Thiruvananthapuram, Jun 19 : Kerala Mono Rail Corporation Limited and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation today signed the contract for the proposed monorail projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode.

Both projects would be completed in a time bound manner, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, who is also the Chairman of KMRC, said. DMRC Chief Consultant E Sreedharan, Speaker G Karthikeyan, State PWD Minister V K Ibrahim Kunju were among those present on the occasion.

The agreement will make DMRC responsible for the design, preparation of the bid document, short-listing and selection of contractors, supervision, and quality certification for the 22.2-km monorail in Thiruvananthapuram and the 14.2-km project in Kozhikode, estimated to cost Rs.5581 crore.

A single agreement will be signed with DMRC for the projects as the general consultant and the executing agency are the same. DMRC will be the general consultant of the project.

Instructions to take the initial steps have already been given. Tender procedures will be the preliminary process and offices of the monorail corporation will start functioning in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode soon,official sources said.

Srinagar, Jun 19 : An independent MLA from Jammu and Kashmir today said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh should hand over the mortal remains of Parliament attack convict Mohammad Afzal Guru to people of the valley during his forthcoming visit to the state.

“The Prime Minister should hand over the mortal remains of Guru to people of Kashmir,” MLA Langate Sheikh Abdul Rashid said in a statement.

Singh, along with UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, is scheduled to visit the state later this month to inaugurate the Qazigund-Banihal rail link. Guru was hanged on February 9 in Delhi’s Tihar jail and buried inside the prison complex.

Rashid said several prime ministers have visited Kashmir over the years but they have not been able to win over the hearts and minds of the people here. “The reason is lack of sincerity,” he alleged.

Patna, June 19 : After dumping ally BJP, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today comfortably won a vote of confidence in his government in the Bihar Assembly amid signals of a new political alignment as Congress backed the motion.

A total of 126 votes, including four of Congress and one of CPI, were cast in favour of the confidence motion while 24, including 22 of Lalu Prasad-led RJD, voted against the motion as BJP members staged a walkout before the vote. Those who voted in favour of the motion included ruling JD(U)’s 117 and four Independents.

Besides RJD’s 22 MLAs, two Independents also opposed the motion. Significantly, the Congress support for the government comes two days after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described Kumar as secular and indicated that his party could do business with JD(U).

The central government had already enhanced development assistance to Bihar as a backward state recently, setting off speculation that the two parties could come together in future elections. In his speech in the Assembly, Kumar said, without taking the name of Narendra Modi, that the main reason for breaking the alliance with BJP was the elevation of the Gujarat Chief Minister in his party.

He said the slogan shouting by BJP MLAs hailing Modi went to buttress JD(U)’s point, an apparent reference to the possibility of BJP making him the Prime Ministerial candidate. Later, the Chief Minister in a chat with reporters thanked the Congress party for voting in favour of the trust motion. “But if you think that there was some discussion (between JD(U) and Congress) about future, there has been no discussion,” he said.

Chennai, Jun 19 : Intending to increase its collection of animals kept in captivity, Tamil Nadu, which houses the largest zoo in South Asia, today requested the Assam government to exchange a pair of Indian gaur for a couple of greater one-horned rhinoceros.

“I request you to spare one pair of greater one-horned rhinoceros in exchange for one pair of Indian gaur,” Chief Minister Jayalalithaa wrote to her counterpart in Assam, Tarun Gogoi. Observing that the Indian gaur was the flagship animal in the state, she said Tamil Nadu had sufficient number of Indian gaur (Indian bison), which can be given in exchange to Assam.

Jayalalithaa, also the chairman of Zoo Authority of Tamil Nadu, said, “Considering the number of visitors to the zoo and the popularity of the Indian rhinoceros, it would be very fitting if Vandalur Zoo could once again have these animals in our collection.”

