Anna gets 'Z' category security

Social activist Anna Hazare has been provided with `Z` category security, a senior police official said today.

"Hazare has been provided Z category security three days ago," Ahmednagar district SP Krishna Prakash told PTI over phone.

Asked about reports that the anti-corruption crusader had rejected the security cover, the IPS officer said, "It is not true that he has rejected the security. What he told us is that he does not need the security.

"He said he never wanted any type of security cover and that he likes to mingle among people and does not perceive any threat," Krishna Prakash said.

Earlier, there were two persons who were part of Hazare`s security. After the Z category cover was provided, now there are four guards and two PSOs protecting Hazare round the
clock, he said.

"Whenever Hazare will leave his village Ralegan Siddhi, there will be a squad vehicle which will travel with him," the senior police officer said.

The 74-year-old Gandhian addressed a gram sabha at his village in western Maharashtra in his first public appearance after being discharged from a Gurgaon hospital.

Baba Ramdev hits back on government

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev has lashed out the union government alleging that he is being targeted through Enforcement Directorate (ED).

Addressing a crowded press conference here on Saturday, he said that he has not received any notice from the ED office regarding allegations put up by the department. He raised question by asking that what his fault was. 

He claimed that it is a clear case of conspiracy under things developed in last couple of days. Baba Ramdev, who was looking combative, also took a dig on media for showing and publishing baseless news against him.

No record of expenditure on Afzal Guru

Tihar Jail authorities have not maintained the accounts of expenditure incurred on ensuring safety of Mohammed Afzal Guru, facing gallows for his role in the December 13, 2001 Parliament attack, according to an RTI reply. The jail authority has responded to the information seeker by saying that there is no practice of keeping separate records relating to such expenditure on individual inmates.

"In this regards, it is informed that no separate record regarding expenditure on security, safety and food of an individual prisoner is maintained," the Public Information Officer in the office of director general of prisons, Tihar Jail, said in the reply.

Ahmedabad-based NGO National Council for Civil Liberties had filed the RTI application seeking information as to how much money has been spent so far by the government on safety, security and food of Guru.

The NGO's vice-president, Mukesh Kumar, who had filed the application, has now preferred to appeal against the response before the first appellate authority in the director general of Prison's office saying the reply is "unconvincing".

In his appeal, Kumar claimed that as per his knowledge, every jail maintains record of expenditure about high profile convicts. He supported his contention by making mention of media reports suggesting that Maharashtra government has been maintaining records of expenditure on the safety and security of Pakistani militant Ajmal Kasab who is also sentenced to death in the 26/11 Mumbai attack case.

The NGO in the appeal said, "As per our knowledge such high profile convicts are kept in special cells and records of every expenditure is maintained by the prison authorities. "Needless to mention that Maharashtra Police is maintaining such records on Ajmal Kasab, a convict of Mumbai attack and according to press reports Maharashtra government/police has spent more than Rs 35 crore in his security, safety and food etc."

The NGO mentioned in its appeal that it requires the information regarding money spent on Guru's security to compare the expenditure made by different state police on similar convicts. Before receiving the response, the RTI application of May 25, 2011, filed in the Union Home Ministry, went to three government departments. The union ministry had forwarded the application to the Delhi Government on June 8, saying the issue in question does not fall under its jurisdiction.

The Delhi Government then forwarded the application to its home department saying the issue pertains to them. From the home department the application was sent to the office of director general of Tihar Jail, which finally responded saying no such record is maintained.

Hegde may draft Bihar Lokayukta bill

There are indications that ex- Karnataka Lokayukta Santosh Hegde may draft the new Bihar Lokayukta Bill. According to Indian Express, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar had approached him through key Team Anna member and senior lawyer Shanti Bhushan around the time Anna Hazare had begun his fast in support of the Jan Lokpal bill.

 Justice Hegde, however, hasn’t got a formal invitation from the CM. He confirmed that Team Anna member Arvind Kejriwal, whom the Bihar CM had approached first, requested Shanti Bhushan to ask Hegde to draft the Bihar bill for a strong Lokayukta.

Bihar government is planning to bring in the amendment bill in the Assembly’s winter session to effect changes in the Bihar Lokayukta Act, 1973. The existing Act, dubbed as toothless, has only powers to recommend action against public servants barring the CM and its recommendation is not binding on the government.

