Ramachandraiah quits TDP, RS

FROM THE HINDU

KADAPA: Rajya Sabha member C. Ramachandraiah announced his decision to resign from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the Upper House at a public meeting here on Friday, saying he was doing so in ‘public interest’. Former Proddatur legislator M.V. Ramana Reddy too resigned from the party.

“Quitting TDP after two-and-half decades makes me sad,” Mr. Ramachandraiah said. Describing TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu as a close friend, he said he differed with him on the party’s policy decisions. “He took unilateral decisions that were not in public interest and thrust them on the party as if they were collective decisions,” he alleged.

Telangana issue

“I tried in vain to change his views several times and convinced that he would not change, I took this decision,” he asserted. He recalled how Mr. Naidu supported formation of Chhattisgarh and two other States, while opposing statehood for Telangana. He got MLAs suspended when they demanded the text of the erstwhile TDP government’s agreement with the World Bank and now he wanted the text of the Indo-US nuclear agreement to be made public, the MP said.

Mr. Ramachandraiah said he opposed Mr. Naidu’s decision to prematurely dissolve the Assembly in 2004 on the naxal issue, saying it would amount to admitting failure of law and order in his nine and half year-rule, but he did not budge. His suggestion in the core committee meeting in 2004 to waive power dues of Rs. 1,100 crores was not accepted. In contrast, Mr. Naidu now promised free rice, power and pucca houses, which smacked of utter lack of financial discipline.

Hopes on Chiru

Recalling that N.T. Rama Rao had founded TDP with an objective of social justice but could not fulfil the ‘mahayagna’, Mr. Ramachandraiah and Dr. Ramana Reddy hoped that film actor Chiranjeevi would do so after floating his party with pro-people politics.

TRS to organise bandh today

FROM THE HINDU

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) has given a call for bandh in Telangana on Saturday protesting the failure of Congress MPs in the region to mount pressure on their high command to concede separate Telangana ahead of the confidence vote in Parliament.

TRS leaders said they were serious about enforcing the bandh call.

Meanwhile, the student wing of TRS forced a boycott of classes in colleges in Telangana n Friday. The police took into custody activists of the wing at several places. After boycotting classes in Nizam College here, the students spilled over on the road outside and resorted to polishing of shoes of pedestrians and cleaning of vehicles.

Warm farewell

The TRS president K. Chandrasekhar Rao was given a warm farewell at the Telangana Bhavan when he left for New Delhi in the evening. Party activists applied vermilion on his forehead and blessed him with harathi. Mr. Rao said some Congress MPs from the State expressed solidarity with him over telephone. The BJP president Rajnath Singh also called him and appreciated the stand taken by TRS to defeat the government.

TRS chief vows to work for fall of UPA govt

FROM THE PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

Hyderabad: With just four days left for the trust vote in Lok Sabha, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) president K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday vowed to work for the fall of the UPA government and said he was in touch with several key players like Mayawati and H D Deve Gowda.

Seeking a bigger role for himself in the run-up to the confidence vote in the Lok Sabha on July 22, Rao, whose party has three MPs, left for New Delhi in the evening with a mission to rope in anti-UPA forces.

“I have been asked by Mayawati to get in touch with RLD leader Ajit Singh. If need be, I will arrange a meeting between them. I spoke to JD (S) chief Deve Gowda. BJP president Rajnath Singh also called me up,” he told reporters here before leaving for the national capital.

“I would leave no stone unturned for the defeat of UPA government,” the former Union minister asserted.

TDP, TRS inching closer

FROM NEW INDIA PRESS

HYDERABAD: Dropping enough hints that the day is not far off for a possible TDP-TRS alliance in the next elections, leaders of the both camps are slowly shedding the veneer of their enmity and are now in forgiving mood.

Now, the leaders of TDP and TRS were delivering statements intended to melt the ice between them. As a first step towards their likely friendship, both the parties are finding common interests other than Telangana issue. The common point now is dislodging the Congress-led UPA Government at the Centre.

Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhara Rao Wednesday said that his party was not averse to the idea to project BSP chief Mayawati as prime ministerial candidate. He also said that they would think of joining hands with the TDP, provided it changed its stand on Telangana statehood issue. Today, it was the turn of Telugu Desam party to speak in a conciliatory tone. TD Parliamentary Party (TDPP) leader K Yerran Naidu said that there was no scope for enmity in politics. “We may differ ideologically. It does not mean that we will resort to streetfights,” Yerran Naidu said to a question on wether TRS would become a partner in the third front.

