PM meets chief ministers over price rise

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.”
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Toll in Hyderabad riots rises to three,

Hyderabad, April 8: The tension was back in the old city of Hyderabad Thursday with a person, stabbed during communal clashes last fortnight, succumbing to his injuries in a hospital. With his death, the toll in the communal riots has risen to three.Narasimha, 54, a resident of Lal Darwaza area, who was stabbed by unidentified people in Hussaini Alam police station area on the night of March 28, died at the Osmania Hospital Wednesday night. As news of his death spread, police went on high alert in Shahali Banda and adjacent areas near the historic Charminar to prevent any untoward incident. Even curfew-pass holders were stopped from entering into the old city. Elaborate security arrangements have been made as some groups are reportedly preparing to take out a funeral procession. After initial confusion, police relaxed the curfew in these areas along with other-riot hit parts of the city. The 12-hour curfew relaxation began at 6 a.m. in all 25 police station areas but the movement of people in Shahali Banda and surrounding areas was restricted. Shops and schools remained closed. Though the day curfew was lifted last Monday, the police are continuing with the night curfew as a precautionary measure. The riots, which broke out March 27 in the old city following a dispute over religious flags, also left over 150 people injured. Police said they have registered 152 cases and arrested 200 people in connection with various incidents of violence.
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Now it's celebration time at Sania Mirza's house

Hyderabad, April 8: A day after Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik divorced his first wife Ayesha Siddiqui, preparations began Thursday for his marriage to Indian tennis star Sania Mirza.The mood of tension and anxiety prevailing at Sania's house at Jubilee Hills for the last few days turned into that of celebrations Thursday as the arrival of relatives and friends began. Though the divorce to Ayesha would make Sania the second wife of Shoaib, the two families were relieved over an amicable end to the bitter row. The two families no longer fear Shoaib's arrest, the visits of police officials to the house for questioning and the wild accusations from Ayesha's family which had dampened the celebrations. With the arrival of Shoaib's mother and other family members Wednesday night, hectic activity was seen at Sania's house Thursday. Preparations began to treat the Pakistani guests with biryani and other lip-smacking Hyderabadi dishes. As Sania's family feared postponement of the marriage, scheduled for April 15, due to the controversy, it was only on Thursday that dozens of workers were seen bringing basmati rice, mutton and other provisions to the house. The family members were also seen driving in and out of the house to the market to do the shopping. While Sania's wedding dress is being designed in Delhi, the family would buy the other bridal wear in Hyderabad. Shoaib and Sania preferred to remain indoors ever since the Muslim community leaders Wednesday announced that the former Pakistani skipper has divorced Ayesha. They came out to receive Shoaib's mother Sultana Farooq and other family members. The guests include Shoaib's brother Adil Malik, sisters Shazia Imran and Sadaf Imran, nephew Mamoon Imran and niece Zainab Imran. Shoaib's brother-in-law Zafar Imran, who had arrived in Delhi Tuesday to consult lawyers, is likely to arrive here later in the day. Some more relatives and friends of the bridegroom are also expected to arrive from Pakistan. Sania's family has already distributed invitation cards for the wedding. About 500 guests have been invited to the reception to be held at Taj Krishna hotel. Interestingly, it was at the same hotel that Sania was engaged to her childhood friend Sohrab Mirza July 10 last year amid much fanfare. The tennis ace called off the engagement Jan 28 this year citing "incompatibility". It was on March 29 that the Pakistani media reported that Shoaib would be marrying Sania, who confirmed this the next day. However, the past returned to haunt Shoaib as Ayesha Siddiqui demanded divorce before he married Sania. While Shoaib landed here much early to clear his name, Ayesha filed a complaint with the police, queering the pitch for the cricketer. While Ayesha alias Maha claimed that Shoaib married her over phone in 2002 and they even lived together as wife and husband, the latter said he married the girl whose pictures were sent to him. As the row took a dirty turn threatening Shoaib and Sania's marriage, a compromise formula was arrived at following mediation by some community leaders and well wishers of the families of Sania and Ayesha.
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Left leaders arrested as part of 'Jail bharo' programme

Vijayawada, Apr 8 : CPI(M) Central Committee member V Srinivasa Rao, CPI National Council member E Nageswara Rao, among 200 left parties workers, were arrested today as part of their nation-wide 'Jailbharo' programme in protest against the price rise of essential commodities.Earlier, the activists staged a 'dharna' in front of the Sub-Collector's office and raised slogans against the government's failure in controlling the prices.Mr Srinivasa Rao, addressing the gathering, said the government should control rise in prices or leave the power. He alleged that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre, which had promised before elections that it would take steps to check prices of essential commodities, after coming to power had failed to control the hike in prices.Claiming that lakhs of tonnes of foodgrains were kept in government godowns, he said the foodgrains should be released and distributed among the people to curb the price rise.Alleging that the Congress Government was cancelling lakhs of ration cards in the state in the pretext of bogus cards and resorting to opportunistic politics after winning elections, he demanded that essential commodities be supplied on minimum prices to the below and above proverty line poor.He alleged that the Congress government was encouraging Maoists and Trinamool Congress workers in West Bengal to attack Left party workers and making conspiracy to throw the CPI(M)-led government from the power.The speaker's demands included reduction of prices of essential commodities, release of 4.25 lakh tonnes of foodgrains kept in government godowns, strengthening of public distribution system, revoking of hiking prices of petrol and diesle and implementation of Employment Guarantee Schemes in urban areas too.The arrested were shifted to Suryaraopet Police Stataion and later released on station bail.
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