Ghulam | SilverScorpio.Com

Arrest warrant issued against ex-Pak diplomat for issuing fake passport to Indian

September 12, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Islamabad, Sep.11 (ANI): An arrest warrant has been issued against Pakistan’s former Consul General in Houston (US) on charges of issuing a Pakistani passport to an Indian national.

Assistant Consul General Muhammad Naeem, who is under the National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) custody for the last 17 months, told a three member Supreme Court bench that former Pakistani Consul General, Ghulam Rasool, has been asked to appear before the court while issuing an arrest warrant against him.

It may be recalled that Naeem was also arrested for issuing a forged Pakistani passport to an Indian national named Aziz Moosa.

The passport issued by Naeem was in the name of Sayyed Ali.

After the hearing the court rejected Naeem’s bail plea and disposed of the case with directions to the NAB to decide the case within three months, The Daily Times reported. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: accountability, ali, ANI, arrest, Arrest Warrant Against, assistant, Aziz, bail, bail plea, bench, bureau, case, consul, consul general, Court, custody, daily, diplomat, directions, ex, Fake Passport, General Muhammad Naeem, ghulam, houston, Islamabad, member, moosa, muhammad, nab, naeem, name, national, national accountability bureau, Pak, Pakistan, Pakistani, passport, plea, rasool, sayyed, Sep, Sep 11, supreme, supreme court bench, three months, times, US, warrant

Fears of violence as right-wing groups plan 9/11 mosque protest

September 8, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

London, Sep.8 (ANI): Anti-Islam demonstrators plan to protest outside one of London’s largest mosques on Friday (September 11), the eighth anniversary of 9/11 attacks in the United States, raising the prospect of violence.

Large numbers of anti-fascists also intend to descend on the site of the new Harrow central mosque to show solidarity with Muslims, The Times reports.

The English Defence League inflamed tensions over the weekend during an anti-Islamic rally after riots in Birmingham.

Both groups have promoted Friday’s protest on their websites. It is being organised by a third right-wing group calling itself Stop Islamification of Europe.

Ghulam Rabbani, the general secretary of the mosque, told The Times that extra security had been hired and worshippers had been urged to ignore provocation. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: 9 11 attacks, central mosque, defence league, demonstrators, eighth anniversary, english defence, extra security, Fascists, general secretary, ghulam, harrow, large numbers, mosques, plan 9, provocation, right-wing, riots in birmingham, september 11, solidarity, wing groups, worshippers

Kashmir’s heritage garden all set to get a facelift

September 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Sep 7 (ANI): Kashmir’s heritage Emporium Garden is all set to get a facelift with the state government planning to spend rupees 15 million to restore the garden to its lost glory.

Located in Srinagar, the garden used to be under the British residency during the state’s erstwhile Dogra era, and the Britishers had planted many exquisite plants and flowers in this garden, which used to be a major tourist attraction before insurgency broke out in the valley.

Now once again, the authorities are working hard to beautify and renovate the garden.

“We have instructions to beautify the garden as fast as we can. And after a month you will see the garden in a new form. We have divided the work into three phases. Short term, where we can work immediately, mid term, where we can work on enhancing the garden all through the year and long term, that entails all the work that we can do in long term, to beautify the garden further and to present this garden to the people.

The people can come and witness for themselves how the garden has been restored to its lost glory,” said Ghulam Sarwar Naquash Director, Floriculture.

With the renovation work in full swing, residents hopes of seeing the garden restored to its lost glory are revived.

“Earlier lots of tourists used to come here, there used to be a fair as well but the deterioration in the situation in the valley also took toll on the garden as people stopped coming here. But now the work is being done to restore the garden and again we hope that once again the tourists will start coming here and fair will be held like it used to be in the earlier days,” said Shabir Ahmed, a resident.

The beautification plan focuses on the integrated development of the garden complex, with landscaping of the lawns, repair of the drainage system.

The authorities hope that the restoration of the Emporium Garden will help to develop the site as a hot spot for tourists. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ahmed, ANI, attraction, beautification, Beautification Plan, beautify, britishers, deterioration, Development, director, dogra, drainage, drainage system, emporium, era, erstwhile, facelift, fair, Floriculture, form, full-swing, garden, ghulam, glory, Government, Heritage, Heritage Garden, hot spot, insurgency., integrated development, Kashmir, landscaping, lawns, major tourist attraction, Mid-term, month, Naquash, plan, planning, renovation, renovation work, repair, residency, resident, restoration, rupees, Sarwar, Sep, shabir, site, situation, spot, srinagar, state, state government, swing, system, term, toll, tourist, valley, witness, work, year