He said further said that: “When I was Union Minister I had sanctioned Rs 40 crore for drinking water scheme in Siddipet, which was then represented by Chandrasekhara Rao”. “The TRS chief yesterday said that TDP and TRS were friends. I too have similar feelings,” Yerran Naidu said.

When recalled that TRS activists had hurled stones at TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu when he visited Telangana districts in the past and TRS issuing an ultimate to Naidu not to tour Telangana districts, Yerran Naidu laughed it off. Such incidents were common in politics and they were driven by emotions prevailing at that particular time. TRS activists may have acted so on the spur of the moment.

Bus plunges in Nepal; at least 14 killed

FROM THE NEW STRAITS TIMES

At least 14 people were killed when a passenger bus skidded off a mountain highway into a river in southern central Nepal, police said today.

“We have recovered 12 bodies from the Trishuli river and two died while undergoing treatment at a hospital,” police officer Rabindra Bahadur Singh told AFP from Chitwan district, 70 kilometres southwest of Kathmandu.

The bus carrying more than 50 passengers was en route for the southern town of Bhairahawa from Kathmandu when it plunged into the swelling Trishuli river at Chandi Bhanjyang village overnight.

Twenty-six people were rescued but police said the death toll could rise.

“Half of the bus is still submerged inside the river. There might be some more bodies stuck inside the bus,” the police officer said.

Road accidents are common in Nepal and claim hundreds of lives every year. Most of the accidents in the impoverished Himalayan country are blamed on old vehicles, reckless driving and poorly maintained roads

Japan for coalition govt in Nepal

FROM SOUTH ASIAN MEDIA NET

KATHMANDU: Visiting Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan, Osamu Uno said Friday that Japan government wanted to see coalition government of political consensus in Nepal.

Reiterating Japan’s commitment of extending its support in the future, Minister Uno said that Japan wanted early formation of new government in Nepal.

He said that Japan’s support would continue if there were democratic process while electing president, vice-president and the Prime Minister, and formation of the new government. “We will consider about our policy if some forces try to capture power by using force or create any kind of trouble.”

“As Japan is a peace loving nation, it would uphold strong support for the peace and constitution building process in Nepal,” Minister Uno said at a press conference at the end of his three-day official visit to Nepal. Minister Uno had arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday for a three-day official visit to Nepal.

Minister Uno called on Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN-Maoist Chairman Prachanda, Peace and Reconstruction Minister Ram Chandra Paudel, Coordinator of Madhesi Janadhikar Forum Upendra Yadhav, UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikary and other political leaders and governmental officers.

The purpose of his visit was to reiterate Japan’s continued support to the ongoing peace process and establishing democracy, formation of new government and constitution making process in Nepal, he said.

On Thursday, the government of Japan, in the presence of visiting minister Uno, has agreed to provide a grant assistance of Japanese Yen 2689 million (approximately Rs. 1.77 billion) to the government of Nepal.

Around 100 Tibetan separatists detained in Nepali capital

FROM PEOPLE’S DAILY

Nepali police on Friday afternoon detained about 100 Tibetan separatists involved in anti-China activities in the Nepali capital of Kathmandu.

The separatists tried to throng the visa office of the Chinese Embassy beside a street choked with heavy traffic, shouting anti-China and “Tibet Independence” slogans.

Nepali police blocked the rally, but some leaders of the separatists climbed up onto the wall of a nearby cinema, instigating the others to ignore the police’s attempts at dissuasion.

The traffic soon was jammed and the reinforcing traffic policemen had to evacuate some vehicles on the one-way street.

Around 100 Tibetan separatists were detained, Kathmandu Police Control Center told Xinhua.

The detainees are supposed to be released after questioning in police stations.

Tibetan separatists are taking advantage of Nepal, the youngest republic in the world, at its historic turning point, to carry out anti-China activities.

Although Nepal was declared a republic on May 28 by its Constituent Assembly, a republican government has yet to be established.

The Nepali government has repeatedly said Tibet is an inalienable part of China and it will not allow anti-China activities on its territory.

