PTI, Kolkata, 20 December : The Maoists today said they will support Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee's opposition to joint forces operating in Jangalmahal, although she was objecting because 'Operation Greenhunt' was allowing access to CPI(M) "goons".A statement issued by the rebels said, "Mamata is one of the important partners of the UPA government at the Centre and she is opposing the Greenhunt operation because it is giving access to the CPI(M) goons." The statement was written by the Purulia division of the CPI(Maoist) and faxed to PTI office here.
The statement said distinction cannot be made between CPI(M) and Congress leaders as far as support for the offensive was concerned. "But as Trinamool Congress is opposing the joint forces' offensive, so we will extend our full support to its political programmes." န File Cartoon
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VP Hamid Ansari calls for more funds for State Universities
Kolkata, 20 December : Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari on Monday said that higher education cannot improve in India unless State Universities, which are the backbone and represent the bulk of enrolment, are able to obtain greater funds, create new infrastructure and enrich their existing academic programmes.Delivering foundation day lecture at University of Calcutta, Vice President Ansari said anecdotal evidence suggests that the budget of one Central University is almost the same or more than the budget of all State Universities in some States, and added that there are five questions pertaining to higher education that need to be addressed urgently.
The Vice President further said there is a need to liberate education from the strict and fragmented disciplinary confines of our formal higher education structures. န Photo : Avijit Mondal
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Trinamool ready to go to poll alone if alliance fails : Partha
Kolkata, 20 December : The Trinamool Congress is in favour of the alliance with the Congress, but is ready to go to Assembly polls alone if it breaks up, Opposition Leader in the Assembly Partha Chatterjee said today.
'' We want continuation of the alliance, but are prepared to go to the poll, even tomorrow, if it fails,'' Partha Chatterjee said while interacting with newspersons.
Kolkata, 20 December : The Trinamool Congress is in favour of the alliance with the Congress, but is ready to go to Assembly polls alone if it breaks up, Opposition Leader in the Assembly Partha Chatterjee said today.
'' We want continuation of the alliance, but are prepared to go to the poll, even tomorrow, if it fails,'' Partha Chatterjee said while interacting with newspersons.
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Former rebel Daniel held for misappropriating Tripura funds
Agartala, 20 December : A former leader of a banned separatist outfit has been arrested in this Tripura capital for misappropriating Rs.18.10 lakh (over $40,000) meant for the rehabilitation of rebels who gave up arms, police said Sunday.Daniel Debbarma, 45, a former self-styled home minister of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT), was arrested late Saturday. He had surrendered along with a large number of cadres 25 December, 2004. Chief Judicial Magistrate Tridib Chandra Roy Bhowmik Sunday sent the ex-militant leader to four days' police custody for interrogation.
"According to the surrender package, Daniel was acting as a treasurer of a society called 'Yakam' which used to get funds from the Tripura government under the 'Livelihood Development Project' for surrendered militants," police inspector Manindra Chandra Debnath told reporters. "He (Daniel) forged the signatures of the member secretary of the society and withdrew about Rs.18.10 lakh by several cheques from banks," he said.
"In March, a case was registered with the police by the state's tribal welfare department against Daniel that he was involved in Rs.18.10 lakh worth of misappropriation," Debnath added.
The NLFT, along with another outlawed outfit All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF), has been fighting for an independent tribal homeland in Tripura and operates out of Bangladesh, which surrounds the northeastern state. န File Photo
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WB Govt urges Mamata for clearance of pending projects
Kolkata, 20 December : The West Bengal government has urged Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for clearance of several pending JNNURM projects and permission for taking up survey on railway land for projects for which central aid was sought.
The Centre has allotted Rs 4 crore for survey under the Rajiv Awas Yojana. "If these are not done, the Centre will not release any financial aid," Urban Development Minister Asok Bhattacharya said in a recent letter to Banerjee.
Kolkata, 20 December : The West Bengal government has urged Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee for clearance of several pending JNNURM projects and permission for taking up survey on railway land for projects for which central aid was sought.
The Centre has allotted Rs 4 crore for survey under the Rajiv Awas Yojana. "If these are not done, the Centre will not release any financial aid," Urban Development Minister Asok Bhattacharya said in a recent letter to Banerjee.
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Three Leopards to be relocated in Kolkata Alipore Zoo
ANI, Jalpaiguri, 20 December : Three leopards will be shifted from the Khayerbari animal rescue centre of West Bengal's Jalpaiguri District to the Alipore Zoo in Kolkata.The shifting leopards came on the sidelines of the special provision of the Central Zoo Authority of India, The three leopards were rescued from the adjacent tea gardens of Doars. "Three leopards will be transferred from the Khayerbari animal rescue centre to the Alipore Zoo according to the instructions of the Central Zoo Authority. We can't do it by ourselves. When orders come from the authorities we perform our task. Such transfers are done if there is provision or need of such things and can happen in future too," said VK Sood, the Conservator of Forests (Wildlife), North Bengal.
Three leopards aged around two-and-half years are scheduled to leave for their respective destinations before Christmas. The leopards are being transferred because three cages are empty in the Alipore Zoo. န File Photo
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Sheikh Hasina asks ministers, partymen to show results
Dhaka, 20 December : A fortnight away from completing two years in office, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned her ministers and party colleagues that their "honeymoon is over" and they must work to show results over the next three years.
The people will want to see output, concrete results, and will evaluate the government critically in the remaining three years of its tenure, Hasina told her weekly cabinet meeting Sunday. Hasina directed all ministries to expedite their work, saying that her government's "honeymoon period is over after being in power for nearly two years", the Daily Star reported Monday.
