LUDHIANA: Apparently wooing the Left for support, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said all secular parties had an obligation to provide a "purposeful, secular" government at the centre and prevent the NDA from coming to power at "all cost".
He said allies of the UPA, which were "unhappy", could be mollified but ruled out support to any government led by the Left parties arguing that they would not get more seats than the Congress.
"I always believe that all secular forces have an obligation to work together to give the country a purposeful, secular government," Singh told a press conference when asked specifically about whether he would appeal to the Left to again support a UPA government.
To a question whether the Indo-US civil nuclear deal could be a sticky issue on forging ties with the Left, he said, "I think it is not an issue now. It has been signed, sealed and operationalised. It cannot be an issue for dialogue.
"There is a wider purpose to give the country a purposeful, secular government for which all secular forces should vote together," he said.
On the NDA rally here yesterday, Singh said "you heard (Gujarat Chief Minister) Narendra Modi's tone at the NDA rally yesterday. It indicates the kind of government they want to have. This must be avoided at all cost".
“I am doubtful of Nitish’s secular credentials”
With Nitish Kumar rebuffing UPA attempts to woo him, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday attacked the Bihar Chief Minister saying his secular credentials were in "doubt" after he shook hands with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi.
"There is no doubt that Nitish Kumar professes to be a secular leader. But yesterday after seeing him shake hands with Modi, a doubt did arise in my mind," Singh said at a press conference, winding up his election campaign in the country.
He was replying to a question whether he considered Kumar to be communal or secular.
Singh also slammed Kumar for claiming that the Centre had not given the money promised as compensation to victims for last year's Kosi floods in Bihar.
"Whatever Nitish has said is absolutely false...The fault of not spending the money is with the state government and not with the Centre," said the Prime Minister while underlining that he had himself visited the affected areas to oversee relief process.
Kumar had yesterday alleged that the Centre had promised Rs 1,100 crore for Kosi victims but did not give anything.
“1984 riots cannot be kept alive for ever”
Describing 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a "painful" episode, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the issue cannot be kept alive for ever and some people were raking it up for their vested interests.
He also disapproved of some of his partymen seeking votes in Punjab in the name of a "Sikh Prime Minister", saying religion should not be mixed with politics and that he was an Indian first.
To a question of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Singh said at a press conference that it was a "painful episode. But it cannot be kept alive for ever."
After the UPA government came to power in 2004, he said, it had reviewed the cases and enhanced compensation for the victims.
"Par kuch log apni dukan chamkane ke liye is kisse ko hamesha ke liye zinda rakhna chahte hei. Is se na to desh ko koi faida hei na Sikh community ko (Some people want to keep this issue alive for their vested interests. It is not going to help either the country or the Sikh community)," he said.
On his party seeking votes in Punjab in the name of a "Sikh Prime Minister", Singh said, "I sincerely believe that religion should not be brought into political matters. I have not authorised anybody to use my name. I am an Indian first.
"I am Prime Minister of India and I represent all sections of the Indian people. Therefore, I do not think in terms of Siks and non Sikhs," he said.
“Certain procedure has to be followed on Afzal's hanging”
Rejecting main opposition BJP's charge of delay in hanging Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said a certain procedure has to be followed.
"There is a set of procedure laid down. That procedure has to be completed," he said replying to questions at a press conference here at the end of country-wide campaign for the Lok Sabha elections.
"How long the procedure would take, it is not for me to say," Singh said.
The Prime Minister said the law of the land will have to be allowed to function.
To another question, he said "terrorism is a menace that must be dealt with firmly".
He, however, said that while doing so, any particular community should not be targeted.
26/11 trial: Witness identifies AK-47 rifle used by Kasab
Mumbai:The first witness in the Mumbai terror attack case on Monday identified the AK-47 rifle that was used by Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab, the lone surviving terrorist, on November 26, 2008.
Police Sub-Inspector Bhaskar Kadam had seen Kasab firing from a AK-47 rifle at Assistant Sub-Inspector Tukaram Omble, who fell to the bullets.
Kadam also identified two pistols, made from a company named Nedi Frontier Arms based in Pakistan.
Besides, Kadam also identified Abu Ismail's clothes. Ismail was with Kasab on the day of the terror attack.
