INDIA COUNTRY BRIEF110207

Basic Political Developments

Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar today said that the party would organise a "massive rally" protesting against the "corrupt and inefficient" state government at the Mantralaya in Mumbai on March 14.

TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao today said nothing short of separate Telangana with Hyderabad as its capital will be acceptable to his party.

Several Congress MPs, ministers and other party leaders from Telangana today held a meeting to discuss on their future course over the separate statehood agitation.

The Tamil Nadu Assembly today passed a resolution allowing AIADMK chief and Opposition Leader Jayalalithaa to abstain herself from the ongoing budget session on health grounds.

Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday said she was hopeful the government and opposition parties find a middle ground over the 2G spectrum controversy so that the budget session can be held without interruption.

Telangana Rashtra Samiti President K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday ruled out the possibility of his party merging with the Congress.

Left parties today approached the Election Commission demanding that West Bengal's borders with other states be sealed during the coming Assembly polls there to ensure that Maoists do not trigger violence.

Government today questioned the logic behind the Opposition's demand saying it will only lead to duplication of probe into the 2G Spectrum scam.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi could not land in the Uttar Pradesh industrial town Monday and instead went to Banda to call on another minor allegedly raped by a ruling BSP legislator.

Left parties on Monday demanded a thorough probe into the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) benefited a private firm through allocation of scarce S-band spectrum without a bidding process.

National Economic Trends

The country's chief statistician said Monday that the Indian economy is expected to grow 8.6 percent this fiscal against 8 percent in the previous year, led by 11 percent growth in services, 5.4 percent in agriculture and 8.8 percent in factory output.

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

Power generation was severely hit at Bihar’s Kahalgaon-based NTPC plant with five of its units shut down following disruption in coal supply from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) Lalmatia mine to the plant.

State-run power equipment-maker BHEL today said it has signed an agreement with Spain's Abengoa to set up solar power projects in India.

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

Vedanta Resources is running against time to close a USD 9.6 billion deal to acquire majority stake in Cairn India as government approval for the transaction is held up due to issues raised by state-owned ONGC.

The Oil Ministry said it is for expediting clearance to Vedanta Resources' $ 9.6 bn acquisition of Cairn India, but wants state-owned ONGC's concerns addressed before that.

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

Maoists on Monday blew up railway tracks at two different places in Jharkhand as they began a day-long strike in three states to protest price rise and corruption.

The helper of a truck sustained burn injuries when suspected Maoists set three trucks on fire on NH-6 at Jhargram in West Midnapore district for allegedly violating "Bharat Bandh" called by them.

The Bombay High Court will decide the fate of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab on February 21.

Labor/Social Unrest

Train services in several parts of West Bengal were disrupted since around 11 am today by members of Foward Juva League, the youth arm of Forward Bloc, to protest rise in the price of essential commodities.

Full Text

Basic Political Developments

BJP to organise "massive protest" again Maha govthttp://www.ptinews.com/news/1330070_BJP-to-organise--massive-protest--again-Maha-govtAurangabad, Feb 6 (PTI) Maharashtra BJP president Sudhir Mungantiwar today said that the party would organise a "massive rally" protesting against the "corrupt and inefficient" state government at the Mantralaya in Mumbai on March 14.

"With slogans like 'Mafiaraj hatao Maharashtra bachao' and 'Mafia ko hatane, BJP maidan mein', the party would campaign from the tehsil to state level and create awareness among the common people regarding the misdeeds of the state government," Mungantiwar said at a press conference after the conclusion of the two-day state BJP meet here.

"Without political patronage, mafia cannot operate in the state. The ministers in the present government are shielding them," he alleged.

Mungantiwar further claimed that despite the Centre's assurance, farmers in the state had not been provided any financial assistance.

"The state government is trying to suppress the voice of the common man. They have changed the definition of the democracy.

