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India: Manisha to tie knot on June 18 Pg 5 RJD threatens to topple UPA over caste in Census PTI PATNA, JUNE 13

SERBIA PAYS THE PENALTY

IN BRIEF Hi-tech system to check criminals A State-of-the-art control room set up in the city to monitor movement of law breakers through hi-tech cameras installed at various points was inaugurated by Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan. Balakrishnan said the facility, which used video streaming technique, would help in bringing down criminal activities and also to track criminals immediately. Such a system was in use in Thiruvananthapuram city and it had proved to be a success, he said. – (PTI)

Salahis in yet another row Stoking yet another controversy, the infamous Salahi couple, who gatecrashed into the White House dinner hosted for Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, held a Indo-US polo match here without any official participation. The event’s website listed its key sponsor as Kingfisher Beer, but the company’s chief executive said it was not a sponsor.

Billed by Tareq and Michaele Salahi as the “best sporting experience in the US,” not more than a few hundred people attended the event. – (PTI)

Asamoah Gyan scores off a 85th-minute penalty on Sunday to help Ghana to a 1-0 victory over Serbia. This is the first win by an African team at the World Cup.

Jilted lover stabs girl to death in Margao HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 13

Apparently jilted by the victim girl, with whom he was reported friendly for around two years, a 28-year old boy stabbed to death a 24-year old girl Matrubia Shaikh in broad daylight near the Old Bus stand, Margao on Sunday evening.

Incidentally, this is the second killing of a girl in Salcete in the last one month over love turned sour story – the first one being the cold-blooded killing of Wilma Colaco in Cuncolim last month.

In the instant case, the accused Abhijit Patil, a native of Ratnagiri, but presently staying at Rawanfond, stabbed the girl hailing from Kargil in the jurisdiction of Maina Curtorim police station, with a small knife which he was carrying on his person.

Eyewitnesses said that even as the victim collapsed on the ground, the accused made an abortive bid to flee from the spot, but was nabbed by the public, before he was handed over to the nearby Margao police station.

Police sources informed that the boy and the girl were work-

Don’t target Railways: Mamata

The spot near the old bus stand at Margao, where young Shaikh was stabbed to death on Sunday.

Photo by Santosh Mirajkar.

ing in a city-based hotel and had developed friendship over the last two years. The friendship turned sour in recent times after the accused left the job. It is learnt that the boy suspected that the victim had jilted him and had reportedly made attempts to win her back, but in vain.

On Sunday evening, the victim girl, after her duty in a citybased hotel, boarded a bus near Ana Fonte garden and alighted in the city near the Communidade building. She then headed towards the area near the State Bank of India to hire

a motorcycle, where the accused suddenly appeared and told the pilot not to reach her home.

Sources said the accused and the deceased had a verbal duel for some time and in a fit of rage, the accused removed a small knife he was carrying on his person and stabbed the victim on her neck and other parts of her body.

The footwear and an umbrella were found near the spot where the victim collapsed following the stab blows.

Margao Police station incharge, PI Santosh Desai said that preliminary investigations reveals that the accused and the deceased were working in a city hotel and had developed friendship, but their love went sour in recent times.

Replying to a question, PI Desai said the police has recovered the small knife from the possession of the accused. He said the victim died on the way to the hospital.

The accused is cooling his heels in the lock-up, even as the police has registered a case of murder against him. Further investigations are on.

BJP-JD(U) ties on the edge over Modi ad PTI PATNA, JUNE 13

The BJP-JD(U) ties were under strain today despite the two sides trying to soft-pedal the controversy over the NitishModi advertisement projecting the Gujarat Chief Minister.

At the end of the BJP national executive meeting here, nothing appeared to have gone well for the alliance with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar cut up over him being clubbed with Modi in full-page advertisements in local dailies.

BJP went into a damage control mode with senior leader L K Advani saying he would have been happy had Kumar been present at the party’s Swabhiman rally marking the launch of the campaign for the Assembly polls in the State.

“There can be differences in an alliance. I read in the newspapers that due to an advertisement, there were cracks. But by shaking hands, how can there be cracks. It can only lead to friendship,” Advani said in his address at the well-attended rally.

While Kumar’s immediate reaction was not available, JD(U) spokesman Shivanand Tiwari maintained that the photo showing Kumar and Modi has “definitely dealt a blow to the NDA in Bihar.

Pranab puts Arjun on the block Says decision on Anderson was ‘thought necessary’

PTI KOLKATA, JUNE 13

PTI KOLKATA/NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

Accusing her detractors of targeting the Railways, Mamata Banerjee today said lives of people were more important than settlement of political scores.

“Why target the Railways by causing accidents and then ask Mamata to resign? If this be so, then Buddhadeb should resign each day owning responsibility for the road accidents!” the Railway Minister said.

“I am telling everybody from Maoists to others, fight me politically. Please do not cause fatal railway accidents,” Banerjee said.

Giving a new spin on why Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson was allowed to leave the country after the Bhopal gas tragedy, Pranab Mukherjee today said Arjun Singh had taken the decision keeping in view the prevailing law and order situation.

Though Mukherjee, like many Congress leaders, squarely put the onus of the decision on Singh, he said this was “thought necessary” as tempers were running high.

The BJP and the Left parties mounted pressure demanding

It is very clear from the statement of Arjun Singh, published in the media on December 8, 1984, that the law and order situation in Bhopal would have deteriorated and people’s frenzy and temper were running high. Therefore, it was thought necessary to send him (Anderson) out of Bhopal.

— Pranab Mukherjee action against those who allowed Anderson to flee.

In Kolkata, Mukherjee told reporters, “the statement made

by Singh as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister five days after the Bhopal disaster had been published in a newspaper.”

“It is very clear from the state-

ment of Arjun Singh, which was published in the media on December 8, 1984, that the law and order situation in Bhopal would have deteriorated and people’s frenzy and temper were running high. Therefore, it was thought necessary to send him (Anderson) out of Bhopal,” he said.

Leaders on illegal banners can be tried: HC PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 13

A political leader whose picture appears on an illegal hoarding or a banner can be prosecuted, the Bombay High Court has held.

If leaders, who are “eulogised” by party workers are prosecuted for the hoardings that mar the city landscape, it would act as very effective deterrent, Aurangabad bench of the High Court said in the judgement last week.

The Division Bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and S S Shinde was hearing a PIL filed by one Sunil Jadhav, an Aurangabad resident, who had sought action against hoardings in city’s Kranti

Chowk.

During the hearing, the Municipal Corporation’s lawyer had argued that often the hoardings do not bear the name of the person who put it up, so prosecuting the culprit becomes dif-

ficult.

To this, the High Court said, “In addition, the person, whose picture has been prominently displayed, either to felicitate him on his success, welcoming his arrival in the city or for his

birthday, that person may also be liable to be proceeded by the Competent Authority.”

“That is so because, such posters are published and circulated by the workers at the behest of such political leaders to eulogise them.”

If the leaders figuring on hoarding were prosecuted, “every political leader would ensure that all their supporters and workers are unambiguously advised and instructed to forbear and refrain from indulging in display of such illegal hoarding/poster/banner, which causes immense public nuisance and also raises environmental issues.”

Cops scan coastal belt for Mickky HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 13

The police continued their hunt for the former tourism minister, Mickky Pacheco along Salcete’s coastal belt, even as all eyes are focused on the bail plea hearing of Pacheco’s OSD Lyndon Monteiro scheduled to come up for hearing in the High Court on Monday.

It is not known whether the beleaguered Benaulim ML A would surrender to the Crime branch on Monday or wait for the High Court to pronounce its order in Lyndon’s appeal filed against the order of the South Goa Sessions Court rejecting the bail application.

Even as the former minister

continues to elude the investigating agency, the Colva police along with sleuths of the Crime Branch continued to search for the MLA, especially along the coastal belt.

Like during the last two days, the police also visited Betalbatim, Majorda and Colva as part of efforts to lay their hands on the elusive MLA. A police officer attached to the Colva police station informed that the search exercise is apparently to send a signal to the former minister to come out from hiding and surrender to the investigating agency.

It is learnt that Pacheco think tank are consulting legal experts (Continued on page 10)

UPA ally RJD today served an ultimatum on the Centre threatening to pull down the Government if the caste was not included in the census.

Claiming that he could mobilise sufficient numbers to bring down the Government on the issue, RJD supremo Lalu Prasad said there were leaders in other political parties too who shared a common perception on the inclusion of caste in the census even as many of them were not speaking publicly.

Speaking at the RJD (Intellectual front) meeting here, Prasad said keeping in view the demand from various sections of civil society, the Centre should direct the enumerators to include caste in the census to enable each community know its strength.

The move was bound to boost the confidence of individual caste groups after knowing their exact number, Prasad said.

The RJD has four MPs in the Lok Sabha.

Prasad also attacked the UPA on the Women’s Reservation Bill, which he described as “a conspiracy” to undermine the sanctity of institutions like Parliament and state Assemblies.

Don’t underestimate that hand! It could be the hand that is guiding our CM in governance and helping him to overcome obstacles.

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Various groups meet in Panjim to deliberate on bus transport woes

FEAST OF ST ANTHONY

HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 13

The T B Cunha Hall in the capital city saw for the first time ever bus commuters, transporters’ association, civic groups, Road Transport Officers and NGOs coming together in an interface to understand each one’s point concerning bus transport before a further hike in fare was really justified.

The meeting that began at around 10.25 am with a few people saw more joining in to get into serious discussion affecting bus transport in the State. Roland Martin from Goa Civic Consumer Action Network (GOACAN) and Godfrey Fernandes of South Goa Public Interest Action Group placed their views.

Overloading of buses, setting a common standard for a ticket design, behaviour of The St Anthony’s Church at Siolim witnessed devotees in large number to celebrate the feast of St Anthony on Sunday.

Register as voters, St Cruz residents urged

conductors, accidents due to buses racing to pick up passengers, etc were some of the issues that surfaced at the meeting that lasted at around 1.15 pm.

At the meeting All Goa Private Bus Owners’ Association Sudip Tamankar proposed to have a committee constituted of members chosen from among students, NGOs, civic groups, commuters and others concerned. But GOACAN’s Roland Martin suggested let the said committee be formed by the Department of Transport.

He said the committee appointed by the DoT will have Government representation and as such would make more sense because it will have statutory powers by which any decision can be taken forward for concrete action.

Bus operators who were present expressed their anguish against the passen-

ger tax which they have to pay before the 15th of every month. The operators said sometimes in a month their buses don’t operate regularly for various reasons and as such paying the tax was difficult. Suggestion came up that the tax should be levied on the basis of number of tickets sold.

The bus owners’ recent demand for a hike in bus fare also came up at the meeting.

Godfrey Fernandes said he had studied the costing given by the bus owners’ association to the Government and there were many things the bus owners too have to take into consideration.

He said when fare hike demand is made the bus owners have to mention the year the bus was bought. If the bus has crossed seven years then the costing has to be done accordingly and vice versa, he stated.

Mapusa merchants threaten stir if problems are not redressed

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 13

Devotees seek the blessings of St Anthony.

A brass band presenting some of its scintillating music on the occasion of the feast at Siolim.

Photos by Rozario Estibeiro

Ex-ML A of St Cruz constituency Victor Gonsalves has appealed to the residents of Santa Cruz constituency who have completed 18 years to get themselves registered as voters by filling form 6 at the earliest as June 30 is the last date to submit forms to Jt Mamlatdar or designated officers of every polling station.

Assuring his help in filling forms, Victor has urged voters to get corrections, deletions, transfers, etc done before the deadline.

Meanwhile, Victor held a meeting with Asst Chief Election Officer (ACEO) Arvind Bugde and discussed difficulties caused to voters due to mistakes, discrepancies in election roll.

Agreeing to the problems faced by voters for no fault of theirs, Arvind Bugde requested all voters to fill the new forms with photographs and informed that officers have already been appointed i.e. dy Collector as Electoral Registration Officer (ERO), joint Mamlatdar as Asst Electoral Registration officer (AERO) and designated officer for ever y polling station.

Chimbel locals restless as govt still unclear on NH4A widening process HERALD CORRESPONDENT MERCES, JUNE 13

With no clarity on the part of the government on NH4A widening process, people have become restless and have begun agitations, but despite being given several assurances people continue to be in the dark over the issue and do not know what the future holds.

And to make matters worse, the authorities themselves appear to be confused over the widening process as was evident on Sunday when Chimbel locals called up Deputy Collector Anthony J D’Souza, the competent authority for work on NH4A widening (north district), to seek an explanation over some work being undertaken by a contractor in the Chimbel creek, which the residents presumed to be related to road widening.

Though D’Souza was able to allay fears of the locals that the work undertaken is in no way related to the road-widening process and that only soil testing is being done to ascertain the nature of the overbridge that needs to be built at that particular stretch, he was unable to answer the queries of the locals over wide-ranging issues related to the road widening.

Ultimately, D’Souza had to admit that he himself is unaware of the type of development that is going to take place in the process, which poses a question whether the government is really interested in undertaking the NH4A widening in a fair and transparent manner.

D’Souza also added that to prepare a land acquisition plan, there is a need to first prepare a site plan followed by land acquisition plan.

“After preparing the site plan, it is put up for verification and only then is the land acquisition plan prepared,” he informed and hastened to add that in this case

Mapusa Merchants Association President Yeshwant Gaundalker addresses the media.

Photo by Anil Shankhwalker HERALD CORRESPONDENT PORVORIM, JUNE 13

Venting its anger against Mapusa Municipal Council (MMC) for not redressing their grievances despite assurance being given to them, Mapusa Merchants Association has threatened to launch an agitation if MMC does not heed to their demands.

Addressing the media, Mapusa Merchants Association President Yeshwant Gaundalker said the merchants had observed bandh on May 12 to register their protest against hike in various license fees.

“During the meeting convened with the merchants, MMC had agreed to consider our grievances, but MMC has done nothing with regard to lowering taxes/fees,” stated Gaundalker.

“The MMC has earned revenue of Rs 2.32 crore during 2009-10 by way of shop rent, house tax, signboard tax and establishment license fee from Mapusa merchants, but MMC has spend hardly anything for the improvement of market and town,” he said.

Seminar held on new trends in hospitality industry

Gaundalker expressed indignation against MMC for failing to control the onslaught of vendors and hawkers in the town. “The vendors and hawkers are carrying out their business illegally and the government does not get any revenue from them,” he claimed.

“They are contributing lot of garbage and provide scope for anti-social elements too. MMC is getting only Rs 60 lakh through auction of Sopo as compared to huge revenue contributed by Mapusa merchants and yet MMC is encouraging hawkers,” lamented Gaundalker.

He further said MMC claims to have cleaned up all the drains and gutters in the Mapusa market. “On inspection of drains and gutters, Mapusa Merchants Association found that the work has been done shoddily due to which market is bound to flood during rains.”

“If MMC and Mapusa MLA do not take steps to redress our grievances, we will approach the Urban Development minister and then as a last resort we will launch an agitation, if re-

quired,” warned Gaundalker.

All Goa Merchants Federation President Narayan Karekar said the Outline Development Plan 2011 for the town contains several flaws and demanded that it should be scrapped and construction licenses issued to builders based on the ODP should be cancelled forthwith.

“It was duty of the Mapusa MLA to protect interests of the residents of Mapusa while preparing the ODP, but he has failed in his duties,” alleged Karekar.

“The ODP ought to have been prepared by an architect and an engineer, but it has been prepared by assistant engineer sitting in its Panjim office. The fields have been shown as commercial zones and if multi-storied building comes up in these fields, then Mapusa would turn into concrete jungle and there will be severe water and power problems in the town,” he added.

“Mapusa MLA lacks vision, due to which he could not visualise these problems,” claimed Karekar.

14 youngsters qualify to provide first aid HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 13

Following a course on First Aid organised by Ganv Bhavancho Ekvott in Chandor, 14 young persons qualified as trained personnel to provide first aid in any given emergency.

The course was conducted by the Goa branch of the international organisation St John Ambulance Association. Surgeon Examiner Dr Jorson Fernandes was the main faculty with Sr Sheetal Dessai as co-faculty and Larina Fernandes as trainee faculty.

Initially 17 persons from the villages of Guirdolim and Cavorim Chandor enrolled for the course. However, only 14 answered the examinations and all qualified. The participants included students, teachers and even professionals coming from ages ranging from 12 to 45 years.

The practical examination held enacting a real life situation of an accident case turned out to be so realistic that people present at the scene rushed in to help.

Maria Silvia D’Silva, a teacher while evaluating the course said it would help her in her profession particularly as she looks deals with the Guides in the school. Darwin Cardozo recalled how he and his friends had a tough time to move a casualty while at a picnic and said the course had taught some very simple techniques which were extremely effective.

All the successful candidates were presented certificates by GBE President Rui da Silva while the faculty members were presented momentos by project manager Darwin Cardozo.

Dr Jorson for Rotary convention in Montreal HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 13

Dr Jorson Fernandes, Rotary District Gove r n o r nominee 2012-13, will attend the 4-day Rotary International Convention in Montreal from June 20.

The convention will take stock of the present pro grammes and finalise new policies of the organisation for the future under a new theme to be given by the new Governor. `Polio Challenge’ campaign, aiming at its eradication will be one of the main topics that will be taken up for discussion since it has already been launched in India.

Fountain around Dr Cunha statue invites controversy at Vasco

HERALD NEWS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 13

TESTING IN TROUBLED WATERS: Workers doing soil testing in Chimbel creek.

the process was not properly followed.

He further divulged that to complete the demarcation of the area for road widening, he has at his disposal only one surveyor and one draftsman, which is highly inadequate considering the nature of the work involved and the problems that are accompanied with it.

He then informed that there is no clarity on the width required for the highway, whether it is 60 mtrs or 45 mtrs and added that if it is 45 mtrs, then there will be no need for further acquisition of land as PWD has already acquired land for 45 mtrs when the NH4A bypass was built.

Sunil Desai, Convenor of Diversion NH4A Action Committee, who was present to extend support for Chimbel locals, said the government and the concerned authorities are playing with the feelings of the common man and are least bothered to solve their problems.

Sunil further said despite

being given assurances that no work will be undertaken until and unless the grievances of the affected people are solved, works like the one undertaken at Chimbel continue to be executed which only goes to show the lax attitude of the government towards solving the woes of the people.

He then issued a stern warning to the government not to take the people for granted and that time has come to launch a greater agitation, which will be decided at a meeting to be held on June 19 in Ponda where Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar, St Cruz ML A Victoria Fernandes, Fatima de Sa and other leaders are expected to attend.

Another activist Ashok Prabhu informed that Wilbur Smith & Associates, which were appointed consultant to undertake the work of surveying, were paid Rs 9 crore by the Centre for the same.

However, Ashok alleged that the consultant never inspected

Photo by Manuel Vaz

the site, did not do any markings nor inspected any houses or building that would be affected and prepared the plan by sitting in their office at Bangalore based on the Google images.

“The plan is prepared to benefit the politicians, factory owners, builders, etc and not keeping in mind the interests of the common man,” alleged Prabhu.

To support his claim, Prabhu divulged that diversions have been made to protect a hotel of a politician in Ponda and also to protect a private company and various other establishments.

Prabhu questioned the logic behind building a highway that runs through the city, through villages and destroys families that have been settled for ages on this land.

He then appealed to the government and authorities concerned to do a re-think on the issue and re-align the NH4A so that people are not displaced and religious structures saved.

Heritage Institute of Hotel & Tourism organised a seminar on ‘The New Trends in Hospitality Industry’ at the Vasco Residency Hall, Vasco, where prominent personalities of the industry were invited to guide the budding professionals.

Chief consultant of Palette Hotels S K Mukherjee and GM of Hotel Supreme Debashis Sen Roy were the chief guests for the occasion. Also Goa Rehabilitation Board Director Arnaldo Basili do Rego, Vasco councilor Lavina and Pascoal D’Souza were present for the function.

S K Mukherjie explained about the new trends in hospitality industry and shared his experiences. The other speakers gave an insight into the hospitality industry and tips of success to the students. All of them unanimously asked the students to develop self drive and urged them to do their best. They also told that whatever knowledge they are accumulating at the institute will remain useless until they are able to express themselves and communicate it to others. This they strongly felt was the secret of success.

There was also a cultural programme put up by the students of HIHT in which they put up various dances and songs. Altogether it was a very impressive show of talent by the students.

Finally the students of the institute were distributed laptops at the hands of the guests.

The event was concluded by a vote of thanks by Deputy Director Vikas Chopra.

The water fountain around the statue of Goan freedom fighter Dr Tristao de Braganza Cunha that generated heat among the people in port town.

Photos by M Prabhav HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JUNE 13

A well-known Chowk in the port town of Vasco, dedicated to Goan freedom fighter Dr Tristao de Braganza Cunha, has come in for sharp criticism from freedom fighters, senior citizens and former politicians, after a fountain was put up around the statue.

The fountain around the statue of Dr Cunha has invited a controversy from freedom fighters, political parties, senior citizens, who claimed that the water which falls from toe to head of the statue is disrespect to Dr Cunha.

Former deputy speaker and ex-Vasco MLA Simon D’Souza, who made an effort to install the statue during his tenure, recalled that the statue of Portuguese soldier was removed from the Chowk, after Portuguese regime collapsed and the Chowk was named after Dr Cunha.

“However till 1991, no statue was installed at the Chowk. In 1991, which happened to be birth centenar y year of Dr Cunha, the statue of Dr Cunha was erected on April 2, 1991,” informed D’Souza.

As per the beatification drive, local politicians asked the forest department to beautify the Chowk by installing the fountain around the statue.

However, three months ago when the fountain was inaugurated, the water level of the fountain was up to the waist of the statue. But the scenario has changed now, the water falls directly on the statue of the leader from all sides, keeping the statue wet from head to toe.

Irked with this, freedom fighters, former politicians and senior citizens are now up in arms against the fountain.

“With water falling on the

statue, it is very difficult to make out whose the statue it is. It does not look nice and I have complained about it to the minister,” informed D’Souza.

Freedom fighter Shivram Naik said the water which falls on the head of the statue is disrespect to great Goan freedom fighter.

“Instead of installing fountain, they should have beautified the Chowk with greenery or in some other manner,” added Naik.

“The present fountain is a hindrance during functions like Goa Revolution Day on June 18, birth and death anniversary of Dr Cunha, as it will be difficult to garland the statue,” complained Naik.

BJP has threatened that would be forced to come on the street, if corrective measures are not taken before Goa Revolution Day and demanded that the fountain should be removed.

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Kabrastan: govt in tight spot over land acquisition HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 13

The government finds itself in a tight corner over the sensitive question of acquiring land for a Kabrastan for Margao’s Muslim community.

While the government has been served a six-month deadline by the National Commission for the minorities to acquire land for the burial grounds, the powers that be are painfully aware of the stiff opposition to land acquisition for a Kabrastan, not only in the Commercial capital, but across Salcete.

When Herald asked Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat how his government would sort out the sensitive issue in the light of the recommendations from the minority panel, he said his government would find a way out to the imbroglio. “There’s no doubt the Muslim community is facing a genuine problem of a burial ground. But, at the same time, the government had made umpteen

efforts to acquire land for the proposed Kabrastan in recent times. We would continue to pursue the issue so that burial ground becomes a reality for the minority community”, the Chief Minister said.

But, the ground reality remains unchanged, with every proposal to acquire land for a kabrastan had to be abandoned due to objections. In fact, the Goa government in its submission to the National Commission for the Minorities have stated that there atleast four attempts since 1999 to acquire land by invoking Section 4 of the Land Acquisition Act, but all these efforts had to be abandoned due to objections and other “compelling reasons and circumstances”.

Incidentally, the government told the minority panel that it is the duty of the Municipalities to provide burial and cremation grounds to all citizens within its jurisdiction in coordination with the District Collector and also manage it under Section 246 of

the Goa Municipalities Act. In this connection, the government submitted to the panel that it is ready to support the initiatives of the Municipalities either through provision of funds or policy frame work.

But, the moot question is whether the government can acquire the land and allot the same to the Muslim community within six months as directed by the Commission.

While the Chief Minister says no effort would be spared to acquire the land for the burial grounds, the Minority panel has threatened to hold another hearing in July if the progress of the case is found unsatisfactory or if the State government is found to resort to delaying tactics.

That’s not all. Chief Secretary Sanjeev Srivastava will have to once again appear in person before the Commission to explain if the monthly progress report is not submitted to the panel on time and also to apprise the commission of the progress and development of the case.

Rampaging sea threatens beaches, coastal houses in Canacona

NGO to hold vehicle rally in memory of Dr Lohia HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 13

Rampaging sea eats out on major portions of land at Agonda beach, destroying and severally threatening remaining coconut trees.

Photos by Kathy Pereira HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JUNE 13

Monsoons may be yet to fully hit the State, but the Arabian Sea has certainly blown to its abnormality at this time of the year, threatening the existence of beaches and some coastal houses in Canacona taluka.

For the last four days, rains have eluded Canacona taluka, but this has not averted the sea rampage on the entire sea coast, almost threatening the very survival of beaches.

Arabian Sea has gone wild enough and exceptionally violent in Canacona, as huge waves have already begun to pound the shore causing extensive sand erosion, especially during high tide on most of the beaches, informed sources.

According to reports, beaches at Agonda, Colomb, Patnem, Gagibaga and Talpona are threatened with anticipation of severe sand erosions.

The sand erosion has severally threatened one-end of Agonda shore of going into oblivion, so

Social worker to insure 250 households in Canacona

much so that huge chunk of beach stretch have already come under sea, as sea waves constantly pounding the shore keeping in tatters the very survival of several coconut trees.

During last monsoon, this southern end of Agonda beach at Val end had witnessed pounding sea waves causing serious sand erosion and taking away around a dozen of coconut trees and keeping several others in vulnerable situation.

It was then that the than Canacona Mamlatdar Vinayak Volvoikar in the capacity of taluka’s disaster management had visited and inspected the beach shore drastically threatened.

Volvoikar had even informed requirement of some rehabilitation measures to keep beach stretch safe and sound from imminent sand erosion eating out major chunks of beach land every year.