Sensex extends gains, opens 313 points higher

Reopening for trade after a two-day holiday, the BSE benchmark Sensex rose by 313 points within minutes of the opening bell today on continued buying by funds, ignoring rising inflation and weak Asian cues. The 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, which gained nearly 828 points in the previous two sessions, moved up further by 313.11 points, or 1.89 per cent, to 16,989.86 in opening trade today.

 In a similar fashion, the broad-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index surged by 112.70 points, or 0.51 per cent, to 5,113.70. The market was closed in observance of 'Ramzan Eid' on Wednesday and on Thursday for the 'Ganesh Chaturthi' festival. Stocks of oil and gas, banking, healthcare and auto companies attracted the most buying interest in early trade, helping the Sensex continue on its upward journey.

 Brokers said even negative factors such as climbing food inflation, which crossed double digits for the week ended August 20, and slowing GDP growth in April-June failed to dampen the trading sentiment. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng Index was trading 0.16 per cent lower and Japan's Nikkei Index was down by 0.89 per cent in morning trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.03 per cent lower in the previous session.

Nation celebrating Eid

Nation is celebrating Eid-ul-Fitr today, culminating a month of fasting. In the backdrop of last month`s serial bomb blasts in Mumbai, which left 25 people dead, security has been stepped up in the city for Eid-ul-Fitr and Ganesh Chaturthi festivals.

Apart from the 43,000-strong Mumbai Police, additional forces such as 10 teams of State Reserve Police Force, three squads of Rapid Action Force and policemen from different parts of Maharashtra have been roped in to boost security and surveillance during the widely celebrated ten-day Ganesh fest and Eid.

Special security arrangements have been made for one of the oldest and the city`s most famous Ganesh idols, Lalbaugcha Raja, where three Deputy Commissioners of Police and over 1,000 police personnel will be on duty. A separate control room has been set up at the venue, said a senior police official.

Leave of all police personnel has been cancelled till the festival, which begins on September 1, is over, Patnaik added. In the backdrop of the July 13 serial blasts in which 25 people were killed, surveillance across the metropolis has been stepped up considerably. A general alert has also been sounded, said another police official.

Govt to take action against 90 IAS officers

It could be anybody`s guess that Government is now taking action against the corrupt IAS officers due to the movement of Anna Hazare or not, but those who love to accept bribe would face the music. It has decided to take action against close to 90 IAS officers who have failed to submit their property returns despite several reminders.

According to the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT), 87 officers at the level of Director, Under Secretaries and Deputy Secretaries have not given Immovable Property Returns (IPR) for 2009 and 2010, deadline for which ended on January 31 this year.

 Taking a strict view, DoPT has written to concerned ministries in this regard and sought action taken report against the defaulters. Out of the 87 officers, a highest of 13 are from Defence Ministry followed by 11 from Home Ministry, six from Ministry of Minority Affairs, five from Ministry of Mines and three each from Information and Broadcasting Ministry and Staff Selection Commission.
 
There are in all 4,356 IAS officers working in different departments of central and state governments.

"Ministries/Departments are well aware that the Immovable Property returns (IPR) in respect of Central Secretariat Service Officers (Under Secretary and above level) are required to be furnished to this division by January 31 of every year.

"However, despite repeated reminders the IPR for the year 2009 which was to be received by this division by January 31, 2010 and IPR for the year 2010 which was to be received in this Division by January 31, 2011 have not yet been received in respect of large number of officers," the fifth reminder by DoPT said.

Rs 14-cr insurance cover for Lalbaugcha Raja

In view of the July 13 triple blasts, security has been beefed up at Mumbai's famous Lalbaugcha Raja Ganesh mandal with organisers insuring it for Rs 14 crore, an increase of Rs 4 crore from last year.

 Ganesh Chaturthi beginning tomorrow is the biggest festival in Maharashtra and Lalbaugcha Raja is one of the oldest and the most popular 'mandals' in the metropolis attracting around one crore devotees including film stars and politicians following which tight arrangements have been made.

 "It has been noticed that every year before the Ganesh festival some untoward incident takes place. To ensure a safe festival we have enhanced our security this time. We have deployed 300 private guards, last year there were 200. Also, the number of CCTV cameras have been increased from 35 to around 70," Lalbaugcha Raja President Ashok Pawar said.

 Also, there will be metal detector door frames and handheld detectors. Besides police security, we will also have our around 2,500 volunteers, he said. The mandal has also secured an insurance policy worth Rs 14 crore in case of any eventuality.

