Covering goa sinCe 1963 vol 47 issue 324 Panaji, goa 16 Pages + Panorama PriCe rs 3 sms: 9158909114 email: mytake@navhindtimes.Com

sunday january 10, 2010

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Regd No. GOA/03/2006-08 RNI No. 12168/66

Weather TodayMax 33.5 oC Min 20.3 oCHumidity: 56%Cloudy

sky

shah rukh ‘tweets’ in support of hockey playerssports p16

Music to me comes from heart: Bondo

buzz p8

Nt NEtWorK

PanajI: The All-India Congress Committee secretary in-charge of party elections in the state, Mr D N Sharma has said that his party would prevent the entry of criminals in its fold, even as he said that the Goa pradesh Congress committee could initiate action against any person with criminal background.

Addressing a press

conference at the Congress House on Saturday, Mr Sharma, who arrived in the state on Friday to oversee the membership of the party and the preparation for the party elections, said that there was a system in place to block the criminals from occupying party posts and their forms could be rejected during the screening process.

He further said that in case any criminal seeks to enter the party the party

leadership could deny the person membership, adding that Congress members need to identify the antecedents of the would-be members for any criminal background before enrolling them as members of the party.

Mr Sharma also stated that the local Congress leaders demanded representation for the Goan MPs in the Union cabinet during his

coNgrEss: p12

AICC emissary in Goa

Congress to keep criminals at bay

ptInEW dELHI: The government on Saturday approved road projects worth Rs 6,152 crore in five states for upgrading nearly 562 km of four-lane highways into six lanes.

The projects include six-laning of 435 km in Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Gujarat at an estimated Rs 4,279.94 crore, which are part of the Golden Quadrilateral scheme and four/six laning of 122.87 km stretch on Maharashtra-Goa and Goa-Karnataka border at an estimated Rs 1,872 crore.

The projects were approved by the cabinet committee on infrastructure.

The stretches for six-laning are the Pune-Satara section of the national highway in Maharashtra, Samakhiali-Gandhidham section in Gujarat and Udaipur-Ahemdabad section in Rajasthan and Gujarat.

“The total project will be under design, build, finance, operate and transfer pattern,” an official statement said.

road: p12

Centre approves road widening projects for Goa, other four states

Indian man set ablaze in MelbourneptI MELBOurnE: A 29-year-old Indian youth was set on fire by a group of four assailants here on Saturday in the latest attack on people from the country in Australia, drawing condemnation from the community and the government, but the police said a racial angle is “highly unlikely”.

Mr Jaspreet Singh was attacked in Essendon area of northwest Melbourne shortly before 2 a.m. (local time) (8.30 a.m. IST Friday), a week after student Nitin Garg was stabbed to death amid a spate of assaults on Indians in Australia.

INdIaN: p12

KVIC wants youth to run Khadi BhavansNt NEtWorK

PanajI: Stressing on the need to improve the marketing techniques for popularising Khadi Bhavans in Goa, the chairperson of the Khadi and Village Industries Commission, Mumbai,

KVIc: p12

bY asHoKKuMar dEsaI | Nt NEtWorKCanaCOna: Canacona taluka is in the grip of an acute shortage of coconut pluckers (paddekars) that threatens to weaken one of its most important industries.

Mr Rama Girmo Desai, an attorney of Shri Mallikarjun Temple, Canacona who looks after coconut production of the Devalaya, said that it is very difficult to get coconut pluckers in the taluka and as such coconut

cocoNut: p12

Threat to coconut industryshortage of coconut pluckers in Canacona

some of the coconut pluckers are seen with Mr rama desai, the at-torney for shri Mallikarjun temple. ashokkumar desai | Nt

6 rockets fired from Pak sidePakistani forces fired six rockets in villages around the Attari border early Saturday, drawing retaliation from the BSF. “At around midnight, five-six rockets were fired from the Pakistan side out of which two fell near the border outpost. We heard 2-3 explosions but the rockets which fell near the outpost did not explode. the BSF IG, Mr Himmat Singh said. P12

