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| It's official: Krishna gets MEA, Pranab new FM | | | | AGENCIES
New Delhi, May 23: A day after Manmohan Singh was sworn in for a second consecutive five-year term as Prime Minister along with 19 other Cabinet ministers, the allocation of portfolios began on Saturday.
The External Affairs Ministry has been allotted to SM Krishna, while Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee has been made the new Railway Minister.
Pranab Mukherjee would be seen in a new role as the country’s Finance Minister -- a portfolio he held 25 years ago -- while P Chidambaram would continue to hold charge of the Home Ministry. AK Antony too would continue to be the Defence Minister.
NCP chief Sharad Pawar has also retained the Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Civil Supplies, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution.
The allocation of six portfolios came just hours after the new Union Cabinet met at the PM’s residence – 7, Race Course Road – and decided to convene the 15th Lok Sabha’s first session from June 1-9.
SM Krishna and Mamata Banerjee are the two new entrants in Dr Singh’s Cabinet, which was sworn in yesterday.
The 76-year-old economist-politician wa... | |
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FRONT PAGE STORIES |
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| HOD level reshuffle in Forest likely next month | | With no officers available, ROs, ACFs appointed as ‘incharge DFOs’ | | | Early Times Report
SRINAGAR, May 23: Facing acute shortage of Forestry trained and senior officials, National Conference-led coalition government has continued the policy of previous regimes and appointed a number of junior Range Officers and ACFs as “incharge DFOs” in a number of Territorial Forest and related departments in its first administrative reshuffle yesterday. ‘Stop Gap Arrangement’ has been adopted in gross violation of the guidelines and instructions specially issued by Supreme Court of India few years back.
With the exception of regular recruits (IFS) and 5 SFS officers, all those appointed as “incharge DFOs” are junior officials, either holding the rank of ROs, ACFs... | |
| | | | Advani to be elected as BJP Parliamentary Party leader on May 31 | | | | AGENCIES’
New Delhi, May 23 : The BJP Parliamentary Party will formally elect Mr L K Advani as its leader to enable him to function as the Leader of Opposition on May 31, a day ahead of the commencement of the 15th Lok Sabha sittings. A decision to this effect was made by the BJP Parliamentary Board, the party's apex decision making body, BJP General Secretary Arun Jaitley told newspersons after the meeting. Mr Advani was the Leader of Opposition in the 14th Lok Sabha and was projected as the NDA's Prime Ministerial candidate in the run upto the poll campaign. The Parliamentary Party would also choose the next Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha following the migration of incumbent le... | |
| | | | Terror stumbling block in Indio-Pak ties: SM Krishna | | | | AGENCIES
New Delhi, May 23: As he prepares to assume charge, External Affairs Minister S M Krishna has termed terror infrastructure in Pak as a "stumbling block" in improvement of bilateral ties.
Addressing his first press conference after being appointed Foreign Minster, Krishna said, “Pak and Lanka are our priority.” Adopting a tough line on Pakistan, the minister said, “Pak should take credible action to dismantle terrorist outfits.” He, however, added, “We cannot change our neighbours but peace with Pak is key.”
On the future of the stalled peace process with the western neighbour, the former Karnataka chief minister said, “Pak inaction on Terrorists will be a stumbling block in peac... | |
| | | | Infiltration bid foiled in North Kashmir | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar May 23: Security forces claimed to have foiled an infiltration bid of and killed three unidentified militants during encounter near Darshek Post Karnah sector of Tangdar in Kupwara district of North Kashmir.
Defence sources told that on specific inputs from human sources about the infiltration of militants group from Karnah sector troops of 11 JAT laid ambushes at different places while another party keeps busy the militants after they enter to this side of the border.
During the encounter which took place between militants and troops of 11 JAT three unidentified militants got killed.
Three AK47 rifles, six AK magazines, 70 AK rounds, one pistol, one pistol ... | |
| | | | Former bureaucrat appointed as PDP chief spokesman | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
SRINAGAR: Former bureaucrat Naem Akhtar has been appointed as Opposition Peoples Democratic Party’s chief spokesman, a senior PDP member said here today.
