Indian Express

Expect those behind 26/11 to meet day of reckoning: Hillary

2009-07-20T12:43:00.005+05:30

Ahead of political engagements with the Indian leadership tomorrow, US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton today set the tone for the meetings when she described the grouping of al-Qaeda, Taliban and other terror outfits as a “syndicate of terrorism” and expressed hope that the perpetrators of the Mumbai terror attacks would meet their “day of reckoning”.

Terrorism and Pakistan, her comments reflected, will form a key part of her discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister S M Krishna tomorrow, among other issues.

Stressing that terrorism is a “threat to all”, including those who have provided havens to such elements, and every country should stand up to defeat the menace, Clinton, speaking at the ITC Green building in Gurgaon, said: “We are certainly watching and expecting that there will be justice and those who launched the horrific attacks in Mumbai will meet their day of reckoning.”

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Attack on Congress Legislature Party leader fuels Bengal violence; bandh today

2009-07-17T10:37:00.004+05:30

Violence erupted across West Bengal on Thursday as a spillover of the attack on a Congress Legislature Party team which was visiting trouble-torn villages in Burdwan’s Mongolkot, allegedly by CPM supporters, on Wednesday. As news of the incident spread, Congress workers blocked roads, railway tracks and set state buses on fire before calling a Bengal bandh on Friday.

In New Delhi, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram said he had been briefed about the situation in the affected areas. “We have sent a message to the state government and asked them to send a report. Let the report come,” he said, adding that the Home Secretary had spoken to the state Chief Secretary.

Clearly on the backfoot, the CPM and the state government took a soft stand, with Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee assuring that the culprits will be punished. The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, extended its “moral support” for the bandh

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For Maya 'slur,' Uttar Pradesh Congress chief jailed, her house attacked

2009-07-16T10:43:00.004+05:30

UP Congress chief Rita Bahuguna Joshi, arrested for allegedly making derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Mayawati, was remanded to 14 days judicial custody on Thursday.

Joshi was produced before the Chief Judicial Magistrate Prashant Kumar who sent her to 14-day judicial custody.

Police said she was arrested on National Highway 24 on her way to Delhi.” A case has been filed under Sections 153 (A) (promoting enmity between groups) and 509 (insulting a woman’s modesty) and Sections 3 (1) and 10 of the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

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Gujarat, Andhra chosen as sites for United States nuclear reactors

2009-07-15T13:05:00.005+05:30

Days before US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrives In India on her first official visit after taking charge, India is learnt to have firmed up a site each in Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh that will be dedicated for the first US nuclear reactors after the nuclear deal.

While this has already been indicated to Washington, sources said, a formal announcement could happen during Clinton’s visit.

The identification of the sites flows from a commitment India had given, through a letter of intent under the nuclear deal, which commits India to purchase 10,000 MW from US nuclear companies and mark “at least two sites” for this purpose.

Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh were the two states that offered sites for this and have now been approved.

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During China war, comrades cracked down on VS for saying let’s give blood to jawans

2009-07-14T10:59:00.012+05:30

The sacking of VS Achuthanandan from the CPM politburo yesterday wasn’t the first time the octogenarian chief minister of Kerala had been punished by his party for indiscipline. Nor was it the first time that the veteran comrade had decided to stand his ground in the face of opposition from the party leadership.

In the matter of sticking to his guns, VS had started early — at least as early as 1962.

In that year, he took a line that can today be called “pro-India”, but which the communist leadership then decided was “anti-party” a crime for which he was demoted in the organisation’s hierarchy.

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30 cops killed in Chhattisgarh Maoist strikes

2009-07-13T12:09:00.005+05:30

Thirty security personnel including Rajnandgaon Superintendent of Police Vinod Kumar Choubey, 49, were killed today in three attacks at Madanwada village near Manpur-Mohalla in the district.

The attacks occurred in one of the most remote Naxal-hit areas where the communication network is dismally poor.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (anti-Naxalite operations) Pawan Deo said the Maoists had gunned down two security personnel near the Madanwada camp of the Chhattisgarh Special Armed Force (SAF) early in the morning.

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Over Rs 14 crore missing in name of Naxal war in Jharkhand

2009-07-10T11:37:00.004+05:30

In Naxal-hit Jharkhand, the first stop for 20 Union Secretaries working on a counter-Naxal strategy and where President’s Rule was extended for six months last week, the withdrawal of over Rs 14 crore Secret Service funds by Director General of Police V D Ram and other officials has been questioned by the office of the Accountant General which has called for an investigation saying rules were not followed and “the possibility of fraud, embezzlement and misappropriation of government funds cannot be ruled out”.