Sarbendra Khanal, Metropolitan Police Range Office chief in Kathmandu, said in April that Nepali police were simply performing their duties when assaulted by the Tibetans.

Political quest

The sincere efforts of the Dragon Kingdom to head for national polls with India offering its
share to conduct fair elections is expected to bring prosperity for the country and end the era of monarchy, says Swaati Chaudhury

One of the smallest economies of the globe that has been on the threshold of transition from monarchy to democracy and it is none other than the tranquil Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan. The year 2008 will mark the country’s premier democratic elections for Bhutan’s National Assembly comprising 47 members after experiencing a century of monarchy.

The historic elections that indicate a significant step in establishing the stronghold of democracy were held on 24 March 2008 and the country received its first elected prime minister on 25 March 2008 only after the election authorities submitted the list of victorious leaders to the King. India being one of the biggest neighbouring countries of the Dragon Kingdom has its role in ensuring fair and smooth elections, deserves special mention. Since, both the countries have always enjoyed friendly relations in the bygone years.

A memorandum of understanding has been signed between the Chief Election Commissioner of India, B B Tandon and the Bhutanese Chief Election Commissioner, Dasho Kunzang Wangdi in Thimpu. The mountain kingdom has sought the assistance of India’s election commission to impart training to its election commission officials and masses to organise and make their presence in the polls.

The chief election commissioner of Bhutan feels that regular visits, training of its election officials and the much-needed exposure to India’s election system will enable the country for its historic polls. While B B Tandon, chief election commissioner of India has warned the Bhutanese election commission officials to keep their country free from unfair election practices and refrain from the use of money and unethical use of power. He also pointed out that it is highly essential for the judicial system to speed up its working condition to ward off criminal elements that can jeopardise the polls.

Cong to fight for Gorkhaland

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, July 18: The Hill unit of the Congress today passed a resolution endorsing the demand for Gorkhaland. “Gorkhaland is our birthright and the Hill committee of the Congress will extend a full-fledged support to it from now on. We demand the formation of a State Reorganisation Committee and will place the same demand before Mrs Sonia Gandhi,” Mr Chabbi Chandra Rai, joint-secretary of the Congress (Hill unit), said. The Committee is willing to face party action if taken against it for its stand “Our party bifurcated into the Darjeeling District Congress (Hill) and (plains) in the late eighties. We support the demand for a separate state. It is significant because this is the first time a National party has supported the demand,” Mr Rai claimed.

The Congress in the Darjeeling Hills would form an executive body to outline the future programmes for Gorkhaland. “We will independently carry activities like dharnas and hunger strikes for Gorkhaland. A delegation would go to New Delhi to submit a memorandum to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the PM and the Union home minister in favour of Gorkhaland,” Mr Rai stated.

Symposium for separate statehood

FROM THE STATESMAN

DARJEELING, July 18: To analyse the Gorkhaland demand and to remove the misconception that the movement is violent in nature, the ‘Intellectual Forum of Darjeeling District and Dooars’ a body of intellectuals has organised a two-day symposium from tomorrow.

“The symposium on 19 and 20 July is to bring intellectuals and strong advocates of smaller states for the right to self-determination of ethnic minorities like Gorkhas and Adivasis,” Mr P Arjun, convener of the Forum said. “Our mission is to disseminate the geo-political, historical and sociological factors in consonance with the present situation. Organisations like Aamra Bangali and Jana Chetna have labeled our movement as violent. We attempt to clear it,” he stated. Eminent speakers like Dr Mahendra P Lama, senior editor’s Mr Joel\ Rai and Mr Swaraj Thapa, historian and writer Mr Somnath Pal and APDR activist Mr Abhiranjan Bhaduri would address the symposium.

Buddhists pray for peace and harmony

FROM THE STATESMAN

GANGTOK, July 18: Thousands of Buddhist devotees thronged the Guru Lhakhang monastery in Deorali near Gangtok today, to get blessings from senior monks called Rinpoche. “We believe that the eternal blessings would benefit the people of Sikkim and bring prosperity in our life,” said a woman devotee.

A weeklong prayer for Guru Rinpoche (Guru Padmasambhawa) was held in the monastery for World Peace, good fortune and harmony for Sikkim. The celebrations concluded today. “We have purified the state with various Buddhist mantras recited in our weeklong prayers and on the final day today we distributed the holy water and ***wang (blessing) to the devotees,” said Mr Karma Yangden, a monk of the monastery. “We also prayed for the long life of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama,” he added.