All these evidences were produced in the special court here today.
Earlier, the court had charged Kasab with waging war against India.
Eight-six charges, including common and individual were framed against Kasab by the special court. He was also charged under the Explosives Act and the Arms Act.
Kasab pleaded not guilty to the charges framed against him by the special court.
"I do not accept the charges," he said.
Charges were also framed against him under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, the Custom Act, the Foreigners Act, the Prevention of Damage to Public Properties Act, conspiracy, murder, attempt to murder and causing grievous injury.
TWO EYEWITNESSES TO DEPOSE IN KASAB CASE ON TUESDAY
The prosecution will examine two eyewitnesses in Mumbai terror attack case on Tuesday to throw light on how accused Mohammed Ajmal Amir Kasab was captured alive while his partner Abu Ismail was shot dead in a police encounter at Girgaum Chowpatty on November 26 last year.
The court on Monday issued summons to both the witnesses -- Hemant Boudhankar and Sanjay Govilkar -- both assistant police inspectors.
Advani's dream of becoming PM will remain dream: Lalu
Chandigarh:Claiming that he has joined hands with the LJP and the SP to stop "communal and divisive forces" from coming to power at the Centre, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad on Monday vowed to again scuttle the plans of L K Advani, who is "dreaming" to become the Prime Minister of the country.
"We had stopped L K Advani's Rath in Bihar earlier and this time too, his dream of becoming PM will remain a dream," Lalu said addressing a poll rally here in support of party candidate from Chandigarh Lok Sabha seat Hafiz Anwar-ul-Haq.
"Those people who sow seeds of hatred between brothers and communities can never become the Prime Minister of this country," he said making a scathing attack on BJP's Prime Ministerial candidate Advani.
Stating that his fight was against the BJP, RSS, Bajrang Dal and the Shiv Sena, Union Railway Minister alleged "these forces are out there to spread poison in our society and breed hatred among the communities.
"I will not allow these forces to gain strength till the last drop of my blood," he said.
Calling Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi "a murderer", the RJD chief said, "Narendra Modi is a murderer in Gujarat riots. ...Even the Supreme Court has ordered that the riots be probed by an independent investigating agency."
He lashed out at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for sharing dais with Modi at the NDA rally in Ludhiana on Sunday and said his "so called secular mask has been exposed."
"Look, how Nitish was seen hugging Modi and shaking hands with him. It was Nitish who had said that he will bowl out Lalu on zero in the elections, but now by joining hands with Modi, he himself has hit a sixer," Lalu charged.
Taliban funded by $800m gems, marbles trade
ISLAMABAD: A major chunk of the whopping USD 800 million of annual illegal trade in gems, timber and marbles may be sustaining the activities of Taliban in Pakistan's restive north-west, a media report said on Monday.
"It is not possible to put a definitive figure on how much the Taliban are making from their excursion into economic activity, but the government estimates that it is losing 65 billion rupees annually from the illegal timber trade and indiscriminate deforestation alone," The News said in its editorial 'Funding Terror' today.
Marble was their first target, starting in April 2008 when they took over the Ziarat marble quarry in Mohmand.
Around a million tons of marble a year are mined in FATA every year - and prior to the takeover the government had hoped to increase marble and granite exports to USD 500 million by 2013; a hope now not to be realised with the profit now going into other pockets.
The emerald mines of Swat were next. By late March of this year reports began to be confirmed that militants had taken control of government controlled emerald mines located in the mountains of Mingora. Swat is also0 rich in timber.
The occupation of the Mingora mine apparently took place sometime in February 2009, following the peace deal between the provincial administration and Sufi Muhammad. Taliban forces then seized the nearby Shamozai and Gujjar Killi mines and started mining and trading gems.
1984 riots cannot be kept alive for ever: PM
Ludhiana:Describing 1984 anti-Sikh riots as a "painful" episode, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Monday said the issue cannot be kept alive for ever and some people were raking it up for their vested interests. He also disapproved of some of his partymen seeking votes in Punjab in the name of a "Sikh Prime Minister", saying religion should not be mixed with politics and that he was an Indian first.