Indira Gandhi backed plot to kill Pak Army officials: Brig. Ahmed

September 1, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Lahore, Aug.31 (ANI): Former Pakistan Intelligence Bureau (IB) Director General Brigadier (retired) Imtiaz Ahmed has alleged that former Punjab Governor Ghulam Mustafa Khar had hatched a conspiracy to kill several key Pakistan Army officials, and claimed that the plot was backed by the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

In an interview with a private television channel, Brigadier Ahmed said that Khar had chalked out a plan to kill several important commanders of the Pakistan Army in a bomb blast.e said the plan, according to which the Indian intelligence agency RAW would provide arms to Pakistan, was also approved by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

“An Indian official, Joshi, had arranged Khar’s meeting with Gandhi and finalized the plans,” Brigadier Ahmed said.

However, Khar has rebuked Brigadier Ahmed’s allegations saying he never knew any Indian official named Joshi.

He said some elements had hatched conspiracies to diminish his popularity and acceptance with the Armed Forces.

“I had visited to India to visit the graves of saints, not hatch a conspiracy,” The Daily Times quoted Khar, as saying. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: acceptance, agency, ahmed, ANI, armed, army, army officials, Aug, blast, bomb, bomb blast, brig, Brig. Ahmed, brigadier, Brigadier Ahmed, bureau, channel, conspiracies, conspiracy, daily, Director General Brigadier, Director General, former, ghulam, governor, imtiaz, India, Indian, Indian Prime Minister, Indian Prime Minister Indira, Indira Gandhi, intelligence, intelligence agency, intelligence bureau, Interview, Joshi, Khar, Lahore, meeting, Mustafa, official, Pak, pak army, Pakistan, Pakistan army, plan, plot, popularity, prime minister indira, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, private television, Punjab, raw, television, television channel, times

Electricity still a far-fetched dream for Gurez valley

August 30, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Aug. 30 (ANI): Electricity remains to be a distant dream for the residents of Gurez valley of Jammu and Kashmir despite ample water resources existing in the region.

Consequently, diesel run generators have been sole means of power, a situation that has prevailed and prolonged in the region for decades.

In contrast, Gurez valley is the home to a mega hydroelectric project, the power from which will be transmitted to other states!

At present, the residents of Gurez get electricity hardly for two to three hours in a day, supplied by the diesel run generators. And these generators operate as per the available stock of diesel.

“There is so much water here. The government has to take steps to put an end to the power crisis. The electricity is supplied through diesel generators. As long as diesel is there we get electricity, but if the diesel goes out of stock, we live in dark and have to wait for fifteen days to one month for the next stock to reach our place,” said Shazia Tabasum, a student.

Local authorities say that the National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) is constructing 330 MW power project from the waters of Kishanganga river.

“There is so much water over here. The Kishanganga hydro project has been allotted to NHPC. It will give 30 megawatts power supply out of 330 megawatts. The worst part is that the people living here won’t get any electricity. I have appealed to the government that at least one percent of power should be supplied to our valley for free,” said Nazir Ahmed Gurazi, MLA, Gurez.

In winters, the technical snags in the diesel generators add to the woes of the locals as they have to wait for an engineer and a technician to come all the way to their valley to fix the problems.

“We face many problems as there is no power supply here. If anybody is ill, we cannot take him or her to have an x-ray. The school children can’t study without light and their time is wasted,” said Ghulam Nabi, a local resident. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ahmed, Ahmed Gurazi, ample water, ANI, anybody, Aug, cannot, contrast, corporation, crisis, day, diesel, diesel generators, distant dream, dream, electricity, end, engineer, fifteen, fifteen days, ghulam, Government, Gurez, home, hydro, hydro project, Hydroelectric, Hydroelectric Power, Hydroelectric Project, jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, Kashmir, Kishanganga, local authorities, megawatts, mla, month, nabi, national, National Hydroelectric Power Corporation, Nazir, NHPC, part, percent, place, power, Power Crisis, project, region, resident, river, run, school, Shazia, situation, Snags, srinagar, stock, student, supply, Tabasum, take, technician, time, valley, water, water resources, way, woes, x-ray

Muslims perform last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit in Srinagar

August 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, Aug 29 (ANI): In a unique demonstration of communal harmony here Muslim neighbours performed the last rites of a Hindu on Friday.

Bhola Nath Kachroo, a resident of Srinagar, did not leave Kashmir even when a lot of Hindus fled in the wake of insurgency fuelled by Islamic fundamentalists in the state.

“They only have a girl. There is nobody else so we informed every body and performed the last rites. We Hindus and Muslims live in harmony over here,” said Ghulam Mohammed Bhat, Secretary of Muslim Welfare Society.