The ‘Annual Vajra Guru Recitation’ for the propagation of Buddhism was organised by the Guru Kubum Nyingma Tsechu Association (GKNTA) of Deorali. The same was observed in other parts of the country and in Bhutan too.

CID grills ISI suspect

FROM THE STATESMAN

SILIGURI, July 18: Intelligence officials from the Army have joined the CID in interrogating the suspected agent of the Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) arrested from Bagdogra in Siliguri on Wednesday.
The CID, which was granted an 11 days remand of the arrested ISI suspect Abid Khan ( 38 ) by a Siliguri court yesterday, began its activities quite early today.

According to sources in the CID, the investigating team led by Mr DP Dong, the DSP – CID in Siliguri took the ISI suspect to an undisclosed location at about 11 am. Since then, a number of Intelligence officials are pestering him for information about his activities, associates in Siliguri and other parts of north Bengal and immediate plans, if any.

According to the IGP, north Bengal, Mr KL Tamta, Intelligence officials from the Army too have joined in the interrogation and are trying to figure out for what specific purpose the ISI suspect had collected the photographs and documents pertaining to the various Army bases in north Bengal. The Intelligence officials are worried at the fact that the Pakistani national was also carrying copies of secret official communiqués apparently belonging to the Army, which suggests there could a sabotage going on with the force.

The investigating officers are also digging out the details of the savings account that the ISI suspect maintained with a nationalised bank branch in Siliguri. Apart from looking into the transactions made on the account, the Intelligence officials are also in touch with the concerned bank for details of the person who introduced the ISI suspect while opening the account.

The CID however, is not officially parting with any findings now. “At this point I can only say that the investigating is going on in full swing and the arrested man is being subjected to rigorous interrogation,” the special IG, CID, Mr Sanjay Mukherjee said from Kolkata. Abid Khan alias Samir Ahmed alias Sagar (38), a Pakistani national hailing from Bahawalnager district in west Punjab bordering India, was arrested by the CID on Wednesday from a hotel at Bagdogra in Siliguri where he checked in from Nepal.

Admission process in full swing – Waiting for freshers

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Shew Mangal School from where Munshi Premchand College will function

Siliguri, July 18: The two new colleges established in Siliguri subdivision in the current academic year are likely to accommodate a good portion of the students who had applied for admissions to various arts subjects at the graduation level.

“So far, 103 students have joined Munshi Premchand College, while more than 100 have taken admission forms,” said Partha Sarathi Das, the chairman of the institution’s managing committee. “The admission process is on and we expect at least 200 students to join five arts subjects this year.”

The authorities have not fixed the number of seats and sources said a decision would be taken depending on how many students would have to be admitted.

After the publication of Higher Secondary results, all five colleges in and around Siliguri were flooded with applications for admissions by thousands of students. Many of them could not join these colleges as all seats were filled.

Apprehending that many students would lose an academic year, academicians and Bengal urban development minister Asok Bhattacharya approached the state higher education department and sought the approval for Munshi Premchand College along Sevoke Road and Naxalbari College in Naxalbari in the current academic session.

Soon after the two colleges received the approvals about a fortnight ago, they started issuing admission forms.

“We have issued forms to more than 150 students and 25 of them have already joined,” said Gautam Ghosh, the managing committee secretary of Naxalbari College.

While Munshi Premchand College will function from Shew Mangal School along Sevoke Road, Naxalbari College will conduct its classes in Nandaprasad High School in the morning until the new institutions get their own buildings.

Few takers for Asok confession on lapses

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Asok Bhattacharya in Old Malda on Friday. (Surajit Roy)

Malda, July 18: Bengal municipal affairs minister Asok Bhattacharya today said despite the Left Front being in power for over 30 years, there was a lot left to be desired in civic amenities, a lapse he blamed on rabid urbanisation and which few people are ready to buy.

While inaugurating a Rs 18 crore water supply project at Old Malda today, Bhattacharya said drinking water, drainage, solid waste management and slum improvement were still serious problems in the state’s urban areas.

However, there are some who were not impressed with the minister’s admission.

“What does he mean when he says there are problems? Who allowed these problems to crop up in the first place?” asked the former Congress chairman of the Old Malda municipality, Bibhuti Ghosh.

