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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Paternity suit: Court orders Tiwari's reply in 4 weeks

New Delhi, April 7: Former Andhra Pradesh governor N D Tiwari was Wednesday directed by the Delhi High Court to file his response in a paternity suit against him within four weeks.The court of Justice J.R.Midha asked Tiwari, 86, to file a written reply in the suit filed by 34-year-old Rohit Shekhar within four weeks, failing which he will have to appear before the court personally. The veteran politician, who was also the chief minister of Uttaranchal, has been asked to respond to the photographs submitted by Shekhar, showing both of them together on different occasions, and also on Shekhar's plea for a DNA test. The court, while allowing an application by Tiwari seeking more time, said that this would be the last chance for him and if Tiwari failed to furnish the reply in the stipulated time, he will have to come personally on May 20, the next date of hearing. The court had on March 17 dismissed Tiwari's plea challenging the paternity suit and said that it may consider ordering a DNA test if the issue of maintainability was raised by him. Shekhar has claimed that Tiwari began neglecting him and his mother Ujjawala Sharma after 1995 and refused to meet him after becoming the Uttaranchal chief minister. He now wants a DNA test to confirm his biological father.  Tiwari's five-decade-old political career came to a virtual end after a news channel last year showed clippings of an elderly man purported to be Tiwari in bed with three young women. A few days later, Tiwari resigned as the Andhra Pradesh governor citing health grounds.
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Day after deadly Maoist ambush, troopers scared to enter forest

A day after 76 troopers were massacred in the worst ever Maoist attack, hundreds of para-military men and state police personnel assigned to track down the killers are scared to enter the jungles of Chhattisgarh Wednesday fearing a repeat of the ‘bloody Tuesday’ incident.The shell-shocked police incumbent here have ordered nearly 40,000 policemen deployed in the restive Bastar region to retaliate.But officials posted in the interiors of the region say: “The Tuesday attack has rattled the entire police force engaged in the anti-Maoist operation and they are now reluctant to enter the landmine protected jungle terrain”.“It’s easy for everyone to dictate to us from New Delhi and Raipur sitting in air-conditioned chambers, but here the situation is completely hostile because Maoists rule the roost in jungles. The forces in Bastar now need urgent motivation,” a police officer based in Dantewada said on phone.Police officers posted in the sprawling 40,000 sq km Bastar terrain made up of five districts — Bijapur, Narayanpur, Bastar, Kanker and Dantewada where the Maoists staged a bloodbath in the Chintalnar hilly area say — “policemen are suffering high casualties because of an absolute lack of co-ordination between state forces and para-military men who are put in difficult terrains in Chhattisgarh”.“Despite all efforts at the police headquarters and at the state government level, the CRPF is not taking local police and special police officers (SPOs) along while entering the Maoists’ den and are thus getting killed without a fight,” noted a senior official here.He remarked that CRPF men are all outsiders and know nothing about the difficult jungle terrain. They were reminded several times by officers at the police headquarters to take along at least the SPOs who are locals but the CRPF men neither followed this suggestion nor did they stick to the 48-point guerrilla warfare manuals.
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There is no ‘Operation Green Hunt’: Chidambaram

Home Minister P.Chidambaram Wednesday insisted that there was no “Operation Green Hunt” against Maoists — as has been widely reported.“There is no Operation Green Hunt,” Chidambaram told reporters here. Chhattisgarh police officials say they had coined the term for one successful drive against the Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist) in the state.But former Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) director general A.S.Gill said it was wrong to call the current campaign against the Maoists by the same name.“It is a media creation and continues till date,” Gill said.Chidambaram’s clarification came a day after Maoist guerrillas massacred 76 security personnel in Chhattisgarh Tuesday in the worst attack since the Maoist movement erupted over four decades ago.
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Armed forces not trained to combat Maoists: air chief

Indian Air Force chief Air Marshal P.V. Naik Wednesday said he did not favour using armed forces in operations against Maoist insurgents.“All the armed forces – air force, army and the navy – are trained for lethal operations. We are not trained for limited lethality. Use of the air force in such situations like Naxals… I am not in favour. But it is a state prerogative,” Naik said during the inauguration of Commenders Conference here.“At present we must leave it to paramilitary forces as they have trained manpower and intelligence,” he added, a day after the massacre of 76 Central Reserve Police Force personnel in Chhattisgarh Tuesday.
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Curfew to be relaxed for 12 hrs tomorrow; situation peaceful