To a question of 1984 anti-Sikh riots, Singh said at a press conference that it was a "painful episode. But it cannot be kept alive for ever." After the UPA government came to power in 2004, he said, it had reviewed the cases and enhanced compensation for the victims.
"Par kuch log apni dukan chamkane ke liye is kisse ko hamesha ke liye zinda rakhna chahte hei. Is se na to desh ko koi faida hei na Sikh community ko (Some people want to keep this issue alive for their vested interests. It is not going to help either the country or the Sikh community)," he said.
On his party seeking votes in Punjab in the name of a "Sikh Prime Minister", Singh said, "I sincerely believe that religion should not be brought into political matters. I have not authorised anybody to use my name. I am an Indian first. "I am Prime Minister of India and I represent all sections of the Indian people. Therefore, I do not think in terms of Siks and non Sikhs," he said.
Indian Business News
Companies slashing jobs but hiring as well: Report
New York, May 11: Trying to adapt to changing market requirements amid recessionary conditions, corporate giants including Microsoft, IBM and Yahoo Inc are not only cutting jobs but are at the same hiring people in other business units, a media report says.
"As layoffs mount, many of the same employers also are hiring — in other business units, in other places, or for other skills," the Wall Street Journal said in a report published online.
Microsoft Corp, International Business Machines Corp, AT&T Inc, Yahoo Inc and Time Warner are among the companies slashing some jobs, while adding other workers, it added.
The report stated that the simultaneous hiring and firing highlighted the dynamism of the economy and how employers are trying to adapt to changing needs.
"It also offers hints on how the recession is changing the work force, with some employers placing more emphasis on worker skills," it added.
Aviation giant Boeing Co cut over 3,000 jobs in the first four months of 2009, most from its commercial-airplanes unit as airlines deferred orders but it added 106 employees in its defence arm and is looking for more people.
Last week, the US Labor Department stated employers had eliminated 5,39,000 jobs in April, slightly fewer than in preceding months.
According to the most figure available in February, the government estimated that employers hired roughly 4.4 million workers, while the total number of jobs shrank in that month because more people quit jobs or were let go.
Quoting an economics professor at University of California Lori Kletzer the WSJ report said," It's not just routine turnover. Quite often the people being laid off don't have the requisite set of skills or experience to move into the growth areas."
The report said some experts believe the churn also shows changes in workplace policies.
University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School director of the Center for Human Resources Peter Cappelli said in past decades many employers retrained and relocated underused workers but now they have discovered that restructuring can be faster by laying off and hiring.
Microsoft to fire 55 India employees
NEW DELHI: Software giant Microsoft will lay off about 55 employees in India, which is one per cent of its Indian staff, as slowdown hits the sector, affecting business and profitability.
The announcement on this is part of the Redmond-based company's decision in January this year to cut 5,000 jobs globally amid the ongoing slowdown.
The company would lay off 55 employees from its 5,500 people-strong Indian operations in a bid to realign its business in the country, Microsoft India spokesperson said.
When asked for details, the spokesperson declined to comment saying, "We are currently working with the concerned employees to evaluate alternative positions internally and where applicable look at mutually favourable disengagement terms."
"Due to a global realignment of our business priorities, about one per cent of the net rolls across India are likely to be impacted," the company said in a statement.
In the second round of job-cuts effected on May 5, the software major announced it would lay off 3,000 employees. In January, Microsoft had laid off 1,350-1,400 people, largely in the US.
"The company would continue to hire and create employment opportunities in line with the recovery and growth of the Indian economy and make strategic investments which are best suited to the current economic environment," the spokesperson said.
AIG sells Japan headquarters for $1.2 billion
CHARLOTTE, North Carolina: Embattled insurer American International Group Inc. said on Monday it is selling its Japanese headquarters to Nippon
Life Insurance Co. for $1.2 billion in cash.
The transaction, which would be among the biggest divestitures New York-based AIG has made to reimburse the US government for its massive infusion of aid, is expected to close in the second quarter.
The 35-year-old building is 15 stories and sits on prime real estate in central Tokyo, next to the Imperial Palace. The property consists of about one acre of land.
AIG's roots in Japan extend back to 1946, and the company is now the country's biggest foreign casualty insurer.
