Sarkozy president off balance in Brax

PARIS: Sarkozy in Brax for a meeting of local mayors,a man grabbed French President Nicolas Sarkozy collars promptly wrestled to the ground by bodyguards on Thursday, television pictures showed.The unidentified man seized Sarkozy by the jacket,the President greeting people gathered behind a barrier in the town of Brax, southwestern France, and pulled him forward, throwing the president in imbalance.

TLC Launches A New Series Oh My Gold

New Delhi, 29th June 2011: It’s raining jewellery on TLC with an all-new series that’s an irresistible fusion of gold, diamonds, pearls and gems. Celebrating the country’s eternal love for jewellery, TLC – India’s favourite lifestyle channel announced the launch of its new India-centric series, OH MY GOLD (OMG!) hosted by acclaimed international actor and model Lisa Ray.

OH MY GOLD!, TLC’s latest India commission, opens up a new programming genre and will complement its existing distinct and aspirational lifestyle programming. A visual treat, OH MY GOLD! captures everything about gold and other precious stones from buying, wearing and above all enjoying jewellery. A five-part series, OH MY GOLD! is shot in high-definition and will premiere on TLC every night at 9 P.M. starting Monday, July 11.

In this series, Lisa Ray experiences India’s love for jewellery as she travels to Jaipur, Hyderabad, Delhi, Kochi and Chennai to uncover these cities inherent jewellery styles. OH MY GOLD! will showcase the art of jewellery making whilst delving into India’s extravagant jewellery traditions that are still prevalent today and make up the country’s rich cultural fabric.

Speaking at the launch, Rahul Johri, Senior Vice President and General Manager – South Asia, Discovery Networks Asia-Pacific, said “TLC is India’s favourite lifestyle channel and has pioneered multiple programming genres, the latest being jewellery. India- commissioned content is central to TLC’s growth strategy and complements its eclectic range of global and aspirational programmes. With OH MY GOLD! TLC continues to raise the bar by innovating new themes and formats to deliver high-quality entertainment experience.”

Delighted on hosting OH MY GOLD! on TLC, Lisa Ray, said, “I am very excited to be a part of TLC as I love the channel and it totally resonates with me. It was a fabulous experience working on OH MY GOLD! I have discovered many aspects of Indian culture and people’s fascination for jewellery while doing this series. It is a surprise-packed experience. You will have to watch the series to find out more.”

Nokia India:Launch of two new smartphones Nokia E6 and Nokia X7

New Delhi, June 29, 2011: Taking forward its commitment to delivering a robust smartphone portfolio, Nokia India today announced the launch of two new smartphones – Nokia E6 and Nokia X7, aimed at business people and entertainment enthusiasts respectively. The Nokia E6 and Nokia X7 are the first Nokia smartphones to come with Symbian Anna, the latest update of the Symbian software user experience, with new, fresh icons and usability enhancements such as improved text input, a faster browser, refreshed Ovi Maps and higher security.
The chic and intuitive software was unveiled by the beautiful quartet of Gul Panag, Soha Ali Khan, Diandra Soares & Sagarika Ghatge, who represented ‘Anna’ with their grace, style & elegance.
Speaking at the launch, Viral Oza, Director Marketing, Nokia India Private Limited, said, “With the launch of two new devices on the exciting new Symbian Anna, we aim to further consolidate our leadership position in the Indian smartphone market. With the Nokia E6 and the Nokia X7, and a robust line up of exciting new smart devices and user enhancements coming in the next few quarters, we are confident of further strengthening our smartphone user base.”
Mr. Oza further added that starting this July, Nokia will start shipping Nokia N8s, E7s, C7s and C6-01s with the new Symbian Anna software update. By the end of August, existing owners of these devices can also download Symbian Anna. Over the next 12 months Nokia plans to bring up to 10 new Symbian-based smartphones to market.
Built for Business: The Nokia E6, the first ‘Touch n Type’ monoblock QWERTY
Following on from Nokia’s highly successful Nokia E71 and Nokia E72 devices, Nokia E6 is the first ‘Touch & Type’ monoblock QWERTY business smartphone. Designed using premium materials such as glass and stainless steel, Nokia E6 is a sleek smartphone that comes in a compact size that makes it easy to use with either one hand or two. The Nokia E6 offers exceptional battery life, high resolution touch display and the best out-of-the-box Microsoft messaging experience on a business smartphone, including access to Microsoft Exchange, Microsoft Communicator Mobile and Microsoft SharePoint.
The renewed software also offers a strong set of new features aimed at business users in particular, including true enterprise grade security with hardware accelerated encryption, and new e-mail features such as full meeting request support.
Available in a range of smart colours including black, silver and white, Nokia E6 is available across the country at an MRP of Rs. 18,679/-.

Made for entertainment and mobile gaming: The Nokia X7
The Nokia X7 is an entertainment-focused smartphone with a large 4” display ideal for gaming, and an 8 Megapixel camera for capturing pictures and HD-quality video. The Nokia X7 comes preloaded with the popular Galaxy on Fire HD and Asphalt 5 HD games. Nokia X7 consumers can also access a range of premium HD games through the Ovi store, free of charge. A distinctively designed device, the Nokia X7 is made from a combination of seamless stainless steel and glass – delivering a solid and durable feel in the hand. The Nokia X7 is now available across the country in attractive shades of dark steel and light steel at an MRP of Rs 22,829/-.
Consumers can also avail both the devices on an Easy EMI scheme, paying for the device in three equal monthly installments (EMI) at zero percent interest.
The Full Throttle Tournament: Bringing HD Gaming alive on the X7

Nokia also used this platform to announce the Nokia X7 Full Throttle Tournament, a unique mobile gaming contest in High Definition on the Nokia X7. To be held from July 07 to August 07 at leading Nokia retail outlets in 8 cities** across the country, the Full Throttle Tournament invites gaming fanatics to face off on Need For Speed (Shift HD), one of the most popular mobile car games today, using the Nokia X7. The 10 top gamers will win a sponsored trip and a ticket to the F1 Grand Prix in Singapore being held on September 25th this year.
The tournament will be flagged off by the Anna quartet of Soha, Gul, Diandra & Sagarika. Fans in the 8 cities will get a chance to meet these lovely ladies and race against them, to move a step closer to the Grand Prize.
*As per the applicable terms and conditions.

**Delhi+NCR, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and Chandigarh

About Nokia

Nokia is committed to connecting people to what matters to them by combining advanced mobile technology with personalized services. More than 1.3 billion people connect to one another with a Nokia, from our most affordable voice-optimized mobile phones to advanced Internet-connected smartphones sold in virtually every market in the world. Through Ovi (www.ovi.com), people also enjoy access to maps and navigation on mobile, a rapidly expanding applications store, a growing catalog of digital music, free email and more. Nokia's NAVTEQ is a leader in comprehensive digital mapping and navigation services, and Nokia Siemens Networks is one of the leading providers of telecommunications infrastructure hardware, software and professional services globally.

Pranab Mukherjee meets Clinton

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee met US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and National Security Adviser Tom Donilon to discuss bilateral and regional issues.

"The Secretary and the Minister talked about their mutual interest in strengthening and deepening economic and strategic cooperation as we prepare for the second US-India Strategic dialogue, which will take place in New Delhi in July," State Department spokesman Mike Hammer said.The two leaders discussed a broad range of subjects, including key bilateral and regional issues, he said.At the White House meeting, Donilon and Mukherjee reviewed the progress made by the two nations on the steps taken after the November visit of US President Barack Obama.

"The the two men discussed regional and global issues, economics and the progress being made on the initiatives launched during President Obama's 2010 visit to India," a US official said.According to an Indian official, Mukherjee and the US leaders, among other things, also discussed the current situation in Afghanistan in the context of the drawdown of American troops beginning July and shared notes on their analysis of the situation in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Manmohan Singh- meet group of senior Editors today

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is expected to speak on major issues when he meets a group of senior editors on Wednesday. "I am hoping that it will become the preferred format for regular interactions between the groups of editors and the Prime Minister," Media Advisor to the Prime Minister Harish Khare said on Tuesday.

Dr. Singh's interaction on Wednesday morning will be the second with the senior Editors.The Prime Minister had met the editors of TV Channels in February this year and his last interaction with the newspaper Editors was in September last.

The transcript of the interaction will be available on the Prime Minister's official website.

SC on land acquisition in Greater Noida for detailed hearing on July 5th

Supreme Court has criticised Uttar Pradesh government for acquiring prime agricultural land for building luxury flats in Greater Noida, adjoining the national capital.

A bench comprising Justices P Sathasivam and A K Patnaik today questioned the invoking of urgency clause that bars farmers from raising objections. The apex court said, it would not like a situation similar to Nandigaram in West Bengal where steps to acquire land by invoking urgency clause led to large-scale protests and violence.

The hard-hitting observations were made by the court during the hearing on petitions filed by Greater Noida Industrial Development Authority and real estate developers and builders challenging the Allahabad High Court order which had quashed the notifications for land acquisition in Greater Noida. Without issuing notice, the apex court posted the matter for detailed hearing on July 5th.

MQM & PPP Pak coalition in quandary

27 June 2011 Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc:
Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) is to quit from the Pakistan People's Party led governments in centre and Sindh, senior MQM leader Farooq Sattar told the media on Monday.Sindh Governor Dr. Ishrat ul Ebad Khan would also quit from the office of Governor Sindh, he said.Longest serving Governor in the history of Pakistan has sent his resignation to President Asif Ali Zardari. Dr. Ishrat Ul Ebad Khan took oath of office of the Sindh Governor on Dec 27, 2002.

“The MQM leadership reached the conclusion that it is no longer possible for the party to continue functioning as part of the Pakistan People's Party-led coalition governmnet, keeping in view its undemocratic and dictatorial attitude," he said.

He said PPP was unwilling to mend its ways leaving MQM with no other option but to quit the coalition government, adding that from now on MQM lawmakers in federal and provincial assemblies would sit on opposition benches.

“MQM ministers were powerless and not allowed to work independently,” Farooq Sattar said and added that issues were raised in core committees with the PPP leadership on regular basis but to no avail.

