajmal Kasab has filed an appeal in Bombay High Court challenging the verdict and sought a lawyer from the legal aid panel to argue his case.
Regional Summary:
Shibu Soren resigned as Jharkhand Chief Minister after failing to get the support of Congress and its ally JVM(P) ahead of trust vote in the Jharkhand assembly. Jharkhand came under Central rule with President Pratibha Patil accepting a recommendation of the Union Cabinet after the Congress and the BJP gave up efforts to form an alternative government following the resignation of Chief Minister Shibu Soren.
Elections to 81 civic bodies across West Bengal, including that to the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC), passed off peacefully on Sunday. The average turnout, involving a total electorate of more than 85 lakhs, was nearly 75 per cent. It was marginally higher in the districts than in the KMC area. The results are to be announced on June 2.
The Centre told the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak-Muivah) that integration of Naga-inhabited areas would need consensus among the States concerned, as boundaries would have to be altered. The NSCN (IM) reiterated that integration of Naga-inhabited areas was a “natural aspiration of the Naga people” and hoped New Delhi would solve this issue in due course. Assam, Nagaland and Manipur have been strongly opposing inclusion of any Naga-inhabited areas in the States in the proposed Nagalim the single administrative entity to be created by integrating all Naga inhabited areas, which the NSCN (IM) has been proposing.

Summary: 22 to 28 May 2010

National Summary:
Manmohan Singh answered all repeatedly asked questions about his legacy, retirement, relationship with Sonia Gandhi and any succession plan involving Rahul Gandhi, at his first press conference as executive head of UPA’s second tenure in government. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh dismissed notions of any gaps in his equation with Congress president Sonia Gandhi, saying they met every week to discuss major issues. .” He said Rahul Gandhi was “very qualified” to join the Cabinet and said he had requested him on a number of occasions to do so but the young MP had declined saying he wanted to give his attention to party-building.
The Supreme Court of India has said in a verdict that it is the fundamental right of minorities to establish educational institutions without the government imposing any unreasonable restrictions. The apex court passed the judgment while upholding an appeal filed by Cannanore District Muslim Educational Association challenging a Kerala High Court decision that the association had no statutory right to run a higher secondary course in the Sir Syed College run by it.
79 persons killed and nearly 150 people injured in a train crash in West Bengal on Friday, West Bengal government suspected the involvement of Maoists in accident.
Bilateral trade between Indonesia and India, which saw a sharp increase at $10 billion in 2009 against $4 billion in 2005, is set to grow further following the aggressive promotional campaign launched by that country. . India was the largest buyer of Indonesian palm oil while exporting refined petroleum products, wheat, rice, sugar and steel to Indonesia. The Indo-Indonesian joint study group has already recommended further discussions for negotiating a pact that could increase bilateral trade to $20 billion by 2020.
India's complaint against the European Union on the unjust seizure of cheap generic drug consignments meant for Latin America and African nations has received a boost, with the World Health Organisation terming such action “misuse of rules” against counterfeit medicines. In the last more than one year, EU member-countries, especially the Netherlands, had seized or halted several shipments of Indian-made generic medicines bound for Latin America and Africa. India, along with Brazil, protested against these seizures and made known to the EU its strong displeasure against the move through trade and diplomatic channels, terming it a violation of international rules
India and Turkmenistan on Tuesday discussed energy cooperation and signed several agreements signalling the desire of both countries to strengthen bilateral ties. In a sign of continuing interest in the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) gas pipeline, New Delhi has offered to host a technical meeting of experts under the aegis of the Asian Development Bank.
The first draft of the final document of 2010 Nuclear-Non Proliferation Treaty Review conference has asked India, Pakistan and Israel to join NPT and CTBT.
With many Indian space scientists returning to their country post-9/11, the US space agency, Nasa, is feeling the need to focus on homegrown brains. In post 9/11 scenario it became tough for Indians to stay in US in tight security so they prefer to serve their own country in a comfortable environment and they think their country needs them.
Canadian high commission’s allegation that Indian security agencies are involved in human rights violation that’s why they denied visa to security personnel provoked Indian government and India demands apology from Canada. Most of the retired and serving officials denied visa are or were associated with agencies like the Army, BSF and IB.
A two-member delegation of Amnesty International concluded its six-day visit to Srinagar on Sunday. It held wide-ranging discussions with the government and the separatists but was denied permission to visit the jails.
