Disagreement of Lokpal panel

Disagreement of Lokpal panel for drafting the Lokpal Bill is situation of ego clashing rather than any positive step to move forward,bill drafting is legislature prerogative and civil society is nowhere mentioned to be part of the bill drafting panel but the bill needs to be brought in public domain for hearing an the procedure civil society to be heard by the elected members is getting murkier each meet. A day after boycotting the meeting of Lokpal bill drafting committee, Anna Hazare-led team has made it clear that they had no intention to quit the joint panel.Activist Arvind Kejriwal said civil society members will attend the next meeting and contended that if they leave the ten-member committee, it will have "no credibility" as it will only remain a government panel with five ministers.

"Kapil Sibal has said that whether we come or not, they will go ahead (with the drafting of the Lokpal Bill). Why did that question arise? We had written to (Finance Minister) Pranab Mukherjee that we will not be attending today's (June 6) meeting."We also said that Anna Hazare will not be available on June 10 and so that the meeting on that be postponed. So it makes it clear that we are going to attend meetings. We are not going to leave the committee just like that," he said.Despite the five civil society members boycotting the meeting on Monday, the ministers went ahead and finalized some provisions of the proposed Lokpal Bill.

Later, Sibal took objection to the boycott of the meeting by civil society members and said that the committee would do its work "whether or not someone comes".The activists also defended their insistence on live telecast of joint committee proceedings saying it will give a better picture of the stands taken by both the sides.On the question of live telecast, Bhushan said why the government was against the live telecast if they have nothing to hide.

India's war on to fight Corruption

Twitter reports janlokpal Janlokpal #SC issues suo motu notice to Govt on forceful eviction of #Ramdev from #ramlila maidan Janlokpal Janlokpal #janlokpal Anna Hazare fasts on 8th June @ jantar mantar, join him, spread the word! janlokpal Janlokpal.

Baba Ramadev movement will become another Tahir Square event, committed this brutal attack and even possibly planned to kill Baba Ramadev ji (as was predicted just few days ago). It is time to wake up.

Wake up India.

Regards,
Satya

LS Speaker advocates increasing duration of Parliament’s session

Jun 4,2011 New Delhi: Nksagar Sagar Media Inc:
Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar has advocated increasing the duration of session of the house. She says there is need to increase the days of sitting of the session from the current seventy days to at least hundred days in a year for carrying out ever increasing business smoothly in the house. In an exclusive interview to AIR correspondent Manikant Thakur Kumar, she said the increase in working days will sufficient time for debates on various problems facing a vast country like India.

Asked whether she would like to shift the Lok Sabha question hour from 11.am to 2.00 pm as done in Rajya Sabha to avoid repeated adjournments, Meira Kumar said that she is thinking in those terms but no consensus has been achieved on the issue so far.
Expressing concern over the delay in the passage of women's reservation bill, she expressed hope that unanimity amongst various stake holders will be reached.Media agencies

UPA : The most corrupt Government since independence

Lucknow Friday, 3 June 2011:
Bharatiya Janata Party National Executive Committee Meeting Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) June 3rd & 4th 2011:Resolution on Corruption of the UPA Government:
UPA : The most corrupt Government since independence:
The Government of UPA II under the Prime Ministership of Dr. Manmohan Singh has completed its second year in office. On the said occasion both the UPA Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi and Dr. Manmohan Singh declared their resolve to take strong action against the menace of corruption. Nothing could be more ironical as this hollow declaration was being made in the backdrop of one of the own erstwhile Ministerial colleague, a senior Congress Member of Parliament and the daughter of the leader of an important constituent of the UPA detained in Tihar Jail on serious charges of massive corruption. It is indeed very important that these arrests were possible only because of a very assertive campaign by the opposition notably the BJP, vigilant media and lastly because of monitoring by the Courts mainly the Supreme Court. Obviously, Dr. Manmohan Singh or, his Government cannot claim any credit because in stead of taking action he had given certificate of innocence to some of them. It is evident that Dr. Manmohan Singh presides over the most corrupt Government since independence. It lacks transparency, there is collusion at high level, no checks and balances and there is virtual collapse of system where scam after scam and scandal after scandal has become the order of the day. In fact, the Prime Minister maintained a “conspiracy of silence”, “culpability of inaction”, and “guilty of gross indifference” when nations wealth was being plundered by the then Minister right under his nose by a massive abuse of system and yet Dr. Manmohan Singh looked the other way. The silence of all powerful Smt. Sonia Gandhi was too conspicuous.

World Environment Day,Instituto Cervantes

On the occasion of the World Environment Day, being India the host country, The Embassy of Spain and Instituto Cervantes in New Delhi, in the presence of the Director of UNIC and the Chief of Communication of UNEP in Nairobi, would like to present“The first ever attempt of a world tour on a hybrid solar electric bicycle”
by Guim Valls Teruel and Nguyen Thuy Anh
Date and time: on 7th June 2011, at 6.30pm.
Place: Conference room at Instituto Cervantes, 48 Hanuman Rd, New Delhi.
Free admission

Japan PM Naoto Kan faces no-confidence vote

No-confidence motion submitted by the opposition Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), along with their coalition partners the New Komeito party and the Sunrise Party, which may be backed by the Communist Party.LDP accused Mr Naoto Kan of unable to handle restructure the required relief efforts following the tsunami, and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.On Wednesday, LDP leader Sadakazu Tanigaki told Mr Kan,"You have no personal virtues or ability to unite your own party members. I'm telling you to quit."Once you leave, there will be many ways for us to unite, to revitalise Japan beyond party lines." The prime minister Naoto Kan said no intention of stepping down.

LDP has charged Mr Kan of inadequate handling the reconstruction and relief efforts following the tsunami and the Fukushima nuclear crisis.Japanese Prime Minister Naoto Kan rejected charges for his resignation, after opposition parties tabled a motion of no-confidence against him.Thus in case Mr Kan loses the vote of confidence, due in parliament, he would be forced to resign or call an election. Media reports suggest important members of his Democratic Party may vote against him.Mr Kan's main rival within the party, Ichiro Ozawa, said he would support the move against the prime minister,replicate the former premier Yukio Hatoyama, Kyodo news reported.

GDP growth slows down

Confirming fears of a slowdown, India's economy grew by just 7.8 pc in the fourth quarter ending March this year, mainly due to poor performance of the manufacturing sector, as against 9.4 pc in the same three-month period of the previous fiscal.

However, economic growth, as measured by the Gross Domestic Product, improved to 8.5 per cent in 2010-11 from 8 per cent in 2009-10 due to better farm output and construction activities and financial services performance.

Meanwhile, the GDP growth figures for the first and third quarters of FY'11 have been revised upward. While the GDP growth figure for Quarter 1 has been pegged at 9.3 per cent -- as against the earlier estimate of 8.9 per cent -- the Q3 GDP growth has been revised upward to 8.3 per cent from 8.2 per cent.

During the quarter ending March 31 this year, growth in the manufacturing sector slowed down to 5.5 per cent from 15.2 per cent in the same quarter of 2009-10.

In addition, the mining and quarrying sector grew by only 1.7 per cent during the quarter under review, as against 8.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of the previous fiscal.

Furthermore, the trade, hotels, transport and communications segment grew by 9.3 per cent in the March quarter this year, as against 13.7 per cent expansion in the same the period of 2010.

However, services including banking and insurance grew by 9 per cent in the March quarter this year, compared to 6.3 per cent in the corresponding period last year.

Farm output showed tremendous improvement, growing at 7.5 per cent during the quarter under review, compared to a meagre 1.1 per cent in the same three-month period last year.Though economic expansion slowed down in the fourth quarter, overall GDP growth touched the 8.5 per cent mark in 2010-11, as against 8 per cent in 2009-10, due the smart recovery in farm output.

The agriculture and allied sectors grew by 6.6 per cent during the fiscal, as against a meagre 0.4 per cent in the previous year.The growth of services, including banking and insurance, improved to 9.9 per cent in 2010-11 from 9.2 per cent in the previous fiscal.

The trade, hotels, transport and communication segment grew by 10.3 per cent in FY'11, as against 9.7 per cent last fiscal, while growth of the construction sector stood at 8.1 per cent, as against 7 per cent in the previous financial year.

However manufacturing sector growth slowed down to 8.3 per cent in the 2010-11 financial year from 8.8 per cent in 2009-10.Growth of the mining and quarrying sector also slowed to 5.8 per cent in 2010-11 from 6.9 per cent in 2009-10.
The electricity, gas and water supply segment grew by 5.7 per cent last fiscal, compared to 6.4 per cent in 2009-10.

NLD ask for security for Suu Kyi’s proposed tour

An alms offering ceremony was held in Mandalay on Monday by the National League for Democracy (NLD) on the 8th anniversary of the Depayin massacre in which scores of party members were killed and injured.The ceremony, held at west Khinmakan Monastery, was attended by about 150 members including Mandalay Division NLD branch chairman Thein Dan, Sagaing Division chairman Bar Bar and central women’s executive committee members who offered alms to 18 monks.

‘The monks performed religious rites for the monks, students and youths who were killed in Depayin incident. The NLD youth members released fish in a pond and offered gold flakes to the Mahamyatmuni Buddha image’, NLD member Myint Maw told Mizzima.NLD central leaders May Win Myint, Khin Htay Kywe, Phyu Phyu Thin, Nai Nai, Myo Nyunt, and Maung Maung Gyi were also present.

The infamous Depayin incident occurred on May 30, 2003. NLD leader Aung San Suu Kyi narrowly escaped a mob which included members of the precursor organization of the Union Solidarity and Development Party. Most of the slain NLD members were from Mandalay and Sagaing divisions.‘In previous years, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) harassed us every year when we planned to perform this alms ceremony’, said NLD member Myint Maw. ‘They came to the same monastery and offered alms to the monks in parallel with us as soon as they heard about our plan. But this year, they didn’t harass us’.

The death of Tin Maung Oo of Mandalay (southwest), San Myint (Mandalay northwest) and Thein Toe Aye (Mandalay southwest) were confirmed, but as many as 80 other deaths could not be confirmed, NLD Mandalay Division Information Department In-charge Myo Naing told Mizzima.