Rehman Malik told MQM to stay away from the Azad Jammu and Kashmir assembly's Karachi seat and even threatened to postpone elections, MQM leader said.MQM today also filed a petition in the Sindh High Court (SHC) against the deferment of June 26 scheduled Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K) elections for the Karachi seats, which is expected to be placed for hearing tomorrow.

Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan who tendered his resignation as Sindh Governor Monday has left for London from Karachi airport, Geo News reported.According to sources, Dr. Ebad will be having a meeting with Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Chief Altaf Hussain in London.Meanwhile, the presidential spokesman has denied receiving the resignation of Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan as Governor of Sindh.

However, after the reports of his resignation aired on electronic media, President Zardari contacted Dr. Ebad and asked him to review his decision.
Geo news

Russian FM Kudrin announces liberal privatisation drive

Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin has announced a major privatisation drive. Speaking at a conference in Moscow, he said Russia will sell its majority share holding in oil companies as well as in the finance, communication and transport sectors. State Airlines Aeroflot is also to be sold off. Analysts say the announcement marks a major shift in Russia's economic policy.

India, New Zealand to sign FTA:John Key

India and New Zealand are likely to conclude a free-trade agreement by March next year. This was disclosed by the visiting New Zealand Prime Minister John Key in New Delhi Monday evening. He told media persons that the two countries will hold four to five rounds of talks to finalize the agreement. He expressed hope that the trade between the two countries will double by 2015. It is at present 1.2 billion New Zealand Dollars. Mr. Key said, agricultural imports from New Zealand may help bringing down food inflation in India. He will hold delegation level talks with his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh at Hyderabad house on Tuesday. External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Vishnu Prakash told reporters that several agreements are expected to be signed after the talks at Hyderabad House and a joint statement is also expected. The two leaders will also discuss regional, multilateral and bilateral issues of mutual interest. Mr. Key will also exchange views with the captains of Industry in New Delhi and Mumbai to strengthen bilateral economic partnership. India and New Zealand are also eager to establish greater cooperation in the areas of Information and Technology, Agriculture, Food Processing and Dairy Farming. Mr. Key is being accompanied by Trade Minister and a high level business delegation. During the visit, Mr Key will call on President Pratibha Devisingh Patil, Vice-President Hamid Ansari and hold talks with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. He will also have meetings with External Affairs Minister S M Krishna and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj. Earlier, on Monday Mr. Key visited historic Taj Mahal in Agra. He reached the national capital on a five-day visit to India on Sunday.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Launches, Etios and Liva

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Launches its first ever hatchback in India for India - Etios Liva
Youthful and sporty design, best-in-class cabin space & fuel efficiency, superior ride comfort and the legendary Toyota QDR standard
• Hiroji Onishi , President TMAP launches the Etios Liva
• Toyota forays into the popular hatchback segment
• Price starts at 3.99 Lakhs ex showroom Delhi
• Booking and deliveries start today
June 27, 2011, Delhi: Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced its entry into the popular hatchback segment in India, with the launch of Etios Liva. Etios sedan and the hatchback Etios Liva - built on the same platform – have been specifically developed for the Indian customers. Etios Liva inherits its name from its sedan, Etios. The word Liva has been coined from the dynamic and positive terms - Lively and Live life to the fullest - which reflect the spirit and image of the car. It is targeted at today’s youth whose spirit and belief is translated into the advertising line for Etios Liva -“LIV TMRRW 2DAY”.

Tagged – ‘Q Class Hatch’ - Etios Liva is stylishly designed and portrays a youthful and sporty image. Etios Liva will carry forward the ‘Q’ Class experience from Etios and will offer Toyota’s legendary QDR standard – Quality, Durability and Reliability at an affordable price.

Etios Liva will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, competitively priced between 3.99 Lakhs and 5.99 Lakhs ex-showroom Delhi. The product highlights include youthful and sporty design, best-in-class cabin space, superior ride comfort and best-in-class fuel efficiency.

Etios Liva was launched by Mr. Hiroji Onishi, (President, Toyota Motor Asia Pacific, Marketing and Sales) in the presence of Mr. Vikram Kirloskar (Vice Chairman, TKM), Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa (Managing Director, TKM), Mr. Sandeep Singh (Deputy Managing Director-Marketing, TKM) and Mr. Yoshinori Noritake, (Chief Engineer of the Etios and Etios Liva, Toyota Motor Corporation).

Commenting on the launch of the Etios Liva, Mr. Hiroji Onishi, President, TMAP, Marketing and Sales said: “India is an integral part of our global growth strategy. The Etios project is a milestone not only for Toyota in India but for Toyota globally. The Etios Liva has been designed focusing on the Indian customer’s aspirations, tastes and preferences that were gathered, studied and understood through extensive research. We are delighted by the overwhelming response received by the Etios customers. The Etios has been well accepted by our customers. We hope the Etios Liva will further reinforce the Toyota brand in India, making Toyota a household name.”

Mr. Vikram Kirloskar, Vice Chairman, TKM, said “The Etios project is the first of its kind not for TKM alone, but also for Toyota across the globe. The key to this project, is to make TKM self sufficient by increasing the level of localization. As announced earlier, we plan to locally produce engines and transmissions at Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts, in the third quarter of 2012. This will help us increase the local parts content in the Etios and further contribute to the social and economic growth, by enhancing self sufficiency, generating employment and expanding operations in India. Localization will further help us develop our suppliers and facilitate them to meet global standards of production. It will also generate employment and provide opportunity for expansion and growth, further strengthening our supplier base in India.”

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Hiroshi Nakagawa, MD, TKM, said “I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our Etios customers. After the good response received by the Etios, we further expanded our production in order to cater to the huge demand. The annual production capacity will be increased to 2,10,000 units by the second quarter of 2012.

In line with our ‘customer first philosophy’, we wish to keep our customers happy and satisfied by understanding the customer’s preferences and enhancing the product by incorporating their feedback. With the Etios Liva we have now entered the mass volume segment. Toyota vehicles are now available to all aspirational buyers in the middle income group.

At Toyota, we truly believe in growing with the society. We wish to sell many more vehicles and contribute to the growth of the Indian automobile industry. Entering into the mass volume segment will help us realize this aim.”

Mr. Yoshinori Noritake, Chief Engineer of Etios and Etios Liva said “With the Etios Liva, we aspire to offer the best suited car for the Indian customer at an affordable price, while providing a vehicle that is “one class above”. After interviewing and studying the customer preferences in India, we found, the need for affordably priced, quality cars was constantly growing. We first observed various aspects that were sought after by the customer and then enhanced the features and performance aspects that were truly needed while doing away with the excessive design elements.

The stylish, sporty and trendy Etios Liva has been designed to appeal to today’s youth. We have also added style by offering aero kits with front, rear and side skirt that is sure to make heads turn. The sporty steering wheel, instrument panel -designed to give a aircraft cockpit image, a premium audio system, audio system with Aux in, USB and a wireless remote adds on to the fun, youthful and sporty image of the car.”

Talking about the Etios Sales and Marketing strategy in India, Sandeep Singh, DMD-Marketing, TKM, said “ The marketing campaign for the Etios Liva is exciting, innovative and abreast with the latest marketing tools, digital initiatives and promotions. Promotional activities targeting the youth have been planned in the popular youth hangouts like malls, pubs and also in colleges. Music maestro A R Rahman, the Brand Ambassador for Etios and Etios Liva has composed a special tune for Etios Liva ad campaign. He will also feature in a trendy music video. The music composed by Rahman, captures the spirit of today’s youth and the sporty image of Etios Liva – “Bari Hamari Hai” (Its our turn now). Watch out for Rahman’s Etios Liva tune in the TV commercial and the music video on your television screens starting today. It is also available on our website www.toyotaetiosliva.in and www.toyotabharat.com.

We have more than 20,000 happy Etios customers across the nation. Etios has been received well and appreciated by our customers. The sale for Etios was overwhelming, as we sold more than we actually planned. We have brought down the waiting period to less than a month by increasing the production. We look forward to serving more and more customers with Etios Liva and hope that we continue to delight our customers with the Q Class experience. Etios Liva will go on sale and is on display at all our dealerships starting today. We currently have 158 dealerships and will expand our dealer network to 175 by the end of this year. We aim to come closer to our customers and help them avail the best of Toyota’s “Q” Class Service. ”

Vehicle Outline
Exterior

Etios Liva is designed around the concept of ‘Bold Simplicity’. A cutting-edge and leading design that aims for a body frame and stance that stands out in a crowd. A distinctive front grille with a smile line, sculpted surface and dynamic character-line in the front and rear, enhance the presence of the Etios

Liva. The aero kit – with front and rear bumper skirt, side skirt and roof spoiler. The roof has a unique design for better aerodynamics and clean appearance.

Interior
The two toned ergonomically designed interiors are comfortable and sporty. The area surrounding the driver’s seat is given the image of a cockpit by separating the operating zone from the display zone. Large centre meter panel, that provides excellent visibility and easy to read dials. The interiors are simple yet functional, giving a high sense of quality.

The Etios Liva has best-in-class cabin space, large boot space with 251L capacity, a spacious 13L cooled glove box, seven one litre bottle holders, mobile holder and many more such useful storage spaces inside the car.

Performance and Comfort
A newly developed 1.2L, 16V DOHC engine coupled with a 5-Speed manual transmission that produces high output for superior driving performance. The torque is available at low rpm for less gear shifting and stress-free city driving.
The Etios has a best-in-class mileage of 18.31kmpl as certified by testing agency.

Electric power steering for excellent maneuverability and tilt steering ensures a good ergonomic driving experience. The steering comes with audio controls for comfort at the driver’s fingertips.

The flat type rear floor design offers ease of movement for rear seat passengers. With its rigid body structure and world class Mac Pherson Strut, the Etios has superior dampening performance providing superior ride comfort.

A class-first ‘clean air filter’ which is standard across all grades for purified air in the cabin.
Safety
The Etios has various active and passive safety features like (i) Energy absorbing body shell (ii) Driver & Passenger Air bags and (iii) ABS with EBD and (iv) Seatbelts

It’s centrally located combimeter reduces eye movement and hence the driver can concentrate on the road.

