Dec/26/2011

PM's visit: Karaikudi under security blanket

Unprecedented security arrangements have been made in and around Karaikudi in view of the visit of Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Monday.

He is expected to land at the helipad established on the Alagappa University campus in Karaikudi at around 12.45 pm. After a brief stay at the guest house, the Prime Minister will proceed to declare open the Ramanujan Centre for Higher Mathematics at the university.

He will be accompanied by selected dignitaries. The inaugural function will be held at L.Ct.PL Palaniappa Chettiar auditorium at 2.30 pm. Mr. Singh is scheduled to attend a private function at Managiri. He is expected to be in the town for about two and half hours.

Around 5,000 police men have been deployed in Karaikkudi and Managiri. The policemen have taken over the control of Alagappa University campus and the Apollo Hospital premises, where the Prime Minister is scheduled to address the gatherings.

Sandeep Mittal, Deputy Inspector General of Police, told ‘The Hindu' that elaborate security arrangements had been made for the Prime Minister's visit.

Asked about the calls made by various political parties to show black flags to the Prime Minister, he said teams had been working to deal with the proposed agitations.

Meanwhile, sources said that a contingency plan had been drafted to keep away black flag demonstrators.

Two more helipads have been established at Karaikudi and Managiri.

As per the plan, the Prime Minister might land at Managiri from Karaikudi by helicopter instead of reaching Managiri from Karaikudi by road after attending the Alagappa University function.

It is aimed at thwarting the attempts of black flag demonstrators.

Chief Justice visits NTPC

Andhra Pradesh High Court Chief Justice Madan B. Lokur along with High Court judges Justice G. Seethapathy and Justice V. Eshwaraiah visited the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Ramagundam on Sunday.

The Chief Justice inspected all the power plants and generation of power through coal. The NTPC officials explained about the power generation and its synchronisation with the power grid, coal supply, functioning of turbines, cooling towers etc. Karimnagar district judge P. Srisudha, NTPC General Manager Y.V. Rao, DGM (HR) Nanda Kishore, AGM Tripathi and others were also present.

Stone laid

Later, the Chief Justice laid the foundation stone for the construction of three court buildings at a cost of Rs. 6.8 crore at Huzurabad. Speaking on the occasion, he stressed the need for speedy disposal of cases. Earlier, he visited the Sri Venkateshwara temple at Singapur village on the outskirts of town. Karimnagar MP Ponnam Prabhakar, legislator Etala Rajender, Collector Smita Sabharwal, S.P. V Ravinder and others were also present.

22 of a family drown as boat capsizes in Pulicat

A Christmas pleasure ride turned into a tragedy for 22 members of a family, when a boat capsized near the sea mouth of the Pulicat lake backwaters on Sunday afternoon.

Only three boys were rescued out of the 25 present on the boat. A dozen bodies were fished out by rescuers by late evening. Ashok, an alert fisherman who was on a boat in the vicinity, rescued Paul Dinakar (10), Ponraj (12), and Janakaraj (13). The head of the family, Soundarapandian annachi , ran a hotel. His grandson was baptised on Sunday morning. Many relatives had joined them for the joyous occasion and a group of over 20 family members made the trip to Pulicat lake.

The boat, with capacity of only 10 passengers, was not equipped with life vests. Boat driver Ansari (19) and his wife Nasirin Begam are also feared dead.

Parliament discussion on Lokpal Bill tomorrow

The Lok Sabha will begin discussion on the Lokpal Bill on Tuesday, even as Anna Hazare begins his three-day fast at the same time in Mumbai for a “strong” Lokpal.

The House will witness a day-long combined discussion on the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill, 2011 and the Constitution (Amendment) Bill to give the ombudsman a Constitutional status.

The Public Interest Disclosure and Protection to Persons Making the Disclosures Bill, 2010 (popularly known as Whistleblowers’ bill) will also be discussed along with the two bills.

Congress has already issued a three-line whip to its members to remain present in the Lok Sabha during the debate.

It has also requested its allies in the UPA to issue similar whips.

The Lokpal Bill seeks to provide for the establishment of Lokpal at the Centre and Lokayuktas in states to inquire into allegations of corruption against public functionaries.

The Bill had faced objections from various political parties including the BJP at the stage of introduction last week, saying 50 per cent quota for minorities in the Lokpal bench and the Search Committee was “unconstitutional.”

Several parties had slammed the measure claiming that the Bill made it obligatory upon states to establish Lokayuktas and it was an infringement on the federal structure of the country.

Some others had criticised the move to put the Prime Minister under the ambit of the anti-corruption watchdog.

Mr. Hazare has announced that he will begin his three-day fast at Mumbai from Tuesday to protest a “weak” Lokpal Bill.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi had declared that she will fight for the Lokpal Bill.

She had recently told party MPs that to tackle the issue of corruption, three bills with major implications are to be passed soon — those relating to the protection of whistleblowers, enhancing judicial accountability, strengthening anti-money laundering operations and controlling bribery of Indian public officials by foreign companies.

The government aims to establish a mechanism to receive complaints relating to disclosure on any allegation of corruption or willful misuse of power or willful misuse of discretion against any public servant under the Whistleblowers’ Bill which will also come for discussion in the Lower House tomorrow.

The measure also seeks to provide adequate safeguards against victimisation of the person making such a complaint.

N Korea calls heir Kim head of powerful committee

Kim Jong Un in a file picture

North Korea’s state media on Monday called Kim Jong-il’s heir the head of the ruling Workers’ Party Central Committee, which would give Kim Jong Un power over one of the country’s highest decision-making bodies more than a week after his father’s death.

The reference in a commentary by the North’s main Rodong Sinmun newspaper came as two groups of prominent South Koreans with ties to Pyongyang travelled to North Korea to pay respects to Kim Jong-il, who is being mourned by millions in his homeland.

North Korean soldiers, Rodong Sinmun said, are upholding a slogan urging them to dedicate their lives to protect the committee headed by Kim Jong Un. The slogan means that Kim will likely be appointed as the party’s general secretary, one of the country’s highest positions.

North Korea is in official mourning for Kim until after a memorial Thursday. But the country is also offering hints about Kim Jong Un’s rise as ruler. North Korea began hailing him as “supreme leader” of the 1.2—million strong military over the weekend.

Kim Jong Un, who is in his late 20s and was unveiled in September 2010 as his father’s choice as successor, will be the third-generation Kim to rule the communist nation of 24 million.