However, locals, who informed that when every year sea eats out into the land portion in the area destroying shore

plantations, regret that authorities continue to remain non-responsive and have done nothing so far to avoid further damages.

A local from the area said: “Last year, Mamlatdar had informed us that necessary protective measures will be in place to arrest further sand erosions in the area.”

Interestingly, lifeguard personnel posted on Agonda beach had to shift their makeshift hut, which they have erected on the beach sand into the private land to avoid rampaging waves.

The lifeguard personnel who were seen lifting their warning red flags from the beach which already came under the sea waters on Sunday informed that around half a kilometer of beach is threatened with the waves constantly pounding the shore.

“The shore-end being a picnic spot, lot of people continue to visit Agonda beach, but we don’t allow any picnickers to enter the seawaters, which hisses in every direction,” said the lifegaurds.

Non-Governmental Organisation Gomant Samvardhan Sanstha in collaboration with Yuva de Goa will organise a vehicle rally from the residence of late Dr Juliao Menezes at Assolna on June 18 in memory of late Late Ram Manohar Lohia and Dr Menezes.

The rally will highlight the contributions made by Dr Lohia along with Dr Menezes and the village of Assolna to the freedom struggle of Goa. Sanstha President Adv Narendra Sawaikar said the rally will take off from the house of Dr Menezes at Assolna at 2.30 pm on June 18 after garlanding the portraits of both the freedom fighters. The rally will address the public on the way through gate meetings before culminating in a public meeting at the historic Lohia Maidan, Margao.

Fr Figueiredo appointed provincial of Panjim-Konkan HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 13

Fr Ian Figueredo has been appointed Provincial of Panjim-Konkan Province of Salesians of Don Bosco (SDB) for 2010-16.

Fr Ian’s elevation from viceprovincial was announced by Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chavez in Rome on Saturday. He will succeed Fr Loddy Pires.

Loutulim-born Fr Ian, who has done his Masters in Formation from Salesian Pontifical University in Rome, was the Novice Master for 12 years, Rector of Panjim unit for six years and Rector of Parra unit for two years before being appointed as viceprovincial.

Community threatens agitation for failure to improve CCHC facilities

HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, JUNE 13

City-businessman and social worker, Sandeep Painginkar has come out with a plan to insure 250 households in Canacona Taluka, where scores of houses were totally or partially damaged in floods last year.

Painginkar said these 250 houses will be insured with a sum of Rs 3 lakh each, including Rs 2 lakh for the house and Rs 1 lakh for the household items.

Saying that he will pay the installment this year, he said the insurance will cover against flood, theft, earthquake, robbery etc.

Forms are made available in the library room of Shraddhanand Vidyalaya, PoinguinimCanacona. He has appealed to the household owners to contact Ajay Prabhugaonkar and complete the formalities. The forms will be processed on a priority basis and the policies will be distributed to all the beneficiaries at the hands of Chief Minister, Digambar Kamat and Transport Minister, Sudin Dhavlikar at the Shraddhanand high school.

Canacona MLA Vijay PoiKhot addresses a meeting at Canacona.

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CANACONA, JUNE 13

The Canacona Health Welfare Community (CHWC) has threatened an agitation in the taluka beginning from June 28, if the government fails to improve facilities at Canacona Community Health Centre (CCHC), Chaudi,

by June 27.

The CHWC convened a meeting which was largely attended by citizens from various walks of life, including the two MLAs from the taluka.

Both MLAs, Vijay Pai Khot and Ramesh Tawadkar, expressed their inability to get the government to improve the health

facilities in the taluka without support of residents.

“When I found that this government is only giving promises, I had even suggested taking around 1000 residents from Canacona to the secretariat, when the assembly is in session, to activate the government’s senses towards the plight of the Canacona people. We may have to do this in future, if the government continues to ignore people’s legitimate demands,” said Canacona MLA Vijay Pai Khot.

Added Poinguinim ML A Ramesh Tawadkar: “I met Chief Minister Digamber Kamat, who

Photo by Kathy Pereira

directed me to Health Minister Vishwajeet Rane. The health minister promised to bring all the needed facilities to Canacona Community health Centre, but till today nothing has materialised.”

Others present at the meeting included CMC Deputy Chairperson Dilip Kenkre, Agonda exSarpanch and panch Jovi Fernandes, Loliem-Polem Panchcyat Deputy Sarpanch Elvis Fernandes, Shristhal Panch Sanjiv Naik, Poinguinim panchas Satish Painginkar and Caitano Barretto, CHWC President Diogo D’Silva and Vice-President Peter Barretto.

PMC to act on encroachers from today HERALD CORRESPONDENT MARCEL, JUNE 13

Taking cognizance of media reports regarding encroachments on footpaths by traders in Ponda, the Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has decided to undertake an anti-encroachment drive from Monday.

It may be recalled that PMC regularly conducted anti-encroachment drives but it did little to deter the traders from blocking the footpath and ob-

structing public movement.

“Our municipal inspector and supervisor have been asked to clear the footpaths and this is a warning to those traders who keep their items on the footpaths,” said PMC Chairperson Pradip Naik.

“We will not confiscate any item, but if they are not adhering to our requests then from Monday onwards, we will confiscate their material. It is also the duty of the Municipal

Gujarat native drowns off Sinquerim coast HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JUNE 13

A 24-year-old native of NavsariGujarat drowned off Sinquerim coast on Saturday.

According to Dristhi reports, Siddhi Thakkar along with her colleagues from Gujarat had gone on the rocks at the foothill of Fort Aguada, where high velocity waves hit the rocks.

Siddhi and two of her friends, Sejal and Brigesh, were caught in one sudden high velocity wave.

Sejal escaped with minor bruises, Brigesh managed to hang on to a

rock, but Siddhi was swept away.

Drishti lifeguards carried out search for Siddhi and succeeded after a long struggle in waters.

Siddhi was brought to the shores in an unconscious state and administered necessary first aid, however she did not regain her consciousness.

She was rushed to Primary Health Centre Candolim for medical attention, where she was declared brought-in dead.

Later, the body was handed over to Calangute police for further investigation.

Inspector and the supervisor to look whether the footpaths

are obstruction free or not,” said Naik.

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PI can’t authorise use of loud speakers: HC

5 killed in tin shed collapse

event, which took place between March 3 and March 11, coincided with Std X and XII board examinations.

After the organisers assured that they would abide by noise pollution rules, court had allowed the event to proceed, and kept the petition pending.

But in the judgement delivered last week, the court observed that organisers had obtained permission to use loudspeakers from the local Mukundwadi police station.

Under the Noise Pollution (Regulation and Control) Rules, 2000, the authority which can give such a permission includes "a District Magistrate, Police Commissioner, or any other officer not below the rank of the Deputy Superintendent of Police

Five students were killed on the spot and seven others injured when a tin shed of the Arbi Madrassa 'Osmanbin Affan' collapsed due to gusty winds at Bhalgaon-Mehdhi Village, about 60 km from the Gangapur Tehsil, last night.

Police said today the incident occurred when the students had gathered to offer Prayers. When they were performing ablution, a lightning struck blowing away the roof of the tin shed, killing five students instaneously.

The deceased have been identified as Aaref Munshi (10, Gangapur), Farhan Shakeel (10, Shillod), Sajid Abdul Nasir (11, Aurangabad), Mobin Shaikh (12, Paithan) and Irfan Shaikh (12, Aurangabad).

PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 13

A mere police inspector in charge of a local police station cannot give the permission for use of loud speakers/public address system, the Bombay High Court has held in an important ruling.

Only an officer 'not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police' can grant the permission, division bench of Justices A M Khanwilkar and S S Shinde pointed out.

The High Court was hearing a petition filed by Aurangabadbased Anand Salvi, who had sought ban on use of loudspeakers during 'Aurangabad Premier League', a cricket tournament, at ADCC stadium in the city.

Salvi had pointed out that the

Candidates tested by walking for 25 kms HERALD CORRESPONDENT BELGAUM, JUNE 13

More than 3000 candidates appeared for the walking test that was conducted here as the part of selection process for recruiting foresters and guards.

The candidates were made to walk a distance of about 25 kms to prove their fitness for the posts that demand a maximum of walking in the forest areas.

The selection procedure to recruit 218 vacancies has commenced at the CP Ed ground and police grounds here since Wednesday.

According to the information received from the recruiting authorities, while a man has to cover about 25 kms in four hours, the woman candidate needs to cover 14 kms in same time. The fist aid and amenities like drinking water and electrolyte were arranged along Ganehspur Road and Macche Road where the test was carried out.

", the judges noted.

Further, the court observed that police should have taken into account the fact that the tournament coincided with board exams.

"It appears that such events are organised by local politicians with the sole intention of networking with the masses...In the name of promoting sports, such events are being organised to consolidate one's political position...", Judges said.

"The officials of the Police Department as well as that of the Pollution Control Board have, therefore, failed to discharge their obligation," court added.

Here onwards, the state must take steps to see to it that Noise Rules are implemented correctly, the court said.

UNI AURANGABAD, JUNE 13

Akshay to host cookery show on Star Plus

PTI MUMBAI, JUNe 13

Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar is all set to host a cookery show called "Master Chef India" on Star Plus.

The show will go on air later this year, Star India CEO Uday Shankar told reporters while unveiling Ruby Star in red background which is the new look of the channel.

He denied that the show has been planned to counter "Khatron ke khiladi" season three on Colors which will be hosted by Priyanka Chopra.

"Our objective is to put together an entertaining show and the effort is to be one stop shop for all creative urges. We don't believe in countering individuals no matter how big they are," he said.

Members of the audience can participate in the cookery show to showcase their culinary skills and share screen space with the "Khiladi" Kumar who worked as a chef in Bangkok before making

it big in Bollywood.

To a question on why the channel discontinued with the season four of Kaun Banega Crorepati (KBC), Shankar said the show did very well for three seasons on the channel. He attributed the decision to discontinue with the show as a "creative judgement".

When asked the reason of selecting "Ruby Star" as the new look, Shankar said Ruby was precious, rare, rich, glamorous and exceptionally desirable.

"As per our strategy, these are the same qualities with Star

Plus. We believe that numbers will follow the strategy," he said.

Shankar said apart from "Master Chef India", the IIFA Weekend in Colombo and Ekta Kapoor's "Tere Liye" are the other offerings from the channel which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year.

He expressed satisfaction that Star daily soaps like "Sasural Genda Phool" and "Pratigya" which reflect a fresh perspective on life and relationships have been well received.

He said the channel's programming hence forth would focus on "Rishta Wahi, Soch Nayi".

"Women would continue to be the focus and the process of change would be demonstrated in strong characters who reflect the fresh thinking on the channel. The woman on star plus content brings nayi soch either quietly, staying in the background or leading from the front," he said.

Chief minister of Karnataka B S Yeddyurappa watching the statue of Lord Buddha at Mahabodhi Temple during his visit to the world Heritage Mahabodhi Temple in Bodhgaya on Saturday night.

Wari: a march with a difference!

PTI MUMBAI, JUNE 13

This is a march with a difference - the participants exemplify a classic example of cross culture, the turnout mirrors the economy and the motley of spirituality, perseverance and colour makes it the most popular pilgrimage in Maharashtra.

Wari, the procession to Pandharpur, is considered as the cultural heritage of Maharashtra and it is the theme of a new coffee-table book "Wari: Path to the Divine" by Press Trust of India (PTI) photographer Shirish Shete.

"The idea of this photo series came to me by chance. I was photographing 'tamasha' dancers in Alandi in Maharashtra, when I encountered the Warkaris. Their energy and dedication astounded me, which is why I decided to document them," says Shete, who has used over 150 of his photographs in the book.

"Compiling these photo -

Bank ATM stolen UNI UDUPI, (Karnataka), JUNE 13

Union Minister, Salman Khurshid having a chat with Art of Living Foundar Sri Sri Ravishankarji on the occassion of release of Book titled 'Writing the Right way' at Bangalore on Sunday.

Mysore Zoo starts breeding of tigers in captivity UNI MYSORE, JUNE 13

The century-old Sri Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens, better known as Mysore Zoo, has started breeding of tigers in captivity with the arrival of wild breeds which were captured recently in forests.

Zoo sources told UNI today that after a gap of decade, captive breeding of tigers had gained momentum with the zoo getting three tigers from the wild, including an eight-yearold tigress that had devoured several heads of cattle in Virajpet taluka of Kodagu.

Breeding among tigers born in captivity was resulting in limited gene pool and animals born with the same strain of genes were weak and susceptible to diseases, according to zoo authorities.

The zoo authorities had paired nine-year-old 'Brahma', which was caught in the Brahmagiri forest range in Kodagu two years ago, with 'Manya', a four-year-old white tigress born in the zoo, to produce healthier and stronger tiger cubs.

Zoo Executive Director (incharge) Yathish Kumar said, ''We wanted to produce a

stronger generation of tigers in captivity. But it was not possible with the tigers kept in the zoo since most of them have same strain of genes owing to inbreeding.

Since the wild gene was available in Brahma, we decided to go for breeding and Manya was eventually chosen as its pair.'' ''Brahma has been ver y cordial with Manya and has not indulged in fight with it.

This is a welcome sign and we are confident of seeing their off-springs at the earliest,'' Mr Suresh Kumar, zoo veterinarian added.

The pairing of the two tigers would continue even though Manya did not conceive immediately.

Manya would be moved to its enclosure in the night and would be allowed to be with Brahma only during the day, he said.

Tigers born with two different strains of genes would hold value during the animal exchange programme, Mr Yathish Kumar said.

The zoo authorities are planning to display Brahma for the first time in an open moat enclosure, along with Manya, from

next week.

Anusuya and Kaveri are the two other tigers shifted to the zoo from the wild. While Kaveri was caught recently in Virajpet taluka, Anusuya, a male, was trapped a year ago and is likely to attain puberty in a year. ''We may pair Brahma and Kaveri since both of them are from the wild. Later, Anusuya may be paired with Kaveri,'' Mr Suresh Kumar added.

The Mysore zoo had been in the forefront of exchanging animals with several zoos abroad.

The zoo exchanged animals and birds with some zoos in the country that had surplus stocks of some exotic species of animals, the sources said.

Not all the Indian zoos were able to attract the attention of foreign zoos.

The Mysore zoo could do so because of its best infrastructure and successful captive breeding programmes.

Many foreign zoos had come forward to exchange their animals for some indigenous species.

The infrastructure at the zoo for display of animals had inspired the foreign zoos to exchange their species, the

Pande to concentrate on youth policy PTI NAGPUR, JUNE 13

The newly elected Rajya Sabha MP from city, Avinash Pande would continue to work in Uttar Pradesh to strengthen the party base and would also concentrate on youth policy in the Parliament.

Pande was elected unanimously to the Rajya Sabha recently.

"I have been assigned to strengthen the Congress base in UP. As part of it, presently I am engaged in organizing various functions, awareness programmes and bringing intellectuals to party forum during the 125th anniversary celebrations of Congress there," Pande, who arrived here today to a big reception, told reporters.

Congress has chalked out various programmes in UP for the 125th anniversary throughout the year and he would like to give priority to the party work first.

Pande, a former MLA from Nagpur-East, returns to electoral politics after a span of more than 25 years.

An Automatic Teller Machine (ATM) of State Bank of India (SBI), installed recently at Kinnimulky in the city here, was stolen late last night by some miscreants.

According to police, the ATM was recently installed by the bank and there was no proper arrangements of security.

According to bank officials, the ATM was loaded with Rs 15 lakh currencies.

The last amount withdrawn was Rs 2,000 at 0041 hrs.

The incident came to light in the morning today. Based on the complaint lodged by the bank officials, senior police officials rushed to the spot along with sniffer dog squad and finger print experts.

Investigation was on, police added.

graphs into a coffee-table book is my way of paying tribute them. It took me six years to create 'Wari: Path to the Divine'," he says. Lord Vitthal of Pandharpur is the traditional deity of Maharashtra.

The Warkaris are a considered a living example of boundless devotion towards their lord. They follow the tradition called Wari, which is the holy path towards liberation from the cycle of rebirth.

This tradition started over 700 years ago as a devotional movement in Maharashtra, led by popular saints of that time like Dnyaneshwar, Tukaram, Eknath and Namdeo.

Today, the Warkaris still follow this tradition religiously. Lakhs of these devotees come together twice a year to take the three-week long pilgrimage from Dehu and Alandi to Pandharpur. They sing kirtans and other traditional songs, as they

take the long, arduous route to meet their Lord Pandurang (Vitthal), the book says.

According to Ramchandra Dekhne, a scholar in saint literature, when the Warkaris walk hundreds of miles to pay their respects, one can see and feel the manifestation of Lord Vitthal in the midst of the walking devotees.

"The palkhis (palanquins) of sant Dnyaneshwar and sant Tukaram are the most important aspects of this entire phenomenon, apart from the palkhis of many saints of the state," Dekhe writes in the foreword.

The devotees accompanying the palanquin are an interesting mix of young and old, single or with their spouses and children - at times sons carrying their aged parents on their back - farmers, grocers, tailors, as well as city dwellers such as doctors, engineers, students and politicians.

The Wari turnout also mirrors the economy of the state -- a

good monsoon indicates a larger number of devotees.

The majority participating in the Wari comprises the farmer community. Agriculture being the backbone of Maharashtra, the economy revolves around the monsoons and hence, the pilgrimage schedule seems to be tailor-made for the farmers.

The Wari begins just after the first rains when the farmers and farm hands are relatively free from their fields. They collectively go to Pandharpur top fulfill their spiritual aspirations, the book says.

In his message Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan says, "The book has come in at an opportune moment. For the uninitiated, it is a guide to the marvelous spiritual world of the Warkaris, where a single-minded devotion to the lord and service to mankind are the only way in which they define religion.

Citizens clean up Banganga temples in Vedic style UNI MUMBAI, JUNE 13

More than 50 citizens rolled up their sleeves for a waste collection campaign organised by nonprofit organisation, 'Vishwa', at Banganga area in south of the city.

The volunteers, children, women and senior citizens collected 'nirmalayy' (flowers offered to deity in the temples) from the area's temples, in special 'Vishwa' corrugated boxes yesterday, which were emptied in a special pit created, layered with clay, mud and water to aid recycling, in the Purshuram Mandir.

Over a period of three to four months, the Nirmalayy will merge with clay, mud and water and be converted into organic, eco-friendly compost.

The volunteers also performed an air purification ritual

nThe volunteers performed an air purification ritual ('agnihotra'- an ayurvedic healing fire that purifies the air in vicinity as well as surrounding areas ), based on the principles of the Vedas, in the Banganga tank area. ('agnihotra'- an ayurvedic healing fire that purifies the air in vicinity as well as surrounding areas ), based on the principles of the Vedas, in the Banganga tank area.

The temples at Baganga area

in Walkeshwar are visited by hundreds of people who offer puja.

After the puja, the floral offerings, including plastic bags, are collected and immersed in the nearby sea.

The campaign is also part of an attempt to educate the pujaris so that they in turn can suggest the same to the vast number of devotees who visit the temples regularly.

“Worship of the deities should not be at the cost of the environment, but should benefit nature and contribute to more sustainable life.

Nirmalyy shows genuine respect for the life giving natural forces and it will help preserve and protect natural resources,” the organizers said.

Hospet-Vasco SWR line to be doubled in next five years: GM HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JUNE 13

South Western Railway (SWR) General Manager Kuldeep Chaturvedi has stated that the ambitious proposed project of double lining of SWR from Hospet-Vasco-da-Gama line through Hubli is scheduled to be doubled in another five years.

However in the recent budget, Union Railways Minister Mamta Banerjee has included doubling of Hospet-Hubli-LondaVasco-da-Gama railway line in the target of 700 kms in 2010-11.

The doubling work has been sanctioned to Rail Vikas Nigam Limited (RVNL), which is formed to undertake project development, mobilization of financial resources and implement projects pertaining to n “RVNL has submitted its report on doubling strengthening ‘Golden Quadrilateral and Port Connectivity’.

Tinaighat-Vasco section and RVNL has commenced work in the first is waiting for an phase of doubling from Hospet to Tinaighat, environmental clearance which is nearly 245 kms as part of HospetHubli-Londa-Vasco-da-Gama doubling projfrom the Ministry of ect.

Environment and Forest Tinaighat to Vasco section of 70 kms is (MoEF). Fund has to be considered to be constraint project conmobilized since this is one sidering topography since rail tracks would run from ghat and tunnel sections. of the expansion projects It is learnt that environmental clearance that has been estimated at will be very important for the project since Rs 1,000 crore,” informed the alignment runs from sensitive Western Ghats region, while the land survey has Chaturvedi. been completed, huge tracts of forest land

would be acquired for the project.

“RVNL has submitted its report on doubling Tinaighat-Vasco section and is waiting for an environmental clearance from the Ministry of Environment and Forest (MoEF).

Fund has to be mobilized since this is one of the expansion projects that has been estimated at Rs 1,000 crore,” informed Chaturvedi.

“Besides doubling of Hospet-Vasco, electrification has been also proposed,” added Chaturvedi.

“Generally, project of Rs 1,000 crore magnitude takes at least five years to complete, but we are making efforts to ensure that this project get completes early so that Goa get economic boost,” said Chaturvedi.

Presently, million of tonnes of coal and iron ore are transported annually from MPT to Hospet. Double lining has been necessitated owing to increase in iron ore traffic from Hospet-Bellary sector to Vasco port and more importantly port expansion plans of MPT also needs doubling of rail track.

With growing freight of iron ore, traffic on this zone has become the main logistical backbone for steel industries and iron ore exporters from Karnataka.

The major freight corridor is Bellary-Karnataka to Vasco. This is the port’s gold mine, as most of the iron ore and steel industries are around this region.

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BJP-ruled states getting step-motherly treatment: Modi PTI PATNA, JUNE 13

Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, in the eye of the storm over a photograph featuring him with his Bihar counterpart Nitish Kumar, today accused the Union government of meting out step-motherly treatment to the BJP-ruled states.

In a resolution on Federal structure moved by him at the BJP National Executive Committee meeting here, Modi charged the UPA government with flouting recommendations of the Sarkaria Commission on Centre-State relations.

He alleged the government was not consulting BJP-ruled states on appointment of Governors and Chief Justices of High Courts.

"Even several bills adopted by the Gujarat assembly with two-thirds majority have been put into cold storage by the Governor or the Centre for the past six years," Modi said.

"It is a deliberate attempt to weaken the federal fabric of the country," he said.

The party National Executive, which adopted the resolution, authorised Modi to prepare a report on the issue in consultations with Chief Ministers of BJP-run states for an appropriate action, p a r t y spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy told a press conference.

Modi, during the course of a debate on the resolution, accused the Centre of adopting a discriminatory approach with regard to states ruled by the saffron party.

He pointed out the erstwhile Atal Bihari

Vajpayee government had always preferred consultations and followed the Sarkaria Commission's recommendations before appointing Governors and Chief Justices of the states.

BJP stalwart L K Advani, in his brief intervention, said the erstwhile NDA government had always taken the Chief Ministers into confidence before appointing Governors.

The NDA regime had always maintained harmonious relatios with the states, he said.

Slamming the Manmohan Singh government, the National Executive described its one-year rule as disappointing.

"When an economist is leading a government, why has he failed to contain escalating prices of essential commodities," a resolution on UPA-11 performance said.

"The one year of UPA-II is a year of disappointment and non-achievement," it said.

The government had a slender majority in Lok Sabha and was in minority in the Upper House, the resolution pointed out.

"The government is surviving by resorting to politics of compromise with the allies on the issue of corruption and by managing certain vulnerable sections of the opposition," the resolution said.

On corruption, the BJP targeted the UPAII alleging the Prime Minister was not able to take any action on "notorious cases of corruption".

"The slow down in the execution of highway projects is also attributable to corruption and extraneous influence in the award of contracts," the resolution said.

"The nation suffered a loss of nearly Rs 60,000 crore in the allocation of 2G spectrum and now when the CBI has found the allegations substantially true, the PM is unable to exert his authority and remove the Minister concerned."

Ministerial lobbing for an IPL cricket franchise or the Chinese companies had now become an acceptable behaviour of the UPA in spite of serious issues of impropriety, the resolution said.

The BJP accused the Congress-led government at the Centre of unabashedly misusing the CBI. The judgement of the trial court exonerating RJD leader Lalu Prasad in the disproportionate assets case was not allowed to be challenged by the government, the resolution alleged. "The dilution of the CBI case was used as a tool to get the support of Mulayam Singh Yadav," the party said and raised the issue of phone tapping of opposition leaders.

Giraffs sitting under the tree shade to protect themselves from hot sun in Lucknow zoo on Sunday.

JD(U) downplays ad row, says alliance with BJP quite old PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar took umbrage at advertisements showing him with his Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi, his party JD(U) today downplayed the issue saying that the alliance and relationship between it and the BJP is quite old.

"Our alliance and relationship is quite old...An unpleasant incident took place yesterday. It has passed...," JD(U) President Sharad Yadav told PTI. He, however said that it was customary to take permission from the head of government - whether it was the Prime Minister or the Chief Minister -before their name or photograph appeared in advertisements.

Seven cops suspended for custodial death UNI AURIYA, JUNE 13

The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended seven policemen, including the SHO of Bela police station here, following a youth's alleged death in police custody, after which irate mob had ransacked the police station.

Superintendent of Police Subhash Chandra Dubey said here today SHO of Bela police station Pravesh Rana, one sub-inspector and five constables were suspended for the custodial death and the ensuing violence yesterday.

According to reports, police arrested one Ram Landayat Batham, a tractor driver regarding a case registered on June 10 by the tractor owner Ramnath of Kannauj.

Yesterday, Batham allegedly committed suicide in the lockup by hanging himself from the ceiling.

After his death, angry villagers pelted stones at the police station, alleging that the death was due to police torture. Several vehicles were also torched by the mob and three policemen were injured in the brick batting.

Additional police force had been rushed to the area to maintain law and order situation. The deceased was cremated this morning, police sources said.

women opting for ladies special trains on the rise PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

High on comfort and low on price, the ladies special trains running between Delhi and small towns in neighbouring states have proved to be a hit among the fairer sex, who feel 'secured' in these special services.