Special Treatment
• To adopt to the various diverse climate and usage conditions in India, special treatment and countermeasures have been implemented:
• Good ground clearance of 170mm
• Under body protection to prevent damage to fuel and brake lines
• Anti-corrosion steel sheets at areas prone to rusting and stone hits
• Chipping resistant paint on rocker mould & fender

Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited
Managing Director
Hiroshi Nakagawa

Established
October 1997 (start of production: December 1999)
Location
Suburb of Bangalore, Karnataka State
Products
Corolla Altis, Innova and Fortuner manufactured in India.
Camry, Prado, Land Cruiser and Prius imported as CBUs.
Annual production capacity
Approx. 80,000 units
Equity participation
TMC: 89%, Kirloskar group: 11%
Number of employees
Approx. 5,000
Land area
Aprox. 432 acres (approx.1,700,000 m2)
Building area
74,000 m2

Overview of TKM 2nd Plant
Location
On the site of Toyota Kirloskar Motor Private Limited (on the outskirts of Bangalore, Karnataka State)
Products
Etios Sedan (on sale since December 2010) &

Hatchback Etios Liva (will go on sale starting 27th June 2011)
Start of production December 2010
Annual production capacity
70,000 units

Baba Ramev thundered back in Delhi

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev thundered with rage in Delhi,came on the 36 th anniversary of imposition of emergency and the situation "was very much similar to the emergency". He said, "Government repression could temporarily halt the fight against black money but it can not kill it."If raising the issue of black money was wrong, If I am anti national,or a terrorist, if I was communal to disturb communal harmony, if I was a Naxal, if I was a terrorist, why did four ministers came to meet me to the airport? " asked Baba Ramdev at the Press Conference at Constitution Club in New Delhi."If the government finds any black money with me, they can declare it national property," Yog Guru Baba Ramdev said in the capital.

Returning to Delhi three weeks after he was bundled out from here,Yoga Guru Ramdev today attacked the government claiming that it has no will to fight corruption or create a Lokpal to check the menace.Baba Ram Dev said "Police force tried to rape, molest women at Ramlila grounds and if I not left, they would’ve killed me." Further he said,"I didn’t want to die like an animal at the hands of the puppet police, so I left the camp". "At Ramlila Maidan, the police did not come to arrest me, they wanted to kill me. I won't give any evidence right now, because the case is pending with the Supreme Court," said Ramdev. And further added," I am not the mask or face of any party or organization but the face of 120 Cr people of India and son of Bharat Mata."

Briefing media Baba added,"How can Prime Minister write a letter or for that matter Senior Minister Pranav Mukerjee meet a person who is a threat to the country", Yoga Guru asked in media conference. Baba Ram reached Delhi to meet his disciple Rajabala,she is admitted in the GB Pant hospital after she received critical injury on 5 th June 2011 wee hours in the crackdown by the police.In context to her condition, Ramdev said Rajabala is not able to move her limbs she is an example of police brutalities. Further he added ,that "Government was corrupt but now it has become brutal too. Government make an effort to kill any body who raises his voice against corruption and black money. Such conspiracies by the government is being hatched at all India level" said Ramdev.

Yog Guru was externed from Delhi out of bound for Delhi the city for fortnight on 5 June 2011 Baba went on his fast in Haridwar and Dehradun till June 12 and returned today to show his intentions.He thundered “Sarkar pehle bhrashtachari thi, abh woh atyachari bhi ho gayi.that means the government was indulging in corruption earlier. Now it is indulging in atrocities,” he said. “This government has no will to fight corruption,” he added.

Baba Ramdev, yoga guru began a hunger strike in Delhi on the cause of Corruption and black money or the illicit money stashed away in foreign banks by Indians be brought back home. Ramdev and government 3-4 June negotiations, the government cracked down on his fast in the midnight,baton bashing on sleeping disciple and supporters were evicted them from Delhi. The police action earned government irk of many Indians, further battered the government's fast-eroding credibility.
Media agencies

7th Singapore Open Swimming Championships

Khade bags 5 medals and Sejwal comes home with 3 from the 7th Singapore Open Swimming Championships - Bangalore, 25th June 2011: GoSports Foundation scholars, Virdhawal Khade and Sandeep Sejwal ended their campaign in style at the 7th Singapore Open Swimming Championships, a qualification meet for the London 2012 Olympics. Khade, the young sensation from India bagged 2 Golds and 3 Bronze medals, while teammate Sejwal brought home 2 Golds and a Silver.

Winning the Gold in the 50m and 100m Freestyle events with times of 23.21 and 51.08 seconds respectively, Asian Games Medalist, Khade was in top form at the event. Khade also added three Bronze medals to his tally while competing in the 200m Fresstyle event (1:52.54), 100m Butterfly Event (55.37) and as a significant member of the 400m Freestyle Relay team.

Sejwal was as impressive in his performance securing podium finishes in all the events he participated in. Winning the Gold in his favorite event, the 50m Breaststroke, with a time of 29.10 seconds, Sejawal also won the Gold Medal in the 100m Breaststroke event, where he clocked a time of 1:03.72. The 22 year old Sejwal ended his winning streak at Singapore with a Silver in the 200m Breastroke event with a time of 2:17.50.

As the world counts down to London 2012, India's young sensations in the pool are just about warming up!

Diesel, kerosene, LPG prices hiked

Empowered Group of Ministers (EGoM), headed by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, met on Friday and took the much-deferred politically sensitive decision, which Oil Minister S Jaipal Reddy said was done to cut down on burgeoning under-recovery of oil marketing companies.

The under-recoveries which stood at Rs 1,71,140 crores will now come down by Rs 21,000 crores after Friday's decision.Friday's decision comes more than a month after petrol price was hiked by Rs 5 a litre.

Reddy told a press conference that the price of diesel would be raised by Rs 3 a litre, kerosene supplied through PDS by Rs 2 per litre and domestic LPG by Rs 50 a cylinder.He described the increase as "very modest and minimal".Giving details of the duty restructuring, Reddy said the meeting decided on elimination of 5 per cent customs duty on crude oil and all petroleum products , that will result in a revenue loss of Rs 26,000 crores for the government for the full fiscal year.

The excise duty on diesel has been reduced from Rs 4.60 a litre to Rs 2 a litre which will entail a revenue loss of Rs 23,000 crore during 2011-12.He said it could not be cut any further as the special excise duty and the additional excise duty have been earmarked for the central road fund and the educational cess. On both these accounts, the government will incur a loss of Rs 49,000 crore.

Why Anna,Baba Ramdev fail to deliver?

Why Anna,Baba Ramdev fail to deliver?

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2011-06-24 06:20:25 - Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi :
Sages must know rage has no place in any circumstances and the contemplative mind when starts working the letter build words and words build sentences automatically from ones utterances that prove the point of ones caliber,dedication and his not only understanding of subject but that of HIS VISION.Mahatma Gandhi is thus respected for such VISION.

Civil society five member team is not making an efforts to listen to other intellectuals on the issue of Lokpal Bill. Anybody when gives inputs ask the member to fill in suggestion in their website thus stopping the interaction to the one and it appears that entire team is ignorant of the subject,what is interaction and transparency?Thus behaving like babus
class of knowing everything and elite behaving as busy but when propound their own subject falters with words and exhibit their lack of knowledge and vision.Anna and Baba -AB efforts - lack of listening to other thinkers will put their demand in jeopardy as in the case of Baba Ram Dev who spoke on causes with inputs of others talk in zeal and confidence but lacked vision thus fell in non-contemplative utterances which prove egoist.

There are other Think tanks in this country working on autonomous bodies and other democratic structure's but their papers languish with nobody taking notice:

At Meet the press organized at Press club of India New Delhi "Is the Election Commission running a parallel government? Is Supreme Court running a parallel government? Is the Central Information Commission running a parallel government? No! Then why do you call the Lokpal that way?" Mr Hazare asked.He said Kapil Sibal remarks saying they were trying to form a parallel government is uncalled for.

Anna has given an ultimatum to the government that he will undertake fast - unto - death from August 16 and would not be go back on his decision even if the government makes any request. when asked if they would not be allowed to sit in the capital for the fast, the Gandhian strongly reacted, saying "We will sit in the jail then. Woh to apni hai!



When AB team demands they must realize that demands should not be such that it takes years to fulfill.and when you want to fix it as Judiciary authority there is bound of clash in building the structures thus Monitoring authority must be defined that which acts as Anti-graft authority which has the power to initiate an inquiry and punnish the guilty as per available structure against the corrupt ones of any class because their {Ombudsman } recommends proceeding against the corrupt when the Corrupt at high places is working against the National Interest.

In appointment of Lokpal panel if the same is done by the government structure then automatically it remains a part of government edifice. Professional and people with finer quality of social fabric of the nation, career free of any sort of encumbrances to be true to national welfare to be appointed a Lok Pal member instead of Judge the advocate of impeccable record is best choice and the people appointed to this sovereign structure which has ingredients to keep a bird view on the constitutional authorities ought to be an independent body without government system touch.This will help in making the constitution of India work in more diligent way.Team Anna wish citizens empowered to refer complaints for removal of Lokpal to the Supreme Court, but the Government says only it should have the power to refer complaints against Lokpal to the apex court on the contrary no panel members to be for period of more than two years and thirty percent must retire every years.


Contact Information:
Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi

India, Pakistan hold peace talks

Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan are meeting in Islamabad on Thursday for crucial talks on the Kashmir issue and confidence-building measures aimed at boosting the peace process between them that was resumed earlier this year.

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is leading the Indian delegation for two-day talks with her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir.Meanwhile, on the eve of the Indo-Pak Foreign Secretary-level talks, India has said it is making a "determined bid" to work out a cordial relationship with Pakistan and that all issues that "bug" the ties, including terrorism, will be discussed.

At the two-day meeting beginning Thursday in Islamabad, India is also expected to raise the issue of the slow pace of ongoing Mumbai terror case trial in Pakistan as well as the larger conspiracy behind the 26/11 attacks.

"All issues that bug our relationship are going to be discussed when Foreign Secretary visits Islamabad," External Affairs Minister S M Krishna told reporters accompanying him on his way back home after a three-day visit to Myanmar.

He, however, asked everyone to refrain from speculating about the talks, saying "let not expectations be pitched too high because this is one of the relationships we are trying to cultivate in the last few months."

After the setback in the relations between India and Pakistan post-Mumbai terror attacks, Krishna said he thinks "we are making a determined bid to work out a cordial relationship."

