Kolkata, 20 April : Left Front chairman and CPI(M)'s West Bengal secretary Biman Bose Wednesday alleged that the Trinamool Congress-Congress alliance for the Assembly elections was formed due to US pressure."Recently the WikiLeaks website leaked that the alliance was formed due to the pressure from the Americans," Bose said at a press conference in Kolkata today.
He recalled that 61 Left front MPs, including 35 from West Bengal, had opposed UPA-1's nuclear policy, "in which US interests were involved".
The Left had withdrawn its support to the UPA-1 government over the India-US civil nuclear deal, prompting it to seek a confidence vote in parliament in July 2008.
According to Bose, the US "decided to take revenge against the Left Front in West Bengal and the alliance between the Congress and the Trinamool Congress was formed". န File Photo
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PM invited to consultation on constitution amendment on 26
UNB, Dhaka, 20 April : Awami League President Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, along with her party senior colleagues, has been invited by the Parliamentary Special Committee to the consultations on constitution amendment on 26 April.“I have received a letter from the Jatiya Sangsad Committee and forwarded the letter to Ganobhaban,” Mrinal Kanti Das, Deputy Office Secretary of the party told UNB. Mrinal Kanti Das said the Parliamentary Committee wishes to hold the consultation at 11 am at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban.
The AL Deputy Office Secretary said the special committee’s secretary M Hossain, also the joint secretary of Parliament Secretariat, handed over the letter at around 6 pm today.
The Parliamentary Special Committee is going to begin consultation with political parties and experts on 24 April morning on constitution amendment in line with the High Court verdict on Fifth Amendment of the constitution.
Earlier, co-chairman of the JS Special Committee Suranjit Sen Gupta on Tuesday said Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami would not be invited for consultation on constitution amendment as this party is accused of human rights violation and war crimes in 1971 liberation war.
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Sikim's Nathu La border trade with China to start from 2May
PTI, Gangtok, 20 April : The Nathu La border trade with Tibet Autonomous Region of China will start on 2 May, official sources said here today.The border trade through Nathu La would start on 2 May and will continue till 30 November when the pass at 14,420 ft closes down for winter, the Commerce and Industries department sources said here.
Under the bilateral agreement between India and China, there are 29 exportable items. Sikkim traders are allowed to export them to TAR. But the Indian business community can import only 15 items.
The trade through the Nathu La pass started in 2006.
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Sonia says LF govt siphoned off funds, made WB bankrupt
PTI, Shantipur, Salar, Nalhati, 20 April : Congress President Sonia Gandhi today took on the Left Front government alleging that it remained in power for 34 years banking on its sole claim that it was the messiah of the poor, while it was bankrupting the state by siphoning off central funds."Riding on the claim that they are sympathisers of the poor, the Left has been ruling the state for the last 34 years doing absolutely nothing for them and the backward people," Sonia told an election meeting in Shantipur in Nadia district after hitting the campaign trail for the second time in West Bengal.
Sonia, at another meeting at Salar in Murshidabad, alleged that West Bengal was "siphoning off funds the Centre has given to the state," for other purposes and so the state remained backward.
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Dada Sourav Ganguly's "IPL dream" may not be over yet
PTI, Kolkata, 20 April : Sourav Ganguly's Indian Premier League (IPL) dream may not be over yet as the former India captain today said that he is still hopeful of a comeback in the fourth edition of the ongoing Twenty20 extravaganza.Asked whether he could be seen playing in the ongoing IPL, Ganguly told a television channel, "...Dekhte paabe (you will see). I am keeping my fingers crossed."
There may be a latest window of opportunity for the 38-year-old Dada, as it is believed that Sri Lankan batsman Mahela Jayawardene who is the skipper of Kochi Tuskers Kerala will leave for Sri Lanka in the first week of May for the upcoming tour of England. Sourav is tipped to lead the debutants Kochi outfit once Jayawardene leaves for the national duty.
Sri Lanka today rejected the BCCI's request to allow its star cricketers to play in the ongoing IPL till 15 May, a move which could have a bearing in the relationship between the two Cricket Boards.