The zoo in Vandalur did not have the representation of the one-horned mammal since 1989, she said. Spread over 1,490 acres in the city suburbs, the Anna Arignar Zoological Park (AAZP) at Vandalur houses over 1400 individual animals consisting of 143 species. Categorised as a ‘large zoo’ based on species diversity, number of endangered species and area, AAZP also receives a footfall of more than two million annually.

Lucknow, June 19 : Condoling the death of those killed in natural calamity in Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today announced financial help of Rs 25 crore to the neighbouring state.

“The CM has announced Rs 25 crore financial help to natural calamity-hit Uttarakhand state and asked people to provide help to the state in any way,” an official release said here. Yadav assured that the state government would provide all help for relief and rescue operation in Uttarakhand.

102 people were killed till yesterday in the flash floods triggered by incessant rains in Uttarakhand, while the toll in the calamity is likely to rise manifold as 500 people are still reported to be missing.

Chennai,June 19 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa today ordered release of water for irrigation from seven dams in the state from June 20.

Following requests of farmers from Kanyakumari district, Pechiparai, Perunchani, Chithar I and II dams would be opened for irrigation, she said in a statement.

This would help in irrigation of 79,000 acres in Kodhaiyaru and Pattanangal in Kanyakumari district, she said.
She also ordered the release of Papanasam, Servalaru and Manimuthar dams from June 20, following requests from farmers in Tirunelveli district.

These dams would benefit in irrigation over 40,000 acres of land in Ambasamudram, Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai areas, she said.

New Delhi, Jun 18 : BJP Parliamentary Board today appointed former Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi as leader of the party in the Legislative Council and Nand Kishore Yadav as the head of the party in the state Assembly.

Yadav will be the Leader of the Opposition in state Assembly as BJP is now the main opposition after JD(U) snapped ties with it. He was the Road and Highways minister in the JD(U)-BJP government led by Nitish Kumar.

JD(U) walked out of the NDA on June 16 on the issue of appointment of Narendra Modi as head of BJP Election Campaign Committee.

Sushil Modi will be the chief of the BJP Vidhan Mandal (comprising of all party legislators from both the Houses). BJP sources said members of the Parliamentary Board, party’s highest decision-making body, were consulted on phone by the central leadership on this issue and their consent taken.

Lucknow, June 19 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today took stock of the situation in the state arising out of incessant rains in neighbouring Uttarakhand.

The CM specially reviewed the prevailing situation in flood-affected Lakhimpur Kheri, Pilibhit, Bijnore, Saharanpur, Muzaffarnagar and Shamli and directed the officials to remain vigilant, a spokesperson said.

“Since the water level was rising following rains in Uttarakhand, special vigil need to be kept on the water level of rivers and security of dams”, Yadav said.

He assured the officials of all possible help in relief and rescue works. He also asked senior officials to be prepared for meeting any eventuality and warned against negligence of any sort.

New Delhi, June 19 : RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat is likely to meet senior BJP leader L K Advani here today and hold one-on-one meetings with other party leaders to discuss the recent political developments. This will be the first meeting between Advani and Bhagwat after the former had withdrawn his resignation from all party posts on June 11 at the behest of the RSS chief.

Advani was unhappy with the elevation of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi as head of the BJP Election Campaign Committee at the Goa conclave. Modi met Advani yesterday in an apparent bid to mollify him after the bitter acrimony over his elevation.

Meanwhile, former BJP chief Nitin Gadkari met Bhagwat at the RSS office in Keshavkunj here. BJP President Rajnath Singh and other leaders are also likely to call on Bhagwat.

Bhopal, Jun 19 : Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has announced an assistance of Rs five crore to the monsoon-ravaged Uttarakhand state where heavy rains and landslides have created havoc.

Chouhan made this announcement yesterday after receiving reports of major damage in the hill state, famous for the shrines of Badrinath, Kedarnath, Yamunotri and Gangotri, official sources said.

The Chief Minister also set up a cell in the CM Secretariat to provide help to the stranded pilgrims. Under Secretary, Neeraj Vashishta has been appointed as its coordinator, they added.