Asked whether India would raise the issue of terrorism during the meeting, he said: "Terrorism is going to be one of the issues that is going to be naturally discussed with Pakistan.

"The whole region is terror-infested. I would only said all issues concerning terrorism and various other issues between our countries will be discussed."

Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao said the issue of "terrorism that inflicts our region is of utmost concern to everyone in the region." Rao said: "What Pakistan has been telling us in the recent months and days is that Pakistan is seriously affected by this problem and that many Pakistanis have also fallen victim to terrorism."

Asked about her recent statement that India seeks "satisfactory closure" from Pakistan with regard to Mumbai attacks, she said, "There is an ongoing trial in Pakistan and it has rather moved slowly."

"When we talk of closure, what we are implying is that justice should be done in this matter and those responsible for triggering this terror attacks and also conspired to attack our people should be brought to justice. This is what closure means."

Talking about her upcoming talks, Rao said the idea was to reduce trust deficit and build more confidence in the Indo-Pak relations and to strengthen exchanges between the two countries to have a "meaningful dialogue on all outstanding issue that have complicated our relationship in the past."

She said the talks were not an "event" but a process and that both sides will exchange ideas that she hopes will lead to more understanding and more confidence.
Asked about the confidence building measures on the nuclear front, Rao said: "Confidence building has to include a number of areas and if we do more to reduce the tensions between the two countries and to reduce the trust deficit, it will greatly promote the relationships between the two countries. So, it makes sense to discuss confidence building measures in all these areas."
In the talks on Jammu and Kashmir, Peace and Security and confidence building measures, the Indian side is expected to voice its concern over the nexus between ISI and 26/11 attackers as highlighted during the trial of Pakistani-Canadian Tahawwur Rana in Chicago.

"Foreign Secretaries of India and Pakistan will meet in Islamabad on June 23-24 to discuss peace and security, including CBMs; Jammu and Kashmir, and promotion of friendly exchanges," External Affairs Ministry said in a statement in New Delhi on Friday.Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao will be meeting her Pakistani counterpart Salman Bashir for the second time since February when they held talks in Thimphu in Bhutan on the sidelines of SAARC Ministerial conference.

During that meeting, the two sides had agreed to resume their comprehensive dialogue on all bilateral issues to resolve outstanding issues in a constructive and forward-looking manner, two years after India put on hold the Composite Dialogue process with Pakistan in the aftermath of the 2008 Mumbai attacks.On Monday, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said the two Foreign Secretaries will discuss all bilateral issues and that Rana's confessions will also be one of the important issues that will be taken up by India.

India and Pakistan held talks on peace and security issues in Islamabad on Thursday, part of efforts to stabilise South Asia as the United States prepares to draw down troops from Afghanistan.Concerns over terrorism are likely to dominate India’s agenda since US troops killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan and since a four-year peace process collapsed when gunmen killed 166 people in Mumbai in November 2008.India blamed the attack on Pakistani militants from the banned Lashkar-i-Taiba group and Islamabad acknowledged that the plot was hatched at least partly on its soil.Ending a more than two-year freeze, the two countries announced peace talks would resume after a meeting in February between foreign secretary Salman Bashir and his Indian counterpart Nirupama Rao.

Rao said she had come “with an open mind and a constructive spirit” to work towards building “trust and confidence” that would eventually lead to a normalisation of relations between the nuclear-armed rivals.

Both sides say talks will focus on the fate of the divided Himalayan region of Kashmir, peace and security and confidence building, in preparation for a scheduled visit by Pakistan’s foreign minister to India next month.

“We expect that the talks will be positive and forward looking,” foreign ministry spokeswoman Tehmina Janjua told AFP. A senior ministry official told AFP the talks started around 3:30 pm.

No breakthroughs are expected, but the contacts are considered a key element of efforts to stabilise the region after US President Barack Obama announced the start of US troop withdrawals from Afghanistan.

The international community has been pushing the two sides to get back to the negotiating table to help ease tensions in an already volatile region.“We have to be patient, realistic and positive,” Indian Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna said this week, calling for terrorism to be dealt with “firmly and transparently”.New Delhi has long accused its neighbour of harbouring militant groups, but analysts say it is becoming increasingly concerned that growing unrest in Pakistan could compromise the safety of the country’s nuclear arsenal.

Relations between India and Pakistan, which have fought three wars since the subcontinent was partitioned in 1947, have been plagued by border and resource disputes, and accusations of Pakistani militant activity against India.

Two of the three wars were over Kashmir, where militants have been fighting New Delhi’s rule for two decades in an insurgency that has claimed tens of thousands of lives.After the Mumbai carnage, Delhi and Islamabad began to explore a resumption of structured talks last year, and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani met in Thimphu in April 2010.Talks on the disputed Himalayan glacier of Siachen, where troops have clashed intermittently since 1984, concluded a month ago without progress.“There will be no major breakthrough in the talks but I am sure that the process will now go on to enable the two countries to discuss and sort out issues,” Pakistani foreign policy analyst A. H. Nayyar told media.Media agencies

WikiLeaks;‘Water issues could sweep away Indo-Pak peace process’

“Even if India and Pakistan could resolve the Baglihar and Kishanganga projects,” wrote US Ambassador to New Delhi David Mulford in a confidential cable dated February 25, 2005, “there are several more hydroelectric dams planned for Indian Kashmir that might be questioned under the IWT (Indus Water Treaty).” Both Baglihar and Kishanganga projects are on the Chenab River, one of the three ‘western rivers’ to whose waters Pakistan has exclusive ‘consumptive’ rights under the IWT and which have been the source of long festering disagreement between the two neighbours.

The American ambassador also expressed guarded optimism that matters in “this politically charged impasse” would not spiral into “Islamabad’s worst case scenario, that India’s dams in J&K (Jammu and Kashmir) have the potential to destroy the peace process or even to lead to war”.

Mr Mulford wrote his cable at the height of the Baglihar Dam construction controversy and was quoting the opinion of an unnamed World Bank “contact” with regard to the upcoming dams. The bank official in particular referenced the (then under-construction, now completed, 450 MW) Dul Hasti Dam and the proposed Burser, Pakul Dul and Sawalkote projects on the Indian side which were “all on the order of 1000 MW” and which were “significant undertakings in varying stages of planning that might be questioned as to their IWT compliance”.

The Baglihar Dam construction issue, which Pakistan took into arbitration in 2005 after six years of unproductive talks with India, was eventually settled through a World Bank-appointed ‘neutral expert’ in early 2007, mostly in favour of India’s position. Although Pakistan agreed to respect the results of the arbitration, further disagreements arose in 2008 over the unauthorised filling of Baglihar and Pakistani demands for compensation for reduced flows, which are detailed in three further cables from that year.

In a cable dated November 3, 2008, then US ambassador to Pakistan, Anne W. Patterson pointed out that Pakistan was “facing a 34 per cent water shortage” that year because of a reduction in water flows in the Chenab, translating into “lower crop yields for winter” and “extended blackouts across the country due to reduced hydropower production”. She also claimed in her communications that “Officially, India dispels Pakistani claims but, unofficially, the Indian side admits that ‘structural constraints of Baglihar Dam and weather constraints’ have resulted in a reduction of Pakistan’s share of water.” She noted that the dispute had “already resulted in increased anti-India sentiment among the local population”.

Ms Patterson also wrote that “Privately, GOP officials acknowledge they are very worried about future plans for India to build numerous other dams (reportedly up to eight additional dams) on the Chenab River and the likelihood that water scarcity driven by India’s increased usage will become a more frequent occurrence in Pakistan.” In fact, according to Pakistan’s former Indus Water Commissioner, Syed Jamaat Ali Shah, there are some two dozen projects planned by India on the Chenab River alone.

The current focus, however, seems to be on the under-construction Kishanganga Dam on the Neelum River, which Pakistan contends will impact its own under-construction Neelum River hydropower project by reducing flows as well as lead to environmental degradation of the Neelum Valley. This matter has already been admitted for hearing by an independent arbitration court as a “dispute” – a more serious terminology than Baglihar which was accorded the status of “differences” – under the terms of the Indus Water Treaty. Under the treaty, existing downriver projects have priority but since both Kishanganga and Pakistan’s Neelum project are still under-construction, there is disagreement between experts whether the treaty terms have been violated. According to independent water expert Arshad Abbasi, water from Kishanganga is also going to be diverted to another hydropower project known as Uri-2 on the Jhelum River, which has been nearly constructed without apparent Pakistani objections.

After the decision of the Swiss neutral expert, Professor Raymod Lafitte, in the matter of the Baglihar Dam, a former Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, G. Parthasarthy, had told American diplomats that the decision has “set precedents” for future construction of dams. According to a cable dated February 14, 2007, he said: “A lot of projects that were held up are now possible,” referring in particular to the Kishanganga Dam project. US Ambassador Mulford noted in a comment, “That India has the green light to complete and/or build similar dams on other rivers throughout Jammu and Kashmir is a fact likely not lost on anyone in energy-starved New Delhi.”

As Indo-Pak water disputes continue to remain unresolved over more than a decade of talks, it would do well to recall the comment a Pakistani diplomat had made to American diplomats in New Delhi. “There are no doves,” Mr Mulford quoted him as saying in his 2005 cable, “and there are no moderates on water issues.”

Cables referenced: WikiLeaks # 25273, 27677, 96616, 172003, 176424, 181176.Dawn.com

British Indians came to join a protest rally at Westminster London

Over 500 British Indians came to join a protest rally from 12pm to 4pm on 19th June at Westminster London to express their anger against the Indian Government’s brutal attack on the peaceful protestors a fortnight ago in Delhi.

The rally was attended mainly by Hindus from the temples across the UK to show their disapproval at the way, 50,000 people sleeping at midnight at the Ramlila Ground in Delhi under the Satyagrah Fast of Baba Ramdev against Indian corruption, were brutally attacked by the Indian Government who helped approve the Ground for their congregation in the first place but at midnight sent in the police to ambush the poor people, women and children and the frail old people and attacked them with long wooden police batons, Lathis.

They used tear gas to remove them from the safety of the ground and sent them into the dark streets with no transport facilities. These poor peoples’ crime was that they were protesting peacefully against Indian corruption. Nearly a thousand people were injured and hundreds taken to hospital; children and parents were separated, it was a bad day for human rights in the so called largest democracy.