‘Those three who led the Mandalay group were killed on the spot on that day’, he said. ‘We can confirm their deaths. We found the mob was still beating them even while we were crossing Kyi village. So more deaths might have taken place in that village and also some students from Monywa might have been killed on that day. We couldn’t confirm their deaths. Many of them were in the convoy with their motorcycles but we could not collect the death and casualty reports’, Myo Naing said.The attack occurred on a convoy led by General-Secretary Aung San Suu Kyi and Vice Chairman Tin Oo, who were on an organizational tour in upper Burma in 2003. The mob attacked the convoy near Kyi village in Depayin Township in Sagaing Division.

The NLD requested the authorities to take action against the mob, but no arrests or charges have been filed, NLD Vice Chairman Tin Oo told Mizzima.

‘Truth must be exposed, justice should be done’, he said. ‘The necessary probe should be performed on this case. Then we can draw good lessons following an investigation. We could give some sort of closure to those who were killed and attacked in this pre-meditated massacre’.

Aung San Suu Kyi is scheduled to start another tour of the country within a few months, a move which has raised concerns among NLD officials. Tin Oo said that the NLD would ask for security from the authorities.

‘They speak about good governance and clean government. A good and clean government must protect every citizen. We will meet and ask for security and protection’, he said.

Aung San Suu Kyi and Tin Oo were put under house arrest following the massacre and some NLD party members were arrested and imprisoned.

Blast in Pak kills 8

A powerful explosion ripped through a market in Bajaur tribal region of northwest Pakistan on Saturday, killing eight persons, including two anti-Taliban tribal elders, and injuring 12 others.The nature of the blast, which occurred at Pashat bazar in Bajaur region at 10.50 am, could not immediately be ascertained.
Malik Mian Jan and Malik Tahsin Khan, two tribal elders who played a key role in leading an anti-Taliban 'lashkar' or militia, were among those killed by the blast, officials said.The injured were taken to hospitals in Khar, the main town of the region located 65 km from Pashat.Officials said three of the wounded were in a serious condition.
The Pashat market was closed following the attack.
Security forces cordoned off the site of the blast and launched a search operation.
The blast targeted Malik Mian Jan's hotel, where he was meeting other tribal elders, witnesses said.

No group claimed responsibility for the blast.The Taliban have killed dozens of pro-government tribesmen and members of anti-militant militias in the tribal belt over the past few years.One of the first anti-Taliban militias in Bajaur Agency was formed in Salarzai sub-division, of which Pashat is a part.Leaders of the anti-Taliban militias had been threatened by the Taliban, local residents said.Bajaur Agency, which borders Afghanistan, was a stronghold of Taliban militants till they were expelled by security forces in 2008-09.

Developing Managerial Skill for Entrepreneurship in North Eastern Region

Developing Managerial Skill for Entrepreneurship in North Eastern Region
The Ministry of Development of North East Region, DoNER has sponsored a Programme Developing Managerial Skill for Entrepreneurship. The Programme will be conducted by Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong through its Centre for Development of North Eastern Region (CEDNER). The Ministry has sanctioned an amount of Rs.79.15 lacs for this programme for training 60 youth from the Region. The Course will deal with developing managerial skills among the new generation of entrepreneurs of the region. The program is supported under the Technical assistance and Capacity Building Scheme administer by the DoNER Ministry.

The DoNER Ministry and the North Eastern Council has collaborated with the Rajiv Gandhi Indian Institute of Management, Shillong to offer a range of short term skill development programmes encompassing the different areas of Management, Entrepreneurship, Tourism, Hospitality, among many others, from this financial year onwards. This partnership is a result of the initiative of the Union Minister of DoNER and Chairman, NEC, Shri B.K. Handique, who has been pursuing the agenda of involving the premier institutes in the North Eastern Region like IIM, IIT and Tata Institute of Social Sciences in the process of nurturing the human resources in the region. Shri Handique said that the Ministry has a larger roadmap to continuously train youths from the Region with a focus on increasing their employability. The institutes like IIM, IIT and TISS are well positioned to cater to the training needs of the Region in addition to their regular courses. We have requested them to develop such courses and we have been able to make considerable headway in designing some, the Minister added. He said that the DoNER Ministry and NEC will sponsor these courses.

Earlier, DoNER Ministry had announced a one and a half months programme in association with IIT Guwahati to train 30 Engineers from Assam Irrigation Department on Mitigation of River Bank Erosion. The programme will be entirely funded by the Ministry and will be conducted by the Department of Civil Engineering, IIT Guwahati.

Ministry of Railways Issues Notification for Extending Concession to Orthopaedically Handicapped/Paraplegic in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Trains

Ministry of Railways Issues Notification for Extending Concession to Orthopaedically Handicapped/Paraplegic Persons in Rajdhani and Shatabdi Trains

The New Facility to be Effective from 1st June, 2011
Ministry of Railways has issued a notification for extending the concession in Rail fares admissible to Orthopaedically/paraplegic persons in Rajdhani/Shatadbi trains also. This comes as a follow up to the announcement made in Railways Minister’s Budget speech for 2011-12 on 25th February, 2011.

Accordingly, Orthopaedically handicapped/paraplegic persons who cannot travel without the assistance of escort are eligible for 25 per cent concession in 3-AC & AC Chair Car in all inclusive fares of Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains. The same concession will also be admissible to one escort accompanying the concerned handicapped person.

There is no change in other terms and conditions.

The concession will be effective on tickets purchased on or after 01.06.2011. In case of tickets already issued for travel on & after 01.06.2011 refund or difference of fares will not be admissible.

Political prisoners on hunger strike

Nearly 30 political prisoners, including seven women and three Buddhist Monks, are staging hunger strikes to demand better prison conditions.Today, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) reported that 7 of the political prisoners who have been on a hunger strike in Insein Prison have been placed in solitary confinement in military dog cells, which are small cells where dogs are usually kept and notorious for brutal torture and extreme punishment.

AAPP has also learnt that the other political prisoners who have been on hunger strike may be transferred to remote prisons as a punishment.

On 16 May, Burma’s new ruler, Thein Sein, announced that all prisoners would have their sentences reduced by one year, and that those on death row would have their sentences commuted to life imprisonment. This was designed to avoid releasing senior opposition leaders, many of whom were given sentences of 65 years or more after the pro-democracy uprising in 2007. One political prisoner is serving a 104 year sentence.
There had been speculation that there would be a mass prisoner amnesty, which happens regularly in Burma. However, Thein Sein is increasingly showing himself to be as or more hard-line than former dictator Than Shwe. In the first few months of becoming dictator, Than Shwe first acknowledged that there were political prisoners, and then released 427 political prisoners. Thein Sein’s government denies political prisoners even exist.
You can take action to help free political prisoners here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/campaigns/actions/free-political-prisoners/political-prisoners-action
Campaign successes such as the release of the prisoners in India depend on you. We receive no government funding and most of our income is from individual supporters like you. Please support our work to free political prisoners, in addition to taking action, with a donation here:
http://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/index.php/burma/donate/donate-now
Many thanks for your support.
Anna
Burma Campaign UK

Lightning strikes claim 10 lives in B’desh

At least 10 people including two children were killed and 16 others injured on Monday morning in lightning strikes in two Bangladeshi districts.A local official from Chapainawabganj district said eight people including two children, were killed and three others injured in lightning.

Another official from Pabna district said two farmers were killed and 13 others injured in thunderbolt. All the lightning victims were admitted to local hospitals.
At least 16 people were killed and a score others injured by lightning in a tropical storm in seven districts of Bangladesh in May last year.

11th Conference to the Convention on Biological Diversity in Hyderabad

India to host 11th Conference to the Convention on Biological Diversitynd

2011-05-24 06:01:11 - India is hosting the eleventh Conference of the Parties (CoP-11) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the sixth Conference of the Parties serving as Meeting of the Parties (CoP/MoP-6) to the Cartagena Protocol on Bio-safety to be held on 1-19 October, 2012.in Hyderabad Andhra Pradesh:India

The Ministry of Environment and Forests and Convention on Biological Diversity organized one-day Stakeholders’ Consultations and Launch of the UNDB for Asia and Pacific in New Delhi today. The event was presided over by Shri Jairam Ramesh, Minister for Environment and Forests. Dr. Ahmed Djoghlaf, Executive Secretary of the CBD Secretariat based in Montreal also attended the event. The Vice-Minister
of Environment, Japan representing the CoP-10 presidency, Ministers of Environment from Sri Lanka and Afghanistan participated. Ambassadors / High Commissioners of Delhi based Missions also attended the event. Other participants included representatives of Central Government Ministries / Departments, State Governments, National Biodiversity Authority, State Biodiversity Boards, Universities, specialized agencies, UN bodies, International organizations, Civil Society Organizations, and Industry.

The period 2011-2020 has been proclaimed by the UN General Assembly as the UN Decade on Biodiversity (UNDB) to raise awareness about the importance of and threats to biodiversity. The Decade coincides with the duration of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 adopted by CoP-10 to the CBD held in Nagoya, Japan in October, 2010. It contains 20 targets to help achieve the three objectives of the CBD and the Millennium Development Goals.

CoP-11 to be held in India would be the first CoP in the UNDB. The year 2012 when CoP-11 would be held is also significant because that would be the year of 40th anniversary of Stockholm Conference, 20th anniversary of Rio Earth Summit (Rio + 20) and 10th anniversary of Johannesburg Summit. The event provides India with an opportunity to consolidate, scale up and showcase our initiatives and strengths on biodiversity.

The important components of the event included special sessions devoted to engagement with different categories of stakeholder’s namely civil society, UN and donor agencies, State Biodiversity Boards and Business community. During the formal launch of the UNDB for Asia and Pacific, the Minister for Environment and Forests, Shri Jairam Ramesh unveil the logo and slogan for CoP-11, which has been developed by National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad. A video developed by the CBD Secretariat for the UNDB including a message UN Secretary General Mr Ban ki Moon and a video developed by the Ministry of Environment and Forests ‘Incredible India and Incredible Biodiversity’ were screened. This was followed by Kuchipudi dance performance on Prakruti Rakshati Rakshita (Nature Protects if She is Protected).

Vijay seventh Indian shooter to qualify for London Olympics

Vijay Kumar became the seventh Indian shooter to qualify for next year's London Olympics by clinching a silver medal in the 25m Rapid Fire Pistol event of the ongoing ISSF World Cup in Fort Benning, USA.The 25-year-old Indian missed the gold by a whisker to German Christian Reitz, an Olympic bronze medallist from the Beijing edition, who won the match with an overall score of 29 hits.

