67 killed in Assam blasts

At least 67 people were killed and over 320 wounded in nine serial bomb blasts that rocked districts of Western Assam and Guwahati, a little before noon Thursday.

Intelligence agencies suspected the involvement of the outlawed United Liberation Front of Asom and some local outfits which used timer devices to trigger the blasts. The security agencies did not rule out the possibility of the involvement of Bangladesh-based fundamentalist groups like HuJI.

An alert has been sounded across the state following the blasts that occurred simultaneously at 11.30 am, triggering fire in many areas and leaving a trail of death and destruction.

Ulfa denied involvement in the blasts and the IGP (special branch), Mr Khagen Sharma, said the needle of suspicion pointed towards jihadi elements, including Bangladesh based HuJI. The IGP (law and order), Mr Bhaskar Jyoti Mohanta, said there were nine bomb blasts across the state.

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Chiranjeevi order to spy goes on YouTube

A secretly recorded video of megastar Chiranjeevi giving directions to his party district coordinators to spy on leaders who have come in from other parties has embarrassed the Praja Rajyam to no end.

The video, which has been posted in popular website YouTube, was recorded with a spy camera by a leader who took part in the core committee meeting. It was also circulated to a section of the press.

In the video, Chiranjeevi can be seen saying that many whom he considered close aides were passing on information to rivals.

“These days we can’t believe anybody however big they may be,” he says in the video grab. “After all we are all human beings and have so many desires. So I want you to spy on the movements of politicians in our party.” The Praja Rajyam is redfaced that a meeting which was held to chalk out plans to snoop on leaders was itself spied upon.

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Diwali dhamaka, ready-made

Time was when mothers used to spend hours in the kitchen to prepare sweets and dishes for Diwali.

As children played with firecrackers, womenfolk would bring mouth-watering laddus and gulab jamuns for refreshment. But times they are a-changing’, as the singer crooned, and the era of home made sweets has all but disappeared. Instead, people celebrate Diwali with expensive gift hampers of mithais, dry fruits, jams, sherbets, cookies, exotic chocolates and Turkish coffee. Most women go to work these days and rarely get time to prepare sweets at home. Also, sweet shops offer a wider variety of stuff. No wonder sales in sweet shops increase by 50 times during Diwali season.

“With both partners working, we have to depend on packaged sweets,” says Ms M. Gayatri, software engineer in Sum Total Systems in Hyderabad. “We simply don’t get time to cook.” Even those women who prepare sweets at home opt for easy-to-make items such as laddoos. “Making sweets is time consuming and tedious,” says Ms Padma, a housewife. “If we opt for readymade sweets in sweet shops, we will have lot of variety.” And most people still let themselves go during Diwali and eat all kinds of sweets. In the end, they suffer from tummy ache.

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Crash cost 10 rich Indians $440 billion

The focus is always on who is richest among the Ambani brothers and Lakshmi Mittal; but Mukesh and Anil are ahead of the India born steel tycoon in terms of losses suffered due to the global stock meltdown.

In terms of loss in percentage terms, Mr Ramesh Chandra of Unitech and Mr K.P. Singh of DLF are among the top losers, an analysis of group market capitalisation and shareholding value of the 10 richest Indians reveals.

Since the market peaked in January, the groups led by the 10 richest Indians have lost over $400 billion (Rs 20,00,000 crores), with promoters accounting for more than half of this.

A list of the world’s richest billionaires published by American business magazine Forbes in March had Mr Mittal ranked as the richest Indian, followed by Mr Mukesh Ambani, Mr Anil Ambani, Mr K.P.Singh, Mr Shashi and Mr Ravi Ruia, Mr Azim Premji, Mr Sunil Mittal, Mr Kumar Mangalam Birla, Mr Ramesh Chandra and Mr Gautam Adani in the top 10.

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India is top priority, says Obama

A stronger relationship with India and a close strategic partnership will be a “top priority” of the Barack Obama administration, says the Democratic presidential candidate.

“The US should be working with India on a range of critical issues, from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia,” Mr Obama said in an exclusive interview with IANS.