Telangana with Hyd as capital, acceptable to us: KCR http://www.ptinews.com/news/1330074_Telangana-with-Hyd-as-capital--acceptable-to-us--KCR-Hyderabad, Feb 6 (PTI) TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao today said nothing short of separate Telangana with Hyderabad as its capital will be acceptable to his party.

"We will continue our fight till separate Telangana is given with Hyderabad as its capital," a party release quoted him as saying while addressing a gathering at the party office here.

He reiterated his allegation that lack of unity among Telangana political leaders has delayed the formation of Telangana state as Congress and TDP leaders refused to quit their posts as they promised earlier.

Telangana has been discriminated against and exploited ever since the formation of Andhra Pradesh, he alleged.

Cong leaders from Telangana discuss statehoodhttp://www.ptinews.com/news/1330080_Cong-leaders-from-Telangana-discuss-statehood

Hyderabad, Feb 6 (PTI) Several Congress MPs, ministers and other party leaders from Telangana today held a meeting to discuss on their future course over the separate statehood agitation.

The meeting discussed how to convince the high command for securing separate Telangana and to make serious efforts for achieving the goal, Congress Lok Sabha member Ponnam Prabhakar told reporters.

The meeting assumes significance against the backdrop of the announcement of the Telangana political Joint Action Committee (JAC) to start a "non-cooperation movement" for Telangana from February 17. JAC comprises TRS, BJP and various people's organisations.

The JAC has threatened to start non-cooperation against Telangana public representatives who refused to join them in fighting for the statehood.

Resolution allows Jayalalitha to abstain bud sessionhttp://www.ptinews.com/news/1331054_Resolution-allows-Jayalalitha-to-abstain-bud-sessionChennai, Feb 7 (PTI) The Tamil Nadu Assembly today passed a resolution allowing AIADMK chief and Opposition Leader Jayalalithaa to abstain herself from the ongoing budget session on health grounds.

Deputy Leader of AIADMK Legislature, O Panneerselvam moved a resolution in this regard, saying doctors have advised the former chief minister complete rest following her health condition.

Seconded by party whip K A Sengottaiyan, Speaker R Avudiyappan went for a voice vote on the resolution. AIADMK members supported it by while the DMK benches remained silent.

Jayalalithaa, known for making rare appearances as Opposition Leader, had not participated in a single day's proceedings after the Assembly was shifted from the old Fort St George to the present new one, inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Mar 13, 2010.

Speaker hopeful of ending Parliament logjamhttp://www.rediff.com/news/report/speaker-hopeful-of-ending-parliament-logjam/20110207.htmFebruary 07, 2011 17:14 ISTLok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar on Monday said she was hopeful the government and opposition parties find a middle ground over the 2G spectrum controversy so that the budget session can be held without interruption. She addressed mediapersons after a third round of talks in New Delhi with government nominees, independent members of Parliament and leaders of single-member parties to ensure smooth functioning of Parliament.

"I have been trying to ensure the budget session runs smoothly. All the independent and single-man party leaders shared similar views. Leader of the House Pranab Mukherjee has called a meeting of the opposition leaders on Tuesday in a bid to end the deadlock. I am sure a middle ground would be found," Kumar said.

Finance Minister Mukherjee, Union minister of state for planning, science, technology and parliamentary affairs Ashwani Kumar and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pawan Bansal represented the government at the meeting. Independents, including Inderjit Singh Namdhari, Jose K Mani of the Kerala Congress and members of Parliament from Sikkim and Ladakh also participated in the deliberations, which lasted for over 90 minutes.

When asked if she agreed with Mukherjee's statement that those against the running of the House are Maoists, Kumar refused to comment. She said in the second round of talks she had invited Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and Rashtriya Janata Dal chief Lalu Prasad Yadav to give their view on the logjam, but unfortunately they did not come for the meeting.

