CPM blames RSS, BJP for unrest in Jammu and Kashmir

Kakinada Minggu, Agust 31 2008 : The CPI(M) Polit bureau member Sitaram Yechuri today blamed the RSS, BJP and other saffron outfits for the turmoil in Jammu and Kashmir and Orissa।

Addressing a party workers meeting at the Ambedkar Bhavan here he said RSS, BJP and other Sangh Parivar outfits were trying to consolidate the "Hindu vote bank" by arousing communal hatred and disharmony among the people।

'The situation is explosive in J and K where communal clashes and extremists activities were taking place posing a grave threat to the very integrity of the nation। It is nothing but exploiting the situation for political ends'. 'We oppose this trend in the interest of the nation.' he said.

Mr Yetchury said that the CPI(M), in a bid to prevent the communal forces from spreading their wings was trying to forge alliance with secular parties to preserve the country's integrity। Pointing out that the World Bank has mentioned that 82.8 per cent of the country's population was struggling below the poverty line, he said the UPA government had miserably failed in controlling the spiralling prices and inflation.

Attributing the present skyrocketing prices to speculative business, he said, the government, despite bringing enormous pressures by left parties could not control the speculative business on more than 17 essential commodities। As a result, the entire economy was in doldrums leading to hike in intetrest rates and credit squeeze.

It has resulted in steep fall in industrial investments and thereby reduction in industrial growth by 50 per cent, Mr Yechury said, addding that only an alternative effective economic policy would set right the present maladies. Giving out the reasons for CPI(M)'s opposition to the UPA government's nuclear policy, he said, it was detrimental to the country's sovereignity as it has to bow down to the dictates of US regime. The country was at a cross road and political polarisation was taking place rapidly, he said and added that elections to the Lok Sabha seemed imminent three months ahead of the schedule poll.

Hooda to Tata: Welcome to mecca of automobile industry

Gurgaon:Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda said his government would welcome the Tatas if they expressed interest in setting up their factory for the Nano car project in the state।

As a number of states line up to woo Ratan Tata to shift his project from Singur in West Bengal, IT and automobile hub Haryana has also put up a strong claim to attract the project।

Hooda cited the presence of auto giants like Maruti Suzuki, Honda, Hero-Honda, Yamaha, etc।, in the state.

While terming the state as a Mecca of automobile industry, Hooda said his government has mega infrastructure building plans to turn the state into a corporate hub of the country।

Hooda told Hindustan Times: “Haryana is the ideal destination for automobile companies। Haryana is manufacturing more than 50 per cent passenger cars, 35 per cent tractors and 50 per cent of the motorcycles being produced in India. We also manufacture more than 25 per cent bicycles of the country. We already have India’s biggest car producer Maruti Udyog Limited in collaboration with Suzuki, the manufacturers of two wheeler Honda Motorcycles, Hero-Honda, Yamaha and Escorts tractors in Haryana.”

When asked about the probable location where the state would offer land to the Tatas, the Chief Minister said, “Haryana has a number of options which we will show them only after they express their desire for the same।”

When asked whether he had had formal or informal discussion with the Tatas on the issue, Hooda said he had not had a formal talk।

The housing division of Tata Group recently launched its first housing project, Raisina Residency, in collaboration with Raheja Group at Golf Course Road in Gurgaon।

The Chief Minister said industrial units in Gurgaon had exported goods worth Rs 20,000 crore during the year 2006-07। Out of this, exports worth Rs 14,000 crore was in IT sector, Rs 2,500 crore in automobile sector, Rs 2,000 crore in the sector of readymade garments and of Rs 1,500 crore in other sectors.

The main items being exported from Gurgaon included cars, motorcycles, software, readymade garments, sports goods and rice to UK, Algeria, Hungary, Denmark, Netherlands, Columbia, Sri Lanka, Japan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Australia, Korea, South Africa, USA, Europe, Austria and Mexico.

Flood situation in Bihar worsens as fresh areas go under water

Patna, Aug 31 (PTI) With the water of river Kosi engulfing fresh areas in Bihar's North Eastern 16 districts, the flood situation in the state worsened today affecting more than 30 lakh people।

However, there was some good news for the first time since the region was gripped by the deluge about two weeks ago with a senior official saying the flood situation would improve as the flow of water from Nepal has come down।

Over 30 lakh people in 16 districts are in the grip of floods, with 23 lakh in worst-hit Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura and Araria districts alone।

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said five army columns have been pressed into service for relief and rescue, while the state has requisitioned 25 more columns।

IAF helicopters and army columns deployed to assist the state government's flood fighting machinery continued relief and evacuation operations।

The floods caused by the breach in the eastern afflux embankment at upstream Kuaha village in Nepal on August 18 is the worst in the region।

The area was considered secure against the possibilities of floods after construction of hundreds of miles of embankments and Bheemnagar barrage more than four decades ago।

Though Disaster Management Additional Secretary Pratayaya Amrit said while over 4।75 lakh people have been evacuated, lakhs more were in dire need of being shifted to safer places.