Hyderabad, Apr 7: Giving relief to the people of old city falling under various zones affected by communal violence, the authorities have decided to relax day curfew from dawn to dusk tomorrow as no incidents of violence were reported during the 12-hour-long relaxation period today.Police decided to relax indefinite curfew clamped in Hyderabad since March 27 for 12 hours from 0600 hrs to 1800 hrs tomorrow in 25 police station limits, as there was 'tremendous improvement' in the situation in the city and in view of essential needs of people, according to City Police Commissioner A.K.Khan.Normalcy is returning to the area after posting nearly 30 companies of paramilitary forces, besides state police personnel, including the elite OCTOPUS personnel who were closely monitoring the situation round-the-clock to maintain law and order. The situation was peaceful and fully under control and no untoward incidents were reported during the 12-hour curfew relaxtion period today. ''If the present situation continues, curfew could be lifted fully in a couple of days,'' he added.People came out from their houses for purchasing essential commodities. As a precautionary measure, prohibitory orders were promulgated in the entire city. The situation was ''peaceful and fully under control,'' the sources said, adding no untoward incidents were reported during the curfew relaxation period.
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Andhra Pradesh to bring umbrella legislation to regulate money lending

Hyderabad, Apr 7: The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet today approved a Bill to bring under one umbrella all State Acts for effective regulation of money lending as suggested by Reserve Bank of India and curb high lending rates charged by unscruplous private money lenders.The Cabinet Meeting, chaired by Chief Minister K Rosaiah, at the Secretariat this evening, gave its nod for the Andhra Pradesh Money Lenders and Accredited Loan Providers Act, 2010 on the lines of the model bill suggested by the RBI.The Bill envisaged to bring under public officers all money lenders in an area and make them maintain books of accounts.Any loan in respect of which money lender or accredited loan provider had realised from debtor an amount equal to or more than twice the amount of principal should stand discharged and the amount, if any, so realized should be refunded, an official note here tonight said---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fear of arrest forced Shoaib Malik to compromise?

Hyderabad, April 7: Did the fear of imminent arrest force Pakistani cricket star Shoaib Malik to do a volte-face and compromise with his alleged first wife Ayesha Siddiqui by sending divorce papers to her?This question is doing the rounds after Shoaib, who is scheduled to marry Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza here April 15, signed the divorce papers and sent the same to Ayesha Siddiqui Wednesday after the latter agreed to withdraw the police case against him. Ayesha, during her statement to police Tuesday, was believed to have given clinching evidence against Shoaib. According to sources close to her family, it included medical evidence that Ayesha had become pregnant after the marriage and even had a miscarriage. They claimed that this would nail Shoaib. The woman had also submitted 'nikahnama' which carried the signature of Shoaib, details of his visit to Hyderabad after their wedding in 2002, the places where they stayed and the persons they met in Hyderabad. Notwithstanding his spirited defence, Shoaib was worried after police grilled him Monday following a criminal case booked against him on the basis of complaint by Ayesha and seizure of his passport. He was charged with cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation. While community elders claim to have worked out the compromise in the larger interest of the relations between Indian and Pakistan and the community, sources said the solution was arrived at after Sania Mirza's family made hectic efforts fearing Shoaib's arrest. Sania's family was worried that Shoaib's arrest, legal tangle and the continuing adverse media publicity could force the postponement of the marriage. They roped in some key Muslim political and religious leaders who contacted Ayesha's family to find a way out, sources said. With only a week to go for the marriage, Sania's parents also convinced Shoaib to agree for a compromise and sign divorce papers without bothering whether the girl is Ayesha or Maha. Shoaib was given to believe that he was giving a divorce to the girl he married over phone and not to the girl whose pictures were shown over television channels. Shoaib had maintained that he signed the 'nikahnama' for marrying the girl whose photographs were sent to him. He had declined to give divorce saying he knew her as Maha Apa or elder sister of Ayesha. The Siddiqui family claimed that Maha is another name of Ayesha.
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All clear for Shoaib-Sania wedding, Ayesha gets divorce