Chouhan’s secretary, Hariranjan Rao will work in coordination with the State’s Resident Commissioner in New Delhi, Shailendra Singh for relief measures, sources said.

Besides, the state disaster management body has also started an Emergency Control Room headed by District Commandant, Santosh Jat (Mob No. 09926769808 and Landline No 0755-2556422) for providing relief to the stranded persons.

Mumbai, June 19 : BJP President Rajnath Singh has expressed confidence that his party’s alliance with its oldest partner Shiv Sena would continue. Singh expressed these sentiments during a meeting with Sena president Uddhav Thackeray at the latter’s home Matoshree in suburban Bandra last night, Sena sources said.

“Rajnath said our alliance will continue with more strength,” the sources said. The BJP chief also extended his best wishes for the Sena’s foundation day today.

This is the party’s first foundation day function after the demise of its founder Bal Thackeray last year. Those present at the meeting included BJP state unit chief Devendra Fadanvis and Yuva Sena chief Aditya Thackeray, the sources said.

Banda (UP), Jun 20 : Accusing the Centre of being uncooperative, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav today said various development projects in the state were pending due to this attitude.

“Centre is not cooperating with the state due to which a number of developmental projects are pending…the Centre is responsible for this,” Yadav said while addressing a programme to distribute laptops to class 12th pass-out students.

He said power crisis would be resolved if Centre could ensure supply of adequate coal to the state. Centre was not releasing full amount in any scheme due to which problems were being faced, he said. Yadav distributed 11,637 laptops among students during the function.

Chennai, June 19 : Manidhaneya Makkal Katchi, which has two members in Tamil Nadu Assembly, today extended its support to DMK candidate Kanimozhi in the June 27 biennial elections to the Rajya Sabha from Tamil Nadu.

“We met DMK chief M Karunanidhi and extended our support in the RS polls,” MMK leader M H Jawahirullah said. MMK has two members — Jawahirullah (Ramanathapuram) and Aslam Basha (Ambur) in the Assembly.

DMK, which has 23 members in the Assembly, is set to contest the sixth seat with principal opposition DMDK’s candidate A R Elangovan.

DMDK has 29 members, including seven dissidents and has sought the support of Congress, which has five members in the Assembly. The last day for withdrawal of nominations for the polls to six Rajya Sabha seats is June 20.

The ruling AIADMK is already assured of four seats with its strength of 151 members in the 234-member Assembly.

Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had agreed to withdraw the candidature of her party’s K Thangamuthu, who was nominated for the fifth seat, in favour of CPI’s D Raja and he is expected to gain the required 34 votes for victory.

Following is the party position in the assembly: AIADMK 151, DMDK 29, DMK 23, CPM 10, CPI 8, CONG 5, PMK 3, MMK 2, Puthiya Thamilagam 2, All India Forward Bloc 1.

Patna, June 18 : Observing that the days of the JD(U) government were numbered after ‘divorce’ from the NDA, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad today said that his 22 MLAs would vote against the government in tomorrow’s trust vote.

“My party will definitely vote against the Nitish Kumar government during the trust vote in the legislative Assembly tomorrow,” he told reporters.

On the possibility of the JD(U) attacking the RJD for voting against the ‘secular’ government, Prasad said that he was least bothered and pointed out his party’s decision to vote against the JD(U) government was on a firm ideological ground and commitment to the people.

“It does not matter to me that the BJP will vote against the JD(U) government…ours is an independent decision which has nothing to do with the stand of the saffron party,” the RJD supremo clarified.

Prasad, who had launched a ‘Parivartan Yatra’ against the NDA government and held an impressive public meeting in Patna last month, said that he had been vindicated for asserting that the Nitish Kumar government’s days in power were numbered due to arrogance of the chief minister and a host of other reasons.

“The JD(U) government may not go as it has mustered support of the four independent MLAs and the Congress MLAs (4) may bail it out during the trust vote tomorrow, but the beginning of the end of this government has well and truly begun,” he claimed.

On Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s praise of Nitish Kumar as a ‘secular’ leader after parting ways with the NDA two days ago, Prasad sought to downplay the development, saying that Singh is a gentleman who says kind words about anyone.

“I will not pass judgement on the PM’s ‘secular’ praise to the chief minister,” he said.

To a question that the JD(U) may try to poach his MLAs to garner majority in the state Assembly, the RJD supremo said that he was very much sure that all attempt to woo his legislators will fail as no one would like to jump on a sinking ship.

Ballia (UP), Jun 18 : Alleging that “corruption was at its peak” in the district, ruling Samajwadi Party MLA Mohammad Rizvi said that officers were not paying heed to the party workers.

“The corruption is at its peak in the district. Officers are not paying heed to party workers. While BSP men are getting their works done by paying bribe, SP workers are a neglected lot,” Rizvi told reporters here yesterday.

He said that such situation would not be tolerated and in July they would gherao Sikandarpur tehsil.

Leh (JK), June 18 : Certain elements want to create a wedge between the followers of different faiths for their vested interests, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said today and called for nurturing communal harmony in the state.

“All religions teach amity and brotherhood and create conducive atmosphere in the society for all to grow equitably and in a peaceful environment,” Omar said at a function here. He was addressing a congregation of thousands of devotees at Lamayuru, a remote village in this district of Ladakh region, after inaugurating Great Fotang Shrine and Amphitheatre.

“Certain elements, for their vested interests, want to create a wedge between the followers of different faiths and disturb the peace of the world,” Omar said. He said no religion preaches hatred but holds high, the principals of humanity and brotherhood. Omar said peace and coexistence of the people of different faiths and cultures makes the society strong and ensures equitable development of all.

The Chief Minister said pilgrim tourism constitutes an important aspect of the state’s tourism and all the three regions– Jammu, Kashmir and Ladakh posses rich pilgrim destinations. He said renowned religious scholars and preachers have contributed a lot to keep the candle of communal harmony alive and inculcate the spirit of love, brotherhood and mutual respect for each other in the hearts and minds of people.

The chief minister said that his government has taken new initiatives to showcase Ladakh’s tourist potential and attract more and more visitors here.

He also referred to the beauty of Lamayuru. The Fotang Shrine and Amphitheatre has been constructed by Tourism department and the Centre has granted Rs 1.07 crores for its construction. It will promote pilgrim tourism in the area and help generate wide-ranging economic activities for the people in this remote are, an official spokesman said.

He said the shrine will also be utilised to observe the Great Snake Year 2013, which comes after every twelve years. Besides, people from all parts of Ladakh and the state, a huge number of tourists from foreign countries have arrived here to observe the Great Snake Year, the spokesman said.

New Delhi, Jun 18 : Planning Commission office today became a fortress ahead of Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to discuss the state plan with Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia.

The Delhi police took over the security of Yojana Bhawan, which houses the Planning Commission, and sealed all entry and exit points. A heavy police force was deployed in and around the premises.

Even accredited media persons were denied entry to cover Modi’s visit to the Planning Commission.

“Only still photographers will be allowed around 3.15PM. A press briefing will be organised after the completion of the meeting for the video and PIB accredited journalists,” an official spokesperson told over the phone.

New Delhi, Jun 18 : In a dig at BJP, Union minister Manish Tewari today said the party’s internal matters were playing out like ‘reality TV’ as everyone was aware of what was happening.

“The civil war in their midst is playing out like reality TV in the public space and everybody is very cognisant of what’s happening,” he told reporters when asked to comment on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with senior BJP leader L K Advani.

Though Tewari described the meeting as an internal matter of BJP, he hit out at Modi saying, “But I think the larger question which has to be considered, needs to be done in the context of the Hindi proverb – ‘Charan pade santan ke, aur hua banta-dhaar (Trouble followed the arrival of the saints)’.

