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Basic Political Developments

Some UPA partners friendly with Maoists: BJP



Thu, Apr 8 05:57 PM

New Delhi, April 8 (IANS) Alleging that some parties of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were close to Leftist guerrillas, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Thursday said the government was a mute spectator when Maoists were spreading terror.

'Sections of the UPA have made Maoist-friendly noises in some states. West Bengal is a telling example of this,' a BJP statement said in an oblique reference to Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress.

The remark comes two days after the attack Tuesday by hundreds of Maoist rebels who trapped and killed 76 security personnel in a jungle in Chhattisgarh.

The BJP in a resolution adopted in the first meeting of its newly-appointed office bearers condemned the attack calling it 'barbaric, inhuman and anti-national'.

'This attack is a grim reminder to the nation that both the geographical spread and the intensity of fire power of the Maoists has increased manifold in the past six years of the UPA rule.'

The party said it was a challenge to the 'nationalist forces of India that we must launch a fight to finish against the subversive Maoists forces'.

'We call upon the government of India and all states to work out and strengthen the unified strategy against Maoists,' the statement said.

The party alleged that the central government was 'silent spectator' when Maoists were growing many fold during the first term of the Congress-led UPA government.

'In Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, the Congress cozied up to the Maoists on election eve,' the statement added.

JP demands Chidambaram's resignation



Thursday, Apr 8 2010 IST

The Janata Party (JP) today demanded immediate resignation of Home Minister P Chidambaram owning moral responsibility for the naxal attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh which claimed lives of 75 CRPF personnel and one head constable.

It is not enough for Mr Chidambaram to say sorry for the massacre of CRPF jawans, JP president Dr Subramaniam Swamy said in a statement here. "Mr Chidambaram must atone for it since he came to office as Home Minister after Mr Shivraj Patil was forced to vacate it in the wake of the Mumbai terror attacks," Dr Swamy said.

He said in case, Mr Chidambaram does not resign, the Prime Minister must sack him, the statement added.

BJP almost non-existent in UP : Kalyan



Lucknow, Apr 8 (PTI) Dismissing all speculation about his return to his parent party, former BJP stalwart Kalyan Singh today said the safforn party is "almost non-existent" in Uttar Pradesh and cannot be revived by anyone.

"Speculations about my return to the BJP are unfounded, baseless and misleading as I would never return to it in my lifetime", Kalyan Singh, who is patron of the newly floated Jankranti Party, told newspersons here.

Maintaining that BJP's mass base is shrinking and its influence is on the wane all over the country, Singh said the party's decline is most stark in Uttar Pradesh where it has become "almost non-existent.

PM meets chief ministers over price rise



New Delhi, April 8 : Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his senior cabinet colleagues and chief ministers of 10 states began their deliberations on containing price rise here Thursday amid fears of inflation crossing the double digit mark.

The meeting is being held even as the Left parties went ahead with their nationwide agitation during which they courted arrest to protest rising prices.

The core group of chief ministers, set up in February, comprises Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia are also attending the meeting.

Inflation soared to 9.89 percent during February and is feared to cross the double-digit mark in March - the data for which is likely to be released next week. Food inflation has been ruling at over 16 percent.

The prime minister on the eve of the significant meeting had said: "The country has a problem and I would like all political parties to pool their knowledge, wisdom and experience to evolve practical, pragmatic solutions to these problems."

CPM protest in JK against price rise



Srinagar, Apr 8 (PTI) CPI-M activists today staged protest demonstrations in Jammu and Srinagar against price rise and unemployment as part of party's nationwide agitation today.

Carrying banners and placards, protests were staged by in front of Raj Bhavan in Jammu and Partap Park in the heart of Srinagar this afternoon.

M Y Tarigami, state Secretary of the party, addressing protesters in Jammu, said prices of essential commodities like food items have risen disproportionately putting common man, working class and low-income group to grave hardships.

He emphasised on implementation of universalisation of Public Distribution System instead of existing targeted PDS which denies availability of ration items to majority of the population.

Tarigami said the employment policy announced by the state government is inadequate to tackle the menace of rising unemployment problem and procedure for providing unemployment allowance is complicated and limited to only to a small section of youth.

Justice Dinakaran has to proceed on leave: Govt



New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) Government today indicated that Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, facing impeachment proceedings in Parliament, will have to go on leave as advised by the Supreme Court Collegium, holding that he is not above the law.

"The hand of law is quite long enough to catch anyone. I don't think Justice Dinarakan is above the law, or he is beyond the reach of the law," Law Minister M Veerappa Moily told reporters here.

He was asked about the Government's view on Justice Dinakaran not proceeding on leave despite being asked by the apex court panel to do so last week.

Moily refused to say anything further on the issue.

Left parties demonstrate against price rise in Orissa



Bhubaneswar, Apr 8 (PTI) Left party activists today staged demonstrations and courted arrest across Orissa as part of their nation-wide agitation to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities.

Criticising the economic policy of the UPA-led government at the Centre, CPI(M), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP threatened to intensify their agitation if the Union government failed to take concrete steps to check inflation.