To coincide with the police’s 1am attack on Sunday 5th June the rally opened with a two minute silence at 1pm on Sunday 19th June.

Madhava Turumella of Action Against Corruption (AAC) said a prayer and said that the Indian Government keeps the 450 million people below poverty line so that every 5 years they can go and buy their votes and he said you will see the party activists paying with notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 on the streets of Indian towns and villages.

Muna Chauhan compeered the debate and invited Anil Bhanot OBE of Hindu Council UK to open the debate.

This is my speech:

“The midnight attack on the 50,000 protestors, who were asleep, at 1am in the morning on the 5th of June, was a dark day in India’s democracy. It showed that what we refer to as the largest democracy in the world is nothing more than one dynasty’s autocratic rule over the sovereign and free people of India. I say autocratic rule because such things do not happen in a democracy. But what makes this attack so vile is that it was on a spiritual people asking for Government’s help to put a stop to India’s rampant corruption. Their demands were for the wellbeing of all the people in a corruption free country. Yet even after this brutal attack, in the morning after, Sonia Gandhi’s spokesperson Digvijay came to further abuse and lay one concocted charge after another on Swami Ramdev. He called the Swami a Thug on several drummed up accounts. And this is not the first time this dynastic politicians of Sonia Gandhi have attacked our Swamis, India’s heart of spirituality.

In 2004 they attacked the Shankracharya of Kanchi, the Hindu Archbishop of South India, again at midnight and what is even more alarming they did it on the Diwali midnight. Then too they had concocted charges of murder on the Shankracharya which were later proven to be false. Of course the legal channels must always be followed but what was the point of attacking his Ashram on the most auspicious day for Hindus at midnight Diwali?
Indeed now they themselves may have tried to murder Swami Ramdev according to his personal account and of the women protestors there who saw the police trying to choke him to death. When they thought they heard the sound of a gunshot the women quickly gave the Swami their spare clothes to enable him escape under disguise. These are serious charges and we know in this country, which is a real democracy, the perpetrators would have already been caught. But in India it is the law of the powerful mob, the ruling class only, and at its top is the Sonia Gandhi dynasty and her cronies like Digvijay and the like. They have the power to put anyone in jail who threatens their power base, according to Digvijay’s own words in the India Times report recently. That is their law; that is India’s democracy, where you cannot even peacefully protest. The right to protest is the hallmark of democracy. But India’s Government Ministers say that once they are elected the civil society has no right to interfere.

Even the Indian High Commissioner here told me a few days after that fateful night that if Ramdev interferes in politics he will be treated as such. What did he mean, exactly, I shudder to think. But even when I told him that British Hindus were hurt too and they wanted to protest here, he showed no remorse for their feelings and instead told me to go and do the student protest here in the UK, to let off our steam as it were. Can you imagine a diplomat telling someone to go and protest against the country he is commissioned to? This was sheer contempt on his part. He is a pleasant sort of chap but on this occasion when I mentioned Ramdev he went ballistic on me and suddenly turned into some sort of a fiend. It was almost like he was trying to instil fear in me.

Judging from his reaction it seemed to me there is a systemic problem of this contempt that perhaps comes from the top and filters right through to their civil servants. For instance Digvijay’s verbal abuse of the Swami on the morning after the police attack was no less than contempt for the Swami and his supporters. A couple of the Government Ministers visibly coming across as insincere and brushing off the Civil Society as irrelevant is nothing less than contempt for the civil society. One of their MP’s calling Swami Ramdev a ‘bloody Indian’ is nothing less than contempt for the entire spiritual base of Hindu Majority India; it is blatant contempt for all the free people of India.

Perhaps this dynastic ill-governance began from the day Indira Gandhi imposed her Emergency rule in 1975. Just to remind you the Emergency was when the Supreme Court declared the elections null and void but Indira Gandhi instead took matters in her own hands and imposed her autocratic rule for a couple of years. Those days too were referred to as the dark days of India’s democracy. My own uncle Shri Shambu Dutt Sharma who is still alive and active at 93 now, was put in jail during that Emergency and the irony of it all was that he went to jail with Gandhi ji to win independence in the first place and then in a free India Indira Gandhi put him in jail again. That of course broke his heart and he then left politics – he was in the late PM Lal Bhahadur Shastry’s party – and has since lobbied, through his Gandhian Satyagrahi brigade in Delhi, for a Lok-Pal Act to make the parliamentarians accountable to the people, which means that the people could directly take a case out against corrupt parilamentarians. He told me about 3 years ago that every Government since 1975, including BJP when it was in power, has failed to enact that legislation in spite of their promises before the election. Only now Anna Hazare ji, another Gandhian, is pursuing it through a Satyagrah 2 struggle with perhaps some muted success. But it seems to me that it was that “Emergency” which gave birth to a neo-colonialism in India itself, what I would like to call the ‘Indian colonialism’.

Of course the Indian Colonialists are a select few people; most of the Government Ministers are, I am sure, honourable people. One MP even resigned from the Congress party after their midnight attack on people, so there are many, perhaps free from the Dynastic power-mongering control, who are good honourable people in the party. For instance, last year I met the Rural Minister C P Joshi who explained to our delegation that there are two nations there, one India (of the upper class rich) and the other Bharat (of the 800 million poor). Well it is the 800 million poor who are being colonised by the Indian neo-colonials. Absolute power corrupts.

These Indian Colonialists, now under Sonia Gandhi, exploit the one billion Indian masses. They rule with contempt like the unelected Digvijay. Sonia Gandhi, also unelected, keeps an indirect control over the PM through the National Advisory Council of which she is the Chair. The PM Manmohan Singh it would seem is far from independent. Perhaps to keep the other grandees at bay the PM allows Sonia Gandhi to maintain control, as in India even the worst of men cower before a woman for their respect for Shakti, the Mother Goddess principle.

In the beginning I quite liked Sonia Gandhi and her promising children but over the time her ‘colonial’ type agenda has become much more evident. Last year Rahul Gandhi said in a speech to a UP university youth that India needs a dynasty while referring to his Grandmother Indira Gandhi’s rule but please learn from the current Arab Spring and relinquish this birth based, Jaati - Caste, dynastic aspirations.

Perhaps it is because Rajiv Gandhi was killed supposedly by a Tamil Hindu that both Priyanka and Rahul adopted their mother’s religion, a Roman Catholic, and thus both have found Roman Catholic partners. I have no problem with their preference for Roman Catholicism but now with Rahul’s several anti-Hindu remarks over the last year he no longer inspires me as someone who ought to rule over the Hindu majority India. I genuinely sympathise with Rahul and Priyanka for their father's loss, it is a terrible thing, but it would be unfair to hold the entire Hindu population of India at ransom, not because they are Roman Catholic, that would not bother me, but because they are probably subconsciously a little bit anti Hindu. This anti-Hindu charge might be seen as being a bit melodramatic but the evidence is there for all to see, when our spirituality which is dear to us, British Hindus, is crushed, when real terrorism is excused by shifting the emphasis to ‘Hindu Saffron Terror’, when our Swamis are seen as the easy targets to arrest and put in jail, missionary evangelicals are allowed a free pass to coerce people to switch ideologies creating social unrest, our spiritual people attacked at midnight and so on. That is not at all fair on us or on the Dharmic majority India.

Let us pray for those people who got crushed that night and got severely injured. I’d like to recite the Mahamartunjya Mantra three times for their wellbeing:

Om Tryumbkum Yajamahe Sugndhim Pushty Verdhanam,
Urva Rukmev Bandhnat Mrityor Mukshyia Mamrataat Om.”

Then Swami Ramdev came on the phone and spoke to the people about how India could be a great nation again if there was no corruption at the top level and he was overwhelmed with the solidarity and support of the Non Resident Indians (NRI’s) from across the world.

Sunita Poddar of PYPT (UK) Yoga Trust spoke and said that she has seen people actually living on a less than 30 pence a day whereas in terms of wealth India is no longer a poor country. She said that her organisation has lodged a complaint at the Geneva HQ for the UN human rights against the Indian Government’s attack on its own people and the UK Parliament will table an Early Day Motion (EDM) soon.

Sinna Mani of the British Organisation for Persons of Indian Origin (BOPIO), spoke that he was disgusted to call Parnab Mukerjee his friend that he was and he later mentioned several other politicians he had known including Indira Gandhi whom he entertained here in the UK and that it is high time the politicians in India learnt the meaning of the word Democracy. He promised to hold a meeting at the House of Lords for all Indians, Hindus, Buddhists, Muslims, Sikhs and Christians to continue this struggle against the Indian Government’s corruption.

Bharat Shah a Chartered Accountant from Friends of India Society spoke for the need to continue this struggle and suggested that everyone present should write to their MP to support the EDM as soon as its tabled.
Ashok Kapoor and Anita Kapoor, the Conservative Councillors from Ealing spoke passionately to motivate people to also go and arrange a march in Delhi which they said all NRI’s ought to attend.

Dr Suraj Jain from Moorefield Eye Hospital said that he goes to India to set free eye clinics but even for his charity work he has to bribe the officials and on top of that the equipment he takes from here they sell it off to line their pockets so that every time he has to take new equipment.

Patrick Nickisch a Hindu from Germany representing the newly forming Global Hindu Congress (GHC) said that Hinduism does not have an overarching Pope type structure but in order to deal with the issues in today’s world we need to unite under larger organisations as otherwise the human rights for Hindus do not even get acknowledged.

Sanjay Jagatia extended a vote of thanks to everyone who came to the rally and a special thanks to the Metropolitan Police for their kind assistance and to the Westminster Council for being understanding to allow us to use the PA system under a very short notice.

Diluted ombudsman - Anna to fast from Aug 16

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi, Jun 22 A general belief that corruption, social stratification, money laundering, black money, rape and murder, crime violence, coercive acts,terrorism, social unrest, border disorder, legal and illegal loot by corrupt people at high places give rise to rampant corruption in India.Social movement of Anna within constitution to bring Lokpal bill has been the centre of all media to gauge the ongoing process of creating authority of Ombudsman. In Press release from the Team Anna Lak Pal bill will have jurisdiction over 65000 Central government Group A employees,4.5Lakh registered NGO's and to many Lakh to unregistered NGO's of both central and state this bill will not be applicable to the companies.With minimal deliberations and only exchange of points at the nine meetings in two months produced enormous divergent vision and vie on the subject.