When Namdhari Singh, an independent from Bihar, was asked if he was in favour of a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the 2G scam he said, "I told Mukherjee that if the Public Accounts Committee and the Central Bureau of Investigation are doing their work, there is no harm if the government accepted the plea for a JPC probe. But he said that this could result in duplicity of work."

Mani was hopeful that Parliament will function smoothly, but he refused to answer whether a JPC probe should be conducted into the 2G, Commonwealth Games and Adarsh Society scams.

Speaker Meira Kumar said she as well as the government have received various suggestions to end the deadlock, but refused to divulge the details.

TRS rules out merger with Congresshttp://www.rediff.com/news/report/trs-rules-out-merger-with-congress/20110207.htmFebruary 07, 2011 17:41 ISTTelangana Rashtra Samiti President K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday ruled out the possibility of his party merging with the Congress. After the merger of Telugu superstar Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress on Sunday, rumours were abuzz that the TRS will do the same. "The TRS joining the Congress is the biggest joke of the year," KCR said when asked about reports in a section of local media that senior Congress leader K Keshav Rao was going to meet him with a proposal of merger.

"There is no such proposal," the TRS president told reporters. "We in fact have been asking Congress leaders from Telangana to quit the party and make political sacrifice to achieve statehood," he added.

When asked if the TRS will merge with Congress when Telangana state was formed, KCR said that his party had twin objectives -- forming Telangana state and rebuilding Telangana. "Rumours of TRS merging with the Congress are being spread to created confusion among people," he said.

KCR also said the PRP-Congress merger was a positive development in the fight for Telangana. "One more party advocating a united Andhra Pradesh is done away with. Chiranjeevi is the president of the PRP, but he has said that he will abide by the decision of the Congress high command on the Telangana issue."

KCR also warned that if the United Progressive Alliance government does not introduce the Telangana bill in the budget session of Parliament, a massive non-cooperation movement will be launched that will bring the state to a grinding halt.

Left ask EC to seal West Bengal's borders with states http://www.ptinews.com/news/1331182_Left-ask-EC-to-seal-West-Bengal-s-borders-with-states-New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) Left parties today approached the Election Commission demanding that West Bengal's borders with other states be sealed during the coming Assembly polls there to ensure that Maoists do not trigger violence.

A six-member delegation led by CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury met the Election Commissioners and apprised them of their apprehension about Maoists' plan. Niloptapl Basu (CPI-M), D Raja and Manohar Tirkey (CPI), Abani Roy (RSP) and Barun Mukherjee (Forward Bloc) were the other members.

"If you want a peaceful, free and fair election, then it is imperative that the state borders are sealed. The strategy of the Maoists are to strike and go back," Yechury told reporters here after meeting.

2G probe:JPC will lead to duplication, Govt tells MPshttp://www.ptinews.com/news/1331009_2G-probe-JPC-will-lead-to-duplication--Govt-tells-MPsNew Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) Ahead of a key meeting to resolve the deadlock over the JPC issue, Government today questioned the logic behind the Opposition's demand saying it will only lead to duplication of probe into the 2G Spectrum scam.

Leader of the House and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee sought to drive home this point at a meeting of Independent MPs and single member parties convened by Speaker Meira Kumar as part of her efforts to break the impasse in Parliament.

"Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) are already looking into the issue. What will JPC do? It will also ask for investigation which is already being done," Inder Singh Namdhari, Independent MP from Chatra, said.

Today's meeting, the third convened by the Speaker, was attended by nine members of Parliament.

Rahul Gandhi travels to Banda village to meet rape victimhttp://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-141875.htmlLucknow, Feb 7 : Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, who planned to visit Kanpur to meet the Dalit girl disfigured by attackers because she resisted gangrape, could not land in the Uttar Pradesh industrial town Monday and instead went to Banda to call on another minor allegedly raped by a ruling BSP legislator, officials said. The Congress leader's special chartered plane could not land in Kanpur due to poor visibility. But Gandhi did not give up. He instead flew to Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh from where he drove 120 km to reach Shahbazpur village in Banda to meet the 17-year-old Dalit girl who has accused ruling Bahujan Samaj Party legislator Purushottam Naresh Dwivedi of raping her.