Demonstrations and 'jail bharo' agitation were held at various places including Cuttack, Berhampur, Rourkela, Puri, Sambalpur, Balasore, Bhadrak, Jagatsinghpur, Jajpur, Khurda, Nayagarh, Baripada and Sundargarh.

CPI state secretary Dibakar Nayak said a large number of party workers courted arrest while proceeding towards Raj Bhavan here. He demanding steps to provide jobs to the unemployed and strengthen public distribution system.

CPI(M) state secretary Janaran Pati said about 15,000 party workers courted arrest in different places of Orissa during the agitation.

National Economic Trends

Rising pulse, milk prices push food inflation to 17.7 per cent



Higher prices of milk, fruits and pulses pushed food inflation to 17.70 per cent for the week ended March 27, fuelling expectations that RBI may further tighten rates in its annual monetary policy on April 20, 2010.

Food inflation in the previous week stood at 16.35 per cent. With prices of essential items rising and fears of food inflation spreading to manufactured goods, the overall inflation for March, data for which is expected next week, is likely to cross the double digit mark.

The overall inflation, which includes variation in prices of food and non-food items, was 9.89 per cent in February.

On an annual basis, pulses became dearer by 32.60 per cent, milk by 21.12 per cent, fruits 14.95 and wheat by 13.34 per cent.

On a weekly basis, the index for food articles rose by 0.9 per cent as fish marine, milk, fruits, masur and vegetables became costlier.

In a bid to rein in inflation, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh is holding a meeting of the core committee of Chief Ministers with representations from 10 States and senior Cabinet Ministers later in the day.

The core group of Chief Ministers, set up in February, comprises Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Punjab, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Besides the CMs, the other members of the committee are Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Food and Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar and Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

To check inflation from spreading to non-food items, the RBI last month raised key short-term lending and borrowing (repo and the reverse repo) rates by 25 basis points to five per cent and 3.5 per cent, respectively.

General inflation has already surpassed RBI’s March end projection of 8.5 per cent.

Recently, RBI governor D. Subbarao had also said that the apex bank will continue its exit from monetary stimulus policy to check high inflation and ensure sustainable growth.

Government bans FDI in cigarette manufacturing



Cigarettes for sale at a small-scale cigarette shop in Kochi. The government has ruled out FDI in this industry.

The government today banned foreign direct investment (FDI) in cigarette manufacturing.

“FDI will be prohibited in the manufacture of cigarettes, whether it is for domestic consumption...or for exports,” Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA).

The prohibition will be notified, he said, adding the ban would also be applicable in the special economic zones.

The proposal was mooted by the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Under the existing norms, 100 per cent FDI is permitted in cigarette manufacturing, but an industrial licence is required and the proposals need to be approved by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB).

Mineral production from mining, quarrying sector rises 3.54 pc



New Delhi | Thursday, Apr 8 2010 IST

The mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in January 2010 was higher by 3.54 per cent compared to that of the preceeding month. However, the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 9.32 per cent during the current financial year from April-January 2009-10 as compared to that of the previous year. The mineral production in January 2010 was higher by 14.64 per cent as compared to that of the corresponding month of previous year.

According to an official release issued here today, the total value of mineral production (excluding atomic and minor minerals) in the country during January 2010 was placed at Rs 10,153 crore. The contribution of coal was the highest at Rs 4,063 crore accounting for 40 per cent. Next in the order of importance were: iron ore Rs 1,901 crore, petroleum (crude) Rs 1,626 crore, natural gas (utilised) Rs 1,430 crore, lignite Rs 276 crore and limestone Rs 255 crore. The six minerals together contributed about 94 per cent of the total value of mineral production in January 2010. Production level of important minerals in January 2010 were: coal 521 lakh tonnes, lignite 34 lakh tonnes, natural gas (utilised) 4,571 million cu m, petroleum (crude) 29 lakh tonnes, bauxite 1,073 thousand tonnes, chromite 326 thousand tonnes, copper conc 12 thousand tonnes, gold 156 kg, iron ore 188 lakh tonnes, lead conc 12 thousand tonnes, manganese ore 223 thousand tonnes, zinc conc 112 thousand tonnes, apatite and phosphorite 87 thousand tonnes, dolomite 387 thousand tonnes, limestone 198 lakh tones, magnesite 24 thousand tones and diamond 1801 carats.

In January 2010, the output of lignite increased by 14.49 per cent, coal 6.55 per cent, natural gas (utilised) 5.69 per cent, iron ore 2.98 per cent, copper conc. 2.97 per cent, petroleum (crude) 0.48 per cent. However, the production of lead conc decreased by 0.08 per cent, zinc conc. 0.98 per cent, limestone 1.28 per cent, gold 4.29 per cent, diamond 4.35 per cent, manganese ore 5.50 per cent, bauxite 6.32 per cent, chromite 8.05 per cent, magnesite 10.16 per cent, dolomite 17.17 per cent and apatite and phosphorite 17.74 per cent.

UP achieves record 50.53 lakh MT sugar production



Lucknow, Apr 8 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh has achieved a record production of 50.53 lakh million tonne (MT) sugar in the ongoing crushing season, the highest in last two years, a senior cane department officer said here today.