“That in 2001, a gentleman becomes the chief minister of Gujarat, in 2002, the entire communal harmony is completely demolished. As that gentleman turns towards Delhi, the NDA stands completely demolished. The BJP is a party which is at war with itself.” He said people in the country should take note of these developments.

When asked for his reaction on Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s statement that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was secular, Tewari said, “I don’t think what the Prime Minister said and what Nitish Kumar commented in return needs to be speculated upon. “It is self speaking.

I don’t need to add or subtract anything to it. I think the moot question which people of this country would judge is that who at what point in time, took appropriate decision, keeping in mind the core idea and the core vision of the pluralistic idea of India.”

New Delhi, June 18: On his first visit to Delhi after being made head of BJP’s election campaign committee, Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today met senior BJP leader L K Advani and is understood to have discussed the recent political developments including the split in the NDA.
Sources close to Advani, who was unhappy over Modi’s anointment, later told PTI that the two leaders had a “good meeting”.
Modi, who drove down to Advani’s residence at Prithviraj Road here, spent about an hour with the BJP patriarch and left without meeting the media.
The two leaders discussed a range of issues including the party’s internal affairs and the split in the NDA after BJP’s old-time ally JD(U) parted ways after an alliance of 17 years, the sources said. Today’s meeting assumed significance as Advani had resigned from key party posts expressing displeasure at being sidelined over the Modi issue.
Advani, however, later withdrew his resignation following a telephonic talk with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat and persuasion by BJP leaders.
The Gujarat Chief Minister also spent more than an hour with ailing former Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at his residence.
Earlier, Modi also met senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi to express his gratitude on being entrusted with the task of spearheading the party’s poll campaign for the 2014 Lok Sabha elections.
“Modiji has come to Delhi to express his gratitude over his recent appointment as Chairman of the BJP Campaign Committee at Goa. He has expressed his gratitude and said he is trying to fulfil the responsibility given to him,” Joshi later told reporters.
He is also expected to meet Bhagwat, who is also slated to meet Advani.

Patna, June 18 : The lone MLA of the Lok Janshakti Party in Bihar today said he would vote for the Nitish Kumar government in tomorrow’s trust vote in the Assembly, bringing cheer to the JD(U) camp. “My conscience says that I cannot vote with communal BJP. If there is a vote tomorrow, I will vote in favour of Nitish Kumar government,” Jakir Hussain Khan, LJP MLA from Araria, told PTI. He said he had conveyed his views to party president Ramvilas Paswan.
Khan, however, categorically denied he had any plan to join the JD(U).
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would be seeking a fresh confidence vote in a special session called by Governor D Y Patil tomorrow.
After severing ties with the BJP, the JD(U) has 118 MLAs in the 243-member Bihar Assembly and it would require support of 4 legislators to achieve the magic number.
Besides, JD(U)’s 118 and LJP’s one, BJP has 91 MLAs, RJD 22, Congress 4, CPI 1 and Independents 6. Four out of six Independents have already promised support to the JD(U). They had come together in the same car at JD(U) meeting at CM’s house yesterday.
The LJP has a tie-up with RJD in Bihar. Lalu Prasad and Ramvilas Paswan campaigned together in the last Assembly elections.
The two parties worked in tandem to ensure victory of RJD Prabhunath Singh in Maharajganj by-poll recently.

Bangalore, June 18: In a bizarre political fight, a rival of senior Karnataka Congress leader and MLA D K Shivakumar has alleged that his henchmen had dug deep trench around his house in Kanakapura constituency, making it difficult for them to move out.
JDS worker G H Prakash, who left Congress a month before the May five Assembly polls, alleged he and his family is the victim of political vendetta by Shivakumar’s supporters.
He said about 300 to 400 of Shivakumar’s supporters came to his house recently, threatened him and later dug up a six-feet by eight-feet trench around the house.
Ramanagaram Superintendent of Police Anupam Agarwal said the Deputy Superintendent of Police has submitted a report on the case after investigating the matter and he has dispatched it to the district Deputy Commissioner.
The report also states that the land belongs to Shivakumar and Prakash had encroached upon it, he said.
“Now Shivakumar wants to build a compound and hence he has dug up the trench around the house,” he said.
Former minister and JDS leader PGR Sindhia alleged that the digging of the trench around Praksh house smacked of political vendetta.
Shivakumar said the land where the trench was dug belonged to him and his family and accused Sindhia of trying to damage his image.