Vijay joins rifle shooters Ronjan Sodhi, Gagan Narang, Hari Om Singh and Sanjeev Rajput, and fellow pistol shooters Rahi Sarnobat and Annu Raj Singh to clinch a quota place for the London Olympics.More than 600 athletes coming from 70 countries are participating in the third ISSF Rifle and Pistol World Cup stage of the year.

Tune Hotels Kicks off

Tune Hotels Kicks off RM2/Rp20.000 Sale
Guests save more with Add-on Packages and Removal of Admin Fee
PETALING JAYA, 21 May 2011 – From Monday, Tune Hotels rooms will go on sale from as low as RM2 for hotels in Malaysia and from Rp20,000 for their Indonesian hotels, giving further value to travelers after announcing their Comfort and Plus Packages and No Admin Fee earlier this year.

Karen Thong, General Manager - Marketing & Corporate Communications of Tune Hotels said “We’re delighted to announce our latest promotion in line with our promise of Great Value, Great Savings. Guests can further save 20% if they purchase their add-ons such as towel & toiletries and air condition credits known as the Comfort Package or 30% for television and in-room wifi named the Plus Package allowing guests to spend more on their shopping or what have you during their travels.”

The booking period is from 1200hrs (Malaysian time) on Monday, 23 May till 2359hrs (Malaysian time) on Friday, 3 June 2011, with the stay period from 1 March – 31 May 2012 available exclusively online at www.tunehotels.com. The promotional rates are available on first come first served basis and are subject to availability.

China asks Pak to mend its fences with India

A media report in Islamabad said, China has asked Pakistan to mend its fences with all its neighbours, including India. Beijing expressed concern over terrorists still flourishing in centres on Pakistani soil.The message from the Chinese leadership was conveyed during Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani's visit to China that ended yesterday.The News daily quoted diplomatic sources as saying, the Chinese leadership asked Islamabad to make efforts for the "removal of irritants with Washington and New Delhi.The Chinese leadership expressed regret that terrorists were flourishing in various centres and Pakistan had yet to take an effective action to remove such centres. It added that this was an obvious reference about madrasas.

Land Acquisition Civil society deliberation

Gandhi Peace Foundation meet on Tuesday May 24, 5 - 8.30 pm. Focus: Noida - Greater Noida Land Acquisition. Amendments to Land Acquisition Act of 1874:
Gandhi Peace Foundation meet on Tuesday May 24, 5.30 - 8.30 pm.
Tea - Soft Drink at 5 pm.
Follow up of Sept 19, 2011 - Theme then: 'Kisano ka Hak'
Focus: Noida - Greater Noida Land Acquisition. Amendments to Land Acquisition Act of 1894 Kindly reserve above time in your calendar, as this will be a Landmark brainstorming cum policy event, to which you are cordially invited.

Vyavastha Parivartan Gathbandan, Dehat Morcha, Kisan Shangharh Samiti,
2011 'Do Bigha Zamin Movement' - latter a follow thru by NNFI

Oommen Chandy sworn in as Kerala CM

Senior Congress leader Oommen Chandy was sworn in as the 21st Chief Minister of Kerala at the Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday.Along with Chandy, six floor leaders of the UDF coalition were administered the oath of office and secrecy by Governor R S Gavai at the lawns of the Raj Bhavan.
The UDF unseated CPI(M)-led LDF by securing a thin majority of 72 seats in the 140-member House after 13th April Assembly polls.

Those sworn in as ministers were P K Kunhalikutty (IUML), K M Mani (Kerala Congress-M), K P Mohanan (SJD), T M Jacob (Kerala Congress-J), K B Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) and Shibu Baby John (RSP-B).The ministry will be expanded on 23rd May with the induction of nine Congress nominees, three representatives of IUML and one more from Kerala Congress (Mani).

Chandy's predecessor and CPI (M) veteran V S Achuthanandan, KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala, Union ministers Mullapally Ramachandran and K C Venugopal were among those who attended the ceremony.A large number of people from different parts of the state turned up to witness the swearing-in.Chandy is becoming Chief Minister for the second time after an interim term in 2004-06.The UDF had on Tuesday wrapped up an agreement with its partners on sharing the ministerial berths and portfolios.

Quit Office, Devegowda Tells CM, Speaker

Quit Office, Devegowda Tells CM, Speaker


Bangalore, May 17 (PTI) Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda today demanded the resignation of Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah in view of the Supreme Court verdict quashing disqualification of 16 MLAs, including 11 BJP rebels.

The JDS supremo said after the Supreme Court passed "strictures" against the Speaker, he had no moral right to continue in office.

He said the apex court in its order had also referred to "how the Chief Minister used the Speaker" to manipulate the Vote of Confidence on October 11 last year to save his government and demanded that he too quit office.

In this background, the ruling BJP should elect a new legislative party leader, Devegowda sai

Politburo introspection meeting of CPI ( M )

CPI-M politburo introspection meets in New Delhi today to discuss poll debacle in West Bengal. The meet will initiate the process of analysing the reasons behind the party’s defeat. While the party lost power in West Bengal after a continuous 34-year-rule, it failed to lead its Left Democratic Front (LDF) to victory in Kerala although it won 45 seats by itself to emerge as the largest single party formation in the new 140-member Assembly. AIR correspondent quoting party sources reports, after its near-complete rout in West Bengal, the CPI-M state secretary and Left Front Chairman Biman Bose's role is expected to come under special scrutiny in the process of a thorough analysis of the Assembly poll results.
The CPI too will hold its high-level meetings to analyse the poll results and the overall performance of the Left Front, beginning with a Central Secretariat meeting on Wednesday. CPI general secretary A B Bardhan yesterday speaking to AIR has described the drubbing of the Left in West Bengal as a defining moment. Mr Bardhan has also cautioned its leaders to remain a Communist but not a dogmatic. The veteran leader also advised the Left to be prepared to have a long stint in the opposition benches and be a constructive, responsible opposition.

Kevin Rudd in Thailand meet Burmese HR Organization

Kevin Rudd former PM now MP of OZ tweets that 'Spent this morning with representatives of Burmese human rights organisations here in Thailand." Further adds in social networking site,'Big challenge is some half million displaced Burmese on both sides of border. Conditions often atrocious, incl. human trafficking.'Kevin writes,'Also been speaking with Thai Foreign Minister on Burmese regime’s human rights performance post Aung San Suu Kyi release.' KRudd

IIFCL Net increased by 138 percent

IIFCL Net increased by 138 percent
Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc-New Delhi; India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL)has reported a y-oy growth of 138%of its net profit during the year ended 31 March 2011.net Profit of the company for the year ended stood at rs 228.44 Cr compared to Rs 95.91 Cr.Total income for the year registered a growth of 23% led by increase in interest income from lending operations.Income from the lending operations posted a growth of 66% over the corresponding period last year. IIFCL has NIL NPAs on its balance sheets as on 31 March 2011. The sanctions conveyed by the company registered a stellar growth of 30% as at the end of year ended the cumulative gross sanctions to rs 31,778 Cr to 176 infra projects involving a total project cost of rs 2,70,921 Cr. Recognizing the need for bringing about innovative financing approaches to meet the infra financing gap,the company is currently evolving a framework for undertaking Credit Enhancement of bonds issued by infrastructure developers.Thus credit enhancements by IIFCL to project bonds will improve their rating and will assist the infra developers to have eligible instrument for investment by insurance company and pension funds.
IIFCL shall be funded through long-term debt raised from the open market. This debt can be any or all of the following:Rupee debt raised from the market through suitable instruments created for the purpose; the IIFCL would ordinarily raise debt of maturity of 10 years and beyond.Debt from bilateral or multilateral institutions such as the World Bank and Asian Development Bank.Foreign currency debt, including through external commercial borrowings raised with prior approval of the Government. The IIFCL would raise funds as and when required, for on lending, in consultation with the Department of Economic Affairs. The magnitude of funds raised would be determined by demand from viable infrastructure projects.To the extent of any mismatch between the raising of funds and their disbursement, surplus funds would be invested in marketable government securities.

AirAsia introduces two new booking features

AirAsia introduces two new booking features

SEPANG, 12 May 2011 – AirAsia’s guests can now breeze through their flight booking process with the introduction of two new booking features on both its web and mobile platforms for AirAsia members – the ‘Family & Friends List’ and ‘1-Click Card’. Both features are available from 13 May onwards.

The ‘Family & Friends List’ enables guests to store up to ten guests’ information in their AirAsia member account. No more rush for guests to key in their family and friends’ details or panic when someone’s date of birth is missing, as it will all be available conveniently in the ‘Family & Friends List’ when guests log in to www.airasia.com.

AirAsia members are also able to save their credit card details securely in the ‘1-Click Card’ feature. Guests can further speed up their booking process as all they need is a click to complete their payment with this new feature.

Guests can sign up to be AirAsia members by visiting www.airasia.com and click on ‘Sign Up’ at the Member Login section. Apart from the two new features, AirAsia members are able to facilitate their own ‘Manage My Booking’, where they can change or update flights, travelers’ details, retrieve flight itineraries, select preferred seats, Supersize check-in baggage and pre-book meals at discounted prices as compared to purchasing at the counter or on board, and other value for money add-ons.

For added convenience, guests will be able to locate and check all their flight bookings in one page when logged in as an AirAsia member. AirAsia members are also able to check their refund status and track lost baggage conveniently online as well.

For more information and real time updates on AirAsia’s latest promotions as well as activities across the globe, follow AirAsia on Twitter (twitter.com/AirAsia) and Facebook (facebook.com/AirAsia).

5th Meeting of the Advisory Council on Artificial Recharge to Groundwate

Recharge to Groundwater Concludes with many Suggestions
The 5th meeting of the Advisory Council on Artificial Recharge to Ground Water concluded here today under the Chairmanship of Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister for Water Resources. Organized by the Ministry of Water Resources at Vigyan Bhawan Annexe, the meeting was attended by eminent NGOs, VOs and Principal Secretaries of the State Governments, besides senior officers from the Ministry of Water Resources and Organizations attached to it. Shri Vincent H. Pala, Minister of State for Water Resources, was also present.