"As against a target of producing 39.6 lakh MT sugar in the current crushing season, mills in the state have so far produced 50.53 lakh MT sugar, which is expected to reach 52 lakh MT by the end of the crushing season," the officer said.

The states sugar production in the last crushing season was only 40.64 lakh MT.

While 96 sugar mills have completed crushing, 32 units are still operational, the officer said.

"Despite decline in cane area this year, so far 555.2 lakh MT cane has been crushed by the mills in the state so far," he said.

Govt clears highway projects worth Rs 4,355 cr



New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The government today approved highway construction works worth over Rs 4,355 crore in various states, including Bihar and Rajasthan.

The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) gave its nod for the four-laning of Beawar-Pali section and Pali-Pindwara section of national highway (NH) 14 in Rajasthan at an estimated cost of Rs 1,102.10 crore and Rs 1,326.54 crore, respectively.

The concession period, for which the developer will own and operate the road, will be 21 years for the first project and 19 years for the second one, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni said after the CCI meeting.

The CCI also cleared the Rs 658.64-crore project for four-laning of Deoli-Kota section of NH 12 in Rajasthan and the Rs 605.82-crore project for four-laning of Patna-Bhaktiyarpur stretch of NH 30 in Bihar.

Rupee falls by 6 paise to 44.60 against USD



Mumbai, Apr 8 : The rupee today eased further by six paise to 44.60 against US Dollar in the early trade, as against its previous close of 44.54, as the stock market opened negative, traders at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (FOREX) said here.

The local unit slipped for the second day today after the greenback became stronger against other currencies due to sustained buying by banks and oil companies.

Fresh capital outflows by foreign funds also impacted the same, they added.

The rupee later moved in a wide range between 44.62 and 44.52 per USD in intra day trade.

Govt clears divestment in SAIL, to fetch 16,000 cr



New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) The government today approved a 20 per cent disinvestment in Steel Authority of India Ltd that would fetch a total of Rs 16,000 crore.

Following the two-tranche disinvestment, the government and the company would get Rs 8,000 crore each, Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs.

Post disinvestment, the government's equity will fall to 69 per cent from 85.82 per cent currently.

The stake sale will take place in two tranches of 10 per cent each, Chidambaram said, adding that each time 5 per cent will be through further public offer (FPO) and another 5 per cent through sale of government equity.

SAIL shares were trading at Rs 248.25, down by 2.67 per cent on the BSE.

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

Essel to invest Rs.500 crore on education business



Chennai, April 8: Media major Essel group is planning to invest Rs.500 crore over the next seven years in the education sector, promoting pre-schools, schools and university, group chairman Subhash Chandra said Thursday.

"Over the next seven years the group will be investing around Rs.500 crore in the field of education. Already we have invested around Rs.100 crore," Chandra told reporters here.

The group's education vertical, Zee Learn, now a division of ETC Networks, will become an independent company after a restructuring.

A meeting of ETC Networks' shareholders has been called April 19.

About plans for expanding the Zee School chain, Sumeet Mehta, CEO, Zee Learn, said: "The target is to have 300 schools by 2015 through a mix of owned schools (100) as well as franchisee-owned and managed schools (200)."

Two channels owned by ETC Networks - ETC Hindi and ETC Punjabi- will be hived off and made part of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Ltd.

With just the education division, ETC Networks will be renamed as Zee Learn Ltd.

According to Chandra, ETC Networks will be closing 2009-10 with a turnover of around Rs.100 crore up from Rs.66 crore earned the previous year.

Asked about the risks of having a franchisee model for schools where the former will be concerned more on cutting costs, Nitya Ramaswami, head, child development and academics, said: "We will be grading the schools."

Key conspirator of Pune blast identified: ATS



Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) Yasin Bhatkal, believed to be a relative of Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, has been identified by Maharashtra ATS as one of the main conspirators of the Pune bomb blast in which 17 people were killed.

Indian Mujahideen is suspected to be behind the February 13 blast in Pune's upscale Koregaon Park area, an ATS source said.

The ATS, which has submitted a preliminary report on investigations into the terror attack - the first after 26/11 - has claimed that the suspects have been identified and they would be arrested soon.

"One of the prime suspects has been identified as Yasin, who hails from Bhatkal village in Karnataka. We believe he is related to Riyaz, who is absconding," the source said.

Air India signs $190 million deal for IT infrastructure



8 Apr 2010, 1518 hrs IST,IANS

NEW DELHI: Air India Thursday announced a $190 million (Rs.855 crore) deal with aviation solutions provider SITA to upgrade its IT infrastructure which will enable it to join the Star Alliance.

"It will enable us to align processes and systems to meet Star Alliance standards. Air India will then be able to leverage the complementary strengths and synergies of the single new carrier to the maximum, resulting in a more competitive, customer friendly and world class airline with significant improvement in our passenger yields," said Arvind Jadhav, chairman of the National Aviation Company India Ltd (NACIL), which operates Air India.

"The deal is valued at $190 million over ten years," he said.