“Mr Joe Biden and I will make building a stronger relationship, including a close strategic partnership, with India a top priority.”

On his agenda for working with New Delhi, he said: “I also believe India is a natural strategic partner for America in the 21st century and that the US should be working with India on a range of critical issues from preventing terrorism to promoting peace and stability in Asia.”

Mr Obama elaborated on a wide range of issues, from comprehensive immigration reforms and making globalisation and trade work for American workers, to seeking the active participation of the Indian American community in the process of change that he has advocated.

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Buy copters, chase naxals

The Centre has ordered state governments not to hold any peace talks with Maoists until they give up violence and lay down arms.

The Centre, which was insisting on a holistic approach towards the Naxal problem, now prefers police action to peace dialogue with Maoists.

The Union ministry of home affairs has sent a strong message to the states to improve the police response and pursue sustained action against Naxals indulging in violence.

In the status paper on the internal security situation by the ministry of home affairs, the Centre asked the naxal-hit states to buy helicopters for the police for improve surveillance.

The Congress government in the state had gone for talks with the Maoists. The talks failed.

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Moonrise at dawn

Weather permit ting, India’s ChandrayaanI spacecraft will shoot to the Moon in a PSLV-II rocket from Sriharikota space base as the country wakes to a new dawn on Wednesday.

The muhurat has been fixed at 6.22 am (between 5.50 am and 6.50 am) and the countdown is proceeding without any hiccups as of now. Only a major cyclonic storm can come between India and the Moon, so to say. With rains buffeting Sriharikota and a low pressure stalking the bay, Isro scientists are taking no chances.

“We do have a launch commitment criteria and the lift-off will be cleared only if the parameters are in synchronisation with the LCC,” said Dr G.V. Rama, deputy general manager of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre.The rocket itself is drenched in rain but Isro spokesmen said that will not be a problem at all. The Isro chairman, Mr G. Madhavan Nair, was exuding confidence and said the rains would not delay the launch. To make sure that the winds stay calm, he also offered special prayers to Goddess Changala Parameswari at a historic temple at Sullurpeta, located close to the spaceport.

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Mission set for take off on time

Countdown for the launch of the PSLV rocket carrying Chandra-yaan, India’s first moon mission, started two hours behind schedule on Monday due to bad weather. The delay will not affect the launch scheduled for Wednesday at 6.20 am. The count was supposed to commence at 2.22 am on Monday but started at 5.22 am. The ISRO chairman, Mr Madhavan Nair, personally supervised the correction of a snag in the heat shield of the fourth stage of the PSLV-C11 rocket on Sunday night.

According to officials, the rocket as well as the satellite is synchronised and they are under the control of the computers. Filling of the liquid propellant is in progress. Though it is raining intermittently since four days in PSR Nellore district, officials say that it will not come in the way of the launch. At the time of going to press, liquid fuel was being filled into two of the rocket’s four engines using a ‘remote fill and dry system’.

While the PSLV rocket can weather through a slight drizzle, Isro’s launch authorisation committee might have to go into a huddle in case of a heavy downpour. The spokesperson said they could only hope that the rains wouldn’t play spoilsport to this historic event. If India’s moon mission launch does happen on Wednesday, be also sure not to miss Isro’s live webcast of the launch. Log on to www.isro.org at 5.50 am on Wednesday.

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Farmhouses by lakes allowed

Farm houses may appear upstream of Himayatsagar and Osmansagar lakes once the government replaces the controversial GO 111 with a subtly altered ordinance.

The GO 111 stringently restricts construction within 10 km radius of the two lakes to protect the prime drinking water sources of Hyderabad.

However, the government is planning to make changes in the GO while replacing it with an ordinance.

“Existing orders talk of residential activity, that too in a restricted manner,” said a senior official of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority. “Now farmhouses will be allowed upstream.”

The government is under pressure to make changes in the GO, particularly with regard to constructions downstream, as its provisions have affected several major projects including the Tellapur Township.

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Andhra Pradesh gets Rs 1 trillion domestic investment

Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal have emerged as the country’s top two investment destinations for domestic private sector firms. The southern state is the only one to have attracted capital expansion (capex) plan commitments in excess of Rs 1 trillion in the first half of 2008.

