HS results declared

May 24 ,2011

GUWAHATI : Shekhar Kumar Yadav (460 marks) of Salt Brook Academy, Dibrugarh, Kashmiri Das (446 marks) of Cotton College, Guwahati and Shalaka Jain (439 marks) of Gauhati Commerce College secured the top position in the Science, Arts and Commerce streams respectively of the Higher Secondary Examination-2011 conducted by the Assam Higher Secondary Education Council, the results of which were announced today.

All the three streams recorded an impressive pass percentage, marking a noticeable increase over that of last year. The pass percentage for the Science, Arts and Commerce streams stood at 87.32, 73.14 and 79.81 respectively. 

Girl students fared much better than boy students in Science and Commerce streams, while boys did marginally better in the Arts stream.

In the Arts stream, 21 candidates found place in the list of top ten, with Anundaram Borooah Academy, Bajali, having five toppers, followed by Cotton College and Salt Brook sharing three rank-holders each. 

The second and third positions were bagged by Sabah Qamri (445 marks), an institutional private candidate from Sorbhog, and Urvashi Chetia (444 marks) of Krishna Guru Mahavidyalaya, Sarthebari, respectively. 

In the Science stream — where 18 candidates shared the top ten ranks — Bishal Saha (458 marks) of Cotton College and Kunja Kanan Nath of Salt Brook Academy (456 marks) secured the second and third positions respectively. Salt Brook had four toppers, followed by Cotton College with three positions. 

Seventeen candidates were among the top ten position holders in the Commerce stream, where Nikita More (438 marks) of KC Das Commerce College, Guwahati, and Sanket Agarwal (433 marks) of Gauhati Commerce College came second and third respectively.

Gauhati Commerce College had nine rank-holders while KC Das Commerce College and Darrang College produced two toppers each. 

The Arts stream had the maximum of 1,86,688 candidates of whom 1,36,548 emerged successful, with the break-up for first, second and third divisions being 15,572, 43,379 and 1,36,548 respectively. Boys (76.61 pc) fared marginally better than girls (75.55 pc) in the overall pass percentage.

In the Science stream, of the total 17,535 candidates, 15,312 passed with the break-up for first, second and third divisions being 8,450, 6,030 and 832 respectively. Girls (93.48 pc) outshone boys (88.29 pc) in the overall pass percentage. 

In the Commerce stream, of the total 16,776 candidates 13,389 emerged successful with the break-up for first, second and third divisions being 3,442, 5,120 and 4,827 respectively. Girls (86.10 pc) again outscored boys (79.67 pc) in the overall pass percentage. 

An analysis of the results since 2002 shows a huge jump in the pass percentage of all the streams. The Arts stream which had a pass percentage of 45.98 in 2002 recorded an increasing trend every year to reach 73.14 per cent in 2011. The Science stream too had a similar trend as its pass percentage reached 87.32 this year from 58.61 in 2002. The Commerce stream, which saw a pass percentage of 57.95 in 2002, reached 79.81 per cent this year. 

The district-wise performance list (Arts) had Dhemaji emerging first with a pass percentage of 90.80 per cent, followed by Lakhimpur with 85.49 per cent, Darrang 85.05 per cent, and Nalbari with 82.83 per cent. 

In the Science stream, Nalbari with 95.44 per cent was the best performer, followed by Dibrugarh with 94.83 per cent, Sivasagar with 93.84 per cent, Baksa with 93.58 per cent, and Lakhimpur with 92.53 per cent. 

In the Commerce stream, Dhemaji with 98.56 per cent was the topper, followed by Darrang with 94.17 per cent, Baksa with 93.17, Nalbari with 92.21 per cent, Morigaon with 91.94 per cent, and Barpeta with 91.47 per cent.

Ministers’ list not yet ready, says Gogoi

May 24 , 2011

NEW DELHI : May 23 – Nervousness among aspirants for ministerial berths continued even as Chief Minister, Tarun Gogoi asserted that the list of council of ministers is not yet ready.

As the guessing game continues, a relaxed Gogoi dispelled rumours that a list has been prepared and pending clearance of the High Command. AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh has gone out of town as also Congress president, Sonia Gandhi, who was on a day-long tour of Jammu.

Gogoi told newsmen that he is still waiting for an appointment with the Congress president. But he added that the list should be ready within a week.

Replying to questions, he said though the AICC has left it to him to select his team, he would still like to finalise the council of ministers in consultations with AICC. “Even after I submit my list, AICC may decide to change it,” he argued.

Yesterday, Digvijay Singh had said that this time AICC has no suggestions to offer to Gogoi on constitution of his new team.

Meanwhile, sources said that the new-look Gogoi ministry may not have many debutants, as only five-six new faces are expected to be inducted. As reported only third-fourth time MLAs are being considered for ministerial positions, leaving out the first and second term legislators.

While most of the old faces of Gogoi Government – II like Himanta Biswa Sarma, Rockybul Hussain, Pradyut Bordoloi, Ajanta Neog and Gautam Roy among others are likely to be retained, the new faces may include G C Langthasa, Anjan Dutta, Sumitra Patir, Nilamani Sen Deka, Sukur Ali, Nazrul Islam, Ajit Singh, Tanka Bahadur Rai, Dr Ardhendu Dey, Bhupen Bora among others. Bora is being backed by PCC president, Bhubaneswar Kalita.

Those who might face the axe include Dr Bhumidhar Barman, Akon Bora, Gautam Bora, Khor Singh Ingti, among others. Fate of Pranab Gogoi, reportedly hangs in balance as despite being backed by Union Minister, Bijoy Krishna Handique, he fails the age criterion, as does Dr Barman.

Anjan Dutta is being considered as a representative of Koch Rajbongshi community in place of Akon Bora, while G C Langthasa is replacement for Khor Singh Ingti.

The Chief Minister is also considering at the option of appointing Dr Barman, Abdul Muhib Mazumdar or Pranati Phukan as Speaker and Deputy Speaker, sources close to Gogoi said.

HC posts case against CM, family to May 30

May 24 , 2011

Bangalore : 

Karnataka High Court today posted to May 30 hearing of interim application praying for vacating the stay on criminal proceedings against Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and his family members in a corruption case.

Justice Keshav Narayan adjourned to May 30, the hearing of the interim application filed by city-based advocate Sirajin Basha and who along with his associate K N Balaraj has filed a private complaint against Yeddyurappa and his family members.

Earlier the defence sought time for arguments citing unavailability of senior counsel Ravi B Naik till May 26.

