BJP defers withdrawal of support in Jharkhand

RANCHI: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday deferred its threatened withdrawal of support to the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) government in Jharkhand.

Reports said the party has asked all its Jharkhand MLAs to come to Delhi to take a final decision on withdrawing support to the Shibu Soren-led government.

BJP leaders did not meet Governor M.O.H. Farookh at 11 a.m. as scheduled to convey the party's decision to take back legislative support after the JMM voted for the Congress-led government in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

Manmohan wants normal ties, Cong not supporting him: Qureshi

THIMPHU: In an apparent bid to drive a wedge between Indian government and the ruling party, Pakistan has said that "well-meaning" Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was keen to normalise ties with it but "elements in Congress" did not support him.

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi criticised India for refusing to have "meaningful" talks till Pakistan acts against terrorism, saying the contention had been "dragged too long" and "nobody is buying that anymore".

In an interview to PTI here, he insisted that Pakistan has moved "considerably" against perpetrators of Mumbai attacks and the reply to India's dossiers recently was "not to gain time" but to get additional information so that the case can be taken to its logical conclusion.

Dialogue "is the only sensible thing to do. Two prime ministers of this region, two important countries of this region, have to sit and work out (bilateral issues)," said Qureshi who is here to attend the two-day SAARC Summit that got off today.

He said Pakistan was always ready for dialogue but "it seems India is not yet ready, perhaps because of domestic political considerations".

Elaborating on his contention, he said, "I am convinced that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh wants to move forward".

"I think, he (Singh) is a well meaning individual, he has a vision, he wants to leave a legacy behind, he is an academic, he is an economist. He understands the benefits that can accrue to the region if there is normalisation between two important players of the SAARC region. But it seems that elements within the Congress are not giving him the support he should be given".

He, however, did not identify the "elements" within the Congress whom he was referring to.

The Pakistan Foreign Minister said both India and Pakistan have recognised that dialogue is the only way forward and. "If that is so, how can we have dialogue not engagement? Pakistan has never shied from the engagement. We have said we are ready".

On India's emphasis that there can be no meaningful dialogue till Pakistan takes credible action against cross-border terrorism, Qureshi said, "That has been dragged too long, nobody is buying that anymore because Pakistan has moved considerably forward on that score on the perpetrators of Mumbai".

He said seven of the perpetrators of Mumbai attacks have been arrested and the trial is going on.

"You got to recognise that... What you are not realising that Pakistan today is in a different state of mind. Pakistan has woken up to the challenge of terrorism. Pakistan is a victim of terrorism," Qureshi said.

"You are talking of Mumbai, we have had many Mumbais in all the major cities of Pakistan. Innocent lives have been lost like innocent lives were lost in Mumbai," he said.

When pointed out that India was unhappy that Pakistan was only targeting Taliban and not groups like Lashkar-e-Taiba, Qureshi claimed, "We do not differentiate. We are not differentiating between acts of terrorism. An act of terrorism is an act of terrorism, period".

When his attention was drawn to LeT chief Hafiz Saeed against whom India wants action, he cryptically said, "same old beaten track".

He said Saeed was arrested twice by Pakistan government but courts let him off "because in the eyes of the judicial process, the evidence against him was not strong enough to keep him locked up. That is a legal process. You have an independent judiciary, so do we".

Asked whether Pakistan was making any efforts to collect evidence against Saeed in connection with terror activities, Qureshi said, "Pakistan has, is and will continue to try and collect evidence against any terrorist. We do not want our soil to be used against anyone".

Queried whether it meant that even Saeed would not be allowed to use Pakistani soil against India, he repeated, "anyone... Anyone means anyone".

He said that by "disengaging," India was sending out a message to the terrorists "that you control the agenda, by one act, you can scuttle the whole process".

Qureshi also reminded India about the "agreement" that the peace process, started in 2004, is "irreversible and acts of terrorism will not impede the peace process".

Maintaining that India was not "fully recalling" that "agreement", he said, "understand the spirit behind that, recognise the changed situation, recognise that terrorism is a common challenge".

He said that "harping on the same string, it seems, is not going to pay off".

Asked about Pakistan's demand for handing over of Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist held during Mumbai attacks, Qureshi refused to comment, saying the matter was sub-judice.

Soren's deal with Cong: Making son deputy CM?

NEW DELHI: Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren voted for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government in the cut motion on Tuesday. It has set off speculation that there may be new power equation in the state and alter his relation with the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP), his coalition partner.

