Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Daily Latest News

Daily Latest News

People of Kolkata doubt utility of strikes

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:12 PM PDT

Kolkata, April 27 (IANS) People in Kolkata stood divided on the utility of strikes as a form of protest Tuesday, the day such an agitation by the ruling Left parties against price rise paralysed the state.

Kurush Grant, chairman of Confederation of Indian Industry Eastern Region, said such agitations lead to significant losses not only for the organised industry, but also for thousands of micro-entrepreneurs.

‘Bandhs are avoidable, specially when there is a strong effort to attract investments into the region. They lead to significant losses, not only for organised industry, but also for thousands of micro entrepreneurs. All stakeholders should align together to ensure higher growth and prosperity for this region,’ Grant said.

Samir Biswas, who owns a small grocery shop at Bhowanipore in South Kolkata, said he was also hit by the escalating prices, but was not sure whether strikes were a solution.

‘Tomorrow, how will I fork out the money to purchase goods from the wholesaler? We are small businessmen. We buy our goods daily with the money we earned the day before. But today I could not open my shop till the evening. Nobody seems to care for us.’

Sandip Mandol, an employee in a private bank, felt strikes lead the society nowhere.

‘I really don’t know when this strike politics will end in this country. We have seen enough strikes since our childhood and we all know this leads nowhere. We are criticised abroad for strikes,’ Mandol told IANS.

Rabi Guha, a retired person, said strikes and shutdowns have lost their relevance as people take these as extra holidays.

‘Does this strike help anyone? Half of the people are even not aware of the reason for the strike. They just take it as another holiday. We should do some constructive work to support our causes rather than calling strikes,’ Guha said.

But there were again those on the other side of the spectrum who felt such modes of protest were the last resort for the working classes to force the authorities to adopt pro-poor measures.

‘By enforcing the strike, we can send a strong message to the authorities. When life comes to a stop, then only they understand how agitated people are,’ said Sumit Majumdar, a vegetable seller.

Shankar Ghosh, a tea stall owner, echoed him. ‘Yes, we have suffered losses in our business today. But this is a short-time loss for long-time gains. This will force the government to change the direction of its policies.’

‘ The government seems to be serving the interests of the rich only. They better listen to the voice of the people now after today’s protests.’

Kolkata, April 27 (IANS) People in Kolkata stood divided on the utility of strikes as a form of protest Tuesday, the day such an agitation by the ruling Left parties against price rise paralysed the state.

Enter your email address:

10 militants killed in Pakistan

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:12 PM PDT

Islamabad, April 27 (IANS) At least 10 militants were killed Tuesday in clashes with security forces in Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions in northwest Pakistan, officials said.

Five militants were killed when security forces attacked militant hideouts in Bezot area of Orakzai, Xinhua reported, citing officials.

In Mashti and Ferozkhel areas of Orakzai, five militants were arrested and four others injured in clashes with the Pakistani forces.

Five more militants were killed and 18 others arrested, including two commanders of Lashkar-e-Islam group, in Khyber tribal region, said officials of the Frontier Constabulary, a paramilitary force.

A key Taliban commander Saleem Shah was arrested in Kurram tribal area bordering Afghanistan. Shah is reportedly a close aide of Hakimullah Mehsud, chief of Pakistani Taliban.

~ Rest Continues Below ~

Meanwhile, troops backed by helicopter gunships, continued to target militant hideouts in the region.

Islamabad, April 27 (IANS) At least 10 militants were killed Tuesday in clashes with security forces in Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions in northwest Pakistan, officials said.

10 militants killed in Pakistan

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:10 PM PDT

Islamabad, April 27 (IANS) At least 10 militants were killed Tuesday in clashes with security forces in Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions in northwest Pakistan, officials said.

Five militants were killed when security forces attacked militant hideouts in Bezot area of Orakzai, Xinhua reported, citing officials.

In Mashti and Ferozkhel areas of Orakzai, five militants were arrested and four others injured in clashes with the Pakistani forces.

Five more militants were killed and 18 others arrested, including two commanders of Lashkar-e-Islam group, in Khyber tribal region, said officials of the Frontier Constabulary, a paramilitary force.

A key Taliban commander Saleem Shah was arrested in Kurram tribal area bordering Afghanistan. Shah is reportedly a close aide of Hakimullah Mehsud, chief of Pakistani Taliban.