Dwivedi, who is now behind bars, had got her jailed on false theft charges.

Gandhi spent about 15-20 minutes with the rape victim, who was released from jail last month on Chief Minister Mayawati's intervention and has said she wanted to kill the politician "with my own hands".

The Congress general secretary, who has been visiting Dalit homes across the country in a bid to enhance support for the party at the grassroots level, had a glass of milk at the village, officials said.

He was earlier planning to stop at Kanpur on his way to his parliamentary constituency Amethi to meet the 17-year-old Dalit girl (name withheld for legal reasons) who was mutilated when she resisted grangrape.

The girl was Sunday admitted to a Kanpur hospital, where a team of orthopaedic and plastic surgeons spent hours Sunday carrying out several rounds of surgery to restore her half-chopped ear, badly smashed fingers and deep gashes on the face.

The girl had to pay with physical torture for resisting gangrape by three youths of her own village, Udauli in Fatehpur, about 60 km from Kanpur late Saturday evening when she was returning from the fields along with her friend Chhaya.

The victim was allegedly grabbed by three young men Hari Shankar, Shiv Om and Ram Ratan, who pounced upon her, molesting her and trying to tear off her clothes. She, however, managed to raise an alarm.Ironically, the victim of BSP legislator Dwivedi is also 17.

"Left to me, I would kill the MLA (member of legislative assembly) who not only raped me but also passed me on to his henchmen," she had told reporters in Shabazpur on Jan 16, a day after being released from a month in jail.

"After raping me twice, he (Dwivedi) asked me to get married to one his servants so that he could continue to use me...When I flatly refused his offer, he threatened to shoot me with his revolver," the teenager said.

Dwivedi, after allegedly raping the girl who belongs to the Other Backward Classes (OBC), had got her arrested Dec 15 night on charges of stealing his licensed revolver, a mobile phone and Rs.5,000 in cash.

Mayawati ordered the arrest of the legislator of her own Bahujan Samaj Party after the preliminary report submitted by the crime branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) confirmed that the girl was gangraped.

Left parties demand probe into ISRO’s S-band spectrum dealhttp://www.thehindu.com/news/national/article1164827.ece?homepage=trueTerming as “very serious” reports alleging that the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) benefited a private firm through allocation of scarce S-band spectrum without a bidding process, Left parties on Monday demanded a thorough probe into the “new scam”.

“This is a new issue. The ISRO is under the Department of Space which is under Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh). This is also a new scam,” CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury told reporters in New Delhi.

Communist Party of India (CPI) national secretary D. Raja said the new revelations were “very serious”, a view echoed by senior RSP leader Abani Roy who demanded a JPC into the matter.

“The revelations have added a new dimension to the 2G spectrum scam. The ISRO is directly under the control of Department of Space headed by the Prime Minister. It is very serious as ISRO deals with space and it has implications on our security,” Mr. Raja said.

He said the issue will be discussed among the four Left parties.

Mr. Roy said the Left will “definitely” demand inclusion of the “new scam” in the ambit of JPC. “Whether it should be a separate JPC or it should be incorporated in the 2G spectrum issue has to be studied,” he said.

National Economic Trends

India economy to expand 8.6 percent this fiscalhttp://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-141919.html

New Delhi, Feb 7 : The Indian economy is expected to grow 8.6 percent this fiscal against 8 percent in the previous year, led by 11 percent growth in services, 5.4 percent in agriculture and 8.8 percent in factory output, the country's chief statistician said Monday.

As per fresh estimates released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), the gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 8 percent last fiscal and 6.8 percent in 2008-09. The latest estimate for the current fiscal is also higher than 8.5 percent forecast by the central bank.