Hyderabad, April 7 : La' affaire Sania-Shoaib-Ayesha ended abruptly Wednesday with the Pakistani cricketer sending divorce papers to Ayesha Siddiqui, who in turn agreed to withdraw the criminal complaint of cheating against him.Shoaib Malik, who is set to wed Indian tennis ace Sania Mirza on April 15, had denied Hyderabad girl Ayesha's claims that he had married her. He had admitted to a telephone wedding but said he had been shown the photograph of another woman. After days of mudslinging, a compromise was reached with the intervention of elders of the Muslim community and representatives from the three families. "Shoaib Malik has sent divorce papers to Ayesha Siddiqui," Shams Babar, a family friend of the Siddiquis, told "My daughter is relieved and she is very happy. Justice has been done," Ayesha's mother Farisa Siddiqui told reporters, adding that her daughter would now withdraw the case. She said the compromise was reached without any compensation. Shoaib paid Rs.15,000 as monthly maintenance for three months as per Islamic law. The surprising development comes two days after Ayesha filed a complaint with the police accusing Shoaib of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation. Shoaib, who married Ayesha over phone in 2002, was questioned by police on Monday and his passport seized for investigations. Abid Rasool Khan, general secretary of the Andhra Pradesh Congress and a friend of both families, told reporters that Shoaib sent the divorce papers after advice by community elders. He said efforts for a compromise were being made for last few days as the community was getting a bad name due to the allegations between the two sides.
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PRESIDENT OF INDIA presenting padma shree award,

The President, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil presenting the Padma Shri Award to Ms. Rekha Ganeshan, & Saif Ali Khan Patodi at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II, at Rashtrapati Bhavan,   (Photo by PIB No.CNR-31137)
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India and U.S. Launched Historic Partnership to guide Economic Cooperation

Finance Minister Shri Pranab Mukherjee and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy F. Geithner launched the India-U.S. Financial and Economic Partnership to strengthen bilateral engagement and understanding on macroeconomic, financial sector and infrastructure-related issues, here today. The Partnership’s launch affirmed the commitment of India and U.S. to cooperate on economic and financial issues - both critical in addressing shared challenges and achieving shared goals in this century. “India and the United States are bound by common values of “democracy, market economies and pluralism”, I am confident that this Partnership launch will unleash the energy and enterprise of people. It will make the relationship between two nations more vibrant and also help address global challenges”, stated the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee. “This Partnership creates a framework that is commensurate with the growing importance of our economic relationship and the significant business and cultural ties that already exist between our two nations. Deepening our ties with India is critical to the broader global effort to develop a framework for a strong, sustainable and balanced growth and will facilitate more trade, investment and job creation in our two countries”, said Secretary Geithner. The newly-launched dialogue will encompass discussions of economic developments in both countries as well as bilateral policy actions in the broader context of the G-20 commitment to strong, sustainable and balanced growth. The ministers agreed that they, and their senior officials, will continue to consult closely on topics of mutual interest and concern. Given the significant infrastructure needs in the years ahead, the Partnership will also serve as a forum to share experiences and engage in a robust and ongoing dialogue on infrastructure financing, including the potential of private-public partnerships to unlock private sector financing for critical investment. The Partnership will meet next at the Cabinet level in the United States, led by Secretary Geithner and Minister Mukherjee. Working group meetings, at the level of senior officials and experts, will be held during the year to advance discussions on specific economic policy areas. At the inaugural Partnership session, working group discussions focused on macroeconomic policies needed to sustain growth in incomes and jobs; measures to reform financial regulation, deepen capital markets as a means to improve growth and increasing financing for infrastructure investment critical to future productivity and economic growth. Following is the Joint Statement issued by the Finance Minister Shri Mukherjee and Secretary Geithner at the launch of India - U.S. Financial and Economic Partnership: “Today, Indian Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Timothy Geithner launched the India - U.S. Financial and Economic Partnership, cementing the economic bonds between our two nations, and building a foundation for greater cooperation and economic growth in the future. The ability and commitment of the U.S. and India to cooperate on Financial and Economic issues are important to the economic success of both nations, and the world, and will assist in addressing shared challenges and achieving shared goals in this century. The Partnership between the Ministry of Finance, Government of India, and the U.S. Department of the Treasury intends to focus on three broad areas – macroeconomic policy, financial sector reforms, and infrastructure financing – and expects to meet at the Cabinet level once a year, alternating between the United States and India, led by Secretary Geithner and Minister Mukherjee. Working group and sub-cabinet level meetings are to be held during the year to advance discussions on specific economic policy areas. Economic growth and stability are at the core of our engagement. India and the United States have a mutual interest in a strong recovery from the financial crisis and preventing the recurrence of similar crises in the future. Our dialogue is designed to encompass discussions of economic challenges in our two countries, as well as in the broader context of the G-20 commitment to strong, sustainable, and balanced growth. Our expanded partnership will build on our existing dialogue on regulatory issues, and serve as a vehicle to discuss strategies to promote in both countries financial sector reforms, deepen capital markets, including more liquid debt markets, and increase financing for investments. India and the United States have significant infrastructure needs. We aim to share experiences and intend a robust and ongoing dialogue on the potential for private-public partnerships to unlock financing for critical infrastructure investment.”
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Popular support leading to Maoist attacks on security forces?