Meanwhile, troops backed by helicopter gunships, continued to target militant hideouts in the region.

Islamabad, April 27 (IANS) At least 10 militants were killed Tuesday in clashes with security forces in Orakzai and Khyber tribal regions in northwest Pakistan, officials said.

China seeks close military ties with Cuba

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:10 PM PDT

Beijing, April 27 (IANS) Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Tuesday called for close military ties with Cuba during talks with a senior Cuban military official here.

‘To further develop China-Cuba friendly cooperation not only complies with the fundamental interests of the two countries, but also is of great significance for maintaining world peace and stability and boosting common development,’ said Xi.

Xi made the remarks during his meeting with Alvaro Lopez Miera, vice minister and chief of the General Staff of Cuba’s Revolutionary Armed Forces, Xinhua reported.

Lopez expressed his admiration for China’s rapid economic and social development in recent years, hoping military ties would further boost cooperation between the two countries.

Lopez, who arrived here April 24, will conclude his goodwill visit April 29. Earlier he met Chinese Defence Minister Liang Guanglie and chief of the General Staff of People’s Liberation Army Chen Bingde.

Beijing, April 27 (IANS) Chinese Vice President Xi Jinping Tuesday called for close military ties with Cuba during talks with a senior Cuban military official here.

Brazil calls for diplomacy to resolve Iranian N-issue

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:08 PM PDT

Tehran, April 27 (IANS) Visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim Tuesday called for diplomacy to resolve the dispute over Iranian nuclear programme, Iranian state-run Press TV reported.

‘Brazil is interested in settling the (Iranian nuclear) issue in an appropriate way,’ Amorim said in a joint press conference here with his Iranian counterpart Manouchehr Mottaki.

The Brazilian minister said his country will continue diplomatic efforts to resolve the issue.

Amorim’s two-day visit is to facilitate Brazilian president’s tour to the country next month.

Tehran, April 27 (IANS) Visiting Brazilian Foreign Minister Celso Amorim Tuesday called for diplomacy to resolve the dispute over Iranian nuclear programme, Iranian state-run Press TV reported.

Unicef launches free SMS number for Nepalese youths

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:08 PM PDT

Kathmandu, April 27 (IANS) Unicef Tuesday launched a free SMS number for youths in Nepal so they could text in their views and comments on issues that concern them to the global organisation.

The number 4400 is a toll-free mobile text message service that allows users to send messages directly to the Unicef in Nepal, Xinhua reported.

The number is being launched in partnership with the popular radio show ‘Saathi Sanga Manka Kura’ (SSMK), a youth oriented radio programme run by Equal Access Nepal.

Every week, SSMK will initiate a topic of debate on air and invite opinions. Listeners can then text in their views and comments on the given topic by sending an SMS, free of cost, to the ‘Voices of Youth’ section of the Unicef Nepal website.

‘This service will provide a platform for Nepali youngsters to give their views on issues that concern them,’ said Deependra Joshi, country director of Equal Access Nepal.

‘Over time it will also provide an interesting wealth of material that can help pinpoint more accurately the primary areas of interest and concerns amongst the youth community,’ he added.

‘We realise that so many young people wish to voice their opinions and this modern facility will reach out to them all across the country initiating debate through a combination of mobile technology, the web and national radio networks,’ said Unicef Nepal representative Gillian Mellsop.

Kathmandu, April 27 (IANS) Unicef Tuesday launched a free SMS number for youths in Nepal so they could text in their views and comments on issues that concern them to the global organisation.

China, US to hold human rights talks in May

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:06 PM PDT

Beijing, April 27 (IANS) China and the US will hold human rights talks May 13-14 in Washington, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here Tuesday.

Officials of the Chinese foreign ministry and the US State Department will participate in the talks, Xinhua reported quoting Jiang as saying in a press conference.

During US President Barack Obama’s visit to China last November, both sides agreed to hold the next round of human rights dialogue in Washington by February end, however, it was delayed over US arms sales to Taiwan and Obama’s meeting with the Dalai Lama this year.

Jiang said after the Washington meeting, the two sides would also hold discussion in Beijing on long-term issues of common concern, so as to promote cooperation between the two sides.

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will attend the Beijing meeting, Jiang added.

Beijing, April 27 (IANS) China and the US will hold human rights talks May 13-14 in Washington, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said here Tuesday.