Addressing the meeting, Shri Salman Khurshid emphasized the importance of an integrated approach to Ground Water management and said effective recharge of Ground Water is crucial to ensuring a continuous and sustainable water supply. He suggested that future meetings of the Council should be held in a place where a successful Ground Water Recharge project is running – whether by Governmental effort or by individual/organizational initiative so as to highlight the practicality of the suggestions being given by experts on Ground Water Recharge.

Shri Khurshid and Shri Pala also released two publications, brought out by the Central Ground Water Board, on the occasion: ‘Ground Water scenario in major cities of India’ and ‘Rain Water Harvesting and Artificial Recharge’.

Advisory Council on Artificial Recharge to Ground Water was constituted on 17th April, 2006 with the objectives to identify priority areas and area- specific technologies for Artificial Recharge in coordination with various Central /State organizations, NGOs, Industries / Stakeholders etc., along with creation of awareness, education, capacity building, funding strategies and periodic review of actions taken by the Centre and States.

The agenda for the 5th meeting of the Council focused on Ground Water management in urban areas, studies required in areas on diminishing ground water quality, aquifers of coastal areas, inter-layered aquifers containing good and poor quality water and aquifers vulnerable to pollution. A number of Members of the Council raised the issue of encroachment/disappearance of the water bodies in urban areas and wanted a coordinated approach by the Centre and the States to tackle this menace which is jeopardizing the water safety in the urban areas. The Advisory Council has given a number of suggestions for better and sustainable management of Ground Water resources, including widening the scope of the Council from merely ‘Artificial Recharge’ to the entire gamut of ‘Recharge’.

PGTI Feeder Tour event Madhuban Meadows Golf Course Karnal

Karnal, Haryana, May 10, 2011: Praveen Kumar Bhadana of Noida shot a magnificent six under 63 to seize the lead in round one of the PGTI Feeder Tour event being held at the Madhuban Meadows Golf Course in Karnal. Bhadana’s opening round effort helped him set a new course record for a single round at the par-69 Madhuban Meadows course. The previous course record of five under 64 was jointly held by Suleman Ali, Dinesh Kumar and Arshdeep Tiwana.Manoj Kumar and Kapil Kumar are tied second at five under 64.

Praveen Kumar Bhadana had a slow start as he made pars on the first five holes. He then turned it on with four straight birdies from the sixth through the ninth thanks to some brilliant ball-striking and consistent putting. The 26-year-old continued his good run on the back nine making three more birdies besides his only bogey of the day on the 15th.

Praveen said, “I was striking it well today and therefore set up a number of birdie opportunities. The birdie on the 11th was special because I pulled my drive to the left on that particular hole and then made an excellent recovery thanks to a 30 feet putt. It’s important to play well around the green on this course. One needs to be a little creative and react according to the situation, especially on the approach shots, in order to perform well at this venue.”
Manoj Kumar of Lucknow made two eagles, four birdies and three bogeys on his way to a score of 65 that placed him joint second along with Kapil Kumar of Delhi. Kapil fired an eagle, four birdies and a bogey in his opening round.

Maniram Sharma of Karnal is tied 29th as he shot an even par 69.
Ravinder Chandila of Faridabad fired a hole-in-one on the fourth during his opening round of eight over 77. He used a nine-iron on the 130-yard fourth hole. Chandila is currently placed 87th.Earlier in the day, the inaugural tee-off was done amidst much fanfare by Mr. V N Rai, Director, BSF Academy.

Bangladesh committed to fight terrorism

Bangladesh has assured India that its territory will not be allowed to be used by elements working against the interests of any country.

Addressing a programme to commemorate the 150th year of Rabindranath Tagore's birth anniversary in New Delhi on Saturday, Planning Minister of Bangladesh A K Khandekar said his countrymen cannot forget India's support to their freedom struggle.

Khandekar, a retired Air Vice Marshal, who had also participated in the 1971 war for the freedom of Bangladesh said, "The spontaneous support that we received from the government and the people of India can never be forgotten by the people of Bangladesh."

"The courage, the spirit of sacrifice, the spirit of the people of India particularly the visionary leadership of Indira Gandhi (the then Indian Prime Minister), who announced her recognition of Bangladesh as an independent and sovereign nation even before the war ended can perhaps never be fully reciprocated by the people of Bangladesh," he said Khandekar said this part of Bangladesh's history should also be celebrated jointly with India.

Referring to Tagore's message of peace and harmony, he said, "We in Bangladesh firmly believe that for our region to develop and achieve peace, prosperity and stability, it must be free from the scourge of terrorism and extremism." "To this the government of Sheikh Hasina has launched an uncompromising fight against terrorism, extremism and militancy. She has also assured India that Bangladesh will not allow its soil to be used by elements working against the interests of any country." Khandekar said the joint celebrations of Tagore's commemoration is a significant event that underscores the cultural and social bond shared by the two countries.He said the two countries shared a history of struggle against colonisation and exploitation.

United Nations invites summit Economists,Edu,Adm,Manufacturers,,NGO

United Nations invites to a Four-day summit of Economists, Educationists, Administrators,Manufacturers,Researchers,Non-Governmental
Organizations,Religious Leaders, Community Organizations, individuals from the public and Private Sector from 21 - 24 May, 2011 in London (UK) to assess the worst global economic down turn since the Great Depression.The aim is to identify emergency and long-term responses to mitigate the impact of the crisis, populations, and initiate a needed dialogue on the transformation of the international financial architecture,taking into account the needs and concerns of all countries of the world.

The United Nations summit coming up in May was mandated at the Follow-up International Conference on Financing for Development, held in June 2009 in New-York. Member States requested the General Assembly to organize the meeting "at the highest level".
Date: 21 - 24 May, 2011
Venue: International Convention Centre London, United Kingdom.
Conference Theme: Impact and implications of the global financial and economic crisis on sustainable development & climate change proposals for an integrated global response to the crisis.

Registration to this Summit is absolutely "free" and strictly for invited individuals and organizations only. The United Nations General Assembly will sponsor free hotel accommodation cost and all-round flight ticket for all participant. International Convention Centre London is the venue of this summit while the Crown Planet Hotel is the official approved hotel that will accommodate all participant for this unique and prestigious global

The happening in Burma

Media reports the Out of bound site in the ethnic states of Burma, where journalists and diplomats are banned from visiting, the dictatorship has stepped up attacks against ethnic minorities.

Last month we received reports from local organisations in Shan State, Eastern Burma, telling us how the Burmese Army has been gang-raping women, torturing villagers, executing them, and firing mortar bombs into their villages. Many are taken as slaves to carry supplies for the Burmese Army.The new attacks started when the dictatorship broke a ceasefire agreement and with an armed ethnic political party, the Shan State Army ­ North. They had refused to join the Burmese Army, and so they were attacked. And as usual,the Burmese Army targeted civilians, raping, looting and killing.
What is happening in Burma is similar to what has happened in Libya and
Syria ­ a brutal regime targeting civilians. But the response could not be
more different. On Libya there is international action, on Syria there is
international condemnation, but on Shan State, Burma, there is silence.
Media agencies

Kalmadi and two others on 14 days judicial custody

Former OC CWG chairman Suresh Kalmadi and two others were remanded to judicial custody on Wednesday after the Central Bureau of Investigation told a Delhi court that it did not need the arrested persons for further investigations. CBI, argued the three should not be let out on bail since the charges against them were serious and their free movement could "compromise the investigation". The trio have been sent to the high security Tihar Jail that houses some of the most notorious criminals in the country.Kalmadi and his to aides, OC joint director general (Sport) ASV Prasad and OC deputy director general (procurement) Surjit Lal, arrested on charges of cheating, conspiracy and corruption in the award of Games related contracts, are now on 14 days judicial custody."The investigation of this case is at a crucial stage. Some important witnesses are yet to be examined. The role of accused persons Kalmadi, Prasad and Lal is of serious nature," the CBI lawyer was quoted by newswire PTI as stating.

Khandu's body,copter wreckage found

After Five days the chopper went missing on its flight from Tawang to Itanagar, Arunachal Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu's body was found in Luguthang in Tawang district bordering China.The four others on board the ill-fated helicopter - two pilots, the Chief Minister's security officer and a female politician have also been confirmed dead."The Chief Minister and four others are dead," Union Minister for Development of North-eastern Region BK Handique told a press conference in Itanagar on Wednesday evening.

On Wednesday morning,the wreckage of Khandu's chopper was spotted from a hilltop near Jung falls in Tawang district and villagers in the area communicated to a control room in Itanagar that three of the five bodies were charred beyond recognition, a Cheetah helicopter that flew over the wreckage site also confirmed spotting the crashed chopper and some bodies.Local villagers could identify the bodies of Khandu and Yeshi Lhamu, the sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup. Later, a government official and a relative of Khandu confirmed that one of the bodies was indeed Khandu's.A team from the nearest Army post in Kyela has left for the wreckage site to retrieve the bodies. However, given that the area is still receiving snowfall, the adviser to the late Chief Minister, Kiran Rijiju, indicated that it may not be possible to bring back the bodies until Thursday.

The indications of Khandu's death came earlier on Wednesday from Home Minister P Chidambaram who told reporters that there was "sad and grim" news from the rescue teams searching for Khandu's missing chopper. "I am afraid the news is sad and grim," Chidambaram said in his second press briefing of the day. In the morning, he had announced that debris of a helicopter and three bodies had been spotted from a hilltop near Jung Falls in the Tawang district. In addition to Mr Khandu, villagers were able to identify Yeshi Lhamu, the sister of Tawang MLA Tsewang Dhondup

UN declared Burma,," the most vulnerable country category"

UN meets to debate on Least Developed Countries in Istanbul, Turkey
A decade after the establishment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG), the United Nations has convene a meeting on what can be done to assist the 49 ‘most vulnerable’ countries including Burma in their continued struggles to meet MDG benchmarks.This forum is part of a five-day series of meetings on Least Developed Countries (LDC) to be held the second week of May in Istanbul, Turkey. UN declared Burma,is in the ‘most vulnerable’ country category,a LDC in 1987. The designation followed the Burmese government’s claim, in a bid to earn LDC status and corresponding trade and development benefits, that only 20 per cent of the population was literate. Today Burma’s literacy rate is estimated at 90 per cent, and in 1987 was believed to be around 80 per cent.Millennium Development Goals are classified into eight sections: poverty alleviation, universal primary education, gender equality, reduction of infant mortality, improved maternal health, eradication of disease, environmental sustainability and development. Targets were set for achieving the goals by 2015.
Burma has a per capita gross domestic product (using the method of Purchasing Power Parity) of US$ 1,100, with a third of the country estimated to exist below the poverty line, according to CIA data. Additional country statistics reveal nine years of expected education, an infant mortality rate of 49.23 per 1,000 births and a high degree of danger from infectious diseases such as malaria and HIV/AIDS.