Hyderabad, April 6 : Security forces in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa are coming under more attack from Maoists because the rebels enjoy considerable support among people especially tribals, feel some former police officials in Andhra Pradesh.These officers blame the lack of development in remote tribal areas and lack of coordination between police and paramilitary forces for the rising number of attacks. According to a former police chief, both intelligence failure as well as lack of coordination between local authorities and paramilitary forces were responsible for Tuesday's massacre of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel in Chhattisgarh. Former director general of police P. Ramulu said local police officials should have accompanied the CRPF men in the dense forests where they had gone looking for Maoists. "During such operations local officials should accompany the paramilitary forces to guide them and give suggestions as the forces may not be fully well-versed with local conditions and topography," Ramulu said. He felt that in states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand and Orissa the police and security forces were coming under repeated attacks as the Maoists had considerable support among people, especially tribals. Another former police official said Andhra Pradesh could succeed in tackling the Maoist threat as it not only used the forces, especially the anti-Maoist Greyhounds, effectively but also took up series of welfare schemes which resulted in the Maoists losing people's support. Ramulu, who is also a leader of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), underlines the need to take up development works in forest areas in states like Chhattisgarh. Pointing out that there was a feeling among tribals that governments were depriving them of their rights by allotting natural resources to multinational companies, he called upon the governments in those states to take steps to address this issue. The former police chief also found fault with the policy of the central government in dealing with Maoists. He wanted a uniform policy for the entire country. "Different policies in different states are leading to this kind of incidents," he said and called for a single command for the Operation Greenhunt in various states for better results. Andhra Pradesh, a traditional stronghold of Maoists, effectively put down the threat in the last four years by eliminating over 300 guerrillas including top leaders.
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Police grill Shoaib on Ayesha marriage, seize passport

Hyderabad/New Delhi, April 5 : Pakistani cricketer Shoaib Malik, who is to marry Indian tennis star Sania Mirza, was Monday grilled by police here and his passport was seized on a complaint of cheating filed by a Hyderabad resident who claims to be his first wife.Police quizzed Shoaib for nearly two hours at Sania Mirza's home and seized his passport for investigations a day after booking a case of cheating, harassment and criminal intimidation against him on complaint of Ayesha Siddiqui. The Central Crime Station (CCS) of police launched the probe by questioning Shoaib, recording statement of Ayesha and identifying 10 to 15 witnesses. Police, who have alerted immigration authorities not to allow Shoaib to fly out of the country, also conveyed the details of the case to the central government while the cricketer claimed that the Pakistani high commissioner in New Delhi spoke to him over phone and assured all possible legal assistance. Police Commissioner A.K. Khan told reporters Monday evening, "If it becomes necessary to arrest somebody we will arrest. But it will be based on how the case evolves and what sort of evidences we come across." Accompanied by Sania Mirza, Shoaib, former captain of Pakistan cricket team, spoke to media persons outside her residence here and both declared they would marry here April 15 as scheduled. "I am here for my marriage and to clear my name. I will, Inshallah, clear my name and am cooperating with the police and the Indian government. I will do everything," Shoaib told reporters here. Facing a volley of questions, the Pakistani batsman maintained that he had done nothing wrong and hence there was no question of his apologising to anybody. He also challenged Ayesha to come before the media, adding the world would know the truth once she comes out of the house. "I have never met the girl whose photographs were sent to me. I don't know who is Ayesha. I used to call her (the girl who is claiming to be his first wife) Maha Apa, and 'Apa' means elder sister," Shoaib said. "I am here, why doesn't she come before the camera. And I will answer all the questions." "Nobody can touch me till charges against me are proved," he said when asked if he feared arrest. A tense-looking Sania said she was upset over the allegations but claimed she knew the truth. "Our marriage will, Inshallah, take place on April 15. There is no question of postponing it," she said. To questions by reporters that Ayesha alleged she had got pregnant after her "marriage" with him and had a "miscarriage", Shoaib said: "Let her first prove it, and then let's probe it." In New Delhi, Shoaib's lawyer Ramesh Gupta said Malik had told him not to file for anticipatory bail since he was cooperating with the Hyderabad police.
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Government Advises Caution to workers Seeking jobs in Malaysia

