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.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Shutdown, restrictions paralyze life in India-controlled Kashmir
SRINAGAR, India-controlled Kashmir, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Life across Muslim majority areas of India-controlled Kashmir including Srinagar city Monday came to a complete halt in response to a shutdown call and severe restrictions imposed by authorities, officials and locals said.
The shutdown call was given by Kashmir Bar Association, a fraternity of lawyers to protest what they call "the collapse of judiciary, maltreatment meted out to political prisoners in and outside jails and veiled attempts by New Delhi to change the demographic position and identity of India-controlled Kashmir."
However, authorities fearing clashes in the Srinagar city, the summer capital of India-controlled Kashmir deployed hundreds of paramilitary troopers and policemen to impose restrictions. These men have blocked roads by placing barricades and coils of concertina.
"The restrictions have been enforced to prevent clashes in the city and maintain law and order," said a police officer posted in the city.
Business, shops and government offices remained closed in Srinagar and traffic was off the roads. Similar reports were received from other districts of the region.
"There is heavy deployment outside on roads. The police and paramilitary troopers are checking the identity of the pedestrians since early morning," said Dilshad Ahmad, a downtown resident in a telephonic interview.
The shutdown call by Kashmir Bar Association was supported by both factions of Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance.
New Delhi is preparing for the biggest ever headcount or census 2010 across India including insurgency affected India-controlled Kashmir.
Last time, in 2001, separatists had asked people to stay away from the census or a decennial exercise, and militants had threatened officials too.
In 1991 census did not take place in Kashmir because of disturbed situation, and officials projected figures on the basis of 1981 census, which itself has been controversial and criticized by many Kashmir politicians. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-05/10/c_13286192.htm
The shutdown call was given by Kashmir Bar Association, a fraternity of lawyers to protest what they call "the collapse of judiciary, maltreatment meted out to political prisoners in and outside jails and veiled attempts by New Delhi to change the demographic position and identity of India-controlled Kashmir."
However, authorities fearing clashes in the Srinagar city, the summer capital of India-controlled Kashmir deployed hundreds of paramilitary troopers and policemen to impose restrictions. These men have blocked roads by placing barricades and coils of concertina.
"The restrictions have been enforced to prevent clashes in the city and maintain law and order," said a police officer posted in the city.
Business, shops and government offices remained closed in Srinagar and traffic was off the roads. Similar reports were received from other districts of the region.
"There is heavy deployment outside on roads. The police and paramilitary troopers are checking the identity of the pedestrians since early morning," said Dilshad Ahmad, a downtown resident in a telephonic interview.
The shutdown call by Kashmir Bar Association was supported by both factions of Hurriyat Conference, a separatist alliance.
New Delhi is preparing for the biggest ever headcount or census 2010 across India including insurgency affected India-controlled Kashmir.
Last time, in 2001, separatists had asked people to stay away from the census or a decennial exercise, and militants had threatened officials too.
In 1991 census did not take place in Kashmir because of disturbed situation, and officials projected figures on the basis of 1981 census, which itself has been controversial and criticized by many Kashmir politicians. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2010-05/10/c_13286192.htm
Sunday, May 9, 2010
India: Last Week
National Summary:
Politics:
UPA government wants to restore caste-based census but in the criticism from opposition force it to wait for consensus of all parties in parliament. Opposition does not want to change the decision of the framers of the Constitution and the first Cabinet after Independence which had leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B R Ambedkar and Maulana Azad. They decided to do away with caste-based census which was seen as divisive. Caste-based census is considered logical as it would be helpful to implement Mandal commission recommendations for OBCs and minorities.
Insurgency Movements:
Maoists trigger at least three blasts at a government-run residential school for tribal girls at Dhepaguda in the district on Saturday while damaged rail track and set ablaze two buses to enforce their 48-hour north Bihar Bandh, which began on Thursday.
Economy:
The CII Business Outlook Survey based on response from 458 companies said that India Inc expects the economy to grow by 7.5 to 8.5 per cent during the current fiscal fuelled mainly by rising capital investment and expanding exports. The industry optimism was also expressed in the Business Confidence Index that rose to 67.6 points for April-September 2010-11, compared to 66.1 points during the second half of 2009-10, according to the survey.