“He (the deceased Hindu) used to live in Srinagar. He was very old. A lot of Muslims came here to participate in his funeral,” said Bal Krishan, nephew of the deceased. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ANI, Aug, Bal Krishan, bhat, bhola, body, communal harmony, demonstration, Friday, ghulam, Girl, harmony, hindu, hindus, hindus and muslims, insurgency., Islamic, islamic fundamentalists, Kachroo, Kashmir, kashmiri, kashmiri pandit, Krishan, last rites, lot, Mohammed, Mohammed Bhat, Muslim, Nath, neighbours, nephew, nobody, Pandit, resident, secretary, society, srinagar, state, wake, welfare, welfare society

I never intended to hurt Shaikh family in any way: Azad

August 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug. 9 (ANI): Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Sunday apologised to the family of 14-year-old swine flu victim Reeda Shaikh for his remarks stating that she was responsible for infecting nearly 85 people of her school.

“I never intended to hurt Shaikh family in any way. I never meant to say the Reeda spread H1N1 infection in Pune,” said Azad.

Azad’s apology follows Reeda’s family members demands for an apology, in writing, by Azad and Union Health Secretary Naresh Dayal.

Earlier on Sunday afternoon, while addressing a press conference in Pune, Reeda’s mother Sheireen slammed Azad’s comments that Reeda might have spread the disease to nearly 85 people of her school.

“We want an apology from the government. He (Azad) has hurt a mother… he has blamed our child, Reeda for having infected 80 others by going to four hospitals. He needs to get his facts right,” Reeda’s mother stated on Sunday afternoon.

The family also demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) enquiry into the entire swine flu crisis management system and formation of a medical committee to deal with the situation. (ANI)

Filed Under: Health News Tagged With: afternoon, ANI, apologised, apology, Aug, Azad, bureau, CBI, central, central bureau of investigation, child, committee, conference, crisis, crisis management system, dayal, disease, enquiry, family, family members, Flu, flu crisis, formation, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Government, Health, Health Minister, health secretary, hospitals, infection, investigation, management, medical committee, minister, mother, nabi, naresh, New Delhi, people, press, Pune, Reeda, right, school, secretary, shaikh, Sheireen, situation, spread, sunday, sunday afternoon, Swine Flu, system, union, victim, way

Manmohan Singh speaks with Azad over swine flu outbreak

August 9, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, Aug 9 (ANI): Taking a serious view of the swine flu outbreak in the country, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh today spoke with Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and reviewed the situation.

During the conversation, Dr. Singh asked Azad to inform him about any aggravation in the H1N1 virus outbreak. He also asked him to appoint a panel of doctors to remove the false impression about the virus and make the public more aware of the disease.

Dr Singh also asked the Health Ministry to make sure that only doctors in the panel and not health ministry officials be allowed to brief the media over the swine flu situation in the country.

Meanwhile, with three of the country’s four swine flu deaths occurring in Maharashtra, the state government is considering a proposal to restrict movement of people in public places.

The move was discussed at a high-level meeting convened by Chief Minister Ashok Chavan.

According to sources, the Maharashtra Government is considering the adoption of the ‘Mexican Model’, which endorses restrictions on access to public places.

Under the Mexican Model, schools and colleges are closed down for a specific period of time.

Earlier talking to reporters, Azad had defended the UPA Government’s actions on curbing the spread of the disease. Azad said: “Swine flu has been spreading across the world since April… it came into India later. We have contained the (H1N1) A virus to a big extent.”

“We took steps which other nations didn’t. We screened people coming into India at airports and sea ports,” Azad added. Earlier, a 43-year-old Non-Resident Indian (NRI) died of swine flu at the City Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad.

With this, the country has seen four deaths from swine flu and the number of infected cases rising to 782.

On Saturday, 53-year-old Fahmida Panwala from Mumbai and 42-year-old teacher Sanjay Tukaram Kokre from Pune had died of swine flu.

Earlier on August 3, a 14-year-old schoolgirl Reeda Shaikh had died in Pune. (ANI)

Filed Under: Health News Tagged With: access, adoption, aggravation, Ahmedabad, ANI, April, ashok, Aug, August, Azad, Chavan, Chief, Chief Minister, city, civil, conversation, country, disease, Dr Singh, Dr. Manmohan Singh, extent, Fahmida, False Impression, Flu, Flu Deaths, Flu Outbreak, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Government, Health, Health Minister, Health Ministry Officials, hospital, impression, India, Kokre, Maharashtra, maharashtra government, manmohan, Manmohan Singh, meeting, mexican, ministry, model, model schools, move, movement, Mumbai, nabi, New Delhi, non, NRI, number, outbreak, panel, Panwala, period, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan, proposal, Pune, Reeda, resident, sanjay, Sanjay Tukaram, Saturday, schoolgirl, sea, Sea Ports, shaikh, Singh, situation, spread, state, Swine, Swine Flu, teacher, the, time, today, Tukaram, union, upa, view, virus, Virus Outbreak, world

Head examiner suspended in Pak after bread found wrapped in exam answer sheets

July 5, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Islamabad, July 5 (ANI): Following the bizarre incident of intermediate examination answer sheets being used as bread wrappers coming to light, the Balochistan Education Department has suspended the head examiner and examiner.