“Back in 1995, Old Malda Municipality grew from nine wards to 17. Since then, we have been submitting project after project on water supply, drainage and other plans. Since not a single paise has been sanctioned for them, the minister cannot blame anyone but his government,” said Ghosh.

The former chief of the civic body said the municipality had got Rs 18 crore only because it was run by the CPM. “It is the parochial attitude of the CPM that had allowed such things to grow out of hand,” said Ghosh.

He said while Old Malda’s residents got their dues for voting the CPM to power, nothing was announced for the Congress-run Englishbazar Municipality.

No-trust letter only after July 24: Kumai – Civic chief ignores opposition demand

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Kalimpong Municipality

Kalimpong, July 18: The chairman of the Kalimpong Municipality, C.K. Kumai, has refused to comply with the Opposition demand to convene a special meeting for a no-confidence motion on the basis of a letter written to him on July 11.

The 14 councillors, who sought the special meeting for the no-trust motion against the GNLF-run board, had wanted to hold the meeting on July 24.

Kumai, however, said the councillors were free to make a requisition for the meeting, but the letter has to be sent any time on or after July 24. He said he would not consider the intimation dated July 11 and reached him on July 14.

Since the government rules stipulate that the chairman must convene a special meeting if sought by at least one-third of the board members within 15 days of their asking for it, Kumai said in this particular case, the period should start from on or after July 24.

Kumai had defeated an opposition-sponsored no-confidence motion on January 24. Since, according to the municipality rules, similar resolution can be moved only after six months, the GNLF leader said the Opposition councillors could start the process of tabling a fresh no-trust motion against him only on or after July 24.

Hill Cong for statehood

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

Darjeeling, July 18: The Darjeeling District (Hill) Congress Committee has adopted a resolution to take forward the Gorkhaland agitation and may even organise hunger strikes and dharnas.

The move comes after Gorkha Janmukti Morcha president Bimal Gurung said the Congress MP, Dawa Narbula, should cast his vote in favour of the UPA in the trust motion to be tabled on July 22 only after extracting an assurance from his party that the demand for Gorkhaland would be met.

The Morcha supporters had gheraoed Narbula’s house yesterday but by the time the hill MP had left for Delhi after being called by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Narbula told The Telegraph in Calcutta today over the phone that he would raise the statehood issue during a meeting with the Congress president in Delhi tomorrow.

Chabi Rai, the joint secretary of the Hill Congress, said: “We have adopted a resolution today to carry forward the Gorkhaland agitation. We will soon form a body to chalk our future programme which could include fasts and dharnas. We will take a delegation to meet Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister and the home minister,” said Rai.

The dates of the meetings will be finalised once the body is formed.

Wheel jam to fight growth block

FROM THE TELEGRAPH

A file picture of the stretch from Ghum-Bhanjyan to Bijanbari-Kaijalay. CPRM members had in 20006 planted saplings on the road to protest against its condition

Darjeeling, July 18: A section of Gorkha Janmukti Morcha supporters, especially drivers and vehicle owners, who are feeling the pinch of the halt in development projects because of the recent spate of bandhs in the hills, have decided to counter it with another strike.

Along with residents of the area, the Darjeeling-Pul Block Level Transport Owners’ and Drivers’ Association based in Bijanbari has called a 12-hour transport strike on July 24 to protest against damaged roads, a nightmare for the hills in monsoon.

“Many people might be inconvenienced by our agitation, but they must realise that if we keep mum, things will remain the same for a long time,” said Sunchin Rai, the general secretary of the Association.

The potholed stretch between Ghum-Bhanjyan and Bijanbari-Kaijalay has gone from bad to worse in the past three to four years. In 2006, the CPRM had planted saplings on the road itself to protest against the administration’s failure to maintain it.

However, ever since the government appointed a new administrator in March this year, the DGHC has hardly functioned. The council does have Rs 121 crore in its kitty but Ashok Mohan Chakrabarti, Bengal home secretary, said it had not been possible to utilise the funds. “In fact, an audit, too, is pending. For how long can this go on,” Chakrabarti had recently said about the state of affairs in the hills.

To Morcha president Bimal Gurung, two more years would not make much difference when there has been no development for the past 21 years. “Our agitation is for Gorkhaland and not for development and sops the government wants to offer.”