The government said that the value of India's exports for 2009-10 may fall short of the previous year's figures on account of the global economic downturn, but will cross the USD 170 billion mark. The country's exports in 2008-09 had amounted to USD 185 billion.
India and EU are expected to sign FTA this October. Both are working to eliminate differences through negotiations. EU has concerns on Indian policy of market access liberalisation and environment.
Geostrategic/Foreign Relations:
India is most likely to get access to American Lashkar terrorist David Coleman Headley this month with the United States indicating that it will communicate the exact date latest by next week. But officials keeping a track on the probe do not seem to be optimistic about any favourable outcome of his questioning.
The number of Pakistanis coming to India in 2009 decreased by almost 50%. The total number of visas issued to Pakistanis by India in 2009 was 51,946, a sudden and sharp fall from the 95,112 issued in 2008. Sources attribute the decline to more stringent norms for issuance of visas to Pakistanis in the aftermath of 26/11.
Indian Ocuupied Kashmir:
Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani was not allowed to lead a march to the United Nations office and authorities kept him under house arrest. However, the day saw youth taking to the streets and clashing with the police, closure of shops and disruption of traffic. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction, and senior leaders of the conglomerate were also placed under house arrest to prevent them from going to Anantnag district for a rally. Mr. Gilani had called a march to the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan to submit a memorandum, seeking U.N. intervention to grant the people of Kashmir the right to self-determination.
Dr. Shah Faisal becomes the first from Kashmir to top the Union Public Service Commission 2009 examinations. Dr. Faisal chose Public Administration.
Social Issues:
The radiation-related death of a scrap metal worker has raised concerns over nuclear safety in India, at a time when the Asian power is wooing foreign players to its $150 billion civilian nuclear market. Authorities have launched a probe into the unauthorised disposal of a disused machine from the chemistry department of Delhi University, which contained the radioactive material cobalt-60 and ended up in a scrap metal hub in the capital. A man died in hospital from exposure last week, in a case a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was quoted as saying was the most serious worldwide since 2006. Safety standards are a sensitive issue in India, where a gas leak in a Union Carbide factory killed thousands a quarter of a century ago in one of the world's worst industrial accidents.
According to noted economist Nancy Birdsall’s (president of the Center for Global Development) new definition of the middle class for developing countries, the middle class in the developing world to include people with an income above $10 day. By this definition, India even urban India alone has no middle class; everyone at over $10 a day is in the top 5% of the country. This is a combination both of the depth of India's poverty and its inequality. Birdsall defines middle class in monetary terms, the broader concept of what a middle class really is, as opposed to merely counting the middle third of a country.
The Special Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced to death Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Kasab was given the death penalty on five counts: murder, abetment to murder, waging war, criminal conspiracy and committing terrorist acts. He was also awarded life imprisonment on five counts: attempt to murder in furtherance of a common intention, kidnapping and abducting in order to murder, conspiracy to wage war, collecting arms with the intention of waging war and causing explosion thus endangering life and property.
Regional Summary:
Central India/Hindi Heartland:
The BJP on Saturday agreed to pleas made by JMM leaders and let Shibu Soren continue as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for some more time, putting on hold a decision on the transfer of power for now. After a marathon meeting of BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, former president Rajnath Singh and party general secretary Ananth Kumar, with Soren’s son Hemant and other JMM leaders as well as allies like JD(U) and AJSU, it was decided that the “consultation process, amongst the allies, would continue”.
Eastern States:
Alleging that the Congress is “providing oxygen to a dying Communist Party of India (Marxist)” by breaking the electoral alliance for the coming civic polls in the State, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that “there is no alliance in West Bengal.” “We were in favour of an alliance…but they [the Congress] did not want it,” She also ruled out the possibility of “friendly contests” with the Congress, as there was no such thing in politics. She determines to contest election with full force against CPM.
Holding the Congress responsible for the break-up of its alliance with the Trinamool Congress for the upcoming polls to civic bodies across the State including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Subrata Mukherjee, one of the working presidents of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), is all set to re-join the Trinamool Congress.
