Political News – Newsletter for December 30, 2010

Srikrishna report on Telangana to be made public Jan 6

NEW DELHI – The Srikrishna panel report on Telangana had been submitted to the home ministry and would be made public on Jan 6, union Home Minister P. Chidambaram said Thursday.
… Original source on Gaea Times at : Srikrishna report on Telangana to be made public Jan 6.

Youth Congress wants wealth of ex-CJI’s kin probed

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM – Youth Congress vice president M. Liju has written to his top bosses in the party to seek a probe into the alleged amassment of wealth by P.V. Srinijin, a Youth Congress activist and also the son-in-law of former chief justice of India (CJI) K.G. Balakrishnan.

In a letter to the party’s top brass, … Read more : Youth Congress wants wealth of ex-CJI’s kin probed.

Chidambaram, Buddhadeb in a war of words, literally

KOLKATA – What’s in a word, one might wonder! But union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s choice of a word derived from a foreign lingo in his recent letter to West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee has sparked off a controversy, raising questions of propriety over its usage in an official communication.

“There is evidence to …. Source  : Gaea News Network.

Chamber choir gives balm to Meghalaya in turmoil (2010 in Retrospect)

SHILLONG – Political turmoil, corruption and a spurt of violence dominated Meghalaya throughout 2010. But the chamber choir music of Shillong’s young talent brought some cheer to the state in distress.

Like in the previous year, Meghalaya witnessed another change of guard April 20 when Mukul M. Sangma was sworn in the 20th chief minister. …. Source  : Chamber choir gives balm to Meghalaya in turmoil (2010 in Retrospect).

Musharraf refuses to appear before Benazir, Bugti murder probe commission

ISLAMABAD – Former Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has refused to appear before any commission set up to investigate the murders of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto and Baloch leader Nawab Akbar Bugti.

During a TV channel interview, Musharraf said the president was not supposed to provide security to anyone.

“It was not my responsibility to provide … Read the original article on Gaea Times at : Musharraf refuses to appear before Benazir, Bugti murder probe commission.

Land, mining and sex scandals mar Karnataka (Lead, 2010 in Retrospect)

BANGALORE – Polls, political instability and scandals over land, mining and sex – these three topics dominated Karnataka in 2010.

More than half the state, 17 of 30 districts, will end the year voting in the elections to the taluka (sub-district) and zilla (district) panchayats Dec 31.
Gulbarga district will have the distinction of beginning … Read more »»».

Congress gets jitters before crucial Chandigarh mayor polls

CHANDIGARH – The Congress is having a tough time in the Chandigarh mayor elections as it is not only facing a challenge from the opposition parties, but also from a rebel candidate who quit the party and filed his nomination papers as an Independent candidate.

Rebel Jagjit Singh Kang quit the Congress party Monday after …. Source  : Congress gets jitters before crucial Chandigarh mayor polls.

Brinda Karat lashes out at Central government over JPC issue

SILIGURI – Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat has slammed the central government for not presenting a reasonable argument against constituting a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) over graft charges in the multi-million dollar 2G spectrum allocation scam.

“It’s very unfortunate that the Government should have made this a prestige issue because they have not … Read more : Brinda Karat lashes out at Central government over JPC issue.

Mamata Banerjee accuses Buddhadeb of being Maoist

KOLKATA – Rubbishing Trinamool Congress’s links with Maoists as alleged in West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacherjee’s letter to Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Mamata Banerjee said, “the Chief Minister himself is a Maoist leader.”

“The Chief Minister himself is a Maoist leader and is acting as a mask of the Maoists,” Banerjee told reporters here.

Banerjee … Original article on : Mamata Banerjee accuses Buddhadeb of being Maoist.

Ahead of Srikrishna report, security tightened in Andhra

HYDERABAD – Security was tightened in Andhra Pradesh Thursday as the Srikrishna Committee on the Telangana issue is all set to submit its report to the central government.

Fifty companies of central paramilitary forces have been deployed in addition to the state police forces across the state, especially in the Telangana region.
As the five-member … Original article on : Ahead of Srikrishna report, security tightened in Andhra.