The country's GDP at factor cost at constant 2004-05 prices is likely to reach Rs.4,879,232 crore (over USD 1,072 billion) in fiscal 2010-11 as against the quick estimate of Rs.4,493,743 crore during the previous fiscal.

Economic growth for the first half of this fiscal is likely to be revised downwards from 8.9 percent provisional estimate, T.C.A. Anant, chief statistician of India, told reporters here.

"Principally, 8.9 percent data was based on what we had projected last year. Now, the base for the previous year has slightly gone up. So the real growth during the first two quarters will be lower," said Anant, adding that the growth during the first half of this fiscal was likely to be revised downward to 8.5-8.6 percent.

GDP growth for 2009-10 has been revised upwards from 7.4 percent to 8 percent, according to the quick estimates of national income released recently by the CSO.

A significant turnaround is seen in farm output this fiscal. The agriculture, forestry and fishing sector is likely to show a growth of 5.4 percent in 2010-11 as against 0.4 percent in the previous fiscal.

The services sector that includes trade, hotels, transport and communication, is estimated to expand 11 percent this fiscal. Financing, insurance, real estate and business services are expected to show a growth of 10.6 percent on the back of 14 percent growth in aggregate deposits and 22.6 percent growth in bank credit during April-November 2010.

The manufacturing sector is estimated to grow 8.8 percent while mining and quarrying is expected to register a growth of 6.2 percent.

The per capita income in real terms is forecast to expand to Rs.36,003 (about USD 790) this fiscal, compared to the estimate of Rs.33,731 in the previous year. "The growth rate in per capita income is estimated at 6.7 percent during 2010-11, as against the previous year's estimate of 6.1 percent," CSO said.

Following are the growth projections for this fiscal released Monday. Previous year's figures in brackets:

* Agriculture, forestry and fishing - 5.4 percent (0.4 percent)

* Mining and quarrying 6.2 percent (6.9 percent)

* Manufacturing - 8.8 percent (8.8 percent)

* Electricity, gas and water supply - 5.1 percent (6.4 percent)

* Construction - 8 percent (7 percent)

* Trade, hotels, transport communications - 11 percent (9.7 percent)

* Financing, insurance, real estate and business services - 10.6 percent (9.2 percent)

* Community, social and personal services - 5.7 percent (11.8 percent)

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

Power generation of NTPC plant badly hit with goods derailmenthttp://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/article1164681.ecePower generation was severely hit at Bihar’s Kahalgaon-based NTPC plant with five of its units shut down following disruption in coal supply from Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) Lalmatia mine to the plant.

The supply was snapped after 21 wagons of a goods train carrying coal to the plant from Lalmatia coalfields in Godda district in Jharkhand derailed near Bochahi village under Sanokhar police station of Bhagalpur district yesterday.

With the MGR tracks of NTPC blocked due to the derailment, the plant authorities decided to shut down five units this morning, official sources said adding two units of the plant were operational at present severely affecting power generation, sources said.

Work was going on a war-footing to ensure early restoration of transportation of coal through the MGR tracks of NTPC for resumption in usual power generation by the plant, the sources said.

One person, identified as Kundan Yadav, was found trapped underneath the damaged wagons in a serious condition, police said.

The police suspected him to be a member of an organised criminal gang indulging in pilfering of coal from NTPC’s MGR track in course of its transportation.

It was suspected that Kundan had snapped the vacuum pipe between two wagons with an intention to stop the speeding train. While trying to do so, he got trapped.

The bridge NO 25 at the accident site, from where some of the derailed wagons rolled down, also got damaged in the accident.

BHEL inks pact with Abengoa for solar power projectshttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/power/bhel-inks-pact-with-abengoa-for-solar-power-projects/articleshow/7443141.cmsNEW DELHI: State-run power equipment-maker BHEL today said it has signed an agreement with Spain's Abengoa to set up solar power projects in India.