The Balochistan Intermediate and Secondary Education (BISE) chairman, Dr Ghulam Hussain said that both the officials have also been served show-cause notices for the scandal.

It may be noted that a bread-maker was found selling bread wrapped in the intermediate examinations answer sheets in Jan Muhammad Road in Quetta two days ago.

The intermediate exams were held in May, and the results are still awaited.hen enquired, the bread maker said that a man, who claimed to own a paper recycling business had sold the answer sheets to him at the rate of nine rupees per kilogram, The News reports.

Sources said that answer sheets were of Islamic studies and had Quranic verses written all over.

Meanwhile, the Provincial Education Minister, Shafiq Ahmed has said that students, who had appeared in the intermediate examination, need not worry.

“The board has a complete list of their marks preserved with it,” Ahmed said. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ahmed, ANI, answer, Answer Sheets, balochistan, BISE, bizarre incident, board, bread, Bread Maker, business, chairman, department, Education, Education Department, education minister, exam, Exam Answer, examination, Examination Answer, Examiner, ghulam, head, hen, hussain, incident, Intermediate And Secondary Education, Intermediate Examination, Intermediate Examinations, intermediate-, Islamabad, Islamic, Islamic Studies, jan muhammad, Jan Muhammad Road, July, kilogram, list, maker, man, May, minister, NEWS, Pak, paper, Paper Recycling, provincial, Provincial Education, quetta, Quranic, quranic verses, rate, recycling, rupees, scandal, shafiq

Centre’s multi-pronged strategy kept swine flu cases negligible: Azad

June 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

p
Srinagar, June 22 (ANI): The Government on Monday, dispelling concerns about the surge in swine flu cases in the country, said that it has adopted a multi-pronged strategy to curb the spread of swine flu virus and there was no reason to panic. /pp
It is because of multi-pronged strategy adopted by health ministry that the cases of swine flu remained almost negligible in India as compared to 275 other countries, Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad told media here in Jammu and Kashmir’s Baderwah area. /pp
Azad said that there was no need to worry about the influenza as it is fully curable and enough medicines are available in the country./pp
Keeping in view the size and population of the country, the cases reported so far are almost negligible, he said. /pp
As per Health Ministry officials in the national capita, a total of 59 people have tested positive for swine flu across the country, of which 32 patients have been discharged./pp
He said that the ministry continues to monitor the flu cases, which came from foreign countries. (ANI)/p

Filed Under: Health News Tagged With: ANI, area, Azad, Baderwah, capita, centre, country, Country Pp, Flu, flu cases, flu virus, foreign countries, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Government, Health, Health Minister, Health Ministry Officials, India, influenza, jammu, Jammu and Kashmir, June, Kashmir, medicines, minister, ministry, Monday, nabi, population, Pronged Strategy, reason, size, spread, srinagar, strategy, surge, Swine Flu, total, union, view, virus

Cabinet ministers from Kashmir take charge

May 29, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 29 (ANI): National Conference (NC) chief Farooq Abdullah assumed charge of the New and Renewable Energy Ministry here on Friday.

Addressing reporters after assuming charge, Abdullah rubbished claims that he was unhappy with the ministry that he had been allotted.

He described the ministry as the biggest challenge that he was facing, as in times to come, there would be a paradigm shift from conventional energy to renewable energy.

“It is not an ordinary ministry, if you come to think of it. There was no question of being sad or sorry. I am very happy that I have got a challenge to face,” he added.

He said he would go to the people, especially to students in universities and spread awareness about the nature of work, his ministry was undertaking, and encourage them to take up research oriented careers in the field of new and renewable energy.

Senior Congress Party leader Ghulam Nabi Azad also took charge of the Ministry of Health and Family.

Azad expressed happiness over being given an opportunity to work for people in the health sector.

Outlining his priorities, he remarked that the implementation of the National Rural Health Mission would top his agenda as Health Minister.

