Friday, March 25, 2011

Jat community continues stir, rail affected

Hisar, Mar 25 (PTI) Notwithstanding the Punjab and Haryana High Court order directing Jats not to disrupt movement of trains, activists of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti today continued to squat on various rail tracks in Haryana.The ongoing three-week-long stir by Jats has badly affected rail traffic in northern India, forcing the Northern Railways to cancel several trains, divert routes of some others.Train services on 14 mainlines in Haryana, including Mumbai-Delhi-Rewari, Bhiwani-Delhi-Rohtak, Delhi-Ludhiana-Jind, Narwana-Kurukshetra, Rohtak-Panipat, Rewari-Loharu, Loharu-Jaipur, Hisar-Jaipur, Bhiwani-Hisar, Hisar-Bathinda, and Delhi-Jind-Ludhiana continue to remain disrupted due to the blockade of rail tracks by the Jat activists.Jat protestors have been demanding inclusion of their community in the OBC list so as to avail the benefit of reservation in government jobs.

UDF in Kerala promises Re 1 a kg rice to BPLs

Kochi, Mar 25 (PTI) Congress-led UDF in Kerala has promised 36 lakh jobs, Re one a kg rice for BPL families, farm loans at three per cent interest and free bi-cycles to class X students in its manifesto for the April 13 Assembly elections, released today after ironing out differences with two of its partners over seat allocations.The manifesto promised to provide 25 kg of rice at Re one to Below Poverty Line families and at Rs two per kg to other ration card holders.The grievances of the Communist Marxist Party (CMP) led by former minister M V Raghavan and Socialist Janata (Democratic) of M P Veerendra Kumar have been "amicably" sorted out, front leaders told reporters here.CMP would be contesting in Nenmara, Kunnamkulam and Dharmadam seats after it surrendered Nattika, offered earlier.

AI to start Chennai-Paris flight from March 27

 

Chennai: National air carrier Air India on Thursday said it would introduce a new hub and flight connecting Chennai and Paris from March 27.
The new service, operated on an Airbus A320, would depart from Anna International Terminal in Chennai at 8:45 am and arrive in Delhi in the forenoon.
It would leave Delhi at 1:10 pm and reach Paris at 06:50 pm (local time), Air India said in a statement.
 
air india
The flight to Paris would be operated on Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, it said.
"Passengers from Chennai (bound for Paris) can now complete their immigration formalities at Chennai Airport itself," the statement added.
The service also offers convenient connection from Delhi to passengers bound for Frankfurt and London, it said.
The company said its flights to Paris, Frankfurt and London are operated with Boeing 777 aircrafts "offering comfort and luxury".
Connections are also available for passengers from these cities in the return direction on arrival at Delhi to reach Chennai, the statement added.

MAJOR SETBACK FOR NAGA RECONCILIATION

 

In a major development which could jeopardize Naga reconciliation move, the NSCN-K has announced its decision to shy away from the highest level meeting of FNR until the NSCN-IM withdraws hostilities against the outfit. 
GPRN/NSCN chairman SS Khaplang has reiterated that they will not participate in the Highest Level meeting proposed by the Forum for Naga Reconciliation until and unless the NSCN-IM withdraws their forces and cease their intrusion into Eastern Nagaland for territorial expansion. He was addressing the 31st Republic Day of the outfit. The speech of the chairman was read out by NPAC Convenor Azheto Chophy at the 31st Republic Day celebration at Camp Khehoi which was attended by all rank and file of the group along with NGOs and members of the public. Stating that it makes no sense in having a courtesy meeting, Khaplang also sought ‘thorough explanation to all recent terrorisms in the NSCN’s administered Tesari Region, UT-1, Lotha Region, Yimchunger Region, Khiamniungan Region, Thengnung Region, Konyak Region, Pangmi Region and elsewhere.’ On the occasion, the GPRN/NSCN also appreciated the Herculean task of the FNR, the Quakers, North American Baptist Peace Fellowship, Jimmy Carter and others for shouldering the uphill task to restore peace and reconciliation among the Nagas. Ato Kilonser of GPRN-NSCN, N Kitovi Zhimomi in his presidential address said the ongoing territorial expansion in the eastern part of Nagaland by NSCN-IM has rendered the proposed Highest Level Meeting a complete waste of time. Accusing rival NSCN/GPRN Chairman Th Muivah of sabotaging the reconciliation process, Kitovi said Miuvah had, in the presence of FNR members, ruled out ‘inclusiveness of all Naga inhibited areas’ as a condition for the ongoing Naga political talks with the GoI. He maintained that by ruling out the inclusive aspect in the talks, Muivah had excluded himself from the Naga political process.
Kitovi further insisted that the GPRN-NSCN does not in any way oppose the ongoing talks between rival NSCN-GPRN and GoI. Azheto Chopy, NPAC Convener was the chief guest of the day.