Ahmedabad, Jun 18: In an apparent move to avoid stoking a fresh controversy as BJP comes to terms with a bitter separation from JD(U), Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has declined an invitation to visit Ayodhya, his office said today.
The Chief Minister’s Office, in a press statement, clarified that Modi “politely declined” the invitation to attend the ‘Amrit Mahotsava’ being celebrated on the 75th birthday of president of Ram Janma Bhumi Nyas Trust Mahant Nritya Gopal Das.
“On June 13 Nritya Gopal Das had made a phone call to Chief Minister and invited him to attend his Amrit Mahotsav being organised during June 19 to 22, 2013. But, he had politely informed him that because of his pre-decided engagements it would be difficult for him to remain present,” the statement said.
Modi, while expressing his inability to attend the function, thanked the Mahant for the invitation and wish for the success of the function, it said.
Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s Uttar Pradesh spokesman Sharad Sharma had yesterday said that Modi was expected to visit Ayodhya on Wednesday or Friday and frontline leaders of the Hindutva brigade like Ashok Singhal, Praveen Togadia, Gorakhpur MP Yogi Aditya Nath and Yoga Guru Ramdev would also reach the temple town to welcome him.
The move was seen as politically significant as BJP, mindful of the concerns of its allies, had avoided raking up the contentious Ram temple issue over the last several years.
With JD(U) exiting from NDA, the visit by Modi, BJP’s Election Campaign Committee chief, was viewed as an attempt by the Gujarat leader to make it clear that he would not fight shy of blending his development agenda with pro-Hindutva politics in the assembly elections to states due later this year and next year’s Lok Sabha polls.
With JD(U) jumping off the NDA bandwagon, the alliance is left only with the Shiv Sena, a hardline Hindutva outfit with its influence limited to Maharashtra, and Punjab-centric Shiromani Akali Dal.
Sharma had said Modi will also visit the Ram temple. “Modi’s message to his party men and electorate from the land of Ayodhya will be important in the coming elections,” the VHP leader had said.

Kolkata, June 18 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has expressed surprise at yet another Union Cabinet reshuffle yesterday and wondered “what is the message” of this exercise.
“I am surprised to know that UPA-II has made yet another Cabinet reshuffle. So how many times, in the last four years, UPA-II Government has made reshuffles of the Cabinet?”, Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo and a former ally of UPA said.
“After AITMC (Trinamool Congress pulled out of UPA government), how many times has the Minister for Railways changed in the last 8-9 months?”, she asked.
“What is the message from this Cabinet reshuffle?”, she said in a facebook post last night.

Raipur, Jun 18: Ridiculing Union minister and Chhattisgarh Congress Committee acting president Charan Das Mahant’s statement that he would “sweep the state party office” if UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi asks him to do so, the ruling BJP today accused him of indulging in sycophancy.
Mahant, the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Processing, had told reporters yesterday that “I follow the directives of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, I follow the orders of Rahul Gandhi…It’s a clear cut example that if they will ask me to sweep Chhattisgarh Pradesh Congress Committee (office), I will do that.”
Flaying the Congress leader’s statement, BJP spokesperson Shivratan Sharma told PTI that “It seems that Mahant feels that the post of acting president of the state Congress is a fourth grade job, therefore he is ready to pick broom and sweep the party’s office. It shows he is indulging in sycophancy.”
He (Mahant) has crossed all the limits of sycophancy and the people of the state will not accept such sycophants, Sharma added.
Reacting sharply to the BJP’s comment, Congress spokesperson Shailesh Nitin Trivedi said that Mahant has shown his dedication and commitment towards his party and nothing else.
“The statement of Mahant should not be taken in other way.
He has just shown his dedication and commitment to the party,” Trivedi added.