Printed at Plot L-8, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Goa and published at Navhind Bhavan, Rua Ismael Gracias, Panaji, 403001 Goa by Vilas V Sardessai on behalf of Ms Dempo Industries Pvt Ltd. Editor: Arun Sinha WEBSITE:www.navhindtimes.com Email / Editorial: navhind@navhindtimes.com/ Advertising: advt@navhindtimes.com

NEWS12 THE NAVHIND TIMESSuNDAy ocTobEr 25, 2009

DEATHMARIA CONCEICAO

D’COSTA(Auchitvaddo, Tivim, Bardez-Goa)

Born : 08.12.1936 – Died : 22.10.2009Wife of Philip C. D’Costa, Mother / Mother-in-law of Cajetan (Simon) / Bernadette, Ison / Thereza, Vincent / Wenditta,

Grace / Mario, Santous / Sandra, Angelina / Minguel. Grandmother of Samuel Pio, Vivenda, Valerina, Gannon, Shauna, Sylvester, Steffano and Melita.Funeral cortege will leave her residence at House No.117, Auchitvaddo, Near Bongolo, Tivim, Bardez Goa on 27th October, 2009 at 10.00 am for St.Christopher’s Church, Tivim, for Eucharistic Celebration followed by burial.Relatives, neighbours and friends kindly accept this as the only intimation

McDONALDS - 2250250

Classifieds Contd. from Page 07SITUATION VACANT SITUATION VACANT

SITUATION VACANT

SITUATION WANTED

pakistan:break dogged Taliban defence, which had held them back for four days.

“Kotkai has been captured and all roads leading to the town are under forces’ control now,” the chief military spokesman, Major General Athar Abbas told reporters.

Kotkai is the hometown of Hakimullah Mehsud and his close aide Qari Hussain, also known as trainer of suicide bombers, and its capture opens the way for troops to assault the Taliban main hubs of Saragoha and Jandola.

“Soldiers are now clearing Kotkai of landmines, booby traps and roadside bombs,” Maj Gen Abbas said, claiming that the fall of the town had led to fissures in Taliban ranks and some of the militants were running away from the area.

In the intense tussle for Kotkai, 21 militants and three soldiers were killed, raising Taliban death toll during Operation Rah-e-Nijat to 171. Pakistan’s 22 Army personnel have so far been killed in the eight-day-old campaign.

As the Army operation entered a crucial phase, US drones, after a brief lull, struck a Taliban hideout in Chuhacra village in Bajaur, killing 22 militants including kin of top Taliban commander, Maulvi Faqir Mohamad.

The son-in-law and nephew of Faqir Mohammad and at least three foreign fighters were among the dead.

However, the Taliban chieftain escaped by a whisker, having left the hideout 10 minutes before the hellfire missiles crashed in.

Most of the dead in the drone attack were Afghan militants and toll could rise as some of the injured are in a critical condition, reports said.

Local officials were quoted by TV channels that hideout had tunnels dug under it and the target of the drone apparently was Faqir Mohammad, who was deputy to the slain Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan chief, Baitullah Mehsud and had declared himself outfit’s chief after Baitullah’s killing.

The drone attack came after a relative lull in such strikes in the tribal belt over the past few weeks.

Reports have said the US decided to cut down on drone attacks due to the operation launched by the Pakistan Army against the Taliban in South Waziristan.

Claiming that the Waziristan offensive was progressing well, the Pakistan Prime Minister, Mr Yousuf Raza Gilani said the campaign would be taken to its logical conclusion.

“Failure is not an option despite the ferocity of these attacks,” a statement released by Mr Gilani’s office quoted him as saying.

The Army chief, Gen Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has said the offensive was moving ahead successfully and the aim of the Army was to keep the civilian causalities down.

Kabul

Lahore

KBK

Quetta

Chitral

INDIA

AFGHANISTAN

PAKISTAN

Peshawar

Jandala

Wana

Islamabad

PAKISTAN

Pak militarytakes control

of Kotkai

Area of anti-Taliban

offensive in South Waziristan

india:The two sides agreed to continue

talks with the aim of incrementally removing the barriers to a solution that was fair and acceptable to both sides, the Chinese agency said.

From the Indian side, Mr Ravi only read out a prepared text but did not take any questions from the media.

The Chinese Premier said it was important that India and China should live in harmony and friendship and enjoy prosperity, Mr Ravi said.