In one instance, DGP Ram withdrew Rs 5.60 crore in cash from the Secretariat branch of the State Bank of India on March 16, 2006 — a fortnight before he gave the withdrawal and disbursal power to the Additional DGP.

With the AG raising objections, Chief Secretary A K Basu has written to Ram: “DAG has raised certain objections regarding non-observance of provisions of Special Branch Manual and Bihar Financial Rules regarding Secret Service Expenditure.

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Will complete Doha Round by 2010: India agrees with G8

2009-07-09T10:35:00.004+05:30

In what would be a significant step forward, the G8 and the Group of Five (G5) developing countries — India, Brazil, China, Mexico and South Africa — will agree to commit themselves to conclude the Doha Round of talks in a year’s time by 2010.

In fact, India is expected to host a ministerial meet before the September G-20 Summit at Pittsburgh with a view to resolve existing differences.

They will also agree not to indulge in “competitive devaluation” of currencies during the economic crisis.

The almost-finalized draft of the joint communiqué, agreed after detailed discussions among officials today, states: “We are committed to reaching an ambitious and balanced conclusion to the Doha Development Round in 2010,

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All set for a quiet launch of India's first indigenous Nuclear submarine

2009-07-08T12:16:00.004+05:30

More than two decades after it was conceived, India’s first indigenously built nuclear submarine, for long called the Advanced Technology Vehicle project, is set for a quiet launch towards the end of this month. Christened INS Chakra after the Charlie class nuclear submarine taken on lease from the Soviet Union in 1988 for three years, it will be put out in the waters of the Bay of Bengal in Visakhapatnam harbour for sea trials.

Top government sources told The Indian Express that the Navy has been cleared for two more 7,000 tonne-Chakra class submarines with an in-principle clearance for another two of the same class. Completing the nuclear triad as envisaged in the Indian nuclear doctrine, INS Chakra will carry intermediate range submarine-launched missiles that have already been tested twice on the eastern coast.

The submarine was scheduled to be launched on July 26 but the date has now been changed because it also happens to be Kargil Victory Day and the government has no intention of sending any message to the neighbourhood.

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Government meets demand,12 lakh retired jawans get pension hike

2009-07-07T11:13:00.003+05:30

The Government has announced a substantial increase in pensions of jawans to meet a long-standing demand of the ex-servicemen community. Presenting the budget on Monday, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the enhanced pensions would benefit more than 12 lakh personnel below officers rank and would cost the exchequer Rs 2,100 crore annually.

While pensions for jawans have been increased, a similar raise for retired officers has not been announced and is expected to be resolved later. However, the non-inclusion of officers in the announcement has raised concerns amongst ex-servicemen who are waiting for a detailed explanation by the government.

The only change from the interim Budget that was announced in February is the decision to increase pensions for ex-servicemen,

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Rain gain for team india

2009-07-06T12:33:00.006+05:30

India sealed their fifth one-day series win on the trot after persistent rain ruined the fourth and final match against the West Indies at Beausejour Stadium on Sunday. The visitors bagged the series 2-1 following victories in the series opener in Jamaica and the third match on Friday. This is also India’s second series victory in the Caribbean after the Sourav Ganguly-led side won the five-match series 2-1 in 2002.

The West Indies, put in to bat by India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni after he won the toss for the fourth straight time in the series, reached 27 for one in 7.3 overs in what was reduced to a 49-overs-a-side affair. However, rain intervened again to ruin the contest.

India began well with West Indies skipper Chris Gayle falling to Ishant Sharma off the second ball of the match, edging a good length delivery to Dhoni behind the stumps.

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Top Iran cleric says British Embassy staff to go on trial

2009-07-04T11:04:00.006+05:30

Brushing aside British and European efforts to seek the release of local British Embassy staff members held in Tehran, the Iranian authorities indicated on Friday that they planned to put some of them on trial — a move that could deepen a crisis in diplomatic relations with the European Union and provoke withdrawal of ambassadors.

In London, the Foreign Office said it was urgently checking reports that the Iranian authorities planned to put two of its local employees on trial.

Nine staff members were seized after the unrest sparked by Iran’s disputed presidential elections on June 12, and as many as eight of them were subsequently reported to have been released. But the precise number still detained was not clear.

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Gift for nation, dedicated to Woolmer

2009-06-22T10:01:00.004+05:30

Pakistan cricket came alive at Lord’s on Sunday evening in all its unpredictable glory and unrefined exquisiteness. They had come into this tournament burdened by troubles at home and blighted by lack of match practice. They had started their campaign playing as though in shackles, they finished it with a chest-thumping freedom that would’ve seemed more appropriate in the frenzied, drunken stands.