“My priority in the ministry would be to implement the National Rural Health Mission in letter and spirit. This cannot be done sitting here in the health ministry. I would in every six months sit with the State Government and review the situation,” said Azad. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: abdullah, agenda, ANI, awareness, Azad, cabinet, cabinet ministers, cannot, challenge, charge, conference, Congress, congress party, Conventional Energy, energy, Energy Ministry, family, farooq, field, Friday, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Government, happiness, Health, Health Minister, health ministry, health sector, implementation, Kashmir, leader, letter, May, minister, ministry, ministry of health, mission, nabi, national, national rural health, national rural health mission, Nature, New Delhi, opportunity, Outlining, paradigm, paradigm shift, party, party leader, priorities, priority, question, renewable, renewable energy, Research, rural, sector, Senior, shift, situation, spirit, spread, Spread Awareness, state, state government, undertaking, work

Ghulam Nabi Azad plays down reports of any conflict with DMK

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi/Chennai, May 23 (ANI): Congress general secretary in-charge of Tamil Nadu, Ghulam Nabi Azad discarded reports of ongoing tension between Congress and the Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK).

He said there was no problem whatsoever with DMK. It was mutually decided that they would fix some other day to talk to each other as the date of swearing in ceremony was already fixed. It needed two-three sittings and even DMK itself also said that we’ll sit on some other occasion.

Emerging as the third biggest party in the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) after Congress and Trinamool Congress with 18 seats, DMK is believed to have demanded seven ministerial posts, which was not acceptable to the Congress.

Meanwhile, in Chennai M Karunanidhi, DMK chief, held a high level meeting with important leaders of the party. “We have discussed all the issues of the party, you asked about joining the centre and that was also discussed in the meeting and I cannot reveal all the discussed matter to press at the moment,” said DMK leader Durai Muruga. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: alliance, ANI, Azad, biggest party, cannot, centre, ceremony, Chennai, Chief, conflict, Congress, date, day, dmk, dravida, Durai, general secretary, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Kazhagam, leader, level, M. Karunanidhi, matter, May, meeting, Ministerial Posts, moment, Munnettra, Muruga, nabi, nadu, New Delhi, occasion, party, plays, problem, Progressive, progressive alliance, secretary, sittings, swearing, swearing in ceremony, tamil, Tamil Nadu, tension, trinamool, trinamool congress, united, upa

Manmohan Singh calls first Cabinet meet today

May 23, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 23 (ANI): A day after taking oath as Prime Minister for the second term, Manmohan Singh called a meeting of the Union Cabinet today.

According to sources, it is likely to take a decision on convening a Parliament session to enable new members to take oath. President Pratibha Patil will be addressing a joint sitting of both the houses during the session.

Earlier, Dr. Singh visited Mahatma Gandhi’s memorials besides those of other departed leaders and placed a wreath on them.

He was sworn-in as Prime Minister for a second term along with 19 other Cabinet ministers on Friday.

The 76-year-old, soft-spoken economist is the first Prime Minister since post-independence after Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to office after completing a full term.

Senior Congress leader Pranab Mukherjee, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee, former Chief Ministers S M Krishna, Ghulam Nabi Azad, and Veerappa Moily were inducted in the Cabinet.

Kamal Nath, Sushilkumar Shinde, S Jaipal Reddy, Meira Kumar, Vayalar Ravi, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, B K Handique, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma and C P Joshi also took oath as Cabinet Ministers.

Friday’s swearing-in would be followed by an expansion of the Council of Ministers on May 26. The expansion would include Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (MoS) with independent charge as well as other Ministers of State. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: A K, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma, ANI, antony, Azad, B K, banerjee, C P Joshi, cabinet, charge, Chidambaram, chief ministers, Congress, congress leader, Council, day, decision, deora, Dr Singh, economist, expansion, Friday, gandhi, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Handique, Jaipal, jaipal reddy, jawaharlal, jawaharlal nehru, kamal nath, Kapil, kapil sibal, leader, mahatma, Mahatma Gandhi, mamata, manmohan, Manmohan Singh, May, meeting, Meira Kumar, minister, ministers of state, Moily, MOS, Mukherjee, murli, murli deora, nabi, NCP, nehru, New Delhi, oath, office, P., P. Chidambaram, parliament, parliament session, Pawar, pranab, President Pratibha Patil, prime, ravi, reddy, s, S M Krishna, Senior, session, Sharad, sharad pawar, Shinde, Sibal, Singh, state, Sushilkumar, sushilkumar shinde, swearing-in, term, today, trinamool, trinamool congress chief, union, Vayalar, vayalar ravi, veerappa, wreath

Manmohan Singh takes oath as PM along with 19 cabinet ministers

May 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 22 (ANI): President Pratibha Patil administered oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh along with 19 Cabinet ministers.

The 76-year-old, soft-spoken economist is the first Prime Minister since post-independence after Jawaharlal Nehru to be returned to office after completing a full term.