"BHEL and Abengoa of Spain have joined hands to develop state-of-the-art solar power projects in India," a company statement said.

However, the statement did not divulge the financial details of the agreement.

The agreement was signed in Seville, Spain, by BHEL Chairman and Managing Director B P Rao and Abengoa Solar Chairman and CEO Santiago Seage.

The agreement will enable both the organisations to leverage their capabilities in offering EPC solutions for solar power projects in India, as well as give them the opportunity to explore cooperation on energy projects in other parts of the world, the statement said.

The agreement is significant in the context of the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission launched by the government, which aims at the establishment of 20,000 MW of solar power generation capacity by 2022.

Through this agreement, BHEL and Abengoa aim to significantly reduce global warming through the use of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technologies that harness the energy of the sun for power generation, thereby reducing the consumption of polluting fossil fuels.

Apart from the power sector, BHEL also caters to other core sectors like industry, transportation, transmission, oil and gas, defence and renewable energy. The company has a presence in over 70 countries around the globe.

Abengoa is a global organisation with interests in the solar, bio-energy, environmental services and power generation sectors. The group has a major presence in Spain and other European Union countries, the USA and Latin America, apart from Africa and Asia.

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

Vedanta rushing to seal Cairns deal, faces ONGC issues http://www.ptinews.com/news/1330907_Vedanta-rushing-to-seal-Cairns-deal--faces-ONGC-issues-New Delhi, Feb 7 (PTI) London-listed mining group Vedanta Resources is running against time to close a USD 9.6 billion deal to acquire majority stake in Cairn India as

government approval for the transaction is held up due to issues raised by state-owned ONGC.

The deal, involving Vedanta acquiring 40 to 51 per cent stake from UK's Cairn Energy Plc and thereafter making an open offer to buy for an additional 20 per cent from minority shareholders of Cairn India, is to be completed by April 15.

But, it has not yet been able to announce the open offer in absence of government nod for the transaction, sources in know of the development said.

As per market regulator SEBI's regulation, an open offer requires 55-60 days to complete and Vedanta was expecting the nod by today so as to have a small buffer for any contingency.

ONGC issue must be addressed before clearance to Vedanta: Govthttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/energy/oil-gas/ongc-issue-must-be-addressed-before-clearance-to-vedanta-govt/articleshow/7443201.cmsNEW DELHI: The Oil Ministry said it is for expediting clearance to Vedanta Resources' $ 9.6 bn acquisition of Cairn India, but wants state-owned ONGC's concerns addressed before that.

"We are for expediting the process (of approval) after addressing all the concerns particularly relating to (ONGC's liability) to pay royalty and cess on behalf of Cairn India," a highly placed source said.

Oil Secretary S Sundareshan had yesterday met chief executives of Vedanta and Cairn Energy, which is selling most of its stake in its Indian unit, but the meeting was inconclusive.

Another meeting was said to happen today but it has not yet been scheduled.

Sources said the two sides went through each of the 11 preconditions that Oil Ministry had set for approving the deal. Cairn/Vedanta explained their point of view.

The Oil Ministry, however, held its ground on the precondition that state-run ONGC's royalty liability in Cairn India's mainstay Rajasthan block will have to be addressed before such approval.

The Rajasthan block, which gives Cairn India 90 per cent of its valuation, is a losing proposition for ONGC , as it has to pay 20 per cent royalty to the state government on the entire output from the field, even though its share of production is only 30 per cent.

Cairn India does not pay royalty on the crude and has even contested the payment of Rs 2,500 per tonne cess on its 70 per cent share.

The source said the ministry "doesn't want to stand in the way of the deal, but the two issues need to be addressed."

While Sundareshan had yesterday described the 90-minute deliberation as "extremely constructive", Cairn Energy -- which is selling most of its stake in its Indian unit to Vedanta -- hoped to complete the transaction on schedule by April 15.