Government and civil society exercise to work out an agreed draft of the Lokpal Bill has diverged into two paths thus total collapse of the nine meeting in which both parties had little deliberations,government members asked for the ideation of civil society.In event of failure of the process of two sides reaching divergent goal Government to retain the supremacy of the authority.Team Anna addressing press conference at Press club of India today at 4.30 PM gave an interesting features in the content of the draft submitted by the government is that Minimum punishment against a corrupt person is six months and minimum punishment against fake complainants is two years.With Team Anna desire to be part of drafting a bill has been completed and the process of government to draft the bill has initiated.
The Government version has following the highlights
1. Prime Minister is not under the purview of the Lokpal
2.No Cheif Minister will be under the purview of the Lokpal, and twenty three states CMs has opposed the draft.
3.No state lokayukta will be part of Lokpal hence there is no state (lower) level authority of Lokpal. If there is any corruption at district level also, it has to be complained to the Lokpal in Delhi.
4. Seven of the Ten member Lokpal section committee will be politicians (PM, Speakers of both the houses, Opposition leaders of both houses, etc.
5. Government has the power to appeal in Supreme court, to remove the Lokpal Chairperson. An ordinary citizen cannot complain against Lokpal.

PTI reports Anna Hazare announced that he will go ahead with his fast from August 16 to "teach the government a lesson". After nine meetings spread over two months, the joint drafting committee of the two sides concluded its deliberations on a note of disagreement with the government asserting that it could not allow creation of a parallel structure which would be "answerable to nobody".The government draft ruled out scrutiny of Prime Minister, higher judiciary and the conduct of MPs in Parliament by the Lokpal.

The government draft proposes several critical powers conferring quasi-judicial status to Lokpal besides powers to attach assets, independent prosecution and investigation machinery with full police powers under the proposed ombudsman.

Ban Ki-moon to continue second term UN Secretary General

Ban Ki-moon has been re-elected to serve a second five-year term, in a vote at the UN General Assembly in New York.Ban,a former South Korean foreign minister, the only candidate after the UN Security Council unanimously recommended his re-election.
Ban Ki Moon too soft for world politics polite and mellows to major powers, has won praise for his policies on climate change and the protests sweeping the Middle East.Ban took over at the UN in 2007,second term will formally begin on 1 January 2012 and run until the end of 2016. Ban Ki-Moon announced his candidacy fortnight ago, Ban vow to keep leading the world body as a "bridge-builder" in a time of unprecedented global change.

Cabinet reshuffle before Monsoon session of Parl

PTI) Uncertainty prevails over the much-talked about expansion-cum-reshuffle of the Union Council of Ministers.The exercise could now take place before the Monsoon session of Parliament beginning August one or after the session is over on September 8, highly-placed sources said.

Though Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi had a meeting last Sunday, the sources said that the consultations over the reshuffle were yet to take place.As political circles were agog with reports of reshuffle, Union Minister and National Conference representative in the UPA government Farooq Abdullah said the Prime Minister probably wants to have new faces so that in the remaining three years of its term the government can "serve well".

Lokpal bill draft Nascently Naive

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc:New Delhi: 21 June 2011:
In appointment of Lokpal panel if the same is done by the government structure then automatically it remains a part of government edifice.Professional and people with finer quality of social fabric of the nation, career free of any sort of encumbrances to be true to national welfare to be appointed a Lok Pal member instead of Judge the advocate of impeccable record is best choice and the people appointed to this sovereign structure which has ingredients to keep a bird view on the constitutional authorities ought to be an independent body without government system touch.This will help in making the constitution of India work in more diligent way.Team Anna wish citizens empowered to refer complaints for removal of Lokpal to the Supreme Court, but the Government says only it should have the power to refer complaints against Lokpal to the apex court on the contrary no panel members to be for period of more than two years and thirty percent must retire every years.
Lokpal draft has attention of PM Manmohan Singh who has been scoring on the point that government is serious in fighting corruption but is reacting and acting against those fighting for anti-graft.His popularity in touching low ebb and he is being looked upon as shield-er of corrupt people rather than eradicating corruption.Thus official media reports,A meeting of UPA leaders is being held Tuesday a part of efforts to ascertain views of the alliance partners over the drafting of the Lokpal Bill.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened the meeting apparently to consult the constituents of the ruling alliance over ticklish issues such as bringing the post of the PM under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.There has been divergence of views among UPA allies on the issue. While Congress and NCP have expressed opposition, DMK is reported to be favouring it.The government has already given hints that it would convene an all-party meeting in July to discuss the inclusion of the post of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal's purview.The all-party meeting would be held after the joint drafting committee completes the process of drafting the Lokpal Bill by June 30.

After an acrimonious meeting last week, the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill today agreed on most of the issues but new areas of disagreement like the manner of selection and removal of the ombudsman came up adding to persisting differences on contentious aspects.

Both the government side and the Anna Hazare team said the three-hour-long meeting was held in a "very cordial atmosphere" but differed on the extent of its success.The committee will meet tomorrow for the last time during which both the sides will exchange their drafts on which they will comment upon.HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters that 80 to 85 per cent issues were resolved while activists Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan differed on this percentage but contended that there was consensus on majority of the issues.

With text of United Nations Convention against Corruption:
The Convention highlights are :

Prevention

Corruption can be prosecuted after the fact, but first and foremost, it requires prevention. An entire chapter of the Convention is dedicated to prevention, with measures directed at both the public and private sectors. These include model preventive policies, such as the establishment of anticorruption bodies and enhanced transparency in the financing of election campaigns and political parties. States must endeavour to ensure that their public services are subject to safeguards that promote efficiency, transparency and recruitment based on merit. Once recruited, public servants should be subject to codes of conduct, requirements for financial and other disclosures, and appropriate disciplinary measures. Transparency and accountability in matters of public finance must also be promoted, and specific requirements are established for the prevention of corruption, in the particularly critical areas of the public sector, such as the judiciary and public procurement. Those who use public services must expect a high standard of conduct from their public servants. Preventing public corruption also requires an effort from all members of society at large. For these reasons, the Convention calls on countries to promote actively the involvement of non-governmental and community-based organizations, as well as other elements of civil society, and to raise public awareness of corruption and what can be done about it. Article 5 of the Convention enjoins each State Party to establish and promote effective practices aimed at the prevention of corruption.

Criminalization

The Convention requires countries to establish criminal and other offences to cover a wide range of acts of corruption, if these are not already crimes under domestic law. In some cases, States are legally obliged to establish offences; in other cases, in order to take into account differences in domestic law, they are required to consider doing so. The Convention goes beyond previous instruments of this kind, criminalizing not only basic forms of corruption such as bribery and the embezzlement of public funds, but also trading in influence and the concealment and laundering of the proceeds of corruption. Offences committed in support of corruption, including money-laundering and obstructing justice, are also dealt with. Convention offences also deal with the problematic areas of private-sector corruption.

International cooperation

Countries agreed to cooperate with one another in every aspect of the fight against corruption, including prevention, investigation, and the prosecution of offenders. Countries are bound by the Convention to render specific forms of mutual legal assistance in gathering and transferring evidence for use in court, to extradite offenders. Countries are also required to undertake measures which will support the tracing, freezing, seizure and confiscation of the proceeds of corruption.

Asset recovery

In a major breakthrough, countries agreed on asset-recovery, which is stated explicitly as a fundamental principle of the Convention. This is a particularly important issue for many developing countries where high-level corruption has plundered the national wealth, and where resources are badly needed for reconstruction and the rehabilitation of societies under new governments. Reaching agreement on this chapter has involved intensive negotiations, as the needs of countries seeking the illicit assets had to be reconciled with the legal and procedural safeguards of the countries whose assistance is sought.

Several provisions specify how cooperation and assistance will be rendered. In particular, in the case of embezzlement of public funds, the confiscated property would be returned to the state requesting it; in the case of proceeds of any other offence covered by the Convention, the property would be returned providing the proof of ownership or recognition of the damage caused to a requesting state; in all other cases, priority consideration would be given to the return of confiscated property to the requesting state, to the return of such property to the prior legitimate owners or to compensation of the victims.

Effective asset-recovery provisions will support the efforts of countries to redress the worst effects of corruption while sending at the same time, a message to corrupt officials that there will be no place to hide their illicit assets. Accordingly, article 51 provides for the return of assets to countries of origin as a fundamental principle of this Convention. Article 43 obliges state parties to extend the widest possible cooperation to each other in the investigation and prosecution of offences defined in the Convention. With regard to asset recovery in particular, the article provides inter alia that "In matters of international cooperation, whenever dual criminality is considered a requirement, it shall be deemed fulfilled irrespective of whether the laws of the requested State Party place the offence within the same category of offence or denominate the offence by the same terminology as the requesting State Party, if the conduct underlying the offence for which assistance is sought is a criminal offence under the laws of both States Parties".

All the above features must find place in India's anti-graft watchdog structure being under preparation from the desk of Indian ministerial structure of repute and for not attending to the above points India which is boosting to bring reforms in International Institutions is making grave err in its primary objective of giving India people the best of sovereign body to keep the nation's sovereignty intact.

Lokpal draft has attention of PM Manmohan Singh who has been scoring on the point that government is serious in fighting corruption but is reacting and acting against those fighting for anti-graft.His popularity in touching low ebb and he is being looked upon as shield-er of corrupt people rather than eradicating corruption.Thus official media reports,A meeting of UPA leaders is being held Tuesday a part of efforts to ascertain views of the alliance partners over the drafting of the Lokpal Bill.Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has convened the meeting apparently to consult the constituents of the ruling alliance over ticklish issues such as bringing the post of the PM under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.There has been divergence of views among UPA allies on the issue. While Congress and NCP have expressed opposition, DMK is reported to be favouring it.The government has already given hints that it would convene an all-party meeting in July to discuss the inclusion of the post of the Prime Minister under the Lokpal's purview.The all-party meeting would be held after the joint drafting committee completes the process of drafting the Lokpal Bill by June 30.