Within a year of being launched, the New Delhi-Palwal Ladies Special train ferries nearly 2,000 commuters from a small town in Haryana to the capital everyday as increasing number of women are opting for these services over regular trains.

The L-Spl trains, as they are known, are not less congested

Manisha to tie knot on June 18 PTI KATHMANDU, JUNE 13

Bollywood beauty Manisha Koirala will tie the knot with Samrat Dahal, a businessman seven years younger to her, in a gala traditional ceremony in the Nepalese capital on June 18.

The 'Swayambar' will take place at the luxurious Gokarna Forest Resort in eastern Kathmandu and the guest list includes the who's who of both Nepal and India, family sources said.

The 40-year-old actress, the grand daughter of Nepal's first elected Prime Minister Bishweshwor Prasad Koirala and grand niece of democratic leader Girija Prasad Koirala, will also throw a lavish party two days later at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza.

The marriage, which comes two months after the demise of Girija Prasad Koirala, will bring happiness to the Koirala family and Manisha's parents Prakash and Sushila Koirala will host all the ceremonies.

Manisha and Dahal have been seeing each other over the past year and their wedding date was fixed by an astrologer a few months ago.

but also safer and more comfortable for women, as compared to regular services.

But, the commuters also have a grievance. They want the timing of the train be changed.

Besides the Palwal service, Northern Railways have also introduced a Ladies special connecting New Delhi to Ghaziabad, a satellite town which brings thousands of people to the capital everyday.

Take the case of Akansha Yadhav, a journalist who regularly takes the special train from Ballabgarh to Nizamuddin. She says she feels comfortable once she boards the train as it full of women and less crowded than

normal trains.

"Travelling in L-Spl provides peace of mind and of course it is comfortable for women. In a normal train, the rush factor is always there," she told PTI. Northern Railways spokesperson Anand Swaroop said the service is increasingly getting popular by each day.

"Nearly 2,200 women travel every day by the train (Palwal Lspl). L-spl is a success because there is sense of security which local trains do not provide to women," he said.

"One of the reasons could be that more working women commute from Palwal to New Delhi... timing could also be the factor

No govt benefits for minorities in AP, Assam districts PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

Minorities in nine districts of two Congress-ruled states Arunachal Pradesh and Assam are yet to receive benefits that they are entitled to under a key central government scheme, as the states have failed to approve the district plans so far.

In Arunachal Pradesh, nine districts are included in the list of Minority Concentrated Districts (MCD) where the Centre is implementing a multi-sectoral development programme to address issues relating to education, skill development, employment, sanitation, housing, drinking water and power supply.

However, seven MCDs, most of which have both socio-economic and basic amenities parameters below the national average, have not been able to avail the benefits.

"The District Plan of these districts could not be approved as none has been submitted by the state Government, despite repeated requests by the Ministry," sources in the government said.

In Assam, there are 13 MCDs out of which the district plans of 11 were approved but the remaining two are still to be included in the list because the state failed to submit their district plans.

90 such districts were identified in 2007-08 of which the district plans of 81 have been approved by the Ministry of Minority Affairs. North Sikkim district, which is the only MCD of the state, is the latest inclusion.

Maximum number of MCDs fall in the BSP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, where the district plans have been approved for all 21 such districts followed by 12 in the CPI(M)-ruled West Bengal, where too the plans were approved.

The Centre has also released funds for most of these districts.

District Plans for all seven districts of NDA-ruled Bihar, six districts of Congressruled Manipur and four districts each from Maharashtra and Jharkhand, two districts each from Haryana, Uttarakhand, Mizoram and Karnataka have also been approved.

of the increased popularity. I think it is a success, but the occupancy has to go further," Divisional Railway Manager (Northern Railway) Aswin Lohani said.

"It is safe, cheap, comfortable, fast and most viable option for women these days," a lady ticket inspector in a Palwal-bound train says.

The train departs at 8.25 am from Palwal and arrives New Delhi at 09.55 am on weekdays except Sunday.

"The train timing does not suit the normal office hours from 9 am to 5pm. It makes us reach office late by half an hour," says Geetanjali Antwal, an Income

50 held for stone pelting in J&K

Tax official, who gets down at Tilak Bridge.

With the Commonwealth Games around the corner, the passenger committee will put forth a proposal to Railway authorities to provide the ladies services twice a day.

However, certain passengers feel L-Special trains may not be a viable option.

"If one more bogey for ladies passengers is added to local trains, that would be enough instead of rolling out a separate train. It is a waste of resources," feels Pramod Chauhan, a software engineer who commutes from New Delhi to Old Faridabad.

"The way the posters came up was not proper as the party (JD-U) was not consulted. The party had raised objections to that," Yadav said, adding that an inquiry had been instituted to clear the situation.

He said the party has no reason to disbelieve the version of BJP which says the advertisement was given by an agency.

Yadav also tried to put to rest speculation about the tie-up between BJP and JD(U), saying the "relations between the two parties is quite old".

Snubbing the coalition partner, Kumar had yesterday cancelled a dinner for the top brass of the BJP -- gathered in Patna for the party's National Executive -- in disapproval of an advertisement featuring him and Modi and another on Gujarat's aid

PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

About 50 people, mostly youths, were arrested for their alleged involvement in stone pelting incidents during "pro-freedom" demonstrations in different parts of the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir, Srinagar.

Almost all areas of the city witnessed massive protests yesterday against the killing of a teenager Tufail Ahmad Mattoo allegedly after he was hit by a teargas shell in the downtown on Friday.

Official sources today said about 50 people were taken into custody for allegedly indulging in stone pelting on security forces in different parts of the city and outskirts.

Majority of them were arrested from Batmaloo area of the city, where people alleged that security forces damaged window panes of dozens of houses in the main bazar, New Colony and Rekha chowk area.

People alleged that security forces also beat up whosoever came in their way and later took him into custody without ascertaining the fact whether they were stone palters or not.

A court here has awarded jail terms of varying periods to nine persons for looting Rs 2.01 crore belonging to the ICICI Bank after waylaying an armoured cash delivery van nearly nine years ago.

Additional Sessions Judge S C Rajan awarded seven years rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 32,000 each on four of the convicts -- Jatinder, Dharamvir, Jaswant and Jagbir Singh.

The fast track court also sentenced five others – Sanjay Kumar, Angrez, Vijender, Dalbir Singh and lone woman accused Subdri Devi -- to one-year jail term each for keeping the cash and helping the main culprits in destroying evidence.

The court, however, acquitted six others for want of evidence while one accused died during the trial.

An armoured delivery van of M/s Brinks Arya Private Ltd, a Delhi-based company involved in ferrying cash for various private and PSU banks, reached the Reserve Bank of India to collect Rs 2.01 crore in cash on the morning of July 23, 2001.

The manager of ICICI Bank of

Development, BJP spokesman Rajiv Pratap Rudy told reporters here.

The demands were made after the preliminary report of a BJP fact finding committee on Chinese incursions was submitted at the party national executive.

The Committee headed by party MP Bhagat Singh Koshiyari recommended measures to stop Chinese incursion by creating new posts to man the gaps at different points for which the strength of ITBP should be increased.

It also laid stress on increasing army's strength to match deployment on Chinese side of the border and improvement in roads and communications.

Senior party leader L K Advani complimented the fact finding team for its work.

Arjun took decision on Anderson, Rajiv had no role: Arun Nehru 3PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

Former Union Minister Arun Nehru, a close aide of Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, today claimed Arjun Singh as Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister had taken the decision to release then Union Carbide CEO Warren Anderson after the Bhopal tragedy and that Gandhi had no role in it.

"It is obvious that Chief Minister Arjun Singh took the decision (to release Anderson) and informed the Centre according to the press conference which the CM had addressed on December 7, 1984. He was the person in-charge and he took the decision," Nehru told PTI. He said the only authentic version of the episode could be got from the press interviews of Arjun Singh in 1984 and "to attribute any motive to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi is wrong as the decision was taken by the

CM".

He said a fresh controversy is being created unnecessarily when the facts were known and Singh had spoken on the issue in 1984 itself.

Nehru was a General Secretary of the Congress in 1984 and was campaigning for the Lok Sabha elections when the Bhopal gas tragedy took place.

He fell out with Gandhi later and has no association with Congress or any other party now.

Claiming that Arjun Singh had taken the decision keeping in view the circumstances that existed then, he said, "Trying to judge events in 2010 by the ground realities existing in 1984 can never be right.

"He took the decision based on the ground situation then and that decision was being questioned now after 25 years," he said.

The former minister said that providing relief and rehabilita-

tion must have been the top priority of a Chief Minister when a tragedy of such a magnitude took place. " T h e m o re a p p ro p r i a t e question should be to ask why the courts took nearly 25 years and why the charges were watered down. We are waking up after 25 years...Are we supposed to wake up after 25 years if a tragedy strikes now?" h e asked.

On the issue whether the matter cropped up in any meeting of the Union Cabinet then, Nehru said it was election time and there was no time for Cabinet meetings as the leaders were busy electioneering.

He also blamed the Congress for being "defensive" on the issue, saying that this should not have been the case as the facts of the matter are known and Arjun Singh himself spoke on the issue way back in 1984.

A penny less from stock is a penny more for coin collector PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, JUNe 13

A penny less from his stock means a penny more for his home. Such is the business of Salim, who sells vintage coins to sustain his family.

On the pavement in front of the sprawling government secretariat complex, Salim spreads out his collection of coins for sale, some of them dating back to three centuries.

The array of collection that Salim proudly displays to attract numismatic buffs include coins dating to reign of the last Maharaja of Trvancore Balarama Varma last century.

Salim entered the coin business 13 years ago after failing in other professions—as fisherman,bus conductor and commercial painter. He was attracted into the business of selling "money for money" by his friend Babu, also vintage coin vendor in Kollam town.

Salim gets the coins mostly from numismatic exhibitions and some times access them

9 get jail for looting from bank van

UNI SRINAGAR, JUNE 13

during Bihar floods two years ago.

The actions of Kumar have brought strains in the JD(U)-BJP relationship and a section of the party feels that it could even lead to parting of ways. Kumar, who heads the JD(U)-BJP coalition government in Bihar, has kept Modi at an arm's length with the aim of wooing Muslim votes in his state.

Meanwhile, the BJP today demanded that the government set up a parliamentary group for detailed study and overseeing of border issues with China and a statutory high -powered autonomous border management group at the national level.

The party has also demanded making public the recommendations of the China Study Group on Border Infrastructure

Connaught Place branch had given a cheque to Madanpal, complainant in the case, to collect the cash from the RBI. Soon after receiving the cash, van driver Dharamvir and one of the gunmen Jaswant forcibly took the vehicle towards Gurgaon, the court found.

The duo were then joined by other accused who to gether looted the cash and fled in their private vehicle after locking other staff of the company.

The complainant managed to come out of the vehicle after a few hours and informed the police who subsequently arrested 16 people in the case.

Ninety-four witnesses, including Sunil Malhotra, manager of the ICICI Bank, had testified in the case.

Four key accused, involved in the robbery, pleaded guilty during the trial and requested a lenient sentence on the ground that they were first-time offenders.

The court rejected the plea of other accused that they deserved to be acquitted as most of the prosecution witnesses have given contradictory statements.

even from coin sellers in other parts of the country.

"The value of the vintage coins depends on how old they are. Foreign coins also fetch higher margin", Salim told PTI, opening up a bit on the secrets of his trade.

The growth of tourism has helped Salim’s business in recent years. "Foreign visitors passing by the pavement will not fail to have a look at my stock. Often, they pick up one or two. It is cheaper for them to have vintage coins than what they cost in their country", Salim claimed.

The earnings would be higher if it is tourist season. In some months the profit would be upto Rs 5000 a month, Salim said.

Apart from vintage coins, Salim’s collection on sale include stamps, currency notes and medallions and souvenirs.

According to Salim, the local interest in coin and stamp collection was on the increase.

"Mostly students come to me in search of coins or souvenirs as part of their projects. They vary

PDK leader's car attacked UNI CHENNAI, JUNE 13

Miscreants today attacked the car of Periyar Dravida Kazhagam (PDK) Leader 'Tiruvarur' Thangarasu, at his residence in the city, today.

Police said Mr Thangarasu had gone to a hospital when the incident took place.

His son Pugazhendi had parked the car and went to the first floor of his Raja Annamalaipuram Residence, when miscreants pelted stones, damaging the windscreen.

Acting on a complaint, Abhiramapuram Police registered a case.

from doing research in history to commerce and business management students, he said.

It was always a smooth affair to conduct the business for Salim. Often in the past he had ran into problems with policemen, when they were out on streets to deal with public protests staged before the seat of power. Now they had realised he was selling coins for eking out a living leave him undisturbed, he said.

Salim turned bit touchy when asked about the authenticity of the coins and stamps in his collection. "I have a catalogue which serves as a reference.

When I go out to buy coins, I refer to it to ensure that they are not fake," he said, adding, after a moment’s pause "after all coin collector knows his coins".

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Death of CRPF men tragic: Arundhati PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

Author activist Arundhati Roy has said that she viewed the death of 76 CRPF personnel in Dantewada as "tragic", rejecting suggestions that she had saluted the “people of Dantewada" after these killings by Maoists.

Taking exception to a PTI report from Mumbai based on her speech at a public meeting organised on June 2 by the Committee for Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR), the writer said in a communication, “I have made it quite clear that I viewed the death of the CRPF men as tragic, and that I thought they were pawns in a war of the rich against the poor.”

“What I said at the meeting in Mumbai was that I was contemptuous of the hollow condemnation industry the media has created and that as the war went on and the violence spiralled, it was becoming impossible to extract any kind of morality from the atrocities committed by both sides.”

Roy said “I made it clear that I was not there to defend the killing of ordinary people by anybody, neither the Maoists

nor the government. My reaction to the killing of the CRPF men as well as to other recent incidents of violence by the Maoists are a matter of public record.”

The report quoted Roy as having said that she would continue to back the Maoist armed struggle even if she was put behind bars and that “it ought to be an armed movement.”

Denying that she had said anything like “it ought to be an armed movement”, Roy said her exact words were “I think it is much more interesting to interrogate the resistance to which we belong.”

“I am on this side of the line.

I am very clear about that. I don't care, pick me up, put me in jail.

I am on this side of the line. But on this side of the line, we must turn around and ask our comrades questions.”

Navy to induct two more FACs PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 13

To provide more teeth to its coastal security and surveillance capabilities, the navy will induct two more water jet propelled fast attack craft (FACs) in Visakhapatnam by this month-end.

The two FACs, built by Kolkata-based Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), will be based in the eastern coast to facilitate the navy to carry out patrols and intercept rogue ships, Navy officers said here today.

Named INS Cankaso and INS Kondul, two island territories of India, these would be the fifth and sixth FACs under the Car Nicobar class of craft that India began building in 2007.

The navy has already inducted four FACs under this class -- Car Nicobar, Chetlat, Korah Divh and Cheriyam -- last year as part of the fast-track process following the Mumbai terror attacks, when Pakistani terrorists used a boat to reach the coast of the metropolis.

The navy will have a total of 10 FACs under this class and they would be based all along

the 7,500-km long coastline.

The vessels are capable of touching speeds of 35 knots propelled by three water jet propulsion engines producing 11,238 horse power.

“The 600-tonne FACs are cost-effective platforms for patrol and rescue operations at sea,” the officers said.

The vessels have improved habitability with fully air-conditioned modular type accommodation. They have sensors or radars, an efficient gun turret of indigenous design and sewage treatment plant to comply with conditions laid down by the International Maritime Organisation.

The FACs are armed with a 30mm CRN-91 gun fitted on the fore peak, a naval version of the 2A42 30mm Medak gun.

It is controlled by an electronic fire control system developed and jointly produced by the Ordnance Factory Board (OFB) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

The last four FACs under this class -- named Kalpeni, Kabra, Koswari and Karuva -are expected to be inducted into the navy by the end of this year.

Man cuts off tongue as offering to God UNI CUDDALORE, JUNE 13

A man chopped off his tongue and dropped it in a hundi (public offering kept in temples) at the famous Lord Nataraja temple at Chidambaram in this district of Tamil Nadu last evening.

One Om Chandra Swamigal (45), hailing from Palur village in Panruti, had vowed to offer his tongue to the God if his friend, who suffered a paralytic attack, was cured of his illness and started walking.

After his friend recovered and started walking, Chandra Swamigal, came to the temple last evening, cut his tongue using a blade, and dropped it in the Hundi.

In a letter written by him, he said “I had taken a vow before

the God to offer my tongue to Lord Nataraja if my friend Hariharanathan, suffering from paralytic attack, is cured. As part of fulfillment of my vow, I am offering my tongue to the God,” he added.

A bleeding Chandra Swamig a l w a s r u s h e d t o Ra j a h Muthiah Hospital where he was admitted. Doctors had said that if the chopped tongue was brought within half-an-hour it could be stitched. Since it was dropped in a temple Hundi and several formalities had to be followed, it could not be taken from the hundi in time.

At the hospital, Chandra Swamigal wrote in a piece of paper that “Lord Nataraja will give his tongue back.”

Constructions threaten to cause floods in UP UNI BALRAMPUR, Uttar Pradesh, JUNE 13

Threat of flood looms large on several villages of Balrampur, Shravasti and Bhariach districts this monsoon following construction of an embankment and canal in adjoining Nepal.

Official sources here today said that Nepal government had ordered construction of one and a half kilometer long embankment and canal on Rapti river which have given rise to flood threat in over 2dozen villages along the Indian side.

“The construction underway in the Nepal side was against the Maitri agreement between India and Nepal as no construc-

tion should be made on 8 kilometer radius of area between both the countries,” sources claimed.

Presently Nepal was making the new construction within six kilometers from the international border which will cause severe flood threat to big villages on the Indo-Nepal border including Holiya, Jankigaon,Beheria, Bhagrajpur and Chotiya, sources alleged.

Meanwhile, sources said that Indian authorities had already lodged a protest with the Nepalese counterpart over the illegal construction and had informed them about the threat of floods on the Indian side due to this construction.

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O HERALD O Vol No CX No: 152 Goa, Monday 14 June, 2010

Goa needs power from natural gas

T

he Goa government’s decision to invite expressions of interest (EoIs) from interested firms for setting up two gas-based power plants of 250 mw each in the state is smart and timely. It comes hot on the heels of an announcement

by Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG) Secretary S. Sundareshan in Panjim that the 100-km gas pipeline between Gokak in Karnataka and Goa would be ready by mid-2012. It is a branch extension of the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) trunk pipeline from Dabhol in Maharashtra to Bangalore, and is expected to supply gas to firms in Goa like fertiliser maker Zuari Industries (ZIL), the Reliance Power Plant, Binani Glass and others. These firms have agreed to contribute towards the cost of the facility, which GAIL has estimated will cost Rs400 crore.

Sundareshan said that the government had estimated Goa’s industrial requirement of gas at four million cubic metres a day. However, if two power plants do come up, this could increase substantially, and the government must be quick to ensure that gas supply will be assured to the builders of the plants. Since GAIL will be charging companies for delivering the gas at their doorstep through the pipeline, the more units that utilise the gas, the less it will cost each of them.

The only electricity Goa presently produces is from the 40MW Reliance Power Plant at Sancoale. All our power comes from the neighbouring states, based on the quota allotted to the state from different thermal power plants. Apart from the fact that Goa has to concede a 6 per cent wheeling charge to the states it passes through, there is little control over the supply. While the power we get from other states is low-cost as it comes from old coal-fired plants, it is important for the state to generate its own electricity. If Goa becomes a powersurplus state, it would attract far more industries than it does at present. Power we cannot use finds ready customers in neighbouring states at attractive prices.

In setting up power plants, Goa has few choices. Coal-based power generation can be highly polluting, with fly ash, acid rain from oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, and smog. Nuclear power would find a lot of opposition. Besides, why should India buy nuclear power plants from the US, when that country hasn’t set up any of them on its soil for the past two-and-a-half decades? For Goa, natural gas is the best choice. It does produce some greenhouse gases, but it produces much less by way of oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, and almost no dust or ash.

Let us hope that the government expedites the process of processing the bids and awards the contracts as soon as possible, so that the power plants can be built and ready by the time the gas comes to Goa.

To good governance

I

n case you did not know, Leader of the Opposition Manohar Parrikar heads the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP’s) good governance cell. What is more, the BJP recently held a two-day convention on good governance near Mumbai on 5 and 6 June. Based on the twin themes of su-raj (good rule) and sushashan (good governance), the meet resolved to project the Congress as the party that brings vinash (destruction) while the BJP brings vikas (development). The cells plans to launch a three-year structured training programme for the party cadres.

Unfortunately, the BJP’s top leaders done seem quite as keen on good governance as its chief ministers. While the latter were mostly present, L K Advani, who was to deliver the valedictory address on the second day, failed to turn up. Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley could not make it because of the death of his brother-in-law. Former finance minister Yashwant Sinha, who was to present the charter on good governance, went to Kulu instead. Former BJP President Rajnath Singh skipped the meet even though he was in Mumbai.

Tackle fundamental problems Michael Desouza, by email I am a proud Goenkar, but I am very disappointed with letters that blame the migrants for all the problems in Goa. I myself am one of the estimated three million Goan migrants scattered through every continent on this earth.

Over the last century, Goenkars migrated in droves to East Africa, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Portugal, the United States and Brazil. In the ’80s, another massive migration of educated Goenkars began, to the Middle East, Australia, the UK and Canada, in search of better prospects. In the ’90s began the rush for the Portuguese passport.

In India, the Goenkar population is concentrated in mega-cities like Mumbai, Kolkata, Delhi, Chennai, Pune and Bangalore.

My family migrated to East Africa and then to the UK. I came back to Goa to discover my roots.

Goans abroad have played a very important in the overall development of our adopted states / countries, the same way migrant workers or business owners are

Smile with Smitha

Private Schools: Tamil Nadu Shows the Way A

The Centre must bring a law to stop profiteering by unaided schools, says AShOk AgARwAL

fter the Supreme Court’s Order of 11 May dismissing Special Leave Petitions (SLPs) by several unaided private schools from Tamil Nadu challenging the Madras High Court Judgment of 9 April upholding the constitutional validity of the ‘Tamil Nadu Schools (Regulation of Collection of Fee) Act, 2009’, the central government must bring a national law immediately on the lines of the Tamil Nadu Act to check the commercialisation of education in unaided private schools all over the country, to protect hapless parents and students from exploitation.

The Apex Court has once again re-affirmed that capitation fees, exorbitant fees, profiteering, commercialisation of education and exploitation of parents/students are impermissible in law, and the government has not only the powers but also the duty to regulate fees in these schools.

A Division Bench of the Madras High Court delivered a landmark judgment on 9 April, dismissing all writ petitions challenging the constitutional validity of the Tamil Nadu Act of 2009, holding that the scheme of the Act is in consonance with the law laid down by the Apex Court. The Court said the law by and large strikes a balance between the autonomy of the institutions and measures to be taken to prevent commercialisation of education.

The Tamil Nadu government placed before the Court considerable material showing that private schools charge exorbitant fees; that large number of representations had been made by Parents’ Associations throughout the state against the charging of high fees by particular schools; and news reports about agitations by parents at different places. It therefore found it necessary to regulate the fees.

The salient features of the Tamil Nadu Act are: (1) A committee constituted for the purpose of determination of the fee, headed by a retired High Court Judge.

(2) The committee has to call upon private institutions to place before it their proposed fee structures with all relevant documents and books of accounts for scrutiny.

(3) After getting the proposal from the concerned institution, the committee must verify whether the fee proposed by the private school is justified, and that it does not amount to profiteering.

(4) In case the committee finds that the fee

EDUCATION OR LOOT? structure proposed by the institution appears to be correct, taking note of the various facilities provided, it may approve the fee structure.

(5) In case the committee finds that the fee structure forwarded by the institution is exorbitant and that there is an element of profiteering, the committee can determine some other fees.

(6) The concerned institution has the right to submit its objections within 15 days. The Committee has to consider it objectively, and not reject the objection summarily.

(7) The committee has the powers of a Civil Court regarding summoning of witnesses and related matters, so it can get the facts verified in respect of claims made by institutions about their fee structure, against the fee determined by the committee.

(8) The fee prescribed will be in operation for three years, at the end of which it is open to the institution to apply for revision of fees.

(9) No fee in excess of the fee determined by the committee can be collected in a private school.

The punishment for contravening this is imprisonment for three to seven years, and fine up to five thousand rupees.

(10) The person convicted shall refund to the

T

here is a strong nexus within the power structure, between politicians, bureaucrats, police and judiciary, in this country.

The nexus however, is not to work as a team to safeguard the interest of the common man. It is often a nexus to hide their own misdeeds and leave the common man bereft of any justice at all.

We thought we saw a paradigm shift, with the Ruchika Geherotra case finally coming out through the media and the whole nation avowing support for the 14-year-old girl who committed suicide because she was unable to take the harassment meted out to her through all those law enforcement agencies mentioned above. But maybe, we were too hasty in placing our hopes on it.

Power works in devious ways when there is no accountability, as is sadly the case in our country. The perpetrators of this power, know that they can get away with almost anything. Thus a certain amount of arrogance develops in many of them. The manifestations of this arrogance can be seen in varied ways. It might be to amass wealth or land, or invest in illegal businesses etc.

Most importantly, in contemporary times, the megalomania of these people, leads them to such lengths that they view other individuals as objects, which can be used, as means to their ends.

Make time for Goa Madonna, Colva There’s so much I’ve seen in the past week while trekking north in Bardez and Bicholim.

As I keep revisiting these places, I can’t help but feel restless about how Mining – the so called ‘economic backbone’ of Goa, is actually having disastrous consequences on her ecology.

But what bothers me most is that the locals accept this ‘degradation’ as their fate.

I don’t blame them. Why should they alone put their everyday lives on hold to ‘Save Goa’? Isn’t it every Goan’s responsibility?

Just as we all have a common history, so also we have our ‘future’ to share.