The evening that began with what must be one of the most intimidating overs in Twenty20 history, ended in a flurry of fours and sixes from Shahid Afridi’s free-spirited blade. In the three-and-a-half hours in between, there were only a few moments when Pakistan flirted with the uncertainty that so typifies their cricket.

And at the end, they had trumped a Sri Lankan team that had been clinical and unbeaten through the tournament by eight wickets — a margin of victory that indicated the difference between the teams on the day.

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Team India failed unit test

2009-06-18T10:42:00.008+05:30

Their first match on this trip, the warm-up against New Zealand, India lost by nine runs, their last game of the campaign, against South Africa, they lost by 12. As a team though, they have taken more steps back in the last two weeks than those numbers suggest.

Of all the hits that MS Dhoni and his team have taken over the fortnight, this one probably hurt the most. Losing to South Africa on a turner (the track was more Kanpur than Trent Bridge), chasing an extremely chaseable 130 at that, definitely ticks the box marked embarrassing.

For the last three days, the Indian camp has been answering questions on what went wrong.

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First signs of thaw in India-Pakistan 26/11 freezeis

2009-06-17T11:16:00.004+05:30

Six months after the Mumbai terror attacks put the peace process between India and Pakistan on “pause”, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Tuesday directed their Foreign Secretaries to meet before the NAM summit in Egypt, where the two leaders are likely to meet again.

The summit of Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) countries will take place mid-July in Sharm-el-Sheikh in Egypt, and indications are the FS-level meeting is likely to be held in the last week of June or early July.

Manmohan Singh on Tuesday told President Zardari to take action to stop terrorism against India emanating from his country’s soil. Setting the tone for the meeting on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, Singh, shaking hands with Zardari, bluntly told him in front of television cameras that “my mandate is to tell you that Pakistan territory should not be used for terrorism against India.”

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Couldn't connect, we lost our players during Indian Premier League: Coach

2009-06-16T10:54:00.005+05:30

The Indian team arrived in London two weeks ago, punch drunk on success and the confidence that comes with it. Riding on 39 days of manic Indian Premier League action, they were the men in form, the side that had figured this format out. So what went wrong for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team? Bad form? Bad planning? Bad luck?

Coach Gary Kirsten had one answer today: the IPL.

He was quite clear that the scheduling of the IPL, squeezed in between the New Zealand tour and the world Twenty20 championships, had a lot to do with the team’s disappointing showing. “We came into a tournament without being able to connect with the players at all. We got two days with the players,” Kirsten said this evening.

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England quicks send India out of World Twenty20 championship, win by three runs

2009-06-15T13:52:00.000+05:30

India’s World Twenty20 title defence came to an undignified end at Lord’s on Sunday night, with their batsmen crumbling to an aggressive English bowling performance. Chasing 154 to stay alive in the tournament, Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s team fell three runs short, their second straight defeat leaving them with nothing but pride to play for against South Africa on Tuesday.

I Over two weeks in England, including the warm-ups, India have beaten a ragged Pakistan, the inexperienced Ireland and a ridiculously poor Bangladesh. Against New Zealand, West Indies and England last night, they fell comfortably short. England’s victory margin did not reflect how far behind India were.

There will be time for post-mortems, but first impressions are that they should have seen it coming. The West Indian quicks had them hopping around on Friday night, and they got more of the same on Sunday.

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Ronaldo to Real for 80 million pounds

2009-06-12T11:21:00.004+05:30

Manchester United have accepted a world record bid of 80 million pounds ($131.7 million) from Real Madrid for Portuguese winger Cristiano Ronaldo, the English champions said on Thursday.

United, who fended off the Spanish club’s interest in the World and European Player of the Year 12 months ago, have given the nine-time European champions the go-ahead.

“Manchester United have received a world-record, unconditional offer of 80 million pounds for Cristiano Ronaldo from Real Madrid,” the club said. “At Cristiano’s request who has again expressed his desire to leaveand after discussion with the player’s representatives, United have agreed to give Real Madrid permission to talk to the player. “Matters are expected to be concluded by June 30.”

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Peshawar hotel bombers first fired at guards

2009-06-11T11:14:00.002+05:30

Footage captured by close circuit cameras minutes before the suicide attack on a five-star hotel in Peshawar shows terrorists storming the building’s compound after firing at the hotel guards.

The attackers, who drove up to the luxury hotel Pearl Continental’s gate in a white car and a mini truck shortly before 10.30 pm on Tuesday, opened fire after guards opened the gate and lowered a concrete barrier. The car and the truck then drove at high speed towards the parking lot of the hotel.

The CCTV footage, aired by Geo News channel, showed a flash caused by a massive explosion that followed minutes later and plumes of smoke rising into the air.