Delegates in Turkey are expected to discuss the promotion of agricultural development in LDCs, the strengthening of access to export markets, enhanced infrastructure as well as universal access to services targeting the achievement of MDGs.

Aung San anthology in high demand

Aung San, the revolutionary hero of Burma and the father of Aung San Suu Kyi, never fails to draw the admiration of Burmese.

An anthology of political articles recounting the successes and tragic end of his life is still in high demand two weeks after it was published, a Rangoon book dealer told Mizzima. Many young people are buying the book, seeing it as a poignant history of their country. Aung San was assassinated by political rivals in 1947.Published by the Monitor Journal, with a price of US $1, the cover features his photograph and writer Zaw Gyi’s poem about Aung San.

The book features 38 articles including a brief autobiography and photos of his family and historical events. The book, of good quality, was published in April.

The articles originally appeared in the Monitor Journal edited by Myat Khine. The writers who lived in the era of Aung San include Pukalay, Dagon Taryar and Thakhin Tin Oo. Other writers include Ko Pyinnyar (Amarapura), Takkatho Sein Tin, Dr. Kyaw Zaw Win and Lewe Thakhin Kyi Shein. Lewe Thakhin Kyi Shein, now deceased, wrote about a photograph of Aung San and Ne Win in Lewe during World War II.

A book featuring articles by Aung San himself, called ‘Writer Aung San’, was recently published by Maung Sein Ni of Padauk Pwint Thit Magazine has also proven popular.

Burma in need of press freedom

Burma military Generals have changed their robes to democracy but the country is in need of Media freedom which is core of democracy.Peoples of Burma on World Press Freedom Day is being watched by the world, Myanmar journalists claim Burma’s new government has not ushered in freedom of the press but superficial change is in the air.United Nations declared May 3 as World Press Freedom Day to raise awareness about press freedom and remind all governments about the need for a free press.

Burma media REPORTS,in for strict censorship and under the new government of President Thein Sein, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD) under the Information Ministry recently lifted censorship of some journals and eased their tight control over media coverage of certain subjects.The Burmese authorities allow the publishing of private weekly journals but not private daily newspapers. All private journals have to pass articles through a censorship board led by military officers prior to publication. But as an experienced editor of a private journal told Mizzima, there has recently been a slight relaxation of censorship.Earlier, the board imposed strict censorship on news and articles that included criticism of the education and health care systems, and the problems faced by farmers. Now, the board has eased up a little.

‘Currently, we can use screaming headlines’, the editor said. ‘It’s been a long time since the censor board warned and ordered the editors to sign pledges. So, we feel relatively comfortable. The change is really obvious’.

Earlier, many reporters were routinely picked up and interrogated for taking news photographs. Now, taking news photographs and conducting interviews are relatively free, according to the editor.

Not everyone agrees. Another editor Mizzima talked to said there has been no signal for a free press.‘We still do not have freedom of press’, he said. When journalists collected information from government ministries last month, they faced strict restrictions.‘There is no obvious change. Change may occur gradually’, the editor said.

There are small signs of change in freedom of the press in Burma, but as long as there is a press censorship board the press will not be free, say journalists. Photo: Mizzima

There are small signs of change in freedom of the press in Burma, but as long as there is a press censorship board the press will not be free, say journalists. Photo: Mizzima
Few are old enough to remember a free press. After General Ne Win seized power in a coup in 1962, the Printers and Publishers Registration Law was imposed, coupled with censorship laws enacted during the British colonial. These laws are still in effect.

A recent report compiled by the US democracy and rights watchdog Freedom House said that Burma remained on the list of the 10 worst countries for violating media freedom, near North Korea at the bottom. At least 17 journalists were in prison in Burma at the end of 2010, according to Freedom House. Most of them were charged under the Electronics Act, The Printers and Publishers Registration Law, The Emergency Provision Act and The State Protection Act.

Journalists in Burma have to work under difficult circumstances and have to act with care if they are not to fall foul of the draconian laws.

Just after pro-democracy leader Suu Kyi was released from house arrest at the end of 2010, news about her was allowed to be published in local journals, but later news on her actions was effectively banned.

Only last week, the censor board allowed some journals to publish photos of Aung San Suu Kyi at a ceremony to mark the 10th anniversary of the Free Funeral Service Society led by former actor, Kyaw Thu. But, the name of Kyaw Thu was not allowed to be mentioned in the news.

For published news on the serious outbreak of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome, which had been already reported by state-run newspapers, journalists did not need approval, but for news about border trade and import and export, journalists need approval from the Commerce Ministry.

‘Although there is no threat to journalists, editorial teams need to sign a pledge if something is allegedly wrong. Anyway, the number of those cases is less than before. In fact, this is the result of journalists’ utmost caution’, one editor told Mizzima.

When reporters conduct interviews with government officials, they need to show the transcripts to the officials and seek approval from them prior to submitting the stories to the censor board.

When we conduct interview with the officials, they used to talk freely. But, when we show the transcripts to them, sometimes they want to modify them’, said one editor.

If a journal publishes an article that does not get the clearance of the censor board, the authorities often threaten the editors, and the editors need to sign pledges. Then the journal will be suspended for at least two weeks.

Political subjects are difficult to report on. In 2007, when the Saffron Revolution occurred in Burma as a result of a fuel price hike, the news was not allowed to be published in local journals, according to an editor. Restrictions were also tight over what could be reported before, during and after the 2010 election.

On the other hand, a reporter said that over the last three months, they did not need to seek approval from government ministries if the sources were reliable.

The PSRD director, Tint Swe, told Flower News Journal that the new government would relax the censorship in accordance with the constitution.

media-freedom3Although the authorities recently said that publications focusing on sport, entertainment, general knowledge, health, children’s literature, the supernatural and technology do not need to submit stories to the censor board, they still have had to submit them so far.

Since early 2011, the censor board lifted restrictions on the publication of some important news, which can be useful for people, according to another editor. He told Mizzima that this was very obvious in April.

‘As a local journalist, the current situation is not bad. But, there are still restrictions because we still have a censor board. So, we cannot enjoy complete freedom of the press. But, we can see a little improvement’, the editor said.

Another editor said that although the censor board lifted some restrictions on the local journals, the overseas Burmese news agencies would not decline in importance because the local journals still need to present manuscripts to the censor board and that caused a delay in the reporting processes.

‘Often, the overseas news agencies can publish a scoop before the local journals because we need to pass the censor board. In my opinion, some restrictions on local journals have been lifted because the new government wants to show some changes’, the editor said.

The process is laboured. The manuscripts must be saved as PDF files and then the PDF files and four hard copies of the manuscripts need to be submitted to the censor board. About three days after the copies have been submitted, the publication can be published, an editor said.

‘A member of staff from the censor board will say which pages need to be removed or sources need to be mentioned in some news. Then, the local journal needs to modify the manuscripts in accordance with the censor board’s instructions. Then, the front cover needs to be submitted to the censor board again. At that time, we don’t need to submit the contents of other pages. Then we need to wait three days’.

The censor board is just one of the challenges faced by journalists in Burma.

Some journalists have been imprisoned for reporting for overseas news agencies. And some have been imprisoned for their alleged political actions.

Hla Hla Win and Ngwe Soe Lin from the Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma have been sentenced to 27 years and 13 years in prison respectively under The Electronics Act, The Video Act and The Emergency Provision Act.

Although the new President Thein Sein said in his presidential acceptance speech that the media is very important in a democratic country, Burma still has many restrictions on the media.

Reporters and editors that Mizzima talked to said they could see some changes, but that it is too early to judge the new government because it only came to power a month ago.

One female journalist said, ‘We will neither criticize the political system nor the government leaders. But, if we can freely give opinions about the education system, the health care system and other important things, it would be good’.

She said that only if there is no censor board could they talk about press freedom.

But, she said, ‘We can do better than before and difficulties have decreased in number because the censor board has lifted some restrictions’.

When it comes to press freedom, no Burmese journalists are holding their breath, but there is some hope that certain restrictions will ease.

PGTI Feeder Tour 2011 starts Rambagh Golf Club Jaipur

PGTI Feeder Tour 2011 gets underway with opening event in Jaipur and Seven events in 2011 with prize purse of Rs. 6 lakh each:Jaipur, May 2, 2011: The Professional Golf Tour of India (PGTI) will stage the opening event of its Feeder Tour for 2011 at the Rambagh Golf Club, Jaipur, from 3-5 May, 2011. The Feeder Tour is set to stage seven tournaments in the 2011 season. Each tournament on the Feeder Tour will boast a prize money of Rs. 6 lakh. These tournaments will have a maximum field of 90 players and will be played over three rounds of 18 holes each with the cut being applied after 36 holes.
Mr. Padamjit Sandhu, Director, PGTI, said, “The prize purse for each event on the 2011 Feeder Tour has been raised to Rs. 6 lakh, and two top-60 order of merit players will now be allowed to play in the Feeder Tour events. The objective is to make the tour more competitive and help raise the level at this stage. We are confident that the Feeder Tour will provide an ideal platform for the budding talent in the country. I would like to thank the Rambagh Golf Club, Jaipur for partnering with us in our efforts to help build a solid foundation for the sport in the country and am confident of similar support from other clubs across India.”