The Supreme court had on April 29 refused to quash a Karnataka High Court order which stayed criminal proceedings against Yeddurappa and his family members in the case.

A division bench comprising Justice V S Sirpurkar and Justice T S Thakur dismissed the petition filed by the two advocates challenging the stay granted by the High Court against a trial court order which had taken cognisance of the complaint.

While dismissing the petition, the bench, however, asked the High Court to consider the application moved by the complainant, if any, for vacation of stay not later than six weeks.

6 die as lightning strikes in Malda

May 24 , 2011

Malda : Six persons, including five teenagers, have died and five others injuredafter being struck by lightning in several blocks of Malda district, police said today.

Four of them, including a woman, died after being hit by thunderbolt in Baisnabnagar, Manikchak, Englishbazar and Kaliachak blocks yesterday, they said.

Two others, from Gajole and Manickchak blocks, who were admitted to hospital with serious burn injuries succumbed this morning, police said, adding that the injured were treated at different health centres in the blocks.

The thunderstorm damaged mango orchards, spread over an area of 2250 hectares, in the district, a horticulture officer said.

The total loss in mango cultivation was estimated at Rs 2.41 crore, the officer added.

Woman, child die after consuming poison

May 24 , 2011

Maharajganj : A woman and his son died while another child fell seriously ill after they consumed poison in Hargawa village in Nilchaul area here, police said today.

Maya (30) consumed poison after giving it to her sons Deependra (3) and Upendra (5) last night, they said.

All of them were rushed to a hospital, where Maya and Deependra died while condition of Upendra was stated to be stable.

The police could not ascertain the motive behind the act.

Two students commit suicide

May 24 , 2011

Ghaziabad : 

Two students, who failed to pass their class 12th CBSE board examination, allegedly committed suicide in the district here, police said today.

18-year-old Abdul committed suicide by hanging himself from a roof in Muradnagar last evening, they said.

In a separate incident, Somaya Singh (19), daughter of M P Singh, a jailer in Dasna jail, committed suicide by hanging herself from a ceiling fan.

In Hapur city, Arvind attempted suicide by consuming poison but timely help from his family saved his life.

CBSE had declared its class 12th board results yesterday.

Pakistan media ridicules military after attack on naval air base

May 24 , 2011

 ISLAMABAD : May 24 (Reuters) - Pakistan's military was ridiculed and accused of complicity in the media on Tuesday after a small group of militants laid siege to a naval air base, holding out for 16 hours against hundreds of commandos and rangers.

As few as six militants infiltrated the PNS Mehran naval base in Karachi, the headquarters of Pakistan's naval air wing, on Sunday night, killing 10 security forces and wounding 20.

"Our mujahideen who conducted this operation were equipped with faith as well as with sophisticated weapons and that's why they fought with hundreds of security forces and inflicted heavy losses on them," Pakistan Taliban spokesman Ehsanullah Ehsan told Reuters from an undisclosed location.

Interior Minister Rehman Malik said on Monday three militants were killed in the gunbattle while the body of a fourth was believed to be buried under the rubble of a collapsed wall. Two suspects were believed to have fled the scene, he added.

Pakistan's military has been on the back foot since U.S. special forces killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden on May 2, unable to explain either why they had been unable to catch the world's most wanted man themselves or why the Americans could launch a raid deep into their territory undetected.

Two P-3C Orion aircraft from the United States -- crucial assets for Pakistan's anti-submarine and maritime surveillance capability -- were destroyed in Monday's raid, and the Pakistan military's reputation as a defender of the country and of Islam was left in tatters.

Reaction to the raid from the generally pro-military Pakistani media was harsh.

"Political rhetoric and a Cabinet Defence Committee meeting are not going to solve this one," read an editorial in the English-language daily, The News. "This is an epic failure exposing an existential threat that will need epic leadership to countervail."

An editorial in the Urdu-language Jang, one of nuclear-armed Pakistan's biggest and most pro-military newspapers, said the attacks illustrated "a weakness of security measures".

"In very polite words, it can be called worrisome negligence."

Others went beyond incompetence and suggested that the attackers had help from within the military.

"Did the Taliban raiders have information inside the naval base?" wrote Dawn, another English-language daily. "Such a possibility cannot be ruled out, because the involvement of serving personnel in several previous attacks has been well-established."

In October 2009, a similarly small raiding party attacked the Army's General Headquarters in Rawalpindi, taking 42 people hostage, including several officers. By the end of the day-long ordeal, nine gunmen, 11 soldiers and three hostages were dead.

Later investigations found several low-ranking soldiers and officers were involved in helping the attackers.

Ehsan declined to confirm whether the militants had help in the military.

"Our 'local friends' from Karachi helped us in yesterday's operation but I would not say whether we had friends on the base or not," Ehsan said.

Amir Rana, director of the Pakistan Institute of Peace Studies and author of a book on jihadi groups in Pakistan, doubts the Taliban was directly involved, but more likely worked through other, Punjab-based groups affiliated with al Qaeda.

"There are militant groups which have training and capabilities for these kind of attacks and they also are in direct contact with al Qaeda," he said.

He thought groups attached to Ilyas Kashmiri, who reportedly commands the "313 Brigade", al Qaeda's operational arm, more likely staged the raid, given its sophistication.

He identified three groups active in Karachi -- Jundullah, Arshad Wahid group and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen-Al-Alami, which he said could also have been be involved.

The military launched operations against the Pakistan Taliban in South Waziristan in 2009, scattering the leadership and racking up some victories.

Last year was relatively quiet, but the Pakistan Taliban appears to have built up its connections, giving militants a new strike capacity in Pakistan's economic hub.

The death of bin Laden was the spark, and the Pakistan Taliban have been on a roll ever since, promising to sow chaos and attack Pakistan's military and government.

"Now Pakistani rulers, President (Asif Ali) Zardari and the army will be our first targets. America will be our second target," Ehsan told Reuters by telephone from an undisclosed location on May 2, hours after bin Laden was killed.

The Mehran navy base raid shows the militants making good on that promise. (Additional reporting by Saud Mehsud, Augustine Anthony, Sahar Ahmed, Zeeshain Haider and Kamran Haider; Editing by Nick Macfie)      

France says China backs Lagarde for IMF chief

May 24 , 2011

PARIS : China would back France's Finance Minister Christine Lagarde to head the International Monetary Fund, chief French government spokesman Francois Baroin said Tuesday.

"The Chinese are favorable to the candidacy of Christine Lagarde," Baroin, who is also France's budget minister, told Europe 1 radio, adding that it was too soon to know whether Lagarde would be a candidate.