Western States:
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan, on Monday signed an MoU to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for two river interlinking projects to facilitate inter-basin transfer of water to benefit both the states. Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Bansal on Monday signed the tripartite MoU between the Government of India, Maharashtra and Gujarat in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the preparation of DPRs of Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link projects.
A new census in Gir forests has revealed that the population of the Asiatic lion has risen by 52 to reach the figure of 411.
Politics:
UPA government wants to restore caste-based census but in the criticism from opposition force it to wait for consensus of all parties in parliament. Opposition does not want to change the decision of the framers of the Constitution and the first Cabinet after Independence which had leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, B R Ambedkar and Maulana Azad. They decided to do away with caste-based census which was seen as divisive. Caste-based census is considered logical as it would be helpful to implement Mandal commission recommendations for OBCs and minorities.
Insurgency Movements:
Maoists trigger at least three blasts at a government-run residential school for tribal girls at Dhepaguda in the district on Saturday while damaged rail track and set ablaze two buses to enforce their 48-hour north Bihar Bandh, which began on Thursday.
Economy:
The CII Business Outlook Survey based on response from 458 companies said that India Inc expects the economy to grow by 7.5 to 8.5 per cent during the current fiscal fuelled mainly by rising capital investment and expanding exports. The industry optimism was also expressed in the Business Confidence Index that rose to 67.6 points for April-September 2010-11, compared to 66.1 points during the second half of 2009-10, according to the survey.
The government said that the value of India's exports for 2009-10 may fall short of the previous year's figures on account of the global economic downturn, but will cross the USD 170 billion mark. The country's exports in 2008-09 had amounted to USD 185 billion.
India and EU are expected to sign FTA this October. Both are working to eliminate differences through negotiations. EU has concerns on Indian policy of market access liberalisation and environment.
Geostrategic/Foreign Relations:
India is most likely to get access to American Lashkar terrorist David Coleman Headley this month with the United States indicating that it will communicate the exact date latest by next week. But officials keeping a track on the probe do not seem to be optimistic about any favourable outcome of his questioning.
The number of Pakistanis coming to India in 2009 decreased by almost 50%. The total number of visas issued to Pakistanis by India in 2009 was 51,946, a sudden and sharp fall from the 95,112 issued in 2008. Sources attribute the decline to more stringent norms for issuance of visas to Pakistanis in the aftermath of 26/11.
Indian Ocuupied Kashmir:
Hurriyat leader, Syed Ali Gilani was not allowed to lead a march to the United Nations office and authorities kept him under house arrest. However, the day saw youth taking to the streets and clashing with the police, closure of shops and disruption of traffic. Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, chairman of the moderate Hurriyat faction, and senior leaders of the conglomerate were also placed under house arrest to prevent them from going to Anantnag district for a rally. Mr. Gilani had called a march to the office of the United Nations Military Observers Group in India and Pakistan to submit a memorandum, seeking U.N. intervention to grant the people of Kashmir the right to self-determination.
Dr. Shah Faisal becomes the first from Kashmir to top the Union Public Service Commission 2009 examinations. Dr. Faisal chose Public Administration.
Social Issues:
The radiation-related death of a scrap metal worker has raised concerns over nuclear safety in India, at a time when the Asian power is wooing foreign players to its $150 billion civilian nuclear market. Authorities have launched a probe into the unauthorised disposal of a disused machine from the chemistry department of Delhi University, which contained the radioactive material cobalt-60 and ended up in a scrap metal hub in the capital. A man died in hospital from exposure last week, in a case a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was quoted as saying was the most serious worldwide since 2006. Safety standards are a sensitive issue in India, where a gas leak in a Union Carbide factory killed thousands a quarter of a century ago in one of the world's worst industrial accidents.
According to noted economist Nancy Birdsall’s (president of the Center for Global Development) new definition of the middle class for developing countries, the middle class in the developing world to include people with an income above $10 day. By this definition, India even urban India alone has no middle class; everyone at over $10 a day is in the top 5% of the country. This is a combination both of the depth of India's poverty and its inequality. Birdsall defines middle class in monetary terms, the broader concept of what a middle class really is, as opposed to merely counting the middle third of a country.