 "The mandal has been insured for Rs 14 crore, an increase of Rs four crores. Devotees have been insured for Rs five crores, last year the insurance cover for them was Rs three crore. For jewellery of the deity Rs six crores have been kept aside. Last year it was Rs four crore. The insurance cover for the pandal remains same--Rs three crore," Pawar said.

 Last year, the mandal had erected an air-conditioned pavilion for devotees but this time there will be no such facility. "To enable better circulation of air we had installed AC. But the effect was not cooling and there were suffocation complaints. We have put of lot of fans this year," he said. The organisers have reduced the height of the stage from 3 ft to 1.5 ft. "We have done this for devotees so that they find it easier to touch the deity and seek his blessings," he said.

Nuclear capable Agni II likely to be tested today

India's nuclear capable Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile, with a striking range of 2,000 km, is likely to be test fired as part of user trial by the army from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast tomorrow.

"The trial of the indigenously made sophisticated missile is to be conducted from the ITR in the Wheelers Island, about 70 km from Chandipur defence base sea," Defence sources said today.
Range integration work in the ITR for the proposed trial of Agni-II missile is complete and after a final check-up in the sub-systems of the missile, the mission will be taken up tomorrow, they said.
It is a user's trial by army and Strategic Forces Command (SFC) would conduct the test with logistic support provided by the ITR, the sources said.
"All necessary preparations for the trial have been completed and if everything goes well, the trial will be conducted as per schedule tomorrow," they said.
Senior officials, experts and scientists would be present during the trial, they said.

Kochi: Flight skids off runway, 7 injured

At least seven passengers were injured when a Gulf Air Flight from Bahrain with 137 passengers on board, deviated from the runway just before landing at the nearby International airport early on Monday.

The runway has been closed for bigger aircraft following the incident, airport director ACK Nair said. One passenger who was injured has been admitted to a nearby hospital and the others were discharged after first aid. It would take another 10 hours for the airport to be fully operational. However, smaller ATR aircrafts can land, he said

The Gulf Air flight GF 270 with six crew deviated from the run way at 4:10am Monday morning. Some passengers in panic, jumped down from the aircraft through the emergency door even before the ladder was brought to the flight, airport sources said.

Saithmohed (47) fromPalakkad who suffered some fractures has been hospitalized. According to sources, the mishap could have occurred due to heavy wind and rain at the time of landing of the aircraft.

Mumbai faces monsoon fury

Train services on the Central and Harbour line were disrupted in the city today following heavy rains in the metropolis last night. Traffic was affected due to water logging in the tracks in several low-lying areas in the city inconveniencing daily commuters and office goers.

  

Water logging was reported from several places including Sion and Kurla paralysing suburban services between Thane and Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) on the Central line. On Harbour line traffic between Panvel and CST stations was crippled due to inundated rail tracks in Chunabhatti, Chembur and Mankhurd stations. However, trains on the Western line were running late by 15-20 minutes.

  

"Due to heavy downpour resulting in waterlogging at several stations on Central and Harbour line, train services have been stopped for sometime. We are waiting for the water to recede to resume services," AK Singh, Central Railway PRO said.

  

Vehicular traffic was also affected due to water-logging in areas like suburban Parel, Hindmata, Dadar, Milan subway Andheri, Santacruz, Kurla, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar and Vile Parle. Air services have remained unaffected as of now.

Rancho's school back to life in Leh

A year after it was hit by flash floods, Druk Padma School, popular as Rancho's school after Aamir Khan's character in 3 Idiots, has come back to life. The flash floods and mudslides had devastated a wide swath around Leh and caused huge loss to the school, 15 km from Leh and located in Shey, the ancient capital of Ladakh.

 But after support from different parts of the country and the world, the school is back in action and now is home to about 270 children, 67 of whom are from the flood-affected areas. "This school is meant to educate the deprived children of this region. We also provide hostel facilities for students. Besides, the school organises free medical camps for the people of Ladakh," said Prasad Eledath, the school Principal.

 "It is our endeavour to provide world class education to the kids. The students here study Bothi (the local language), English, and Hindi as well as science, creative arts, and sports," he said. Besides, the students also learn skills, including team work, presentation skills through formal and co-curricular activities, he said, adding that by next year he would like to upgrade the school to Class X.

 "Inspired by the vision of His Holiness the 12^th Gyalwang Drukpa, spiritual leader of Ladakh, the school aims to provide modern education for Ladakhi children – an education grounded in their own culture and which could prepare them to lead happy and productive lives," Prasad said.