Andhra Pradesh which attracted Rs 1,08,559 crore investment is followed by West Bengal with over Rs 93,000 crore during the same period, according to a survey by industry chamber Assocham.

The figures are for the period before the Tatas pulled out their ambitious Rs 1,500-crore Nano car project from the state.

In its study titled ’Regional Investment Announcements’, Assocham said the eastern region came on the top for attracting private sector investment announcements, followed by southern and western regions.

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Latest release: Rs 65,000 crore

In two coordinated actions, the Centre and the Reserve Bank of India released Rs 65,000 crore on Wednesday and eased norms to allow more cash into the markets.

In one sweep, the RBI chopped the cash reserve ratio (CRR) by one per cent to pump in Rs 40,000 crores into the banking system. CRR is the percentage of deposits which banks have to park with the RBI.

This is the third time in nine days that the RBI is cutting the CRR. In effect, it has released a total of Rs 1,00,000 crores.

The RBI allowed banks to borrow 0.5 per cent of their total deposits for meeting liquidity requirements of mutual funds. This is a “purely a temporary measure”, the RBI said.

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Television host attacked with acid

Kareem, a private television channel newscaster, was severely injured when he was attacked with acid allegedly by his brother-in-law and father-in-law on Tuesday.

Kareem was rushed to Apollo Hospital at Jubilee Hills where he is undergoing treatment in the intensive care unit.

Doctors said that Kareem suffered 30 per cent burns and his vision was affected by the acid attack.

Based on a complaint by Kareem’s wife, Sireesha, the Banjara Hills police arrested her father Sambasiva Rao and brother Sharath. They were subsequently arrested.

The incident occurred at Krishna Nagar under Banjara Hills police station.

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Kingfisher, Jet tie up

In a path-breaking move two giant rival airlines, Kingfisher and Jet, came together on Monday to share seats, ground-handling facilities and cross-selling of flights to meet the challenges of a market ridden with high fuel prices and overcapacity.

Talking to reporters after a two-session meeting, the Kingfisher Airlines chairman, Dr Vijay Mallya, said, “We are one and have a common appreciation and commitment. It is a path-breaking alliance.”

The Jet chairman, Mr Naresh Goyal, said, “It is not a cartel.” This sharing happens at the international level, but such an alliance is a first for Indian aviation.”

Dr Mallya said the issue of equity and other details would be announced in Hyderabad in a few days in the presence of the civil aviation minister, Mr Praful Patel. Dr Mallya said the two airlines would also use each others’ crews on similar aircraft.

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6 burnt alive in Adilabad

Six members of a family including three children were burnt alive at Patoli village in Adilabad district on Sunday when unidentified persons set their house on fire.

The incident comes on the heels of violence that claimed three lives in Bhainsa on October 10.

Police said fire in the house occurred at about 3 am and took nearly seven hours to put out. The head of the family, his wife and daughter besides three grandchildren were charred to death.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, said the government will ask for the incident to be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The government will also order a judicial probe into the violence at Bhainsa town.

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Renigunta airport cleared

The Centre’s decision to develop Renigunta airport at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore will boost religious tourism and develop Rayalaseema region.

Thousands of devotees from the United States, Britain and other parts of the world visit Tirupati every year for the darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

At present, they are put to hardship because of the lack of connectivity and have to catch connecting flights from Chennai, Mumbai or Hyderabad to reach Tirupati. The frequency of flights will increase once the airport is modernised and the runway is extended to 11,000 feet from 7,500 feet. The airport will also be expanded to accommodate at least 700 passengers at once. Night landing facility is already present.

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IAS men to be shunted

A major reshuffle in the bureaucracy is on the cards with many senior IAS officers moving out on Central deputation.

Senior officers including Mr T. Chatterji and Ms Rachel Chatterji are moving to New Delhi and Mr C.B.S. Venkata Ramana is going to Mumbai as joint director general of shipping.

Another senior officer, Mr Hari Sankar Brahma, who is presently in the home ministry, is coming back to the state.