Amrit said about two lakh people were taking shelter in 17 relief camps set up by the state governments and many more being run by non-government organisations (ngos)।

Amrit said Nepal government had agreed to help India in taming the river which causes huge damage to infrastructure in Bihar.

MNS can't hold city to ransom

Mumbai, Aug 29, 2008 The Bombay High Court on Thursday told the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) it cannot "hold the people to ransom" and warned it against using violence to enforce Marathi signboards in Mumbai।

The court, which was hearing an application filed by a trade association, restrained MNS leader Raj Thackeray and his party members from "in any manner whatsoever disturbing" traders in the city, defacing or damaging their properties and assaulting or threatening them।

A division bench comprising Justices J N Patel and K K Tated also restrained Raj personally from giving any provocative or intimidating public speech regarding the issue of putting up signboards in Marathi in commercial establishments and shops।

Viren Shah, Secretary of Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association, has filed a petition which alleges that MNS had sent letters to shopkeepers warning them to display signboards in Marathi or they would be taught “a lesson in their own way''। The MNS deadline ends on Thursday.

"There is a hidden threat in this letter," Justice Patel said, asking what action was taken against Raj and whether "this gentleman has been interrogated।"

"Nobody can hold the people to ransom," Patel said।

The court ordered the police commissioners of Mumbai and Thane to safeguard the petitioners and to protect them from violence by MNS workers।

The court asked the state government to explain what it had done to protect traders and flayed it for failing to tackle MNS activists। It asked the government to announce a compensation package to the shopkeepers, who were targeted by the MNS for not displaying boards in Marathi.

The government lawyer told the court that 811 MNS activists had been arrested since August 26 and government was committed to maintaining law and order।

Thackeray has not commented on the court’s order but indicated that the MNS campaign for Marathi signboards would continue. “Whatever happened has happened. From now on, Maharashtra is for Marathi people (and) all those who are staying here from outside should remember this. Who is Shah to go to the court on an issue of Marathi pride,” he said.

Son of policeman opens fire in Delhi

New Delhi, Aug 29, 2008 A teenaged son of a Head Constable allegedly opened fire at his neighbours, injuring four of them, following an altercation in the national capital, police said on Friday।

The incident took place on Thursday night in Meeta Nagar of north-east Delhi।

Avinash, the son of Head Constable Ramvir posted at Parliament Street police station, allegedly opened fire from a double barrel gun during the arguments with his neighbours।

He allegedly fired two-three rounds at his neighbours in which four were wounded।

The injured -- Nikhil Kumar, Vijay Pal, Ramesh and Sangeeta -- were rushed to Guru Tegh Bahadur Hospital। They were discharged this morning after treatment.

Both the families were not on good terms and constantly indulged in quarrelling, a senior police official said।

The official denied reports Avinash allegedly opened fire as he was disturbed over the extramarital affairs of his father।

The teenager was arrested and the gun was seized, he said।

A case has been registered and further investigations are on.

Two killed in Assam aluminium factory blast

Guwahati (PTI): Two persons were killed and five others seriously injured on Friday in an explosion at an aluminium utensil making factory in Assam's Tinuskia district।

Official sources said here that the explosion inside the factory, "Purbanchal Udyog" manufacturing aluminium utensils took place early this morning, damaging the entire unit।

The police said two persons died on the spot and their body parts were found strewn about 25 metre away while five others were critically injured।

Three of the critically injured were shifted to Assam Medical College and Hospital in Dibrugarh and others were admitted to Tinsukia Civil Hospital।

The entire area near the factory has been sealed off।

The cause of the explosion was yet to be ascertained but preliminary investigations suggested that it could have been caused due to some electrical snag.

Christians rally for Orissa riot victims

KOLKATA,, Aug 29, 2008 The Christians today took out a procession here demanding protection for the members of the community and churches in violence-torn areas in Orissa's Kandhamal and Bargarh districts।

Protesters, under the banner of Bangiya Christiya Pariseba, an apex body of Christians, assembled near Utkal Bhavan and demanded immediate deployment of military and para-military forces to control the situation।

They held placards reading 'CM, answer why Christians are being persecuted in Orissa'।

The group said the organisations involved in "anti-national" activities should be banned and submitted memoranda to the Resident Commissioner of Utkal Bhavan, addressed to Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, the Governor and Chairman of National Human Rights Commission।

All Church-run schools remained closed in West Bengal as part of protests against alleged attack on Christians in parts of Orissa.