The Special Sessions Court on Thursday sentenced to death Ajmal Kasab, the lone surviving gunman of the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. Kasab was given the death penalty on five counts: murder, abetment to murder, waging war, criminal conspiracy and committing terrorist acts. He was also awarded life imprisonment on five counts: attempt to murder in furtherance of a common intention, kidnapping and abducting in order to murder, conspiracy to wage war, collecting arms with the intention of waging war and causing explosion thus endangering life and property.
Regional Summary:
Central India/Hindi Heartland:
The BJP on Saturday agreed to pleas made by JMM leaders and let Shibu Soren continue as Chief Minister of Jharkhand for some more time, putting on hold a decision on the transfer of power for now. After a marathon meeting of BJP leaders Nitin Gadkari, former president Rajnath Singh and party general secretary Ananth Kumar, with Soren’s son Hemant and other JMM leaders as well as allies like JD(U) and AJSU, it was decided that the “consultation process, amongst the allies, would continue”.
Eastern States:
Alleging that the Congress is “providing oxygen to a dying Communist Party of India (Marxist)” by breaking the electoral alliance for the coming civic polls in the State, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday that “there is no alliance in West Bengal.” “We were in favour of an alliance…but they [the Congress] did not want it,” She also ruled out the possibility of “friendly contests” with the Congress, as there was no such thing in politics. She determines to contest election with full force against CPM.
Holding the Congress responsible for the break-up of its alliance with the Trinamool Congress for the upcoming polls to civic bodies across the State including the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, Subrata Mukherjee, one of the working presidents of the West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee (WBPCC), is all set to re-join the Trinamool Congress.
Western States:
Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ashok Chavan, on Monday signed an MoU to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for two river interlinking projects to facilitate inter-basin transfer of water to benefit both the states. Union Water Resources Minister Pawan Bansal on Monday signed the tripartite MoU between the Government of India, Maharashtra and Gujarat in the presence of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for the preparation of DPRs of Damanganga-Pinjal and Par-Tapi-Narmada link projects.
A new census in Gir forests has revealed that the population of the Asiatic lion has risen by 52 to reach the figure of 411.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
India Last Week
National Summary:
Politics:
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor resigned after meeting PM Manmohan Singh. He was under severe criticism for his alleged involvement in the Kochi IPL cricket franchise bid. He said his decision to quit the Cabinet was “in the high moral traditions of our democratic system and in keeping with the standards”. Opposition parties criticise the IPL for misusing Indian cricket passion. Opposition demands a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe covering the full range of irregularities in the control and management of the money-spinning T-20 cricket tournament.
The BJP is criticizing the UPA for rising prices, attributing it to the “wrong economic policies” of the government and “bad management and corruption”. Charging the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government with failure to check the unprecedented price rise and protect the interests of the common man and the poor, the BJP came down with massive show of power on Wednesday, 21 April.
Despite their cut motions being defeated in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition parties on Tuesday claimed moral victory, saying that they were successful in pressuring the UPA over price rise. The SP and the RJD did not support the cut motion.
Government is under criticism for phone tapping issue. Opposition parties declare it intolerable and against the spirit of democratic norms.
Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor resigned after meeting PM Manmohan Singh. He was under severe criticism for his alleged involvement in the Kochi IPL cricket franchise bid. He said his decision to quit the Cabinet was “in the high moral traditions of our democratic system and in keeping with the standards”. Opposition parties criticise the IPL for misusing Indian cricket passion. Opposition demands a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe covering the full range of irregularities in the control and management of the money-spinning T-20 cricket tournament.
The BJP is criticizing the UPA for rising prices, attributing it to the “wrong economic policies” of the government and “bad management and corruption”. Charging the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government with failure to check the unprecedented price rise and protect the interests of the common man and the poor, the BJP came down with massive show of power on Wednesday, 21 April.
Despite their cut motions being defeated in the Lok Sabha, the Opposition parties on Tuesday claimed moral victory, saying that they were successful in pressuring the UPA over price rise. The SP and the RJD did not support the cut motion.
Government is under criticism for phone tapping issue. Opposition parties declare it intolerable and against the spirit of democratic norms.