APTransco chairman and managing director, Mr Ajay Kallam, has been selected for the coveted post of Vizag Port chairman. He had replaced Ms Rachel Chatterji as APTransco chief only four months ago.

The senior IAS officer, Mr Mruthyunjaya Sahoo, may become the APTransco chief managing director in his place.

He worked in the Union ministry of power and was actively involved in the implementation of power reforms.

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Press button to call cops

Press a buzzer and the police, supported by a range of hitech gizmos, will rush to help you in an emergency.

This is not a scene from a Hollywood flick but a service that the Hyderabad police will be offering soon for a fee. The service, called Omnipolis, will be a first in the country.

“We are going to introduce a voice interactive system for the control room services,” said the joint commissioner (administration), Mr Harish Kumar Gupta. “People who want to utilise specialised services of Omnipolis will have to pay.”

The control room will have digital maps the city with location indicators. People who subscribe to Omnipolis will be provided a gadget which they can activate in an emergency and alert the control room.

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Assam violence worse than Orissa: Mahanta

Former Assam chief minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta here on Sunday sought the intervention of the Central government in containing the situation which he described “worst than Orissa”.

After visiting the violence hit district on Sunday, Mr Mahanta said, “Despite the government clamping cur few and issuing shoot-onsight orders, violence is continuing and there are complaints that there is no security forces present in several vulnerable areas.”

Referring to the involvement of militants group as claimed by chief minister Tarun Gogoi, he said: “It is simply a refrain. There have been several ethnic clashes in the past also but all the time Gogoi has failed to protect the people.”

He dared Mr Gogoi to publish a white paper on all the ethnic clashes that took place since 2001.

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University Grants Commission suggests 70% pay hike

A University Grants Commission appointed pay review committee has suggested salary hikes ranging between 70 per cent and 85 per cent.

The expert panel submitted its report to UGC chairman Prof S.K. Thorat on Friday.

The report will be considered by the commission on October 8 and 9, said Prof. Thorat. Thereafter, it will be submitted to the Union HRD ministry for its consideration and sent to the Cabinet for approval. The panel has suggested that the Centre give 100 per cent assistance to states for the first five years.

The panel recommended that lecturers be called assistant professors and fixed in a pay band of Rs 15,600-39,100 and grade pay of Rs 6,600. Assistant professors (senior scale) come next will the same pay band and grade pay of Rs 7,200, followed by assistant professors (selection grade) and associate professors with the same pay band and grade pay of Rs 8,000.

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No cases on Day 1 of ban

The much-publicised ban on public smoking literally went up in smoke on day one, thanks to the indifferent attitude of the government machinery.

There was no coordination among health officials, the police and the civic body on how to enforce the ban. Not a single case relating to smoking in public was reported on Thursday, mostly because officials were in a holiday mood.

This does not meant that smokers did not light up in parks, hotels, bus stands and railway stations. They did, and blatantly so, but there was nobody to haul them up.

The medical and health department, which is the coordinating agency, is yet to print and circulate the challan books among officials so that they can collect Rs 200 as penalty from each violator.

Health officials said they would prefer to create awareness among the public for a month before penalising violators.

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India becomes nuclear market

India and France on Tuesday sealed a landmark agreement on civil nuclear cooperation that covers supply of reactors and atomic fuel. The step brings India back into the nuclear mainstream after 34 years of isolation.

The agreement will form the basis of wide-ranging bilateral cooperation from basic and applied research to full civil nuclear cooperation, including reactors, nuclear fuel supply, nuclear safety, radiation and environment protection and nuclear fuel cycle management. The agreement was initialed following bilateral talks between the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and the French President, Mr Nicolas Sarkozy. The pact comes nearly three weeks after India won a crucial NSG waiver.

Squaring his shoulders, Dr Singh said: “We have added a new dimension to our strategic partnership by signing an inter-governmental agreement on civil nuclear cooperation.” France is the first country to sign a nuclear agreement after the NSG waiver. “I conveyed to President Sarkozy our gratitude for France’s consistent support to our civil nuclear initiative,” Dr Singh said.

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