A shocked BJP said after the vote that it has taken note of Soren's act in the Parliament. Soren, still a member of the Lok Sabha, made a rare appearance to spring a surprise on the BJP.

"We have taken note of it," a senior BJP leader said outside the Parliament, indicating that Soren could face trouble in the state.

"Soren has clearly ditched us. Now we are going to review our stand to support the government led by him," said BJP's state unit spokesperson Sanjay Seth.

BJP sources said Soren may have struck a deal with the Congress under which he may move to the Centre and make his son Hemant the Deputy Chief Minister of Jharkhand.

Opposition calls nationwide strike against price rise

NEW DELHI: A 12-hour nation-wide bandh called by 13 non-NDA and non-UPA parties on Tuesday to protest against price rise hit normal life and affected air and rail services especially in Left-ruled states of West Bengal and Kerala.

The 'Bharat Bandh' which began at 6 am also had some impact in Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Sporadic protests marked the hartal elsewhere in the country including in the Capital.

Streets in West Bengal and Kerala where educational institutions were also closed wore a deserted look.

Besides the four Left parties, the 13-party grouping which gave the call for the bandh consists of AIADMK, BJD, SP, RJD, TDP, RLD, LJP, JD-S and INLD. The grouping is pressing for a roll-back in the hike in prices of petrol, diesel and fertiliser.

Rail services were disrupted in many parts of Uttar Pradesh and three buses torched in Lucknow. SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav's son and MP Akhilesh Yadav was detained in Lucknow while leading protestors.

"A total bandh has been implemented in Bihar. All services are disrupted," claimed RJD chief Lalu Yadav.

CPM leader Brinda Karat claimed the bandh is 'very successful' in large parts of the country while Mulayam warned of anarchy by people if price rise is not checked.

Two train passengers were injured as a clash broke out between travellers in Ganga Sagar Express and bandh supporters at Pandua station in Hoogly district.

In West Bengal road and rail services and flight operations were badly affected and shutters in commercial areas were down. Hundreds of passengers were stranded at railway stations and airports for want of transport.

Airport sources in Kolkata said only ten out of 25 domestic and international flights took off this morning. They included flights of Air-India, Jet Airways and Jetlite.

An Eastern Railway spokesperson told PTI that due obstructions put up by bandh supporters at several stations, train services were disrupted at Howrah and Sealdah division. Long-distance trains were stranded at various stations as bandh supporters sat on the railway tracks.

Reports from Kerala said the protesters picketed trains in different stations.

Both private and state run bus services, taxis, autorickshaws and commercial vehicles are also keeping off the roads. However, no violence was reported, police said.

Vehicular movement was affected across BJD-ruled Orissa as bandh supporters blocked national highways, state highways and other roads, putting a halt to plying of passenger buses, trucks, taxis and auto-rickshaws, police sources said.

Rail services were also affected as trains were stopped at different stations for a brief period, they said.

Normal life in several parts of Jharkhand was affected due to the bandh and the 48-hour shutdown by the CPI(Maoist).

The bandh supporters squatted on railway tracks in Jamshedpur, Jamtara, Giridih and Koderma as the railway authorities cancelled half-a-dozen passenger trains in Jamshedpur.

Cut motion: BSP to support UPA

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati said her party would support the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government over the cut motion expected to be moved in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday.

"We should have voted against the UPA government but it would strengthen communal forces to attain power in the centre. Taking this into account, we have opted to support the government," she said.

The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) as well as the Left parties and some others are set to move cut motions in the Lok Sabha on the budget proposals to hike prices of fuels and fertilisers but the treasury is confident of passing the test of strength.

When budget proposals are presented in Parliament for approval, a lawmaker or a party can question specific allocations with a cut motion. If it is carried in the House, it amounts to a vote of no confidence and the government is obliged to quit.

The BSP supports the UPA government from the outside. Its stance is being linked to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) telling the Supreme Court that it was prepared to consider Mayawati's plea for closing a disproportionate assets case against her.

The BSP has 21 members in the House.

The Congress has issued a whip to its members to be present in the House when the guillotine is applied on demands for grants of certain ministries. Parliamentary affairs ministry sources said the guillotine is expected to be applied at 6pm on Tuesday.

The UPA partners and supporters include Congress - 207, Trinamool Congress - 19, DMK - 18, Nationalist Congress Party - 9, National Conference -3, Muslim League - 2, Kerala Congress (M) - 1, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen - 1, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi-1, Sikkim Democratic Front - 1, Bodoland People's Front - 1, Jharkhand Vikas Morcha - 1, Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi-1, Assam United Democratic Front-1, Nominated-2.