Akhtar would also function as the chairman of the party’s media cell, PDP president Mehbooba Mufti said today while making the announcement.
The bureaucrat turned politician had sought voluntary premature retirement from the government last year when he was posted as secretary tourism.
Coming from the information cadre, Akhtar, after his induction in Kashmir Administrative Service (KAS), served in health and medical education, public works and other departments.
He was dismissed from the service in early 90’s for sp... | |
| | | | Union budget to be passed by July 31 : Chidambram | | | | Agencies
New Delhi, 23 May
In the very first meeting of the Union Cabinet here today, Home Minister P Chidambaram convened that it was decided to get the budget for 2009-10 approved by Parliament by July 31.
"We hope we will be able to pass the Budget by July 31," Home Minister P Chidambaram said, adding if it was not done then the Government will have to seek another vote-on-account for a short period.
The Congress in its manifesto had promised to bring the Budget within 45 days of the creation of the new Government.
Finance Secretary Ashok Chawala had earlier said that "the interim Budget as has been approved by Parliament operates till the end of July. So, the Government has the a... | |
| | | | Pranab faces a tough fight against economic crisis | | | | AGENCIES
New Delhi: India's new Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday he would take steps to protect the economy from the adverse impacts of the global slump and promised to return the country to a high growth path.
Growth is expected to slow to less than seven per cent in the year to April 2009 from rates of nine per cent or more in the previous three years. It is seen slowing further to about six per cent in 2009/10.
"Major economic issues have to be addressed, and various efforts will be made to insulate the economy from the adverse impact of the financial meltdown," Mukherjee said outside his house after he was appointed Finance Minister.
He gave no details but he sai... | |
| | | | CRPF jawan found dead in train near Kathua | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, May 23: A jawan of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) was found dead under mysterious circumstances in a train near Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, police sources here today said.
''The jawan identified as sub-inspector Arshad Ali, son of Ashaad Ali of village Roorkali, Muzaffarnagar, UP was found dead in Tata-Moori train last evening while he was going Bihar for training,'' police sources told UNI.
The deceased was posted with 139 Battalion CRPF and deployed as radio operator in Srinagar.
''He boarded train from Jammu railway station and was found unconscious near Kathua,'' police said adding that he was taken to the hospital by the security personnel t... | |
| | | | Today’s KAs Paper at 2 PM | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, May 23 – The examination for optional subject for candidates appearing in prelims of J&K Combined Competitive Services on May 24 will be from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
According to a notification issued by J&K Public Service Commission (PSC), the change in timing of the optional subject has been effected to avoid clash with the timing of Indian Council of Agricultural Research examination, scheduled to be held on the same date.
... | |
| | | | J&K cabinet expansion likely in mid June | | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Jammu, May 23 (IANS) The 10-member council of ministers in Jammu and Kashmir will be expanded in the second week of June, official sources said Saturday.
The sources said that the cabinet expansion will take place after the June 3 assembly by-election at Hazratbal constituency in Srinagar.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah is now evaluating the performance of the National Conference and has been pleased with the performance of some of the legislators in ensuring party’s victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, party sources said.
The party won all the three seats in the valley while ruling partner Congress won two from Jammu and lost Ladakh constituency to an ind... | |
| | | | Govt. makes jail women , children friendly | | NEW Jail Mannual | | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
Srinagar, May 23- In order to facilitate female prisoners and their children, the State Government has amended the Manual for the superintendence and management of jails in Jammu and Kashmir.
According to a notification issued by the Home Department, a child with its mother is not a prisoner and is entitled to food, shelter, medical care, clothing, education and recreational facilities as a matter of right.
Before sending a woman, who is pregnant, to jail, it shall be ensured that the jail in question had the maximum basic facilities for child delivery as well as for providing prenatal and postnatal care for mother and child, the notification states, adding the facili... | |
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