Describing Dr Singh as an “old friend”, Mr Wen said it was important to implement the agreements outlined in the 10-pronged strategy of 2006 and Vision Document of last year to “deepen mutually beneficial cooperation” on bilateral, regional and international issues.

“We want to have a healthy and steady relationship with India,” Mr Wen said and expressed confidence that in the years ahead that the two countries will have good relations.

Mr Wen referred to Dr Singh’s remark that both countries have enough space to develop and cooperate and said that “there are sufficient areas in the world for India and China to enhance such cooperation”.

The meeting came as the two countries struck conciliatory notes after provocative statements from China on Arunachal Pradesh evoked a strong response from India.

Mr Wen, while felicitating Dr Singh on his re-election, recalled that

in the past years they had reached important agreements on developing and strengthening bilateral ties.

“This serves the interests of the two countries, the region and the world,” he said while stressing the importance of high-level visits to this end.

Terming his meeting with Mr Wen as productive, Dr Singh said it was a “good discussion” and the two sides agreed to further promote strategic and cooperative partnership and seek to build trust and understanding.

Dr Singh, while reviewing with Mr Wen the bilateral relations in all aspects, said he would like to see the ties move forward in every direction.

He described the economic and trade relations as “a vital pillar of our partnership” and referred to the exchanges in the defence field.

Dr Singh noted India’s readiness to cooperate with China on global issues like climate change, world trade and the global financial crisis.

Both the Prime Ministers agreed that the partnership between the two countries was in the interest of the region and the whole world.

Mr Wen made a pitch for friendly and cooperative relations to ensure that Asian century becomes a reality.

Xinhua quoted Mr Wen as saying that “we have reached important consensus on promoting bilateral ties, and I believe that our two countries could maintain a good relationship in the future, which conforms with the interests of the two countries and I have confidence about that.”

atanasio:studying the complaints by some of the candidates, who were not recommended by the GPSC.

“These candidates have complained to the government that grave injustice has been done to them during the selection process,” he added.

Mr Monseratte also said that there is no law, which forces the government to immediately implement the recommendations of the GPSC.

The Education Minister also said the government would, in

a phase-wise manner, absorb all existing 550 computer teachers in service. During the first phase, we will absorb 80 such teachers, he added.

Meanwhile, two of the candidates – Ms Namrata Gaonkar and Ms Sarika Pednekar – who were participating in the fast were shifted to the Goa Medical College Hospital, on Saturday after their health deteriorated. However, they soon joined back their colleagues, who were fasting for their cause.

The leader of the opposition, Mr Manohar Parrikar, the AITUC general secretary, Mr Christopher Fonseca

and Congress leader, Mr Vishnu Wagh visited the fasting candidates and urged them to withdraw their strike. They also assured the fasting candidates to assist them in their cause. The fast entered into the third day on Saturday.

tender:The last date for

submission of tenders is November 13, and the technical bids would be opened on the same day at 3.30 p.m.

Maoists:Mr Chidambaram

said violence must be stopped and then with

the help of well-meaning people “we can find a way in which the state governments primarily can talk to the groups in that state and the central government will afford any assistance it can to facilitate such talks”.

Referring to a statement issued by former Lok Sabha speaker, Mr Rabi Ray and his friends for a halt to violence and holding of talks, he said he felt it was his duty to write to Mr Ray making clear the government’s policy.

“Let me state it in carefully chosen words that if any group abjures violence we are willing to talk to that group about any genuine grievances.

“This is what the Prime Minister has said. This is what I have said. We have not asked them to do anything more. We simply say halt the violence and then we can talk,” the minister said.

Hitting out at “intellectuals” who voice support for the Maoists, he referred to the statement of Maoists earlier this week that their objective of the attack on Sankhrail police station in West Bengal was weapons and money.

“Even after this statement, if people romanticise the Naxalites, all I can say is that only God can help them.”

MalayalaM:in accordance with the guidelines laid down by the festival directorate,” leading director B Unnikrishnan told PTI on Saturday. Considering a petition on the issue by director Renjith, the Kerala High Court had two days back stayed the Directorate of Film Festivals from officially publishing the list for the time being.