China's backing would give a significant boost to Lagarde's possible candidacy, which has been opposed by some emerging nations in protest at the tradition of a European always heading the global emergency lender.

Germany, Britain and other European powers have backed Lagarde to take over as managing director of the International Monetary Fund after her countryman Dominique Strauss-Kahn resigned following his arrest on sex assault charges.

"What is being drawn up is a European consensus," Baroin said.

"But you will easily understand, given the circumstances of the IMF director's resignation, and given that it is not a point of national pride, that it is not for France to take a position first."

Under a long-standing arrangement between Europe and the United States, a European has always held the top IMF job while an American leads its sister institution, the World Bank.

However some emerging economies have called for a chance to get the post.

Mexico promoted its central bank governor Agustin Carstens against Lagarde as the race to become the next head of the International Monetary Fund got under way Monday.

Mexico's Finance Minister Ernesto Cordero lobbied for Carstens as a viable emerging economy candidate for the position, which has been monopolized by Europeans since 1946.

"We're promoting an appointment based on merit so that the IMF has the legitimacy and credibility it needs to deal with the international situation," Cordero said at a joint news conference with Carstens.

Carstens, a 52-year-old former finance minister, played up his experience with the international lender, where he worked as executive director from 1999-2000 and deputy managing director from 2000-2003.

"We do not want to make any gesture that could be interpreted as a form of contempt for emerging countries nor any sign of arrogance, given the circumstances," Baroin said.

Lagarde is widely tipped as favourite but has not said whether she will run.

Asked on US news channel CNBC on Monday what she would say if offered the post, she replied: "I'd say what an interesting question, but clearly premature. It's for others to decide, my dear."

An EU source said Friday that Lagarde, 55, was "practically a shoo-in" to become Europe's candidate, although she has been dogged by a French judicial probe into allegations of abuse of power.

A prosecutor called last week for a probe targeting Lagarde in connection with her handling of a high-profile scandal involving tycoon Bernard Tapie, amid allegations that she exceeded her authority in the case.

Nifty moves up; banks, capital goods gain

May 24, 2011

The NSE Nifty was trading marginally higher and held its 5400 mark very strongly. Some keen buying was seen in banks, capital goods and oil & gas stocks while realty, metals and FMCG stocks were major laggards to the Sensex.

Vibhav Kapoor of IL&FS, said that breaking of the 5,200-5,700 range on the downside will be a negative signal for the market in the medium term. He feels that with the oil prices coming 10% down from their peaks and commodity prices softening, the range would not break and the Nifty will continue to trade in the 5,200-5,700 range.

At 12.45 hrs IST, the Sensex was up 70.20 points or 0.39% at 18063.53, and the Nifty was up 27.90 points or 0.52% at 5414.45.

About 1234 shares advanced, 1296 shares declined, and 1112 shares remained unchanged

Top gainers on the Sensex were L&T at Rs 1,643.45 up 1.90%, ICICI Bank at Rs 1,022.50 up 1.58%, NTPC at Rs 170.25 up 1.28%, HDFC at Rs 654.85 up 1.12% and Cipla at Rs 312.90 up 1.08%.

Tech major Infosys was trading at Rs 2,860.00 up 0.86% from its previous close of Rs 2,835.70.

Top losers on the Sensex were DLF at Rs 216.95 down 2.73%, Hindalco at Rs 184 down 2.39%, Reliance Infra at Rs 538.30 down 1.8%, HUL at Rs 300.10 down 1.36% and Reliance Comm at Rs 81.10 down 1.04%.

FMCG major Hindustan Lever was trading at Rs 300.70 down 1.17% from its previous close of Rs 304.25.

Refinery major HPCL was trading at Rs 362.50 down 1% from its previous close of Rs 366.15.

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will acquire JB Chemicals and Pharmaceuticals' OTC brands for USD 260 million, reports CNBC-TV18. JB Chemicals has touched an intraday high of Rs 150 and an intraday low of Rs 118.55. The share was quoting at Rs 126.70, down Rs 18.40, or 12.68%.

Top gainers on the BSE Midcap - TTK Prestige, eClerx Services, KGN Industries, Hathway Cable and S Kumars Nation were up 4-12%.

Top losers on the BSE Midcap - DB Realty, Mcleod, Aurobindo Pharma, GTL Infra and Guj NRE Coke were down 3-5%.

Top gainers on the BSE Smallcap - Smartlink Net, Hawkins Cooker, Shristi Infra, VasconEngg and TTK Healthcare were up 6-18%.

Top losers on the BSE Smallcap - JB Chemicals, Kalyani Invest, R M Mohite Ind, Shasun Pharma and Kewal Kiran were up 5-13%.

Tags: Sensex, Nifty

Pakistan leads West Indies by 251 runs in 2nd Test

May 24 , 2011

 Pakistan opener Taufeeq Umar was dropped three times before compiling an unbeaten 97 to put his team in the ascendancy at stumps of the second test against West Indies.

Pakistan was 202-3 to build an overall advantage of 251 after having led by 49 after the first innings at Warner Park on Sunday.

Taufeeq, dropped on 1, 13 and 94, struck 10 fours off 231 balls in five hours, 25 minutes. He shared an opening stand of 82 with Mohammad Hafeez that set the platform for Pakistan domination and then added a further 76 with Azhar Ali.

Hafeez compiled 32 while Azhar notched 53, his second half-century of the match.

West Indies was ill-disciplined throughout the day and wasted no fewer than eight opportunities to take wickets.

Taufeeq is confident his knock could help force a series-levelling victory for Pakistan over the final two days.

“We are in the driving seat right now,” he said. “If we score over 300, and with two days left in the match, definitely there are a lot of chances to win this match.”

The home team had a bright start to the day as fast bowling tail enders Kemar Roach (29) and Ravi Rampaul (32 not out) stretched their overnight ninth-wicket partnership to 60.

They carried the overnight score from 184-8 to 218 before Roach fell to Hafeez’s spinners.

Fellow offspinner Saeed Ajmal quickly added the scalp of last man Devendra Bishoo to a slip catch to finish with 3-56. Hafeez claimed 3-23 and Abdur Rehman grabbed 2-55.

Pakistan’s second innings had a frenetic and fortune-filled start as Taufeeq and Hafeez rode their luck.

Hafeez, caught behind off a no-ball from Roach without a run on the board was also dropped by Darren Sammy when 14 off Rampaul.

Taufeeq was dropped twice at slip off Roach, the first a regulation catch to Darren Bravo at first slip and then at second slip low down by captain Darren Sammy. But the pair consolidated Pakistan’s advantage to go to lunch at 55-0.