Reliance overtakes ONGC as most-valued comp

Reliance Industries today reclaimed the numero-uno position in the domestic market capitalisation charts, racing past state-run ONGC to emerge as the country`s most-valued company yet again. With a market value of Rs 2,42,283 crore at 1027 hours this morning, RIL surpassed ONGC`s market cap of Rs 2,38,270 crore to reclaim the top position.

  

On Friday, ONGC had toppled billionaire Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries to claim the title of the country`s most-valued company. Shares of RIL went up by 3.49 per cent to touch an early high of Rs 744.65 on the BSE today. The surge in the bellwether stock was a significant contributor to the overall bullish trend in the market, with the benchmark Sensex trading higher by 348.39 points at 16,197.22 at 1027 hours.

  

The share price of ONGC, too, rose by 1.43 per cent to touch an early peak of Rs 282 on the BSE. At the end of Friday`s trade, RIL had a market cap of Rs 2,35,571 crore, while ONGC commanded a market value of Rs 2,37,842 crore.

  

RIL had first toppled ONGC to become the country`s most-valued firm way back in late 2006, but the state-run energy giant later reclaimed the top position, albeit only for a few brief period. In the past few days, a veritable game of musical chairs has been played out between the country`s most-valued firms on the bourses.

Earlier, on August 17, state-run Coal India Ltd (CIL) had dethroned RIL to become the country`s top-valued firm. Then, two days later on August 19, RIL briefly slipped to third position in the valuation charts, after CIL and ONGC, only to reclaim the No. 2 position by the market close. CIL`s stint at the top proved to be short-lived, with RIL reclaiming this position within six days on August 23.

  

A day later, on August 24, CIL lost further ground and slipped to third position in the valuation charts after RIL and ONGC. CIL continues to be the country`s third-most valued company, with total market capitalisation of Rs 2,31,052 crore this morning.

Anna breaks fast after 288 hours

Anna Hazare ended his fast on the 13th day by drinking cocunut water and honey. He will now spend some time an the Ramlila Maidan and then go straight to the hospital.

A Team Anna member said the 74-year-old Gandhian will go to Medanta Medicity in Haryana`s Gurgaon soon after he breaks his fast.Doctors are concerned about his health as his fast enters the 13th day today with his internal organs getting affected.

Hazare had lost at least 7.5 kg since August 16 when he sat on a hunger strike for a strong Lokpal Bill. He now weighs 64.5 kg.

A roaring crowd greeted Gandhian Anna Hazare this morning at Ramlila Maidan as he emerged on the dais to break his fast.

Clad in his trademark white dhoti-kurta and Gandhi cap, Hazare came to the stage at 9:30 am from his tent and waved to the crowds and chanted `Bharat Mata ki Jai`, `Vande Mataram` and `Inquilab Zindabad`.

A visibly weak 74-year-old Hazare had trouble walking as he walked, with the fast launched on August 16 for a strong Lokpal apparently a toll on his health.

Sitting cross-legged and with folded hands, he listened to Mahatma Gandhi`s favourite hymn `Raghupati Raghava Rajaram` even as several children joined him on the stage.

He was also seen chatting with his close associates Manish Sisodia and Kiran Bedi. The waiting people, some of whom were at Ramlila Maidan since last night, went ecstatic as the activist emerged on the dais.

People are hoisting flags and chanting slogans making the atmosphere festive and jubilant.

Demanding passing of Janlokpal Bill by the Parliament, Hazare went on fast from August 16.

19 IAS officers transfered in Haryana

In a major administrative reshuffle, Haryana Government issued transfer and posting orders of 19 IAS officers with immediate effect. Financial Commissioner (FC) and Principal Secretary (PS), of Women & Child Development Department, Shakunatala Jakhu has been transfered at the same position in Food & Supplies Department.
Navraj Sandhu, has been made FC and PS of Health Department in place of Rajan Kumar Gupta who will be new FC and PS, Transport and Civil Aviation Department, an official release said today.  SS Dhillon, FC and PS, Town & Country Planning and Urban Estates Department will also look after the Urban Local Bodies Department while Dheera Khandelwal has been appointed as FC and PS of Women & Child Development Department.

TC Gupta, Director General, and Special Secretary Town and Country Planning and Urban Estates Department will also look after the Urban Local Bodies. Project Director Swaran Jayanti Shehri Rozgar Yojna and State Urban Development Society, Haryana vice Balbir Singh Malik who has been posted as Director General, and Special Secretary, Higher Education, Haryana vice Vineet Garg who becomes State Project Director, Haryana Prathmic Shiksha Pariyojna Parishad and Project Director, Rastriya Madhyamic Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA) vice Mandip Singh Brar whose posting orders will be issued later.