A call for constitution reform

My dear friends,
I have given a call for constitution reform I am not a Anna or Baba
Ram deo, The fight against corruption will be flop with time, because
only Lokayukta bill is not sufficient, it will be according to the
constitution, which we have adopted after indepence, when India was
immature republic, People were suffering from povert and iliteracy.
Now India is mature republic and people have awaken for their right.
Now we are not shephard whom any one can drive in one direction.
We have been taught that Aryan came from out side, and Vedic hymns are
shephard's song?
Accordingly, Hindu and muslim conflict has been raised with conspiracy
of the British rulers. The political parties have compromised with
this on the name of vote bank under secularism. Although India is
secular from time immemorial under 'eternal religion' Hindu is term
for Indians only, It is not a ritualistic religion as compared to the
Christian or Muslim, On the name of the so called 'Hindu religion' the
Britishers have divided India and Indians. The political parties have
compromized with this to rule over the country. The politicians are
actual rulers now, why they will try to bring the truth in light?
Their base of vote bank is secularism - Dharma-nirpekshata and
Hindutva, both are only the weapon to attract the vote bank with false
notions.
Accordingly lord Mcalley has given the education policy and British
Govt. has constututed the constitution, which we have adopted after
independence. In this refrence we are still mental slave of the
Btritishers? We have not taken the cogninzence of this, and could not
find the solution for national integrity and ethics. Under
Parliamentary democracy and bureaucracy the corruption has spread in
all direction. First Indians should know their great cultural
heritage, than the constitution reform should be there. Otherwise
mushroom groth of political parties to cash the corruption issue of
Anna and Baba Ramdeo will be the issues of the political parties also
for the vote bank. Again we will be on same platform, Govt. of any
party or allience will rule over the country with divide and rule
policy.
We should prepare the public for the presidential system of Govt. with
lesser political parties with international and national ethics.
The Antiquity of India in Vedic Science

Dr. C.P. Trivedi

Why we need a constitution reform?

Dear friends, fellow son’s and daughter’s of India,

Why we need a constitution reform? The question may be in your mind.
Please read it seriously and you will realize the need of constitution
reform.

We have been taught that Arya came from out side and Hindu is a
religion, The Vedas are songs of the shephards? We are moving round
the same unknowingly.

The most important branches of any country are education, medical, and
judiciary, they form the back bone of a Nation, In India, the
education Institutes, Medical, and judiciary are in the sphere of
corruption.
Otherwise the 10 % commission is a culture of scam and corruption
every where, which has taken a shape just like a legal right every
where. It is managed by the caucus in the different departments.
Its full burden is on the Indian public, we all are the victims of the
same, and our future generation also will face the same.

India is passing through a crucial period with scams and corruption.
To blame any one is a political conspiracy, because no one can say
that he is not corrupt, as a voter in democracy we all are part in
background. India is a mature republic in the world with great
cultural heritage. When the constitution was framed India was immature
republic, people were suffering from poverty, illiteracy and communal
tension due to bifurcation of India on the name of so called hindu
religion.

Now India is mature responsible democratic country in the world, the
public is mature and mostly literate with their integrity in the
nation. Now the facts which we have acquired that ‘Hindu is not a
religion from remote past, it was a fabricated word of foreigners.

India is secular under ‘eternal religion’ from time immemorial with
spiritual freedom, so secularism should be redefined.
The Vedas are the oldest literary monuments of the human civilization
on the earth. They were beyond the reach of the scholars. And with
the discovery of Ancient Indus Valley Civilization by Sir John
Marshal, it has been concluded that Aryans came from out side, and the
Vedic hymns are barbarian shephard’s songs? Bcause Indus Valley was
scientifically developed and Indian rural culture was not in tune with
scientifically developed Indus Valley.
Now the seals have been deciphered and the Vedic hymns have been
decoded. It reveals the fact that Vedic metaphors have been engraved
on the seals. They explore their scientific achievements in the field
of ‘Biotechnology’ and DNA in particular, with its scientific literary
evidences in the Vedic hymns.

Now we have the answer that Vedas are the books of Science, where
The knowledge has been expressed in metaphors and riddles.
The Aryan means well cultured, the Aryans are native of India. Hindu
is not a religion as advocated by the foreigners.

We should avoid to blame particularly to Honourable Man Mohan Singh or
Sonia Gandhi, Dr.Man Mohan Singh is a honest man and Mrs. Sonia is
serving like Anny Bessent, they are serving the nation with their
limitations, and the backbone of the congress and the India at
present. Otherwise mushroom growth of the political parties may have
done havoc.

If we want to remove them from the power is only to give way for other
(UPA OR NDA). It will not solve the problem? To rule over the country
is their motto, on the name of secularism or on the name of Hindu?
They are doing their job following British conspiracy to divide and
rule after independence.

The main cause of corruption and scam is parliamentary democracy and
the present bureaucratic system. Under this the system of education is
responsible for the present situation of chaos in India, no ethics, no
regards for the Indian culture and human values.

It is not out of way to explore that the main principle of congress is
secularism, and Hindu agenda is the principle of BJP. “ the Hindu is
not a religion” on which ground secularism and Hindutva are Political
slogan on the name of minority and majority. Due to this the
minorities and low caste have been considered as foreigners, so as to
satisfy them with reservation? It is a vote bank policy only.
The demand of the resignation of the PM, or inquiry by JPC are only to
divert the public from the root cause of the scam, and its
beneficiaries. The demand of Lok Ayukta bill is a mirage to check the
corruption, it may be a political movement to acquire power in the
centre.
The eternal truth is one and the same for all. It is not a illusion.
The same is the Creator as Universal Soul, and the consciousness in
the physical body is known as Soul. The fundamental energy, from where
the creation came into the existence, to it the scientists call as
Gravitational force is the eternal truth of all religion.
The basic fact of all Religion

The God and Soul is a scientific fact. We can not divide it with name.
The fundamental energy - gravitational force is the omnipotent,
omnipresent, omniscient God and Soul of the religious scriptures. The
life energy known as gravitational force, appears at its own with the
movement of the sap in the cell body in the first cell with birth. It
maintains its continuity with cell division. With ageing and death of
the physical cell body, it disappears at its own.

The concept of the Religious scriptures that one has to face the
consequences of his deeds is also having a scientific base. The DNA is
universally present in the living-beings. It records the deeds of an
individual in its language code. The DNA is immortal through cell
division. Accordingly one has to face the consequences of his deeds
with opening of the language on the DNA in the womb. Accordingly under
the laws of God and Soul, an individual lead a new life with birth,
with repercussions of his deeds of his previous birth. It is known as
fate or Prarabdh. Due to this even the time twins have different
fate.
At cellular level we all are related with each other with common
ancestry in DNA.
A call for the constitution reform is the need of our nation.

Dr.C.P.Trivedi

A call for the constitution reform is the need of our nation. The
needed reforms.



1. We all should come forward unanimously for the amendment in the
constitution that “ The eternal truth is one and the same for all, we
trust in it.” So that in future no such problem can be raised.
Secularism should be redefined with reference to ‘eternal religion’
Hindu is not a religion in remote past. It is a foreigner’s slogan.
India has a caste based society. The spiritual freedom is the identity
of India.

2. India should switch over to Presidential system of Govt. from
Parliamentary system. The religious conversion is motivated by the
vote bank policy, it influences the local elections of the Member of
parliament, hence the political parties either support or oppose it.
It can be checked by the Presidential system, and direct voting for
the President and C.M of the state. It can check the mushroom growth
of the political parties also, who have no national agenda.
3. To stop the corruption and scam, there must be a law to acquire and
seize the property of culprits immediately with imprisonment.
4. The 2G scam has shaken the country , it require nationalization of
the telecommunication sectors immediately to check the movement.
5. To recover the black money the 500/ and 1000/ currency should be
cancelled with immediate effect.

Keep in mind that all political parties will be against this? Shri
Anna Hazare should prepare the Indians for constitution reforms, not
only for ‘Lok Ayukta bill’ only. Lok Ayukta bill may be political
agenda of the politicians. If system will be changed than the foreign
money will come back to India easily with restoration of ethics.

Dr.C.P.Trivedi

Karan Thapar interview with Dr. Subramanian Swamy

Thapar: Let’s come to some of the anomalies of the situation. We are all praising the way the Supreme Court has reached out and brought people to justice or is beginning the process. But there are some anomalies. For instance, if three top people from Reliance are arrested and jailed, is it odd that Anil Ambani is not touched at all?

Swamy: It’s not odd because it’s a question of sequencing. I think our judicial system has a capacity. We have many chargesheets coming and it’s not necessary that they should be in the first chargesheet or second chargesheet. I think the evidence gets built when you start putting the people who did the nitty-gritty of the operations and then get evidence from them. I think it will lead to a situation and I am 100% certain that Mr Anil Ambani and Mr Tata will see the insides of a jail.
Thapar: You are sure of that?
Swamy: I am absolutely certain.
Thapar: It’s so important things that I am going to repeat it, it will lead to a situation where you are 100% certain that Anil Ambani and Ratan Tata will see the inside of a jail.
Swamy: Yes.
Thapar: Not as visitors, but as people who are arrested?
Swamy: Certainly not as visitors, maybe you as visitor, but not them.
Thapar: Let me quote to you what Prashant Bhushan said in the Supreme Court yesterday and I am quoting from today’s Times of India, “How is it possible in a situation where Reliance’s finances over Rs 1,000 crore in Swan and it is hived off to Shahid Balwa’s firm and only three paid employees of Reliance were involved? The person, who is the Chairman of the company, holds the key to investigation into the Swan-Reliance muddle.” Prashant Bhushan was arguing in the Supreme Court that in fact Anil Ambani on these grounds should be arrested. How do you respond to that?
Ranina: I won’t say with any certainty. But I think there is a strong possibility. As far as Ratan Tata is concerned, I think maybe it’s a separate issue because he is more involved in so many other matters and one has to prove that he was privy to the decision that was taken for such type of investment. So, it’s a matter of fact, it’s a matter of going into the evidence.
Thapar: If I understand you correctly, you are saying it’s a strong possibility in the case of Anil Ambani. You are not so sure in the case of Ratan Tata. Have I summed you up correctly?
Ranina: Yes, that’s right.

Statement of Dr. Subramanian Swamy on draft Report of the PAC

April 27, 2011.





Statement of Dr. Subramanian Swamy,

President of the Janata Party.

I fully endorse and welcome the draft Report of the Public Accounts Committee prepared under the Chairmanship of the former Union Minister Dr. Murli Manohar Joshi.


The principal conclusions of the draft PAC Report are –


(1) that the bureaucrats of the PMO failed to keep the Prime Minister in the loop on the process of decision making by the Ministry of Communications & IT; (2) the Finance Minister (Mr. P. Chidambaram) and the Telecom Minister (Mr. Raja) erroneously decided the price of Spectrum at the very low price of 2001, and that it is a complex subject and hence in future it should be left to the TRAI; (3) that the Government should cancel all the 2G licenses so far allotted to nine companies since January 10, 2008.