Sammy (1-29) finally provided the breakthrough for the hosts midway through the second session as Hafeez dragged a drive back onto his leg stump.

But Taufeeq and Azhar continued to add to the lead in an assured partnership either side of tea.

Ali survived one chance, on 22, edging past a static Marlon Samuels at slip off legspinner Devendra Bishoo. Taufeeq also survived a clear run out chance when 42 as the West Indies began to flag.

West Indies finally held a slips catch to remove Azhar when Sammy held one off Bishoo (1-69). Azhar struck six fours off 90 balls.

Roach returned and got deserving reward for a fine spell when he claimed Asad Shafiq (4) to a fine one-handed grab from wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh to make it 167-3.

But Taufeeq and Misbah added a further 35 before the close.

Taufeeq, eager to reach his fifth test century, was dropped again late in the day. This time, it was hard to blame Lendl Simmons, who flung himself full length to his left at mid-off but just couldn’t cling on.

The 29-year-old Taufeeq credited a positive attitude with his success after early problems against the West Indies pacers.

“I was thinking I have to play positive cricket. They bowled well with the new ball, especially Roach and Rampaul. They bowled good areas,” he said.

Taufeeq, who hasn’t scored a test ton since October 2003 and was out of the test team between 2006-10, said he always had faith he would get another chance.

“It was a tough period for me but I never gave up. I was always focused on my cricket,” he said. “I never gave up. I was always thinking I have to come back.”

Scorecard

Pakistan — 1st innings: 272.

West Indies — 1st innings: 223.

Pakistan — 2nd innings: Mohd. Hafeez b Sammy 32, Taufeeq Umar (run out) 135, Azhar Ali c Sammy b Bishoo 53, A. Shafiq c Baugh b Roach 4, Misbah (batting) 85, U. Akmal (batting) 7; Extras: (w-2, nb-2) 4; Total: (for four wkts in 105 overs at lunch) 320.

Fall of wickets: 1-82, 2-158, 3-167, 4-296.

West Indies bowling: Roach 20-6-53-1, Rampaul 21-6-57-0, Sammy 23-3-64-1, Bishoo 35-5-127-1, Nash 6-0-19-0.

Keywords: Pakistan-West Indies Test series

RCB takes on CSK in high-stakes contest

May 24 , 2011

Mumbai : Ambati Rayudu's last ball six off Laxmipathi Balaji at the Eden Gardens indicates how one delivery, one over can determine the difference between defeat and victory in T20.

Defending champion Chennai Super Kings will be banking to ride on one such inspired moment in the DLF IPL4 playoff against Royal Challengers Bangalore.

A high-stakes contest on Tuesday at the Wankhede Stadium with a final berth for the winner on offer creates its own pressure. CSK captain M.S. Dhoni, who thrives on such situations, demonstrated so effectively when he took charge of India's chase in the World Cup final here.

A different format and different set of skills does not alter the challenges in his path, the biggest obstacle being the imposing Chris Gayle.

The giant West Indian is riding a wave of confidence going into the playoffs, battering bowlers using reach and power. The Orange Cap holder with maximum runs (511 runs) and maximum sixes (38) can be tamed, as Kings XI Punjab swing bowler Ryan Harris showed by dismissing Gayle for a duck on the seventh ball at Dharamsala.

Gayle vs. Ashwin

Gayle is a risk-taker, so his approach to tackling off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on a worn-out Wankhede track offering assistance to spinners may become a fascinating contest between two strong-willed individuals.

The RCB blaster will clear the shorter boundaries easily. The CSK bowler is a big-match player, focussed on sticking to length and line without getting intimidated by reputations.

RCB, even if Gayle fails, still remains formidable. De Villiers, Virat Kohli anchor the batting, Zaheer Khan, captain Daniel Vettori, Sreenath Aravind and Charl Langeveldt back each other in the bowling department.

RCB bowlers have been spot on in this edition, with Karnataka left-arm seamer Aravind displaying wicket-taking ability.

Zaheer and Vettori are back refreshed after a short break.

Now Gayle firing away at the top has allowed the batsmen to chase down stiff targets with contemptuous ease. Kohli's knack of building partnerships and pacing the innings has been remarkable.

Coach Ray Jennings faith in the youngster's acumen led to him being the only capped player retained by the Bangalore franchise.

RCB aimed for an overhaul, pulling in established talent from India and abroad at the auction and remains a team in transition.

CSK's outlook is aimed at continuity and consolidation under Dhoni.

The champion looks set to explode in the playoffs.

Coach Stephen Fleming works quietly in the background, putting the pieces together. Subramaniam Badrinath, credited with five half-centuries this year, is one of the players Dhoni has come to depend on. Suresh Raina, Ashwin, Albie Morkel, Doug Bollinger, Michael Hussey, Dwayne Bravo are internationals gifted with the capability to create a moment of magic — a catch or a run-out, a boundary or wicket at a critical time is all it takes the Chennai Super Kings captain to master the endgame.

Keywords: IPL 2011, IPL Season IV, Chennai Super Kings, Royal Challengers Bangalore

India in quarterfinals

May 24 , 2011

New Delhi : Saina Nehwal suffered a shock defeat to Inthanon Ratchanok but a determined India rode on P. Kashyap and Jwala Gutta-Ashwini Ponnappa's stunning wins to enter the quarterfinals of the Sudirman Cup with a 3-2 victory over Thailand in a Group C match in Qingdao, China on Monday.

India, which had lost to Chinese Taipei 2-3 in its openercruised to the knock-out stage for the first time since the Sudirman Cup started in 1989.

The world No. 43 pair of Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas gave India a positive start by seeing off the 125th-ranked Bodin Issara and Maneepong Jongjit, 21-13 21-17 in the in the first rubber.

But Saina, ranked fourth in the world, couldn't make it count and lost 14-21, 20-22 to world No. 18 Inthanon in a 36-minute clash in women's singles.

Coming good

Locked at 1-1, Kashyap was handed an uphill task of putting across world No. 6 Ponsana and the Andhra Pradesh lad didn't disappoint as he notched up a stunning 12-21, 21-18, 21-16 victory.

The Commonwealth Games gold medal-winning pair of Gutta and Ponnappa, ranked 32nd, then saw off the challenge from world No. 8 Duang Anong Aroonkesorn and Kunchala Voravichitchaikul 21-18, 15-21, 21-19 to give India the tie.

In the final rubber, the mixed doubles pair of Pranav Chopra and Prajakta Sawant went down 18-21, 7-21 to the World No.2 combo of Sudket Prapakamol and Saralee Thoungthongkam.