Jadhav said the technology upgradation would help complete the merger of Indian Airlines with Air India.

"SITA's services will be used to deliver a single airline code to allow the seamless integration of the former domestic carrier Indian Airlines with Air India for the first time since they merged in August 2007," he added.

In addition, SITA will also implement an efficient online booking engine, departure control system, check-in and automated boarding control, baggage reconciliation system and a frequent flyer programme, the airlines said.

Elecon Engineering bags Rs 49.90 cr order from Sical Logistics



8 Apr 2010, 1408 hrs IST,PTI

MUMBAI: Elecon Engineering Company today said it has bagged an order worth Rs 49.90 crore from Sical Logistics for material handling equipment.

The scope of the contract includes design, engineering and commissioning of material handling equipments for New Mangalore Iron Ore Terminal, Elecon Engineering Company said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE).

Shares of the company were trading at Rs 80.55 on the BSE, up 3.20 per cent from previous close.

*** IVR Prime Urban raises Rs 63 cr from land sale * IVR Prime Urban Developers today said it has raised Rs 63 crore by selling land near Pune and Chennai.

The company has sold 87.52 acres of land near Loanavala and 28 acres of land near Chennai, IVR Prime Urban said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

The company has infrastructure assets in water, highways, oil & gas and logistics apart from real estate projects, the filing added.

Suzlon gets order from Italian firm to supply wind turbines



8 Apr 2010, 1543 hrs IST,PTI

MUMBAI: Wind power major Suzlon Energy today said its subsidiary REpower Systems AG has bagged a contract from an Italian company for supplying 18 wind turbines.

REpower has concluded a contract for the supply of 18 wind turbines to Daunia Savignano, a subsidiary of Italian Tozzi Group, Suzlon said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

REpower will be responsible for the supply, erection and commissioning of these wind turbines at Savignano wind farm in Southern Italy. The company would be supplying MM92 turbines having a rated output of 2.05 MW for the wind farm.

The company is already erecting 20 such turbines at the Savignano wind farm, it said.

The capacity of the project would be expanded by 36.9 MW via the 18 new turbines.

"The excellent cooperation between our two companies so far is illustrated by the fact that we were awarded the subsequent contract for this project by Tozzi," REpower Systems AG CEO Per Hornung said.

The firm, however, has not given any financial details of the project.

Shares of Suzlon Energy were today trading at Rs 75.30 on the BSE, up 0.13 per cent from previous close.

Nimbus Sport signs deal with ACC for three Asia Cups



Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) Nimbus Sport International today announced a five-year deal with Asian Cricket Council which will give it the right to globally market the commercial rights of three Asia Cups from 2010 to 2014.

The deal covers Asia Cup this year, which will be held in Sri Lanka from June 15-25, and the editions in 2012 and 2014.

Each event will feature India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh playing each other in a league format with the top two teams playing in the final.

Announcing the deal, ACC Chief Executive Ashraful Huq said, "We are extremely pleased to extend our relationship with one of Asia's leading sports management companies, Nimbus Sport. Asia Cup is the region's most sought after trophy and features some of the greatest rivalries in the history of the sport.

Essar arm eyes $2.5-b LSE listing



8 Apr 2010, 0003 hrs IST,Arun Kumar,ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: Essar Energy, the Ruias’ holding company for power and oil assets, may launch the biggest-ever overseas initial public offering (IPO) by an Indian company as early as next week to raise $2.5 billion.

The Ruias plan to sell a quarter of the company to build power plants and invest in oil and gas exploration, said two bankers familiar with the matter.

If the company completes the initial share sale as planned, it would be the biggest after the mining group, Vedanta Resources, which raised £700 million in 2003 in an initial share sale.

“Essar Group is always looking at a range of different funding options,” said an Essar Group spokesperson. “The group works with a range of financial advisors to assist us.”

Essar Energy, which looks to list the shares on the London Stock Exchange, has hired JPMorgan and Deutsche Bank as advisors for the share sale. The proposed transaction is likely to value the group’s energy business, including oil and gas and power, by up to $10 billion.

Sterlite Industries, which was listed on the Indian bourses, in 2007 raised $1.75 billion in a share sale in the US. During the same time, ICICI Bank sold ADRs in a secondary offering.

The Essar Group, controlled by Shashi and Ravi Ruia, is expanding power and oil and gas business with an investment of Rs 40,000 crore in the next 3-4 years.

The power business, which currently generates 1,200 mega watts (MW), requires Rs 20,000 crore to add 4,800 MW to be completed by 2012. It plans to add another 5,000 MW capacity to take its combined capacity to 11,000 MW.

The company also plans to invest Rs 20,000 crore in its exploration, production and refining of oil and gas business. The share sale would fund the expansion of its refining capacity from 300,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd), or 14 million tonne a year, to 750,000 bpd, or 36 million tonne a year.

Essar Energy, apart from its 81% stake in Essar Oil, owns various assets in different countries. Essar Oil is valued at Rs 17,500 crore.

The Ruias also have interests in telecom, steel, outsourcing, shipping and logistics. They own a 33% stake in a telecom joint venture with Vodafone of the UK.