This was the first time the Oil Ministry met Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy Plc Chief Executive Bill Gammell, Cairn India CEO Rahul Dhir and Vedanta representatives M S Mehta (Group CEO) and Tarun Jain (CFO) together.

Cairn/Vedanta wanted oil ministry to give approval without insisting on three out of the 11 preconditions.

The preconditions include Cairn/Vedanta meeting conditions like agreeing to ONGC's demand for recovering the Rs 14,000 crore royalty the state firm will have to pay on behalf of Cairn India from the sale of oil produced from Rajasthan fields.

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

Jharkhand: Maoists blast railway tracks during shutdownhttp://www.rediff.com/news/report/jharkhand-maoists-blast-rail-tracks-during-shutdown/20110207.htmFebruary 07, 2011 09:03 ISTMaoists on Monday blew up railway tracks at two different places in Jharkhand as they began a day-long strike in three states to protest price rise and corruption.

A group of armed Maoists packed explosives to blast a stretch of railway track, 4 km from Mile station in Ramgarh district, at 1.15 am, police sources said in Ranchi.

The guerrillas blasted another stretch of railway track between Dania station in Bokaro district and Bihars Jageshwar station, disrupting train services on the two routes, the sources said.

The Maoists also warned the station master of Dania against movement of trains during the shutdown, and took away the keys of the railway crossing gate there, the police said.

Transporting of coal to different places has also been affected following the shutdown, the sources said. The Maoists had pasted posters in different places saying that they have called a bandh in Jharkhand, Bihar and Orissa today to protest price rise and corruption.

Maoists set ablaze three trucks

http://www.ptinews.com/news/1330831_Maoists-set-ablaze-three-trucksJhargram (WB), Feb 7 (PTI) The helper of a truck sustained burn injuries when suspected Maoists set three trucks on fire on NH-6 at Jhargram in West Midnapore district for allegedly violating "Bharat Bandh" called by them.

The police said Maoist cadre set ablaze two iron ore-laden trucks coming from Orissa at Purnapani. They also set on fire a truck going from Kolkata at Guptamani on the same highway, the police said.

The helper of a truck - Ajay Kumar Giri - received burn injury and was admitted to a nearby government hospital.

Maoists have called "Bharat Bandh" today to protest rise in the prices of essential commodities.

Kasab's fate to be decided on Feb 21http://www.ptinews.com/news/1331245_Kasab-s-fate-to-be-decided-on-Feb-21Mumbai, Feb 7 (PTI) The Bombay High Court will decide the fate of Pakistani terrorist Ajmal Kasab on February 21 when it will pronounce the judgement on confirmation of death sentence to the LeT operative in the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, nine months after it was handed down by a trial court.

Justices Ranjana Desai and R V More said they were ready with the judgement even today but because of bulky paper work and heavy compilation they would pronounce the verdict on February 21.

On the same day, the judges said, they would also give judgement on the appeal filed by the Maharashtra government challenging the acquittal of co-accused Faheem Ansari and Sabauddin Ahmed in the same case. They were given the benefit of doubt by the trial court.

Labor/Social Unrest

Train services disrupted by Foward Bloc's youth wing http://www.ptinews.com/news/1330400_Train-services-disrupted-by-Foward-Bloc-s-youth-wing-Kolkata, Feb 7 (PTI) Train services in several parts of the state were disrupted since around 11 am today by members of Foward Juva League, the youth arm of Forward Bloc, to protest rise in the price of essential commodities.

"Train services in Howrah and Sealdah sections were disrupted due to blockade by Foward Juva League," Eastern Railway CPRO Samir Goswami said.

Howarh-bound Rajdhani Express also remained stranded since 10 am. Some of the stations that were blocked include Sainthia, Sheoraphuli, Medinipur, Nalhati, Azimgunj and Burdwan, he said.

The stations in Sealdah section which were affected include Barasat, Murshidabad, Narendrapur, Dum Dum, Habra and Narendrapur, Goswami said.