Keywords: Saina Nehwal, Sudiram Cup, badminton

Ntini is now CSA’s Cricket Development Ambassador

May 24 , 2011

Johannesburg : Retired Proteas paceman Makhaya Ntini has been appointed as Cricket South Africa’s first Cricket Development Ambassador.

Ntini said he was excited to take up the challenge as he embarks on his crusade to develop cricket in his home province of Eastern Cape.

“I am very happy to continue working with CSA but in this different avenue. I am very passionate about cricket especially in the forgotten parts of South Africa in the rural areas like the one I come from,” he said at the unveiling of the newly renovated G.B Molefe hostel, which houses the CSA Fort Hare Cricket Academy bursary players.

Ntini had himself been taken onto the development programme after working as a herdboy in the province to become a world class fast bowler.

“This latest journey will allow me to continue spreading the word about cricket and bring the spotlight to the young boys and girls from the smaller areas in South Africa,” Ntini said.

CSA chief executive Gerald Majola said, “Makhaya is a true ambassador of the sport, he has done more for the game of cricket than anybody in promoting the game. We are honoured as CSA that he is lending his name and his time to the development of cricket.”

“We have seen many stars come and go and we at CSA decided that, when Makhaya Ntini retires, he cannot be gone completely from the world of cricket because many players still need to learn from his experience, this is why we believe that he is the perfect candidate for the post of Ambassador of Cricket Development,” Majola added.

Ntini, amongst other things, will help CSA identify areas that need the most assistance to put developmental structures in place. He will also be an active talent scout in these areas to ensure that a steady flow of the stars of tomorrow comes from the Eastern Cape.

Majola also handed over cricket equipment to rural cricket teams on behalf of long time CSA friend, Dubai businessman, Shyam Bhatia of Cricket for Care.

Representatives from the rural teams were accepted the kit. Majola extended his thanks to Bhatia, who was unable to attend the event.

“Shyam is passionate about spreading the development of cricket throughout underprivileged areas worldwide but more specifically in the rural areas and I would like to thank him for his continued support of South African cricket and his generosity towards the development of the game.”

Keywords: Cricket South Africa, Makhaya Ntini, Cricket Development Ambassador

It's al-Qaeda's reply to Osama killing: Gilani

May 24 , 2011

MUZAFFARABAD :Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday said the attack on the naval base in Karachi was al-Qaeda's reply to the killing of Osama bin Laden.

In an informal chat with The Hindu on the sidelines of the two-day International Conference on Kashmir here, Mr. Gilani said: “We are aware about this situation [reprisal attacks] and the challenges thereof.” However, he said: “Let us wait for the investigations which can lead us to a conclusion.”

He denied that such incidents would have an adverse impact on the ongoing dialogue process between India and Pakistan. “Unless there is involvement from that side, I do not think it has anything to do with the dialogue process.”

Reiterating that Pakistan government was committed to continuing the dialogue process with a “sincere approach,” he said: “We have moved forward in Thimphu and we went ahead with that in Mohali. I had discussions with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and I think atmosphere was not adverse.”

On the list of 50 wanted persons furnished by India, he said: “We have told them we are ready to help but you know that two people have already surfaced in India so you should yourself determine the credibility of the list.”

Mr. Gilani said that it was wrong to assume that India-Pakistan dialogue process would face problems as there was no full-fledged Foreign Minister in Pakistan. “Leave that to us. I hold the charge of Foreign Minister,” he said responding to concerns of New Delhi about not having a Foreign Minister in Pakistan.

He said that on many fronts the process was on and from “our side there will be no problem.”

Keywords: Osama killing, Karachi naval base terror attack, Gilani

“Resolve Kashmir issue for peace and progress in South Asia”

May 24 , 2011

 Taking a hard line on the Jammu and Kashmir issue, Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani on Monday said that it was an unfinished agenda of the United Nations Security Council.

Inaugurating a two-day International Conference on “Kashmir in Emerging Global Perspectives” organised by the University of “Azad Jammu and Kashmir” here, Mr. Gilani said the solution to the Kashmir issue should be in accordance with the United Nations resolutions. Terming Kashmir a “chronic dispute,” he said that unless it was resolved, peace couldn't come to South Asia.

Mr. Gilani said the people of Jammu and Kashmir had suffered a lot and gone through mental and physical torture. They had undergone “enormous sacrifices” for the cause. The resolution of the Kashmir issue held the key to the socio-economic development of the region.

He urged the international community to come forward and help the people of Kashmir in getting their “right of self-determination.” “Without addressing this issue, no progress can take place in South Asia.” he said.

On the dialogue process, he said, “We restored it and it should be continued.” The solution could be possible only with the involvement of all stakeholders. Pakistan believed in co-existence with all neighbours as taught by Islam. He stated that wars or a status quo could not be the solution. “We cannot afford another war.” He reiterated Pakistan's diplomatic, political and moral support to people of Jammu and Kashmir in their “fight for right to self-determination.”

Pakistan's Federal Minister for Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, Mian Manzoor Watoo, Pakistan Administered Kashmir president Raja Zulqarnain Khan and PAK Prime Minister Sardar Attique spoke on the occasion.

Over 50 delegates from India, Pakistan, U.S., the U.K., Turkey and other countries are participating in the two-day conference.

Hard-line Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani addressed the conference through video and reiterated his stand that India should accept Kashmir as a dispute.

Keywords: Kashmir issue, cross-border terrorism, India-Pak tensions, Gilani

Don't leave Afghanistan, India told U.S.

May 24 , 2011

NEW DELHI :After U.S. President Barack Obama announced his intention to begin withdrawing troops from Afghanistan starting 2011, Indian officials, worried that this would be to the detriment of India's security, urged Washington against the decision.U.S. diplomatic cables originating from Islamabad and New Delhi, accessed by The Hindu through WikiLeaks, clearly suggest that India was concerned about U.S. plans to exit from Afghanistan, and its possible repercussions on India's security.

The planned drawdown of troops was announced by President Obama at a speech at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in December 2009.

At a meeting with visiting U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill in early 2010, National Security Adviser Shivshankar Menon cautioned that if the Pakistani establishment felt that the U.S. commitment in Afghanistan was flagging, it would “sit it out and use the Indian threat as an excuse for not doing what was needed” on its western frontier.The concerns have led New Delhi to seek a greater role in Afghanistan. On a recent visit to Kabul, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh pledged $500 million more to India's $1.3 billion development assistance package to Afghanistan. He also backed President Hamid Karzai's bid for reconciliation with the Taliban.