Several missing as vessels capsize in China

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:06 PM PDT

Beijing, April 27 (IANS) Twenty-nine people were rescued and several others were missing Tuesday when the vessels in which they were traveling capsized in strong winds off the coast of Shandong province in eastern China, officials said.

Wind speeds of up to 100 km per hour battered the Chinese eastern board Tuesday, Xinhua reported quoting Xu Zengfu, deputy director of the provincial Maritime Safety Bureau.

‘We have received reports that two commercial ships and six fishing boats capsized in Yantai, Weihai and Qingdao areas,’ said Xu.

Twenty-nine people were rescued by Tuesday afternoon but several others were still missing, he added. Xu said ship owners were advised not to venture out, as the strong winds were expected to continue for next two days.

Helicopters and rescue vessels were searching for the missing people.

Beijing, April 27 (IANS) Twenty-nine people were rescued and several others were missing Tuesday when the vessels in which they were traveling capsized in strong winds off the coast of Shandong province in eastern China, officials said.

Delhi unaffected by strike over price rise

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:04 PM PDT

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Life went on as usual in the national capital Tuesday, unaffected by the 12-hour nationwide strike called by 13 opposition parties to denounce the government over rising food prices.

Shops were open, offices, business establishments and educational institutions functioned normally and public transport pied as usual.

‘I attended my office like any other day. I did not find any problem commuting from one place to other,’ said Vishesh Kalia, a salesman.

One of the only signs of the protest was a peaceful demonstration held by a group of activists in central Delhi’s Daryaganj area. There were few traffic snarls too.

‘There were fewer calls for traffic jams and these were cleared immediately,’ said a traffic police officer.

The strike, however, hit normal life in many states like West Bengal, Kerala, Uttar Pradesh, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh. Air and rail services were disrupted, shops, offices and educational institutions remained shut and and sporadic violence was reported from several cities.

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Life went on as usual in the national capital Tuesday, unaffected by the 12-hour nationwide strike called by 13 opposition parties to denounce the government over rising food prices.

Terminally ill rapist granted bail in Delhi

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:04 PM PDT

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to a rape convict who has been suffering from an ‘incurable’ liver disease since last May.

Justice Siddharth Mridul ordered the Tihar jail authorities to release convict Satyam Singh on bail. He was sentenced to seven-year imprisonment by a lower court for raping a minor girl.

The court asked Singh to furnish a bond of Rs.5,000 and a surety of the same amount for his release.

Justice Mridul said: ‘The prisoner (Singh) is reported to be terminally

ill and suffering

from what is commonly termed as an incurable disease. In these circumstances, it is directed that the appellant to be released on bail.’

The bail order came in the wake of a 2007 court order in which it said undertrials who were terminally ill could be released on bail on humanitarian grounds.

A medical report was filed by the jail authorities in court said that Singh has been suffering from chronic liver disease.

In April last year, a city court sentenced Singh to seven-year imprisonment and a fine of Rs.1,000 for raping a 12-year-old girl in 2008.

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Tuesday granted bail to a rape convict who has been suffering from an ‘incurable’ liver disease since last May.

Paramilitary forces face shortage of bullet proof jackets

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:02 PM PDT

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The paramilitary forces in the country face a shortage of 87,121 bullet proof (BP) jackets, parliament was informed Tuesday.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), primarily tasked with internal security duties, faces a shortage of 40,069 BP jackets. It is followed by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which guards public sector undertakings and establishments of national importance, with shortage of 15,127 BP jackets. The elite National Security Guards (NSG) face a shortage of 1,725 BP jackets.

‘The reason for the shortfall in the BP jackets is the delayed finalisation of the current tender which was initiated in July 2009,’ Minister of State for Home Affairs Mullappally Ramachandran informed the Lok Sabha.

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The paramilitary forces in the country face a shortage of 87,121 bullet proof (BP) jackets, parliament was informed Tuesday.

Punjab seeks Rs.313.16 cr aid for upgrading schools

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:02 PM PDT

Chandigarh, April 27 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has urged Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal to release Rs.313.16 crore for upgradation of educational infrastructure in the state under various central government schemes, an official said Tuesday.

Badal met the minister at his office in New Delhi and urged him to release the aid.

