PM's I-Day speech insult to inflation-hit people: CPI(M)

New Delhi (PTI): Livid at the UPA government for seeking solace in higher inflation figures in other countries, its former ally CPI(M) on Saturday said such comments were tantamount to adding insult to injury of people, already suffering the steepest price rise in 13 years।

In a statement here, the party's politburo charged the government with "utter failure" to provide any relief to the people। "The Prime Minister's comments on price rise and inflation in his Independence Day address adds salt to the wounds."

"The government can ill afford to seek solace in relatively higher inflation figures of some other developing countries," the party said, reiterating its demands for banning futures trading in essential commodities, restoring food quotas for states and cutting duties on petrol and diesel to bring down fuel prices।

Even though the wholesale price index did not reflect the actual burden on consumers, it was a matter of "grave concern" that the rate had hit a high of 12।44 per cent as of August 2, the highest in 13 years.

The party said the retail price of wheat has gone up by over 60 per cent, that of rice by about 50 per cent and edible oil by over 40 per cent, compared with the 2004 prices। The higher procurement of wheat has had "no impact" on its prices in the open market, it observed.

"Instead of adopting such measures to provide relief to the common people, the UPA government seems hell bent on pushing through the same neo-liberal policies which are responsible for the inflationary crisis being witnessed today," the CPI(M) said.

Akhil, Jitender to get Rs 25 lakh reward

Chandigarh, 16 2008 : They are yet to win a medal but boxers Akhil Kumar and Jitender have earned a cash reward Rs 25 lakh from the state government here for reaching the quarterfinals of their respective weight categories at the Beijing Olympics।

Lavishing praise on Akhil, Jitender Vijender for reaching fine performance, Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said the medal-winning boxers among the three would be made Deputy Superintendent of Police।

Jitender and Akhail have advanced to the quarter finals of 51kg and 54kg category resepctively and are just one win away from a medal।

The Chief Minister congratulated both these boxers and urged all the participating players hailing from Haryana to concentrate on their performance and give their best to clinch medals।

He said the State Government would appreciate their efforts and suitably reward their achievements।

The Haryana Government has already announced to give Rs two crore as a reward for state athletes who would win gold medals at Olympics।

The silver medallists would get Rs one crore and bronze winners would be given Rs 50 lakh.

Shiv Sena organises Raksha Bandhan between Hindus, Muslims in Thane

THANE AGUST 16, 2008 : Thane, Raksha Bandhan this year get a secular flavour with Shivsainiks taking the initiative for it। Muslim women from the Mahagiri area of Thane will be tying rakhis to Hindu residents from the area and vice versa.

Shiv Mudra Prabodhini, a Thane-based organisation has organised Hindu Muslim Rakshabandhan Sohala on Saturday। Almost 100 citizens from the Hindu and Muslim communities are expected to gather at the Anjuman Khairul Urdu Medium High School, in Mahagiri where the programme has been organised.

Sameer Chavan, the organiser, who is also a Shiv Sena volunteer, said, “While the country is facing terrorist attacks and communal clashes, we think efforts to bond these two communities are required. Raksha Bandhan has given us the opportunity to form relationships with other communities. In future, we will have similar events in Bhiwandi and Malegaon, too.” Arun Dhere, Thane Police commissioner and Shiv Sena MLA Eknath Shinde will also be part of the programme.

Ahmedabad serial blasts case cracked?

NEW DELHI AGUST 16, 2008 : Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Saturday claimed that they have cracked the Ahmedabad serial blasts case।

According to Times Now sources, eight people have been arrested in connection with the same।

The men, who have been identified as SIMI activists, were arrested at in Azamgharh in Uttar Pradesh and Abdul Wasir is allegedly the mastermind of the sixteen blasts that rocked the city। The activists are reportedly from Kerela, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.

Sources added that these activists had meetings in Vadodara, Mumbai and Ahmedabad before the blasts। It also added that meetings in Ahmedabad was held at activist Yunus's residence.

The explosives, which was used in the serial blasts, were procured outside the state and were reportedly assembled at Ahmedabad।

Earlier, the investigators tracked the IP address of the terror e-mail to Navi Mumbai, an e-mail sent across to television channels prior to the blasts. Following which, the agencies have been active making various arrests and releasing sketches of different suspects, involved with the terror strike.