Chennai eco park’s opening by PM gets red signal

CHENNAI – The inauguration of the Adyar Eco Park or Adyar Poonga in Tamil Nadu by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not happen Jan 3 – the project has not been given environmental clearances.

In a statement late Wednesday, the state government said the Tamil Nadu Coastal Zone Management Authority had recommended in favour of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Chennai eco park’s opening by PM gets red signal.

US revokes visa of Venezuelan ambassador

WASHINGTON – The US has revoked the visa of Venezuela’s ambassador to Washington after Caracas refused to accept its envoy to the South American nation, Bloomberg news reported Thursday.

Bernardo Alvarez’s ouster follows remarks by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez about breaking off ties with the US over Caracas’ refusal to welcome Larry Palmer as ambassador … Original article on : US revokes visa of Venezuelan ambassador.

Land, mining and sex scandals mar Karnataka’s image (2010 in Retrospect)

BANGALORE – Three topics dominated Karnataka in 2010 – polls, political instability and scandals over land, mining and sex.

More than half the state, 17 of 30 districts, will end the year voting for the taluka (sub-district) and zilla (district) panchayat elections Dec 31.
Gulbarga district will have the distinction of beginning 2011 by voting … Original source on Gaea Times at : Land, mining and sex scandals mar Karnataka’s image (2010 in Retrospect).

Gilani ‘condemns’ US drone attacks in Pak tribal areas, but wants drone technology

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Prime Minister Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani has condemned US drone attacks in tribal areas of the country bordering Afghanistan, terming the unmanned strikes as “counter-productive”.

“I agree with the member from FATA that the drone attacks are counter-productive” the Dawn quoted Gilani, as saying in the National Assembly.

He said the country’s military and … Original article on : Gilani ‘condemns’ US drone attacks in Pak tribal areas, but wants drone technology.

South Korea labels North ‘enemy’, signalling harder line

SEOUL – South Korea Thursday upgraded North Korea to an “enemy” after a South Korean warship was sunk, its neighbour shelled one of its islands and beefed up its military forces.

The label contained in a Defence Ministry white paper was raised from the “serious threat” or “direct and serious threat” contained in the North … Read more »».

Lula weeps in last speech as Brazil president

RIO DE JANEIRO – Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva burst into tears in his last speech in office.

As he addressed a crowd late Tuesday in his native state, Pernambuco, where he was born into poverty 65 years ago, Lula cried at least three times. He will step down on Saturday as his … Read more : Lula weeps in last speech as Brazil president.

Statement by the Press Secretary, 12/29/2010

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

On Wednesday, December 29, 2010, the President signed into law:
 
H.R. 6398, which provides for permanent Federal deposit insurance coverage for Interest on Lawyers Trust …. Original article on Gaea Times at  : Statement by the Press Secretary, 12/29/2010.

President Obama Announces Recess Appointments to Key Administration Posts

Release Time: 

For Immediate Release

WASHINGTON – President Obama announced today his intent to recess appoint six nominees to fill key administration posts that have been left vacant for …. Source  : President Obama Announces Recess Appointments to Key Administration Posts.

Syria, India open informatics centre in Damascus

DAMASCUS – The Syrian-Indian Centre for Informatics was inaugurated here Wednesday, Xinhua reports.

The centre, built at a cost of $3 million, includes three training scientific labs, a library, a data centre and equipment to train 600 trainees for two years.
The centre is the first of its kind in Syria, SANA news agency …. Source  : Syria, India open informatics centre in Damascus.

Congress book blames Sangh parivar for Babri demolition, defends Rao

NEW DELHI – A book published by the Congress to mark its 125-year history lays the entire blame for the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition on the Sangh Parivar and contends that the then central government headed by P.V. Narasimha Rao took several steps to control the difficult situation.

The book, “Congress and the Making of … Read this article on Gaea Times at : Congress book blames Sangh parivar for Babri demolition, defends Rao.