Reactions to President's Address on expected lines

Political parties came out with reactions to the President's Address to the Joint Session of Parliament today on expected lines with the ruling party hailing it as an' indicator of nation's progress' and the Opposition rubbishing it as 'directionless and devoid any vision.' Senior Congress leader and Minorities Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said the facts and figures contained in the Address signalled towards great progress the country had achieved." It reflects the government's resolve and vision to take the nation to greater heights by way of economic prosperity, social justice and equal opportunities for all," Mr Khurshid said adding that the government was also committed towards the welfare of the minorities.On price rise, he said," mehngai to NDA ke zamane bhi thee( Price rise was there during the NDA regime too)." BJP senior leader M M Joshi said the President's Address was a " mere list of government programmes and had brought down its prestige. It has no vision, no direction and goals." On the government's failure to contain price rise, Dr Joshi said the Manmohan Singh government had evolved " no price and wage policy" with the result that now the aam aadmi had borne the brunt of the unprecedented rise in prices of essential commodities." When you leave the issue to the commmodity exchanges, adopt the consumerist model of development and not review the disastrous economic policies, price rise is bound to raise its ugly head again and again," the BJP leader said.He also came down heavily on the government for adopting what he called as "faulty" Wholesale Price Index and the Consumer Price Index.''The government has been saying for ten years that it want to change them but of no use." Labour and Employment Minister Mallikarjun Kharge said the Address emphasised that the promises made by the government last year had been implemented." It indicates towards great mass response to the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Scheme, high GDP, agricultural production and rural connectivity and welfare measures for the unorganised sector... all this shows as to how the country is making strides in the right direction." Senior Congress leader and Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy endorsed the views of his Cabinet collegues.However, Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi, Home Minister P Chidambaram and Railway Minister Mamta Banerjee chose not to speak to the press when they were asked to give their reactions.
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Andhra pradesh Disabled free from now' campaign from Feb 26

A.P-Chief Minister, will launch a state-wide campaign to make 'AP Disabled Free from Now' here on February 26, according to State Disabled Welfare Principal Secretary Chaya Ratan.Addressing a press conference here today, Ms Ratan said a study conducted by the state had found that 14 lakh people (about two per cent of the state population) were suffering from disabilities and a majority of them could be prevented if intervened at right time with some behavioural changes.The Chief Minister would flag off the rally from the Secretariat to People's Plaza to sensitise people on preventive steps, she said, adding the campaign would be taken across the state to highlight the need for stopping marriages among close blood relations, child marriages and pregnancy before 18 years.''We need to propagate pregnancy as a special lifetime event and treat expectant mother with care and protection -- ensuring good nutrition, proper healthcare, stress-free environment, 100 iron and folic acid tablets and a safe institutional delivery,'' she said.She stressed the need for timely immunisation of both mother and child, adequate nutrition with stimulating environment for children, especially colostrum at birth and exclusive breastfeeding for at least six months, Vitamin A supplements for children, safe drinking water and iodised salt consumption daily by family. ======================================================

Zero tolerance of terrorist activities: Patil

The government had a “zero tolerance” policy towards terrorism and remained vigilant against all forms of challenges posed by the threat, President Pratibha Patil Monday said.“Zero tolerance of terrorist activities is our principled policy. We have to keep constant watch and innovate against global terrorist groups,” Patil said, addressing a joint sitting of both houses of parliament on the opening day of the budget session.Detailing some measures taken by the government to strengthen the security apparatus, Patil said the establishment of the four National Security Guard (NSG) hubs, the operationalisation of the National Investigation Agency and strengthening the Multi-Agency Centre that analyses intelligence alerts on a real time basis had helped hinterland security.“The overall internal security, law and order and the communal situation remained largely under control during 2009. Infiltration of terrorists from across the line of control in Jammu and Kashmir has gone up,” she said.“Even then, the security situation has improved significantly in Jammu and Kashmir as well as the north east, but left wing extremism continues to be a significant cause of concern.”                                            (thanks to way2online)

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Dr. Manmohan Singh arrives at the Parliament House to attend the Budget Session

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh arrives at the Parliament House to attend the Budget Session, in New Delhi on February 22, 2010. The Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources, Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal and the Minister of State of Planning and Parliamentary Affairs, Shri V. Narayanasamy are also seen.  (Photo by No:CNR-30516)
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Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil being led in a ceremonial procession to the Central Hall of Parliament House,