There are nine independent members in the Lok Sabha, some of whom support the UPA.

Meanwhile, the 13-party alliance led by the Left parties appeared divided on Tuesday about bringing a cut motion even as they jointly protested the rising prices of essential commodities at Parliament.

The 13 parties, including the Biju Janata Dal (BJD), Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Samajwadi Party (SP), have called for a nationwide shutdown to protest the price rise issue and the United Progressive Alliance government's economic policies.

However, the parties were clearly divided staging the sit-in at Parliament. While MPs from the four Left parties, the BJD and the AIADMK demonstrated in front of the main gate of Parliament House, the SP, RJD and TDP protested before the Mahatma Gandhi statue inside the premises.

The Left parties are determined to bring the cut motion in the house on Tuesday. CPM leader M.B. Rajesh told IANS: "We will bring the cut motion."

However, SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav had a different view.

Asked whether the RJD and SP would support the Left decision to bring the cut motion demanding a rollback in prices of fuels and fertilisers, he said: "We are observing a Bharat Bandh today, then why should we run the house today?"

His reply indicated that they would not join the Left opposition in their demand for a cut motion.

TDP leader Nama Nageshwar Rao told IANS: "Our party would support the Left in bringing a cut motion."

Later, MPs from the RJD and SP joined the Left parties to raise slogans against the UPA government's economic polices.

The demand for the grant for the general budget presented by Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee earlier this session is expected to be taken up for voting on Tuesday.

Manmohan, Gilani meeting during SAARC meet not ruled out: Krishna

THIMPHU, BHUTAN: In a first official indication of a possible meeting between the prime ministers of India and Pakistan here, external affairs minister S M Krishna on Monday said the bilateral meeting cannot be ruled out.

"I am not ruling it out," Krishna said when asked if Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will meet his Pakistani counterpart Yousuf Raza Gilani during his visit here for the SAARC summit to be held on April 28 to 29.

Observing that heads of states and governments are going to be under the same roof for the next couple of days for the multilateral meeting, the minister said there will be a number of bilateral meetings during the period.

"Let’s wait and watch, how things are going to work out," he said, adding "all bilateral issues between India and Pakistan will be discussed as and when the Prime Ministers meet".

Asked about Pakistan's request seeking the testimony of the Indian magistrates who recorded the confessional statement of Mumbai attack accused Ajmal Kasab, Krishna said he was yet to examine the matter.

Krishna said he has received the dossier containing the request late last night but he was yet to go through the same.

Maintaining that Kasab's trial was in advanced stage in India, he said it was going on in full steam.

"We have to complete our legal formalities first and then we can examine Pakistan's request for the same," he said, adding, the matter will be examined in consultation with other ministries and departments.

The Pakistani side has made a request for three Indian officials, including two magistrates and an investigator, to be allowed to travel to Pakistan to testify that they had recorded Kasab's statement.

A special court in Mumbai hearing the case of Kasab, the lone gunman captured alive by Indian authorities after the Mumbai siege of 2008, is expected to deliver its verdict on May 3.

Krishna arrived here for the 16th SAARC summit to be held on Thursday and Friday.

Parliament adjourned over phone tapping of politicians

NEW DELHI: A united Opposition on Monday forced the adjournment of both the Houses of the Parliament over the alleged tapping of telephones of some senior politicians by the government.

Speaking in Lok Sabha, senior BJP leader L K Advani demanded that the Prime Minister make a statement in the parliament on what he called an ‘emergency-like situation’ in the country. He also said that a law should be enacted to prevent such incidents in the future.

TV reports said the Home Minister P Chidambaram is expected to make a statement in the Lok Sabha on the controversial issue.

Soon after nominated member B Jayashree took oath, the entire opposition led by BJP and Left parties was up on their feet raising the issue.

S S Ahluwalia (BJP) said a notice for suspension of Question Hour has been given even as his colleagues shouted slogans condemning the alleged act.

Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office Prithviraj Chavan said, "Members have raised some issues... notices have been received. The Government will make a statement after the Question Hour."

This, however, did not satisfy the opposition members who continued to raise the issue.

Chairman Hamid Ansari said the Government will make a statement and pleaded with them to allow the Question Hour to proceed.

"All discussions will be at the appropriate time. This is Question Hour... Please allow the Question Hour to proceed," he pleaded but the Opposition benches were unrelenting.

Minutes into the din, Ansari adjourned the House till 12 noon.