After an acrimonious meeting last week, the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill today agreed on most of the issues but new areas of disagreement like the manner of selection and removal of the ombudsman came up adding to persisting differences on contentious aspects.

Both the government side and the Anna Hazare team said the three-hour-long meeting was held in a "very cordial atmosphere" but differed on the extent of its success.The committee will meet tomorrow for the last time during which both the sides will exchange their drafts on which they will comment upon.HRD Minister Kapil Sibal told reporters that 80 to 85 per cent issues were resolved while activists Arvind Kejriwal and Prashant Bhushan differed on this per

CSC announces strategic partnership with NIIT Technologies and Siemens Ltd.

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc; New Delhi, 20th June, 2011: Cargo Service Center India Pvt. Ltd (CSC), the leading Air cargo handling service provider in India, announced a strategic partnership with NIIT Technologies, the leading IT solutions provider, and Siemens Ltd., one of the world’s largest materials handling solutions provider. The partnership will create a world-class cargo handling facility for the Integrated Cargo Complex at Delhi International Airport which is funded by IDBI. This integrated cargo complex will be the first of its kind in India with a capacity to handle more than 1 Million MT of cargo.

CSC has selected NIIT Technologies as its IT Partner for air cargo handling across all its operations including its subsidiary Delhi Cargo Service Center Pvt Ltd at Delhi. NIIT Technologies will manage and host the data center for CSC at its Gurgaon facility, with a back up disaster recovery facility at Bangalore, to provide 24 x 7 uninterrupted availability of information.

Radharamanan Panicker, Group CEO CSC, said, "With the introduction of NIIT Technologies’ solution as the core cargo handling system, CSC will derive immense benefit in faster processing of cargo, process improvement, better monitoring and control, visibility across the operational process and reduced process redundancies which will result in enhanced customer services. This will also enable seamless connectivity with our customer through EDI and web online interface. Technology will be key differentiator for us in our service offering to our client. The solution has already been successfully implemented at two locations namely Delhi Domestic Terminal and Cargo Perishable Centre (CPC) Mumbai".

Arvind Mehrotra, Executive Vice President, NIIT Technologies said, "We are delighted to partner with CSC, our innovative business model for Cargo handling will help in standardizing and streamlining the processes. Our vast experience in implementing and maintaining cargo ground handling services at several International airports will facilitate in serving the needs of the industry. Our solution has gone live at the Delhi Domestic Terminal with Delhi Cargo Service Centre (DCSC) and Cargo Perishable Centre (CPC) Mumbai with Cargo Service Centre (CSC)".

CSC also announced that it has selected Siemens Ltd. as its Material handling solution provider for its Delhi Greenfield air cargo terminal. Siemens Limited's Mobility Division will outfit the main terminal – T1 with a full air cargo handling solution (MHS) which will include Automatic Storage and Retrieval system, cargo workstation, pallet and container handling storage and handling system, all managed and controlled by high-level IT systems. Starting with a mechanized handling system, in a span of four years, T1 will be largely automated in its operations with a capacity to handle more than 600,000 MT of cargo annually. Siemens will also maintain the system initially for a period of 2 years. The total investment in the MHS will be to the tune of Euro 37million, out of which the initial order to Siemens is for Euro 27million, approximately Rs.165 crores which is till date India’s largest cargo handling system contract.

Speaking on the high-technology cargo handling solution from Siemens, Panicker said, "CSC wanted to have a robust material handling system for its Delhi project, capable of meeting its future requirement in a phased manner and had fixed stringent specifications and criteria for evaluation of various bids. After a rigorous evaluation process with the help of our process consultant, Siemens was selected for supplying the MHS. Their professional approach to finding the right solution for us was indeed laudable.

Tilakraj Seth, Vice President & Head of the Mobility Division, Siemens Limited, said, "Siemens has implemented over 300 airport logistics systems worldwide. We will use this extensive global experience and proven state-of-the-art technology to enable CSC’s Delhi project with highly-efficient and reliable cargo handling services."

About CSC

CSC was established in Mumbai in 1994 and commenced operation in 1995 when it took complete cargo handling activities of its parent company KLM Cargo at Mumbai airport. Since then it had expanded to Chennai, Delhi and Gujarat. The company handled more than 95000MT of cargo in the FY 2010-11 and has amongst its customer KLM Cargo, Air France Cargo, Emirate Airline Cargo and Singapore Airlines Cargo. Currently ISO 9001:2008 Certified, CSC also has the privilege of operating the Express Terminal on behalf of Express Council of India at Delhi and Mumbai, where it handles all the international carriers. The company bagged the prestigious concession at Mumbai to design, build and operate the second Perishable cargo terminal at Mumbai International airport. It has capacity to handle 65000MT of perishable and temperatures sensitive cargo. CSC also bagged the concessionaire agreement from Delhi International airport (DIAL) to design, develop, built, manage and operate the second cargo terminal – a Greenfield terminal spread over 70,000 sq.mt of land. The project will consist of two terminals to be built over 47,000 sq.mt and 27,500 sq.mt of land. The project is being implemented through Delhi Cargo Service Center (DCSC), a JV company formed between Cargo Service Center India Pvt Ltd holding 74% and DIAL holding 26%. The complete management and operational control is with CSC India Pvt Ltd. The concession is awarded for a period of 25 years. The first phase of this project will be ready for commercial operation shortly.

Shri Lakshmi Defence Solutions unveils ‘SHERPA’ (Light Armoured vehicle)

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: New Delhi, June 20, 2011: Shri Lakshmi Defence Solutions Ltd (SLDS), a wholly owned subsidiary of Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn Ltd, unveiled its new light armoured vehicle – ‘SHERPA’ today at the ongoing INDESEC 2011 exhibition.

The vehicle developed in a joint programme with Ford India is an indigenous vehicle designed keeping in mind the operational requirements of police and paramilitary forces. The mid-sized 360° armoured vehicle built on monocoque capsule based which can provide protection up to NIJ level III. The 2+6 seater vehicle with maximum speed of 160 kmph is an ideal force multiplier in war against naxals and terrorists, even in an urban scenario especially for the COMMAND VEHICLE OPERATIONS.


Ford India with its high powered SUV provides an ideal platform for SHRI LAKSHMI to build a ideal LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLE, with various tactical operational gadgets, to cater to Homeland security needs of the country. Mr. Anil Kumar Verma, Director, Shri Lakshmi Defence Solutions Ltd said, “Our Company has designed SHERPA, an indigenous vehicle to aid security forces for the counter insurgency, anti-Naxal operations and to enhance combat efficiency of the commandos.
Speaking at the event, Mr Nigel Wark, Executive Director, Marketing, Sales and Service of Ford India said, "We are happy to partner with SHRI LAKSHMI DEFENCE to develop the modern Light Armored Vehicle – SHERPA, built on the Ford Endeavour chassis. The Endeavour with its superior build quality, durability and powerful transmission can prove to be a reliable vehicle in all types of terrain and will match gruelling operational requirements.”
Commenting on the launch, Dr M P Agarwal, Chairman & Managing Director of Shri Lakshmi Cotsyn Ltd said, “Shri Lakshmi Defence has been successful in showcasing various indigenous models for the defense sector for the past few years. After the successful launch of our other ranges- VIPER, DHRUV EXECUTIVE-DHRUV (ARMOR TROOP CARRIER)- DRONA M.P.V
And now Sherpa –The Company has rightly paced itself in the complete range of ARMORED VEHICLES required by Defence forces, The Company has already successfully supplied its range of vehicles in EXPORT MARKET & UN FORCES and has received good response. But due to lack of R& D facilities in INDIA, The company has to depend upon INTERNATIONAL LABORATORIES which are not only very expensive ,but also takes longer time, But with great determination and technical knowhow, capabilities within the company, has kept SLDSL far ahead with other companies in INDIA,
This year the defense allocation was raised to Rs 1, 64,415.49 crore showing the government’s greater focus on the modernization of the armed forces. We are an approved vendor with host of Indian defense establishments. We have been already supplying safety textiles such as bio- chemical, high altitude fabric, bullet-proof jackets and bullet-proof helmets, camouflage fabrics, uniform fabric, IR fabric and carbon fabric to Indian defense establishments. This has added another feather on our cap.”

Ramesh launches new green technology for leather industry

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc:New Delhi : 20 June 2011:
In a step to protect Ganga from pollution, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh launched a new green technology in Kanpur that prevents water released by the leather processing units from contaminating the river.

"Close to 50 per cent of the leather processing units in the Ganga river basin are located in Uttar Pradesh (Jajmau, Unnao and Banthar) and West Bengal. Together they use about 3,000 tonnes of salt each day to preserve 5,000 tonnes of raw hide," Ramesh said after launching the technology.

"Close to 90 per cent of this salt finds its way into the Ganga and groundwater leading to pollution and contamination," he said.The new lyophilisation technology developed and patented by the Environment Ministry's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) enables salt-free preservation of hides.

"It also brings down the amount of water used in the process, is low on chromium intake and makes for more cost-effective effluent treatment," the Minister said lauding the CPCB for its initiative.

The conventional process of leather preservation across various stages of processing uses large amounts of salt.Owing to this, tannery effluent is characterised by high amounts of dissolved solids, making effluent treatment difficult and expensive.Ramesh exhorted the leather industry to adopt this technology on a large-scale without the Union Environment Ministry having to pass laws to make its use compulsory.He said over the next two years, the leather industry will need to install around 900 such lyophilisers with each unit costing between Rs 60 lakhs and Rs 2 crore. (

Land acquisition process for Posco uphil task & difficult

Jun 19 (PTI) Land acquisition for Posco's Rs 52,000 crore steel project seems to have become an uphill task for Orissa government as anti-displacement brigade gained strength from political parties and social activists with BJP leaders visiting the proposed plant site today.A ten-member BJP delegation, led by Bimbadhar Kuanr, visited Dhinkia area in Posco's proposed project area in Jagatsinghpur district and extended their party's support to the agitators in their battle against the project.

Members of the BJP delegation held discussion with leaders of Posco Pratirodh Sangram Samiti (PPSS), which has been spearheading the agitation against the mega steel project for the last six years.

Opposing any forcible land acquisition for Posco project, the BJP leaders said no land should be acquired for a multinational company without the consent of people.