Smitha Bhandare Kamat

(The author is a lawyer, civil rights activist and national President of the All India Parents’ Association.

E m a i l : a s h o ka g a r w a l 1 9 5 2 @ h o t m a i l . c o m Cell:09811101923)

The Ugly Power Nexus

Changing Perspectives

helping in the development of Goa. This has helped Goa to become India’s richest state, with a per capita GDP two-and-a-half times the national average.

We have to work together to build our state and fight against bigger problems like corruption, degradation of land, the urbanrural divide, poor infrastructure, pollution, deforestation, and to improve education, power, roads, tourism Infrastructure, solid waste management, healthcare, as well as irrigation and drinking water.

pupil the excess fee collected.

In its judgment, the Madras High Court noted that the Act in no way fixes a rigid fee, but only calls on school managements to forward their fee structure with a detailed justification. The Act uses the term ‘approval of the fee structure’, and only in cases where the committee feels that the fees proposed are exorbitant, it intervenes and fixes an appropriate fee. Even after this, it must consider the objections of the management to the fees it has proposed, in an objective manner.

Last, the Court noted, it cannot be ignored that the committee is headed by a retired High Court Judge.

Parents all over the country have been raising their voices against inaction on the part of the central and state governments to check the commercialisation of education in unaided private schools. In 1997, on the pretext of the Fifth Pay Commission recommendations, unaided private schools in Delhi increased their fees and other charges from 40 per cent to 400 per cent. This affected middle class parents badly, and they organised themselves against the arbitrary fee hike.

A PIL was filed before the Delhi High Court, which was decided on 30 October 1998 in favour of the parents.

The High Court laid down the criteria and guidelines for fixing a reasonable fee structure in an unaided private school. It also held that the government was not only empowered but also has a duty to regulate the fees of such schools. The schools filed appeals before the Supreme Court, which were dismissed on 27 April 2004. They then filed a review petition before the Supreme Court, which was also dismissed on 7 August 2009.

Meanwhile, in 2008, on the pretext of the Sixth Pay Commission recommendations, unaided private schools once more hiked fees and other charges exorbitantly and arbitrarily. The central and state governments remained mute spectators.

This time, parents all over the country organised themselves and openly protested against the schools and governments. Many parents’ associations filed writ petitions.

This agitation led some states to constitute committees to look into the issue. The Government of Delhi constituted the S L Bansal Committee, the State of Maharashtra constituted the Kumud Bansal Committee and the State of Goa constituted the D P Pednekar Committee. Unfortunately, all these committees failed to apply the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in the Modern School case, to examine the financial records of each school to determine whether the fee hike was justified or not, and ended up in proposing unsound and illogical solutions.

The Tamil Nadu Act provides a much better solution. Unfortunately, the application of the said Act is limited to Tamil Nadu. Other states have no laws to deal with this problems. All India Parents Association (AIPA) has long been demanding a central law to stop commercialisation of unaided private schools. Public interest demands that the central government must immediately enact a central law on the lines of the Tamil Nadu Act. We hope that Union Education Minister Kapil Sibal will rise to the occasion.

Last but not the least, we should not forget that we have to also continue our fight for upgradation of the standard of education in every government school to the level of the Kendriya Vidayalayas (Central Schools).

The brunt of this acute objectification, in a patriarchal society is borne by women, more than anyone else. And usually the women are not part of the power nexus. They are hapless ordinary women who either get lured by the power structure or are victims of forced abuse. The Ruchika Geherotra case and its judgment is celebrated today, and we are all happy and relieved that the grinning cocky Rathore is finally facing the consequence of his heinous act of molesting a 14-year old girl. But we are all neglecting the main issue here. And that is, the whole power structure in this country which makes it possible for a man working as a senior police officer, who is supposed to protect people, is himself shamelessly indulging in such an act and then using government machinery in his own favour and getting away with the crime for TWENTY YEARS! In the meanwhile, the victim, a young bright girl of 14 years has committed suicide because she had to pay the price of standing up against a powerful man and filing a case against him. She was harassed and eve teased by the police. She was thrown out of school. Her brother was charged and jailed for fabricated offences and tortured. Meanwhile Rathore was promoted and honoured for exemplary service. The whole power nexus colluded in trying

BySajla Chawla

to break the spirit of every individual in Ruchika’s family because she had the courage to stand against injustice and was not willing to compromise her integrity.

The questions that come to mind then, are: How can we all break this vicious circle of being abused, and then being too scared to stand up against the abuse, and thus get abused again?

We need to examine what is so fundamentally wrong in our society; that in spite of living in a democratic state, we have no rights at all and no wherewithal to fight against injustice? And even in cases where there is the will and wherewithal, society makes it so difficult for a woman to actually stand up and expose herself and demand justice? Or are we teaching our boys and sons to objectify women and not respect the sanctity of the life of another human being? And are women not becoming the worst enemies of women in vulnerable positions? For how many mothers in this country have the courage to fight against the wrong done to their daughters and how many brothers have the guts to stand up for their integrity?

Ruchika was lucky to have a family and friends who valued their self respect and integrity. Not all are that lucky.

Letters to the Editor

Letter of the Day

Sting corrupt officials!

Vishant Shirodkar, Ponda

People dealing with government officials in Goa have to deal with unprecedented levels of corruption. The Sixth Pay Commission scales have not helped to quench the hunger of government babus. There are long delays in issuing permits, licenses, and in moving files. At every place, several corrupt officials wait with arms outstretched and blatantly asking for bribes. Complaints to Vigilance or Police do not help; their credibility is itself suspect.

We Goans need to take matters in our own hands, and carry out our own ‘sting operations’. Almost every family spends thousands of rupees on mobile phones, computers and other electronic gizmos. We must invest in spy cameras and sophisticated recording devices that are now cheaply available in Goa and Mumbai. Many of them cost less than mobile phones.

Make it a point to always record every conversation that you have with any public servant. Always be courteous to them and treat them with respect, and expect the same from public servants. Expose them if they demand a bribe or are discourteous to you. You can file a vigilance or police complaint, and submit the proof that you have obtained. Make it a point to also submit the proof to the media. We have to take it upon ourselves to sting these corrupt officials and shame them.

So let’s begin by dumping the phrase: “But what can I do?” It sounds stupid, coming from people who love ‘fish curry rice’.

Ration card racket Marcos Alemao, Varca I congratulate Co-ordinator of PCF Prakash Bandorkar for exposing the racket of bogus ration cards in Pilerne, Bardez. Migrants are issued bogus ration cards for a price by Talathis and Mamlatdars, while Goans are made to run from pillar to post to get genuine ration cards.

This racket is not only in Bardez taluka, but throughout Goa. Our montris keep the migrants happy to save their chairs in the future. Is this the reason Chief Minister Digambar Kamat challenged the village groups saying that he does not depend on their votes?

This racket should be exposed, and the Talathis, Mamlatdars and others involved should be dismissed if found guilty.

Kabrastan needed Dr Francisco Colaco, Margao Even if life has been unjust and the society

unfair to us as long as we live, once dead, we need a decent burial place. For long, the Muslim community in Margao has fought for an alternate burial ground as the existing one at Pajifond has reached a saturation point. But their decade-long demand for an appropriate burial ground in Margao has been buried under files by the concerned authorities.

Through all these years, it has been a saga of promises made and broken. What is important is to note that most burial grounds in India come under the local self government. Sad to say, its lukewarm response has the local Muslims feeling that the authorities are dilly-dallying on the issue. Can we at least now expect justice without delay?

GoM: Super cabinet?

SND Poojary, Miramar It has become routine that when the country faces any problem, an informal committee called a ‘Group of Ministers’ (GoM) is constituted to study the matter. Nowhere in the Constitution of India is there is a mention of such a body; the cabinet is the highest decision-making body.

All government decisions must emanate from the cabinet, presided over by the prime minister. Extra-constitutional power centres like GoMs undermine the authority of the prime minister.

Paths of Wisdom

Law’s own course?

Vishnu Joshi, Panaji “The law will take its own course.” This is one of the most hypocritical statements that comes regularly from ministers and MLAs. The CM has given bouquets to the HM (there is no drug scene in Goa). Investigations are on the ‘right track’ .

Regarding the minister’s son involved in the drugs trade, there is not the least interest to investigate. Do they expect that witnesses will come forth and risk their lives to help the incompetent / unwilling police? Why on earth should they bother?

A minister resigns and our ‘competent’ police cannot locate him! “The law will take its own course” is the smug answer to all questions. Shoddy investigations and intimidation of witnesses will surely encourage crime!

Taking the mickey out of Mickky Lionel Messias, by email It’s like hubris has caught up with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). All its leaders are under a cloud for various reasons. Although Mickky Pacheco’s middle name has been controversy, he’s managed to keep out of trouble by the skin of his teeth. His luck has now evidently run out. But it’s interesting that Antanasio ‘Babush’ Monserrate, who is accused of storming a police station, continues to be a minister and, in fact, is the leader of the Group of Seven whose only agenda is to unseat Digambar Kamat.

Mickky seemed invincible – ask Churchill.

Now look at him; hiding from the law. Even his party president is reduced to defending himself every day on charges of IPL irregularities. It is really ironic that with such a cloud hanging over him, Sharad Pawar got to decide that Mickky should be dropped

by Digambar. That’s Goa for you.

A lesson One day, when Ubhaya Bharati was going to the river for a bath with her women disciples, she saw an ascetic, who had renounced everything in life, sleeping on the wayside, resting his head on a hollow water jug, using it as a pillow and at the same time ensuring that nobody took it away. As long as you have attachment and ego, you can never understand the Atma or experience real bliss.

In order to convey a lesson to the ascetic, Ubhaya Bharati spoke to one of her saying, within ascetic’s hearing, “Look at that ascetic who has ostensibly renounced every kind of attachment, but has not given up his attachment to his water jug!” On hearing these words, the ascetic was enraged. He thought: “Is a mere woman entitled to teach me as to how I should behave?“ While Ubhaya Bharati was returning from the river, the ascetic threw the jug at her feet and said: “Now, see what my renunciation is?”

Ubhaya Bharati remarked: “Alas! You are not only filled with attachment (abhimana) but you are also filled with ego (ahamkara).” On hearing these words, the ascetic ran up to her, fell at her feet and pleaded for forgiveness of his faults.

(Stories and Parables – ‘Oka Chinna Katha’)

Printed and published by Vinayak Pai Bir for and on behalf of Herald Publications Pvt Ltd. Printed at Herald Publications Pvt Ltd, Plot No: L-135, Phase II, Verna Industrial Estate, Verna, Salcete, Goa. Published at PO Box 160, Rua Sao Tome, Panjim, Goa - 403001. Editor-in-chief: Mr R F Fernandes. Editor: Ashwin Tombat (Responsible under PRB Act). Regd Office: St Tome Road, Panjim, Goa. Tel: 2224202, 2228083, Fax: 2222475 (all Editorial); 2230535, Fax: 2225622 (Advertising); Margao: 2737689. Mumbai Office: 16-A, Bell Building, 2nd Floor, 19 Sir PM Road, Fort, Mumbai - 400001 (Tel: 22840702/22844908). RNI No: 43667/83.

HOW TO CONTACT US: mail@herald-goa.com — For press notes, general queries. junioryouth@herald-goa.com — Junior Herald & Careers. heraldmirror@herald-goa.com — Sunday Mirror. reporters@herald-goa.com — For Reporters. business@herald-goa.com — For Business news. editor@herald-goa.com — For Letters to the Editor. sports@herald-goa.com — For Sports news. advt@herald-goa.com — For Advertisements. 2day@herald-goa.com — For Herald 2day. tiatr@herald-goa.com — For Tiatr Reviews and Reports. Disclaimer: Except for the editorial above, articles and letters in Herald represent the views of the concerned authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Herald editor, publisher, and/or owners.

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opinionatEd Ex-SC judge to head Gaza flotilla inquiry

F

World Cup 2010

By FREDDy AGNElo FERNANDES

ootball or Soccer as it is widely called, is no doubt a universal sport with the largest viewership worldwide.

Almost everyone in the world is excited about the prospect of their favourite team winning the coveted gold trophy on July 11, 2010 a dream of every nation big or small. Every nation prepares for this quest with dedication and hardwork which many a times, is not just enough to fulfil our ambition and dream of winning the World Cup. All cannot win the World Cup, although every participating country wants to win it. It is said “if wishes were horses baggers would ride”, and the whole wide world dreams of it. To win at this level, talent, physical fitness, temperament, team work in cohesion. And Lady Luck surely must be by your side. The day all these factors come together for a particular team, that team will surely be the winner. Let’s see who these factors favour, not forgetting the axiom “fortune favours the brave.” Let’s hope the best team wins.

We all like to make predictions. I too would like to do the same with malice towards none. I think Spain has the best balanced side starting with one of the best goalkeepers in the world Iker Casillas and Valdes. With Puyol, Albiol, Pique, Ramos and Marchena the best solid defence that any team would be proud off. Xavi, Iniesta, Fabrigas, Alonso, Martinez, Silva, Busquets in the midfield, they have more to spare than any other team. Coming to the strikers, Villa, Torres, Mata, Pedro, Llorente and Navas, any of them would create havoc in any defence in world football. It’s all talent in the Spanish team, over all, barring injury to the key players like Torres, Villa, Iniesta, they have the trophy in their hands.

After Spain as far as talent is concerned, the Netherlands comes second. Goalkeepers Maarten, Vorm and Sander, I have not heard much. This department will miss the services of retired Van der Sar. Heitinga, Joris, Khalid, Andre, Edson are capable of sturdy defence, while Van Bronckhorst though not so young carries the experience in the defence department. Van Bommel, De Jong, Demy, Schaars, are all pretty apt midfielders; and with the superb duo of Van Der Vaart and the very dangerous Sneijder they are only second to Spain in midfield talent. Kuyt, Van Persie, Robben, Elia, Babel, and Klaas Jan make a formidable strike force, here too only second to Spain in talent, but Lady Luck seems to have eluded them since their 3-2 loss to Germany during the time of Juan Cruff. They will surely look for favour from lady luck this time round.

Brazil is one team that can never be left out of the favourites. The team is overflowing with talent. They could have two or three team of equal strength and all of them could reach the quarter finals if not the semis of finals. Gomes, Doni, Julio Cesar one of the best in the Goal, that department is as good as Spain upfront. The reserves loose to the quality of Valdes. Defence Lucio is a pillar of strength, Maicon on the flank can do the Roberto Carlos sorties, Basttos, Dani Alves, Luisao, Silva and Melo will be hard to get past for a clear shot at the goal. Felipe, Elano, Gilberto Silva, Josue, Ramires, Julio Baptista, Kelberson and ofcourse the star Kaka make a dream midfield.

Grafite, Nilmar, Robinho and the ever dangerous Fabiano could turn the tables on any defence in the world. But take a look at the football history. They always are players par excellence- front, the world’s best. Unfortunately, this team lacks that vital tactician, that more often than not changed Brazil’s fortunes in football.

Argentina is another team full of talent. Pozo, Sergio Romero, Pastore in the goal are not the best known and could be the only weak link. Demichelis, Clemente, Nicolas, Heinze, Ariel, Walter, Nicolas all are good defenders. Bolatti, Di Maria, Javier, Jonas, Pastore, Maxi and the veteran Veron are more than handful midfielders for any team. Their attack is their crowning glory with Messi, Tevez, Higuain, Aguero, Palermo and the Champions Cup hero Milito make one of the most dangerous and potent strike force. But they unfortunately are at the mercy of their eccentric coach who was a much better player than he’ll ever be a coach.

It’s his folly to leave aside the talented midfielders in Combassio and Rechelmi, one of the stars of the last World Cup, who would have made their midfield, match that of Spain any given day.

Germany, Portugal, Italy and England have talent in bits and pieces. But those scattered pieces could take them pretty far in this tournament. For Germany it could be Podolski. For Portugal in could be Ronaldo, they’ll surely miss Nani’s crosses from the flank and his creativity in the box a very good provider for Ronaldo to flourish. Italy are too defensive, they may not win matches but they will may scoring against them very difficult with Carnnavaro and Zambrotta playing the key role, whereas England had good midfields in Gerrad and Lampard, a good defender in Terry ; and the best of England, the work horse called Wayne Rooney. Provided he is hundred percent fit, he can and will make a lot of defenders look foolish and illequipped but than only the English will bet on a lame horse.

This is my preview of the World Cup 2010. Hope the best team wins. I’ll be wearing the Brazil Top and Portugal Shorts on June 25. If you see me please don’t laugh at me, I am a football fanatic and Portugal and Brazil are my favourite teams despite their limitations. Of course I am Goan. I hope more than winning, we will get to watch football that is fantastic, fast paced and tactically intelligent, and a good number of classy goals. May football be the winner.

Hope I have not offended anyone’s feelings or upset any carts. These are just my views, if you have your let’s share them.

PTI JERUSALEM, JUNE 13

Amid mounting international pressure, Israel on Sunday appointed a former Supreme Court judge to head a committee to examine the events surrounding the deadly attack on the Gazabound aid flotilla two weeks ago that led to the death of nine people.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday announced that former Supreme Court Jus-

tice Yaakov Tirkel will head the Israeli investigative committee that will look into the events surrounding the takeover of the Gaza-bound aid flotilla that left nine Turkish dead on May 31.

However, it falls short of meeting demands raised by several countries that Israel inquire the deadly raid by Naval commandos. The PMO said on Saturday that the conditions were not yet ripe for such an announcement “due to political rea-

sons”, Ha’aretz online reported.

Netanyahu said he had personally updated US President Barack Obama about his decision.

Referring to the siege on Gaza at the opening of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday, the Israeli premier said discussions on the decision to blockade the Strip had taken place “even before the Gaza-bound flotilla.”

“These discussions continued last week, inter alia, in the meetings I held on the subject with

Iran's Revolutionary Guards warned the opposition on Saturday, the first anniversary of a disputed presidential election, that they would crack down on any attempts to create a ''security crisis.''

Authorities had banned an opposition rally planned for yesterday, and reformist leaders had told their supporters to stay home, fearing for people's lives in any crackdown. ''Any revival of street protests is unlikely. But if the sedition movement creates a security crisis, we will confront them with full force,'' said senior Guards commander Reza Farzaneh, according to the Javan newspaper.

Last year's post-election street protests, the worst unrest since

the Islamic republic was founded in 1979, were put down violently by the Guards. Mass detentions and trials followed.

Two people were hanged and scores of detainees remain in jail.

In Washington, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton issued a statement citing the Iranian government's ''denial of the fundamental freedoms'' to its citizens and calling for the release of jailed dissidents.

There was a heavy security presence on Tehran's squares and some opposition websites reported sporadic clashes between security forces and opposition supporters in various parts of Tehran, including inside two university campuses. ''Security forces dispersed a few dozen demonstrators in a southern Tehran square. They

discussion over the formation of the Gaza flotilla committee.

It is being speculated that Barak wants to avoid a situation in which Netanyahu would give in to international pressure and agree to make “unacceptable changes to the committee’s charter”.

Israeli authorities have held talks with the US administration and several European countries to rally support for the mandate of the committee of inquiry and

approval of its makeup.

The Americans are said to have rejected Israel’s proposals a number of times and demanded that a retired Supreme Court justice head the probe.

The issue was resolved when Justice Tirkel was proposed for the post. Israel Defence Forces are holding a separate inquiry into the incident that triggered world-wide condemnation of the deadly commando operation.

Iraq’s thirst for fresh water grows REUTERS BAGHDAD, JUNE 13

Christopher Rice (left) walks his four children down the oil covered public beach in Gulf Shores, Alabama. Although the beaches are still open, they have been closed for swimming.

ISI funding Afghan Taliban: report PTI LONDON, JUNE 13

Pakistan’s powerful ISI provides funding, training and sanctuary to Taliban in Afghanistan on a scale much larger than previously thought, a report claims and suggests that the spy agency may be backing the insurgents to undermine Indian influence in the war-torn country.

The report by the London School of Economics (LSE), based on interviews with nine Ta l i b a n c o m m a n d e r s i n Afghanistan between February and May this year, says the support for the Afghan Taliban was “official ISI policy”.

“Although the Taliban has a strong endogenous impetus, according to Taliban commanders the ISI orchestrates, sustains and strongly influences the movement,” Matt Waldman, au-

26 injured in Thai bomb attack REUTERS YALA, THAILAND, JUNE 13

Two bombs exploded outside a row of crowded roadside restaurants in Thailand's restive south, killing one person and wounding 26, police said today.

Assailants hurled two homemade explosives onto a pavement lined with open-air restaurants in Yala province late yesterday, Colonel Piyawat Chalermsri said, blaming suspected Islamic insurgents.

No group took responsibility for the attack.

More than 4,000 people have been killed in six years of unrest.

The troubled rubber-rich provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat were part of a Muslim sultanate annexed a century ago.

thor of the report who is also a fellow at Harvard University, says.

Taliban field commanders interviewed for the report suggested that ISI intelligence agents even attend Taliban supreme council meetings.

“Some alleged that ISI agents had even attended meetings of the Taliban’s top leadership council, the so- called Quetta shura. They claim that by backing the insurgents Pakistan’s security ser vice is tr ying to undermine Indian influence in Afghanistan,” BBC quoted the report as saying.

India is carrying out a number of developmental projects in Afghanistan and Pakistan views New Delhi’s involvement in reconstruction activities there undermines its influence.

India’s assets in the war-torn

country have been targeted several times and the Indian Embassy in Kabul was attacked twice. However, India has made it clear that it will continue with its activities.

Waldman says there is real evidence of extensive co-operation between the ISI and Taliban.

He also argues that previous studies significantly “underestimated” the influence that Pakistan’s ISI exerts over the Taliban.

Far from being the work of rogue elements, interviews suggest this “support is official ISI policy”, he said.

“The report is consistent with Pakistan’s political history in which civilian leaders actively backed ‘jihadi’ groups that operate in Afghanistan and Kashmir,” Waldman said.

were pushing people,'' a witness told Reuters. ''They detained three protestors.''

A senior police official denied reports of clashes. ''There were no clashes around the country ... only a few suspicious people were detained by security agents,'' the semi-official Fars news agency quoted Mohammadreza Radan as saying.

Cries of ''Allahu Akbar'' (God is Greatest) were heard from rooftops, a move urged by opposition figures in exile.

The opposition says the vote was rigged to secure the re-election of the hardline president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.

The authorities deny the accusations, saying they are part of a Western plot to overthrow the Islamic system, and have repeatedly said they will prevent

Pakistani support for the Taliban is prolonging a conflict that has cost the West billions of dollars and hundreds of lives, the report said, noting that last week 32 NATO soldiers were killed.

“As the provider of sanctuary and substantial financial, military and logistical support to the insurgency, the ISI appears to have strong strategic and operational influence - reinforced by coercion.

“There is thus a strong case that the ISI orchestrates, sustains and shapes the overall insurgent campaign,” the report says.

However, a Pakistani Government spokesman told BBC that the allegations were “rubbish” and part of a malicious campaign against the country’s military and security agencies.

On a scorching summer day in Baghdad, Qassim Dakheel squats in his yard and looks anxiously at his water hose, waiting for the water to flow.

In Dakheel's poor neighbourhood, the International Committee of the Red Cross delivers 140,000 litres of water a day by truck, without which 7,500 families would have no water. The government's network of water pipes does not reach their homes.

Dakheel's family of 27, which includes 10 children and 15 grandchildren, consumes 1,000 litres of water a day from the ICRC. But it barely meets their needs. ''We depend on this water truck. If it did not come for any reason, on that day a glass of water would be as precious as a human soul ... we would be lef t without anything. No bathing and no drinking water,'' said Dakheel, 47.

According to government statistics cited by the ICRC, one in four of Iraq's 30 million people does not have access to safe drinking water, a persistent problem seven years after the US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.

Decades of war and international sanctions left Iraq's infrastructure in tatters. In many areas like Dakheel's, the government's water pipes do not reach newly built neighbourhoods where residents have constructed their own homes.

Sectarian strife in previous years left more than 1,500,000 Iraqis internally displaced.

Dakheel, a Shi'ite, left his home in the Sunni area of Abu Ghraib, on the western outskirts of the capital, in 2006 to find safe shelter in the mainly Shi'ite district of Baladiyat in eastern Baghdad.

The ICRC water trucks start their mission early in the morning and run until 6 p.m. to make

18 dead in Arkansas flood, search on REUTERS LANGLEY, JUNE 13

Search crews recovered 18 bodies and were hunting for others on Saturday along a 10-mile (3 meters) stretch of river after a flash flood swept through a popular Arkansas campground on Friday, rescue officials said today.

Officials said three people known to have been at the camp along the Little Missouri River in western Arkansas remain missing, and an additional 20 that might have been there are still unaccounted for.

Governor Mike Beebe said he had turned down additional federal help offered by President Barack Obama by phone and that state and local rescue teams, as well as US Forest Service employees, would continue to hunt for the missing. ''If we need additional assets

A van is propped against a tree at Albert Pike camp ground near Caddo Gap, Arkansas, after a flash flood rushed through early Sunday.

I'm not a bit bashful to ask him for it, but at this juncture I didn't,'' Beebe told reporters at a media conference in Little Rock.

Iran’s Guards warn opposition on vote anniversary REUTERS TEHRAN, JUNE 13

Quartet envoy Tony Blair,” Netanyahu said. He said the “principle guiding our policy is clear, to prevent war material from entering Gaza and to allow the entry of humanitarian aid and non-contraband goods into the Gaza Strip.”

Defence Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday cancelled a planned trip to a Paris arms show. His office described the decision to cancel his France visit as part of his desire to be present in the

any revival of the protests.

Many Iranians critical of the government now seem unwilling to risk violence or arrest with displays of dissent, and doubts have grown over the effectiveness of the reformists' leaders. ''What have the opposition leaders been able to do for my friends who are still in jail?'' said Mohammad Sefati, a 25-yearold literature student in the city of Mashhad. ''I am a backer of the reform movement. But what can we do without any leadership?''

Defeated presidential candidate Mirhossein Mousavi says the movement is alive, but his campaign is fading as many Iranians feel the former prime minister lacks the political courage to confront the establishment from which he sprang.