Kamal Nath, Sushilkumar Shinde, S Jaipal Reddy, Meira Kumar, Vayalar Ravi, Murli Deora, Kapil Sibal, B K Handique, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma and C P Joshi also took oath as Cabinet Ministers.

Mukherjee is likely to retain finance portfolio, which he got as additional charge towards the end of the tenure of the outgoing government.

The names of Krishna and Kamal Nath are being mentioned for External Affairs Ministry. Chidambaram and Antony are expected to retain home and defence respectively.

Today’s swearing-in would be followed by an expansion of the Council of Ministers on May 26. The expansion would include Cabinet Ministers, Ministers of State (MoS) with independent charge as well as other Ministers of State.

National Conference leader Farooq Abdullah, Mukul Wasnik, Vilas Muttemwar figure in the list of names, who will likely find place on Tuesday in the expanded Cabinet.

The Congress would also be looking to bring the DMK around by then so as to also include its representatives in the Cabinet.

The grand swearing-in ceremony, which started around 6:30 p.m., took place in Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan where President Pratibha Patil administered the oath of office and secrecy to Dr Singh and his council of ministers.

The first session of the newly constituted Lok Sabha is expected to begin from June 2, and is likely to continue till June 10. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: A K, abdullah, affairs, Ambika Soni, Anand Sharma, ANI, antony, Ashoka, Azad, B K, banerjee, Bhavan, C P Joshi, cabinet, ceremony, charge, Chidambaram, chief ministers, conference, Congress, Council, defence, deora, dmk, Dr Singh, economist, end, expansion, external, external affairs ministry, farooq, figure, finance, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Government, hall, Handique, home, Jaipal, jaipal reddy, jawaharlal, jawaharlal nehru, June, kamal nath, Kapil, kapil sibal, leader, list, lok, lok sabha, mamata, Manmohan Singh, May, Meira Kumar, ministry, Moily, MOS, Mukherjee, Mukul, murli, murli deora, Muttemwar, nabi, national, NCP, nehru, New Delhi, oath, office, P., P. Chidambaram, Pawar, place, portfolio, pranab, President Pratibha Patil, prime minister manmohan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rashtrapati, ravi, reddy, s, S M Krishna, sabha, secrecy, Senior, session, Sharad, sharad pawar, Shinde, Sibal, Singh, state, Sushilkumar, sushilkumar shinde, swearing-in, tenure, term, today, trinamool, trinamool congress chief, Tuesday, Vayalar, vayalar ravi, veerappa, Vilas, Vilas Muttemwar, Wasnik

Ghulam Nabi Azad likely to visit Chennai to pacify DMK

May 22, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 22 (ANI): Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad is likely to visit Chennai tomorrow to hold talks with Dravida Munnettra Kazhagam (DMK) Chief M Karunanidhi in a bid to break the stalemate over portfolio allocation.

Azad is being deputed as the Congress representative to persuade the DMK Chief after the party announced that it would give outside support to the UPA.

Karunanidhi will not attend Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s swearing in ceremony later this evening.

The DMK, the third largest constituent in the UPA coalition, has demanded three Cabinet portfolios, two Ministers of State berths with independent charge and two Ministers of State berths without independent charge.

Reports said the Congress is willing to give two Cabinet berths, four MOS slots, including two with independent charge. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: allocation, ANI, Azad, Berths, bid, break, cabinet, Cabinet Portfolios, ceremony, charge, Chennai, Chief M Karunanidhi, coalition, Congress, congress leader, Congress Representative, constituent, dmk, dmk chief, dravida, evening, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Kazhagam, leader, M. Karunanidhi, manmohan, Manmohan Singh, May, ministers, ministers of state, MOS, Munnettra, nabi, New Delhi, pacify, party, portfolio, Portfolio Allocation, prime minister manmohan, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, representative, Senior, Singh, slots, stalemate, state, support, swearing, swearing in ceremony, tomorrow, upa

‘It is Congress’ prerogative to allocate portfolios’, says Mamata

May 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TC) Chief Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that it was the Congress’ prerogative to allocate portfolios.

“Let the Congress decide who gets what? We have not made any specific demand. Won’t mind if I don’t get a Cabinet berth,” Banerjee said after attending the meeting of the pre-poll allies of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) here.

Mamata, who was unanimously elected leader of the TC parliamentary party on Monday, has already stated that her party would not bargain for portfolios.

Meanwhile, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Praful Patel said the seat-sharing deal has not been cracked as yet.

Patel further said that one more round of negotiation is left.

Meanwhile, after a third round of negotiations between the Congress and the DMK, the latter has come up with a demand of three Cabinet berths, two Minister of State with Independent Charge berths and two Minister of State.