‘Badal has appealed to Sibal to direct the authority concerned to immediately release second installment of Rs.24 crore and Rs.23.50 crore to the state government for the construction of 21 model schools and institutions under Rashtriya Madhyamik Siksha Abhiyan (RMSA) respectively,’ said the official spokesperson.

He added: ‘The state government had already released its due share for this purpose and is awaiting for the centre’s assistance. Besides, Badal has sought immediate sanction for a project amounting to Rs.265.66 crore-for schools which require major repairs under RMSA.’

Badal also asked Sibal to ensure expeditious construction of a central university in Bathinda district and sought his intervention for immediate approval of the site for the proposed world-class university at Amritsar.

‘Badal has demanded sanction for setting up two colleges in the backward districts of Sangrur and Amritsar. He has also requested the union minister to give his nod for the opening nine Kendriya Vidyalayas in different districts of the state,’ the official said.

Chandigarh, April 27 (IANS) Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal has urged Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal to release Rs.313.16 crore for upgradation of educational infrastructure in the state under various central government schemes, an official said Tuesday.

Lok Sabha speaker sets precedent on cut motions

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:00 PM PDT

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Tuesday set a precedent by permitting cut motions on demands that were to be guillotined.

‘The practice followed so far in the house has been that the cut motions in respect of demands for grants which are to be guillotined are not circulated and thus not allowed to be moved. But I did not find any rule which bars the moving of cut motions on demands which are not discussed in the house,’ the speaker observed before allowing the opposition cut motions.

The speaker said she had given ‘careful consideration’ to the rules as well as the practice that has been followed all these years in respect of cut motions.

‘I have also examined the constitutional provision which vests the power in the House of the People to reduce any demand submitted to the house. Constitutional right is a superior right and it overrides practices,’ she said.

‘Right to move cut motions is an important right of the members of the house provided in the constitution which cannot be curtailed,’ she said, adding: ‘I am, therefore, allowing the cut motions to be moved on demands which are to be guillotined.’

Later Tuesday night, the cut motions were voted out, and the guillotined demands carried with comfortable margin, enabling the government to sail through the test of strength.

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar Tuesday set a precedent by permitting cut motions on demands that were to be guillotined.

Truck ploughs into school, one killed, 25 injured

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 12:00 PM PDT

Lucknow, April 27 (IANS) A school student was killed and 25 others were injured Tuesday after a speeding truck ploughed into a school in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad district, police said.

Of the 25 students injured in the accident, the condition of four is critical. doctors attending on them said. All the injured are being treated in a hospital in Farrukhabad, some 300 km from Lucknow.

‘The speeding truck’s driver lost its control and the vehicle ploughed into the Shiv Nandan School in Mohmadabad area, killing a class 2 student on the spot and leaving 25 others (aged between 6-10 years) injured,’ police inspector Siraj Ahmad told reporters in Farrukhabad.

The driver is on the run now.

Lucknow, April 27 (IANS) A school student was killed and 25 others were injured Tuesday after a speeding truck ploughed into a school in Uttar Pradesh’s Farrukhabad district, police said.

46 Indian banks’ staff get pay hike

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 11:58 AM PDT

Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) Employees’ unions and the Indian Banks Association (IBA) Tuesday signed here a five-year wage agreement providing for a 17.5 percent hike in pay from 2007 to around 775,000 staffers of 46 banks whose annual wage bill will go up by Rs.5,200.

‘We are satisfied with the wage agreement that is effective from 2007. The new settlement, apart from increasing the wages for clerical staff and officers, would also provide the employees one more option to join the pension scheme,’ C.H. Venkatachalam, convenor of the United Forum for Bank Unions, told IANS from Mumbai.

The settlement covers 26 public sector banks, 12 private banks and 8 foreign banks and would benefit 477,000 workmen employees and 275,000 officers.

According to Venkatachalam, the additional cost for the government banks will be Rs.4,816 crore. For private banks, the financial load would be Rs.400 crore.

Under the agreement all the remaining 260,000 employees and officers who are now covered by contributory provident fund would be given a chance to join the pension scheme – a long pending demand of the unions.

‘More than 50,000 retirees will also get the option to join the pension scheme,’ Venkatachalam said.

The settlement will be effective from November 2007 to October 2012.

Employees’ unions and the IBA negotiated the wage settlement for nearly 30 months.