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

India to run on Euro III fuel from October



8 Apr 2010, 0946 hrs IST,Rajeev Jayaswal ,ET Bureau

NEW DELHI: India will switch over to Euro-III petrol and diesel on October 1, with the petroleum ministry issuing a fresh deadline for oil companies to sell cleaner fuels.

Consumers across the country will pay about Rs 0.20-0 .40 a litre more for Euro-III fuel. The petroleum ministry was acting on a dictat from the country’s pollution regulator.

Prices of better grade Euro-IV diesel and petrol sold in 13 major cities from April 1 have already gone up by Rs 0.50 a litre.

“The environment pollution (prevention and control) authority (EPCA) has asked oil companies to strictly follow a month-wise implementation schedule and we are all set to achieve it,” said the chairman and managing director of a stateowned oil company. The authority turned down auto the companies’ suggestion to introduce Bharat Stage-III (Euro-III ) fuel in the entire country simultaneously in October 2010, he said, requesting anonymity.

Goa is selling Euro-III fuel from April 1, 2010. Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharastra will adopt the standard from June 1.

“Oil companies have together invested about Rs 36,000 crore in refinery upgradation to meet the deadline,” an oil ministry official said. The government had set April 1 deadline for the entire country to switch over to Euro-III fuel (from Euro-II ) and for 13 major cities to Euro-IV (from Euro-III ). The deadline could not be met due to logistics issues, the official said.

Oil companies are under pressure from the regulator to advance the deadline for Karnataka. “EPCA feels that introduction of BS-III (Euro-III ) may be preponed (sic) in Karnataka, currently scheduled for July 2010-end because of the growing pollution in the region,” the authority said in a letter to the oil ministry.

The petroleum ministry has assured the pollution regulator that oil companies will sell Euro-III fuel in 17 other states and union territories by July 1. By October 1, Euro-III fuel will be available in all petrol pumps across the country.

States to switch over from Euro-III to Euro-IV fuel by July include Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Western UP, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Tamil Nadu.

The ministry of shipping, road transport & highways has been asked to adhere to the schedule due to growing air pollution and its implications on health, the official said. Higher grade fuels will reduce emission of sulphur and benzene that pollute the environment.

GSPC inks agreement with Egypt for oil and gas exploration



8 Apr 2010, 1402 hrs IST,PTI

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) has inked an agreement with government of Egypt for oil and gas exploration in the African nation where the Indian firm has been alloted blocks.

The Gujarat Government-promoted company, in partnership with private sector Adani Group, was recently alloted three blocks for oil and gas exploration in Egypt.

The consortium is led by GSPC, which has 60 per cent stake, while Adani Group holds 40 per cent, said a GSPC official here today.

"The GSPC-led consortium was alloted three blocks by Egypt and agreement for commencing exploration activities has been inked with one block," the GSPC official, who signed the agreement in Egypt, said.

Similar agreements for remaining two blocks will be inked at a later stage, he said.

GSPC already has got two blocks in Egypt apart from three awarded recently. "With addition of three blocks, we have five blocks in Egypt now."

GSPC, with its various partners, is engaged in exploration activities in petroleum products at 60 places in India and abroad where it works in more than 20 countries.

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

Key conspirator of Pune blast identified: ATS



Mumbai, Apr 8 (PTI) Yasin Bhatkal, believed to be a relative of Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, has been identified by Maharashtra ATS as one of the main conspirators of the Pune bomb blast in which 17 people were killed.

Indian Mujahideen is suspected to be behind the February 13 blast in Pune's upscale Koregaon Park area, an ATS source said.

The ATS, which has submitted a preliminary report on investigations into the terror attack - the first after 26/11 - has claimed that the suspects have been identified and they would be arrested soon.

"One of the prime suspects has been identified as Yasin, who hails from Bhatkal village in Karnataka. We believe he is related to Riyaz, who is absconding," the source said.

Surgical strikes against Naxals likely



April 08, 2010 13:16 IST

Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan said on Thursday that security agencies are considering initiating surgical strikes against Maoists. "There is no single-dimensional operation. The operations will be more intense against the Maoists. There will be surgical strikes based on intelligence inputs," Ranjan said while speaking to a private news channel. "There may be more complex sort of operations and more dismantling of the camps," he added.

Ranjan's statement came just a day after Union Home Minister P Chidambaram reportedly pulled up security officials for improper coordination. In a review meeting of joint forces, Chidambaram reportedly called on all agencies to improve coordination.

Ranjan ruled out a lack of coordination between forces, as being responsible for Tuesday's Maoist massacre. "We will give them a befitting reply. It will be a well calibrated response and well thought of. We will surprise the Maoists," he said. The Union Home Ministry has expressed unhappiness over the sidelining intelligence inputs given by Central agencies.

Earlier, the Intelligence Bureau (IB) had warned forces engaged in anti Naxal operations in Chhattisgarh about the presence of over 200 specially trained red ultras in the area. "Unless you see the ground where the combat took place, any amount of thinking about what might have happened will be only conjecture based on our past knowledge," Ranjan said.