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Injured Sehwag on way home, Dhoni a little hurt

2009-06-10T10:42:00.004+05:30

The Board of Control for Cricket in India confirmed on Tuesday that Virender Sehwag would play no further part in the tournament, but the announcement came after the matter had snowballed into a full-blown controversy.

The BCCI press release said that the opener, who missed the two warm-up games as well as India’s 25-run victory over Bangladesh on Sunday, would return to India after consulting with specialists in England. Dinesh Karthik was named as his replacement.

Sehwag batted in the nets for the first time on this trip today, but his outing lasted just 12 deliveries, before he walked back into the changing rooms at the Lady’s Bay ground.

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From Versace couture to Byculla jail, a long and lonely road

2009-06-09T10:26:00.005+05:30

A favourite story about Sheetal Mafatlal is how she would hate being called a page-three perennial. “I belong on page-one dahling,” she said at one of her many parties. This was, of course, before news of her husband’s family dispute made national headlines four years ago. And before Monday morning, when Mumbai woke up to front-page reports of her being detained at the airport for alleged duty evasion — she was arrested today for allegedly not declaring jewellery worth over Rs 50 lakh.

Later in the day, a city court remanded her to judicial custody until June 12, a ruling some legal experts felt was harsh — her lawyer Satish Maneshinde said “some disgruntled opponents of the Mafatlal family and industry” had tipped-off police and other authorities. This is not how Sheetal would have liked to make news. But none of her friends, many of Mumbai’s beautiful society ladies, said a word in her defence. Or spared a thought wondering if she was being made a victim as her lawyer alleged.

Not too long ago, these friends had enjoyed the expensive champagne and mutton raan her art-filled home on Altamount Road was known for, and had Sheetal light up their parties, swilling from crystal tulips, dressed in the latest couture, and only couture made from European designers’ ateliers.

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Ojha adds to India’s aura

2009-06-08T09:54:00.004+05:30

Sunday morning, sleepy Nottingham woke up to a steady drizzle. Dull, grey, windy and damp, the weather prompted faces to slip easily into fierce scowls, a complete contrast to the mood in the Indian camp.

India had beaten Bangladesh by 25 runs on Saturday night, a result as comprehensive as they come in this miniature format of the game, all but ensuring smooth passage to the Super Eights stage of the second edition of the World T20 championships.

In Robin Hood’s land, Bangladesh had threatened, briefly, to steal from the rich. Tamim Iqbal and Junaid Siddique had started off their pursuit of 180 in real earnest but then, in one over, Pragyan Ojha killed off their challenge.

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One FIR, Government blacklists 7 firms, hits artillery upgrade

2009-06-06T11:02:00.005+05:30

Having already taken a knocking with the controversies involving Bofors and Denel, India’s artillery modernisation programme hit another roadblock when the Ministry of Defence, taking note of bribery allegations in a fresh case, blacklisted seven firms, including gun manufacturer Singapore Technologies (ST) and munitions giant Israeli Military Industries (IMI) until further notice.

With all dealings with the two firms put on hold, defence contracts worth over Rs 6,000 crore — all involving artillery guns and ammunition for the Army — are now in deep freeze.

Confirming a report in The Indian Express, the Ministry of Defence said “all acquisition cases in the pipeline” with seven firms have been “put on hold” after their names figured in a CBI probe into corruption charges against former Director General of Ordnance Factory Board Sudipta Ghosh.

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Scientist dies in Antarctica, kin agree to last rites in icy station

2009-06-05T10:17:00.007+05:30

Ranshu Wali’s only hope and prayer is that her Papa gets a decent cremation. Because in icy Antarctica where her father, Assistant Meteorological Officer (Research) Kuldeep Wali who was part of the 28th Indian mission to study climate changes, died three days ago, even the last rites are not easy to perform — the wind has been blowing at over 100 miles per hour.

The family in Delhi has been told that Wali, 57, suffered a massive heart attack and despite efforts, both by Indian doctors and those from a Russian research facility eight kilometres away, could not be saved.

“My father went there (he left on November 17 2008) despite the fact that he could have easily excused himself citing his age.

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How times have changed

2009-06-04T10:19:00.004+05:30

“The BCCI members had resolved in a working committee meeting recently that they were not happy with the Twenty20 version and will not play it.” This was Board of Control for Cricket in India president Sharad Pawar’s stance three years ago, when the Indian team’s participation in the inaugural edition of the World Twenty20 championship itself was in doubt.

Back then, the bigwigs in the board considered the format a bit of a joke. England might have needed T20 to “bring crowds back to the grounds” but India did not, was the general theme (and anyway, they whispered, the fast-paced nature of the game, with just a 10-minute break, didn’t lend itself to advertising revenue).

As Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his team prepare to start their title defence, it’s hard not to chuckle at how, and how much, the board’s posturing on the game’s shortest format has changed.

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