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil being led in a ceremonial procession to the Central Hall of Parliament House to address the Members of both the Houses of Parliament on Budget Session, in New Delhi on February 22, 2010. The Speaker, Lok Sabha, Smt. Meira Kumar, the Vice President and Chairman Rajya Sabha, Shri Mohd. Hamid Ansari, the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Water Resources, Shri Pawan Kumar Bansal and other dignitaries are also seen.
(Photo by PIB No:CNR-30519)
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ROSAIAH ,presents tax-free Rs 1,13,660 crore budget

With Andhra Pradesh economy showing signs of recovery after being impacted by the global economic slowdown, Chief Minister and Finance Minister K Rosaiah today presented a Rs 1,13,660 crore tax-free budget, continuing the Congress Government's focus on development and welfare, the twin-engines for putting the state on right track of growth.Presenting the budget estimates to the State Assembly for the 16th time and for the first time as Chief Minister, Mr Rosaiah, in the backdrop of stir for and against division of the state, exhorted one and all to sink differences and join hands to bring back the state on the right track of economic growth to emerge once again as a model for others toemulate.Estimating revenue for 2010-11 at Rs 1,13,675 crore, including state share in revenue of Rs 62,702 crore, Mr Rosaiah proposed an expenditure of Rs 73,347 crore under non-plan and Rs 40,313 crore under plan.Talking to reporters after presenting the budget, Mr Rosaiah, expressing satisfaction over presenting a ''reasonable budget'' in the wake of global economic slowdown, said the Budget had reasonable allocation for various sectors with focus on welfare and development activities to achieve economic growth with equity. With the 13th Finance Commission recommendations on devolution of Central Taxes and Fiscal Deficit limits to be followed by states yet to be announced by the Centre, the state government had decided to curtail Fiscal Deficit to Rs 12,983 crore (2.97 per cent of GSDP) during 2010-11 as against Rs 14,282 crore (3.60 per cent of GSDP) during 2009-10 in the wake of the Centre permitting four per cent fiscal deficit last year.Earmarking Rs 3,000 crore for subsidising the Rs two-a-kg rice scheme and Rs 4,500 crore for providing free power to peasants for seven hours to energise farm pumpsets, Mr Rosaiah provided lion's share of Rs 15,011 crore for the irrigation sector. ======================================================

Congress pulls out of all-party panel on Telangana

The struggle for a separate Telangana state Friday received a setback with Congress leaders from the region deciding to walk out of the all-party Joint Action Committee (JAC) and chalk out their own course of action.

A meeting of Congress ministers, parliamentarians and state legislators from the Telangana region decided to form the Telangana Congress Action Committee.“We were so far working with the JAC, but from today (Friday) we will have our own action committee to organise programmes at various levels,” Congress legislator and former minister Jana Reddy told reporters here.The party leaders were unhappy with the JAC for directing all elected representatives from the region to resign over the terms of reference of the Srikrishna Committee formed by the central government to look into the Telangana state issue.They also took exception to JAC activists laying siege to their houses to pressurise them to resign.So far, only 15 out of 110 legislators from Telangana have submitted their resignations and assembly Speaker N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has accepted resignations of 12 of them, including all 10 of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS).Only two of the 50 Congress legislators from Telangana submitted their papers. The Congress central leadership is trying to convince both of them to withdraw their resignations.While the Congress leaders have refused to resign, those from opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sent their papers to JAC convenor M. Kodandaram to build pressure on the ruling party.The meeting of Congress leaders also decided to request the central leadership to reduce the tenure of the Srikrishna panel. It asked for the panel’s report by Sep 30 instead of Dec 31.Meanwhile, Kodandaram reiterated that only the resignations of elected representatives could force the central government to initiate the process of formation of Telangana state as per its Dec 9 statement, which said the process for a separate Telangana state will be initiated soon.He said the Srikrishna Committee would be of no use as its terms of reference were not favourable for the formation of Telangana state.He said the JAC would intensify the movement for separate state and would announce its future course of action in a couple of days,  (thanks to way2online)
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Shri Salman Khurshid to Inaugurate a Conference on the occasion of International Mother Language Day tomorrow