Arun Kumar, Managing Director, Uttar Haryana Bijli Vitaran Nigam Ltd and Additional Managing Director, Haryana Vidyut Prasarn Nigam and A K Singh, Director General and special Secretary, State Transport and Advisor and Special Secretary, Civil Aviation will swap their places of posting.
Arun Kumar will also look after the work of Director, Renewal Energy, Haryana.

Need to fight corruption: Rahul Gandhi

Lok Sabha on Friday witnessed total chaos when Congress MP,Rahul Gandhi,was speaking on Anna’s agitation. He said that he has his own doubts that only one bill can eradicate corruption. I

n his very fiery speech, he said that in order to root out the corruption, there is great need for political statesmanship.

He was of the opinion that corruption has taken very deep roots in our system. “ Our biggest system is our political system.Anna Hazare has helped articulate public sentiment, I thank him for that”, says Rahul.

He also said Lokpal alone cannot be a substitute to anti-corruption code, a set of laws is required. “ We can't wish away corruption, it will require comprehensive programme of action,” says Rahul Gandhi.

Facebook encourages alcohol abuse

How much time does your child spend on Facebook? Teenagers who regularly use social networking sites are much more likely to drink, smoke and use marijuana, a new study has claimed.

The Columbia University study of 1,000 American teenagers aged between 12 and 17 years found that those who used such sites daily were five times more likely to smoke tobacco than
those who did not.

Similarly, they are three times more likely to drink alcohol and twice as likely to use marijuana. The poll also found that 70 per cent of those interviewed said they used social networking sites on a typical day, while 30 per cent did not, the Daily Telegraph reported. One of the main reasons for going on such sits, besides actually communicating with friends, is to keep tabs on peers
by looking at their photographs.
But the study found that pictures of teenagers "drunk, passed out, or using drugs on Facebook and other sites" were "rampant". However, parents seemed unaware that browsing such sites could increase their child's likelihood of abusing drink or drugs, with almost nine in 10 believing it did not have an effect on them, the researchers said.

Joseph Califano, founder of National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse at the university, called on operators of Facebook and others to instigate tighter controls to block such photographs. "The time has come for those who operate and profit from social networking sites like Facebook to deploy their expertise to curb such images and to deny use of their sites to children and teens who post pictures of themselves and their friends drunk, passed out or using drugs," he said. The survey also found that one in five teenagers claimed to have been bullied online. (PTI)

Now you can fill petrol at your own

Now, you can fill petrol in your vehicle at your own.Indian Oil Corp (IOC) has introduced the nation's first petrol pump with self service refuelling facility.

However, an attendant will be available at the bay for assistance and to educate the customer on refuelling system, nozzle handling and collection of the automation bill. He will also collect the payment.

The first self-refuelling petrol pump opened in the national capital. It was inaugurated by Amresh Kapoor, General Manager in-charge of IOC Delhi State Office. Under the concept, the customer shall be provided the option of refuelling his vehicle either through the pre loaded automation tags or the manual option by feeding the quantity to be dispensed by the dispensing unit It is said that the self dispensing system Is quite popular at the fuel stations abroad and is expected to generate lot of interest, especially among the youth.

Doctors concerned about Anna's health

Doctors today said they were concerned about the health of Anna Hazare as his fast entered
the tenth day.

“We have examined him this morning. There is stability in blood pressure and heart beat. He has taken rest. He had six litres of water and the ketone levels have come down," Dr Naresh Trehan told reporters here.
Trehan said it was a "matter of concern" that for the past 10 days, Hazare was on fast and that he has not eaten anything.
"This will have an effect on his body...Till now, he has already managed for 10 days and he is stable. We are monitoring his health round-the-clock," he said, adding that doctors were checking his condition every two hours.

Rahul concerned over logjam on Hazare issue

Rahul Gandhi today said that he was concerned over the logjam in the wake of Anna Hazare's agitation against  corruption.

"Of course I am concerned," was his brief response when asked whether he is concerned about the stand off on the Lokpal issue and Hazare's refusal to end the fast.
The AICC general secretary made the remark after coming out of the Congress Parliamentary Party meeting during which Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee briefed party leaders on the Hazare issue.
Though Gandhi did not speak in the meeting, a number of party MPs including some young leaders made their suggestions and put questions to Mukherjee.
A number of Congress MPs had earlier disagreed with the way the Hazare issue was handled.