Minorities' Issues:
The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, has sought an independent, high-level inquiry into bomb blasts of all kinds, fake encounters and confinement of Muslim youth, to nail the lie that Muslims are involved in acts of terrorism. He asserted that “99 per cent of Muslims arrested on accusations of terrorism are innocent.”
The Shahi Imam of the Jama Masjid, Syed Ahmed Bukhari, has sought an independent, high-level inquiry into bomb blasts of all kinds, fake encounters and confinement of Muslim youth, to nail the lie that Muslims are involved in acts of terrorism. He asserted that “99 per cent of Muslims arrested on accusations of terrorism are innocent.”
Hindu Fundamentalism:
BJP President Nitin Gadkari said his party is not against the Muslim community but was unfortunately caught in an image warp. At the same time, he said there was nothing to be apologetic about Hindutva or the core issues of the BJP, including uniform civil code and Ram temple at Ayodhya.
BJP President Nitin Gadkari said his party is not against the Muslim community but was unfortunately caught in an image warp. At the same time, he said there was nothing to be apologetic about Hindutva or the core issues of the BJP, including uniform civil code and Ram temple at Ayodhya.
Insurgency Movements:
The West Bengal government said it may introduce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for reconnaissance in Maoist strongholds, if the experience elsewhere proves successful.
There will be no census exercise in several hundred villages in Chhattisgarh which have been rendered out of bounds for government officials by Naxalite groups. District administrations of Jagdalpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur and Kanker, all part of undivided Bastar which was once one of the largest districts in the country, have informed senior officials in Raipur that it will be difficult for them to carry out the census exercise; counting of people, collection of biometric data for preparation of the National Population Register in many areas in view of the Naxal threat.
The West Bengal government said it may introduce unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) for reconnaissance in Maoist strongholds, if the experience elsewhere proves successful.
There will be no census exercise in several hundred villages in Chhattisgarh which have been rendered out of bounds for government officials by Naxalite groups. District administrations of Jagdalpur, Dantewada, Bijapur, Narayanpur and Kanker, all part of undivided Bastar which was once one of the largest districts in the country, have informed senior officials in Raipur that it will be difficult for them to carry out the census exercise; counting of people, collection of biometric data for preparation of the National Population Register in many areas in view of the Naxal threat.
Economy:
Analysts expect food inflation to soften on arrival of the Rabi crop harvest in markets by the middle of next month and in case the Meteorological Department happens to forecast a normal monsoon in its initial projections to be unveiled. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the tightening of monetary policy by India is an 'appropriate' step, as the country is faced with high inflation and needs to consolidate the fiscal measures initiated during the slowdown. With the prices of certain essential items such as rice, milk, fruits and vegetables continuing to rule high, food inflation crept up further to 17.65 per cent for the week ended April 10 from 17.22 per cent in the previous week.
The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China on Thursday demanded the commitment to reform the Bretton Woods financial institutions that the advanced economies made at Pittsburgh during the G-20 summit be completed by this year itself. The BRIC document calls for an open and merit-based selection method, irrespective of nationality, for the heading positions of the IMF and the World Bank.
Analysts expect food inflation to soften on arrival of the Rabi crop harvest in markets by the middle of next month and in case the Meteorological Department happens to forecast a normal monsoon in its initial projections to be unveiled. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has said the tightening of monetary policy by India is an 'appropriate' step, as the country is faced with high inflation and needs to consolidate the fiscal measures initiated during the slowdown. With the prices of certain essential items such as rice, milk, fruits and vegetables continuing to rule high, food inflation crept up further to 17.65 per cent for the week ended April 10 from 17.22 per cent in the previous week.
The leaders of Brazil, Russia, India and China on Thursday demanded the commitment to reform the Bretton Woods financial institutions that the advanced economies made at Pittsburgh during the G-20 summit be completed by this year itself. The BRIC document calls for an open and merit-based selection method, irrespective of nationality, for the heading positions of the IMF and the World Bank.
Geostrategic:
China has said the dam being built by it on river Brahmaputra will have no impact on the downstream flow of the river into India, Chinese foreign minister assured that it is a small project which will not have any impact on the river's downstream flow into North-east India.