Bachchan's detractors the 'Taliban of untouchability': Modi

AHMEDABAD: Lashing out at those objecting to Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan's presence at a government function in Mumbai, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi has dubbed them as "Talibans of untouchability".

Writing on his blog, Modi described 67-year-old Bachchan as a great artist with legendary humility and even taller achievements who has chosen to celebrate the glorious heritage of Gujarat even while facing a lot of criticism from many quarters. "This is inspiring", he said on Sunday.

A controversy erupted over Bachchan attending at a government function in Mumbai where Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan was also present. A section of Congress took objection to his presence as he is the brand ambassador for BJP-ruled Gujarat.

The Bachchan-Congress row took a new twist on Sunday with the megastar claiming that his son Abhishek's posters were removed from the venue of WWF's Earth Hour event in Delhi on Saturday evening attended by Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit and saw a "pattern" behind such acts.

Modi said the anti-Gujarat game plan behind the opposition and the controversy over senior Bachchan stood exposed in daylight now.

"These 'Talibans of Untouchability' have lost all their sensibilities in their pursuit of anti-Gujarat attitudes.

"They may well in future tell us not to eat even salt. They may even ban the eating of Amul butter and milk and order our young people not to wear denim jeans! And guess why? Because Gujarat produces these things," he said.

"Friends, my heart is still unwilling to believe that these Talibans are unaware of the damage they are causing to this nation and to our society," said Modi.

The Gujarat chief minister also wrote about his marathon grilling by the Supreme Court-appointed SIT in connection with a Gujarat riots case.

"I have cooperated with the process of law and accepted its supremacy. I heartily express my thankfulness to the people for their support and prayers in this difficult moment," his blog entry read.

Modi was grilled for over nine hours on Saturday for his alleged role in the Gulbarg Society massacre in which 69 people, including former Congress MP Ehsan Jafri were killed.

Sealink row: Amitabh hasn't committed a crime, says Thackeray

MUMBAI: Coming out in defence of old friend Amitabh Bachchan, Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray on Saturday said the actor has done nothing wrong by attending the inauguration of the second phase of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.

"Amitabh hasn't committed a crime by attending the event," Thackeray said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamna'.

Lambasting Congress for "treating the actor as an untouchable", Thackeray said "Shah Rukh Khan, who took cudgels on behalf of Pakistanis, will do for Congress, which is allergic to Amitabh."

"Amitabh attending the function only added to the prestige of the event," Thackeray said on the actor sharing the dais with Congress leaders at the sealink function.

Bachchan is not a thief, dacoit or a terrorist, Thackeray said.

The presence of Bachchan at the inauguration of second phase of the Sea Link a couple of days back had sparked a controversy with Congress leaders from Mumbai taking objection to chief minister Ashok Chavan sharing platform with the actor who is a brand ambassador for BJP-ruled Gujarat.

"Amitabh is targeted because he is brand ambassador of Gujarat. Ambani and Tata who live in Mumbai have invested heavily in Gujarat. Will anyone from Congress ask them why were they investing in Narendra Modi's Gujarat," Thackeray said.

The actor belongs to the nation and will remain so, he said.

Gujarat riots: Modi likely to appear before SIT today

AHMEDABAD: Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi is likely to appear before the Special Investigation Team on Saturday in connection with a 2002 post-Godhra riot case, sources in the SIT said.

The date was also confirmed earlier by Modi's lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani, who said March 27 was the mutually agreed date on which the BJP leader would appear before the Supreme Court-appointed probe team.

The venue and time of the deposition have been kept a closely-guarded secret.

Earlier, confusion prevailed over his appearance before the SIT with its chief R K Raghavan saying he would depose on March 21. But later, Modi in an open letter claimed that he was not summoned on that date.

SIT has summoned Modi to depose in connection with a complaint of Zakia Jaffery, widow of former Congress MP Eshan Jaffery, who was killed in the riot at Gulburg Society along with 69 others.

If the chief minister appears before the probe panel, this will be for the first time that he would present himself for questioning in the post-Godhra riots that took place eight years ago.

Jeep in minister Pallam Raju's convoy hits auto, 5 dead

HYDERABAD: Five persons in Andhra Pradesh's East Godavari district lost their lives on Thursday afternoon after a jeep that was part of the convoy of minister of state for defence M M Pallam Raju hit an auto.

Police said five persons including four women, who were travelling in the three-wheeler, were killed in the mishap that took place in Perumallapuram in Todangi Mandal.