"The CRPF is a trained force. They have fought many successful battles. You cannot say that the team of police was not trained," he added. Ranjan further underlined the need for a session to analyze reasons for Tuesday's tragedy."We must analyze what went wrong once we go to the ground. We must ensure that we don''t get into such a trap again," he said.

After Tuesday's attack questions were raised over the coordination between forces operating in Naxal affected areas. Meanwhile, Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik has chaired a review meeting of the situation in Koraput, Nabarangpur, Rayagada and Malkangiri districts bordering Chhattisgarh.Patnaik asked officials to adhere to the standard operation procedure during force movements.

Cops have tapes of conversations of Malegaon blast accused: Patil



April 08, 2010 17:01 IST

Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil on Thursday said the police was in possession of an audio tape of a conversation of a Malegaon bomb blast accused making derogatory references to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha chief Mohan Bhagwat.

Replying to a debate on law and order in the state assembly, Patil said the conversation also pertains to use of a chemical powder which if applied on footwear would result in death of a person within two to three days.

"Even the post-mortem will not help to find the cause of death," Patil said.

He said that there was a mention in the conversation that Bhagwat is unfit to lead the Hindutva outfit.

All the accused in the Malegaon bomb blast case have links with Abhinav Bharat, a right-wing organisation.

Earlier, participating in the debate, Nationalist Congress Party legislator

Jeetendra Avhad had alleged links between Hindu organizations like Abhinav Bharat, Sanatam Sansthat and Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence.

Avhad charged the right-wing groups of involvement in some blast cases and also of planning to kill the RSS chief.

He wanted to know whether the government would ban the two organisations. Patil said appropriate decision will be taken at the appropriate time.

Opposition members had staged a walkout before the reply protesting for not being allowed to speak during the debate due to shortage of time.

Patil said the accused in Pune's German Bakery bomb blast case were on the police radar and would be soon arrested.

"Investigations are being conducted on war footing in complete co-ordination with central agencies and investigators from other parts of the country," he said.

Patil said he was ready to hand over the Sangli-Miraj communal riots case to the Central Bureau of Investigation.

The minister said since 26/11 terror attacks in Mumbai, the state government had strengthened its Intelligence Department by directly recruiting personnel in the force.

Earlier, the officials were brought to the department on deputation, he added.

Saeed, LeT working against Islam, must be punished under law:Indian Muslim body



April 08, 2010 12:01:13 AM IST

Criticising the banned terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its parent body, the Markaz Dawa al-Irshad, for working against the teachings of Islam, Indian Muslim scholars have advocated severe punishment for the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD), which is considered to be the LeT's front face, chief Hafeez Muhammad Saeed.

"We believe Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the LeT chief, is a khawarij (rebel) and needs to be punished under the law," secretary general of the Markazi Jamiat-e-Ahl-e-Hadees, Maulana Asghar Ali Imam Mehdi Salfi, said.

The Ahl-e-Hadees sect is often criticised for sharing its ideology with the LeT or Dawa-al-Irshad, which is headed by Saeed.

Clarifying his sect's stance, Maulana Salfi said both Saeed and the Taliban were part of an international conspiracy against Islam.

Maulana Salfi said Islam does not endorse extremism, and said bomb blasts and suicide attacks were forbidden in Islam.

"There was no justification whatsoever for such acts of terrorism and wanton killings," The Daily Times quoted Maulana Salfi, as saying.

"A majority of Ahl-e-Hadees followers in Pakistan are also up in arms against Saeed for taking over their mosques and other establishments," he added. (ANI)

Maoist arsenal found, hardcore Maoist leader held



Midnapore, Apr 08 (PTI) Amid stepped up offensive in three Maoist infested districts of West Bengal, joint forces have seized the largest ever cache of arms, ammunition and explosives since they began operations in June last year and arrested a top local Maoist leader.

"So far it is the largest ever recovery of arms, ammunition and explosives, including fireams looted during February 15 Maoist attack on the Silda EFR camp in West Midnapore district," a top police official told PTI here today.

The seizures made at Jharnadiha village in Binpur area in West Midnapore district last evening, included AK-47 and INSAS rifles, a large number of cartridges, detonators, gelatine sticks, crude bombs, two computers, CDs and electronic gadgets.

The joint forces also found some firearms looted during the Maoist attack on the EFR camp at Silda on February 15 when the ultras killed 24 personnel, he said.

Maoists procuring arms from across borders: Chidambaram



New Delhi, Apr 8 : Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said Maoists were procuring arms from bazaars across India's border.

Briefing the media after a Cabinet meeting, Chidambaram said the Naxals and other ultras clandestinely smuggle weapons using India's open borders with Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

"There are bazaars across the border. You can always get arms from there. Where do you think northeast rebels are getting the arms from," he said.

"There are several places across the border where you can buy arms. You can Google check... You should visit these places if you have not," Chidambaram added.

Apart from procuring arms from illegal ways, Naxals have weapons those looted from security forces, and they also manufacture (country) weapons locally.