In a February 25, 2010 cable (250737: confidential), Ambassador Timothy J. Roemer reported: “Menon said he may be a ‘minority of one,' but thought there was more potential for success in Afghanistan than most observers in India think. “The British were convinced the Coalition would lose because they lost three wars there, but others had been able to tame the country.”

The NSA “trumpeted” India's Afghan assistance programme of small, community-based projects: it had taken Indian officials one-and-a-half years “to navigate around the ministries in Kabul to get direct access to local people, but it had paid off enormously,” Mr. Menon told the Senator.

He cited one instance in which 13,000 Afghans had applied for examinations to qualify for Indian scholarships; not all of them were qualified, but it showed how strong the desire was for such opportunities. “He concluded that success will require ‘more than just a military effort'.”

Senator McCaskill assured Mr. Menon that the U.S. “would continue to sustain the 300,000 strong Afghan National Security Forces even if we began to draw down troops in 2011.”

Rather admiringly, Mr. Menon observed that “the wonder of the U.S. system is how quickly you learn; that cannot be said of any other country in the world.”

Another cable dated February 11, 2010, sent from New Delhi on the eve of Senator John Kerry's visit (248366: secret), outlined Indian worries over the possibility of a U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan.

“On Afghanistan, there are underlying concerns that U.S. policy foreshadows an early exit from Afghanistan with negative security consequences for India. India has expressed concern about the outlines of the reintegration policy promoted by the Karzai government and supported by the US.”

The cable, a “scenesetter” for a visit by Senator John Kerry, noted that New Delhi had begun to weigh a policy response that might include increased Afghan police and military training/assistance, and said that his Indian interlocutors would be interested in Senator Kerry's views on India's role in Afghanistan.

India's fears that its views and interests were not being taken into account had intensified lately, the cable said: “India was kept out of the Istanbul regional conference on Afghanistan (based on a Pakistani veto) and New Delhi was the odd man out at the London Conference over reintegration.”

It underlined that India was “proud” of its own ongoing development assistance in Afghanistan. “Indian support for Afghanistan's government is long-standing and motivated by a variety of reasons, not the least being Afghanistan's strategic value as New Delhi seeks regional influence,” the cable said.

Sent by the New Delhi Embassy under Mr. Roemer's signature, the cable said Pakistan's expectation that the government in Afghanistan should be pro-Pakistan and anti-India was “unrealistic” given President Hamid Karzai's “own long-standing ties to India and the goodwill that India's assistance and other elements of India's soft power have created in Afghanistan.”

It noted that “India, with the exception of the Taliban era, has always had strong ties to Afghanistan since Partition; conversely, Islamabad with the exception of the Taliban period, has had strained ties with Kabul.”

The cable revealed that after President Obama's West Point speech, the Ministry of External Affairs told the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi that “the GOI wishes to do more to help develop Afghan capacity, especially with regard to the police and military, but is also cognizant of USG ‘sensitivities' about such assistance.”

What India had heard about the Pakistan Army's ability to influence decisions on Afghanistan seemed to have added to its worries.

Ten days before Mr. Menon's meeting with the Senator, U.S. Special Envoy to Afghanistan-Pakistan Richard Holbrooke had confided to External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna that it was the Pakistan Army that had insisted on excluding India from a key conference on Afghanistan in Istanbul in January 2010, ahead of the London Conference. This was revealed in a cable dated February 1, 2010 (246564: confidential).

Holbrooke told the Indian Minister that the U.S. was “deeply disturbed by the GOP [Government of Pakistan]'s ties with the LeT” and described U.S. efforts to persuade Pakistan to take action against the group.

Sent under the signature of Ambassador Timothy Roemer from New Delhi, the cable noted that Holbrooke “assessed that the civilian government in Pakistan had a limited capacity to take such steps.” It added that “the Army was the key decision maker,” while Mr. Zardari had been sidelined.

“The military was not likely at this time to resume full control,” Holbrooke told Mr. Krishna, “but would assert its views on relations with India and Afghanistan. Holbrooke cited the example of India's exclusion from an Afghan conference in Istanbul — despite efforts by Holbrooke and Secretary Clinton — as an example of the military's weight in decision making.”

Even before President Obama outlined his new strategy in Afghanistan in mid-2009, India's top leadership was worrying about the consequences of the U.S. departing the scene.

Interacting with U.S. Under Secretary William J. Burns, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had conceded that while India was not able to send troops to Afghanistan, it fully supported efforts to stabilise and rebuild that country.

A June 11, 2009 cable (211549: secret) sent under the name of Charge d'Affaires Peter Burleigh, said Dr. Singh expressed the hope that all those engaged in the process of moving towards stability in Afghanistan would “stay on course.”

“Singh hoped the international community understood that this would be a long-term process and that all those working in Afghanistan ‘would stay the course'.” Mr. Burns assured Dr. Singh that the U.S. had a long-term strategy and was committed to working for a stable Afghanistan. 

(The Pakistan Cables are being shared by The Hindu with NDTV in India and Dawn in Pakistan)

Keywords: cable250737, cable211549, cable248366, cable211549, The Pakistan Cables, WikiLeaks, cablegate, Pune bombing, Indo-U.S. trade

Sensex regains 18,000 level in opening trade

 May 24, 2011

Mumbai : The BSE benchmark Sensex regained the 18,000 points level in opening trade on Tuesday, shooting up by over 113 points on a fresh spell of buying by funds and retail investors, taking cues from the firming trend on other Asian bourses.

The 30-share index of the Bombay Stock Exchange, which lost 332.76 points in the previous session, recovered by 113.45 points, or 0.63 per cent, to 18,106.78 in the first few minutes of trade today, with oil and gas, auto, banking, realty and consumer durable stocks leading the recovery.

Similarly, the wide-based National Stock Exchange Nifty index also moved up by 28.50 points, or 0.53 per cent, to 5,415.05.

Brokers attributed the recovery in stocks to fresh buying by funds and retail investors, driven by a firming trend on other Asian bourses.

In addition, covering-up of pending short positions ahead of monthly expiry in the derivatives segment of the National Stock Exchange on Thursday also supported the recovery, they said.

Meanwhile, Japan’s Nikkei index was trading 0.11 per cent higher and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index gained 0.10 per cent in early trade today. The US Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 1.05 per cent lower in yesterday’s trade.

Keywords: BSE, NSE, Sensex, Nifty

Chhattisgarh: 9 cops missing after Maoist ambush

May24 , 2011

Raipur:  Nine policemen are reported to be missing after Maoists ambushed a police search party in the Maha-samund district of Chhattisgarh. 