Seven persons including three policemen were also injured in the accident. They have been admitted to a government-run hospital in Kakinada.

Police said the minister, who was on his way to attend an official programme at a village near Kakinada town, was unhurt. Shocked over the accident, the minister got down from his car and supervised the relief operations.

He, however, had to face the ire of the relatives of the victims who rushed to the scene after learning about the mishap.

SC's interim relief to Andhra on Muslim reservation

NEW DELHI: The Andhra Pradesh government on Thursday received a major boost with the Supreme Court, in an interim order, upholding the validity of 4% reservation provided to backward members of Muslim community in the state.

A bench of Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan and Justices J M Panchal and B S Chauhan, however, referred the issue to a Constitution bench to examine the validity of the impugned Act since it involved important issues of the Constitution.

The SC said that the reservation will be available to 14 groups in Muslim community.

The bench passed the direction while dealing with a Special Leave Petition (SLP) filed by the government against an order of Andhra Pradesh High Court which had earlier struck down the provision as being unconstitutional.

Raghuvanshi sacked as Maharashtra ATS chief

MUMBAI: In a major shake-up in the Mumbai Police, Additional Director General K P Raghuvanshi was today removed as the head of Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), days after he was criticized by the Centre for disclosing some information following the arrest of two suspected terrorists here.

He will be replaced by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria, a home department source said.

"Raghuvanshi has been relieved of the responsibilities of the ATS chief. Joint Police Commissioner Maria will take over," the source told PTI.

Raghuvanshi has been shunted to the state’s law and order department as Additional Director General (Law and Order).

Maria met home minister R R Patil after the reshuffle. The Union home ministry had come down heavily on Raghuvanshi for disclosing "more than sufficient" information to the media after the arrest a few days ago of two terror suspects, who, police said, were planning to attack the ONGC office and shopping centres in the metropolis. The disclosure resulted in a central Investigative team losing out on a vital Pakistan link to the terror module.

Joint Police Commissioner (Law and Order) Himanshu Roy is likely to replace Maria.

The Maharashtra government had last week said it would discuss possible action against Raghuvanshi. Chief minister Ashok Chavan had said though the state government has not received any directive regarding Raghuvanshi, he was aware that the Centre was unhappy with the way certain information was given away soon after the arrests.

Raghuvanshi was appointed the ATS chief on June 11 last year after the Bombay High Court pulled up the authorities over the crucial body remaining headless since the killing of Hemant Karkare in 26/11 terror attacks.

A 1980 batch IPS officer, Raghuvanshi was the first to head the ATS when it was formed in 2004. Earlier, he had worked with CBI for a brief period.

Mulayam Yadav not allowed to unveil statue in UP

LUCKNOW: It seems that statue war has broken out in Uttar Pradesh as Samajwadi Party (SP) president Mulayam Singh Yadav was on Tuesday not allowed to unveil the statue of Ram Manohar Lohia in Lucknow.

Sources said the Samajwadi Party supremo was manhandled by the state police as he tried to inaugurate the statue at a government hospital in the city.

Mulayam Singh Yadav was about to unveil the statue, when the police personnel following stopped him from doing so.

"The political scene in the country is changing. They did it due to the chief minister. Someone could have died had they pulled the ladder. Police officers were pulling the ladder even while we were inaugurating the statute with flowers," said Mulayam Singh Yadav.

"They were even collecting the flowers to show the chief minister that they have tried their best to restrict me," he added.

Samajwadi Party spokesperson Mohan said, "Mulayam Singh Yadav was manhandled," adding that the attitude of the state government was not right.

The district administration said Mulayam Singh Yadav was trying to unveil a status on government property.

The state government had not given its nod to the Samajwadi Party to carry on with the ceremony.

Earlier, Mayawati herself has been embroiled in a statue row, with courts being forced to intervene to stop her from going ahead with a multi-crore statue building spree.

US Congress passes historic health care bill

WASHINGTON: The Democratic-controlled Congress handed President Barack Obama a huge victory on Sunday night extending health care to tens of millions of uninsured Americans and cracking down on insurance company abuses, a climactic chapter in the century-long quest for near universal coverage.

Widely viewed as dead two months ago, the Senate-passed bill cleared the House on a 219-212 vote, with Republicans unanimous in opposition.

Congressional officials said they expected Obama to sign the bill as early as Tuesday. He was expected to make a statement following the vote.

The stakes could not have been higher for Obama's presidency. Republicans hoped that by blocking the legislation, they would be able to thwart the president's ambitious domestic agenda, including immigration reform and climate change legislation.