Mumbai, April 27 (IANS) Employees’ unions and the Indian Banks Association (IBA) Tuesday signed here a five-year wage agreement providing for a 17.5 percent hike in pay from 2007 to around 775,000 staffers of 46 banks whose annual wage bill will go up by Rs.5,200.

Meghalaya scraps chief minister rank dole-out

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 11:58 AM PDT

Shillong, April 27 (IANS) New Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma Tuesday said the government has decided to do away with the practice of according chief minister’s status to more than one person, as was the case during his predecessor D.D. Lapang’s rule.

‘The cabinet has decided that political appointments of chairmen to boards or corporations shall not be linked to the status of chief minister,’ Sangma told reporters after chairing his first cabinet meeting.

‘From now on, the appointment of chairman of a planning board or any other will be only chairman and not get a post equivalent to the rank and status of chief minister,’ he said.

Interestingly, former chief minister Lapang was April 23 appointed as the chief adviser of the five-party coalition government with the status and rank of a chief minister.

‘He (Lapang) will also no longer carry the status of a chief minister and will simply be chief adviser,’ Sangma said when asked if Lapang would continue to enjoy the rank and status of a chief minister.

As chief minister, Lapang had accorded three political leaders, including two former chief ministers, with the rank and status of chief minister. Early this year, Lapang even elevated Friday Lyngdoh, his advisor, to the rank of a chief minister.

Lapang quit as chief minister April 19 after he failed to meet the demands of rebel Congress legislators to drop Independent legislators and the lone Khun Hynniewtrep National Awakening Movement member from the 12-member cabinet.

The rebels had sought induction of senior Congress legislators in their place. When Lapang failed to do so, the rebels pressed for his removal.

Political instability is not new to Meghalaya – the state has already seen three governments since the March 2008 election.Mukul M. Sangma, who replaced Lapang, is Meghalaya’s 21st chief minister in 39 years and the fourth in a little over two years.

In the present 60-member legislature, the Congress has 28 legislators and enjoys the support of nine United Democratic Party (UDP) members. The NCP, the main opposition, has 15 legislators.

Shillong, April 27 (IANS) New Meghalaya Chief Minister Mukul M. Sangma Tuesday said the government has decided to do away with the practice of according chief minister’s status to more than one person, as was the case during his predecessor D.D. Lapang’s rule.

Report on exporters’ transaction costs soon

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 11:56 AM PDT

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The Indian government is looking at ways to simplify procedures and reduce transaction costs for the country’s growing exporting community and a task force will submit its report on the issue by June-end, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said here Tuesday.

‘We want our exporters to compete globally and for this it is essential to simplify procedures and reduce the transaction costs. It is not just about transportation nor financial costs, we are looking at simplifying the procedures and making things transparent for the exporting community,’ he told reporters here on the sidelines of an event organised by industry lobby, Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

‘The task force was set up in October 2009 and it is being headed by me. It looked at transaction costs incurred by exporters ex-factory to the f.o.b (freight on board) stage. The effort is to identify the areas which could be zeroed in on to simplify procedures and make the processes transparent. We expect to come out with the report by June-end,’ he added.

The costs in India are almost double that in China and Malaysia. ‘We are aware of the costs incurred by exporters vis-a-vis other nations,’ he said.

In India it takes 17 days to transport a container at a cost of $ 945, while the time taken in Brazil is four days, Denmark five days, and Mexico 14.

Scindia said a team will also visit Denmark, Singapore and Hong Kong to study their procedures. ‘For the global benchmarking study, we will also send out a team to these places in 15-20 days. It is essential to understand what is happening there in the top economies in terms of processes and procedures .’

‘We will also incorporate the recommendations of this team in the report,’ he said.

Scindia said the task force has been able to monetise transaction costs worth $12-15 billion, which is around 7-10 percent of exports valued at $160-165 billion. ‘Even if we are able to work on and reduce up to 30 percent of these costs, we will be rendering a huge benefit to the exporting community,’ he said.

The commerce ministry will work closely with ministries of finance, agriculture, shipping, and environment for execution of its strategy.

‘I will personally pursue with the ministries concerned as execution is the key to delivering benefit to the exporters.’

Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) director general Ajay Sahai said the simplified procedures and reduced costs will not only benefit the economy but will also lead to a direct economic gain of at least $5 billion to exporters.