(PIB NEWS) Shri Salman Khurshid, Minister for Minority Affairs, will inaugurate a Conference on the occasion of International Mother Language Day here tomorrow. The Conference has been organized by the Commissioner Linguistic Minorities (CLM) with a view to encourage multilingualism and to facilitate mother languages as medium of instruction. The Conference will discuss and suggest: (i) Action Plan for developing Mother Languages as medium of instruction in all primary schools of the country. (ii) The steps for funding by the Central/State Governments for implementation of safeguards for linguistic minorities. (iii) A Communication and Media Policy to make linguistic minorities aware of their rights/ safeguards. The Census Commissioner & Registrar General of India; Chairpersons/ Directors from UGC, NCERT, SCERTs, CIIL-Mysore, Tribal Research Institutes; Resource Persons and officers from the Central Government, the Education Secretaries/Nodal Officers from the States/UTs and the Delegates of Linguistic Minorities Associations representing different languages from all over India are expected to participate in the Conference. The International Mother Language Day is being observed on 21st February since 2000, to foster unity and harmony while ensuring linguistic and cultural diversity to flower and prosper. It was so proclaimed by UNESCO’s General Conference in November, 1999.
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12th National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions begins

(PIB NEWS) The Union Minister of State for Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Shri Prithviraj Chavan today called for new initiatives for a more efficient, accountable, responsive and transparent governance in the country. “If a public servant does not have fire in the belly to make a change, and motivation for public service, he cannot be an agent of change. Dedication and willingness to serve the people is as important as professional competence”, he said. He was addressing the inaugural session of the two-day 12th National Conference of Chairpersons of State Public Service Commissions, here. Shri Chavan said that the civil services have to attune themselves to the climate of change and help to translate developmental programmes into viable statutes and effective administrative acts. “They must accept the totality of the Indian heritage and function without any parochial, linguistic, religious, caste or class prejudice. The overall efficiency in the civil services is reflected in the social, economic, and political justice and equality of status and opportunity, which are cherished in the preamble of our Constitution. The Public Service Commissions immensely contribute in these noble values by their recommendations to the Government in molding the civil services”, he said. Speaking on the occasion, the Chairman, Union Public Service Commission and National Chairman of the Conference, Prof. D. P. Agrawal said that selecting the right person for the right task is the only way to build a strong, prosperous and just nation and it is the job of the Public Service Commissions to make it happen. “In order to enable us to discharge our constitutional obligations in full measure, it is imperative that we review our methods and procedures to meet the new challenges and adapt ourselves to the new environment of technological advancement”, he said. Prof. Agrawal said that the National Conferences of Chairpersons of State PSCs have been instrumental in improving the functioning of State PSCs. “The Conference has provided a platform for brainstorming and discussions on matters relating to methods of recruitment, personnel policies, conduct of examination, etc.”, he informed. He lauded the efforts of the Standing Committee of the National Conference in bringing out a ‘Compendium of Best Practices’ of the State PSCs, Rules of Procedure, Model Code of Conduct and a compilation of Court judgments that have a bearing on the functions of State PSCs, ======================================================

Vice President Inaugurates a Conference on ‘Islam & Oriental Religions’

(PIB NEWS) The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari has said that the inter-faith dialogue has emerged as a prominent civil society initiative between nations and groups in the post-Cold War world, amidst the “Clash of Civilisations” debate and the raging ethnic and religious conflicts in various parts of the globe. Delivering inaugural address at a conference titled “An International Dialogue between Islam and Oriental Religions” here today he has said that the “The Alliance of Civilizations” initiative under United Nations auspices connects people and organizations devoted to promoting dialogue among political, religious, media and civil society leaders, particularly between Muslim and Western societies. Other such dialogue frameworks include the Cordoba Initiative on improving Muslim-West relations, the Madrid Dialogue Conference that was a Saudi-Spanish effort, the Assisi interfaith work of the late Pope John Paul II and the Common Word initiative of Muslim scholars. The Vice President emphasised on the need to go beyond tolerance; the imperative for religious concord in a framework of equality is evident and compelling. This would be achieved only through a sustained, candid and uninterrupted dialogue without a syndrome of superiority or inferiority and with the objective of locating common values conducive to the maintenance of ethical standards essential for social harmony and furtherance of common objectives. The process of locating these values would bring forth other commonalities. Experience over time of shared public space and national common resources in everyday interaction, and mechanisms that blur boundaries through management of differences, would assist the process.
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Stop police atrocities,Telangana Congress MPs ask PM,Sonia