At least a dozen pro-reform

publications and most opposition websites have been blocked since the vote, making it hard for the opposition leaders to communicate with the public.

Mousavi has called on his supporters to use peaceful methods to confront the government, including using websites. ''We should focus on expanding social networks and websites... which work like an army.

This is our army against their military force,'' his Kaleme website reported Mousavi as saying.

The last major opposition protest in December led to clashes with security forces in which eight demonstrators were killed.

Since last week, the government has intensified its clampdown, arresting dozens of activists, journalists and students.

A wall of water, triggered by heavy rains that swelled the river to 20 feet (6 meters), caught victims asleep in their tents at the

Nepal govt loses strength

Albert Pike campground in the Ouachita Mountains west of Little Rock.

Among the 15 identified victims were several members of the same families, including six children, according to a list provided by Arkansas' State Emergency Operations Center.

Chad Stover, spokesman for the State Emergency Operations Center, said that the river rose to 20 feet in five hours on Friday morning.

Television images showed cabins reduced to rubble and mobile homes and vehicles overturned by the waters.

The governor said he expected the search and rescue efforts to last several more days, after which the focus would shift to clean-up and rebuilding. He did not offer a cost of the damage caused by the flood.

up for water distribution systems that are old or badly maintained, and further weakened by illegal connections and substandard plumbing in households. ''Reliable access to enough water of sufficient quality remains a major challenge for large parts of the population,'' Julien Le Sourd, the ICRC's water and habitat coordinator in Iraq, said in a report.

According to Iraq's Planning Ministry, 84 per cent of the water that emerges from taps is clean enough to drink and the other 16 per cent is contaminated. ''The national development plan for the years 2010-2014 will achieve a good amount of development concerning the safe drinking water, hopefully the percentage will rise to more than 90 per cent,'' Deputy Planning Minister Mehdi al-Alak said.

The ICRC started supplying Baladiyat in 2004 but with growing numbers of residents, its situation is worsening.

Residents have asked for an additional 80,000 litres a day.

Ra i d M u h s i n , m a y o r o f Dakheel's neighbourhood, said little of Iraq's oil wealth trickles down to its people. ''This is a dereliction of no one but the government and its officials because so far not one of them takes care of us. As if we are not Iraqis,'' Muhsin said, looking at the ICRC truck as it began pumping water into a 10,000-litre tank in the street.

Each tank serves about 10 houses. ''Unfortunately, we got rid of one oppressive situation to fall into another ... we expected things would be better than before only to find ourselves sinking in misery,'' Muhsin said.

Baghdad officials say they face problems producing water as well as distributing it. The city's 7 million people need 3.5 million cubic metres of water a day.

China’s food, medicine official fired REUTERS BEIJING, JUNE 13

A deputy chief of China's State Food and Drug Administration (SFDA) has been sacked and faces official investigation, state media said today, flagging another possible corruption scandal for the watchdog agency.

A brief Xinhua news agency report revealed the dismissal and investigation of Zhang Jingli, deputy director of the SFDA, for ''suspected disciplinary violations'', but did not elaborate.

In past cases, such accusations and dismissals have often been a precursor to charges of embezzlement, bribe-taking or other economic crimes that led to prosecution and criminal convictions of errant officials.

18 killed in Philippine bus crash

KATHMANDU, JUNE 13 PTI

AGENCIES CEBU, JUNE 13

In a blow to Nepal's Madhav Kumar-led government, a small party having five elected representatives has withdrawn its support from the ruling coalition reducing its strength to 313 in the 601-member Constituent Assembly.

Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) with its five seats withdrew its support from the government, blaming it for failing to implement the 18-point commitment reached with it at the time of the formation of the coalition last year.

NWPP Chairman Narayanman Bijuckchhe said it was "meaningless" to give continuity to the government as it had failed to meet expectations on all fronts.

A tourist bus packed with Iranian nationals plunged into a ravine Sunday while negotiating a mountain road in the central Philippines, killing at least 18 people and injuring more than 30 others.

The bus, carrying dozens of mostly Iranian medical students and doctors, apparently suffered brake failure then plummeted into a 100-foot (30-meter) ravine in Balamban town in Cebu province, police Senior Superintendent Erson Digal said.

At least 18 people, mostly Iranians and including children, were killed, said regional military spokesman Lt. Col. Wilson Feria, who was at the scene of the accident.

Villagers and police pulled at least 10 bodies from the mangled bus wreckage at the rocky bottom of the ravine. Several seriously injured passengers were brought to hospitals, Digal told The Associated Press.

Feria said at least seven passengers later died in hospitals.

Many of the Iranian victims were medical students in Cebu, a bustling commercial and tourism center 350 miles (560 kilometers) southeast of Manila.

They were identified by relatives and through their IDs, Digal said.

Feria said it was not clear if the Iranians, who rented the bus, were involved in a medical mission or went for an outing at one of several resorts in and around Cebu.

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Libya, Swiss to sign deal ending row-Libyan official REUTERS TRIPOLI, JUNE 13

Libya and Switzerland will soon sign a memorandum of understanding to resolve their long-running diplomatic dispute, a source in the Libyan Foreign Ministry said today.

Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey arrived in the Libyan capital for talks early today and is expected to make a statement to reporters shortly, the source, who did not want to be identified, told Reuters.

Major quake off Nicobar triggers tsunami fears PTI PORT BLAIR/CHENNAI, JUNE 13

A major earthquake with a magnitude of 7.8 on the Richter scale shook Andaman and Nicobar Islands early today, triggering a tsunami alert which was later withdrawn.

No casualties have been reported due to the quake, effects of which were also felt in Chennai and some other coastal areas.

The Central Seismological Observatory Centre, Shillong, said the quake took place at around 12.57 am at a spot off the west coast of Nicobar Island in the Indian Ocean.

The epicentre of the quake was located at latitude 7.9 degree north and longitude 91.9 degree east, the observatory said.

Deputy Commissioner of Nicobar district T Srikanth said a tsunami watch alert was issued after the major earthquake jolted the island. "We had given a tsunami watch alert for about one and a half hours. We have revoked it. The situation is normal and it is being monitored," he said.

No loss of life or damage to property was reported, Srikanth said.

The Hawaii-based Pacific Tsunami Warning Center had issued a warning for the entire Indian Ocean region which later was downgraded to a warning for India and was subsequently called off.

"Sea level readings indicate that a significant tsunami was not generated," the centre said in a bulletin.

Moderate tremors were also felt in several parts of Chennai and its suburbs for a few seconds.

However, no casualty or damage to property were reported, police said.

People in panic rushed out of their houses at Gopalapuram, Kodambakkam, Porur, Thiruvanmiyur, Anna Nagar and several other places following the tremor, they said.

Several parts of coastal Orissa also experienced mild tremors early today, but no casualty or damage to property was reported, officials said in Bhubaneswar.

Clash between Somalia police, soldiers kills 13 REUTERS MOGADISHU, JUNE 13

Fighting between Somali government troops and police has killed at least 13 people and injured 14 in Mogadishu after soldiers tried to rob civilians, police said today.

The clash occurred yesterday in Hamarjajab district, in the south of the capital. ''The clashes came after some of the government troops started to rob a civilian car and the police were trying to stop it,'' Abdullahi Mo`alim Kerow, a police officer, told Reuters.

The clash resulted in the deaths of nine soldiers and four civilians who were not involved the fighting but were caught in the crossfire. ''We have collected bodies of nine government troops ... and three unidentified civilians. The injured have been taken to ... hospital and the fighting has stopped,'' Kerow said late yesterday. ''This kind of clashes among the government troops is unfortunate and been has repeated so many times, claiming the lives of nearly 100 troops since January.''

Ten civilians were wounded and one of them later died, Ali Muse Abdi, the coordinator of ambulance services in Mo-

gadishu, told Reuters.

Somalia has had no effective central government for 19 years and Western efforts to install one to steer the country back to stability have been hampered by an insurgency by al Qaedalinked al Shabaab insurgents and another smaller group, Hizbul Islam.

The Transitional Federal Government controls only a few blocks of Mogadishu with the help of African Union peacekeepers.

Elsewhere, al Shabaab regained control the strategic central town of Baladwayne from Hizbul Islam.

While Hizbul Islam and al Shabaab have fought together against the government in Mogadishu, they are rivals in other parts of the country. ''Al Shabaab is in full of control of the town. Their fighters are everywhere. There was no confrontation at all. The Hizbul Islam in town have been disarmed,'' Adam Mohamed, a resident of Baladwayne, told Reuters.

Fighting in Somalia has killed at least 21,000 people since the start of 2007 and driven another 1.5 million from their homes, triggering one of the world's worst humanitarian emergencies.

Foxconn suicide probe to be made public: official REUTERS BEIJING, JUNE 13

China will publish the results of an official probe into recent suicides at electronics maker Foxconn's giant manufacturing plant in south China, a Chinese labour affairs official said.

Zhang Xiaojian, a Vice Minister of Human Resources and Social Security, also said a recent burst of strikes in foreignowned factories in the nation's southern export zone did not amount to a ''wave'' of unrest, the Beijing News reported today.

A string of 10 suicides this year at the Foxconn complex has brought intense scrutiny of Taiwan's Hon Hai Precision In-

dustry Co Ltd, the owner of Foxconn, which makes the iPhone and other products for Apple and also counts Dell Inc and Hewlett-Packard Co among its clients.

The Vice Minister Zhang said the results of a government investigation into the suicides will eventually be ''released to the public''.

He indicated the government was not treating the suicides as simply the reflection of stressful work conditions at the Foxconn plants near Shenzhen, the southern manufacturing hub where Foxconn has about 400,000 employees.

Families of workers who killed themselves and other critics have said long hours and harsh management methods were behind the suicides. ''The Foxconn incidents are not only a question of labour relations, and there are multiple causes,'' the paper cited Zhang as saying yesterday. ''There are enterprise management problems, the psychological problems of young workers,'' Zhang added. ''This was caused by multiple factors.''

The 10 suicides and two attempted suicides at the Foxconn facilities have been followed by strikes at other factories in southern China's Guangdong province and elsewhere.

The tremors were felt in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur and Puri, they said.

The Indian Tsunami Warning Centre at Hyderabad had issued three bulletins immediately after the earthquake and put Nicobar and Camorta islands on a tsunami watch.

"Since the epicentre of the earthquake was near Nicobar, about 400 kms southwest of the island, we had issued a tsunami watch for Nicobar and Camorta," Shailesh Nayak, Secretary, Ministry of Earth Sciences, told PTI. However, after computer model showed there was no danger of tsunami, the watch was withdrawn.

"Our computer models showed 50 cm high waves lashing Nicobar and Camorta, and 15 cm waves along the Tamil Nadu coast," Nayak said.

The tsunami watch, during which people are advised to stay away from the seashore, was issued at around 1 am and withdrawn by 2:30 am.

Sudan must ease Darfur travel ban -EU aid chief REUTERS KHARTOUM, JUNE 13

Sudan must relax a near blanket ban on travel to remote parts of South Darfur to let aid groups reach areas hit by a resurgence of violence, the EU's commissioner for humanitarian aid said.

Aid groups said this week Sudanese security forces blocked flights and road trips in Darfur, stranding staff and stopping food deliveries.

Sudan's mostly desert Darfur region is seven years into a conflict that started in 2003 when mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms against Sudan's government, demanding more autonomy.

Aid groups set up the world's largest humanitarian operation to care for hundreds of thousands driven from their homes by the rebellion and a fierce counter insurgency waged by government troops and allied, mostly Arab, militias.

European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, Kristalina Georgieva, speaking to Reuters after a fourday visit to Sudan yesterday, said Sudanese authorities had turned down 26 of more than 30 recent requests for aid road trips in South Darfur state.

Flights were also being

blocked, she said. ''We are calling on the government to allow the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations that are key to get into more remote areas,'' she said by phone from Kampala. ''One in five or one in six requests were granted... They have to shift more towards access being the rule rather than the exception.''

She said some aid groups were equipped to work in dangerous areas and needed to reach civilians affected by violence.

No one was immediately available for comment from Sudan's humanitarian affairs ministry or the South Darfur government.

Violence spiked after Darfur's Justice and Equality Movement rebels suspended their participation in peace talks in May. UN figures showed almost 600 people died in rebel and tribal clashes that month, mostly in southern and central Darfur, making it the region's bloodiest month for more than two years. ''The fact is that insecurity is worsening and that the populations in the camps is increasing as a result of more people fleeing more dangerous areas... Darfur must not be forgotten,'' said Georgieva.

Japan space probe set for Australian outback return REUTERS SYDNEY, JUNE 13

A Japanese space probe which scientists hope will bring back a sample from an asteroid is due to return to Earth on schedule late today in the Australian outback, an Australian defence official said.

The Hayabusa probe is due to land around 11.30 pm near the Woomera military range in the remote desert north of South Australia state.

The return will mark the end of a seven-year journey that has taken the probe to the nearEarth asteroid Itokawa and back.

It landed on the asteroid twice in 2005 and scientists hope it may have captured a small sample from its surface.

If successful, it would be the first time a spacecraft has returned with samples from an asteroid or planet other than Earth's moon.

The probe was launched in

2003 by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), which said on Saturday Hayabusa -- which means ''falcon'' in Japanese -- was functioning well after completing its final manoeuvre earlier this month.

A spokesman for Australia's defence ministry said an initial party would fly out to find the 500 kg Hayabusa probe once instruments confirmed it had landed.

Among the first people to see it on its return will be local Aboriginal elders, who will fly out in a helicopter to check it has not damaged any sites sacred to the local indigenous people.

Stretches of central Australia's main north-south Stuart Highway will be closed for the probe's return, which will happen at blistering speed. Parachutes will slow it down after the probe jettisons a heat shield that will protect it during re-entry.

FROM PAGE 1 Cops scan coastal belt for Mickky

and are drawing up strategies following the rejection of his bail application by the South Goa Sessions Court last week.

Meanwhile, the Crime Branch has said that its scientific investigations of call details of mobile phone of Nadai Torrado shows that the deceased was using mobile No 9011077725, which was in her name, and had made calls to Pacheco on his mobile phones 9822126126 and 9822125999 on May 13, 14 and 15, ie the day of the incident when the deceased consumed the Ratol.

LYNDON BAIL PLEA: The anticipatory bail application filed by Lyndon Monteiro, OSD to former tourism minister Mickky Pacheco will come up for hearing before Justice U D Salvi of the Bombay High Court at Goa on Monday.

An anticipatory bail application can be filed under Section 438 of the Criminal Procedure Code only by the person anticipating arrest. But sources said in Lyndon’s case the application before the High Court has been filed by his mother, which is not in accordance with the court rules. On this technical ground itself the application may be dismissed outright, they said.

Sources further revealed that Lyndon’s anticipatory bail application has been styled as an application under Section 439 of Criminal Procedure Code. As an application under Section 439 is by someone already in custody it can be moved by a family or friend on behalf of the accused, they stated.

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Kyrgyz rioting spreads ethnic violence AGENCIES BATKEN, JUNE 13

Rioting spread across the south of this strategically important Central Asian nation on Sunday as the authorities failed to contain mobs that appeared to be increasingly engaging in targeted ethnic violence.

The official death toll neared 100 people, though the unrest seemed so widespread that the figure is likely to go far higher. Reports from the region said bands of ethnic Kyrgyz were seeking out Uzbeks, setting fire to their homes and killing them.

Thousands of Uzbeks have fled to the nearby border with Uzbekistan, and the authorities were said to have lost control of Osh, Kyrgyzstan’s second largest city.

On Saturday, the fragile Kyrgyz provisional government asked neighboring Russia to send in peacekeeping troops.

The situation in the Osh region has spun out of control in a third day of clashes in southern Kyrgyzstan on Saturday, the Kyrgyz provisional government asked Russia to send in troops.

With the death toll in and around Osh,

Ethnic Uzbeks gather near the Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan border in southern Kyrgyzstan.

Kyrgyzstan’s second largest city, reaching 77 and a state of emergency extending to a second city, the government acknowledged that its efforts to end the violence had been fruitless.

“The situation in the Osh region has

spun out of control,” said Kyrgyzstan’s acting president, Roza Otunbayeva. “Attempts to establish a dialogue have failed, and fighting and rampages are continuing. We need outside forces to quell confrontation.”

But Russia, which has a small military base in the north and has been a political patron of this former Soviet republic, said only that it would consider the request.

A spokeswoman for President Dmitri A. Medvedev of Russia said that no decision would be made until at least Monday, when Russia will consult with other members of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, a regional security alliance of former Soviet republics.

“A decision about deploying peacekeeping forces to Kyrgyzstan can only be made collectively with all members of the C.S.T.O.,” the spokeswoman, Natalya Timakova, said Saturday evening.

She also said that Russia was continuing to ship humanitarian assistance, including medicine, to Kyrgyzstan.

It remained unclear what started the violence, which threatens to undermine the already fragile provisional govern-

ment that took power in April after rioting deposed the country’s president.

The interim government has never fully established control in parts of the south, where supporters of the ousted president, Kurmanbek S. Bakiyev, have frequently clashed with those loyal to the new government.

The country is host to an important United States military base on the outskirts of the capital, Bishkek, that is used to support the NATO mission in Afghanistan.

On Saturday, heavily armed gangs continued to battle on the streets of Osh, burning and looting as they rampaged through the city.

“It was raining ash the whole afternoon, big pieces of black and while ash,” said Andrea Berg, a Human Rights Watch employee holed up her apartment in the city. “The city is just burning. It’s totally out of control.”

The rioters at one point commandeered two armored personnel carriers from troops stationed in the city, said Timur Sharshenaliyev, a spokesman for the government there. Soldiers were able to take only one back.

Iran not to reduce Russia ties

American boy falls to death in Cape Town REUTERS CAPE TOWN, JUNE 13

An 11-year-old American boy, hiking with his family on Table Mountain, South Africa, fell to his death yesterday, Cape Town city officials said today.

A rescue services spokesman said the boy slipped while climbing up a tricky section of Skeleton Gorge, falling into a stream.

The unidentified boy, who was with his brother, mother and father, was declared dead at the scene.

Thousands of tourists have flocked to South Africa to watch the continent's first soccer World Cup, and Table Mountain is among the most popular tourist destinations in the country.

AGENCIES TEHRAN, JUNE 13

A Russian policeman escorts Soyuz TMA-18 rocket booster during its roll-out for the installation on the launch pad of the cosmodrom in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, on Sunday. International crew including Russian cosmonaut Fyodor Yurchikhin and NASA astronauts Shannon Walker and Doug Wheelock depart to the International Space Station for a half- a-year mission early 16 June.

Mass wedding for ex-Tamil Tigers REUTERS VAVUNIYA, JUNE 13

More than 100 people said to be former Tamil Tiger rebels were married today in a mass wedding ceremony as part of the government's rehabilitation plans for ex-fighters after a 25year separatist war. ''Bollywood'' star Vivek Oberoi witnessed the mass wedding of 53 couples, who the government said had all fought to create a separate state for minority Tamils in the north and east of the Indian ocean island nation.

Ravichandra Rasikeshara, a 26-year-old who said he worked as a paramedic for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), married another former fighter, 22-year-old Thaksarani. ''We don't want an Eelam (a separate state), we want freedom and a happy family life,'' Ravichandra told Reuters.

The mass wedding came just over a year after Sri Lanka's military declared victory in the war against the LTTE following a

bloody final campaign.

More than 100,000 people died during the conflict.

All of those married are being held in military custody in the northern town of Vavuniya. ''The army will be providing them with food, medical care and other necessities until they are ready to start life,'' Brigadier Sudantha Ranasinghe, the commissioner for rehabilitation, told Reuters by telephone from Vavuniya.

The military said more than 8,800 former rebels were being ''rehabilitated'' in government centres and that almost 3,000 others had been released since the end of the war in May 2009.

International human rights groups have urged the United Nations to investigate potential war crimes at the end of the war, charging that tens of thousands of people died in the final months. The government has repeatedly rejected the charges of civilian deaths as grossly exaggerated.

Medvedev fires Putin’s close ally REUTERS MOSCOW, JUNE 13

Russian President Dmitr y Medvedev has dismissed a close ally of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin as head of a state arms agency, the Kremlin said today without giving a reason.

Medvedev, who has made tentative moves to assert his independence from Putin in recent months, signed an order to dismiss Viktor Cherkesov as head of the Federal Arms Procurement Agency, the Kremlin said in a statement.

Cherkesov was deputy head of the FSB, the main successor organisation to the KGB, in the late 1990s when Putin led the service.

But in 2007 Putin publicly scolded Cherkesov, then head of the state anti-drugs service, for publicising a feud with the FSB in an open letter.

Cherkasov was appointed head of the arms procurement agency in May 2008.

Iran has no intention to reduce ties with Russia and China, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, head of parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, said Sunday, the English language Press TV reported.

The report quoted Boroujerdi as saying Iran has no plan to downgrade relations with Russia and China although having grievances over the supports for UN sanctions on the country.

"Iranian officials are rather disappointed with Russia and China's approval of more sanctions, but this does not mean we are looking for ways to reduce the level of relations," Boroujerdi said.

Quake jolts northern Japan REUTERS TOKYO, JUNE 13

An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.2 jolted northern Japan today, the Japan Meteorological agency said, though there were no reports of damage and nuclear facilities in the area were unaffected.

The quake, at 12:33 p m (0903 IST), was also felt in Tokyo.

The focus of the tremor was 40 km below sea level off the east coast of Fukushima prefecture, on Japan's main island of Honshu, about 240 km northeast of Tokyo, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

No tsunami warning was issued.

Kyodo news agency said there was no injuries reported in either Fukushima prefecture or Miyagi prefecture to the north.

Tokyo Electric Power Co's Fukushima No 1 and No 2 nuclear power plants were operating normally after the quake, a company spokesman said.

Tohoku Electric Power Co's Onagawa nuclear plant in Miyagi prefecture and Higashidori nuclear plant in Aomori also continued their normal operations, company officials said.

Nippon Oil Corp's Sendai refinery in Miyagi was continuing normal operations after the quake and there were no reports of damage, a refinery official said.

Japan Energy group refinery Kashima plant in Ibaraki prefecture, south of Fukushima, has been shut for scheduled maintenance and no damage was reported, a plant official said.

Sendai airport Miyagi prefecture halted flights briefly to check the runway before resuming operations, national broadcaster NHK said.

The bullet train that connects Tokyo and Aomori, northern Japan, temporarily suspended operations on part of the rail network after the quake, Kyodo said.

Russia has confirmed its first death from polio in more than a decade, the country's top public health official said today, Interfax news agency reported.

A citizen of the former-Soviet Central Asian country of Uzbekistan died of polio in the Urals Mountains city of Yekaterinburg in early June, Gennady Onishchenko was quoted as saying. ''Tests have confirmed this,'' he said.

Onishchenko's spokeswoman was unavailable to comment on

the report today.

Polio was practically eradicated as a public health problem in industrialised countries in the 1960s, but remains endemic in seven countries, according to the World Health Organisation.

Russia last month confirmed its first case in 13 years in an infant visiting from Tajikistan, where at least 12 people have died from a polio outbreak this year.

State news agency RIA Novosti last week reported that an Uzbek man died of polio in Yekaterinburg on June 4, but

Onishchenko's office refused to comment on that report until additional tests in Moscow confirmed the diagnosis.

Onishchenko said four cases of polio had been confirmed in citizens from Central Asia and two other possible cases were being investigated, Interfax reported.

Polio, which spreads in areas with poor sanitation, attacks the nervous system and can cause irreversible paralysis within hours of infection. Children under the age of three are most vulnerable.

REUTERS BRATISLAVA, JUNE 13

Centre-right parties won a majority in Slovakia's election today, giving them a chance to oust leftist Prime Minister Robert Fico with a coalition designed to cut the budget deficit and repair ties with Hungary.

While voters chose the grouping of economic liberals whose reforms led Slovakia into the European Union in 2004 and drew billions of foreign investment, Fico retained his status as the most popular politician in the euro zone's poorest country.

Fico, loved for a tough leadership style favouring average Slovaks over big businesses, won the biggest single share of the vote with 36.2 percent for his leftist SMER party, according to results from two-thirds of polling stations.

But the results gave 77 of parliament's 150 seats to four centre-right and ethnic Hungarian

parties. Two exit polls showed the opposition could end up with as many as 91 seats.

The conser vative SDKU, which introduced a flat tax rate, sold major state firms, and overhauled the pension and welfare sectors when it ruled from 1998 to 2006, was second with 15.1 percent of the vote.

It hopes to form a coalition with the Christian Democrats (KDH), the newly formed liberal Freedom and Solidarity party (SaS), and the ethnic Hungarian Most-Hid party.

Analysts say a centre-right grouping would be better placed to cut a budget deficit that hit 6.8 per cent of gross domestic product last year to a target of 3 per cent in 2012. ''Any mash-up is better than Fico,'' said SaS leader Richard Sulik. He said he was ready to join as many parties as needed to create a government.

Fico may still try to form a

Belgians voted in a parliamentary election today for a government that could move towards breaking up the country and that will need to curb the third-highest debt ratio in Europe.

The Flemish separatist N-VA (New Flemish Alliance), which advocates the gradual dissolution of Belgium, is forecast to

be the largest party in Dutchspeaking Flanders and possibly the country. ''The ballot box question is not whether but by how much the N-VA will win,'' said Dutchlanguage newspaper De Morgen.

Voting runs until 3 pm with the first results expected within about an hour and a clear picture developing from early evening.

N-VA leader Bart De Wever may be victorious, but he will not be able to start devolving powers to the regions immediately. The electoral system -- effectively two elections with separate parties seeking votes from French-speakers and the majority Dutch-speakers -means at least four parties will be needed to form a governing coalition.

De Wever has said he is open

US President Barak Obama's comments about the BP oil spill were not "anti-British", the American ambassador to London has said.

Obama has come under fire in the UK for referring to the multinational company by its old name of "British Petroleum" when making criticisms.

But Ambassador Louis Susman said the president "would have said the same thing" if it had been a US firm.