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The Indian government is looking at ways to simplify procedures and reduce transaction costs for the country’s growing exporting community and a task force will submit its report on the issue by June-end, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jyotiraditya Scindia said here Tuesday.

Haryana varsity heads to serve till 68 years

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 11:56 AM PDT

Chandigarh, April 27 (IANS) Vice chancellors and pro-vice chancellors of all government universities in Haryana will now serve till age of 68 years as the government has raised their retirement age by three years.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the state cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda here Tuesday.

An official spokesman said after the cabinet meeting that an ordinance in this regard will be issued shortly as the Haryana assembly is not in session.

Till now, the retirement age of vice chancellors and pro-vice chancellors in the state was 65 years.

The four state universities include Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra; Maharshi Dayanand University, Rohtak; Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa; and Bhagat Phool Singh Mahila Vishwavidyalaya (Women University), Khanpur Kalan.

Other universities in the state are CCS Haryana Agricultural University, Hisar and Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, Rohtak. The technical universities include Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology, Hisar, Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, and YMCA University of Science and Technology, Faridabad.

The spokesman added that the step has been taken to enable eminent and experienced persons to continue to serve in these top posts for a longer period to make use of their administrative experience.

Chandigarh, April 27 (IANS) Vice chancellors and pro-vice chancellors of all government universities in Haryana will now serve till age of 68 years as the government has raised their retirement age by three years.

Now, khap panchayat menace surfaces in Rajasthan

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 11:54 AM PDT

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The khap panchayat menace has surfaced in Rajasthan, with many people alleging victimisation at the hands of the caste councils.

The victims of khap panchayats from Rajasthan gathered here Tuesday to share their experiences.

Sanjoy Sachdeva, president of the National Journalists Front (India), described the khap panchayat as a ‘panchayat which has no legal sanctity in India’.

Sachdeva, who along with the victims, interacted with mediapersons here said: ‘These panchayats also have their own written laws which show utter disregard for the constitution of India and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).’

Sachdeva who went on to investigate the existence of khap panchayats and their exploitative nature in Rajasthan, also released a CD containing first- hand evidence of the brutality with which these panchayats function.

‘I first went there to see if they exist or not, then from Delhi I bought a spy camera hidden in a pen to capture it.’

Veeru Singh, a Khap victim broke down as he alleged that ‘Khap has threatened to kill me and that’s the reason I cannot return home. I am a poor farmer and there is no one on my side.’

Singh had tried to file a complaint with the local police about the Khap panchayats.

‘Every khap panchayat is bad, may it be a Dalit khap or a Jat khap,’ said Laxman Parmar, whose entire family was thrown out of the community because of his younger brother’s love marriage.

According to Sachdeva, who is planning to write a letter to the president, prime minister and MPs in this regard , ‘a debate at the national level is necessary. People in Delhi do not see the reality in other parts of India.’

New Delhi, April 27 (IANS) The khap panchayat menace has surfaced in Rajasthan, with many people alleging victimisation at the hands of the caste councils.

37 die of Meningitis in Uganda

Posted: 27 Apr 2010 11:54 AM PDT

Mbale (Uganda), April 27 (IANS) At least 37 people have died since the outbreak of meningitis in Uganda’s eastern Bugiri district last month, a health official said Tuesday.

The deaths occurred in Hama Island on Lake Victoria, where Ugandan and Kenyan fishermen live, district health officer Isaac Malinga told Xinhua. Meningitis is a bacterial disease that affects the brain membrane. It can cause severe brain damage and is fatal in 50 percent of cases if untreated. The most common symptoms are stiff neck, high fever, headaches and vomiting.

Malinga said hospital staff have been put on alert and the health ministry has been urged to send a medical team.

He said due to poor health facilities in the district, many patients were forced to travel to neighbouring Kenyan province of Nyanza for treatment. According to World Health Organisation, the sub-Saharan Africa, stretching from Senegal in the west to Ethiopia in the east, has the highest rates of meningitis disease.

A total of 78,416 suspected cases of meningitis, including 4,053 deaths, have been reported in 14 African countries in the 2009.

Mbale (Uganda), April 27 (IANS) At least 37 people have died since the outbreak of meningitis in Uganda’s eastern Bugiri district last month, a health official said Tuesday.

Posted by Suresh at 3:12 PM

0 comments:

Post a Comment