The US government provided AIG with an $85 billion loan in September. As market conditions worsened and losses piled up at the insurer, the government revised and expanded its loan package to AIG several times. The package of loans now totals nearly $180 billion after being expanded in March when New York-based AIG reported a fourth-quarter loss of $61.7 billion, the largest ever quarterly corporate loss in US history.
During the first quarter, AIG said it lost $4.35 billion, or $1.98 per share, compared with $7.81 billion, or $3.09 per share, during the same quarter last year.
As part of the loan package, the government has also taken a roughly 80 percent stake in the insurance giant.
Shares of AIG fell 7 cents, or 3.5%, to $1.94 in morning trading
Monday.
Indian Sports News
McCullum mum on quitting captaincy
Johannesburg:Kolkata Knight Riders' IPL semifinal hopes lay in tatters but skipper Brendon McCullum is mum on his decision to quit captaincy. "At the moment, all that I am focusing on is the next few games. Trying to do whatever I can, try as hard as I well possibly can to get something going," McCullum said after the team slumped to a seven-wicket defeat against the Delhi Daredevils here last night.
McCullum had earlier decided to step down from the captain's job if the team missed the semifinal berth but the Kiwi didn't give a straight answer when asked if he was going to quit any time soon. I know I mentioned that a couple of games ago and that is something that I have got to look at. I'll work out with the coaching staff next year, what the goal is.
"But whatever happens I will be totally committed to Kolkata Knight Riders and helping to get us get some results in the future that we all are immensely proud of," he said. Looking back at the team's wretched run in the tournament, McCullum felt it was a combination of bad luck and poor execution that did the side in.
"A bit of both. When things are going for you, you get the luck. Things obviously aren't going for us at the moment. And we are not getting the luck go our way," McCullum said. Asked to pinpoint reasons behind the team's spectacular slide, McCullum said, "It's hard to put your finger (on any one thing). We haven't played consistently well across the board during each game.
Deccan look to accelerate after Symonds falls
Kimberley: Deccan Chargers skipper Adam Gilchrist elected to bat against the Rajasthan Royals at the De Beers Diamond Oval on Monday.
After flopping thrice, opener Herschelle Gibbs has been kept out of the Deccan Chargers line-up. Dwayne Smith returned in place of the South African. Chaminda Vaas gets his first game of the second edition of the IPL as he replaced Ryan Harris.
The clash will see two former Australian team-mates, Gilchrist and Shane Warne, leading their respective sides.
After facing defeats in their last outings, both Rajasthan Royals and Deccan Chargers will be looking to recapture the winning momentum in game 40 of the second edition of the Indian Premier League.
Both teams will be fighting to stay among the top four of the IPL table with the tournament reaching the business end of the tournament.
Chargers, who started the tournament with four wins in their first four games, lost a thriller to Kings XI Punjab and are placed fourth with 10 points from 9 matches.
Defending champions Rajasthan faced their second defeat to Chennai Super Kings and with 11 points are placed third in the standings.
India trounce Australia 4-1 in Sudirman Cup badminton
GUANGZHOU, China: India outclassed Australia 4-1 in their first Group 3 tie of the Sudirman Cup badminton championship on Monday.
India, who are eyeing a promotion to Group 2 in the world mixed team championship, produced a clinical performance. Their only loss came in the women's doubles where Shruti Kurian and Aparna Balan were pairing for the first time.
The mixed doubles pair of V. Diju and Jwala Gutta gave India a rousing start, dispatching Benjamin Walkate and Kate Wilson Smith 21-19, 21-15 in just 24 minutes.
World No. 12 Chetan Anand showed his class as he thumped Jeff Tho 21-14, 21-14 to make it 2-0 for India.
In men's doubles, Rupesh Kumar and Sanave Thomas faced little difficulty in overcoming Glenn Warfe and Benjamin McCarthy 21-12, 21-15 to win the tie.
Saina Nehwal, World No. 10, took just 20 minutes to trounce Leisha Cooper 21-11, 21-15.
India then fielded the scratch combination of Shruti and Aparna, who lost to Eugenia Tanaka and Kate Wilson Smith 21-16, 19-21, 18-21.
India next play Ukraine who beat Scotland 3-2 in a thriller.
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