Earlier, Union Home Secretary G.K. Pillai had said the rebels were getting arms from illegal weapons markets in China, Myanmar and Bangladesh.

Of the estimated 75 million illegal small arms worldwide, India accounts for over half, ie, 40 million pieces.

An equal number are being manufactured in the illegal factories in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

The bulk of illegal arms are not in conflict areas like Jammu and Kashmir, but in the Northeast.

The underworld in Central India, Naxalites in the Red Corridor major end-users of illegal arms.

According to a report, the bulk of illegal arms are made in Bihar, Chhattisgarh, UP, Jharkhand, Orissa and Madhya Pradesh makes its way to the underworld, the dacoits and the Naxalites.

Six convicted in Lajpath Nagar blast case, four acquitted



New Delhi, Apr 8 (PTI) Six out of ten suspected members of banned terror outfit Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front were today convicted by a Delhi court for their varying roles in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar blast case.

"I convict six accused in this case. Now the matter is fixed for April 13 for advancing of arguments on quantum of sentence," District and Sessions Judge S P Garg said while pronouncing the verdict in a packed court room.

Out of the ten accused, those convicted are Mohd Naushad, Mohd Ali Bhatt, Mirza Nissar Hussain, Javed Ahmed Khan, Farooq Ahmed Khan and a woman associate Farida Dar.

The remaining four -- Mirza Iftikhar, Latif Ahmed Waza, Syed Maqbool Shah, and Abdul Gani -- were acquitted of all the charges for want of sufficient evidence.

Maoists torch tractors, dumper



Jhargram (WB), Apr 8 (PTI) Suspected Maoists torched two tractors and a pay loader in West Midnapore district early today during a blockade called by the Naxal-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA).

Police said a group of about 15 Maoist ultras reached Asur Geria and forced drivers of the tractors and dumper to move them in the middle of the road.

The ultras then took out oil from the tractors and used the same to set them on fire. They left hand-written notes at the site demanding that man power be used instead of machines.

The tractors were being used by contractors for construction of roads, the sources said.

Transport service has been affected in several police station areas of the district following the indefinite road blockade call given by the PCPA since Monday.

The PCPA called for the blockade demanding withdrawal of joint security force and anti-Maoist operations.

Kishenji had bullet wound in leg, claims 'doctor'



Kolkata, Apr 8 (PTI) Top Maoist leader Kishenji had suffered a bullet injury in his left leg but is now out of danger, a person claiming to be have treated him said.

Jawaharlal Mahato, detained by police three days ago from Lalgarh and arrested today, claimed he was a doctor and Kishenji was brought to him by Maoists late last month, police sources said.

Kishenji had a bullet injury in the cuff muscle of his left leg, but as the bullet pierced through his leg, there was no internal swelling or bone fracture, Mahato claimed during interrogation.

He said he dressed the wounds and gave medicines to Kishenji and the absconding leader was now safe and out of danger.

When asked about the investigation, West Midnapore SP Manoj Kumar Verma declined to divulge details.

"We have arrested Jawaharlal Mahato, who claims himself to be a doctor, from Lalgarh police station area.

Labor/Social Unrest

India Country Brief (Ed.)

Basic Political Developments

• The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said some parties of the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) were close to Leftist guerrillas, the government was a mute spectator when Maoists were spreading terror.

• The Janata Party (JP) today demanded immediate resignation of Home Minister P Chidambaram owning moral responsibility for the Maoist attack in Dantewada district of Chhattisgarh which claimed lives of 75 CRPF personnel and one head constable.

• Former BJP leader Kalyan Singh today said the safforn party is "almost non-existent" in Uttar Pradesh and cannot be revived by anyone. "Speculations about my return to the BJP are unfounded, baseless and misleading as I would never return to it in my lifetime".

• Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his senior cabinet colleagues and chief ministers of 10 states began their deliberations on containing price rise in New Delhi on Thursday amid fears of inflation crossing the double digit mark.

• Media reports said Communist Party of India-Marxist activists today staged protest demonstrations in Jammu and Srinagar against price rise and unemployment as part of party's nationwide agitation today.

• Union Government today indicated that Karnataka High Court Chief Justice P D Dinakaran, facing impeachment proceedings in Parliament, will have to go on leave as advised by the Supreme Court Collegium, holding that he is not above the law. Law Minister M Veerappa Moily said "The hand of law is quite long enough to catch anyone. I don't think Justice Dinarakan is above the law, or he is beyond the reach of the law."

• Media reports said left party activists today staged demonstrations and courted arrest across Orissa as part of their nation-wide agitation to protest the rise in prices of essential commodities. The CPI (Marxist), CPI, Forward Bloc and RSP threatened to intensify their agitation if the Union government failed to take concrete steps to check inflation.

National Economic Trends

• Media reports today said higher prices of milk, fruits and pulses pushed food inflation to 17.70 per cent for the week ended March 27, fuelling expectations that RBI may further tighten rates in its annual monetary policy on April 20, 2010.

• Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram told reporters after the meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) today that the government banned foreign direct investment (FDI) in cigarette manufacturing.