The Deepwater Horizon rig exploded in the Mexican Gulf on 20 April, killing 11 workers and creating a huge leak.

Obama has said he would have fired BP's top executive Tony Hayward if he were in charge of the company and has supported the idea that it suspend its quarterly dividend for shareholders.

His comments have provoked anger among many business people and pensioners in the UK, many of whose pension funds have investments in the oil giant.

BP, which has many US, as well as UK, employers and shareholders, has not been known as British Petroleum since 1998.

Susman told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "President Obama and the administration would probably have said the same thing if it had been an American company."

Saying it was not a "diplomatic issue", he added: "It's an issue that we have a catastrophic event that has not only caused loss of life, loss of all the fisheries in the sea, [and been] economically devastating.

"So, while it might seem a bit undiplomatic in terms of the words, trust me, it had nothing

Leader of the Slovak Democratic and Christian Union-Democratic Party Iveta Radicova (centre) arrives to a polling station in the village of Nova Dedinka, about 20 km from Bratislava.

government because the first chance traditionally goes to the biggest party, but the opposition parties have ruled out joining forces with SMER. ''SMER is ready for both alternatives, to be in the government or to be in the opposition,'' said SMER spokeswoman Kata-

to do with the fact it was British or American. It was the fact it's a problem."

Susman added: "I think the president potentially spoke that one time where he said British Petroleum and he's very keen to say 'BP' at this point."

Obama spoke to UK Prime Minister David Cameron by telephone on Saturday.

Susman said it had been a "very warm conversation" covering a "multitude" of subjects.

He added: "When the issue of BP came up, they were both agreed. It's an ecological disaster. BP has to do everything possible to stop the leak, accept responsibility and the president made it very clear that he has no intention of trying to hurt the financial viability of BP. That would be the last thing we want".

He added: "It has nothing to do with anti-British [sentiment]."

UK Foreign Secretary William Hague said the clean-up following the oil spill represented a "big test" for BP. He told the Andrew Marr Show: "The US are not seeking to undermine the value of BP. They know full well there are many thousands of people working for BP in the US and they have also got many shareholders, as in the UK." Obama's comments had led to angry reactions from some UK politicians.

Former Conservative Party chairman Lord Tebbit accused him of giving a "xenophobic display of partisan political presidential petulance against a multinational company".

London Mayor Boris Johnson said there was "something slightly worrying about the antiBritish rhetoric that seems to be permeating from America".

rina Klizanova Rysova.

Business and the opposition accuse Fico, whose popularity was driven by a generous welfare agenda, of wasting public funds and polarising politics with a confrontational style.

Mainstream media, which Fico says are biased, have en-

dorsed right-wing parties and called for a return to the type of reform that made Slovakia the EU's fastest-growing member in 2007. ''Fico will try (to lure other parties) but the trenches have been dug so deep, although only over the past few weeks,'' said political analyst Samuel Abraham. ''He has almost zero chance.''

In an election two weeks ago in the Czech Republic, Fico's close ally, Social Democrat Jiri Paroubek, won the most votes but three centre-right parties gained a majority.

Analysts say the centre-right grouping is probably the best to fight corruption and to improve frosty relations with neighbouring Hungary. There have been strains over the rights of Slovakia's half a million Hungarian minority and ties with Hungary deteriorated further after Slovak National Party joined Fico's government in 2006.

Arab League chief visits Gaza Strip REUTERS GAZA, JUNE 13

Chinese pianist Lang Lang and German actress Iris Berben celebrate with their trophies during the International Mendelssohn Prize in 2010 at the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, Germany.

Belgians vote after debate on splitting country REUTERS BRUSSELS, JUNE 13

AGENCIES LONDON, JUNE 13

Slovak right wins vote, set to oust leftist PM

Russia registers first polio death in a decade REUTERS MOSCOW, JUNE 13

US envoy: Obama comments on BP not anti-British

to a French-speaker – most likely socialist leader Elio Di Rupo -becoming prime minister for the first time in 36 years if that would deliver greater autonomy for Flanders.

This is the first federal election from which a party advocating the end of Belgium could emerge the winner, although the N-VA were allies of the Christian Democrats in 2007.

The party's lead in opinion

polls has triggered a nationwide debate about the possible breakup of the 180-year-old nation, with Flanders and French-speaking Wallonia going their separate ways. ''The Belgians play with their future,'' said francophone newspaper La Libre Belgique yesterday.

Analysts draw comparisons between De Wever and Yves Leterme, the Christian Democrat

who won the 2007 election on a pledge to win more powers for Flanders.

Leterme took nine months to form his five-party government and offered his resignation three times in as many years.

He finally fell after a dispute between Dutch- and French-speakers over the arcane, but emotive issue, of the electoral boundaries around Brussels.

Arab League chief Amr Moussa visited the Gaza Strip today, the highest Arab official to do so since its seizure by Hamas Islamists in 2007, and called for an end to Israel's blockade of the Palestinian territory.

Moussa crossed into the enclave from Egypt, two weeks after Israel's deadly interception of a Gaza aid flotilla. ''This blockade...must be lifted and must be broken and the Arab League decision is very clear in this regard,'' Moussa said.

Egypt had kept its border with Gaza largely closed, bolstering Israel's embargo, since Hamas's war with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's Fatah faction three years ago.

But Cairo reopened its Rafah crossing with the territory after Israeli marines killed nine proPalestinian Turkish activists during violent confrontations on a Turkish-flagged vessel in the aid convoy on May 31.

Palestinian and Arab League officials said Moussa's visit was also aimed at giving momentum to reconciliation talks between Hamas and Fatah that Egypt has sponsored but which have failed to bridge deep mistrust between the two rivals.

In what appeared to be a bid to avoid any impression of Arab League recognition of Hamas's

Gaza takeover, Moussa planned to meet Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas government, in his home rather than in his office, officials said.

At a joint news conference with Moussa, Hamas Health Minister Basim Naeem said the visit indicated that ''the boycott between Gaza and the Arab nation was broken''.

Naeen said Hamas also hoped the trip would ''be the start of a practical plan to lift the (Israeli) blockade of Gaza once and for all, in a complete and comprehensive way''.

On Friday, Israel said it wanted to enlist global support to improve the flow of civilian goods to the Gaza Strip, while seeing to it that weapons did not reach the territory.

Amid an international outcry over the bloodshed in the flotilla raid, Israel faced mounting pressure to ease or lift a blockade that critics have described as collective punishment.

OHERALDO

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It is the beginning date of the tax calendar, the 15th June, when the first instalment of advance tax is due in the case of companies. Tax is a yearlong business, where assesses are required to pay tax while they earn. Earlier before the 1962 Income tax act came about, tax was payable only when demanded on the basis of the assessment made by the tax office. This process both delayed tax collections and often in the case of huge demands, many businesses had already liquidated or transferred their profits and there was no money left to be paid as tax. Later a system of self assessment came into vogue, where assesses would pay tax on the basis of their income declared. This system was also not found useful, since assesses would find that they do not have sufficient money to account for tax and

Mutual Fund

Getting down to business challan to an assessee. The assessee was then required to pay installments of advance tax as demanded. If an assessee believed that the tax so demanded was either more or less than that computed by the tax office, he was required to send in his estimate and pay tax according to his calculation. At the end of the year, based on the assessment of income, the advance tax paid would be taken into account.

If it was found that the estimate was wrong, certain interest would be levied on the amount of tax defaulted. On the contrary if there was excess advance tax paid, interest would be paid to the assessee.

The system was fairly equitable, but impractical in imple-

Key to abbreviations: R Price: Repurchase Price; S Price: Sale Price; (D): Dividend; (G): Growth

Scheme Name NAVs (Rs) A AIG India Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) 11.92 India Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) 11.92 Infrastructure and Economic Reform - Regular (D) 9.01 Infrastructure and Economic Reform - Regular (G) 9.01 Axis Equity Fund (D) 10.41 Equity Fund (G) 10.41 Tax Saver Fund (D) 10.96 Tax Saver Fund (G) 10.96

B

Baroda Pioneer ELSS 96 23.90 Growth Fund (D) 27.18 Growth Fund (G) 48.24 Bharti AXA Equity Fund - Eco Plan (Bonus) 16.90 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (D) 11.89 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (G) 16.90 Equity Fund - Eco Plan (QD) 12.99 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 16.83 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.86 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 16.83 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (QD) 12.94 Focused Infrastructure Fund (D) 9.87 Focused Infrastructure Fund (G) 9.87 Focused Infrastructure Fund (QD) 9.87 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (D) 11.85 Tax Advantage Fund - Eco Plan (G) 21.77 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.84 Tax Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 21.71 Birla Sun Life Advantage Fund (D) 87.76 Advantage Fund (G) 149.95 Basic Industries Fund (D) 29.36 Basic Industries Fund (G) 97.84 Basic Industries Fund - Trigger Plan (D) 10.56 Buy India Fund (D) 23.33 Buy India Fund (G) 38.43 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (D) 13.04 Commodity Equities - Global Agri - Retail Plan (G) 13.04 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (D) 11.66 Commodity Equities - Global Commodity - RP (G) 11.66 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (D) 12.88 Commodity Equities - Global Metals Plan -RP (G) 12.88 Dividend Yield Plus (D) 14.34 Dividend Yield Plus (G) 76.42 Equity Fund (D) 70.15 Equity Fund (G) 249.48 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 21.62 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 80.18 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 12.12 Frontline Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 12.12 India GenNext Fund (D) 13.86 India GenNext Fund (G) 21.32 India Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) 18.50 India Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) 50.81 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (D) 12.84 Infrastructure Fund - Plan A (G) 16.52 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (D) 11.86 Infrastructure Fund - Plan B (G) 12.35 International Equity Fund - Plan A (D) 8.12 International Equity Fund - Plan A (G) 8.12 International Equity Fund - Plan B (D) 8.62 International Equity Fund - Plan B (G) 8.62 Long Term Advantage Fund (D) 12.28 Long Term Advantage Fund (G) 13.29 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(D) 11.69 Long Term Advantage Fund - Series 1(G) 11.69 Midcap Fund - Plan A (D) 24.51 Midcap Fund - Plan A (G) 104.49 Midcap Fund - Plan B (D) 13.19 Midcap Fund - Plan B (G) 13.19 MNC Fund (D) 81.19 MNC Fund (G) 188.67 New Millennium (D) 12.84 New Millennium (G) 18.49 Pure Value Fund (D) 15.02 Pure Value Fund (G) 16.02 Special Situations Fund (D) 9.40 Special Situations Fund (G) 9.40 Tax Plan (D) 43.94 Tax Plan (G) 12.52 Tax Relief 96 (D) 80.95 Tax Relief 96 (G) 10.92 Top 100 Fund (D) 14.15 Top 100 Fund (G) 20.38

C

Canara Robeco Emerging Equities (Bonus) Emerging Equities (D) Emerging Equities (G) Equity Diversified (Bonus) Equity Diversified (D) Equity Diversified (G) Equity Tax Saver (D) Equity Tax Saver (G) F.O.R.C.E Fund - Retail Plan (D) F.O.R.C.E Fund - Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure (D) Infrastructure (G) Multicap (D)

would therefore understate their income to fit their tax.

Many assesses still use this method, in telling their accountants that they would pay a certain amount of tax for the year; it was then left to the accountant to adjust the income and expenditure to suit the amount of tax that the businessman had decided he would pay.

HISTORY OF ADVANCE TAX The provisions of advance tax in India were modeled on the British system called PAYE- a useful acronym for Pay as you Earn.

Under this system an assessee was required to pay tax on the amount of income earned. Under the system originally formulated by the Income tax Act 1961, the tax office would send out an order indicating the amount of advance tax to be paid together with the appropriate

17.09 14.09 20.42 23.19 23.15 50.91 19.79 24.03 12.01 12.00 17.20 21.59 13.46

Multicap (G)

14.51

D

DWS Alpha Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) 15.90 Alpha Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) 73.04 Alpha Equity Fund - Wealth Plan (D) 12.72 Alpha Equity Fund - Wealth Plan (G) 15.21 Investment Opportunity Fund - Regular Plan (D) 24.94 Investment Opportunity Fund - Regular Plan (G) 36.00 Investment Opportunity Fund - Wealth Plan (D) 12.46 Investment Opportunity Fund - Wealth Plan (G) 16.30 Tax Saving Fund (D) 12.30 Tax Saving Fund (G) 13.16 DSP BlackRock Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) 47.04 Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) 14.88 India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (D) 18.46 India T.I.G.E.R. Fund - Regular Plan (G) 45.28 Natural Resources & Energy Fund - Regular(D) 12.83 Natural Resources and Energy Fund - Regular (G) 12.83 Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (D) 27.41 Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (G) 78.63 Small and Mid Cap Fund (D) 14.66 Small and Mid Cap Fund (G) 15.99 Tax Saver Fund (D) 11.93 Tax Saver Fund (G) 16.03 Technology.Com - Regular Plan (D) 23.08 Technology.Com - Regular Plan (G) 31.60 Top 100 Equity Fund - Regular Plan (D) 20.55 Top 100 Equity Fund - Regular Plan (G) 91.40

E

Edelweiss Absolute Return Equity Fund (D) Absolute Return Equity Fund (G) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan B (D) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan B (G) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan C (D) Diversified Growth Equity Fund - Plan C (G) ELSS Fund (D) ELSS Fund (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan A (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan A (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - plan B (D) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan B (G) Nifty Enhancer Fund - Plan C (D) Escorts Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) High Yield Equity Plan (Bonus) High Yield Equity Plan (D) High Yield Equity Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leading Sectors Fund (D) Leading Sectors Fund (G) Power and Energy Fund (D) Power and Energy Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

10.69 10.69 12.84 12.85 12.88 12.89 12.92 12.92 17.80 17.80 10.55 11.57 11.49 11.49 10.24 12.09 73.04 12.82 11.27 12.80 8.37 8.37 10.60 10.60 13.85 16.51 11.02 46.98

F

Fidelity Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Growth Fund (D) India Growth Fund (G) India Special Situations Fund (D) India Special Situations Fund (G) India Value Fund (D) India Value Fund (G) International Opportunities Fund (D) International Opportunities Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund (D) Tax Advantage Fund (G) Fortis China-India Fund (D) China-India Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Future Leaders Fund (D) Future Leaders Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Sustainable Development Fund (D) Sustainable Development Fund (G) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (D) Tax Advantage Plan (ELSS) (G) Franklin Asian Equity Fund (D) Asian Equity Fund (G) Build India Fund (D) Build India Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) India Bluechip Fund (D) India Bluechip Fund (G) India Flexi Cap Fund (D) India Flexi Cap Fund (G)

20.28 32.04 11.07 11.07 15.39 16.97 10.42 10.42 12.17 12.17 17.77 19.79 8.29 8.29 11.24 16.16 10.37 30.67 8.91 8.95 9.19 17.67 10.79 11.84 10.23 12.85 9.79 9.79 11.64 11.64 36.17 57.63 38.36 191.61 14.67 28.97

mentation. For invariably the estimates that were sent in by the assessees did not reach their individual files, assesses would produce copies of the estimates filed, interest or penalty would be levied for not filing the estimates or for wrong estimates. In many cases much of this excess interest was w r o n g l y charged. Further the system of issuing advance tax orders and challans to assessees became cumbersome, since it involved paperwork by the staff in the month of June was found to be cumbersome. In a major re-

India High Growth Companies Fund (D) India High Growth Companies Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) India Prima Fund (D) India Prima Fund (G) India Prima Plus Fund (D) India Prima Plus Fund (G) India Smaller Companies Fund (D) India Smaller Companies Fund (G) India Tax Shield (D) India Tax Shield (G) Infotech Fund (D) Infotech Fund (G) Pharma Fund (D) Pharma Fund (G) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (D) Templeton India Equity Income Fund (G) Templeton India Growth Fund (D) Templeton India Growth Fund (G)

11.67 11.67 13.83 28.77 47.66 255.49 26.47 197.14 12.28 13.26 30.47 185.34 18.55 54.51 30.37 57.38 13.69 17.63 51.67 109.83

H

HDFC Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Core & Satellite Fund (D) Core & Satellite Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Equity Fund (D) Long Term Equity Fund (G) Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (D) Mid-Cap Opportunities Fund (G) Premier Multi-Cap Fund (D) Premier Multi-Cap Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G) Top 200 Fund (D) Top 200 Fund (G) HSBC Dynamic Fund (D) Dynamic Fund (G) Emerging Markets Fund (D) Emerging Markets Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) India Opportunities Fund (D) India Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Equity Fund (D) Midcap Equity Fund (G) Progressive Themes Fund (D) Progressive Themes Fund (G) Tax Saver Equity Fund (D) Tax Saver Equity Fund (G) Unique Opportunities Fund (D) Unique Opportunities Fund (G)

24.28 100.21 20.46 35.99 44.92 244.42 30.31 77.41 11.44 11.44 35.63 121.70 12.00 14.50 13.66 13.66 14.83 26.15 59.11 210.40 44.27 187.27 9.41 9.41 8.64 8.64 25.58 94.76 15.79 31.68 13.14 21.40 10.75 12.64 12.61 13.67 10.09 10.09

I

ICICI Pru Banking & Financial Services - Retail Plan (D) Banking & Financial Services - Retail Plan (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Dynamic Plan (D) Dynamic Plan (G) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (D) Emerging S.T.A.R. Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund (D) Equity Opportunities Fund (G) FMCG Fund (D) FMCG Fund (G) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (D) Focused Bluechip Equity Fund (G) Fusion Fund (D) Fusion Fund (G) Fusion Fund Series - III Retail Plan (D) Fusion Fund Series - III Retail Plan (G) Growth Plan (D) Growth Plan (G) Indo Asia Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) Indo Asia Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) Power (D) Power (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Target Returns Fund - Retail Plan (D) Target Returns Fund - Retail Plan (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G) Technology Fund (D) Technology Fund (G) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (D) R.I.G.H.T. Fund (G) IDFC Classic Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Classic Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan B (D) Enterprise Equity Fund - Plan B (G) Imperial Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Imperial Equity Fund - Plan A (G)

15.79 15.79 20.28 44.53 18.31 97.16 16.32 32.78 11.26 12.08 32.05 56.05 14.23 14.23 12.95 13.73 11.91 11.91 18.36 121.48 9.43 9.43 11.81 28.15 15.97 101.95 12.06 16.04 12.49 12.49 18.97 127.23 14.57 14.57 11.05 11.05 14.20 19.62 11.92 14.53 10.03 11.95 14.99 18.13

vision of the provisions of advance tax, the procedure of filing of estimates was done away with and corporate assesses were required to pay advance tax in four installments. The first installment was in the month of June at 15% of the advance tax payable. In the case of non corporate or individuals advance tax is payable only if the amount exceeds Rs 5000. In the case of salaried individuals or where tax is deducted at source, advance tax may not be payable since the major portion of tax is already de-

India GDP Growth Fund (D) India GDP Growth Fund (G) Premier Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Premier Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (D) Small & Midcap Equity Fund (G) Strategic Sector (50-50) Equity Fund - Plan A (D) Strategic Sector (50-50) Equity Fund - Plan A (G) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Advantage (ELSS) Fund (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) ING C.U.B. Fund (Bonus) C.U.B. Fund (D) C.U.B. Fund (G) Contra Fund (B) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Core Equity Fund (D) Core Equity Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Domestic Opportunities Fund (D) Domestic Opportunities Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan A (D) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan A (G) OptiMix Multi Manager Equity Fund - Plan B (G) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund - Series I (D) OptiMix Retireinvest Fund - Series I (G) Tax Saving Fund (Bonus) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G)

12.76 14.78 23.11 28.52 13.84 16.77 13.10 13.25 14.28 17.83 13.47 13.47 16.49 12.04 16.49 15.52 13.24 15.52 18.39 34.75 19.33 21.28 13.08 34.65 15.86 19.96 10.34 10.34 10.56 11.83 11.83 26.97 13.28 26.93

J

JM Agri & Infra Fund (D) Agri & Infra Fund (G) Basic Fund (D) Basic Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Emerging Leaders Fund (D) Emerging Leaders Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Financial Services Sector Fund (D) Financial Services Sector Fund (G) HI FI Fund (D) HI FI Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Multi Strategy Fund (D) Multi Strategy Fund (G) Small & Mid-Cap Fund - Regular Plan (D) Small & Mid-Cap Fund - Regular Plan (G) Tax Gain Fund (D) Tax Gain Fund (G) Telecom Sector Fund (D) Telecom Sector Fund (G) JP Morgan India Tax Advantage Fund (D) India Tax Advantage Fund (G) India Equity Fund (D) India Equity Fund (G) India Smaller Companies Fund (D) India Smaller Companies Fund (G)

2.82 2.82 11.92 17.07 5.52 5.52 7.95 7.93 14.21 34.90 9.28 9.28 5.35 5.35 13.18 17.93 17.50 25.55 13.26 14.26 5.79 5.79 7.18 7.18 7.39 7.39 13.42 16.57 11.12 11.98 7.23 7.23

K

Kotak 30 (D) 30 (G) Contra (D) Contra (G) Emerging Equity Scheme (D) Emerging Equity Scheme (G) Global Emerging Market Fund (D) Global Emerging Market Fund (G) Indo World Infrastructure Fund (D) Indo World Infrastructure Fund (G) Lifestyle Fund (D) Lifestyle Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Select Focus Fund (D) Select Focus Fund (G) Tax Saver (D) Tax Saver (G)

30.02 95.18 17.83 20.37 11.20 11.20 8.51 8.51 7.00 7.00 10.60 12.24 16.29 23.41 13.87 42.88 10.74 10.74 10.49 17.14

L

L&T Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Global Advantage Fund (D) Global Advantage Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Hedged Equity Fund (D) Hedged Equity Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Multi-Cap Fund (D)

9.70 9.70 6.84 9.86 16.49 34.90 9.00 12.68 7.37 7.37 21.16 36.66 13.99

ducted before the receipt of salary or commission as the case may be. Failure to pay advance tax or to pay the amount as per the quarter entails interest under sections 234B or C. There is also a waiver of this interest under specified conditions, but this waiver of interest is at the hands of the Chief Commissioner. This only in specified cases or in large amounts are these provisions resorted to PLANNING FOR ADVANCE TAX For tax consultants and companies, the estimation of advance tax involves a considerable amount of work.

A company has to be in a position to calculate the amount of profit that it would be mak-

Multi-Cap Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Small Cap Fund (D) Small Cap Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund - Series I (D) Tax Advantage Fund - Series I (G) Tax Saver Fund (D) Tax Saver Fund (G) LIC Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (D) Infrastructure Fund Series 1 (G) MF Equity Fund (D) MF Equity Fund (G) MF Growth Fund (D) MF Growth Fund (G) MF India Vision Fund (D) MF India Vision Fund (G) MF Opportunities Fund (D) MF Opportunities Fund (G) MF Tax Plan (D) MF Tax Plan (G) MF Top 100 Fund (D) MF Top 100 Fund (G)

17.55 18.22 41.59 5.63 5.63 14.62 19.90 13.74 14.79 9.03 9.03 9.68 24.57 10.58 11.93 8.40 8.40 9.75 17.14 9.64 26.92 7.87 7.87

M

Mirae Asset Global Commodity Stock Fund - Regular Plan (D) Global Commodity Stock Fund - Regular Plan (G) India Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (D) India Opportunities Fund - Regular Plan (G) Morgan Stanley A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (D) A.C.E. Fund (Across Capitalisations Equity) (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G)

10.71 10.71 13.52 14.62 13.69 13.69 18.91 58.02

P

Principal Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Emerging Bluechip Fund (D) Emerging Bluechip Fund (G) Global Opportunities Fund (D) Global Opportunities Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Large Cap Fund (D) Large Cap Fund (G) Personal Tax Saver Fund PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs - Series 1 (D) PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs - Series 1 (G) PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs- Series II (D) PNB Long Term Equity Fund - 3 yrs - Series II (G) Resurgent India Equity Fund (D) Resurgent India Equity Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Tax Savings Fund

15.93 21.58 23.22 29.35 15.14 15.14 22.74 50.20 19.76 26.69 90.45 10.85 10.85 11.19 11.19 12.16 85.56 12.22 13.78 72.61

Q

Quantum Long-Term Equity Fund (D) Long-Term Equity Fund (G) Tax Saving Fund (D) Tax Saving Fund (G)

R

19.59 19.42 19.44 19.44

Reliance Banking Fund (Bonus) 86.06 Banking Fund (D) 34.34 Banking Fund (G) 86.06 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail (Bonus) 78.73 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (D) 46.47 Diversified Power Sector Fund - Retail Plan (G) 78.73 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (B) 11.70 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.70 Equity Advantage Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.70 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 14.51 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (D) 14.51 Equity Fund - Retail Plan (G) 14.51 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (D) 13.22 Equity Linked Saving Fund - Series I (G) 13.22 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 31.80 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (D) 22.47 Equity Opportunities Fund - Retail Plan (G) 31.80 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 74.17 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (D) 54.81 Growth Fund - Retail Plan (G) 447.14 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) 10.94 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (D) 10.94 Infrastructure Fund - Retail Plan (G) 10.94 Long Term Equity Fund (D) 14.47 Long Term Equity Fund (G) 14.47 Media & Entertainment Fund (Bonus) 27.52 Media & Entertainment Fund (D) 19.78 Media & Entertainment Fund (G) 27.52 Natural Resources Fund (Bonus) 9.20 Natural Resources Fund (D) 9.20 Natural Resources Fund (G) 9.20 NRI Equity Fund (Bonus) 36.29 NRI Equity Fund (D) 21.59 NRI Equity Fund (G) 36.29 Pharma Fund (Bonus) 50.86 Pharma Fund (D) 37.94 Pharma Fund (G) 50.86 Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (B) 11.71 Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (D) 11.71 Quant Plus Fund - Retail Plan (G) 11.71

ing during the year. This is a little difficult especially in the month of June, since most of the sales in companies come after the monsoons and during the festival seasons.

Thus it is difficult to really anticipate the amount of profits that a company would arrive at by the end of the year. Prudent business men would pay a little more since the excess advance tax would bring them interest under section 244.