These three conclusions are what I had argued in the Supreme Court wherein I held the Prime Minister as a powerless person but not culpable in the 2G Scam; (2) that Mr. P. Chidambaram is as culpable in causing the loss to the nation of Rs.l.76 lakh crores as Mr. Raja was and who has already been indicted for and is in prison; (3) that all the 2G licenses should be cancelled forthwith and fresh auction be held for the same.



( SUBRAMANIAN SWAMY )

SIO DEMANDS A FIRM STAND ON BAN AGAINST ENDOSULFAN

New Delhi (26.04.2010): The Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) demanded a strong and firm stand from the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh in favour of the ban on ‘endosulfan’ at the current meeting of the Stockholm Convention.

The Secretary General of SIO, PM Salih was addressing a gathering during the anti-endosulfan demonstration at Jantar Mantar after the protest march from Kerala House to Jantar Mantar. He expressed surprise and grief that though majority countries during the 6th Meeting of Stockholm Convention called for a ban on Endosulfan, India opposed this move. Salih reiterated, “More than 80 coun tries in the world today have banned the manufacture, sales and use of endosulfan due to its ill effects, but India is yet to take a decision.” He further said, “We demand that the Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh should take a firm stand and favour the ban of endosulfan”.


Prof. A.K. Ramakrishnan, professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Rama Pillai from the Greenpeace Foundation, Mohd. Akhlaq of the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Ravi Agarwal from Toxicon Link, Adv Shakir Jamil, Adila Shoaib, P.K. Noufal of the Solidarity Youth Movement, Kerala and Anis-ur-Rahman, Zonal President, SIO Delhi Zone spoke at the occasion.


A memorandum was submitted to the Prime Minister alongwith 1 lakh signatures collected from the Indian expatriates in Saudi Arabia by Thanima Kala Samskarika Vedi in favour of banning Endosulfan. The protest was jointly organized by Solidarity Youth Movement - Kerala, Students Islamic Organisation of India, Association for Protection of Civil Rights, Delhi Malayali Solidarity, etc.


--

Fali S. Nariman:Nothing will be done unless “Civil Society” takes it up.

When asked why the two days conference at India international center didn’t talk about the effectiveness of the Lok Pal to ensure restitution of monies stacked abroad?

In my stint in the Rajya Sabha I had repeatedly drawn attention of the Government benches, of the huge amounts stacked abroad and the need to do something about it. Everyone congratulated me on the intervention but nothing was done. In one of my speeches I had also suggested nationalisation of all accounts held in Swiss Banks with a provision that moneys legitimately there would be paid back by the Custodian of the nationalised accounts in Banks in Switzerland to the holders – It was met with silence. But there was no positive response from the Government (neither the BJP Government nor the UPAI Government.

So take heart NOTHING WILL BE DONE – unless the wow-much maligned expression “Civil Society” takes it up.

Fali S. Nariman

Civil Society Draft of Lok pal Bill Round table discussion

The major points agreed up on in this meeting is

1 ) Judiciary should be probed equally but under another independent arm but not as part of Lokpal. Agreed unanimously.
2 ) On including PM the board was divided
3 ) Every higher authority should come under its purview.

Even the educated/aware crowd being susceptible to rhetoric instead of substance is very disheartening.

--Kapil

Save Maharashtra from being a Chernobyl: SIO

New Delhi (24.04.2011): The Students Islamic Organisation of India (SIO) standing in solidarity with the mass movement of the people of Jaitapur and Maharashtra has demanded to the Government of India to ‘Save Maharashtra from being a Chernobyl’.
The President of SIO, Mohd. Azharuddin Said, “the nation has seen the effects of the worst of chemical disasters in the country as an aftermath of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy, from which the city is yet to recover. We do not wish for any such calamities and disasters for our brethren. It would be genocide if the Government of India would implement its decisions knowing the impacts of the emergency situation. We demand that Maharashtra be saved from being the next Chernobyl of the world.”
The activists sharing their concerns pointed towards the vast agricultural land that is acquired to build the project. Also the fear of contamination of the water table is a major concern amongst the activists opposing the Jaitapur Nuclear project.
In wake of the catastrophic accident at Fukushima, Japan which has unfolded the disasters of nuclear plants in times of emergency, SIO alongwith other organizations is demanding scrapping of the plans to set up nuclear power plants across the country and instead harvest the fruits of eco-friendly resources of energy.
The Fukushima accident has forced the Japanese government to evacuate an area of 20 kms from the plant; while the US has recommended an 80-km no-go zone to its citizens. Tens of thousands of people are being evacuated; the number could cross a few lakhs. The Japanese government has increased the severity of the accident to the highest level of seven, the same level as that of Chernobyl. The Chernobyl accident seriously contaminated an area as big as Maharashtra.
While four lakh people were evacuated, the many millions who continue to live in this region know that they are forever contaminated, that they could develop cancer anytime, that their children and grand children and great grand children could be born with severe birth defects. However, the government of India is hell-bent on pursuing its nuclear power expansion program, including setting up a string of nuclear plants all along India's coast. The biggest of these is coming up in the earthquake-prone region of Jaitapur, in Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra.

Lokpal bill to be enacted soon: Moily

(PTI) Eminent lawyer Shanti Bhushan today refused to comment on the CD controversy which has led to a certain section demand his resignation from the joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill."I do not want to give any interview. I don't want to talk (on the issue)," Bhushan said when reporters asked him for comments on the CD controversy.
Law Minister M Veerappa Moily today said the proposed Lokpal bill will be enacted soon.Inaugurating a convention of Southern State Advocates and Human Rights? Delegates, he declined to comment further on the issue.

He said speedy redress of cases was still a major challenge before the judiciary. To tackle this problem, the Union Government has decided to establish rural and mobile courts at a cost of Rs 5,000 crore each and Rs 935 crore will be released for setting up e-courts.

He also said more lawyers will be recruited to all courts in the state.

The convention was organised here jointly by Legal and Human Rights? Department and Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee.

Shanti Bhushan :Smear Capaign continues

(PTI) A fresh controversy involving anti-corruption campaigner Shanti Bhushan broke out today over allotment of priced farmhouse plots to him and his son Jayant in nearby Noida and demands have cropped for the lawyer's resignation from the joint committee to draft the Lokpal Bill.Prashant termed it smear campaign to malign their family.

Congress and Samajwadi Party questioned the allotment of farmhouses to Bhushans and suggested that Shanti Bhushan should withdraw himself from the Joint Committee to draft Lokpal Bill.The controversy arose after reports were published today that the Bhushans has been allotted 10,000 sq metre plots valued at Rs 3.5 crore each to them by the UP government in 2009.Both the Bhushans were quoted in a newspaper that there was no transparency in the scheme and allotments were made without any clear criterion.
Amar Singh contradicts Shanti Bhushan's claim said in the continuing war of words with the Bhushans, Amar Singh today dismissed the claim of eminent lawyer Shanti Bhushan that the two have never met and that he had used his chartered aircraft to go to Lucknow for appearing in a case.

Addressing a press conference here, he said that he had participated in a lawyer-client conference in the Samajwadi Party case when some BSP MLAs had joined it in 2006, in which he had a role.The party also paid the lawyer Rs 50 lakh to fight the anti-defection case.PTI

Jyrki Katainen PM contenders Finns Nationalist party gains

Nationalist True Finns make gains in Finland vote and True Finns leader Timo Soini celebrates with supporters at the party's reception in Helsinki, Finland, 17 April 2011 Timo Soini's True Finns have more than quadrupled their support since 2007.

A nationalist party has taken nearly a fifth of votes in Finland's general election, the electoral commission says.The True Finns finished just behind the conservative NCP and the Social Democrats on around 19%.While the Social Democrats have called for changes on EU bail-outs, including the planned Portuguese rescue, True Finns opposes the plans altogether.

Finland's parliament,has the right to vote on EU requests for bailout funds, political party with new set could hold up fiscal plans to shore up Portugal for supporting stability to debt markets.The strong gains for the populist True Finns lagging in third place show immense public frustration in anvil of EU states with stronger economies, notably Germany, at having to foot the bill to bail out the weaker economies such as Greece, Ireland and Portugal.The biggest party, the NCP is tipped to lead the next government with former Finance Minister Jyrki Katainen likely to become prime minister of whatever coalition emerges, replacing Mari Kiviniemi of the Centre Party.The anti-immigration True Finns won 39 seats in the 200-member parliament, final results showed.That put it five seats behind the conservative National Coalition Party (NCP) part of the current centre-right government and a strong advocate for European integration and just three behind the opposition Social Democrats.The Centre Party previously the largest party in parliament won thirty five seats, down sixteen from the last election in 2007.The strong showing for the True Finns meant the anti-euro party would at least "get an invitation to talks" on a new government, Reuters quoted party leader Timo Soini as saying.Celebrating the NCP's success, Jyrki Katainen played down suggestions that Finland would now cause difficulties for the eurozone.

Libya: battle continues

Libya, fierce battle is reported between the rebels and Gaddafi forces in the western besieged town of Misurata. For the third day in a row, troops loyal to Gaddafi shelled Misurata with at least 100 Grad rockets.

Libyan troops, which have besieged the coastal town for over six weeks, pounded Misurata yesterday also killing at least eight people. Seven other civilians, including children and older people, were wounded in that attack. Human Rights Watch has accused the Libyan regime of firing cluster bombs into residential areas.

Renewed fighting erupted near the key eastern town of Ajdabiya, where rebels, bolstered by NATO air strikes, are regrouping on the road to the oil town of Brega, 80-km west of Ajdabiya.

Controversy ahead of meet on Lok Pal

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc:New Delhi
At a press conference in Noida, activists Prashant Bhushan and Arvind Kejriwal alleged that a "concerted smear" campaign has been launched against them to benefit the corrupt people.Controversy broke out over a CD involving eminent lawyer Shanti Bhushan as civil society activists and five senior Union ministers meet here to discuss drafting of an effective Lok Pal Bill to tackle corruption in government.

Civil society five member team is not making an efforts to listen to other intellectuals on the issue of Lokpal Bill. Anybody when gives inputs ask the member to fill in suggestion in their website thus stopping the interaction to me it appears that entire team is ignorant of the subject what is interaction and transparency and thus behaving like
babus class of knowing everything and elite
behaving busy.