The area is close to the border with Orissa.

Among those missing is an Additional SP as well.

The policemen were ambushed when they got out of the vehicle they were travelling in.    

Humiliation deepens for Pakistan military

May 24 , 2011

A siege on a big naval base in the heart of Pakistan's biggest city that took 17 hours to quell heaps humiliation on a military still reeling from the fallout over Osama bin Laden, experts say.

Up to six Taliban fighters, armed with rocket-propelled grenades, explosives and automatic rifles, crept under cover of darkness to place ladders against the walls of the Mehran base in Karachi and climbed over barbed wire to enter.

They managed to destroy two P-3C Orion aircraft, costing an estimated $US36 million ($A34 million), which had only been delivered by the US a year ago.Scores of reinforcements were trucked to the scene, but 10 security personnel died in gun battles with just a handful of militants.

"This is of course a very serious blow to the capacity of the Pakistan navy to protect its bases and assets," said analyst and author Imtiaz Gul.

"Recent killings and attacks seem part of a sustained campaign to destabilise and demoralise the state of Pakistan. They think the army remains a quasi-unifying force in Pakistan and it makes sense to hit them."

It was the fourth attack on the navy in Karachi in a month and the most serious assault on a big military base since the army's national headquarters in Rawalpindi was besieged for two days in October 2009, at a cost of 22 lives.

On May 13, bombers killed 98 people outside a police training centre in the northwest, the deadliest attack in the country since the beginning of 2010.

When Interior Minister Rehman Malik declared the attack over, he conceded that none of those responsible had been captured.

Even worse, he admitted, two may have escaped. He said he had been advised not to address the media at the gates of the base because of fears that suicide bombers might still be lurking in the bushes.

His comments came after the May 2 unilateral US raid that killed bin Laden in Abbottabad, in the shadow of the country's top military academy, which left Pakistanis angry and embarrassed that the world's most wanted man had been living in their midst.

Ordinary people, brought up to believe the military is the most powerful and professional institution in a country weighed down by weak civilian leadership and recession, are now choosing between thinking them incompetent or complicit.

"The latest incident will create demoralisation and send the wrong message that this country is vulnerable. It will embolden militants and they will plan bigger attacks against high-value targets," said analyst Rahimullah Yusufzai.

"Such incidents also strengthen those who claim Pakistan's nuclear assets are not safe."

Pakistan's big fear in the wake of the Navy SEALs raid has been that its prized nuclear weapons, which now reportedly number more than 100 and exceed those of arch-rival India, are not safe from an external attack.

Although US officials say they are confident Pakistan can protect its assets, there have been reports of an elite US squad ready to fly in to attempt to secure Pakistan's nuclear weapons if the government disintegrated.

Pakistan's response to the bin Laden debacle has been to plead incompetence, order a string of investigations, and remind the world that all intelligence agencies make mistakes in the fight against Islamic extremism.

"I appeal to the international community - we need you to support us morally. Look how we are suffering due to this war ... We are fighting not only for Pakistan but for the world also," Malik told reporters.

All this as US officials say they are combing through intelligence gathered from the bin Laden compound to see whether there is any evidence that the military or intelligence services protected him.

Yusufzai,an expert on the tribal belt that the Taliban and Al-Qaeda networks have made their home, said further evidence that Pakistanis are on the front line will not resolve the country's problems with Washington.

"They would like more and more al-Qaeda and Taliban militants to be arrested. The allegation of complicity may subside but the US will keep asking Pakistan to take action against the Haqqani network and Taliban," he told AFP.

Analysts believe there is increasing awareness in Pakistan that the military has directly jeopardised national security through its traditional support for militant groups fighting in Afghanistan and India.

Their selective approach to classifying those who confine their violence to outside Pakistan as "good Taliban" and those who pose a domestic threat as "bad Taliban" has courted suspicion abroad and blowback at home, analysts say.

"It is a big embarrassment for the country and the armed forces. Big attacks against the security forces resemble tactics that (militant group) Lashkar-e-Taiba adopted in Indian Kashmir," Gul said.

"Now they are being practised in Pakistan."

2G case: Delhi High Court to hear Kanimozhi's bail plea today

May 24 , 2011

New Delhi:  DMK Rajya Sabha MP Kanimozhi's bail plea will be taken up by the Delhi High Court today. She had moved court for bail yesterday, pleading against the trial court that sent her to jail.

 

Kanimozhi has been in Tihar Jail since Friday last, when a special court hearing the 2G case ordered her immediate arrest while dismissing her bail application. Kanimozhi has been charged by the CBI with allegedly conspiring with former Telecom Minister A Raja and accepting a Rs 214-crore bribe via Kalaignar TV, in which she owns 20% stake. Raja, a DMK MP and a Dalit leader, has been in Tihar Jail since February for allegedly planning and executing the 2G scam when he was Telecom Minister in 2008. A company that he favoured allegedly sent him the massive bribe.

 

Kanimozhi has said in her bail plea that no bribe was received by Kalaignar TV; that the money from Cineyug was only a loan which was repaid. She has pleaded that all transactions are transparent and taxes have been paid. In her petition, she has also denied the allegation of a strong association with A Raja.

 

In an emotional family reunion on Monday, Kanimozhi's 87-year-old father, DMK chief M Karunanidhi came to Delhi and spent about an hour with his youngest child at Tihar Jail. The former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister flew down on Monday morning for what was to have been a day-long trip. He stayed at the Taj Mansingh Hotel in New Delhi and was scheduled to leave in the evening. But the DMK chief cancelled his flight tickets to Chennai after meeting Kanimozhi. His older son MK Alagiri accompanied him to Delhi. 

Karunanidhi, who is in poor health, is expected to leave Delhi for Chennai this evening. 

Afghan suicide blast 'kills four' in Laghman

May 23 , 2011

At least four people have been killed and 14 wounded in a suicide blast in eastern Afghanistan - the third such attack in as many days.

The bomber struck a crowded market in Laghman province, a local government official told the AFP news agency.

On Sunday gunmen stormed a government building in the city of Khost, killing six people. One day earlier a suicide bomber killed six in a Kabul hospital.

The Taliban said that they carried out Monday's bombing.

They recently declared a "spring offensive" of attacks against security forces across the country.

But an Afghan government spokesman said there were no government offices or military patrols in the town of Najeel Khan, in the Alishang district of Laghman, where the attack took place.