This is the first time in recent times that Malayalam cinema has been virtually ignored, claimed Unnikrishnan, also general secretary of Film Employees Federation of Kerala, an umbrella organisation of artistes, directors and technicians.

“Our complaint is not about the numbers. We want the selectors to strictly follow the guidelines and norms of the information and broadcasting ministry and the Festival Directorate. If they had done so, this sort of regional imbalance would have been avoided,” Unnikrishnan said, adding that entire Malayalam filmdom, from directors and artistes to technicians were united on the issue.

DEATHsHri. vAmAn jAgAnnATH kEni

(79 years)(Ex-Headmaster St Alosiyus High School - Divar)

Expired on 24-10-2009 at 9.30 p.m. at his residence at Malar - Divar after brief illness.

His is survived by his Wife malini & Son ramanand.The Funeral procession will begin at 11.30 a.m. on

25-10-2009 (sunday) to Divar Crematorium.

pti

MUMBAI: A meeting of the newly elected Congress MLAs in Maharashtra on Saturday authorised the party president, Ms Sonia Gandhi to nominate their new leader who would be the chief minister.

A one-line resolution authorising Ms Gandhi to name

the new leader was passed at the first meeting of the Congress legislature party convened here to elect the leader, two days after the Congress-NCP combine stormed back to power in the crucial western state for the third time in a row.

The meeting was held in the presence of AICC observers — the Defence Minister, Mr A K Antony,

who is Congress general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra, the Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha, Mr K Rehman Khan and senior leader Digvijay Singh.

The three leaders arrived in the city this afternoon.

The observers are now meeting the MLAs individually at party office in Vidhan Bhavan to elicit their views on the leadership

issue, Congress sources said.The Congress, with 82 seats

emerged as the single largest party and its ally NCP pocketed 62 seats in the 288-member House.

The ruling coalition is all set to form the next government for the third time, with the incumbent Chief Minister, Mr Ashok Chavan as frontrunner for the top post.

CLP meet authorises Sonia to elect new leader in Maharashtrapti

NEW DELHI: With a bill on the anvil for more effective measures to check communal violence, prominent members of the Christian community on Saturday sought changes in its draft, including a provision that the state will bring out a document on causes of any riot and actions taken to check it.

The demands were made during a consultation programme on “Communal Harmony with Special Reference to Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill”.

Supreme Court judge, Mr Justice Cyric Joseph, the National Minority Commission Chairman, Mr Mahammed Shafi Qureshi, former law minister and senior advocate, Mr Shanti Bhushan and Congress leader and former Union minister, Mr Oscar Fernandes took part in the programme.

The demands included publication of a whitepaper by the state after any incident of communal violence, giving the causes of why it broke out, details of action taken for controlling it, and involvement of public servants, political parties and organisations if any within a period of 60 days after declaring an area as disturbed.

Christians for modifications in communal violence bill

NEWS12 THE NAVHIND TIMESSuNDAy JANuAry 10, 2010

MR9-�

DEATHsHri. AvDooT kAlyAn sAlElkAr

(Sanguem - Goa)Beloved Husband of smt. suhasini,

Father/Father-in-law of Amey / samina & supriya Ashish kambliSon of late kalyan & shantabai salelkar,

Brother of late Dr. G. k. salelkar / smt. Usha salelkar,late sushil shankar sardessai, late suman krishna kuvelkar,

smt. sharad B. karmali & Mrs. Hirabai / sulabh Uttam khandeparkarFuneral will leave his residence at 11.00 a.m. Today 10/01/2010 (sunday)

(No condolence visit please)(sunshine Ads)

MR9-�

IN MEMORIAM

CYRIL ATHAIDEIn Memory of

Our Dearest Father, Today.

INdIaN:Mr Singh, who suffered 20 per cent burns,

including on his arms, chest and face, was admitted to The Alfred Hospital.

He and his wife left a dinner party in Essendon and drove to their nearby home in Grice Crescent. He dropped his wife at home and had gone to park his car when he was attacked.

The police said that as he was getting out of the car, four men attacked him, pushing him back against the vehicle and pouring an unknown fluid on him. One of the men then ignited the fluid with a lighter before all the attackers fled.

The victim, who is now in a stable condition in the hospital, ran from the car while peeling off his clothes.

The acting senior sergeant, Mr Neil Smyth said it is not yet known who the four men could be or their relationship to the victim. He said investigations indicate the attack was random.

“It’s unlikely to be a racially motivated incident as due to the timing and the nature, it’s highly unlikely anyone could have targeted the victim in the circumstances,” Mr Smyth said.

The incident is being investigated by the arson and explosives squad of police.

The police appealed for public assistance to locate the victim’s clothes, which he shed as he fled the scene.

Mr Singh’s friends said he has been living in

the city on a spouse visa.Mr Gautam Gupta, president of Federation

of Indian Students of Australia, said such attacks are unacceptable and the federal government must act against them.

“We are extremely disturbed, we have contacted the Prime Minister’s office and have suggested that they intervene, it’s high time they intervene,” he said. “How many times are they going to just dodge this issue.”

The Australian Deputy Premier, Ms Julia Gillard condemned the attack on Mr Singh, saying the “matter remains under investigation by Victorian police and government would not comment further until police provide more information”.

“The government condemns such acts of violence in the strongest way,” she said.

The attack comes a week after the stabbing death of 21-year-old Indian graduate Nitin Garg in a Yarraville park while he was on his way to his part-time job in a restaurant.

The body of another Indian youth, 25-year-old Ranjodh Singh, was found in Willbriggie in the neighbouring state of New South Wales on December 29.

As one more Indian was attacked in Australia, India on Saturday amplified its exasperation over continuance of such “disturbing” incidents despite promises of action by the Australian government and said

the matter has been taken up “vigorously” with authorities there.

Interestingly, however, the ministry of external affairs asked the media to exercise “utmost restraint” while reporting on such “sensitive” matters as it could have bearing on bilateral relations.

“We came to know that another attack has taken place in Australia. It is unfortunate that things are not moving as they promised. It is very disturbing for everyone of us in the government as well as for the people of the country,” the Overseas Indian Affairs Minister, Mr Vayalar Ravi told reporters here.

He was commenting on attack on Jaspreet Singh. Mr Ravi said Australian authorities must act tough on those behind such crimes and put them behind bars.

“I want to make it loudly clear that the (Australian) government should take preventive action,” he said.

Mr Ravi claimed police know the elements behind these attacks and the persons committing these crimes.

“Why cannot they arrest them and put them behind bars and prosecute them? My suggestion is that please take preventive action against these elements. Our government expresses serious concerns and waiting for better results,” Mr Ravi said on the sidelines of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas here.

road:The concession

period for these three projects is between 24 and 30 years while that for the other Rs 1,872-crore project is 23 years, an official statement said.

“The main objective of these projects is to expedite improvement of infrastructure in these states,” it said.

The cabinet had given approval for six-laning of 6,500 km of the existing four-lane Highways under NHDP in October 2006.

coNgrEss:meeting with them and that he would convey the sentiments and demand of the Goan Congress leaders to the central leaders of the party.

Meanwhile, the GPCC president, Mr Subhash Shirodkar told that the party has taken serious note of the squabbles between the party MLAs and ministers and requested Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat, to take suitable action in the matter and end the fights, as they were bringing bad name to the party and the government. Mr Shirodkar also said that MLAs have also been told to maintain discipline.

Asked to comment on the reported moves to revive the group of seven, the GPCC president said that he did not anticipate any threat to the government. He also said that government has already completed two and half years of its term and expressed hope that it would complete the remainder of the term. He said that he would push for more meetings of the co-ordination committee.

The AICC secretary, who is also a former MP

and also looks after the election process in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Daman and Diu, said that he was happy with the membership drive in the state and expressed hope that the list of the members would be finalised by January 15 and that there would be 33 per cent reservation for women and 20 per cent reservation for SC/ST and minorities.

He further said that party leadership wanted to strengthen the democratic process in the party and elections to the booth, block and district level would be held first followed by polls to the state-level committee and thereafter to the national level. He said that Prof I G Sanadi, a former MP, has been appointed as pradesh returning officer and that an additional officer would be appointed in due course of time.

Stating that returning officers would also be appointed to conduct polls at the booth, block and district levels shortly, he said the process was expected to be completed by March-April, he went on to add that the whole election process would be announced by the AICC in due course of time.

cocoNut:pluckers from outside the taluka and sometimes even from Majali, Hankon, Kadra in Karnataka are brought for plucking the coconuts.

However, he observed that this shortage of coconut pluckers puts spotlight on the fact that the once rigid caste-based division of labour is losing its grip on the society and youngsters are shying away from traditional occupations.

Be that as it may, the shortage has raised a moot point: if nobody wants to pluck coconuts how would the people get this essential commodity for their food, he added. Coconut is extensively used in Goa for various purposes.

The manager of Canacona Bagayatdar Society, Mr Patil informed that an average household in the taluka consumes about 30 to 40 coconuts a month.

Stating that on an average 80,000 coconuts are sold in a month in the taluka, a businessman said that its bristly fiber is a major export item, which is used in making doormats.

Risk factor involved in the occupation could be one of the reasons for turning away the youngsters from taking up coconut plucking. Climbing a tall coconut tree is a risky job. There are many cases of fatal incidents in the taluka, making the occupation un attractive for the youngsters.

Last May, a coconut plucker fell down from a tall coconut tree breaking several bones and sustaining injuries to his spine. He is still recovering from the fall.

Some coconut pluckers like Mr Barkelo Gaonkar, Mr Shanu Gaonkar, Mr Bhiko Gaonkar, Mr Prabhakar Gaonkar and Mr Arjun Gaonkar said that they took up the occupation at the tender age of 10.

Observing that the occupation of coconut plucking was handed down to them by their forefathers, they said that there is no any kind of safety net for them and one misstep could prove fatal to their lives.

The coconut industry has been grappling for years with the shortage of experienced paddekars. Coconut trees flower continuously, nuts ripen at different times, and deciding whether a coconut is ready to be plucked requires a prudent judgement.

”A trained coconut plucker will know which nuts to be plucked and for what purpose. A machine can’t do that,” observed Mr Patil. According to the zonal agricultural officer, Mr Rajesh Desai, every year around 1800 to 2000 coconut saplings are distributed in the taluka. He further said that under the coconut expansion schemes Rs 8000 is given as subsidy per hector of cultivation.

He also said the annual turnover of coconut production is over Rs 3.5 to Rs 4 lakh in the taluka and it is increasing as the agricultural department provides various schemes to the people.

KVIc:Ms Kumud Joshi on Saturday said that though Goa has two Khadi Bhavans, both are not working due to the marketing attitude and approach of the people working in them.

“In fact, anyone who is posted here, at the Khadi Bhavans, in Panaji and Margao, view it as a punishment instead of accepting the challenge,” she added.

Ms Joshi, who is currently in Goa to attend the inauguration of the outlet/ premises of Goa Khadi and Village Industries Board, located at Fatorda, in Margao, at the hands of the Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat on January 10, told the media that she wants to involve younger people in the running of the Khadi Bhavans as they are more innovative. “The KVIC is seriously thinking of improving the marketing techniques,” she pointed out, informing that all over India, more than 5,000 institutions are working in the field of Khadi, and at least 50 per cent clients of Khadi are youth.

Speaking further, the KVIC chairperson said the government of India had approached the Asian Development Bank seeking aid for

the Commission, and the bank has already sanctioned $150 million.

“The KVIC will spend this money to develop its infrastructure as well as marketing system and train human resource,” she noted, mentioning, “We will outsource the people from the open market and give new lease of life to our activities.”

“As regards Goa, whatever the state can produce has good market,” Ms Joshi said, suggesting that a national-level exhibition of KVIC could be organised in Goa, annually. She also assured allocation of more programmes to Goa under the KVIC than the actual target, further promising to provide related training to youth at the Agnel Ashram.

Observing that marketing of KVIC products in Goa is an important aspect and it should be made more effective, the KVIC chairperson stated that local youth, who are going out of Goa in search of employment, could be stopped through KVIC projects. She also noted that the era of synthetic clothing has ended and people prefer more of handspun apparels. The chairperson of the Goa Khadi and Village Industries Board, Ms Monica Dias and its vice-chairperson, Dr Ulhas Parab were also present on the occasion.

from pAGe 1

ptI

aTTarI (PunjaB): Pakistani forces fired six rockets in villages around the Attari border early Saturday, drawing retaliation from the BSF.