The activists led by Anna Hazare, who called off his fast-unto-death agitation last week after government conceded his demand for a Joint Drafting Committee on the legislation, were at pains to declare that they had nothing to hide and offered themselves for any probe into allegations against them.

PTI reports Anna Hazare called off his fast demanding a stronger Lokpal law, the joint committee to draft the bill met here today for the first time amid a controversy over a CD allegedly involving eminent lawyer and panel co-chairman Shanti Bhushan.

The meeting chaired by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee was held at North Block and attended by Ministers P Chidambaram, Kapil Sibal, M Veerappa Moily and Salman Khurshid and Hazare, Arvind Kejriwal, Santosh Hegde, Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan from the civil society side.

The deliberations came in the backdrop of a controversy over a CD in circulation which purpotedly has conversations with senior Bhushan, a former Law Minister, and politicians Mulayam Singh Yadav and Amar Singh. Bhushan has termed the CD as "clearly fabricated".

Dikshit promises full cooperation to MHA Shunglu probe

Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit on Thursday promised to extend "full cooperation" to the Home Ministry if it seeks any reply from her government on the findings of the CWG probe panel. "We have not received any communication from the Home Ministry so far. We will extend our full cooperation if they seek our response (on the Shunglu committee report)," Dikshit said when asked whether government has received any communication from Home Ministry. Sources said all the city government officials whose names figure in the Shunglu Committee report have been told to submit their response in writing to the government. Prime Minister's Office earlier this month had referred the Shunglu Committee findings on alleged irregularities by certain Delhi government departments to the Home Ministry for further action.

Home Ministry is likely to seek reply from Khanna and Dikshit and other agencies concerned,held responsible by the panel for lack of oversight and decisions that led to cost escalation.Rejecting the Shunglu committee report, Delhi government had termed the findings as a "product of paranoia" which is "full of contradictions" and "anomalies".

In its brief report to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in response to the findings of the Shunglu Committee, the city government last month had rejected almost all the findings of the panel and instead accused it of deliberately choosing to adopt a logic of "convenience" in finding corruption in every policy and every tender of the government.The BJP has been demanding resignation of Dikshit in the wake of the report by the high powered committee.The administration of Delhi, being a Union Territory, comes under the control of Home Ministry.Media agencies

Kerala 74 pc Assembly polls

Kerala,an estimated 74.4 per cent of voters exercised their franchise on Wednesday as voting ended peacefully in all the 140 assembly segments across the state.
According to provisional figures released by Election Commission after polling ended at 5 pm, a total of 74.4 per cent of the 2.31 crore electorate cast their votes, exceeding the 2006 poll percentage of 72.38.Kannur district topped in the turnout recording 80.4 per cent followed by Kozhikode (80.2) and Alappuzha and Ernakulam with 77.8 and 77.4 per cent.The lowest voter participation was reported from Pathanamthitta (68.2) and the capital district Thiruvananthapuram (68.5) In Palakkad district, where Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan is contesting in Malampuzha segment, the turnout was 75.3 per cent.The battle to gain power in the state is keenly fought between ruling LDF and Congress-led UDF with BJP making the contest three-cornered one in at least two seats. In all, 971 candidates are in the fray, including Independents.No major incidents of violence or malpractices had been reported from anywhere, police said.In the LDF, lead partner CPI-M is contesting in 93 seats, CPI (27),JD-S (5), RSP, NCP (4 each), Kerala Congress, INL (three each) and Congress-S (1).

In the UDF, Congress has fielded 82 candidates followed by IUML (24), KC-M (15), SJD (6), JSS (4), KC-J, CMP (3 each), KC-B (2) and RSP-B (1).Key players include Acuthanandan, seeking mandate for the third time and UDF's chief ministerial probable Oommen Chandy from Puthuppally in Kottayam, from where he has won nine times in a row.Besides Achuthanandan, 14 ministers are seeking fresh mandate, eight from CPI-M, two from CPI, one each from RSP, Congress-S, Janata Dal-S and Kerala Congress (Thomas).BJP is pinning its hopes on senior leader O Rajagopal, contesting in Nemom to open its account in the assembly.

Cracks in civil society

Apr 9 (PTI) Difference of opinion has cropped up among the civil society groups over the inclusion of father-son lawyers duo Shanti Bhushan and Prashant Bhushan in the committee to draft the Lokpal Bill.Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who was one of the prominent backers of the agitation, said in Haridwar why there was nepotism in the committee of civil society.

"Why is there nepotism in there committee? Why both father and son are accommodated in the committee"? he said.Hazare, however, disagreed with him. At a press conference in Delhi, he said "you can level any allegations against me. I am a person who follows Gandhian principles.Nothing wrong in having two members of the same family in the panel. We need experience. We need expertise".

Anna Hazare and Government show on

Anna Hazare and Government show on
2011-04-07 20:29:28 - Nksagar_Sagar Media Inc:Imperialist created a system to suit the inner and those out of the system with no powers: What a method of loot or money laundering experts says the laws are there but results are in far flung for him to enjoy and can be punished but no provision of recovery of loot money so is the case of stashed money abroad:

Indian system with balant hope on which we breathe has decomposed to foul smell and hear the business with anecdote of scams every now and then and the scam-er show the strength with law remain dormant:Thus an act to show the every thing is in development keeps people hope ignited:Lokpal Bill music being played by the protesters are all in mood of protests but do not discuss further beyond their ambit thus second layer of self style leadership developed to which many are raising their intention: With Anna's goodwill to get the draft of law is their ultimate goal to weed out corruption is again a folly:Each authority from local level to International needs civil -Intellectual observation:Parliament debate begins after public discourse which continue after floor debate too:
Parallel meeting was held with transparency and accountability at VIF Chankyapuri New Delhi but the peoples were raising criticism but no solutions were allowed to discuss and let up for next day such wonderful people because of their own solutions for next day - one is searching freedom of corruption from them Those of yesteryear's now in freedom looks for freedom when did not work for freedom enjoyed the fruits of being parasite enslave of the cult they follow: -Imperialist created a system to suit the inner and those out of the system with no powers: What a method of loot or money laundering experts says the laws are there but results are in far flung for him to enjoy and can be punished but no provision of recovery of loot money so is the case of stashed money abroad:

Thus Government on Thursday opened a channel of communication with anti-corruption protestors led by Anna Hazare with Union Minister Kapil Sibal meeting activists Swami Agnivesh and Arvind Kejriwal to find a way out on the demand for a joint committee on drafting Lokpal Bill.Sibal, who met the activists at his residence, said the broad parametres of solving the issue has been agreed upon."We have started a channel of communication. We met last evening. We met today also. The talks have been constructive...The formalities are yet to be agreed upon. We are meeting again," Sibal told reporters after the meeting.But he did not elaborate on what the formula is saying the attempt is that all are together. "We want to deal with corruption. We want to get rid of corruption. We want the civil society to participate. We have no problem with that," he said appealing to Hazare to call off the hunger strike.

"The objective of the government and civil society is to sit together and to deal with the issue of corruption effectively through an appropriate legislation," he said.Agnivesh said he will inform Hazare about the outcome of the talks which he described as "positive". "We will inform Hazare about the talks. The final decision will be his," he said.

India playing impressie role in peace keeping: UN

United Nations says, India plays an important role in peace keeping during conflicts around the globe. UN Assistant Secretary General Anthony Banbury said, India had been the world body's partner in peacekeeping since 1956 and it will be strengthened in coming years.Addressing a Press conference in New Delhi, he described Indian military a highly professional force with full range of capabilities including engineering and aviation.Replying to a question, Special representative of UN Secretary General on sexual violence, Margot Wallstrom said that UN has a policy of 'Zero tolerance' against such acts. Media agencies

Japan uses colour dye to trace radioactive leak

Emergency crews at Japan's crippled Fukushima nuclear plant are using a colour dye to trace the source of a radioactive leak. It is believed seven tonnes of water with 10,000 times higher radioactivity than normal is escaping from the plant every hour.Emergency crews have tried unsuccessfully to plug a crack in a concrete pit in the plant's second reactor.

There are also plans to dump 11,500 tonnes of radioactive water at sea to free up storage space at the plant. The official told reporters that highly radioactive waste water has been accumulated at turbine buildings at Fukushima Daiichi, especially at the reactor unit 2.There is a need to release already stored water in order to accept the additional waste water. He said the release would take place as soon as necessary preparations are made.

Kazakhstan holds early presidential poll

Kazakhstan holds early presidential poll - Kazakhstan today holds an early presidential election that is widely expected to hand long-time President Nursultan Nazarbayev another term in office. The 70-year-old leader's current term ends in 2012, but he called for snap elections after rejecting a proposed referendum that would have extended his rule of one of the wealthiest Central Asian nations until 2020. He is expected to seek another term in 2016. Kazakhstan's main opposition leaders called for a voter boycott, saying there was not enough time to organize a meaningful campaign in time for the April 3 vote. Kazakhstan has never held an election deemed free and fair by international observers.

Thein Sein, sworn in President

On Wednesday, Burma’s dictator, Than Shwe, officially disbanded the State Peace and Development Council, the body through which Burma’s dictators have ruled the country since 1997. The new President, Thein Sein, was sworn in.

However, the changes are more about re branding than reform. Dictatorship remains alive and well in Burma, guaranteed by a new Constitution and a new political structure.The new government is the final stage in the regime’s so-called ‘roadmap to democracy’, following the sham election last November. In reality, it is a transition from military to civilian dictatorship. The new parliament has no real power. Real power still lies firmly with the military and a new all-powerful body, the National Defence and Security Council.

This is history repeating itself. Burma’s first dictatorship began in 1962, led by General Ne Win. Ne Win also introduced a new constitution through a rigged referendum and rubber-stamp parliament.

The real facts on the ground are that there are no new freedoms, that human rights abuses continue, and that those ruling Burma clearly have no intention of introducing any genuine reforms to improve human rights or move towards democracy.

Taufel, Aleem Dar umpires for World Cup final

Australian Simon Taufel, a winner of five consecutive ICC Umpire of the Year awards, and Pakistan's Aleem Dar were today appointed as the on-field officials for the World Cup finals between India and Sri Lanka on Saturday.The match will be played at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.New Zealand's Jeff Crowe has been named the match referee. England's Ian Gould and Steve Davis of Australia will be the third and fourth umpires respectively: