Yemen's Special Forces capture tribal rebels, confiscate arms: agency

SANAA, June 2 (Xinhua) -- Yemeni Special Forces captured several groups of armed tribal rebels and confiscated a large quantity of weapons on Thursday, hours after they re-controlled four government buildings in downtown Sanaa, official Saba news agency reported.

"The special forces stormed the headquarters of the opposition key satellite television Suhail in Hassaba area, arresting many armed tribesmen loyal to the opposition tribal leader Sadiq al- Ahmar and confiscating a lot of weapons," Saba quoted an unnamed security official as saying.

Earlier the day, the Defense Ministry's news website reported that the Special Forces regained control of four government buildings which were seized over the past few days by armed tribal rebels in Sanaa.

"Following fierce battles overnight with armed forces led by opposition tribal leader, Yemeni Special Security Forces on Thursday managed to regain control over the official Saba news agency, the state-run Survey Authority, Ministry of Industry and Trade and Ministry of Tourism," the ministry said.

It said the Special Forces are continuing to cleanse the whole area of Hassaba district in downtown the capital from what it dubbed "the armed gang" of opposition tribal leader Sadiq al-Ahmar.

Al-Ahmar, who is the chieftain of northern powerful Hashid tribes confederations, has been waging pitched street battles against the government forces since May 23 after President Ali Abdullah Saleh refused to sign a Gulf-brokered deal to ease him out of the power.

On Wednesday, the Yemeni government announced that the Special Security Forces also regained control over Ministry of Local Administrative, a branch office of Agriculture Ministry, Hassaba Police Station and the headquarters of the ruling party.

It said that after those government buildings were freed, the security forces found many dead bodies of northern Houthi-led Shiite rebels inside the buildings.

The 11-day-long battles in Hassaba district in downtown Sanaa have left hundreds of people dead and many others injured.

Editor: Yang Lina

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/world/2011-06/02/c_13907890.htm

Maya woos farmers with new land policy

TNN | Jun 3, 2011, 05.44am IST

LUCKNOW: Facing flak for her government's handling of a series of farmer agitations in UP, chief minister Mayawati on Thursday announced a newland acquisition policy under which the government will play the role of a facilitator. Private companies needing land for projects will have to acquire it directly from farmers through mutual agreement, she said. 

No land acquisition will be done in a village where 70% inhabitants are not ready for it, the chief minister said, while announcing the new policy after a kisan panchayat here, which comes into immediate effect. 

Mayawati, however, clarified that the policy won't be implemented in areas where land has already been acquired and compensation distributed to farmers. So, Bhatta-Parsaul and Tappal will be out of its ambit. She added that the government would compensate farmers for damages to their property in the recent clashes in Bhatta and Parsaul villages in Greater Noida. 

The CM said the new policy was formulated with safety nets to ensure the farmers' interests and added that this would be further amended to incorporate any other suitable suggestions made by farmers. 

Maya said while all land acquisition would be done though a mutual agreement between farmers, a kisan bhawan and a model school would have to be set up by developers in all such villages where land was being acquired by them in future. 

The agreement for land acquisition would be finalized only after the consent of 70% of farmers of the village or area in question. This would be applied to all, including development authority, the UP State Industrial Development Corporation and similar other organisations in need of land. 

As for compensation, farmers will have the option either to take it one go from the developer or take 16% of the total land from them in developed form along with Rs 23,000 annual annuity per acre for 33 years. The annuity increased at the rate of Rs 800 annually per acre would be over and above the compensation amount and paid in July every year. Those unwilling to take annuity would be paid lump sum of Rs 2,76,000 per acre. 

"Farmers," Maya said, "will be free to sell some portion of their 16% of developed land to developer at prevailing market rates. The above developed land would be given to farmers free of cost and also be free from stamp duty." 

If farmers purchase land anywhere in the state from the land compensation amount within one year, they will get stamp duty exemption on its registration. All farmers whose land is acquired for construction of national highways, canals and similar other projects will be covered by the state's rehabilitation and resettlement policy. 

Likewise, farmers would also be entitled to buy shares up to 25% in the company, which takes their land. Besides, one member of each farmer family will be given job by the private company acquiring land. Farmers, who fall in the marginal category after their land acquisition, will be compensated with agricultural labourer wage equal to 375 days. For agricultural labourer, this compensation will be equal to 625 days' wages and 250 days for those displaced in the wake of their land acquisition. 

Describing the new policy as historic, Maya said efforts will be made to pressure the Centre to adopt this model for the entire country. She also announced that in case the Centre refused to bring a land acquisition bill during the monsoon session, BSP will protest against this in parliament. 

"The state's new policy is better than the ones being implemented in Congress-ruled states like Haryana," she said. Referring to the Bhatta Parsaul incident, she said it was opposition-engineered for political mileage. "The incident there had nothing to do either with the compensation or the land acquisition, as these issues had already been settled there," she said. 

Warning the opposition parties against politicizing the issue, she said nobody will be allowed to disturb law and order and stern action would be taken against those found guilty on this count. She said they should rather pressure the Centre to amend the land acquisition act than make UP an arena of politics for cheap popularity ahead of the assembly poll.