But in most companies where the cash flow is controlled, there is considerable amount of debate as to how much should be paid out by advance tax. This is especially since at this time of the year, most of the companies would schedule their annual general meeting and if dividend is to be declared they would wish to keep aside a

Regular Savings Fund - Equity Option (D) Regular Savings Fund - Equity Option (G) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (D) Tax Saver (ELSS) Fund (G) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (Bonus) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (D) Vision Fund - Retail Plan (G) Religare AGILE Fund (D) AGILE Fund (G) AGILE Tax Fund (D) AGILE Tax Fund (G) Banking Fund - Regular Plan (D) Banking Fund - Regular Plan (G) Business Leaders Fund (D) Business Leaders Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Mid N Small Cap Fund (D) Mid N Small Cap Fund (G) PSU Equity Fund (D) PSU Equity Fund (G) Tax Plan (D) Tax Plan (G)

22.16 28.43 14.92 19.14 42.67 41.45 254.10 5.80 5.79 6.65 6.64 13.57 17.50 11.49 11.49 11.80 15.26 11.82 11.82 11.67 11.68 8.11 8.11 12.95 12.95 12.84 12.85 10.48 10.48 13.34 16.11

S

Sahara Banking and Financial Services Fund (D) Banking and Financial Services Fund (G) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure - Fixed Pricing Option (D) Infrastructure - Fixed Pricing Option (G) Infrastructure -Variable Pricing Option (D) Infrastructure -Variable Pricing Option (G) Midcap Fund (Bonus) Midcap Fund (D) Midcap Fund (G) Midcap Fund (Growth Auto Payout) Power & Natural Resources Fund (D) Power & Natural Resources Fund (G) Star Value Fund (D) Star Value Fund (G) Super 20 Fund (D) Super 20 Fund (G) Tax Gain (D) Tax Gain (G) Wealth Plus - Variable Pricing Option (D) Wealth Plus - Variable Pricing Option (G) Wealth Plus Fund - Fixed Pricing Option (D) Wealth Plus Fund - Fixed Pricing Option (G) SBI Blue Chip Fund (D) Blue Chip Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund - Series I (D) Infrastructure Fund - Series I (G) Magnum Comma Fund (D) Magnum Comma Fund (G) Magnum Contra Fund (D) Magnum Contra Fund (G) Magnum Emerging Businesses Fund (D) Magnum Emerging Businesses Fund (G) Magnum Equity Fund (D) Magnum Equity Fund (G) Magnum FMCG Fund Magnum Global Fund (D) Magnum Global Fund (G) Magnum IT Fund Magnum Midcap Fund (D) Magnum Midcap Fund (G) Magnum Multicap Fund (D) Magnum Multicap Fund (G) Magnum Multiplier Plus (D) Magnum Multiplier Plus (G) Magnum NRI - Flexiasset Plan (D) Magnum NRI - Flexiasset Plan (G) Magnum Pharma Fund (D) Magnum Pharma Fund (G) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (D) Magnum Tax Gain Scheme (G) One India Fund (D) One India Fund (G) Shinsei Industry Leaders Fund (D) Industry Leaders Fund (G) Sundaram BNP Paribas Capex Opportunities Fund (D) Capex Opportunities Fund (G) Equity Multiplier Fund (D) Equity Multiplier Fund (G) Financial Services Opportunities - Retail Plan (D) Financial Services Opportunities - Retail Plan (G) Growth Fund - Regular Plan (D) Growth Fund - Regular Plan (G) India Leadership Fund - Regular Plan (D) India Leadership Fund - Regular Plan (G) Media & Entertainment Opportunities - Retail (D) Media & Entertainment Opportunities - Retail (G) PSU Opportunities Fund (D) PSU Opportunities Fund (G) Rural India Fund (D) Rural India Fund (G) S.M.I.L.E Fund - Regular Plan (D)

17.13 27.07 28.53 76.09 12.00 16.42 12.43 16.91 28.48 15.24 28.48 28.48 12.57 12.57 11.47 11.47 10.90 10.90 15.28 34.27 19.67 19.67 19.03 19.03 12.04 13.82 9.86 9.85 15.43 22.84 25.01 54.51 15.64 35.28 30.37 40.25 24.82 28.50 50.99 20.25 16.34 21.31 13.18 17.35 55.14 77.66 27.23 27.13 33.74 40.82 39.08 57.33 10.64 10.64 10.37 10.37 12.71 24.13 10.78 13.22 13.60 17.10 11.27 84.40 11.66 38.03 11.70 14.82 10.03 10.03 12.37 13.58 12.19

certain amount of cash for the dividend outflow. Further companies would not like to pay more advance tax than that is due.

In many cases especially in bigger companies, a full Board meeting is often scheduled to decide upon the amount that is to be paid by way of advance tax.

The first installment of advance tax is often an indicator to government as to the amount that they could collect during the year. It also shows the direction of the economy and the state of various sectors of the economy. Thus the June installment of advance tax is a pointer to how much government can expect by way of taxation during the year.

(The author of the column is a retired Chief Commissioner and the views expressed, his personal.)

S.M.I.L.E Fund - Regular Plan (G) Select Focus - Retail Plan (D) Select Focus - Retail Plan (G) Select Midcap - Regular Plan (D) Select Midcap - Regular Plan (G) Select Small Cap Fund (D) Select Small Cap Fund (G) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (D) Select Thematic Energy Opportunities Funds (G) Tax Saver (OE) (D) Tax Saver (OE) (G)

31.36 10.62 81.95 16.92 135.37 12.27 12.27 8.05 8.05 10.91 40.69

T

Tata Capital Builder Fund (D) Capital Builder Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Equity Management Fund (D) Equity Management Fund (G) Equity Opportunities Fund - Plan A (D) Equity Opportunities Fund - Plan B (G) Equity P/E Fund (G) Equity P/E Fund - Trigger Option A 5% (D) Equity P/E Fund - Trigger Option B 10% (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan A (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan A (G) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan B (D) Growing Economies Infrastructure - Plan B (G) Growth Fund (Bonus) Growth Fund (D) Growth Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (D) Infrastructure Tax Saving Fund (G) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (D) Life Sciences & Technology Fund (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) Pure Equity Fund (D) Pure Equity Fund (G) Select Equity Fund (D) Select Equity Fund (G) Service Industries Fund (D) Service Industries Fund (G) Tax Advantage Fund - 1 (D) Tax Advantage Fund - 1 (G) Tax Saving Fund Taurus Bonanza Fund (D) Bonanza Fund (G) Discovery Fund (D) Discovery Fund (G) Ethical Fund (Bonus) Ethical Fund (D) Ethical Fund (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Star Share (D) Star Share (G) Tax Shield (D) Tax Shield (G)

13.58 14.55 14.81 15.72 21.09 29.62 12.92 13.92 21.56 77.08 44.10 38.65 39.08 10.55 10.55 11.37 11.38 38.14 16.79 41.97 21.49 32.63 16.52 16.52 34.81 65.38 16.05 17.05 36.24 91.32 42.96 59.88 18.91 23.56 14.78 14.78 42.58 39.30 39.05 14.76 14.74 22.00 16.50 22.01 14.05 14.01 36.04 51.20 19.01 32.08

U

UTI Banking Sector Fund (D) Banking Sector Fund (G) Contra Fund (D) Contra Fund (G) Dividend Yield Fund (D) Dividend Yield Fund (G) Energy Fund (D) Energy Fund (G) Equity Fund (D) Equity Fund (G) Equity Tax Savings Plan (D) Equity Tax Savings Plan (G) India Lifestyle Fund(D) India Lifestyle Fund(G) Infrastructure Advantage Fund - Series I (D) Infrastructure Advantage Fund - Series I (G) Infrastructure Fund (D) Infrastructure Fund (G) Leadership Equity Fund (D) Leadership Equity Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund (D) Long Term Advantage Fund (G) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (D) Long Term Advantage Fund - Series II (G) Master Equity Plan Unit Scheme Master Plus Unit Scheme (D) Master Plus Unit Scheme (G) Master Value Fund (D) Master Value Fund (G) Mastershare (D) Mastershare (G) Mid Cap Fund (D) Mid Cap Fund (G) MNC Fund (D) MNC Fund (G) Opportunities Fund (D) Opportunities Fund (G) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (D) Pharma & Healthcare Fund (G) Services Industries Fund (D) Services Industries Fund (G) Top 100 Fund (D)

22.30 36.70 12.23 13.25 14.25 28.75 12.44 10.99 42.70 48.32 15.49 36.42 10.43 10.43 8.68 8.68 19.40 34.06 13.26 14.30 12.04 12.04 13.10 13.10 45.07 53.82 74.65 23.77 46.95 28.55 48.36 22.05 29.63 35.16 52.31 12.63 23.64 29.43 36.07 23.49 54.64 21.28

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HE RA LD

SPORTS GOA, Monday, 14 June, 2010

DBO in quarters lRoque scores brace against Sai Avtar HERALD REPORTER VASCO, JUNE 13

Don Bosco Oratory, Fatorda booked the last quarter-final berth in 37th Bandodkar memorial football tournament defeating Sai Avtar Sports Club, Anjuna by two second half goals scored by Roque Borges at MPT ground, here on Sunday.

Sai Avtar dominated the first 15 minutes with Saprem Divkar shooting over in the 12th minute and shooting wide two minutes later.

Avtar’s Saprem almost gave his team the lead in the 16th

minute but Don Bosco Oratory keeper Agnel Furtado managed to fist it away.

In the 28th minute, Shekhar Kerkar of Sai Avtar missed to connect a fine cross from Sprem Divkar.

Don Bosco Oratory’s Francisco Andrade, Cliff Barreto and Roque Borges failed to find the target in the later part of the first half.

After change of ends, Don Bosco Oratory went all out and Roque Borges scored after Valente Silva and Wilson Dias had worked up in the 42nd minute.

Eight minutes from the final whistle Roque Borges made the issue safe for his team by completing his brace.

In the dying minutes, Sai Avtar had a chance to reduce the margin but Shekhar Kerkar blasted over a through pass from Saprem Divkar.

Referee Rohidas Bomkar flashed the caution card to Valente Silva of Don Bosco Oratory for dangerous tackle.

Roque Borges was handed over the man-of-the match award by Sankalp Amonkar, president, Youth Congress.

Don Bosco College gets 100 p.c. at B P Ed exam

Dr Marie Raj HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 13

Don Bosco College, Panjim, secured hundred per cent results at the B.P.Ed examination conducted by Goa University.

Dr Marie Raj, principal, told Herald, that there were five distinctions, 23 first classes and four second classes. This was

the 6th batch since its inception.

Dr Marie Raj stated that admissions for 40 seats in the new 2010-11 academic year would be open once the results of graduate courses are declared, with preference being given to those who have representations at international, inter-university, National and State level tournaments, although others are also eligible.

The college has a working Memorundum of Understanding (MoU) with Porto University’s Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences and the Portuguese Olympic Committee, with facilities for students registering for post-graduation course in Porto, Dr Mari Raj said and added that a delegation from the Portuguese university had conducted a workshop on sports nutrition for the B P Ed students

in February this year, besides launching a special programme on prevention and monitoring diabetes.

The college has also been closely associated with Goa Football Association (GFA) with the students being involved in organising Coca Cola Mir Iqbal Hussain Trophy, Tata Tea interschool tournaments as part of their internship. Besides, the students also undergo the D-Licence course for coaching in football and have an option to appear for the referees examination, added Fr Wilfred Fernandes,administrator-cum-mana ger of college.

Don Bosco College is the only college in Goa offering the B P Ed course which has been especially introduced to give Goan boys and girls a chance to acquire the necessary qualification for taking up a job in high schools, DSYA.

Steffi Cardozo soaring high, leading all the way

BY MUMTAZ SHAIKH PANJIM, JUNE 13

The outstanding Goan shot putter just got a shade better. In a performance that underlined her vast potential, Steffi Cardozo of SAG and a Commonwealth Games probable simply outclassed a quality field as she created an upsurge by snatching four National medals within a span of five months this season in the senior women’s category shot put.

With this achievement, Steffi added another feather in her cap, as she represented the country at the Asian Grand Prix Athletic Championship in Pune, where she finished fifth. Pitted against top Asian athletes in which China’s Liew Zhiang Rang won the gold, Ying Lin (Taiwan) the silver, Jhang Gul Rang (Singapore) the bronze, Steffi did well in taking the fifth spot behind Manpreet Kaur of Railways.

Named after former tennis sensation, Steffi Graff, the Candolim-born girl has left no leaf unturned in India’s athletic history in general and Goa’s in particular.

Born on March 16 1989, Steffi Cardozo has carved out a niche for herself in shot put having even represented India at the two international Luso-

fonia Games.

Steffi pursued her primary education at Sharada Mandir School, Mira Mar. She then joined Our Lady of the Rosary, Dona Paula, moving to Mary Immaculate Girls High School, Panjim and finally finishing her SSC at St Mary’s Girls High School, Mapusa.

Steffi is one amongst the few who balanced her sports and academic career very well.

Surprisingly, Steffi aspired to either be a doctor or an engineer; but destiny had something else in store for her as she had sports running in her blood for her father Eugenio Cardozo himself has been a top

GOA DIARY Football tourney at Ribandar

PANJIM (HSD) – Jolly Boys of Ribandar will organise their 3rd inter-ward 9-a-side football tournament from July 4 at Ribandar ground. The finals will be played on August 15. Rs 5000 (winners), Rs 3000 (runners-up) besides trophies will be awarded besides individual prizes. Tems may contact Sagar Naik on 9763379074 or Edward Rodrigues on 9881774745 for details and entries.

Inter-ward football at Taleigao

PANJIM (HSD) – Clube Sao Miguel de Taleigao will organise their annual 7-a-side inter-ward Sao Miguel Trophy football tournament from June 26 near Taleigao church. The winners and runners-up will be awarded Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 10,000 respectively.

Teams may submit entries to Anthony on 9823360001 or Egidio on 9850462841. Players from Taleigao and Panjim are eligible.

PETA’s AGM

PANJIM (HSD) – The annual general body meeting of Higher Secondary School Physical Education Teachers Association (PETA) will be held on June 20 at 10 a.m. at DCT’S V.S. Dempo HSS, Mira Mar.

Simultaneous chess games

PANJIM (HSD) – The Chess Activity Centre, Dona Paula, will organise simultaneous chess games for students (Std I-X) with Sharad Vaze, founder president, Challenger Chess Academy, Mumbai on June 18 at Dr K B Hedgewar HS, Mala, Panjim; June 19 at Progress HS, Sanquelim; June 19 at Hanuman Vidhyalaya, Valpoi; June 20 at Shri Kamaleshwar HS, Korgao, Pernem and June 23 at Shri Shradhanand Vidhayalaya, Painguin, Canacona. Detaila may be obtained from Shrikant Barve on 9403175973 or Sanjay Barve on 9403176657.

Rich Builders badminton

PANJIM (HSD) – The All-Goa Major Ranking Badminton Tournament organised by Rich Builders will be held from June 16-19 at indoor stadium, Campal, here.

goalkeeper in his days.

With athletics high in her mind, Steffi had to move to Patiala for pursuing her sports as well as academic career.

Steffi has a glut of achievements backing her. She has been bestowed with the Yashadamini Puraskar by the Government of Goa this year as the most successful woman in the field of sports. Besides, she has been the recipient of Geno’s Sports Journalists Association of Goa award and the Gulab Puraskar for the best sportsmen of the year.

In addition, Steffi is the first athlete in the history of Goa to have won 25 medals at National level, 17 at West Zone level and 3 at inter-state meet for a grand total of 45. She has even created three records, one at National under-18 and two at National inter-district, National youth championship meet. She has been conferred with a National award for exceptional achievement in the country by HRD Department, Govt of India in New Delhi and was honoured

by Lions Club of Candolim.

Besides, well, all that we can wish is good luck Steffi and may you keep soaring high and lead always.

Goa U-19 demolish UP HERALD SPORTS REPORTER MAPUSA, JUNE 13

Goa U-19 demolished Uttar Pradesh 7-1 in Dr B.C Roy trophy U-19 Junior Nationals, at East Bengal ground, Kolkata on Sunday.

After two matches, Goa are currently leading the group with six points from two wins. Punjab are hot on their heel in second place with four points. Assam are third with one point and Uttar Pradesh have lost both matches.

A brace each from Pandhari Chopdekar, Brandon Fernandes and Myron Fernandes helped Goa to a convincing win. The Goa team also benefitted from an own goal scored by Uttar Pradesh.

Speaking to Herald, Goa U19 manager Mario Aguiar said, “I am very pleased with the boys’ performance today. It was very convincing. I feel we also can do well against Punjab, who are a very physical team."

Goa only need a draw in their final match against Punjab on Tuesday to qualify for the second stage.

Nuvem in last eight HERALD SPORTS DESK PANJIM, JUNE 13

Hosts Nuvem Sports Club overcame Navelim Villages 3-2 to cruise into the quarter-finals of Mae dos Pobres soccer at Nuvem church ground on Sunday.

The teams started on a positive note and it was Nuvem who surged ahead when Neves Noronha gave the finishing touches to a Warren Dias fine cross.

Later, Rowlin Borges made it 2-0 and just before the close of the first half Joseph Colaco rounded off the tally. Fr. Alvaro Martin was the chief guest and Newton Colaco guest of honour.

St Savio in finals

HERALD CORRESPONDENT CALANGUTE, JUNE 13

Crowd pullers and hot favourites St. Savio Sports Club, Calangute scored a solitary goal victory over Valankani Sports Club, Arambol to book their place in the finals of Fr. Chico Cup inter-village football tournament organised by Candolim Sports Club and sponsored

by Bayside Properties Private Limited at Dr. Gustavo Monteiro stadium, Candolim on Sunday.

In a keenly contested match, the teams fought tooth and nail.

The water-logged areas also made it difficult for the teams to play an attacking game.

Sarvesh Korgaonkar, however, made amends for the misses of his colleague scoring off a neatly executed corner by Bruno Coutinho with few minutes remaining.

Down by a goal, Arambol tried their best to level but failed.

37th Bandodkar memorial football trophy quarters: Calangute v. Saligao United Club, MPT ground, Vasco, 4.45 p.m.

Mae dos Pobres Cup soccer: CAC Cansaulim v. Rosman Cruz, Nagoa, Nuvem church ground, 4.30 p.m.

The tournament will be held in under-10 singles, ladies singles and mixed doubles categories, singles/doubles for under-16, under-19, men and veterans (45+) categories. Those interested may submit entries to badminton coaches Roy Athaide (Panjim/ Mapusa), Vinayak Kamat (Margao), Rajiv Bhargava (Ponda) upto June 14 (5p.m.).

Brasil FA meeting

PANJIM (HSD) – The Brasil Futebol Academia will hold its annual meeting with the selected U-10 and U-18 boys on June 14. Details may be obtained on 2217008 during office hours, 9.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Custodio soccer postponed

PANJIM (HSD) - The Custodio memorial football tournament has been postponed and will now commence on June 20 at 4.30 p.m.

NSA training in Imphal

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Department of Sports and Youth Affairs, Government of Manipur has invited application from students studying from Std VI to IX for admission to the National Sports Academy, Khuman Lampak Sports Complex, Imphal for the 201011 session for undergoing training/coaching in archery, boxing, judo, taekwondo, wrestling, weightlifting.

Six seats each for boys and girls are available and selected candidates will be provided free boarding, lodging, uniforms, books, education. Details and application forms may be obtained from R. N. Tari, asst. director (sports), Directorate of Sports and Youth Affairs, Campal during office hours.

Under-7 chess selection

PANJIM (HSD) -- The Rotary club of Margao will conduct selection trials for National U-7 chess championship on behalf of Goa Chess Association, on June 19, 20 at Rotary hall, Lake View Plaza, Fatorda, Margao. The tournament will start on at 9.30 a.m. on June 19 and entries may be given to secretary, GCA, Arvind Mhamal on 9422386547 or Sanjay Kavlekar on 9823258711, or Swapnil Hoble or Avinash Malvankar. Two top players in open and girls sections will represent Goa at the Nationals in November in Jamshedpur.

Saina fights back to win India Open

Saina Nehwal acknowledges the crowd after victory.

AGENCIES CHENNAI, JUNE 13

Top seed Saina Nehwal, looking a tad rusty following a long break, bounced back in style to beat Malaysia's Mew Choo Wong 20-22, 21-14, 21-12 in the women's final of Yonex-Sunrise India Open Grand Prix badminton tournament on Sunday.

World No.6 Saina's victory compensated for the disappointing show by seventh seeded RMV Guru Sai Dutt who went down 13-21, 18-21, to unheralded Indonesian Yunus Alamsyah in the men's singles final, with the visitor clinching his first major international title.

Both the singles winners picked up 7,000 points that should see them move up the world rankings.

Saina, playing her first tour-

nament in two months, was rather patchy as she blew a 2018 lead in the first game, but kept her nerves to take the next two games, capitalising on a desperate Mew's errors.

It was not the best of matches and the conditions inside the hall were tricky. The raucous crowd that kept up a din even when a rally was in progress, irritating flies, and the sideways air drift due to air-conditioning, put a premium on concentration and judgment.

However, Saina took these irritants in her stride and after the initial tentative approach, changed her stance in the second game when she turned aggressive and maintained the momentum in the decider when she opened up a 10-point lead early on to seal the match.

"I was nervous at the start and committed too many errors.

In the normal course, I should have won in two games, but this being my first tournament in two months, I was nervous. In the second and third games, I played aggressively," said Saina after the 56-minute match.

"I am happy winning the tournament and that too at home, and yes, it's a good preparation for the two Super Series events (Singapore and Indonesia) I am participating in this month. In fact, I am playing Mew in the first round at Singapore," she added.

On her part, Mew admitted that Saina was just too good for her. "I have played her before and I tried my best, but today, she was too good for me, especially in the second and third games," Mew, ranked No.22, said through an interpreter.

In contrast, Sai Dutt hardly got going against the highly defensive Alamsyah, who benefitted largely on the mistakes committed by the 20-year old Indian rather than doing anything out of the ordinary.

"I was anxious to finish off the rallies quickly and made mistakes. I will now have to work harder on my game and fitness to reach the next level," said Guru who is currently ranked 66 as against 125 of the Indonesian, who Saturday night took out top seeded Indian Chetan Anand.

In both the games, 23-year old Alamsyah took early leads and then kept Guru Sai Dutt, playing in his maiden international final, under pressure that eventually cracked his defense wide open.

India finish off tour with huge win PTI HARARE, JUNE 13

Skipper Suresh Raina led from the front with a blistering 72 as India signed off their Zimbabwe tour with a comprehensive seven-wicket win over the hosts in the second and final Twenty20 International here today.

Chasing 141, India made 144 for three in 18 overs at the Harare Sports Club ground with Raina dispatching Chris Mpofu to boundary for the winning runs.

Tatenda Taibu earlier topscored with 45 and shared a 43run stand for the fourth wicket with Charles Coventry (28 off 13) to steer Zimbabwe to 140 for five.

Raina stepped on to the field after the fall of Naman Ojha (10) in fifth over and stayed till the job was done.

Along with Murali Vijay (46), Raina shared a 79-run stand for the second wicket, which set up the second comfortable Indian win in as many days.

Raina's 44-ball knock had six fours and two sixes in it.

After an ordinary show in the three-week tour, Vijay finally got some runs under his belt and the Chennai batsman would be

relived after playing a good hand in the Indian win.

Vijay and skipper Suresh Raina batted with ease and were hardly troubled by the host bowlers.

Vijay missed out on his halfcentury when he attempted a big shot but off Chamu Chibhabha and his checked shot landed in the hands of Graeme Cremer in the 15th over.

Raina continued the good work and carried the team home just after losing another partner in Yusuf Pathan (4).

India's consecutive win, after a lacklustre show in the ODI triseries, would do a world of good to the confidence of its youngsters just ahead of the Asia Cup in Sri Lanka.

Earlier, confident of chasing

down whatever the hosts would put on board, Raina yet again invited the hosts to bat but despite having them in clutches they leaked too many runs in the second half to allow them a come back in the match.

While in the first 10 overs India conceded just 47 runs including a mere five boundaries, spinners struggled to keep the run flow in check and the last over cost India 93 runs.

The slow bowlers could not weave the same magic they had created in the first Twenty20 and leaked 95 runs in the 12 overs shared by Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra and R Ashwin.

Ashwin bled most runs as he ended up giving away 48 runs in his four overs.

Zimbabwe: H Masakadza c Sharma b Dinda 2, BRM Taylor c Pathan b Mishra 27, CJ Chibhabha b PP Ojha 7, T Taibu not out 45, CK Coventry b Dinda 28, E Chigumbura c Raina b Ashwin 18, GA Lamb not out 7. Extras: 6. Total: 140 for 5. Fall of wickets: 1-8, 2-21, 3-64, 4-107, 5-128. Bowling: AB Dinda 40-15-2, R Vinay Kumar 4-0-28-0, Pragyan Ojha 4-0-26-1, Amit Mishra 4-0-21-1, Ravichandran Ashwin 4-0-48-1.

India: N Ojha c Chatara b Price 10,M Vijay c Cremer b Chibhabha 46,S Raina not out 72,Y Pathan c Masakadza b Mpofu 4,R Sharma not out 0.

Extras: 12. Total: 144-3.Fall of wickets: Ojha 32-1-5, M Vijay 111-214.4, Y Pathan 139-3-17.4. Bowling: C Mpofu 3-0-29-0,T Chatara 4-027-1,R Price 3-0-25-1,G Lamb 3-0-21-0,G Cremer 1-0-9-0,E Chigumbura 1-0-12-0,C Chibhabha 3-0-19-1.

Pg13­ Hewitt upset Federer to win Weber Open AP HALLE, JUNE 13

Lleyton Hewitt upset Roger Federer for the first time in 16 matches to win the Gerry Weber Open title on Sunday.

The 29-year-old Australian won 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4 in his first final of the season. Hewitt last beat Federer in 2003.

Top-seeded Federer, who was chasing his sixth title in Halle, h a d w o n h i s p re v i o u s 2 9 matches at the Wimbledon warm-up tournament. It was Hewitt’s first appearance at Germany’s only grass court tournament.