A survey carried out across both Jammu and Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, shows that only 2% of the respondents on the Indian side favour joining Pakistan. A study by Robert Bradrock, a scholar from London's Kings College, that involved interviewing 3,774 people in both parts of Kashmir in September-October 2009 showed that 44% of people on the Pakistani side favoured independence, compared to 43% in Indian Kashmir.75%-95% respondents favouring independence as a final resolution. The poll showed no support either for joint sovereignty or for maintaining status quo. However, more than 58% of those surveyed were prepared to accept the Line of Control as a permanent border if it could be liberalized for greater people-to-people contact and trade. Only 8% voted against making the LoC a permanent boundary, with the highest level of opposition in Anantnag district, the report said. Few people in Kashmir, compared to many more in PoK, believed that violence was likely to resolve the Kashmir issue. In J&K, only 20% thought that militant violence would help solve the problem, compared to nearly 40% who thought it was coming in the way of a resolution. In PoK, 37% of those surveyed held the view that violence was a possible route to resolution.
In the country's worst air disaster in a decade, a Boeing 737 plane of Air India's low budget carrier overshot the airport runway and burst into flames killing 158 persons on Saturday.
Regional Summary:
Frustrated over Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) backtracking on its power-sharing deal in Jharkhand, the Bharatiya Janata Party has decided to withdraw support to the Shibu Soren government.
The movement for a separate state of Gorkhaland in the Darjeeling hills took an ugly turn when Madan Tamang, the outspoken veteran who headed the All India Gorkha League (AIGL), was hacked to death, allegedly by cadres of the rival Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM). The killing of Tamang shut down Darjeeling and police contingents were back on the streets after months.
Honour killing isn't restricted to north India: a young Reddy girl and her Dalit husband were stoned to death on Wednesday night. Six people, including the parents of Baddam Swapna Reddy (22), were arrested and charged with murder on Thursday. Swapna, belonging to the high-caste Reddy community, married Sunkari Srinivas (28) about three months ago. The couple was found stoned to death on the outskirts of Krishnajiwadi village in Nizamabad. Swapna's father B Lal Reddy, mother Radha, uncle N Ram Reddy and three aunts - Yadava, Padma and Shoba - were all booked for murder and under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act.
Fresh clashes were witnessed between members of two communities in Shahpur in which one woman was injured. Communal clashes were started from the same area after a marriage procession took place near a Masjid during prayer time.
For the fifth consecutive year, Gujarat has registered the highest cotton production in the country. The production is likely to touch the 1 crore bales mark, way ahead of its nearest competitor, Maharashtra.

Summary: 15to 21 May 2010

National Summary:
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) criticized government for delaying parliament attack convict Afzal Guru’s execution party also accuses government to being soft for home grown terrorists. Advani criticized government for not implementing Sachar Commission’s recommendations. 63% Indians feel Congress supremo has more influential than the PM. There is, however, some strong support for the PM with a vast majority giving his work at the top thumbs up. As many as 70% Indians reported "satisfied" with his performance and only 38% said there will be a change at the top before elections scheduled for 2014. The survey, commissioned by a news channel.
The All-India Ulema Mashaikh Board announced that they would vote for a government whether at the Centre or in the state that works for its welfare and listens to its demand for giving them fair representation in the functioning of Muslim organizations. The board wanted Bhagalpur (Bihar) and Sultanpur, Gonda, Kanpur and Ferozabad in UP to be declared as “minority-concentrated districts”. Board asked for immediate passage of the Women’s Reservation Bill, the board also advocated for fair representation to Muslim women.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) on Friday submitted in the Supreme Court the final report on the results of its investigation into the role of 63 persons, including Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the Gulberg Society massacre case.
After fatwas by Darul Uloom Deoband that it was un-Islamic for women to work in close proximity to men in offices and for her family to accept her earnings, an Islamic seminary has said that education for Muslim girls was not only important, but also mandatory. "Education is mandatory for every Muslim, whether male or female," Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi Mahali of Darul Uloom Farangi Mahal said in a fatwa while quoting the Hadees and Sharia
The newly appointed Uttar Pradesh BJP President Surya Pratap Shahi visited the disputed site and vowed to construct a Ram temple there, saying it was a something related to the faith of crores of Hindus.
In a significant development, Punjab authorities have brought to the notice of the Central agencies and also officials of the ministry of home affairs that the communication between khalistanis and Naxalites is increasing in the state.