New Delhi, Jun 18:  Development of infrastructure and expansion of financial products such as Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDFs) and takeout finance are crucial to the country achieving 8 per cent growth, Finance Minister P Chidambaram said here today.
“…to give thrust to investment in infrastructure sector and to attain GDP growth rate of 8 per cent, there is an immense need for financial products such as IDFs, Takeout Finance and Credit Enhancement scheme to fill the financial gap in the infrastructure sector,” he said after launching USD 1 billion IDF scheme of IIFCL here today.
“For Infrastructure Debt Funds (IDFs), we should try to mobilise resources from insurance and pension sectors as these funds are available for long term horizon,” he said.
The Finance Minister also handed over in-principle approval letters issued by IIFCL Asset Management Company Limited (IAMCL) to one power project in Jharkhand and one rural water project in Andhra Pradesh. Both the projects are in operational phase. IAMCL, a mutual fund promoted by India Infrastructure Finance Company Limited (IIFCL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with three public sector banks and two financial institutions – IIFCL and HUDCO- to launch the maiden IDF.

Bhopal, Jun 18 :  Congress general secretary Digvijay Singh has alleged that BJP created an anti-employees’ image of him before the 2003 Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh which led to his party’s downfall.
“The resentment of the employees became the reason for the Congress’ defeat in the 2003 Assembly elections,” Singh said, while addressing the state-level conference of the ndian National Electricity Federation here last evening.
“BJP and RSS spread false information about me in 2003 because of which the working class turned against me,” Singh alleged.
The Congress leader claimed that he had always worked for the welfare of the working class.

Bangalore, June 18: Offering an olive branch, the new Congress government in Karnataka today appealed to Naxals to come forward to hold a dialogue with it and said it would welcome their surrender.
Spelling out his five week old dispensation’s policy on Left wing extremism, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said, “Government is ready to have a dialogue with the Naxals or Left wing extremists. If they want to surrender, we welcome and we are ready for talks with them.”
He said Government would also take up developmental works in backward regions and areas inhabited by the tribals, that are prone to Naxal extremism.
“This is the stand of the government. We appeal to all those involved in these (Naxal) activities to come forward for a dialogue across the table,” the Chief Minister said during an interaction with journalists.
Siddaramaiah the Naxal problem was “not very serious” in Karnataka where only three or four districts had been affected by it. Karnataka Government had requested the Centre to declare these as Naxal-hit districts as that would help in getting grants, he said.

New Delhi, Jun 18:  Oscar Fernandes today took charge as Minister of Road Transport and Highways and said he will work towards getting speedy environment clearances for the projects which are stuck.
“We should get the clearances in advance so that the work can be started. Where ever the project has got stuck, we will take it up with the Ministry of Environment and Forests and try to clear it.” Fernandes told reporters after assuming office.
Fernandes replaces C P Joshi, who relinquished his post earlier this week to concentrate on party work.
Joshi was holding dual portfolios of Road and Railways Ministries.
“I will take his (Joshi’s) guidance and the department is there to guide me,” Fernandes said adding he had keen interest in the sector since his childhood.
“I have personal interest in road construction since my childhood, its an area which is known to me, as a youth congress worker I have participated in road building programmes,” he said.
Fernandes further added that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has constituted a committee to expedite clearances for the road projects.
The mandate of the high-level committee is to facilitate clearance for projects of national importance.

Patna, Jun 18 :A day after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described him as secular, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today thanked him for the praise, saying the words give him comfort.
“He (Singh) has spoken the truth and one should always speak the truth and coming from the Prime Minister of the country, certainly gives me comfort and I offer my heartiest thanks to him for saying so,” Kumar told reporters.
In signs that the Congress was warming up to Janata Dal (U), the Prime Minister had yesterday described the Bihar Chief Minister as secular and said that “in politics there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends”.
“In politics, there are no permanent enemies or permanent friends. We will decide as the situation evolves,” Singh had said to a question whether Congress looks at JD(U) as a future ally against the backdrop of the split in the NDA and would reach out to it.
To a question on Nitish Kumar, he had said the JD(U) leader is secular.
“I cannot speculate on that or what happens in the future. We need support of all right-minded parties. In parliament, we look for their support,” Singh had said.

New Delhi, Jun 17 : Known as a man for all seasons, veteran Congress leader Oscar Fernandes has handled tricky negotiations with north-east rebels, government and party matters, and fluid movements of Kuchipudi dance form with equal ease.

Considered a trusted aide of Congress President Sonia Gandhi, 72-year-old Fernandes makes a comeback to the government–this time as Cabinet Minister– after having handled key responsibilities, including the head of the party’s central election committee.

A five-term Lok Sabha MP from Udupi in Karnatka, Fernandes was nominated to the Rajya Sabha by the Congress after he lost the 1999 Lok Sabha elections. He is now into his third term in the Upper House.

“Brother Oscar”, as he is popularly known, had given his own touch to the talks with the NSCN leaders, beginning the meetings with prayers in which all present participate.

He was a Union Minister from 2004–2009, holding a number of portfolios like Statistics and Programme Implementation, Overseas Indian Affairs, Youth and Sports Affairs and Labour and Employment.

Fernandes was also a close confidant of former Prime Minister late Rajiv Gandhi.

Son of a school teacher, Fernandes, who was the KPCC president for two terms, is well-liked among party men and known to burn themidnightoil in which ever job he is entrusted with.

Fernandes is also a trained performer of traditional dance forms Kuchipudi and Yakshagana.

Ranchi, Jun 17 : Jharkhand unit of JD(U) today said the party would “breathe easy” after walking out of NDA as it was always in “loss” in Jharkhand politics.

   “JD(U) in Jharkhand has always been in loss. Because of the tie-up at the national level, BJP had been a miser in lending seats during elections. It did not agree to share even one seat in the 2004 general elections from the state,” senior most JD-U leader in Jharkhand Pramod Mishra said here.

   “And the result that year was a near washout for BJP with only the then BJP leader Babulal Marandi winning from Kodarma while they lost all the 13 other seats to other parties,” he said.

   “Since Jharkhand’s creation, we had never been taken on equal footing by BJP, while JD(U) treated it in a dignified manner inBihar,” he claimed a day after the party walked out of NDA.

Bangalore, June 17 : Political insecurity and growing popularity of BJP, especially after Narendra Modi’s elevation as the party’s Election Campaign Committee Chief, had prompted Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar to walk out of the NDA, Former Karnataka Chief Minister D V Sadananada Gowda claimed today.

“Nitish lost Parliament elections inBiharconceding defeat to Lalu Prasad Yadav’s RJD. But as far as Modi is concerned, he won all the six seats — four MLA and two Lok Sabha seats — that belonged to Congress. Hence this insecure feeling forced him to come out of NDA alliance,” the BJP leader told reporters here.

JD(U) chief Sharad Yadav’s objection to Modi’s elevation was not fair because he had earlier stated that it was an internal matter of BJP, he said.

He also said Advani’s suggestion to take everybody along was not wrong, but the right decision has been taken at the right time to elevate Modi.

“There were tremendous expectations from party leaders that something new will come out in BJP National Convention (held inGoa). If there hasn’t been any declaration, there would have been a big issue across the party and all over the country,” he said.

It was the correct decision at the appropriate time because even the Congress yesterday took organisational steps and BJP expects that Lok Sabha elections are not far away, Gowda said.

Asked about post-poll alliance with KJP because of B S Yeddyurappa’s proximity to Modi, he said anything could happen in politics.   “Anybody who is not favourable to the party also may join us anytime,” he said.