The Congress, on the other hand, is willing to give six berths, including two Cabinet berths, three Minister of State berths and one Minister of State with Independent Charge berth.

Earlier, both had arrived at a formula that could end the deadlock over who from the DMK would make it to the Union Cabinet.

The Congress negotiation team comprises Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel, while the DMK team includes M. Karunanidhi, T. R. Balu and others. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: ahmed, ahmed patel, alliance, ANI, Azad, Balu, banerjee, berth, cabinet, charge, Chief, Congress, deadlock, deal, demand, dmk, formula, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, hand, independent, latter, leader, M. Karunanidhi, mamata, mamata banerjee, May, meeting, minister, minister of state, Monday, Mukherjee, nabi, nationalist congress party, NCP, negotiation, Negotiation Team, New Delhi, parliamentary party, party, patel, praful, praful patel, pranab, Pranab Mukherjee, prerogative, Progressive, progressive alliance, round, state, T. R. Balu, team, Thursday, trinamool, trinamool congress, union, union cabinet, united, upa

Congress, DMK close to ending cabinet berth deadlock

May 21, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

New Delhi, May 21 (ANI): The Indian National Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), which is in power in Tamil Nadu, have reportedly arrived at a formula that could end the deadlock over who from the latter party will make it to the Union Cabinet.

According to sources, the Congress and the DMK have reached an understanding on two Cabinet rank ministers, one Minister of State (with Independent charge), and three Ministers of State.

However, sources say that the DMK is still jostling for a third full Cabinet rank post, which the Congress is reluctant to hand out.

The Congress negotiation team, which comprises Pranab Mukherjee, Ghulam Nabi Azad and Ahmed Patel is likely to meet the DMK leadership at Tamil Nadu House in New Delhi in a short while from now for a third round of talks to resolve the issue.

Meanwhile, given the deadlock over government formation, which has led to a cancellation of a morning meeting between President Pratibha Devising Patil and the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, the Congress think tank is reportedly seriously considering the re-inclusion of former Railway Minister Lalu Yadav in the Cabinet in move designed to send out a firm message to UPA allies not to overstep their bargaining positions.

Lalu, whose Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) party did not fare well in this year’s general elections, has offered unconditional outside support to the Congress-led UPA.

Earlier in an interview to the Aaj Tak television channel, Lalu said that no one should write him off politically despite the electoral results. Saying that this was not the first time that he had bitten the political dust, he warned that he would come back politically stronger, and therefore, his rivals should not underestimate him.

When asked whether relations with the Congress and more specifically the Gandhi family had deteriorated, Lalu said that ties with the family and the party were just fine, and added that in politics, ups and downs take place.

He also expressed confidence about becoming the country’s Prime Minister one-day. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Aaj, aaj tak, ahmed, ahmed patel, ANI, Azad, bargaining, berth, cabinet, Cabinet Rank, cancellation, channel, charge, confidence, Congress, congress-led, country, Dal, deadlock, Devising, dmk, Dr. Manmohan, Dr. Manmohan Singh, dravida, dust, Electoral Results, family, fine, formation, formula, gandhi, general elections, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Government, Government Formation, house, independent, Indian, indian national congress, Interview, issue, Janata, Kazhagam, Lalu, leadership, Manmohan Singh, May, meeting, message, minister, ministers, ministers of state, morning, morning meeting, move, Mukherjee, Munnetra, nabi, nadu, national, negotiation, Negotiation Team, New Delhi, overstep, party, patel, patil, place, post, power, pranab, Pranab Mukherjee, pratibha, president, prime, railway, railway minister, rank, rashtriya, RJD, round, Singh, state, support, TAK, tamil, tank, team, television, television channel, time, underestimate, understanding, union, union cabinet, upa, ups and downs, yadav, year

Omar Abdullah lends “unconditional support” to UPA govt.

May 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 18 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the National Conference (NC) would provide “unconditional support” to the UPA Government.

“The return of Ghulam Hassan Khan is something that we wanted, but it is not against the desires of the Congress Party. The high command of the Congress Party spoke to the President of the NC and expressed the desire that we do everything to bring him back home,” Omar said

“Khan has unconditionally accepted the invitation of the NC and the Congress high command and come back to his home”, he added.

Khan, a senior leader of the NC from Ladakh, had rebelled to fight the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate against the Congress’ P. Namgyal.

Khan defeated Namgyal by over 3,000 votes.

The NC had given the Ladakh constituency to the Congress under a seat sharing agreement between the two ruling partners in the state. Of the six Lok Sabha constituencies in the state, the two parties contested from three each.