Naxal leaders refused home minister P Chidambaram fresh offer to hold talks if they "suspend" violence even for just 72 hours. The offer was dismissed by Naxal leader Ramanna who said in Bastar district in Chhattisgarh, "we cannot give up our weapons".
Naxals struck again in Chhattisgarh's Dantewada district, blowing up a bus and killing at least 36 people, including 12 Special Police Officers (SPOs). At least 14 people were injured.
A total of 880 persons have been killed during last three years in naxal insurgency, who included 356 police personnel, 118 Special Police Officers (SPOs) and home guards, 391 civilians and 15 government servants.
India sought comprehensive reform of international financial institutions to enable enhanced capital flows and infrastructure investment in developing markets, which it said will strengthen recovery from the worst global economic crisis since 1945.
China asked India not to discriminate against Chinese companies and ensure a fair and transparent investment environment to all.
India’s rupee completed its worst week since 1995 as tumbling stocks worldwide fueled concern the debt crisis in Europe will undermine the global economic recovery. The rupee’s 5.5 percent loss since April 30, the second- worst performance among Asian currencies, more than erased its gains during the first four months of 2010.
India’s benchmark stock index fell, on course for its worst month since January, as Europe’s sovereign debt crisis and rising U.S. jobless claims prompted investors to withdraw funds from riskier assets. Sterlite Industries (India) Ltd., the largest copper producer, dropped 1.6 percent as metal prices tumbled. Wipro Ltd., India’s third-largest software-services provider, declined to the lowest in two weeks.
In a bid to step up strategic ties with the Gulf, India on Tuesday decided to expand its bilateral military cooperation with Oman in fields ranging from maritime security and anti-piracy measures to joint training and combat exercises.
The death toll from a powerful cyclone that slammed into southeastern India, toppling power lines and triggering landslides, has climbed to 23, a top official said. The storm plunged a large swath of coastal Andhra Pradesh state into darkness when it hit Thursday packing winds of 60 miles (100 kilometers) per hour. The storm made landfall near Bapatla, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) southeast of Hyderabad, and waves as high as 9 feet (3 meters) lashed the coast. Even before the cyclone hit, some parts of the state had received up to 1 foot (32 centimeters) of rain. Officials said at least 23 people have died since Wednesday. At least 55 fishermen were reported missing, although authorities had ordered fishing vessels to stay in port. State welfare agencies evacuated more than 50,000 people from low-lying villages ahead of the storm.
More than three years after the blasts on the India-Pakistan Samjhauta Express as it passed through Haryana, CBI Director Ashwani Kumar indicated that the agency was looking at similarities in the blasts on the train with the ones in Ajmer and Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad. “The link between Mecca Masjid, Samjhauta and Ajmer blasts is that the bombs had the same arming devices and these were procured from Indore,” Ashwani Kumar told.
Regional Summary:
Ending three weeks of impasse in Jharkhand, the BJP on Tuesday announced a rotational plan for the state: BJP with its allies, JMM and All Jharkhand Students Union (AJSU), will share power for 28 months each with the BJP having the first shot at power.
Ruling out any political understanding with Mayawati-led BSP, Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday hinted that Congress may go it alone in the 2012 assembly polls in the state.
West Bengal chief minister Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee rejected Trinamool Congress' demand for advancing 2011 Assembly elections in the state, saying it was only the state government which could make a recommendation in the matter.
Jewellers in Ahmedabad reported a good business on Sunday on the occasion of Akshaya Tritiya considered auspicious to bring home wealth as gold sale crossed the Rs 20-crore mark.

India Summary ( 8 to 14 May 2010)

National Summary:
BJP national president Nitin Gadkari criticises the Congress-led UPA government for being soft on terrorists and their sympathizers because of vote bank politics. He blames UPA for price rise and increasing naxal insurgency in the country. He accused Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Lalu Prasad of betraying the opposition on the recent cut motions in parliament, and said they were "dogs who lick the feet of the Congress".
Environment minister Jairam Ramesh is under severe criticism of opposition for his remarks in Beijing on Saturday that India should be much more relaxed in its approach to Chinese investments into the country and get rid of "needless" restrictions. Congress party is also not very encouraging for his remarks. Manmohan Singh refused to accept his resignation but warned him to be careful in his statement.
Darul Uloom Deoband, India's foremost Islamic seminary denied asking Muslim women not to work along with men and said it only suggested that working women should dress "properly". Media and civil society’s strong reaction caused Darul Uloom to withdraw its statement.