Dhaka, 20 December : A fortnight away from completing two years in office, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has warned her ministers and party colleagues that their "honeymoon is over" and they must work to show results over the next three years.
The people will want to see output, concrete results, and will evaluate the government critically in the remaining three years of its tenure, Hasina told her weekly cabinet meeting Sunday. Hasina directed all ministries to expedite their work, saying that her government's "honeymoon period is over after being in power for nearly two years", the Daily Star reported Monday.
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Students Federation of India observes student strike in WB
Kolkata, 20 December : Students Federation of India, the CPI(M)'s student wing, today observed a state-wide strike to protest against attack on their supporters in two colleges by Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad members.
The strike, which was called to protest against the death of Swapan Koley, a student of Jagabandhu College in Howrah and serious eye-injury to Sourav Santra of Asutosh College here, affected studies in colleges and schools across the state.
Kolkata, 20 December : Students Federation of India, the CPI(M)'s student wing, today observed a state-wide strike to protest against attack on their supporters in two colleges by Trinamool Congress Chhatra Parishad members.
The strike, which was called to protest against the death of Swapan Koley, a student of Jagabandhu College in Howrah and serious eye-injury to Sourav Santra of Asutosh College here, affected studies in colleges and schools across the state.
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New identity for Airtel BangladeshNew Delhi, 20 December : Bharti Airtel on Monday launched its new identity for Bangladesh subscribers. With this, Airtel Bangladesh has joined the global Airtel family of 20-crore subscribers having completed the acquisition of Warid Telecom, Bangladesh, from the Dhabi Group for $300 million.
“We know the people of Bangladesh are very passionate about their identity, their culture and their language. The Airtel brand will represent these values, while retaining the youthfulness and dynamism of the global brand so that our customers here can enjoy the same best-in-class brand experienced across continents. We have already begun work to take our mobile network deeper into the rural areas and deliver world-class and affordable mobile services,” said Airtel Bangladesh CEO Chris Tobit.
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Mallya steps down as Bagan director to meet AFC criteria
PTI, Kolkata, 20 December : In order to meet the Asian Football Confederation club licensing criteria before the December 31 deadline, liquor baron Vijay Mallya has stepped down as director and chairman of Mohun Bagan.
Mallya was holding the same post of director in both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, which was not permitted under AFC licensing criteria if the two clubs want to take part in AFC competitions. "Mallya has resigned from his post," Mohun Bagan general secretary and managing director Anjan Mitra told PTI.
PTI, Kolkata, 20 December : In order to meet the Asian Football Confederation club licensing criteria before the December 31 deadline, liquor baron Vijay Mallya has stepped down as director and chairman of Mohun Bagan.
Mallya was holding the same post of director in both Mohun Bagan and East Bengal, which was not permitted under AFC licensing criteria if the two clubs want to take part in AFC competitions. "Mallya has resigned from his post," Mohun Bagan general secretary and managing director Anjan Mitra told PTI.
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World Bank's Rs 1,072 crore for Meghalaya State roads
PTI, Shillong, 20 December : The World Bank will pump in Rs 1,072 crore for road connectivity in rural areas of Meghalaya, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma said today.
The implementation of the projects in the state is proposed to start from 2011. Altogether 567 habitations of the total 756 habitations eligible for road connectivity will be covered under the project which is expected to be completed within five years, Sangma said.
PTI, Shillong, 20 December : The World Bank will pump in Rs 1,072 crore for road connectivity in rural areas of Meghalaya, Union Minister of State for Rural Development Agatha Sangma said today.
The implementation of the projects in the state is proposed to start from 2011. Altogether 567 habitations of the total 756 habitations eligible for road connectivity will be covered under the project which is expected to be completed within five years, Sangma said.
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Bangladesh Air Force' training plane crash kills 2 in Barisal
Barisal, 20 December : A training aircraft of the Bangladesh Air Force has crashed near Barisal airport killing both pilots on board the PT-6.
Squadron leaders Mahmudul Huq, 30, of Gazipur's Kaliganj and Ashraf Ibn Ahmed, 35, died on the spot. The PT-6 aircraft burst into flames while it was approaching the runway. Air Force chief Air Marshal Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman and other top air force officials rushed to the spot after the incident.
Squadron leaders Mahmudul Huq, 30, of Gazipur's Kaliganj and Ashraf Ibn Ahmed, 35, died on the spot. The PT-6 aircraft burst into flames while it was approaching the runway. Air Force chief Air Marshal Shah Mohammad Ziaur Rahman and other top air force officials rushed to the spot after the incident.
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"Jackals" endangering flight safety at "Kolkata Intl Airport"
PTI, Kolkata, 20 December : Last week a jackal strayed onto the runway of the N S C Bose International Airport here forcing the pilot of an aircraft to abort take off and delayed two incoming flights.The jackals as well as birds are attracted to garbage dumped from markets in areas surrounding the airport which pose a danger to air safety. Adding to the problems is the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS)'s recent ban on using guns and firecrackers to scare away birds and animals from the airport premises. The problem was discussed at a meeting of the Airfield Environment Committee headed by West Bengal Home Secretary G D Gautama with officials of the local civic bodies around the airport and the Airports Authority of India two weeks ago.
"Garbage attracts birds and animals, including jackals and wildcats causing trouble for airport operations," airport Dirrector R Srinivasan told PTI.
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