While the NC won all the three seats, the Congress lost Ladakh but won two seats from Jammu region. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: Chief Minister, congress party, constituency, desire, desires, ghulam, hassan khan, independent candidate, invitation, jammu, Kashmir, ladakh, lok sabha constituencies, lok sabha election, Namgyal, srinagar, unconditional support

Omar Abdullah lends “unconditional support” to UPA govt.

May 18, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Srinagar, May 18 (ANI): Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Monday said the National Conference (NC) would provide “unconditional support” to the UPA Government.

“Khan has unconditionally accepted the invitation of the NC and the Congress high command and come back to his home”, he added.

Khan, a senior leader of the NC from Ladakh, had rebelled to fight the Lok Sabha election as an independent candidate against the Congress’ P. Namgyal.

Khan defeated Namgyal by over 3,000 votes.

While the NC won all the three seats, the Congress lost Ladakh but won two seats from Jammu region. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: agreement, ANI, candidate, Chief Minister, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, command, conference, Congress, congress party, constituency, desire, desires, Election, everything, ghulam, Government, govt, hassan, hassan khan, home, independent candidate, invitation, jammu, Kashmir, khan, ladakh, leader, lok, lok sabha constituencies, lok sabha election, May, Monday, Namgyal, national, omar, Omar Abdullah, P. Namgyal, party, president, region, return, ruling, sabha, seat, something, srinagar, state, support, unconditional support, upa

Ghulam Nabi Azad says all options of post-poll alliance open

May 7, 2009 By admin Leave a Comment

Chennai/Nainital, May 7 (ANI): Ghulam Nabi Azad, a senior leader of the Congress Party, has said the party has kept all options open for a post-poll alliance.

Echoing the views of party general secretary Rahul Gandhi, Azad said that some parties might not even wait for the results to open negotiations.

“The real realignment will take place immediately after the polling. I am not saying after the results, even after the polling. So, till such time, we should keep our fingers crossed. I am very much sure that all secular political parties, like-minded political parties whether they are from south, east, north, west, their first choice should be UPA and not NDA,” Azad said in Chennai.

Earlier, Rahul said he was confident of the Leftist parties’ support and praised some leading politicians outside the ruling coalition.e praised Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, a potential swing state in which Kumar may rob current allies of the Congress of crucial seats. There has been speculation that Kumar could tie-up Congress, which he has denied.

But Narendra Modi, firebrand leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), said there were as many aspirants for the top job in the ruling coalition as the number of major parties.

“Everyone in the UPA, dreams of becoming PM. Sharad Pawar is a minister in Manmohan Singh Government but says that I am first in the race for Prime Ministership. Lalu says I am there, Ram Vilas Paswan says I am no less and Mulayam says if gets a chance, I am ready for it,” Modi said in a rally in Nainital. (ANI)

Filed Under: International News Tagged With: alliance, ANI, Azad, bharatiya, bharatiya janata party, Bihar, bjp, chance, Chennai, Chief, Chief Minister, choice, coalition, Congress, congress party, everyone, firebrand, ghulam, ghulam nabi azad, Janata, job, kumar, Lalu, leader, leftist parties, manmohan, Manmohan Singh, May, minister, Minister Nitish, ministership, Modi, Mulayam, nabi, Nainital, narendra, nda, Nitish Kumar, number, Open Negotiations, party, Paswan, Pawar, place, Poll Alliance, polling, post poll, prime, Prime Ministership, Race, Rahul, Rahul Gandhi, rally, ram, ram vilas paswan, realignment, rob, ruling, secretary, secular, Sharad, sharad pawar, Singh Government, speculation, state, support, swing, Swing State, tie-up, time, top job, upa, Vilas, west

Arrest warrant issued against ex-Pak diplomat for issuing fake passport to Indian

Fears of violence as right-wing groups plan 9/11 mosque protest

Kashmir’s heritage garden all set to get a facelift

Indira Gandhi backed plot to kill Pak Army officials: Brig. Ahmed

Electricity still a far-fetched dream for Gurez valley

Muslims perform last rites of a Kashmiri Pandit in Srinagar

I never intended to hurt Shaikh family in any way: Azad

Manmohan Singh speaks with Azad over swine flu outbreak

Centre’s multi-pronged strategy kept swine flu cases negligible: Azad

Cabinet ministers from Kashmir take charge

Ghulam Nabi Azad plays down reports of any conflict with DMK

Manmohan Singh calls first Cabinet meet today

Ghulam Nabi Azad likely to visit Chennai to pacify DMK

‘It is Congress’ prerogative to allocate portfolios’, says Mamata

Congress, DMK close to ending cabinet berth deadlock

Omar Abdullah lends “unconditional support” to UPA govt.

Omar Abdullah lends “unconditional support” to UPA govt.

Ghulam Nabi Azad says all options of post-poll alliance open

Search More News

Technology News

Ads