Congress MPs from Telangana have written to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi, asking them to intervene to stop police atrocities against the people of the region.The MPs, who met here Thursday, narrated the plight and harassment of Osmania University students at the hands of the police last week.“The police attacked the girls hostel. They molested the girl students after switching off the lights,” said Congress MP Madhu Goud Yaskhi, who represents the Nizamabad Lok Sabha constituency in parliament. The Andhra Pradesh High Court Tuesday had taken serious note of the incidents, especially the beating up of girl students by the police, switching off the electricity supply, and firing of teargas shells in the dark.“The police and the state administration are trying to brand the students of Osmania University as Maoists. The state government and the police are misleading the nation,” Yaskhi saidHe said that eight Congress MPs from the state had decided to write the letter.“We are under pressure from the people. They are asking us to quit (as MPs). Angry people came to my home in Nizamabad and asked me to resign and join the agitation. Some even attacked my home.“All Congress legislators and MPs from Telangana are facing such a situation. This happened because the police provoked the people. The state government is responsible for such a provocation,” Yaskhi said. He said the MPs wanted the officials responsible for last week’s attack on students and journalists at Osmania University punished.“Deploy senior police officials, who belong to other states, in the region. We won’t get justice from the police officers who oppose the Telangana cause,” Yaskhi said.He said the Congress MPs would raise the issues of the people of Telangana in the forthcoming session of parliament.“We will raise the issues in appropriate parliamentary forums,” Yaskhi said.  (thanks to way2online)
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Police action: Andhra Congress divided over court order

Legislators of the ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh stand divided over the state high court order on police action against students of Osmania University protesting for a separate Telangana state.A day after two legislators from the Andhra region took exception to the court reprimanding the government and police and making certain observations about the state governor, a legislator from Telangana Friday criticised the raising of the issue in the assembly.Shankar Rao, who represents one of the assembly constituencies in Hyderabad, told the house during zero hour that the action of the legislators was not proper and this had hurt the sentiments of the Telangana people.Deputy Speaker N. Manohar stopped the member from speaking further and pointed out that Speaker N. Kirankumar Reddy has already reserved his ruling over the issue
Two Congress legislators, Malladi Vishnu and Mahidhar Reddy, had Thursday raised the issue in the house. They said the court’s remarks against the governor, government and police could send a wrong message to people.

Leader of opposition and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N. Chandrababu Naidu took exception to the members raising the court directive in the house.
While ordering the government to pull out paramilitary forces from the Osmania University campus earlier this week, the court had severely reprimanded police for beating up students, including girl students and mediapersons.Justice Narasimha Reddy pulled up the police saying it was lawless and even the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues were helpless. It lambasted police chief Girish Kumar for not respecting his order. The judge also remarked this was happening despite the fact that a renowned former police officer was the governor of the state. He was referring to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, former director of the intelligence bureau.The division bench of the high court Tuesday dismissed the government’s petition challenging the Justice Narasimha Reddy’s order to remove the paramilitary force from the campus.The single judge bench had again pulled up police Thursday and asked the government why the probe into the incidents not handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).Though the government had pulled out paramilitary forces from the campus, it filed an appeal in the Supreme Court, seeking a stay on the high court. The Supreme Court bench headed by Chief Justice K.G. Balakrishnan, while posting the hearing to Friday, asked the state who permitted the deployment of paramilitary forces on campus. He remarked it was not a good sign,  (thanks to way2online)
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Secretary Urban Development reviews JNNURM Projects

(PIB NEWS) A meeting to review the progress of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) was called by ministry of Urban Development, here today, Presiding over the meeting Dr. M. Ramachandran , Secretary, Urban Development stated that second and final instalment of the ongoing projects under Urban Infrastructure Development Scheme for Small and Medium Towns (UIDSSMT) will not be released if the Reforms committed are not completed as per the timelines. So far 520 projects under Urban Infrastructure Governance (UIG) Sub Mission – I of JNNURM have been approved at a total cost of Rs. 58041.79 crores. Under UIDSSMT 753 projects have been approved at a cost of Rs. 12234 crores. Out of which 102 projects have been completed and 84 more projects will be completed by the end of March, 2010. So far, the overall progress made in implementation of the Reforms under JNNURM at State and ULB level, is more than 50% of the Reforms committed till the fourth year. States of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have shown good progress. Representatives from the State Governments of Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Punjab and Madhya Pradesh participated in the discussion.
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US envoy extends ‘hand of friendship’ to Indian Muslims