(PIB NEWS) It has come to the notice of the government that a large number of workers misguided by some unscrupulous Indian as well as Malaysian Recruiting Agents (RAs) are emigrating to Malaysia without proper documentation about their employment, foreign employer and employment contract etc. As a result such Indian workers become vulnerable to exploitation by their employers in Malaysia and often get stranded in Malaysia without work and then lodge complaints in the Indian High Commission at Kuala Lumpur. Indian High Commission at Kuala Lumpur has formulated guidelines for Indian workers who want to take up legal employment in Malaysia. The Indian workers intending to seek legal employment in Malaysia should get themselves familiarized with the laws and working conditions in Malaysia. These guidelines are available on the website www.mohr.gov.my. The Indian workers planning to take up legal employment in Malaysia, should take the following steps, on arrival in Malaysia: (i) Obtain a resident permit or identity card and a labour card immediately, (ii) Keep their passports in safe custody and not part with their travel document, (i.e., passport) and employment contract signed by them in India,(iii) At least, a copy of the passport should always be carried by them at all times, (iv) They should not sign another employment contract or any blank paper during his/her stay in Malaysia,
(v) In case of loss of passport or copy of the employment contract, a report may be lodged with the Indian High Commission immediately,
(vi) They should get themselves apprised about the working conditions in Malaysia,(vii) They should note that strike by workers in Malaysia is an illegal act under Malaysian Law.
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PM-paying at samadhi babu jagjivan ram,

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh paying floral tributes at the Samadhi of Babu Jagjivan Ram on his 103rd Birth Anniversary, at Samta Sthal, in Delhi on April 05, 2010.    (Photo by PIB No:CNR-31092)
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Achievements of Maulana Azad Education Foundation during 2009-10

(PIB NEWS) Maulana Azad Education Foundation (MAEF), functioning under the aegis of the Ministry of Minority Affairs, provided scholarships to 15,070 meritorious girl students belonging to Minority communities during 2009-10. Under this scheme it spent an amount of Rs. 18.08 crore. Under the Grants-in-aid to NGOs, MAEF sanctioned Rs. 13.37 crore to 105 NGOs during the last fiscal ending on 31st March 2010. MAEF, established in 1989, is a voluntary, non-political, non-profit making Society registered under the Societies Registration Act. Union Minister for Minority Affairs is the ex-officio President of the Foundation.The schemes of the MAEF are mainly of two types, viz.; Grants-in-aid to NGOs for construction and expansion of schools/hostels, technical/vocational training centres with emphasis on girl students; and Scholarships to Meritorious Girl Students from the Minorities.
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Andhra Pradesh CM calls for strengthening Indo-Australian ties

Hyderabad, Apr 5: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today underlined the need to strengthen the Indo-Australian ties in different spheres.He also stressed the need to clear the air about the safety of Indian students in Australia in view of the recent attacks on them, at an interaction with an Australian delegation sponsored by Mr DSN Murthy, Managing Director and CEO, Dhanush Infotech, a release from the Chief Minister's office said.The team has been touring India to build better bilateral relationship in areas such as education, business, trade, culture, sports etc. The delegation was led by Mr Rajendra Nimje, former IAS officer who had worked as Secretary of Higher Education in Andhra Pradesh government. He said bilateral delegations and discussions would help improve the ties. Dr Rosaiah was speaking to the Australian delegation which met him today.The Chief Minister said both Hyderabad and Australian cities could cooperate in areas like IT, BT, Infrastructure, Agriculture, Mining, Irrigation, and Water Resources. Both sides agreed to pursue next level of consultation in these areas by sending an Andhra Pradesh Business Delegation to Australia.A proposal has been put forth to establish a Sister City relationship between Hyderabad and two Australian cities of Brisbane and Ipswich which share great commonalities and are planning to enhance cooperation and business ties. (photo by etemaad)
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