A junior diplomat (Madhuri Gupta) in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has been arrested by the special cell of the Delhi police on the charge of leaking sensitive national secrets to Pakistani intelligence agencies.
India and Pakistan ended a diplomatic stalemate on Thursday by resuming dialogue at the foreign-minister level, as part of an agreement worked out by PM Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Thimphu.
China has said the dam being built by it on river Brahmaputra will have no impact on the downstream flow of the river into India, Chinese foreign minister assured that it is a small project which will not have any impact on the river's downstream flow into North-east India.
A junior diplomat (Madhuri Gupta) in the Indian High Commission in Islamabad has been arrested by the special cell of the Delhi police on the charge of leaking sensitive national secrets to Pakistani intelligence agencies.
India and Pakistan ended a diplomatic stalemate on Thursday by resuming dialogue at the foreign-minister level, as part of an agreement worked out by PM Manmohan Singh and his Pakistani counterpart Yousaf Raza Gilani on the sidelines of the SAARC summit in Thimphu.
Social Issues:
For purposes of food security, the Planning Commission finally accepted that the number of people living below the poverty line in India is 37.2 per cent of the total population. The 37.2 per cent poverty line (that works out to 40.71 crore for 2004-05) is based on the methodology recommended by the Suresh Tendulkar committee that submitted its report to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in December 2009. The number of poor in 2004-05, as per the Plan panel’s own estimate released in March 2007, was estimated at 30.17 crore or 27.5 per cent of the total population. Were this number to be accepted as the BPL population, only 6.5 crore families would have got access to food security. But with the Plan panel accepting the Tendulkar report, about 10 crore families will benefit.
The government stepped up efforts to get to the bottom of alleged financial irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with officials from the income tax department visiting the Mumbai offices of World Sports Group (WSG) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) in Mumbai. WSG holds all audio and video rights for IPL, while MSM is the broadcast-rights holder. Media reports had said that MSM had paid a ‘facilitation fee’ of $80 million to WSG to secure the rights. IPL commissioner Lalit Modi is also under pressure for alleged corruption.
The India Meteorological Department on Friday issued its first-stage, long-range forecast for the Southwest Monsoon. It is likely to be “normal,” with a precipitation of 98 per cent of the long-period average (LPA), with a model error of plus or minus five per cent. In other words, the rainfall during the four-month season, from June to September, is likely to be between 93 per cent and 103 per cent of the LPA. (The LPA is the average of the rainfall over 50 years from 1941 to 1990 and it comes to 89 cm).
The Supreme Court has held that pre-marital sex is not a statutory offence and criminal law cannot punish individuals merely for expressing "unpopular views" justifying such acts as it would violate freedom of speech and expression. A three judge bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishna and justices Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan passed the judgment while quashing the criminal cases filed against popular south Indian actress Khushboo for her views on "pre-maritial sex".
Regional Summary:
For purposes of food security, the Planning Commission finally accepted that the number of people living below the poverty line in India is 37.2 per cent of the total population. The 37.2 per cent poverty line (that works out to 40.71 crore for 2004-05) is based on the methodology recommended by the Suresh Tendulkar committee that submitted its report to Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia in December 2009. The number of poor in 2004-05, as per the Plan panel’s own estimate released in March 2007, was estimated at 30.17 crore or 27.5 per cent of the total population. Were this number to be accepted as the BPL population, only 6.5 crore families would have got access to food security. But with the Plan panel accepting the Tendulkar report, about 10 crore families will benefit.
The government stepped up efforts to get to the bottom of alleged financial irregularities in the Indian Premier League (IPL), with officials from the income tax department visiting the Mumbai offices of World Sports Group (WSG) and Multi Screen Media (MSM) in Mumbai. WSG holds all audio and video rights for IPL, while MSM is the broadcast-rights holder. Media reports had said that MSM had paid a ‘facilitation fee’ of $80 million to WSG to secure the rights. IPL commissioner Lalit Modi is also under pressure for alleged corruption.
The India Meteorological Department on Friday issued its first-stage, long-range forecast for the Southwest Monsoon. It is likely to be “normal,” with a precipitation of 98 per cent of the long-period average (LPA), with a model error of plus or minus five per cent. In other words, the rainfall during the four-month season, from June to September, is likely to be between 93 per cent and 103 per cent of the LPA. (The LPA is the average of the rainfall over 50 years from 1941 to 1990 and it comes to 89 cm).
The Supreme Court has held that pre-marital sex is not a statutory offence and criminal law cannot punish individuals merely for expressing "unpopular views" justifying such acts as it would violate freedom of speech and expression. A three judge bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishna and justices Deepak Verma and B S Chauhan passed the judgment while quashing the criminal cases filed against popular south Indian actress Khushboo for her views on "pre-maritial sex".
Regional Summary:
Central India/Hindiheartland:
Congress wants Shibu Soren to resign as chief minister first before making a move in Jharkhand where BJP-JMM partnership collapsed under the weight of the voting on cut motion on Tuesday, while ruling out any support to the veteran tribal leader. Congress is categorical that it will not back a CM from outside, ruling out support to Soren a la BJP.
In the backdrop of concerns regarding the dwindling number of tigers in the country, the ongoing tiger census has brought some more alarming news from Bihar. At the Valmiki Tiger Reserve Bihar’s only national park — only three adult tigers have been caught by the trap cameras so far. The census is set to wrap up in June. While the reserve, spread over 880 sq km, including 340 sq km core area in West Champaran along the Nepal border, boasted of 63 tigers in 1990, the number had fallen to 13 in the last tiger census in 2006
Congress wants Shibu Soren to resign as chief minister first before making a move in Jharkhand where BJP-JMM partnership collapsed under the weight of the voting on cut motion on Tuesday, while ruling out any support to the veteran tribal leader. Congress is categorical that it will not back a CM from outside, ruling out support to Soren a la BJP.
In the backdrop of concerns regarding the dwindling number of tigers in the country, the ongoing tiger census has brought some more alarming news from Bihar. At the Valmiki Tiger Reserve Bihar’s only national park — only three adult tigers have been caught by the trap cameras so far. The census is set to wrap up in June. While the reserve, spread over 880 sq km, including 340 sq km core area in West Champaran along the Nepal border, boasted of 63 tigers in 1990, the number had fallen to 13 in the last tiger census in 2006
Eastrn States:
To seek the rural votes, the Left Front government has decided to amend the existing Land Reforms Act. Earlier, the Act enabled an encroacher to have the ownership of the land provided one had the possession from 1974 or before. Now, the government has decided to bring down the cut-off year to 2009. In other words, any squatter on a piece of land not more than five cottahs in a rural area, who has been there since last year will now be given the right over the land.
The 12-hour Bharat Bandh called by the ruling Left Front in West Bengal will cost the state close to Rs 500 crore what with an estimated production loss of 61-62 per cent.
To seek the rural votes, the Left Front government has decided to amend the existing Land Reforms Act. Earlier, the Act enabled an encroacher to have the ownership of the land provided one had the possession from 1974 or before. Now, the government has decided to bring down the cut-off year to 2009. In other words, any squatter on a piece of land not more than five cottahs in a rural area, who has been there since last year will now be given the right over the land.
The 12-hour Bharat Bandh called by the ruling Left Front in West Bengal will cost the state close to Rs 500 crore what with an estimated production loss of 61-62 per cent.
Southern India:
Nearly 65% of class V students in rural areas of Tamil Nadu can’t read even a class II textbook in their mother tongue, 45% don’t know subtraction and nearly 81% can’t read simple English sentences, the Annual Status of Education Report for 2009, compiled by Delhi-based NGO Pratham Foundation, has revealed. The findings of the survey, which had a sample size of 33,000 students in both private and government schools, showed that while 19.4% of class V students could read words and 7.2% could only identify letters, 3.7% could read nothing
Nearly 65% of class V students in rural areas of Tamil Nadu can’t read even a class II textbook in their mother tongue, 45% don’t know subtraction and nearly 81% can’t read simple English sentences, the Annual Status of Education Report for 2009, compiled by Delhi-based NGO Pratham Foundation, has revealed. The findings of the survey, which had a sample size of 33,000 students in both private and government schools, showed that while 19.4% of class V students could read words and 7.2% could only identify letters, 3.7% could read nothing
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