What Baba Ramdev wants

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

Yoga guru Baba Ramdev, who has threatened to field candidates in every Lok Sabha constituency in 2014, has stopped the Union government in its tracks with a set of demands, ranging from the serious to the bizarre.

The demands of the jetsetting Baba — whose acolytes recently bought him a little Scottish island to open an ashram — include:

— Tough Lokpal Bill, with a provision for death sentence for the corrupt, especially corrupt officials

— Immediate return of all black money stashed away in tax havens abroad to the country

— Declaring all wealth in foreign countries being held illegally by Indians as national property and charging those with such accounts under the sedition laws

— Abolishing Rs.1,000 and Rs.500 currency notes

— Disabling the operations of any bank which belongs to a country that is a tax haven

— Replacing the British-inherited system of governance, administration, taxation, education, law and order with a swadeshi alternative

— Reforming the electoral system to ensure that the Prime Minister is directly elected by people

— Ensuring that all citizens declare annually their incomes

— Bringing income-tax details under the Right to Information Act

— Increasing substantially the Minimum Support Price of grains

— Making wages of different categories of labourers uniform across the country

— Revoking the Land Acquisition Act, as farmers should not be deprived of their land for industry

— Promoting Hindi at the expense of English.

Keywords: Baba Ramdev demands, anti-corruption, black money, money in foreign banks, hunger strike

Government working on formula for Baba Ramdev

Smita Gupta

— Photo: V.V. Krishnan

If the efforts fails,tough action may be an opion

STAGE SET FOR STIR:Preparations are in full swing at the Ramlila Grounds in Delhi, where Yoga guru Baba Ramdev will begin a hunger strike against black money and corruption on Saturday. More than 10 million people and civil rights activists are likely to join him.

New Delhi: As the deadline for Baba Ramdev's promised hunger strike on the issue of black money drew near, the Union government continued to work on a formula that would make the yoga guru abandon his threat: “Baba Ramdev must be made to feel he has achieved something through his campaign,” ministerial sources told The Hindu. They added that “on Friday, at the next round of talks, he will be told about the government's intentions to deal with the key issues [on corruption] that he has raised, possibly with a time frame.” But, at the same time, there was a determination in the government that if it failed to persuade Baba Ramdev through dialogue, it would have to consider tough action to make him abandon his hunger strike plans. With memories of the Anna Hazare fast still raw, the government does not want to take any chances.

Indeed, on Thursday, the Baba Ramdev issue continued to engage the attention of both the government and the Congress: in the evening, the Congress core group, the party's apex decision-making body, of which both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi are members, met to discuss ways of defusing the situation.

“Review”

Immediately after that, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee convened a discussion on the issue with Cabinet colleagues A.K. Antony, Kapil Sibal, Pawan Kumar Bansal and Subodh Kant Sahay for what was described as a “review” of the situation. While Mr. Mukherjee and Mr. Antony are also members of the Core Group, the other three — along with the finance minister — are members of the government's negotiating team on the Baba Ramdev issue.

Internally, the government is exasperated with the turn of events — especially as many of Baba Ramdev's demands are impossible to fulfil, nor are any of them possible to deliver on immediately.

One point that is rankling is the fact that Baba Ramdev had sought permission from the government to hold a yoga camp for 20 days at Delhi's Ramlila Grounds from June 4 — now, as government sources said, he is “using” that venue “against the government” by making it the site of his threatened hunger strike.

http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/03/stories/2011060358540100.htm

Ramdev firm on fast; PM, Sonia favour more talks

 

New Delhi, June 2 : Yoga guru Baba Ramdev was firm Thursday on going on a fast against corruption and illegal money in tax havens abroad, but the government tried another shot at conciliation, with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh andCongress chief Sonia Gandhi meeting to find ways to dissuade the saffron-clad sanyasi, who has thousands of middle class followers, from his protest.

Ramdev, who enjoys a huge following for offering cures for many lifestyle-related diseases, including cancer, through yoga, plans his fast from Saturday in New Delhi's sprawling Ramlila Ground to demand measures to curb corruption and bring back black money stashed abroad.

Meanwhile, support for Ramdev, 46, grew and spread across his lakhs of followers from the middle-class, political parties, and from the spiritual fraternity with 'Art of Living' exponent Sri Sri Ravishankar backing his peaceful hunger stir.

Gandhian Anna Hazare, who had gone on a fast in April to press for a strong anti-graft Lokpal Bill, extended his support to Ramdev and also denied any rift with the yoga guru, but he cautioned him against "government tactics".

Although Ramdev's close associates said the yoga guru was determined to sit on a fast, there was no news of the Baba himself after his morning appearance in Gurgaon, bordering Delhi. Through the day, government tried to persuade him through back-channels.

"Many government people have approached Baba Ramdev, but how can any one stop the cause the Baba has initiated," his spokesperson S.K. Tijarawala asked while speaking to IANS.

He also said various sections of the society, irrespective of caste and creed, will join the Ramdev's cause. "People from almost every district are coming forward to join the cause the Baba has taken up. The government has so far made false promises, but this time they can't escape. Baba Ramdev is fighting for the cause of the nation and to make the system corruption free."

"The prime minister has taken a serious note of Baba Ramdev's call," Tijarawala added.

On the government's part, it was said late Thursday night that more talks would be held with Ramdev Friday.

"The next talks will be held Friday", Parliamentary Affairs Minister P.K. Bansal told reporters after he, along with Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal and Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, held special meeting with Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee on how to negotiate with the yoga guru.

"Talking to someone is not sign of weakness," Bansal said, apparently in reference to criticism within the Congress that the four senior ministers had held talks with Ramdev at Delhi airport Wednesday, but could not convince him to give up his fast.

As the government feared a repeat of the Anna Hazare-like mass movement in the country or one even bigger than that in view of his huge following, the Congress core committee under chief Sonia Gandhi met at prime minister's Race Course Road residence to find urgent ways to address the issue.

The committee decided to dispel all impressions that there were differences between the government and the party over the strategy to deal with Ramdev's agitation, even as party leader Digvijay Singh again attacked Ramdev.

"Even to teach yoga, he charges Rs.50,000 from those who sit in the front seats, Rs.30,000 for the backseat and Rs.1,000 for the last seat. What else is this," Digvijay Singh asked while addressing a meeting in Moradabad in Uttar  Pradesh.

The Congress general secretary said the party was not scared of Ramdev and was holding discussions with him. "If the Congress was scared, Ramdev would have been put behind bars. There is no fear that is why he is out in the open and there are discussions with him," he said.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to the defence of Ramdev, with party president Nitin Gadkari saying, they "support Ramdev's demands and will include it in our political resolution" at the two-day national executive meeting beginning in Lucknow Friday.

Courtesy -IANS

Maran demands Rs.10 crore damages from paper

 

Chennai, June 2 : Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran Thursday sent a legal notice to The New Indian Express demanding Rs.10 crore damages for publishing a defamatory article alleging he "looted" the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) while communication minister between 2004 and 2007, his lawyer said.

Maran strongly denied the allegation in the article that he set up a BSNL telephone exchange with 323 home lines at his Boat Club residence and connected it to his brother's Sun TVNetwork.

Contending the allegation is motivated, scandalours, defamatory, baseless and derogatory and the article is published with an aim to defame him, Maran demanded the newspaper to tender an unconditional apology and publish it prominently. He also demanded Rs.10 crore as damages failing which legal action will be initiated.

According to Maran when a similar report was published in Dinamani Tamil daily during in 2009, the BSNL had clarified that only one telephone connection was provided at his residence.

The telephone company had also clarified that from the date of installation till March 2009, Maran had used only 173,698 metered call units as against an eligible 450,000 metered call units.

After the legal notice was issued to Dinamani, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalithaa, then the state's leader of opposition made a similar allegation at a public rally. Maran had initiated criminaldemation case against her. Jayalalithaa challenged the same in the Madras High Court and the case is pending.

Courtesy --IANS

Defendant Rana unlikely to testify in Mumbai attack trial

CHICAGO | Thu Jun 2, 2011 3:14am IST

(Reuters) - The Pakistani-born businessman charged with supporting a deadly 2008 Islamic militant attack on Mumbai is not likely to testify at his trial, his lawyer said on Wednesday

U.S. prosecutors were winding up their case against Tahawwur Rana, 50, a Chicago businessman with Canadian citizenship who is charged with supporting the raid, which killed 164 people.

The role played by Pakistan's government in the raid was being closely watched amid strains in the U.S.-Pakistan relationship following the killing of al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden by a U.S. special forces team in the Pakistani garrison town of Abbottabad last month.

Asked by Judge Harry Leinenweber about the defense case, Rana's lawyer Patrick Blegen said he expected to present a computer expert and possibly two other witnesses next week but was unlikely to call Rana.

The prosecution's case was largely based on the five days of testimony by David Headley, an American with a Pakistani father, who described his role scouting targets in India and Denmark for militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, an officer of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence directorate and an al Qaeda-linked militant leader.

Headley, 50, testified he used his childhood friend Rana's immigration business as a cover story for his reconnaissance work and obtained Rana's help in other ways.

The defense has argued Rana was unaware of the attack plots and that Headley was lying to justify his plea deal.

Rana faces up to life in prison if convicted. Headley has pleaded guilty to scouting targets for the Mumbai attackers and his plea spared him the death penalty and extradition to India. He still he faces several years in a U.S. prison.

Three FBI agents testified on Wednesday about evidence taken from Headley and Rana, as did an FBI translator who worked on the case.

A student hired by Rana also testified about a conversation the two had while delivering a check and an envelope to the Pakistani consulate, an errand which prosecutors say was intended to obtain a Pakistan visa for Headley.

(Reporting by Andrew Stern; Edited by Peter Bohan and Bill Trott)

http://in.reuters.com/article/2011/06/01/idINIndia-57437120110601

Indian schools students shine in grade 10 examinations

By ARAB NEWS

Published: Jun 1, 2011 23:46 Updated: Jun 1, 2011 23:46

RIYADH/JEDDAH/DAMMAM: Most of the Indian international schools across Saudi Arabia recorded 100 percent passes in the CBSE grade 10 exams. The results were announced on Wednesday.

The International Indian School-Dammam (IISD) maintained 100 percent results for the 12th consecutive year. “Out of 836 students, 748 appeared for school-based exam while 88 students opted for the board exam. Our school secured 100 percent results with eight improvement cases,” said IISD Principal E.K. Mohammed Shaffe. “A total of 428 boys and 412 girls appeared for the exams from the school. Thirty-seven students got 9.6 grade points.

This is the second year of the grading system introduced by the New Delhi-based Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and first year of the school-based Class X annual examinations. “The board based exam students and school based exam students have performed equally good,” he said. “The effort of the school officials to train the teachers and to catch up with the new system worked well,” Shaffe added.

The International Indian School in Jubail also did extremely well having secured 100 percent result. “All 194 students who took the exams in March have been declared passed by CBSE,” said its Principal Syed Hameed. “Outstanding performance was registered by 25 students who have secured CGPA 10 (Cumulative Grade Point Average) in all the five subjects,” he said and explained that “in common man’s language it is centum i.e. hundred out of hundred.” He attributed the school’s success to the hard work put in by the students and the teaching staff. “They deserve all the praise,” he said, and thanked the teachers for their support and guidance.

International Indian School-Riyadh (IISR) Principal M.J. Siddiqui said this year the grade 10 board exam was optional, but 293 students of the school took the exam and 431 other students appeared for the school-based exam.

 “Absolutely, there is no difference between school conducted and board examination conducted by CBSE,” he said. The total number of students securing all 10 (CGPA) are 45. Twenty-two other students secured 9.8 (CGPA). Thus, 67 students are eligible for the academic excellence award this year from the school.

Thirty-two students have to appear for improvement of performance in July. Last year, he added, the school had only one student scoring all 10. With the introduction of ‘Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation’ system in scholastic and co-scholastic area, the quality of the result has been improved with 45 students securing all 10.

The International Indian School-Jeddah (IISJ) also reported 100 percent passes. In all 709 sat the exam — 345 boys and 364 girls. All of them passed including 26 supplementary. Those scoring 10 points numbered 58 (37 girls and 21 boys).

The Al Wurood International School (AWIS), Jeddah, also had 100 percent passes. Of its 53 students (29 boys and 24 girls) who appeared at the exam, five got 10 (CGPA) — Abdullah Nasir Jamal (boy), and Fabisha Parveen C.H., Thamanna Haya, Sweety Mol and Ashana Kunnathody, all girls. Eleven of its students got 9+.  They are Ibrahim Mafaz, K.M. Nabin, Sanjay Rajendran, Juveriah Farooqi, Ramya Ravishankar, Shana Siddiqui, Mubarra Mansoor, Irfanuddin, Samir Abdul Hamid, Shezin Ashraff and Alex Jerry. Eighteen others got 8+, sixteen 7+ and three 6+, according to AWIS Principal K. Rahamathullah.

The  International Indian School-Buraidah also had 100 percent results for the 11th consecutive year. In all students took the board exam. Three of them scored all 10 points — Mast Khwaja Sameen, Mojibi Zainab  and Dujana Ashraf. Fourteen students scored above 9 points, according to IISB Principal Nasreen Syed.

The continuous comprehensive evaluation (CCE) system introduced by the CBSE last year has proved to be a boon for grade 10 students, according to all the schools in the Kingdom.

CCE’s benefits have been corroborated by the impressive Class X results declared by the CBSE in which students from the Kingdom notched up an unprecedented performance. Some sat the CBSE board exam, while some others chose the school grading system.

The school principals acknowledge the improvement shown by the students. “Performance across the board, in all categories of schools, has definitely been better in comparison to last year,” one of them said.

http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article446880.ece

Cong distances itself from senior ministers receiving Ramdev

Updated on Wednesday, June 01, 2011, 23:58

Tags: Congress, Baba Ramdev, corruption

New Delhi: Congress on Wednesday distanced itself from the government's unprecedented step of sending four senior ministers to the airport to receive Baba Ramdev in a bid to persuade him not to go ahead with the protest from June 4 saying it was "unnecessary" and the party has "nothing to do" with it. 

"The party is not at all related to this entire exercise from here to the airport (ministers going to the airport to receive the Yoga Guru)," top sources in Congress said commenting on the government's move, which indicated the unease in the party over the issue.

The sources also suggested that Congress President Sonia Gandhi was not in the loop over the decision. "The party has nothing to do with it. It is not involved in this airport exercise," they said. 

Party General Secretary Digvijay Singh said, "We are also interested in the issue of corruption and black money but hunger strike won't check corruption or help in bringing back black money. He (Baba Ramdev) should agree to the request made by the Prime Minister and other ministers."

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee accompanied by Kapil Sibal, Pawan Kumar Bansal and Subodh Kant Sahay held talks for over two hours at the airport with Ramdev, who arrived by a chartered jet from Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh this afternoon. 

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has already gone the extra mile to urge Ramdev not to go ahead with his hunger strike, promising him to find a "practical and pragmatic" solution to tackle the issue of corruption. 

Singh has written a letter to Ramdev, "welcoming his constructive suggestions to improve governance." 

PTI
http://www.zeenews.com/news710291.html

Pressure mounts on Maran to explain his 2G role

Meetu Jain , CNN-IB

Updated Jun 02, 2011 at 12:12am IST

New Delhi: Troubles mount for Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran as, sources say, the CBI will investigate the alleged links between Maran family-owned Sun TV and Maxis Group.

As the CBI tightens its noose in the 2G scam, a worried Maran on Wednesday defended himself for the first time since the controversy erupted.

In damage control, Dayanidhi Maran, after meeting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, met Telecom Minister Kapil Sibal and denied any wrong doing.

In a statement he said, "No Telecom Company has invested directly or indirectly in companies owned by my brother when I was the telecom minister. I had resigned as minister when Ms Astro invested in Sun Direct in December 2007."

The statement however doesn't answer key questions like - why did Maxis invest over Rs 700 crore in Sun DTH and SUN FM within months of getting a licence for 14 circles?

Maran said he wasn't a minister when Maxis invested in Sun DTH, but Maran was silent over fact that he was the minister when Maxis acquired Aircel.

The question also remains, how did Sun TV's net worth rise from over Rs 300 crore in 2006 to over Rs 1200 crore a year later?

But the CBI dragnet is tightening around Maran. The CBI could record Shiva Group Chairman C Sivasankaran's statement under section 161 of the CrPC next week. Sivasankaran has already deposed before the CBI over the Aircel-Maxis Sun Direct TV deal.

Meanwhile, the political clamour for Maran's resignation rose with the CPM's Prakash Karat meeting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalitha and the two demanding the Prime Minister ask him to step down.

"The Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) should ask for Dayanidhi Maran's resignation from the Cabinet. I am sure the Prime Minister will do it if he has already not done it," Jayalalithaa said in Chennai.

"I think it requires a serious investigation. And I hope that the Prime Minister will immediately get it investigated," said Prakash Karat.

Meanwhile, senior lawyer and Lokpal Bill Drafting Committee member Prashant Bhushan, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, has demanded the CBI probe whether Aircel was arm-twisted by Maran to sell out to Maxis. He also demanded CBI investigation against DMK chief Karunanidhi's wives Dayalu Ammal and Rajathi Ammal.

He alleges that Maran deliberately delayed giving licence to Aircel as long as it was owned by Siva Group and as may as 14 liscences were issued to Aircel, when it was taken over by Maxis Group.

He also alleges that Maxis Group made investments in Maran's family run business Sun Network of Rs 599.1 crore.

In addition to investment in Sun Direct, investment of Rs 111.28 crore was made by Maxis in a FM company owned by Marans.

It's clear that the congress party will stay away from this controversy and will not back any minister if it hurts the image of the government. Within the DMK too there are anti-Maran sections, which will go on the offensive. So as the CBI investigates the case, the question is - will the Textiles Minister be the next high profile casualty in the 2G scam?


http://ibnlive.in.com/news/2g-scam-cbi-may-file-chargesheet-against-maran/155986-3.html?from=hp

Nervous UPA gives Ramdev VIP treatment

Pallavi Ghosh , CNN-IBN

Updated Jun 01, 2011 at 10:11pm IST

New Delhi: Yoga guru Baba Ramdev appears to have the central government literally at his feet. A visit to Ramdev by four ministers, Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, telecom Minister Kapil Sibal, Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahay, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal and Cabinet Secretary KM Chandrashekhar at the airport revealed the nervousness of the government over Ramdev's fast.

To make matters more difficult for the government, the RSS too is now backing Ramdev.

After an over two-hour long meeting with Ramdev, the government came out without getting what it wanted - Ramdev calling off his fast.

"Satyagraha from June 4 will continue as per plans. Talks have been constructive. There has been consensus on some issues and talks will continue in the future," Ramdev said after the meeting.

Sibal said that more talks would be held with the yoga guru.

"Ramdev raised serious issues impacting the country. The government will take these seriously forward," he said.

The government was proactive this time because it didn't want to be caught on a backfoot as during Hazare times.

Hazare's fast had led to a loss of face for the government, but Ramdev is seen as a greater threat because of his proximity to the RSS. The government is worried that if Ramdev's fast takes off, it may attract strong political support from the right wing.

RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav made it clear that the RSS is with Ramdev.

The Prime Minister also stepped in despite the fact that government sources say that many of many demands of the yoga guru are unreasonable and even alarming. Clearly, the government is caught in a bind as it cannot afford to ignore the demands of the civil society, yet cannot be seen as weak kneed.

http://ibnlive.in.com/news/nervous-upa-gives-ramdev-a-vip-treatment/156015-3.html

BJP, Jayalalithaa want Dayanidhi Maran to quit

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI/CHENNAI: Union Textiles Minister Dayanidhi Maran came under increasing pressure on Wednesday, with the Bharatiya Janata Party and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam demanding his resignation and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) calling for a thorough investigation into reports that alleged his family benefited from policies and decisions he made as Minister for Communications between 2004 and 2007.

BJP general secretary Jagat Prakash Nadda wanted Mr. Maran to quit following reports that alleged that an investment made by Malaysian company Maxis Communications in a direct-to-home company of the Sun TV Network owned by Mr. Maran's brother, Kalanidhi Maran, could have been a quid pro quo for Aircel getting 14 mobile telephony licences after Maxis took it over.

AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa demanded that the Minister quit and face legal proceedings.

“I am quite sure the Prime Minister knows what should be done… The Prime Minister should ask him to quit immediately, if he has already not done so,” Ms. Jayalalithaa said at a press conference in Chennai.

CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat called for a “serious investigation” into the allocation of licences and spectrum when Mr. Maran was Communications Minister. “I hope the Prime Minister and the Central government will immediately get this [matter] investigated,” he told reporters after he called on Ms. Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat in Chennai.

Meanwhile, in a statement, Mr. Dayanidhi Maran denied any wrongdoing during his tenure in the Communications Ministry and termed the charge that he favoured a particular company in granting a Unified Access Service licence “untrue and malicious.”

FDI cap

In New Delhi, the BJP said that during Mr. Maran's tenure, the cap on foreign direct investment in this sector was raised from 26 to 74 per cent. Maxis Communications had then bought 74 per cent equity in Aircel, which initially had a licence only for Tamil Nadu.

“Mr. Maran had got benefit for the company as during his tenure the company was given 14 additional licences,” party spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad alleged on Tuesday and demanded a detailed investigation. On Wednesday, the BJP went a step further.

Mr. Nadda said the party “demands the resignation of Mr. Maran immediately and if he does not resign, the Prime Minister should sack him.” He had written to the CBI Director A.P. Singh, seeking answers to “very disturbing questions” related to Mr. Maran's stint as Communications Minister.

Mr. Nadda said that in the letter he had asked whether Aircel was given a number of licences after Maxis Communications acquired 74 per cent of its equity.

The BJP wanted to know whether 2G spectrum was allotted to the company at rates fixed in 2001.

Meanwhile, the Centre for Public Interest Litigation moved the Supreme Court, demanding a CBI investigation into charges that licences were given to Aircel by Mr. Maran on the basis of a “quid pro quo.”

http://www.hindu.com/2011/06/02/stories/2011060257570100.htm

Merit cum Means Based Scholarship for Students Belonging to the Minority Communities

Merit cum Means based scholarships will be awarded to the students pursuing technical or professional courses at Under Graduate/Post graduate level in an Institution recognized by an appropriate authority.

ELIGIBILITY:
1. The annual Income of Parents/Guardian of the students from all sources does not exceed Rs.2.50 lakh.
2. Students who got admission in to a college in Technical/Professional courses on the basis of competitive examination.
3. Students who got admission without facing any competitive examination but should have got not less than 50% marks at Higher secondary (Inter)/Graduation level.
4. 30% of Scholarships will be earmarked for Girl students. In case sufficient numbers of eligible girl students are not available, then the balance scholarships may be awarded to eligible boy students.
5. The Students who are permanent residents of Andhra Pradesh, but studying other States are also eligible.
6. Students who are studying in Top listed Institutions of Govt. Of India are eligible for full courses fee and also given First priority in Selection.
7. Students who are studying in Institutions other than Top listed Institutions are eligible for course fee of Rs.20, 000/- per annum or actual fees whichever is less.
8. The Scholarship holder under this scheme will not avail any other Govt. Scholarship or stipend.
9. Students who got Admission in other then Category `A Convener Quota can also apply.
Note:- Those who got  the GOI Scholarship for 2008-09 shall have to apply for Renewal of Scholarship for 2009-10.
SELECTION:

1. Distribution of Scholarships will be on the basis targets communicated by the Govt. of India among notified minorities (Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis).
2. On the basis of marks obtained in class XII (Intermediate) for under-graduate courses and in the case of post-graduate courses, marks obtained in the under-graduate courses.

Type of Financial Assistance		Rate for hostler		Rate for Day Scholor
1.		Maintenance Allowance (for 10 months)		Rs.10,000/-per annum (Rs.1000/- p.m)		Rs.5,000/- per annum (Rs.500/- p.m)
2.		Course Fee		Rs. 20,000/ per annum or Actual whichever is less		Rs.20,000/-per annum or  Actual whichever is less
		Total		Rs.30,000/-		Rs.25,000/-

 

Rate of Scholarship:
HOW TO APPLY:
1. The students must submit their application through online in out website www.apsmfc.com..
2. The hard copy (printout) of the application form along with required documents shall be submitted to the District Minorities Welfare Officer / Executive Directors  Office of the concerned Districts through the institution and forwarded by the Principal of the concerned institution.
Note: The students persuing Post matric Scholarship courses Out side the Stateshould  submit Application through their Colleges directly to the Dedicated Cell .
DOCUMENTS TO BE ENCLOSED

1. Income Certificate issued by Tahsildar/Salary Certificate from Employer/Affidavit on Non Judicial Stamp paper.
2. Photo Copy of S.S.C or equivalent course Marks Memorandum Attested by the Principal.
3. Photo Copy of Previous Course (Class) Marks list, Attested by the Principal.
4. Bonafide Certificate issued by the Institution.
5. Proof Permanent Residence (photocopy of Ration Card/Voter Id/ Electricity Bill / Gas Bill  or any other document of Father/Guardian).
6. Photo copy of Bank A/c Pass Book of the Student.
7. Photograph attested by Principal.
8. Minority Community Declaration- Affidavit on Non Judicial Stamp Paper
9. Details of Fee particulars and photocopies of fee receipts

The list of  the Technical & Professional  UG and PG Courses courses for which   scholarships could be sanctioned under this scheme are as follows:-
Engineering & Technology Courses (B.Tech/B.E./M.Tech.) 
(1) Aeronautical Engineering (AE)
(2) Agricultural Engineering (AG),
(3) Automobile Engineering (AUE),
(4) Applied Electronics & Instrumentation (AEI),
(5) Automation and Robotics (ARE),
(6) Bio-Medical Engineering (BME),
(7) Bio-Technology (BT),
(8) Ceramic Engineering/Technology (CT),
(9) Chemical Engineering (CH),
(10) Civil Engineering (CE),
(11) Computer Science and Engineering (CS),
(12) Electrical Engineering or Electrical & Electronics Engineering (EEE),
(13) Electronics and Communication Engineering (ECE),
(14) Environmental Engineering (ENE),
(15) Food Technology (FT),
(16) Industrial Engineering and Management (IEM),
(17) Information Technology (IT),
(18) Instrumentation and Control Engineering (ICE),
(19) Leather Technology (LT),
(20) Marine Engineering (MRE),
(21) Materials Science & Technology (MST),
(22) Metallurgical Engineering (MT),
(23) Mechanical Engineering (ME),
(24) Mining Engineering (MN),
(25) Oil & Paint Technology (OPT),
(26) Polymer Science and Rubber Technology (PSR),
(27) Printing Technology (PT),
(28) Production Engineering (PE),
(29) Pulp & Paper Technology (PPT),
(30) Sugar Technology (ST),
(31) Textile Engineering/Technology (TXT),
(32) Transportation Engineering (TE).
Cement Technology 
(1) Post graduate diploma in cement technology
Fashion Technology (Degree from National Institute of Fashion Technology) 
1. B.FTech (Design): Fashion Design, Leather Dsign, Accessory Design, Textile Design, Knitwear Design, Fashion Communication.
2. B.FTech (Apparel Production).
3. Me.FTech: Management, Apparel Production, Design Space.
Management 
(1) Post Graduate Diploma in Management (PGDM),
(2) Post Graduate Certificate in Management (PGCM),
(3) Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Management (Exec-PGDM),
(4) Master in Business Administration (MBA).
Pharmacy 
(1) B.Pharma
(2) M.Pharma.
Architecture & Town Planning (Under Graduate and Post Graduate level courses only) 
(1) Architecture (AR),
(2) Interior Design (ID),
(3) Building Construction Technology (BCT),
(4) Planning (PL).
Hotel Management & Catering Technology (Under Graduate and Post Graduate level courses only) 
(1)  Hotel Management & Catering Technology (HMCT)
Applied Arts & Crafts (Under Graduate and Post Graduate level courses only) 
(1) Applied Arts & Product Design (APD),
(2) Fine Arts/Applied Arts/Fine & Applied Arts (FA/AA/FAA),
(3) Fashion & Apparel Design (FAD).
MCA 
(1) Master in Computer Application (MCA)
Design (Degree from National Institute of Design, Ahamdabad) 
(1) Graduate diploma in design
(2) Post graduate diploma programme in design
Medical & Para Medical courses 
(1) MBBS
(2) Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS)
(3) Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS)
(4) Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery)
(5) Post Graduate courses
(6) Bachelor of Physical Therapy (BPT)
(7) Master of Physical Therapy (MPT)
(8) Bachelor of occupational Therapy (BOT)
(9) Master of occupational Therapy (MOT)
(10) B.Sc. Nursing
(11) M.Sc. Nursing
(12) B.D.S.
(13) M.D.S.
Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry 
(1) B.VSc. & A.H. (Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry)
(2) PG courses
Chartered Accountancy/Institute of Cost and Work Accountancy/Company Secretary 
(1) CA (Chartered Accountancy)
(2) ICWA (Institute of Cost and Work Accountancy)
(3) CS (Company Secretary).
Law 
(1) L.L.B.
(2) L.L.M.
Students studying in institutes listed in the scheme (70 institutes) will be entitled to reimbursement of full course fee. Students studying in other recognized institutes will be entitled for reimbursement of a maximum course fee of Rs.20,000/- per annum.
List of institutions eligible for reimbursement of full course fee under merit cum means based scholarship scheme for the students belonging to minority communities. 
(1)    Indian Institute of Technology,(IIT), Hauz Khas, New Delhi – 110016..
(2)    Indian Institute of Technology,(IIT), P.O. IIT, Kanpur – 208076
(3)    Indian Institute of Technology,(IIT), Powai, Mumbai – 400076.
(4)    Indian Institute of Technology,(IIT), P.O. Kharagpur, – 721302.
(5)    Indian Institute of Technology,(IIT), P.O. IIT, Chennai – 600036.
(6)    Indian Institute of Technology,(IIT), North Guwahati, Guwahati – 781039.
(7)    Indian Institute of Technology,(IIT), Roorkee – 247667.
(8)    Indian Institute of Management, Vastapur, Ahmedabad-380015.
(9)    Indian Institute of Management, Bannerghat Road, Bangalore-560076.
(10)  Indian Institute of Management, Joka, Diamond Harbour Road, Kolkata-700104.
(11)   Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode, Kunnamangalam, P.O., Kozhikode -673571, Kerala.
(12)   Indian Institute of Management, Indor, Pigdamber, Rau, Madhya Pradesh-453331.
(13)   Indian Institute ofManagement, Prabandh Nagar, Off. Sitapur Road, Lucknow-226013.
(14)   National Institute of Technology, Calicut-673601.
(15)   S.V. National Institute of Technology, Surat – 395607 (Gujarat).
(16)   National Institute of Technology, Hazaratbal Srinagar – 190006. J&K.
(17)   Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology, Allahabad – 211004. (UP)
(18)   National Institute of Technology, Durgapur-713209.(West Bengal).
(19)   National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur – 831014, (Jharkhand).
(20)   Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology, Nagpur – 440001.
(21)   National Institute of Technology, Srinivasanagar, Surthakal – 574157.
(22)   National Institute of Technology, Warangal – 506004.(AP).
(23)   Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur – 302017. (Rajasthan)
(24)   National Institute of Technology, Rourkela – 769008, (Orissa).
(25)   Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal-462007
(26)   National Institute of Technology, Tiruchirapalli-620015
(27)   National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra – 132119. (Haryana)
(28)   National Institute of Technology , Silchar – 788010. (Assam)
(29)   National Institute of Technology, Hamirpur – 177001. (Himachal Pradesh)
(30)   National Institute of Technology, Patna, Bihar
(31)   Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Institute of Technology, G.T. Road, Bye Pass, Jallandhar- 144004. Punjab.
(32)   National Institute of Technology, Raipur, Chhattisgarh.
(33)   National Institute of Technology, Agartalla, Tripura
(34)   ABV- Indian Institute of Information Technology and Managaement, (ABV-IIITM), MITS Campus, Gwalior – 474075.
(35)   Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT), Nehru Science Centre. Kamla Nehru Road, Allahabad – 211002.
(36)   Pandit Dwarka Prasad Mishra Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design & Manufacturing (IIITDM), IT Bhavan, Jabalpur Engg. Campus, Ranjhi, Jabalpur – 482011. Madhya Pradesh.
(37)   Indian Institute of Information Technology, Design & Manufacturing (IIITDM), Kancheepuram, Tamilnadu.
(38)    Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore – 560012.
(39)    Indian School of Mines, Dhanbad – 826004, Jharkhand.
(40)    National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT), P.O. Hatia, Ranchi – 834003, Jharkhand
(41)    National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Vihar Lake, P.O.-NITIE, Mumbai-400087.
(42)    School of Planning & Architecture, I.P. Estate, New Delhi – 110002
(43)    North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology (NERIST), Nirjuli-79110 (Itanagar), Arunachal Pradesh.
(44)    Sant Longowal Institute of Engineering and Technology (SLIET), Village-Longowal, Distt.- Sangrur, Punjab-148106.
(45)    All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
(46)    Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh.
(47)    National Institute of Mental Health & Neuro Sciences, Bangalore.
(48)    Jawaharlal Institute of Post-graduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry.
(49)    Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi.
(50)    Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital New Delhi.
(51)    Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research (PGIMER), Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, New Delhi
(52)    National Institute of Design, Ahemdabad
(53)    National Council for Cement and Building Material, Ballabhgarh, Haryana
(54)    Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, New Delhi
(55)    Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Kolkata
(56)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, New Delhi,
(57)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bangalore,
(58)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Chennai,
(59)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Gandhinagar,
(60)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Hyderabad,
(61)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kolkata,
(62)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Mumbai
(63)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Raibareli
(64)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Kannur (Kerala)
(65)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Bhopal
(66)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Shillong
(67)    National Institute of Fashion Technology, Patna
(68)    Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, Gwalior
(69)    Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, Bhubaneshwar
(70)    Indian Institute of Tourism & Travel Management, Goa