Missing Sachin can be crucial: Dhoni

Colombo, August 13 2008 : Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni today expressed concerns over Sachin Tendulkar's absence in the upcoming five-match ODI series and said it might have some negative impact Talking to mediapersons after he arrived here this evening, Dhoni said, ''Sachin's presence in the dressing room and in the field virtually makes a big difference, in terms of his talents and timely advice। Losing him at this point of time can be crucial.'' Tendulkar, who did not perform up to his potentials and expectations during the recently concluded three-Test series against Sri Lanka, suffered an elbow injury in the third and final Test and was subsequently ruled out for the One-day series against Sri Lanka.

The master blaster, though named for the ODI series, has flown back to India and replaced by Tamil Nadu batsman S Badrinath। Dhoni and few of his young teammates, including Irfan Pathan arrived in Colombo nearly four hours late due to flight delay. The Indian captain said physically he was ''fully fit'' to play the series against Sri Lanka and added that he has got a good blend of young, energetic and experience players for the series. Commenting on Sri Lanka's new spin sensation, Ajantha Mendis, who picked up 26 wickets in the Test series against Sri Lanka to become the Man-of-the-series, Dhoni said the team was having a good look at his bowling using video clips and is making preparations to take him on.

''He is certainly a different spin bowler। You have to frame your mind more than the body to face him and we have got the frame of mind,'' Dhoni said. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka's jubilant captain Mahela Jayawardena said his team was very cautious about ''not to be complacent'' after the Test victory over India. ''This is a different version of the game altogether and we should get our game plan right as much as we did for the Test series,'' Jayawardene said.

Hailing the match-winning performance of his Test debutant, Ajantha Mendis, Jayawardene said his emergence as the match winning bowler along with Muralitharan had given him much options to work around with the players। ''We always focus on performing as a team and Ajantha is a member of that team. He will be workin according to the game plan and the task assigned to him,'' Jayawardene asserted.

Opening batsman Malinda Warnapura, who has shown his talent with the bat during the Test series, has been drafted in the 15-member Sri Lankan squad that will take on India in a five match ODI series beginning next week in Dambulla।

Warnapura is the third opener in the side backing up veteran Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Udawatta.

West Bengal, August 13 2008 The police would take stern action if any political party stages a demonstration at Singur's Tata Motors factory site and poses an obstruction to the ongoing work there, said Ashok Mohon Chakraborty, West Bengal home secretary, Wednesday।

'No political party can arrange agitation programme obstructing the main gate of Tata Motors project in Singur। If there's any such incident, the police will take strong action against them,' Chakraborty said after attending a meeting in West Bengal's Singur, about 40 km from here.

He said the security at the Singur factory site would also be stepped up to tackle untoward incidents during political agitation।

A high-level meeting, chaired by Chakraborty, was held in Singur Wednesday to discuss the law and order situation there। A.B. Vora, state's director general of police, and other senior government officials also attended the meeting.

Renewed agitation by the state's principal opposition force the Trinamool Congress has threatened to delay the rollout of the world's cheapest car, Nano, from Singur।

Asked about Aug 24 agitation announced by the Trinamool Congress, Chakraborty said: 'We have discussed that issue in the meeting but will take the final decision later।'

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee earlier threatened to lay siege to the Tata Motors factory in Singur for an indefinite period from Aug 24 to force the West Bengal government to return 400 acres of land 'forcibly' acquired from farmers।

Unveiled in January at an auto exposition in New Delhi, the four-seater Nano promises a dealer price of Rs।100,000 ($2,500), about half the cost of the cheapest car in today's market Maruti 800, a 25-year-old model from Maruti Suzuki.

However, the washout of the ruling communists in the recent local body elections in Singur over the issue of land seizure triggered a volley of fresh protests by those who lost their land, led by the Trinamool Congress.

'Panel for redevelopment of Dharavi slum'

MUMBAI Agust 13, 2008 : A coordination committee comprising locals in Dharavi would be set up for carrying out redevelopment of Asia's largest slum, Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh told Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray।

The Sena leader met Deshmukh at Mantralaya, along with a delegation comprising Dharavi residents to highlight the 'lacuane' in the State Government's redevelopment plans for the slum।

"The Chief Minister also informed Thackeray that the Government would consider the demand for alloting 400 sq feet houses to Dharavi residents instead of the 225 sq feet houses announced earlier", Sena spokesperson Neelam Gorhe said।

The delegation, comprising former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi and Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Ramdas Kadam, also apprised Deshmukh about problems faced by potters and fishermen, Gorhe said।

Kadam lodged a strong protest against the Deshmukh Government's decision to appoint Mukesh Patel as consultant for the Dharavi redevelopment project.