Obama watched the vote in the White House's Roosevelt Room with Vice President Joe Biden and about 40 staff aides. When the long sought 216th vote came in - the magic number needed for passage - the room burst into applause and hugs. An exultant president exchanged a high-five with his chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel.

"We proved that we are still a people capable of doing big things," the president said a short while later in televised remarks. "We proved that this government - a government of the people and by the people - still works for the people.

While national health care has been a goal of presidents stretching back decades, it has proved elusive, in part because self-reliance and suspicion of a strong central government remain strong in the US.

After more than a year of political combat - certain to persist into the fall election campaign for control of Congress - debate on the House floor fell along predictable lines.

Immediately following the vote, Democrats turned back a Republican move to undo the bill by a vote of 219-212. Republicans argued the legislation would permit the use of federal money to pay for abortions.

"We will be joining those who established Social Security, Medicare and now, tonight, health care for all Americans," said Speaker Nancy Pelosi before the vote, referring the government's pension program and health insurance for the elderly established nearly 50 years ago.

"This is the civil rights act of the 21st century," added Rep. Jim Clyburn, the top-ranking black member of the House.

Republicans readily agreed the bill would affect everyone in America, but warned repeatedly of the burden imposed by more than $900 billion in tax increases and Medicare cuts combined.

"We have failed to listen to America," said Rep. John Boehner, leader of a party that has vowed to carry the fight into November's midterm elections for control of Congress.

Earlier in the day, the House argued its way through a thicket of Republican objections toward an evening vote on the bill to extend coverage to 32 million Americans who lack it, ban insurers from denying coverage on the basis of pre-existing medical conditions and cut deficits by an estimated $138 billion over a decade.

A shouting band of protesters outside the Capitol dramatized their opposition, and one man stood up in the House visitor's gallery shouting, "Kill the bill" before he was ushered out _ evidence of the passions the yearlong debate over health care has stirred.

Obama lobbied by phone from the White House, then took the crucial step of issuing an executive order that satisfied a small group of Democrats who demanded that no federal funds be used for elective abortions.

Over and over, Democrats stressed the historic nature of the day. The measure represents the biggest expansion of the social safety net since Medicare and Medicaid were enacted in 1965 during President Lyndon B. Johnson's administration to provide government-funded health care coverage to the elderly and poor.

"Health care isn't only a civil right, it's a moral issue," said Democratic Rep. Patrick Kennedy. He said his late father, Sen. Edward M Kennedy, had worked his entire career for nationwide health care, and President John F. Kennedy before him.

Obama has said often that presidents of both parties have tried without success to achieve national health insurance, beginning with Theodore Roosevelt early in the 20th century.

The 44th president's quest to succeed where others have failed seemed at a dead end two months ago, when Republicans won a special election to fill Edward Kennedy's Massachusetts Senate seat, and with it, enough votes to prevent a final vote.

But the White House, Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Reid soon came up with a rescue plan that required the House to approve the Senate-passed measure despite opposition to many of its provisions, then have both chambers pass a fix-it measure incorporating numerous changes.

The house approved the fixes shortly after passing the bill on Sunday night.

Under the legislation, most Americans would be required to purchase insurance, and face penalties if they refused. Much of the money in the bill would be devoted to subsidies to help families at incomes of up to $88,000 a year pay their premiums.

The legislation would also usher in a significant expansion of Medicaid, the federal-state health care program for the poor.

The insurance industry would come under new federal regulation. They would be forbidden from placing lifetime dollar limits on policies, from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions and from canceling policies when a policyholder becomes ill.

Parents would be able to keep older children on their coverage up to age 26. A new high-risk pool would offer coverage to uninsured people with medical problems until 2014, when the coverage expansion goes into high gear.

Once enacted, the two bills would create a series of so-called "insurance exchanges" beginning in 2014 where self-employed people and small businesses could pool together to shop for health care coverage.

To pay for the changes, the legislation includes more than $400 billion in higher taxes over a decade, roughly half of it from a new Medicare payroll tax on individuals with incomes over $200,000 and couples over $250,000.

Raj Thackeray comes under fire for calling CST as VT

MUMBAI: Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray, who forced filmmaker Karan Johar to apologize for calling Mumbai as 'Bombay' in his film ‘Wake Up Sid’, is now the target of critics for calling the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) by its former name VT (Victoria Terminus).

The bustling terminus, designed by Frederick William Stevens, a consulting architect in 1887-1888, was renamed as Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus in 1996 but the abbreviation VT has stuck and Raj proved he is no exception.