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Bangladesh parliamentary committee 4 withdrawing SIM tax
Dhaka, 20 April : Bangladesh parliamentary committee on posts and telecommunications ministry has recommended withdrawal of tax on mobile phone SIM cards in the coming budget.
After a pre-budget discussion with the finance minister on Wednesday, committee chairman Hasanul Haque Inu told reporters he had made the recommendation at the meeting. At present, there is a Tk 800 tax on SIM cards, which the operators subsidise to sell the SIM cards at a lower price than the tax.
After a pre-budget discussion with the finance minister on Wednesday, committee chairman Hasanul Haque Inu told reporters he had made the recommendation at the meeting. At present, there is a Tk 800 tax on SIM cards, which the operators subsidise to sell the SIM cards at a lower price than the tax.
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SUCI workers killed in pre-poll attack in South 24 Parganas
Kultali, 20 April : Two workers of the Socialist Unity Centre of India were killed by some armed persons at a village under Kultali assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district today, police said.
Arshad Ali Gazi and Mrityunjoy Sardar, were shot and stabbed at Baishata village when they were returning home after attending a party election meeting, they said.
SUCI blamed the CPI(M) and called a 12-hour bandh at Kultali area tomorrow demanding immediate arrest of the killers.
Kultali, 20 April : Two workers of the Socialist Unity Centre of India were killed by some armed persons at a village under Kultali assembly constituency in South 24 Parganas district today, police said.
Arshad Ali Gazi and Mrityunjoy Sardar, were shot and stabbed at Baishata village when they were returning home after attending a party election meeting, they said.
SUCI blamed the CPI(M) and called a 12-hour bandh at Kultali area tomorrow demanding immediate arrest of the killers.
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Bangladesh Jamaat announces fresh demonstration, rallies
UNB, Dhaka, 20 April : Jamaat has planned a series of programme of demonstration and rallies across the country from 23 April to focus the failures of the government in its commitments and demanding unconditional immediate release of the party’s top leaders arrested on charge of war crimes.Announcing the programme at a press conference at the party office this afternoon acting secretary general ATM Azharul Islam said they will hold demonstrations across the country on 23 and 27 April protesting spiraling price of essentials and widespread corruption including share market scam.
It will hold discussion on 1 May marking the May Day and will hold protest rallies across the country on 7 May demanding cancellation of the Education Policy and anti-Quran and Islam proposed Women Policy.
Demonstration all over the country on 18 May will demand immediate and unconditional release of Jamaat top leaders Maulana Matiur Rahman Nizami, Ali Ahsan Muhammad Mujaheed, Delwar Hossain Sayedee, M Qamaruzzaman and Abdul Quader Mollah. န Photo : UNB
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Fire broke out United News of India's Kolkata office building
Kolkata, 20 April : A fire broke out in a building housing the office of the United News of India here today, stalling operations in the news agency.
Fire Brigade sources said flames were seen from one of the energy meters on the ground floor of the building which houses a number of shops, offices and residences, and soon spread to adjacent meters. The fire was caused prima facie by an electrical short circuit, they said.
Kolkata, 20 April : A fire broke out in a building housing the office of the United News of India here today, stalling operations in the news agency.
Fire Brigade sources said flames were seen from one of the energy meters on the ground floor of the building which houses a number of shops, offices and residences, and soon spread to adjacent meters. The fire was caused prima facie by an electrical short circuit, they said.
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Second Santali Film RASCA Award on 5May in Jamshedpur
PTI, Jamshedpur, 20 April : Film personalities from Indian tribal-dominated states will assemble here to participate in the second Santali Film RASCA Awards 2011 to be held on 5 May.Organised by Pandit Raghunath Academy of Santali Cinema and Art (RASCA), the film award is being organised after a gap of two years due to parliamentary election in 2009 and inadequate number of Santali films produced in the subsequent year, said Surya Singh Besra, director of RASCA.
Altogether ten Santali films, including five feature and five video films from tribal-dominated states such as Assam, Orissa, Bengal and Jharkhand, have been nominated for the award.
About 30 awards (15 each in two sections) will be given in various category including best actor, actress, producer and director during the function.
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