CBSE results: Girls outshine boys, Chennai tops performance

May 23 ,2011

New Delhi,  (IANS) Girls have continued to outshine boys in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) Class 12 exams, results of which were declared here for seven regions Monday. They have a pass percentage of 86.93, compared to 77.83 for boys, a CBSE spokesperson said. Chennai region chalked up the highest pass percentage of 91.32.

"Chennai was followed by Ajmer with 85.5 percent, while Delhi stood third with a pass percentage of 85.45 percent," said CBSE spokesperson Rama Sharma.

The total number of candidates who appeared this year was 7,70,043, 9.85 percent more than last year.

The overall pass percentage also registered an increase of 1.84 percent over 2010 and stood at 81.71 percent.

Continuing the recent trend, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) and Kendriya Vidyalayas (central schools) in Delhi have fared well again this year, notching up 96.52 and 95.63 pass percentage respectively.

Pass percentage of government schools in Delhi is 87.48 percent, while private schools scored somewhat better at 89.71 percent.

According to the CBSE, fewer students got compartments this year - only 10.67 percent compared to 11.07 percent registered in year 2010.

"A total of 72,084 out of 7,70,043 students giving the 12th boards, got compartments, against 74,523 in 2010," Sharma said.

While students celebrated clearing the Class 12 boards, it was not the end of anxiety for them yet as the the long and arduous way to Delhi University cut-off lists lay ahead of them. These lists would determine the course their life takes.

"There are surely celebrations slated for the evening, but we don't know if the scores will help us get through the tough DU cut-off list," said Ambika Dua from Bal Bharti School, Pusa Road.

Dua, who scored 94.6 percent in Humanities, aims to pursue economic (Hons) at St. Stephen's college.

UDF ministry in Kerala expanded, 13 ministers inducted

May 23 , 2011

The UDF ministry in Kerala headed by Oommen Chandy was today expanded with the induction of 13 more ministers -- nine from Congress, three from IUML and one from Kerala Congress (M). With today's exercise, the ministry strength rose to 20.

Chandy and six other ministers, each representing the UDF constituents, assumed office on May 18, after the coalition unseated the CPI(M)-led LDF ministry in the assembly polls.

The Congress nominees sworn-in by Governor RS Gavai at the Raj Bhavan included former ministers Aryadam Muhamed, Thiruvanchur Radhakrishnan, Adoor Prakash and AP Anil Kumar.

Others Congress nominees who joined the cabinet are lone woman representative PK Jayalakshmi, KC Joseph, K Babu, KPCC treasurer CN Balakrishnan and VS Sivakumar.

Jayalakshmi, a Rahul Gandhi nominee, is the first minister from a tribal community in Kerala.

The IUML members sworn-in today were former ministers MK Muneer and VK Ibraim Kunju and PK Abdurabb.

Kerala Congress leader PJ Joseph, who was part of the LDF for long but dissolved his party and joined Kerala Congress (M) last year, returned to the cabinet after a gap of two years.

The "unilateral" announcement of IUML yesterday that the party would have five ministers in the cabinet, though one of them to be included at a later stage, had left the Congress unhappy.

Chandy and KPCC president Ramesh Chennithala had said that the question of parliamentary affairs ministers, for which IUML has staked claim as the fifth cabinet berth, would be decided only after collective discussions.

IUML, the second largest component in the coalition, however, made it clear that it would not go back on its demand for five ministerial positions.

The leaders of the UDF constituents who assumed office along with Chandy last week were PK Kunhalikutty (IUML), KM Mani (Kerala Cong-M), KP Mohanan (SJD), TM Jacob (Kerla Congress-J), KB Ganesh Kumar (Kerala Congress-B) and Shibu Baby John (RSP-B).

Seize properties of black money account holders: Ramdev

May23 , 2011

CHHINDWARA: Yoga Guru Baba Ramdev today demanded that the government should seize the properties of those people, who have stashed black money in banks abroad, and declare those asnational assets. 

"I will not disclose the names of those persons who have stashed black money, as their number is not just in hundreds but in lakhs," Ramdev told reporters here after a yoga camp. 

Referring to his discussions with the government on the issue, he said the government has agreed to bring back Rs 400 lakh crore black money stashed in foreign countries. 

Ramdev claimed that nearly 5 lakh people would take part in the satyagraha that he is planning to undertake in New Delhi from June 4 to stress his demand that the black money deposited in foreign banks be brought back. 

He said over 30 lakh people have already extended their support to his proposed satyagraha through SMS. 

Demanding promotion of Hindi in the country, the spiritual guru said now the government has agreed to have Hindi medium in agriculture universities also. 

"The country would actually develop when Hindi is made compulsory in medical colleges and other educational institutions," he said. 

He also termed the year 2011 as a revolutionary year in terms of elimination of corruption in the country.

Indian Al-Qaeda activist arrested in France was SIMI man

May 23 , 2011

NEW DELHI: An Indian engineer arrested in France for his suspected terror links with Al Qaeda was being watched in this country as he has been an activist of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), a banned outfit allegedly affiliated with the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Monday. 

Mohammed Niaz , originally from Madurai , was arrested at the Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris May 10 on his arrival from Algeria , where he had developed links with an Al Qaeda franchise. 

"It is reported that Niaz has been arrested in France for his links with the terror group that is recruiting people for jihad in the Pakistan and Afghanistan region," Chidambaram told reporters here. 

Chidambaram said the inputs that the government has on him indicated that he was a trained activist "with a militant bent of mind". 

"At the age of 21, he joined the SIMI based in Tamil Nadu. He has been on the radar of Indian intelligence agencies before being arrested (in France)," the home minister said. 

Niaz was among seven suspected terrorists held by French authorities earlier this month. But the French government has not linked them with any specific plan to carry out attacks in that country. 

After his arrest, French Interior Minister Claude Gueant had described Niaz as a man with a high level of technical training. 

Niaz's mother is said to be living in south India but his father has shifted to the Gulf many years ago. 

Chidambaram said Niaz first arrived in France in 2008 to find a job. "In a short period of time, he was able to build a nucleus of like-minded jihadis in France that consists of four French nationals of Moroccan origin, one French national of Turkish origin, one French national of Pakistani origin and two others." 

He said Niaz used to held monthly jihadi meetings which later became weekly meetings. 

"Further investigation is underway and we are in a close touch with French," the home minister said. 

French authorities have so far not said what charges were being pressed against Niaz. 

According to reports, he was under the scanner of France's domestic intelligence agency, DCRI, because of his close association with highly radicalized Muslims there and his frequent trips to Pakistan from Algeria. 

He is said to be associated with Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, one of the Al Qaida's franchises, in Algeria. 

The group has vowed to carry out attacks against France and other western nations. 

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