"At a recent function here, Raj repeatedly called CST as VT. He has no right to preach others," former minister Nawab Malik said.

Raj was addressing a gathering at the railway station, recalling his visits to the terminus during college days. The MNS chief in those days travelled by the Harbour line to CST for three years while studying at the JJ School of Arts.

Lashkar has 20 Indian, 320 global targets: US lawmaker

WASHINGTON: Pakistan-based terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba has identified as many as 320 targets across the globe, 20 of which are in India, a top US lawmaker has said.

"In the wake of the (26/11) Mumbai attack, investigators uncovered in controller records and e-mail accounts a list of 320 locations worldwide deemed by the LeT as possible targets for attack. Only 20 of the targets were located within India," Congressman Gary Ackerman said before a Congressional hearing last week.

"The LeT has been attacking US forces in Afghanistan almost from day one and their forces are present throughout Afghanistan. The LeT has been slaughtering Indians by the score for decades. The LeT has put the world on notice that they intend to escalate the carnage and spread it worldwide," he said.

"This group of savages needs to be crushed. Not starting in a month, not in a year, not when the situation stabilises in Afghanistan, not when things are under control in Pakistan, now, today and everyday going forward. We're not doing it, and we're not effectively leading a global effort to do it. And we are going to regret this mistake. We're going to regret it bitterly," Ackerman said.

Noting that it would be unfair and wrong to suggest that the LeT problem is strictly confined to Pakistan and Middle East, he said, adding in fact, one of the key facilitators of the Mumbai attack was an American of Pakistani extraction, referring to David Coleman Headley.

"Unfortunately, the LeT enjoys a substantial global network stretching from the Philippines to the United Kingdom," Ackerman said.

According to Ackerman, though after 9/11, Pakistan officially banned the LeT, the reality is that like other Islamist terrorist groups, LeT maintains a clear public presence and a vast recruiting network by providing extremely useful charitable and social services to millions of impoverished people in that country.

"Public estimates suggest LeT operates some 2,000 offices in towns and villages throughout Pakistan, as well as maintaining ties with the Pakistani military. There is, in fact, no reason to doubt that Pakistan's military is likely paying compensation to the families of the terrorists killed in the Mumbai attacks. These are our allies in the war on terror," he said.

"Operational funding for the LeT comes from charitable fundraising amongst the general population in Pakistan, but also depends heavily upon contributions by Pakistani businessmen living abroad and other wealthy individuals from the Persian Gulf. Let us note too, these states are also our allies in the war on terror," Ackerman said.

New interceptor missile fails to take off

BALASORE: India's new Advanced Air Defence (AAD) interceptor missile, capable of destroying hostile missiles, on Monday encountered coordination problem and failed to take off during a planned launch from the Integrated Test Range at Wheeler Island off Orissa coast.

"Coordinated exercise between target missile Prithvi from Chandipur and the indigenously built interceptor from Wheeler Island could not take place properly during the planned trial," defence sources said.

Though Prithvi - the target missile - was test-fired at 10.02 hrs from a mobile launcher from ITR's launch complex-3 at Chandipur-on-sea, 15 km from here, the interceptor missile failed to blast off, they said.

Though the exact reason behind interceptor missile's failure to take off was yet to be ascertained, preliminary analysis suggested that the target missile might have deviated from its stipulated trajectory, leading to lack of proper coordination, the sources said.

The trial, aimed at developing a multi-layer Ballistic Missile Defence (BMD) system, was originally scheduled to be held on Sunday from the two different sites of the ITR but had to be put off due to some technical snag in a sub-system at Wheeler Island, they said.

Wheeler's Island is located about 70 km across the sea from Chandipur and the AAD missile was to intercept the target at an altitude of 15 to 20 km over the sea.

Top military brass against permanent commission to women officers

NEW DELHI: Women may have had a long history in military, right from the days of Joan of Arc or even Jhansi ki Rani, but the Indian military brass remains dead against granting permanent commission (PC) to women officers across the board due to what they call `operational, practical and cultural problems'.

Women are being inducted into armed forces as officers since the early-1990s, and many of them have served with distinction, but they can only don their uniforms for a maximum of 14 years even now as short-service commission (SSC) officers. At the most, they can become Lt-Colonels and their equivalents in IAF and Navy in these 14 years.

Many women officers, serving and retired, do not agree with the `double standards' practised in armed forces. "On one hand, the forces keep cribbing about the shortage of officers. On the other, they are perfectly willing to let go of this (women) well-trained and available human resource,'' said a Major.