Wearing a black business suit and a pearl necklace sparkling in the dimly lit lawns of the India Islamic Cultural Centre here, Farah Pandith, the US Special Representative for Muslims, bowed her head low and listened with rapt attention as a cleric recited a verse from the Quran.The verse was about Allah’s command asking people on the earth to be just with each other and Pandith, a Kashmiri-born American diplomat, seized the opportunity trying to convince Indian Muslims that the US was a friend.The 42-year-old envoy, on her four-day visit to India, Wednesday evening seemed to connect with her audience well as she began her short speech with the traditional Muslim greeting “Salaam Alykum,” or “peace be upon you”, of course in a heavy American accent.Pandith highlighted President Barack Obama’s “vision to build partnerships with Muslim communities across the globe on the basis of mutual interest and mutual respect”.“I repeat that it is based on mutual interest and respect and I extend my hand of friendship and partnership with you,” she said, addressing an invited gathering of mostly Muslims.Pandith assumed the coveted post in June last year, days after Obama’s bold overture to the Islamic world in his historic Cairo speech on June 3, 2009. The president in his speech had expressed sympathy for the Palestinians and called for Americans and Muslims to abandon their mutual suspicions and do more to confront violent extremism.Pandith is not the only Muslim in the Obama administration. The president recently appointed Rashad Hussain, a deputy White House counsel, to be the special envoy to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, an intergovernmental group with 57 member states that calls itself the collective voice of Muslims. Hussain is a Quran expert who has memorised the holy book in his early age.Eboo Patel, an Indian-American Muslim from Chicago, is also in the White House on Obama’s advisory council for faith.Pandith said the US was focussing on the Muslims because they formed one-fourth of the world population “Our country wants to build partnership with the Muslims. Secretary (Hillary) Clinton asked me to work with the Muslim community as much as we can.”And the key focus, she asserted, would be young generation. Her endeavour was to reach out to the grass roots of Muslims “in the countries where Muslims are either in majority or minority”, she stated.Pandith was on a her first official visit to India after she was appointed as the Muslim envoy June 23, 2009, by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.“And since then (her swearing in on Sep 15 last year), I have been travelling all around the planet to befriend Muslims for a common good,” Pandith said, adding: “We are doing this in a wide range of initiatives in fields like science, technology, education and health.”She said the relationship with Muslims would have to move from government-to-government level to “people-to-people contact”.“We are engaging young Muslim generation in dialogues and conversations to build trust and remove misunderstandings,” she said.Pandith had to confront some harsh questions from other speakers about the United States’ Afghanistan, Iraq and Middle East policies. She listened to them, smiled and shook her head while they were speaking, but diplomatically avoided answering them directly and repeatedly said that America wanted to develop “an intellectual partnership with Muslim masses”. (thanks to way2online)============================================================

High Court pulls up police for Osmania University incidents

The Andhra Pradesh High Court Thursday once again pulled up state police for using force against students and journalists on the Osmania University campus last week and asked them why the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should not be asked to probe the campus violence.

The court took serious note of the police baton charge and firing of teargas shells. Justice Narasimha Reddy sought reply to many questions from Joint Commissioner of Police P.S.R. Anjaneyulu, who appeared before him on his directions.Reprimanding the officer for his handling of the situation, the judge wanted to know why the police had to resort to indiscriminate baton charge on students. He was also asked why girl students and journalists were beaten up brutally and what was he doing when his men were damaging vehicles of mediapersons. The police admitted that they set afire the vehicles of media persons.Advocate General D.V. Sitarama Murthy informed the court that a detailed report on the incidents of Sunday evening and Monday morning on the campus would be submitted on March 1. Following his submission, the court adjourned the hearing of the case.The judge also wanted to know from the joint commissioner of police how many policemen were deployed on the campus and who passed the orders for their deployment.Scores of students and media persons were injured when police baton charged them on the campus during students’ protests over the demand for statehood to Telangana.Dealing with a petition of a Telugu TV channel journalist who was injured in the police action, the judge Tuesday ordered the government to pull out all paramilitary forces, including Rapid Action Force (RAF), from the campus.The government, however, went for an appeal against his order before a division bench, which dismissed it the next day.All paramilitary forces have been removed from Osmania University, the nerve centre of ongoing Telangana agitation.The same judge earlier remarked that the police were lawless and even the chief minister and his cabinet colleagues were helpless in controlling the actions of the state policemen.Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the police is already probing the incidents. The State human rights commission is also conducting an inquiry, (thanks,way2online)
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Talk to opposition first, then to Pakistan: Modi

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi Thursday asked the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government to first talk to the opposition on national security issues and then to Pakistan.