• According to an official release issued today, the mineral production from mining and quarrying sector in January 2010 was higher by 3.54 per cent compared to that of the preceeding month. However, the mineral sector has shown a positive growth of 9.32 per cent during the current financial year from April-January 2009-10 as compared to that of the previous year.

• A senior cane department officer said today that Uttar Pradesh has achieved a record production of 50.53 lakh million tonne (MT) sugar in the ongoing crushing season, the highest in last two years.

• The Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure (CCI) today approved highway construction works worth over Rs 4,355 crore in various states, including Bihar and Rajasthan.

• Traders at the Interbank Foreign Exchange (FOREX) said today that the rupee eased further by six paise to 44.60 against US Dollar in the early trade, as against its previous close of 44.54, as the stock market opened negative.

• Union Home Minister P Chidambaram told reporters after a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs today that the Union government approved a 20 per cent disinvestment in Steel Authority of India Ltd that would fetch a total of Rs 16,000 crore.

• Following the two-tranche disinvestment, the government and the company would get Rs 8,000 crore each.

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

• Media major Essel group chairman Subhash Chandra today said Thursday the company is planning to invest Rs.500 crore over the next seven years in the education sector, promoting pre-schools, schools and university.

• Air India on Thursday announced a $190 million (Rs.855 crore) deal with aviation solutions provider SITA to upgrade its IT infrastructure which will enable it to join the Star Alliance.

• Elecon Engineering Company today said it has bagged an order worth Rs 49.90 crore from Sical Logistics for material handling equipment. The scope of the contract includes design, engineering and commissioning of material handling equipments for New Mangalore Iron Ore Terminal.

• Wind power major Suzlon Energy today said its subsidiary REpower Systems AG has bagged a contract from an Italian company for supplying 18 wind turbines. REpower has concluded a contract for the supply of 18 wind turbines to Daunia Savignano, a subsidiary of Italian Tozzi Group.

• Nimbus Sport International today announced a five-year deal with Asian Cricket Council which will give it the right to globally market the commercial rights of three Asia Cups from 2010 to 2014. The deal covers Asia Cup this year, which will be held in Sri Lanka from June 15-25, and the editions in 2012 and 2014.

• Essar Energy, the Ruias’ holding company for power and oil assets, may launch the biggest-ever overseas initial public offering (IPO) by an Indian company as early as next week to raise $2.5 billion. Two bankers familiar with the matter said “the Ruias plan to sell a quarter of the company to build power plants and invest in oil and gas exploration”.

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

• Media reports today said India will switch over to Euro-III petrol and diesel on October 1, with the petroleum ministry issuing a fresh deadline for oil companies to sell cleaner fuels.

• Media reports today said Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation (GSPC) has inked an agreement with government of Egypt for oil and gas exploration in the African nation where the Indian firm has been alloted blocks. The consortium is led by GSPC, which has 60 per cent stake, while Adani Group holds 40 per cent.

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

• An ATS source today said Yasin Bhatkal, believed to be a relative of Indian Mujahideen founder Riyaz Bhatkal, has been identified as one of the main conspirators of the Pune bomb blast in which 17 people were killed.

• Chhattisgarh Director General of Police Vishwa Ranjan said on Thursday that security agencies are considering initiating surgical strikes against Maoists. He said "There is no single-dimensional operation. The operations will be more intense against the Maoists. There will be surgical strikes based on intelligence inputs."

• Replying to a debate on law and order in the state assembly, Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil on Thursday said the police was in possession of an audio tape of a conversation of a Malegaon bomb blast accused making derogatory references to Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangha chief Mohan Bhagwat.

• Media reports today said criticising the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and its parent body, the Markaz Dawa al-Irshad, for working against the teachings of Islam, Indian Muslim scholars have advocated severe punishment for the Jamaat-ud-Daawa (JuD), which is considered to be the LeT's front face, chief Hafeez Muhammad Saeed.

• A top police official in West Bengal today said joint forces have seized the largest ever cache of arms, ammunition and explosives since they began operations in June last year and arrested a top local Maoist leader. The seizures made at Jharnadiha village in Binpur area in West Midnapore district last evening, included AK-47 and INSAS rifles, a large number of cartridges, detonators, gelatine sticks, crude bombs, two computers, CDs and electronic gadgets.

• Briefing the media after a Cabinet meeting, Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on Thursday said Maoists were procuring arms from bazaars across India's border. Chidambaram said the Naxals and other ultras clandestinely smuggle weapons using India's open borders with Nepal, Bangladesh and Myanmar.

• Media reports said six out of ten suspected members of banned terror outfit Jammu and Kashmir Islamic Front were today convicted by a Delhi court for their varying roles in the 1996 Lajpat Nagar blast case.

• Media reports said suspected Maoists torched two tractors and a pay loader in West Midnapore district early today during a blockade called by the Maoist-backed People's Committee against Police Atrocities (PCPA).

• Jawaharlal Mahato, detained by police three days ago from Lalgarh and arrested today, claimed he was a doctor and Maoist leader Kishenji had suffered a bullet injury in his left leg but is now out of danger.

Labor/Social Unrest

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