With an aim to strengthen anti-Maoist operations in West Midnapore, Purulia and Bankura before the 2011 Assembly elections, the West Bengal government has decided to set up a dozen more camps in the three districts.
Seven Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) jawans were killed on Saturday when Naxals blew up their bullet-proof vehicle in Chhattisgarh's Bijapur district, the first major attack after the Dantewada incident on April 6, in which 76 personnel were killed.
India is facing shortage of grain storage warehouses Agriculture Minister of the country Sharad Pawar invited individuals to help government in this regard.
The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex registered its biggest single day gain of 561 points in ten months after EU and IMF agreed on a 1 trillion dollar emergency fund for the Union to help contain the region's credit crisis. The Sensex, which lost over 788 points over the past five sessions, bounced back by 561.44 points to 17,330.55 on positive Asian cues.
In a big-ticket investment aimed at giving a boost to its holding of oil and gas assets abroad, the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Videsh Limited (OVL), along with its partners, entered into an agreement with the Venezuelan government on Thursday to develop a $20-billion oil project in that country. The project is expected to give India 3.6 million tonnes of crude a year. OVL and its partners signed the agreement with Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PdV) for development and production of hydrocarbons from the Carabobo project in the Orinoco region.
India has conveyed to Tehran that it had a major role in stabilizing the situation in Afghanistan and that India would cherish its support in handling the developing situation in that country. This was conveyed by India's deputy NSA Alok Prasad to Iran's main security body, Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), in a meeting in Tehran on Tuesday. Both sides remained tight-lipped about the dialogue over security-related issues. Sources, however, said Prasad told SNSC chief Saeed Jalili that India was looking forward to full-scale security cooperation between the two countries over Afghanistan and other regional security issues. The crucial IPI pipeline issue also came up during the discussion and Prasad conveyed to the Iranians that India's participation was being prevented solely by its concerns over security and pricing issues.
The US administration has named India's oil and gas flagship ONGC and Indian Oil Corp (IOC) among the 41 firms worldwide having energy ties with Iran, an act for which it may impose sanctions on them. "The Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) provides for sanctions against persons, including foreign firms, who invest more than $20 million in Iran's energy sector in any 12-month period," the report said. Of the 41 firms named in the report, five are Indian. Besides ONGC and IOC, it names ONGC Videsh Ltd - the overseas investment arm of the state-run explorer, Oil India Ltd and Petronet LNG Ltd.
Indian government extended the ban on LTTE by another two years following intelligence reports that remnants of the Sri Lankan Tamil terror outfit were trying to re-group in Tamil Nadu.
Despite Pakistan’s protest India will organise a civilian mountaineering and trekking expedition to the forbidding Siachen Glacier for the fourth year in a row in October-November this year. The expedition, which has now become an annual affair, is meant to showcase to the global community that Indian troops hold the Siachen glacial heights and Pakistan is nowhere near the glacier. During this year's expedition, the Army plans to take along 35 civilians including women, journalists, scientists from the DRDO and other glacial studies institutes, and mountaineers from among civilian enthusiasts as well as military training establishments. The civilian Siachen expedition had run into a controversy when it began in 2007 after Pakistan lodged a strong protest, calling it "incongruous" to the ongoing peace efforts between the two countries.
Investigation of Malegaon, Ajmer and Hyderabad blasts cases clearly indicates the involvement of extremist Hindu groups and individuals in all incidents.
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre said an incident of minor radioactive contamination was detected in one of its laboratories. The incident which happened on Monday involved minor contamination of the hands of a person, who was involved in the transfer of samples containing radioactive material in a sealed container from one laboratory to another for analysis.
Regional Summary:
The Election Commission of India (EC) has announced the poll schedule for the biennial election to 11 Rajya Sabha seats from Uttar Pradesh. Eleven members of the Rajya Sabha from the state will retire on July 4.
Nearly 14 years after 21 dalits, mostly women, girls and two infants, were massacred by a private militia of landlords in Bhojpur district; a local court of Bihar awarded capital punishment to three convicts and life imprisonment to 20 others.
A faction of the Gujjars on Monday said it would launch a fresh agitation against the one per cent additional quota offered to the community by the government, saying it was not ready to settle for anything less than the 5 per cent separate reservation.
In a case of 'honour killing', a woman was murdered on Wednesday in Punjab's Tarn Taran district by her family for marrying against their wishes, police said. Her mother-in-law was also shot dead. Cases of honour killing are increasing in Punjab.