The government in 2008 did issue orders for PC for women officers but, in what many saw as mere lip-service to gender equality, it was restricted to just the legal and education wings of the three Services, as also IAF's accounts branch and Navy's `naval constructor' department.

The reason was plain and simple. These wings do not involve command of men or battalions. "Women officers have neither been trained for command nor given the responsibility so far,'' a senior officer told TOI on Friday.

"We are going in for having a large SSC base and a lean PC cadre. Granting PC to existing women SSC officers will hit the entire restructuring process. Grant of PC to women must be based on military needs and organisational requirements, not social considerations or pressure exerted by some groups. It has to be a gradual process,'' he added.

But how gradual will the process be? The 2009 batch of SSC women cadets currently undergoing training in the Officers' Training Academy at Chennai or IAF Academy at Dundigal, for instance, will be given the option to choose PC in the legal or education branches just a year or two before they complete 10 years in service. As per existing policy, no serving women officer can get PC.

Some women officers contend they often face a condescending attitude from their colleagues and seniors in the predominantly-male environment of the 13-lakh strong armed forces, where they constitute barely 2.5% to 6% of the officer cadre. Women, of course, are not inducted as PBORs (personnel below officer rank).

"In many fields, like engineering, signals or even flying, women have done better than their male counterparts. So, what is the problem if they are given PC? It's tough to get a second career at 35-40,'' says a woman officer.

Yes, there are operational problems, with the overwhelming chunk of the Army deployed along the borders or in counter-insurgency operations, but women officers can certainly be considered for PC in wings like engineering, ordnance, intelligence, signals, logistics, air traffic control and the like, which will not take them directly to the battlefront.

The military brass, however, holds it's essential to obtain feedback on the performance of women based on the now revised pre-commission training (from the earlier 24 weeks to the present 49 weeks), detailment on courses such as junior command course and assess their performance as sub-unit commanders especially in field areas for holding higher ranks and grant of PC.

AI-IA merger only helped pvt airlines: Panel

NEW DELHI: Faulting the merger of Air India and Indian Airlines, the committee on public undertakings (COPU) on Friday described it as a marriage between "incompatible individuals" that helped neither. The merger, instead, increased losses and put the carriers at a disadvantage to private operators.

Releasing its report on AI-IA becoming one, COPU chairman V Kishore Chandra Deo said the two airlines had suffered in terms of brand value and lost traffic to private competitors while no effort was made to monitor the merger.

The report calls for action against "agencies and individuals responsible for taking a whimsical decision so no PSU suffers such losses in the future".

The report is likely to be more grist to the cold war between Congress and NCP as the civil aviation ministry is headed by Praful Patel, a senior NCP leader. Saying the merger was a policy decision "spearheaded by the ministry in-charge", it says all losses attributable to the merger should be recouped. However, the sweeping criticism may not be easy to quantify in monetary terms.

The the committee on public undertakings (COPU), in its report on the IA-AI merger points out that Indian Airlines had unparalleled recall value but was suddenly rebranded and "Indian" appeared without any convincing rationale.

Though the committee headed by the senior Congress MP does not recommend de-merger, it says after the National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) — merged entity of erstwhile Air India and Indian Airlines — came into being, both carriers suffered losses as prime commercial routes were allocated to private airlines.

The COPU report has recommended that NACIL remain the holding company but Air India and Indian Airlines have separate managing directors. It also called for a fresh timeline for working out the merger and a review of route and slot allocations and improved efficiency norms to be put in place.Another recommendation is that NACIL should develop its maintenance and repair and overhaul unit into a business entity catering to the industry as a whole. Suggesting the merger was thrust on the two carriers, the report said there was no mechanism to ensure accountability of the entire amalgamation process.

While asking the government to apprise it about the action taken against individuals responsible for the merger act, the panel urged stringent punitive measure so that such decision leading to intangible loss to a PSU does not recur in future.

Deo said any fresh infusion of capital should be through a proper mechanism and its utilisation must be ensured. The committee further observed that there is urgent need for route rationalisation and allocation. The Committee observed that utilisation of aircraft is at a low of nine hours per day while the benchmark is 16 hours per day.

"Hence, NACIL should take necessary steps to increase the utilisation of aircraft," it said.

The committee also emphasised the need for corporate work culture, and training and fair treatment to loyal employees. It said the assurance made to the employees before the merger of the two organisations that no employee would be placed at a disadvantage at any stage, must be honoured.