Intervening on the national security resolution presented by Arun Jaitley, Modi said: “The UPA government is saying that since we are a mature democracy, we are ready to initiate talks with Pakistan. But I am saying, the UPA is very keen to talk with Pakistan but has no time to talk with the main opposition (party).“I demand that the central government first talk to us and then move forward for talks with Pakistan.Modi’s comments came a week before foreign secretaries of India and Pakistan meet in New Delhi. India had earlier insisted that it would not talk to Pakistan until the latter stopped supporting anti-India militant groups. The BJP is opposed to any dialogue with Pakistan.
Modi alleged that the Congress-led government was not serious about battling terror. He asked the government not to treat terrorism casually.
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Jyotiraditya Scindia meets Israel President – discusses possibilities of developing further cooperation

(PIB NEWS) Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Minister of State for Commerce & Industry presently on a two day (16-18 February) visit to Israel, called on President Shimon Peres and discussed various aspects of India-Israel bilateral cooperation. Shri Scindia stated that the proposed free trade agreement between India and Israel is expected to give a major boost to trade and economic cooperation. Shri Scindia also discussed possibilities of developing further cooperation in high tech areas including IT, Bio-technology, and Nano technology to take advantage of mutual core competencies. The two sides also exchanged views on the global challenge posed by terrorism and ongoing cooperation between the two countries in the area of homeland security. Both the leaders agreed to emphasise on cooperation in the application of science & technology particularly in areas related to agriculture and water management. Later, Shri Scindia met Israeli Minister of Industry, Trade & Labour Mr. Benjamin Ben-Eliezer. The Minister underlined the fact that R&D constitutes a fundamental basis for core competence in multiple industrial areas for both countries. Shri Scindia proposed that a practical step to enhance high tech cooperation would be to set up a Government to Government joint technology incubator initiative in India with representation from both sides including the private sector. He also met leading Israeli industrialists to discuss promotion of trade and commerce between the two countries and delivered a Keynote Address on “Indian Economy in the Next Decade – an Engine for Growth” at a seminar jointly organised by the Israeli Export and International Cooperation Institute and the Embassy of India.The bilateral trade figure for the last fiscal (2008-09) was US $ 3.55 billion with exports from India amounting to US $ 1.5 and imports to India amounting to US$ 2.09 billion. Bilateral trade increased at a compound annual growth rate of 15 percent over the last five years.
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PAWAR-RELEASING "ICAR PUBLICATIONS" BOOK

The Union Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution and Agriculture, Shri Sharad Pawar releasing the book “ICAR Publications” at the inauguration of the Vice Chancellors’ Conference of Agricultural Universities, in New Delhi on February 17, 2010. The Minister of State of Agriculture, Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution, Professor K.V. Thomas is also seen.  (Photo by PIB No:CNR-30468) ======================================================

Instructions issued for strict adherence to revised procedure for grant of Conference Visa

(PIB NEWS) The Ministry of Home Affairs has recently issued instructions to all Central Ministries / Departments and Chief Secretaries of all State Governments/UTs advising them to strictly adhere to the revised procedure for grant of Conference Visa to foreign participants coming to India for attending international conferences, seminars, workshops etc. The detailed guidelines in this regard were earlier put in place on 15th July, 2009. These instructions have been issued so as to ensure that all organizers of such international events strictly adhere to the time line for submitting their proposals to this Ministry at least six weeks before the commencement of the event. This would ensure that security clearance for the event and for the participants could be suitably assessed. The issuance of these instructions had also become necessary because security vetting is a time-consuming process and most of the organizers of international events were not strictly adhering to the time schedules prescribed. 2. As per the revised procedure, while the Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division) grants in-principle approval for holding the event, security clearance for grant of Conference Visa is required from this Ministry only in respect of participants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Sudan and in respect of foreigners of Pak origin and Stateless persons. The participants from other countries can obtain Conference Visa from the Indian Mission concerned on production of (i) invitation letter from the organizer, (ii) event clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, (iii) administrative approval of the nodal Ministry, (iv) political clearance from the Ministry of External Affairs and (v) clearance from the State Government/UT concerned
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OBAMA calls PM and condemns Pune blast

(PIB NEWS) US President Barack Obama called the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh earlier this morning to condemn the blast that took place in Pune on Saturday and to condole the loss of lives. In a brief conversation, the two leaders took the opportunity to review developments in Indo-US relations.

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