“At around midnight, five-six rockets were fired from the Pakistan side out of which two fell near the border outpost. We heard 2-3 explosions but the rockets which fell near the outpost did not explode. We have no report of any damage to property or death,” the BSF IG, Mr Himmat Singh said. BSF troops opened retaliatory fire. Immediately after the incident, the BSF held flag meeting at around 3.00 a.m.

with Pakistani counterparts who denied any firing from their side. The Pakistan Rangers alleged that BSF had resorted to “unprovoked” firing.

BSF officials said that the two rockets which did not explode after falling on Indian territory were traced at Kahangarh post where 35 BSF personnel were on duty.

This is not the first time that Pakistani forces have fired rockets in villages around the Attari border. While three rockets were fired on July 5 last year, five rockets fired by the Pakistani forces fell in agricultural fields at Modhey, Dhoneya Khurd, Rattan Kallan and Dalekey villages in September.

6 rockets fired from Pak side IaNs

KOLKaTa: The condition of Marxist patriarch, Mr Jyoti Basu deteriorated on Saturday with the doctors saying the 95-year-old leader has slipped into drowsiness and his internal organs were affected.

“There has been deterioration of his general condition,” said a medical bulletin of the AMRI Hospital, where Mr Basu is being kept in the intensive cardiac care unit on partial ventilator support.

“He has developed fluid retention, and there has been a drop in urine output. He is also feeling drowsy. This signifies involvement of multiple organs,” the bulletin said.

The former West Bengal chief minister was admitted to the hospital near his Salt Lake residence on January 1 following chest congestion and infection. The Communist Party of India-Marxist leader was put on ventilator support early January 6 after an acute respiratory problem.

“He is still on partial ventilation. All adequate measures are being taken

by the medical team,” said the bulletin.

An attending doctor said Mr Basu has an irregular heartbeat. He was being given liquid food.

A bronchoscopy done on Mr Basu has revealed that the pneumonia attack was aggravated by some highly drug-resistant bacteria strains.

Doctors were now awaiting the drug sensitivity report of his lung fluid culture test. “Once we receive the report Saturday, we will zero in on a particular antibiotic,” said the doctor.

The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh visited the hospital on Thursday and has been monitoring the health condition of the veteran leader.

Following an offer from the Prime Minister to arrange for specialists, the medical board held a tele-conference with experts from the country’s premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences on Friday.

Mr Basu holds the record for the longest 23-year old stint as chief minister from June 1977 to November 2000. He stepped down voluntarily on health grounds.

jyoti Basu’s condition worsens

Sanjay quits as SP general secretary ptI

MuMBaI: Following his mentor Mr Amar Singh, Bollywood actor, Mr Sanjay Dutt

on Saturday night resigned as the general secretary of Samajwadi Party claiming he was hurt by the treatment meted out to his “elder brother” by certain leaders of the party.

“When the Supreme Court did not give me chance to contest Lok Sabha elections, Amar Singh made me the general secretary of the party. He had said both of us will work for the party from the same position,” Mr Dutt told a hurriedly-called press conference here.

“If he is no more the general secretary, I am also quitting the post today,” Mr Dutt said.

He, however, said he would remain in the party as long as Mr Amar Singh is there.

He said despite slogging for the party in his poor health condition, certain leaders of SP mistreated Mr Singh.

Mr Dutt was appointed to the post of SP general secretary in April last year and had extensively campaigned during the Lok Sabha elections in April-May.

“Amar Singh was hurt by many people in the party. I am also feeling hurt that he was hurt. If he is not the national general secretary, I will also not be in the same post,” he told reporters.

Ex-gratia for kin of slain Indian students ptI

nEW dELHI/CHandIGarH; The government on Saturday announced an ex-gratia payment of Rs 2.5 lakh each for the family of two Indian students killed in attacks in Australia recently and said it would also bear expenses for repatriation of the bodies.

The Union Minister of State for External Affairs, Mr Preneet Kaur told PTI that the Government would also bear all expenses incurred in bringing back the bodies of Ranjot Singh and Nitin Garg to India, including transportation.