Monsoon havoc : Missing Fishermen in Bay of Bengal are safe

Nksagar-Sagar Media Inc: new delhi : Jun 19, 2011

The Coastguard has traced all the 33 trawlers with 550 fishermen on board which went missing in the Bay of Bengal since Thursday night following heavy rain. South 24 Parganas District Magistrate N S Nigam said, the fishing vessels were found from Kendo creek and from waters near Bangladesh after radio communication with them was restored. Caught in heavy rain and gusty winds, most of the 33 trawlers were blown off course towards the Bangladesh territorial waters.

Monsoons playing havoc now bring life in Kolkata back to normal after a deep depression, which caused heavy rain in the city and its neighbourhood, drifted away to lay centred 50 kms east of Bankura. Weatherman predicts heavy to very heavy rain in Bankura and the entire Gangetic belt of West Bengal during the next 24 hours.

Monsoon has further advanced in eastern Uttar radesh and it has touched Allahabad and Baharaich region. The Monsoon is likely to cover most parts of Uttar Pradesh in next two days.In Maharashtra ,the work of clearing the debris on the Mumbai - Goa route of the Konkan Railway is in its final stages and Konkan Railway officials have said that train services are expected to be restored by tomorrow morning. More from our correspondent.

In Himachal Pradesh, Hindustan-Tibet National Highway and Manali-Leh National Highway have been reopened for traffic. The two highways had been blocked due to landslides and road breaches following rain in the area.

Rain lashed most parts of Punjab and Haryana causing a dip in the mercury. National capital Delhi also experienced rain last evening and early

Protests in eastern Tibet, many detained

From: "Tibet News"
TIBET: Many Tibetans have been detained in Kardze in eastern Tibet's Kham Province as their protests against the Chinese government's repression continue to escalate, Radio Free Asia reported.“Nine Tibetans, consisting of a monk of Dhargyal Monastery, four nuns, two lay women, and two youths, staged protests on Saga Dawa, a major Buddhist festival observed on 15 June,” RFA quoted a Tibetan resident of Kardze as saying.“Their names and other details about them are not known. However, the movements of local people are restricted, and armed police are everywhere.”

The monk from Dhargyal Monastery was identified as Ngawang Lobsang Yoyo, 37.
“On 14 June, he made offerings at the Kardze monastery and prayed in front of a photo of His Holiness the Dalai Lama,” a Tibetan living India with contacts in Kardze told RFA.Chinese security forces in Lhasa, the capital of Tibet, in October 2010.“Then, at about 7:00 a.m. On 15 June, he went to downtown Kardze and chose a spot where the largest number of people had gathered for the holiday. He threw leaflets into the air and knelt down, folding his hands in appeal and calling out for a few minutes for the long life of the Dalai Lama and for the freedom of Tibet,” the man said.

Shortly afterward, the protesting monk was detained and taken away by Chinese security forces, the man said.A Chinese police official in Kardze answered a phone call from RFA confirming that “many” had been detained. “But I don’t know the reasons why. I am busy,” he said, before hanging up.A local Tibetan said that Chinese police had blocked Kardze’s downtown area from two sides.“Monks and nuns are not allowed to enter the city area,” he said, adding that Tibetans traveling from outside villages and nomadic areas must seek permission from local officials before entering Kardz

Sack Ramesh for threatening Uttarakhand

Political statement by Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for blaming the BJP government for illegal quarrying in the river Ganga did cost dearly to Congress.

Uttarakhand unit of BJP today demanded sacking of Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh for blaming the BJP government for illegal quarrying in the river Ganga.State party chief Bishan Singh Chufal said, "Jairam Ramesh has tried to damage the federal structure of the country by threatening Uttarakhand to invoke Section 5 of Environment Protection Act."We urge Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to remove Ramesh," he told Reporters here.

Section 5 of the Act gives the Centre "power to direct the closure, prohibition or regulation of any industry".Chufal said BJP has taken the threat very seriously and warned if any such attempt is made, the party would oppose it tooth and nail.

Anna Hazare to go on hunger strike from August 16

Jun 16 (PTI) Amid growing differences with civil society members on the proposed Lokpal Bill, Government today held a series of meetings to formulate a strategy to handle the ticklish issue.Union Minister Kapil Sibal and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hours after Anna Hazare accused the UPA of "playing tricks" with people of the country and questioned the rationale behind sending two versions of Lokpal Bill to the Cabinet for consideration.

However, both the leaders remained tightlipped on what transpired in the meeting. The Group of Ministers on Media also met at noon and is learnt to have decided to follow a 'wait and watch' policy to the unfolding situation and not be hurried in its response.

Anna Hazare today threatened to go on hunger strike from August 16 alleging "backtracking" on Lokpal bill but the government refused to yield, saying it cannot allow creation of a "parallel" structure.

Amidst hardening of positions by both sides, government made it clear that it would come out with a "strong and sound" draft of Lokpal bill by June 30 irrespective of whether civil society activists cooperate.

A day after talks in the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill got deadlocked, Hazare accused the government of having no intention to enact a strong anti-corruption law and that it had "backtracked" on the promises that it will agree to all the suggestions forwarded by the civil society members.

Mayawati:Congress "mother of corruption"

New Delhi, Jun 16 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today launched a scathing attack on Congress and BJP on the issue of land acquisition, saying farmers in states ruled by the two parties were agitated over poor compensation.Addressing BSP workers from Delhi at the Talkatora Indoor Stadium here, the BSP chief alleged that Congress is considered as the "mother of corruption" in the country.Mayawati, under attack from opposition parties in UP on the issue of corruption, used the opportunity to attack the ruling party at the Centre on the same issue.

Citing irregularities in the run up to the Commonwealth Games, she said the money wasted in corruption could haver been used to upgrade the living conditions of people from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar who have come the national capital to earn a living.

Ayman al-Zawahiri new chief of al-Qaeda

Ayman al-Zawahiri is named as the new leader of al-Qaeda, following the death of Osama Bin Laden.The Egyptian militant is known to be highly intelligent,and according report on Al Arabiya television aired on Thursday, the Egyptian-born Zawahri have been elected leader of al-Qaeda. "The general leadership of al-Qaida group,after wrapping up its consultations, announces that the appointment of Sheikh Ayman Zawahri as the leader of the group," the Islamist website said in a statement.Jawahari voweed to step up Al Qaida's campaign against the United States and its allies.Al-Qaeda warns of continue to fight a holy war against the US and Israel under Zawahiri's direction.Egyptian-born Zawahri, a 60-year-old surgeon, has been hiding since the United States's announcement of war on terror in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington.Media agencies

Lokpal Bill draft at dead end

Just after the meet of civil society and Government both parties in their press briefing showed their divergent view on the Jan Lokpal bill which is being debated from the last two months and no consensus have arrived uptil media space is full of debate on this issue.Government and civil society were on Wednesday deadlocked on the Lokpal Bill, prompting them to agree that a note would be sent to the Cabinet by 30th June carrying versions of both the sides.At the two-and-half hour meeting of the joint drafting committee on Lokpal Bill in New Delhi on Wednesday, differences persisted between the two sides on the proposed ombudsman, particularly its structure and modalities.

#Silent Salient features of disagreement:>
The Anna Hazare-led civil society members suggested that Lokpal should be empowered top probe corruption cases against officials doing away with the practice of conducting departmental probe along with a CBI enquiry.The government members rejected.
#Second issue which was discussed in Wednesday’s meeting was the structure of Lokpal.While the civil society proposed an 11-member independent anti-corruption watchdog with subordinates having powers, the government side differed arguing that only 11 members be empowered to take decisions.

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal said the committee will again meet on 20th and 21st June in an attempt to bridge differences."It is clear there are areas where there are strong divergence of opinion. Hopefully the civil society members will give us a draft on issues of divergence. We ourselves will prepare a draft on the issues on which we think there are divergence and we will try and arrive at a consensus.
"If no consensus is not arrived, then we will forward a draft bill with both versions so that the Cabinet can take a view," he said.The process will be completed by 30th June."Structurally, there was no convergence of opinion on the shape of the Lokpal would be, both at central and state level," Sibal said.

Team Hazare, which boycotted last meeting on 6th June alleging that government was playing a fraud, maintained that the deliberations over one and a half months were "pretence" on part of the government.Kejriwal said they will not boycott the next meetings as the civil society members of the ten-member committee are keen to ensure that the country gets a strong Lokpal Bill."We were raising arguments over issues but the government side was only giving decisions. Even on small issues, it was hard to convince them. It seems that the government has made up its mind and is not ready to discuss," he said.

Kspil Sibal said there will be a single Cabinet note that will carry versions of both the sides, the Hazare team claimed that two drafts of the Bill will be put up before the cabinet for consideration.The civil society members were sceptical of what the Cabinet will decide.The contentious issue of bringing the post of Prime Minister under the purview of Lokpal was not discussed in the meeting, said Sibal and Kejriwal.

Sibal said both the versions would be placed before the Cabinet so that there is no such feeling that the stand of the civil society has been ignored. The areas where there is agreement will also be put up in the draft Lokpal Bill."We have not yet decided on the future course of action and are considering their suggestions," he said.About the allegations levelled by the civil society against the ministers, Sibal said the Hazare-team has attributed it to "outsiders".
Lawyer Prashant Bhushan said the civil society wanted to have a Lokpal with powers vested at the lower level."But the government wants to concentrate its powers at the higher level and wants the watchdog to investigate the higher officials," he said.

Meanwhile, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ashwani Kumar sought cooperation from civil society on Lokpal Bill."We earnestly hope that we will be able to bring the Bill in the monsoon session of the Parliament. Offcourse, it will depend upon a number of factors. I sincerely and earnestly hope and would appeal to the member of the civil society to cooperate with the government in taking the matter forward," he told reporters in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Asked if the Bill will also bring the Prime Minister and judiciary under its ambit, he said "This is a work in progress. To the best of my knowledge, this stand has not been concertised or formalised and therefore the final contours and ambits, and scope of proposed legislation will only be known once there is a draft Bill."
Kumar said that country needs a credible and purposive Lokpal Bill."The Government remains committed to such measures and I do want to say that the fight against corruption is no individuals or organisation's agenda.

"It's a national agenda. It is a nation's cause and this government and the Congress leadership remain fully committed to this cause," the Minister added.