Australia’s Lleyton Hewitt raises the trophy after beating Switzerland’s Roger Federer.

Li Na wins Aegon Classic AP BIRMINGHAM, JUNE 13

Top-seeded Li Na beat Maria Sharapova 7-5, 6-1 Sunday to win the grass-court Aegon Classic and claim her first title this year.

Sharapova lost to Li in the semi-finals of last year’s tournament in Birmingham and the Chinese player produced a repeat performance, winning her first title on grass.

Tennis player Li Na of China holds the Maud Watson trophy.

Hamilton tops AGENCIES MONTREAL, JUNE 13

Lewis Hamilton held off his McLaren team-mate Jenson Button to win Sunday's Canadian Grand Prix and jump to the top of the Formula One drivers' championship.

In a repeat of the last race in Turkey, Hamilton crossed the line just a few seconds ahead of his fellow-Briton to leapfrog Red Bull's Australian Mark Webber and Button at the top of the standings.

Ferrari's Fernando Alonso finished third to join the two McLaren drivers on the podium while Red Bull's Sebastian Vettel was fourth and Webber fifth after a thrilling 70-lap race.

Hamilton's second win in-arow took him from third to first place in the championship with a total of 109 points. Button remained second on 106 while Webber dropped to third on 103 ahead of Alonso (94) and Vettel (90).

Verma’s win slap on Sports Ministry’s face AGENCIES CHENNAI, JUNE 13

The much-anticipated face-off between Mohammad Azharuddin and V K Verma ended in a damp squib on Sunday after the former cricketer backed out of the Badminton Association of India (BAI) elections, clearing the decks for a fourth term for the incumbent president.

Verma, who has been at the helm for 12 years, was reelected at the BAI's Annual General Meeting here af ter Azharuddin failed to present his nomination papers as is required as per the association’s constitution.

Azharuddin, a cricketerturned-politician who is repre-

l Azhar backs out senting Moradabad in Lok Sabha, did not even turn up in the city, sources said.

“He needed to present his papers in the meeting and he didn't do this. Outsiders are allowed to contest but there has to be a proposer for that person's name.

BAI didn't get that," a source said.

The former captain, who was reportedly backed by the Sports Ministry, had earlier approached the Sessions Court in Andhra Pradesh’s Rangareddy district seeking a stay on the election but his plea was rejected.

Azharuddin had kicked up

quite a storm by announcing his candidature for the elections with Verma initially claiming that the ex-captain was `ineligible' to contest as he is serving a life ban for alleged match-fixing.

“Although there was a request from 22 affiliated units for a discussion on the Azharuddin affair, I appealed to the AGM to close the issue and it was agreed to,” Verma told reporters.

The only other salient point was the creation of two more general secretary positions so as to delegate responsibility in view of additional workload,

Verma said.

The three general secretaries are: Vijay Sinha (Uttar Pradesh) – administration, Punnaih Chaudhary (AP) – events, Omar Rashid (Assam) - coaching and development.

R. Kalsi (Punjab) was retained as the treasurer while six of the eight vice-presidents kept their slots. The two changes were Arvind Singhal and O.D. Sharma replacing Dilip Ghosh and Manek Saha, respectively, Verma announced.

Among the major decisions, former All-England champion Pullela Gopichand was retained as the National coach for a further four years, he said.

E Bengal appoint Portuguese coach AGENCIES KOLKATA, JUNE 13

East Bengal appointed Manuel Gomes as their chief coach for the upcoming season after pondering over the matter for over two weeks.

The Portuguese is famous for his stint with Benfica and was also the assistant coach of the Portuguese National team in the 2002 World Cup. He also had a wonderful stint with India’s Maldives and even led them to their

lEkene roped in

highest ranking ever.

Gomes is expected to arrive in India on the July 12 and take charge of the team on July 17.

Speaking to Goal.com, East Bengal club president, Dr.Pranab Dasgupta said, “It gives us immense pleasure to announce the name of Manuel Gomes as our coach for the next season. We shall be happy to have him as our coach as we believe he has a

very good profile which makes him the right person for our club."

Meanwhile, Nigerian striker Ekene Ikenwa had to cut down his England trip on Thursday, as he came down to Kolkata to sign for East Bengal.

The Kolkata giants, who were in talks with Ekene through his India based agent, had to wait until the Nigerian goal poacher finally agreed to

join the team.

Ekene had a wonderful season with Salgaocar as he almost single handedly guided them to survival by scoring 17 goals and finishing second highest scorer in the I-League.

Confirming the same to Goal.com, East Bengal’s secretary Santosh Bhattacharya said, “Our initial target was to sign Odafa Okolie but since he was not available we went for the second highest scorer of the season.”

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CAREERS & EDUCATION

OHERALDO

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GOA, Monday, 14 June 2010

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Banking On A Career - II

career in the banking sector can be lucrative for the right candidate. But entry isn’t as easy as it is sometimes made out to be. There are special exams to be appeared for and the necessary skills and aptitude required.

Professional Traits

Lending officers and credit analysts make up a large percentage of commercial banking employees. Therefore you must have an excellent knowledge of accounting practices. Mathematical aptitude, sound knowledge of the banking system with up-to-date knowledge of recent developments is essential . Employees joining as officers should be able to lead, motivate and manage the bank staff. Good verbal and written communication skills help in effective interaction with clients and staff.

Excellent writing skills are essential because loan officers and credit analysts often have to draft reports explaining their conclusions. A person responsible for foreign exchange transactions needs to have a sharp, quick and analytical mind. Integrity and honesty play a major role in all dealings related to money, staff and clients.

Meticulous, fearless employees with a relentless attention to detail and a desire to increase sales are what commercial banks are looking for. High grades don’t mean a lot unless you have the work ethic it takes to succeed in the industry.

Personality Traits

A clear logical mind, alertness, ability to take initiative, friendliness, assertiveness, diplomacy, capacity to motivate team members, efficiency, sincerity, drive, tact, adaptability, dynamism and result-oriented outlook.

Entry Level

Candidates are recruited at two levels in the banks - clerical level and officer level. The procedure of selection varies with nationalized and international banks.

The selection procedure for RBIThe Reserve Bank of India is the

y-

topmost financial institution in India which makes all the policies and regulations for the other banks. It conducts tests for three types of entry level positions: 1) Clerical grade 2) Grade A officers 3) Grade B officers The entry point for clerical staff is in the cash department as examiners of coins and notes. They are promoted to the next grade when they successfully clear the relevant examinations after five to ten years of service.

There is an All India Exam conducted for Class I posts. Graduates, Post Graduates, CAs, MBAs in the 21-26 years of age group

boards. The eligibility and test format are the same as for PO examination.

Selection procedure for nationalized commercial banks Comm e rc i a l b a n k s re g u l a r l y advertise through their Banking Service Recruitment Board (BSRB) to recruit Probationary Officers ('PO'). Each region has its own BSRB which carries out the recruitment. Eligibility is a graduate in any discipline with an upper age limit of 28 years.

Examination Information

The officer cadre examination has two parts - objective and subjective.

Written Test - The test of reasoning judges the analytical and problem solving skills of the candidate. The English language test foBy Maria de Lima Pereira cuses on the grammar, synonyms, antonyms, are eligible. The candidates are vocabulary etc. General awaretested in logical reasoning, men- ness tests the understanding tal ability, numerical aptitude of environmental and social issues, people and events etc. and general English.

The quantitative aptitude test The examination is in parts.

Paper I is a written test com- measures the numerical ability prising of General Mental Ability and accuracy in mathematical calculations. The questions (Objective type).

Paper II is a subjective one which range from purely numeric calhas English Essays/Comprehen- culations to problems of arithmetic reasoning, graph and table sion/Precise writing etc. reading, percentage analysis, Paper III is on Economics and Social problems.

Selected candidates are short listed for an inter view which forms the basis for the final selection.

Selection procedure for other nationalized banksAnyone in the age group of 18-26 years having a degree is eligible for appearing in the written test. The format of the test is similar to the RBI examination.

The test is followed by an interview. Clerical staff get recruited through regional

categorization and quantitative analysis.

The subjective part of the paper typically involves imagining oneself in a situation such as observer in a public meeting.

Candidates have to then comprehend the situation, provide unique observations and analysis.

Interviews - Selection in the

inter view is based on the knowledge of the subject of study, personality and awareness. Candidate's communication skills and leadership qualities are judged during the interview. Typically 30% of the candidates get selected after the interv i e w.

“We are all humans”

T

.I.M.E. recently conducted an “Achievers’ Meet” to provide MBA aspirants with an opportunity to meet students who have successfully secured final admissions into top business schools across the country. The aspirants got to meet the achievers in the flesh and understand what makes them stand out from the crowd.

The attendees at the meet were – Leoneil Barros, Ashish Naik , Dashmi Kamat , Kezia Fernandes , Saurabh Prabhudessai and Prathamesh Joshi The achievers were fielded questions on a variety of topics.

Excerpts from an interview with the Achievers at the ’ Meet.

Q. How different was the computerized version of CAT from the written one?

LB: The online version of CAT was slightly easier compared to the paper pencil version. However, there were glitches in the software that put students off. However, the basics of CAT remain the same. It is important to keep your cool irrespective of whether it is paper-pencil based or computerized.

Q. How long does one need to prepare for CAT / XAT? KF: It is not possible to study for seven hours in a day. At best one can study for three hours.

However, one must study regularly for a number of hours. It is very important that one be aware of his or her strengths and weaknesses. You need to work out a study schedule that suits you and stick to it. You need to constantly try to improve your Mock Test scores because that gives you tremendous confidence.

AN: I used to work and did not get too much time to prepare. However, I made sure that I analyzed the All India Mock Tests very seriously. It sometimes took me about two days to analyze these tests but in the end this made all the difference. You need to work hard and smart!!

Q. Should one take a break? What if you are not able to cope up with the added pressure of being at college or at work?

SP: One should not take a break. While you might clear the written test after taking a break, it would be extremely difficult to justify a break in the interview. It is about planning your time. If you plan your final year projects, or time at work, properly, you will be able to get through. Thousands of students across the country manage it, so it is definitely possible.

PJ: I would strongly recommend that you should have something besides just studying for the entrance exams. MBA is about all-round performance, not just the written exam. One needs to make some time for the preparation. Though tough initially, once you get into a routine, you should be able to manage it easily.

Q. Tell us about Group Discussion?

SP: In a group discussion, you are given a topic as a group, and are asked to arrive at a conclusion.

It’s about showing the panel that you can work as a group; that you are willing to listen to others.

Anything under the sun can be asked in a Group Discussion . The best way to prepare for Group Discussion is to read magazines and newspapers and be up to date with what is going on in the world.

AN: My group was given a case study. We were given a real life example and asked to analyze it and suggest a solution. We were given about 2-3 minutes to think by ourselves and then asked to discuss.

All the members in the group were very understanding and gave one another a chance to speak.

Q. How was the interview experience? How should one go about preparing for it?

DK: I went about preparing questions regarding my specializations in college and at my workplace.

Most of the questions asked were in that area. Once you show the panel that you have prepared seriously, you grow in confidence which helps you when you are asked tougher questions.

PJ: Everyone wants to get easy questions. But the onus is also on you to guide the professors to the subjects you are comfortable with. It is very important that you are honest and accept if you do not know any answer. The professors on the panel are very experienced and knowledgeable. You cannot give fake answers in the interview and get away with it.

LB: I actually asked an interview panel what they looked for in candidates. They said that they are looking for honesty – not made up answers. We are all humans. You cannot know everything.

It is okay to accept if you do not know. I answered ‘I don’t know” many times and still got through.

Q. Should one study alone or in a group?

DK: Group study can be very helpful. It is difficult to study alone for a long time. A group, if committed would reduce boredom and ensure that you are on the right path. You get different ways of solving the same problem. You can learn from the way others prepare and get your doubts clarified immediately.

T.I.M.E. (Triumphant Institute of Management Education Pvt. Ltd.) is India’s No. 1 institute for MBA entrance exam preparation.

Tel: Panjim : 0832-6514248 Margao: 0832-6484468. Email: goa@time4education.com Website: www.time4education.com

Education in our polytechnics-II

By Anil Sadashiv Raje

I

f a student fails once in any subject and tries again. He finds the subject uninteresting and more difficult to clear the subject at the second and consecutive attempts. There is nobody to correct his mistakes.

Minimum percentage of marks required for admission is 50 in the Std X examinations.

With the present standard of examinations getting 50 % marks in the Std X examination is very easy. Any student having low intelligence can get this percentage of marks. For SC and ST the percentage is further reduced to 40. Many students joining these polytechnics fail in many subjects. They are allowed to keep terms for the next semester and there is always a big backlog of subjects to be cleared. Many such students clear subjects after five years or even more and feel frustrated thus.

In such situations and also to avoid this problem in future, 1. Boards and Polytechnics should revise the whole syllabus and make it comprehensive to all admitted students.

2. Before admitting students for the entrance, they must be made to take aptitude tests to find out whether they are capable of understanding the subjects. If they are not capable, then they must be advised to get the basic concepts clear.

The Goa Board is proposing that there be conducted extra classes for students in Mathe-

matics, Physics and Chemistr y for to bridge the gap between syllabi at the school and polytechnic levels. This will definitely help students to improve their performance at the examinations and ensure better results.

3. Boards should provide training to teachers on how to make teaching interesting by adopting various ways audio-visual methods such as recorded practicals, modelling, animation, etc.

4. Students failing in various subjects in Personal Assessment tests may be given special tuitions in these subjects.

5. Parents should be made aware of what is happening in these tests.

6. Parents should be made aware of their absenteeism and misbehaviour if any at the first instant.

7. Polytechnics should be very strict about their attendance.

There should not be any relaxation in the rules.

T

hese times are a significant sign of a slowing economy and impending recession. So this got me worried. And I started wondering how many of you, are worried as well. Is your job in danger?

How would you even know?

I did a little investigation and came up with this list of signs that there might be trouble on the horizon and some tips for how to deal with it. Don't let this scare you - it's just good to be aware of what's happening in your company and the general industry in which you work. Remember to keep your eyes and ears open. No one wants to be surprised by something like this!

Business is Slow

8. Boards and Polytechnics should find alternatives to the writing of journals. It is boring and time wasting for both the students and teachers. This time can be used for revising subjects.

II. What can Parents do?

1. Parents should not admit their children / wards in Polytechnics whose intelligence is

low. They should not feel that it is only a diploma course and it is easy hence to complete the course.

2. Parents should not force their ambitions on their children.

3. Parents should find out the progress of their children in class. Frequent visits of the parents to the Polytechnics would be required for this purpose.

They should not ignore their failures in Personal Assessment tests taken after every four weeks. Many parents do not even know that such tests are taken. And, even if they know, they do not know what steps to take. Many parents feel that once admitted, they will get the diploma at the end of 3 years.

This is not so. (to be continued)

Does Your Company Culture Match Your Personality

C

ompany culture is an interesting thing. It's intangible and yet it has a huge impact your job. Generally speaking, it's defined as "the shared values and practices of the company's employees."

Have you ever noticed that companies can seem to have a personality all their own? That's a reflection of the culture. Certain companies tend to attract a certain type of person.

And people excel in companies that match their personality.

So what is the culture of the company you work for? Look around. What's the atmosphere

like? Is it stuffy and stiff or is it energetic and playful? Look at the employees. Are there certain character traits that are common amongst them?

Think about the leaders. What image do they project? What is the long-term vision of the company?

Compare your company's personality to your own. Do they work well together or do they clash?

Great Match

Mr. Toolbox is an athletic and energetic guy. He loves the outdoors and being playful. The company he works for truly

Is Your Job In Danger?

matches his personality perfectly. It's a company that makes outdoor sports equipment. The people there are all athletic and high energy. They laugh a lot, have an after-work volleyball team, and often get caught flying model helicopters around the hallways. He bought his first suit a few weeks ago (and mind you, he's worked there for 7 years). All in all, the company is a reflection of him and his coworkers.

Personality Clash

I used to work for a very high pressure sales company (in the financial field). The people there

were all consumed with money and numbers. They were ultra competitive and if you didn't play the game their way, you were completely left out. Being named the "top" sales team was the only concern - and people would do just about anything to get there. Integrity was a joke. Work/life balance was a distant dream. I was out of my element. But I tried to force myself to make it work. And every day, I grew more and more unhappy. I was dragging others down with me. I wondered if it was just me. But then it dawned on me: my personality was all wrong for this company. It was

like a bad marriage - I kept taking the abuse because I thought someday it would change. Of course, it didn't and I eventually left. Company culture plays a huge role in job satisfaction.

It's an important thing to keep in mind when searching for a job. And if you're not happy where you are, look at your own personality and how it matches with that of the company. Sure, company cultures change and shift with time, but don't try to force yourself to fit into an environment that doesn't work for you. It can be an exhausting and unproductive endeavour.

If you've noticed that there isn't as much to do lately and people are sitting around staring at the walls, you're not alone.

Business has slowed down across the board, especially in certain sectors like real estate.

But don't let that discourage you. Do your best to stay busy - and if possible, find activities that can help stimulate business.

Work to increase your value at the company, even when things aren't moving at the pace you're used to. Realize that when business slows however, those who aren't contributing and offering real value to the business will eventually be sacrificed.

People are Talking

Office gossip is hardly reliable, but sometimes, there's a small grain of truth in it. If everyone is chatting about cutbacks and layoffs, don't let it get to you too much but keep yourself aware of what's happening.

More often than not, people know about layoffs prior to the official announcement. Keep your ears open but consider the source of information before taking it to heart.

Feel The Tension

In a company that is about to be restructured or downsized, stress levels run high. You can feel a big blanket of tension

smothering everyone. The decisions that have to be made are very difficult. No one enjoys layoffs. It impacts the mood significantly and often times, you can feel it before anything has even happened. This doesn't mean something will happen, but difficult times can make for a very stressful work environment. Do your best to manage your own stress and don't let others bring you down.

hard time paying bills or is significantly cutting back on spending, it's probably safe to assume there are some potential problems coming your way. Now would not be a good time to ask for a raise. Try to go with the flow as best you can - if the company party is cancelled, don't freak out. It might just be a precautionary tactic to help prevent bigger problems down the line.

Closed Doors

Don't Check Out

Lots of closed-door meetings have been a sign of something significant on the horizon. I don't know if this is the same where you work, but if you're noticing a lot of long, private meetings, meaningful looks, and hushed conversations, you can probably guess that things aren't going well.

Tightening Industry

If other companies in the same industry are experiencing layoffs, it may be a sign of industry-wide problems. Try to stay aware of what's going on in your industry and keep your eye on the overall market.

Money Problems

If your company is having a

Even if you suspect problems for the future of your company, don't check out mentally. Keep yourself focused and on track.

There is a natural flow to business - things go up and down.

Don't get too worked up if you happen to be in the middle of a slump and don't surrender without a fight.

In general, if you sense that there may be issues, it's ok to go ahead and start sprucing up your resume. It doesn't hurt to be prepared. But don't assume that the worst will happen. Keep working hard and don't let the stress overwhelm you.

Personally, I think the economic outlook is being over dramatized. We'll get through this.

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www.oheraldo.in

A Kid’s Life In...Italy

B

uon giorno! My name is Mario and I live in Sicily, Italy. Located in southern Europe, Italy is a boot-shaped peninsula that is in the Mediterranean Sea. My country also includes the two large islands of Sicily and Sardinia. Something that's really unusual about Italy is that there are two independent countries inside Italy's borders. First, there is the tiny Republic of San Marino, in north-central Italy. Then, there is Vatican City, located completely within the city of Rome.

I have two brothers; Salvatore, who is thirteen, and Alfonso, who is two. I have two sisters Maria, who is eight and Caterina, who is two is Alfonso’s twin sister. I am ten years old. Like most of the people in Italy, my family is ethnic Italian. Almost everyone in my country speaks Italian, although a few small areas speak German and French.

Another thing you should know about us is that we love to cook - and eat! We eat our main meal at midday, and it always has a pasta course. Believe it or not, the type of pasta you eat depends on where you live.

In the north they make flat, ribbon-shaped pasta and serve it with cream sauces.

In the south, we make macaroni with a tomato-based sauce. That's my all time favourite! The most popular meats that we eat are veal and pork. We also love to eat cheese. Usually, wine is served with every meal except breakfast, but my par-

ents say I'm too young to drink it.

In Italy, you have to go to elementary or primary school when you are my age. Primary school is for all children from the age of six to 11 which lasts for about five years. When I am done with primary school, I must take examinations to enter a three-year junior high school.

I have to attend school six days a week, from 8:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., from September until midJune. We speak Italian of course, but we also learn how to speak English in school.

The city I live in is Palermo. It is located on the northwest coast of Sicily, which is an is-

land off the southwest coast of the mainland. The city of Palermo is known for its citrus groves, and also the statues and monuments throughout the city. Many of the statues and monuments date back to the 14th and 15th centuries. There is a very busy port in Palermo that is crowded with passengers and freight. This port in Palermo provides many jobs.

Many people in Palermo work for the Government too. Some other industries in Palermo include housing construction, shipbuilding, as well as manufacturing of

Bird In Nest Lisanne Coutinho, Std VI, St Anthony’s HS., Majorda

food.

One of the big events I love most that happens in Palermo is the Fiera Internazionale del Mediterraneo which takes place from May through June. Another big event in Palermo is Festino di S. Rosalia which is from July 10 to July 15. I love these events because of their wonderful fireworks displays.

Some sports in my country are basketball, soccer, and Formula 1 racing. The most popular sport is soccer. My favourite sport to play is bocce ball, which is a very old Italian tradition that my papa taught me. I also enjoy taking my fishing pole and

catching some fish down by the port. Fishing is more of a hobby than a sport to me.

The weather in Palermo is sunnier and less rainy than in most Italian cities.

In Palermo we have more smog than a lot of the other cities in Sicily. In January, the temperature is usually between 50 and 60 degrees, but it gets very hot in the summer, (up to 95 degrees) and that is when my family and friends love to go to the beaches.

I dress pretty similar to people in the West, but there are a few differences that I have noticed. For example, I no-

Why Veggies Are Good For You

ticed that Americans seem to wear their tennis shoes almost everywhere they go. In Italy we only wear our white tennis shoes in the gym or on the athletic field. Also I noticed that American woman wear pants a lot, but not the women here in Italy. We can always spot American tourists because of what they wear. Tomorrow, which is Sunday, my family will take our usual passeggiata (family stroll) through town.

There are many wonderful places to visit in Italy.

Venice: is made up of 120 islands in the Adriatic Sea. It has canals instead of streets.

People there use boats(called gondolas) instead of automobiles.

Leaning Tower of Pisa: is famous because it leans 14 ½ feet (4.4 meters) out of line when measured from the seventh story.

The Colosseum : is the largest outdoor theatre of ancient Rome.

When you come to Italy and visit me, I could show you the museums, and we could go to a soccer game.

After a good soccer game I would love to take you to a restaurant and have some pasta and pizza. My mama makes the best canollis ever!

My papa could make us some pizza too! I hope you can come see me soon, until then……Arrivederci…ciao!

Did you know:

Y

our mother always says, " Eat your vegetables, they’re good for you." and she’s right . Indeed, one of the healthiest eating habits you can foster in yourself is to make vegetables the centrepiece of your meals and let the other food groups accompany them.

Quantity And Quality The amount of vegetables that a you need to consume depends on your age. One tablespoon of cooked vegetables per meal may be adequate for a toddler, whereas an older child requires about a quarter of a cup. As you approach your his preteen years, you requires to eat half a cup of vegetables per meal. However, it is important for you to have a balanced diet.

Nutrition Vegetables are one of the most natural foods and contain different vitamins, minerals and thousands of other plant chemicals known to

provide health benefits. Vegetables are nutrient dense – they pack a lot of nutrition into a minimum of calories.

For a measly 35 calories (the amount in one little teaspoon of butter), you can get a half cup of vegetables that contains a wide variety of vitamins, fibre, minerals, and health-building substances not to mention a lot of flavour.

But, no one single vegetable contains all of the nutrients we need. Carrots, for instance, contain good amounts of vitamin A, whereas green leafy vegetables are high in iron. Therefore it is necessary that you eat a variety of vegetables.

Rich In Vitamins You too as children we know that it is the vitamins in those unappealing greens is the important ingredient, if you want to grow healthy and strong – run jump and play . There are many interesting tasty, and nutritious vegetable dishes on the table (and also a variety of

Stop Deforestation Melbourne Rodrigues (14), Std IX, Lourdes Convent HS., Saligao

Monkeying Around Mitosha Fernandes (7), Std I, Shiksha Niketan, Sangolda

ENTRY FORM MONGINIS Creative Me NAME: AGE:

STD:

Phone:

SCHOOL: HOME ADDRESS:

MONGINIS TWO BEST CREATIVE ME ENTRIES  Melbourne Rodrigues (14), Std IX, Lourdes Convent HS., Saligao wins a gift voucher of Monginis worth Rs. 125/-

Emmanuel de Noronha, Std IV, The 

Rosary School, Miramar wins a gift voucher

of Monginis worth Rs. 75/-

Eating vegetables regularly can have many health benefits. Along with all the many disease-reducing benefits, eating vegetables can also help control weight. Vegetables are low in fat and calories, a good source of dietary fibre and provide us with extra energy. Being low in calories enables us to eat lots of vegetables without

consuming excess energy, the high fibre content also helps fill the stomach faster limiting the total amount of food consumed.

The presence of many vitamins and other chemicals in vegetables supply the body with nutrients necessary to boost energy production within the muscle cells. This give us a natural feeling of vitality and the energy to become more active, thus helping to burn more energy each day.

Vegetables are also low in sodium so they help reduce water gains. Vegetables are easily digestible thus reduces the instances or risk of constipation.

All these features help control weight effectively – while at the same time providing the nutrition required.

Eating a lot of vegetables is not going to cause any harm – in fact it is good that you eat more vegetables than the recommended amount, if you want to be strong, healthy, wise and wealthy.

* Italy got its name from the ancient Romans? They called the southern part of the peninsula Italia, which means land of oxen or grazing land. * Italy has some of the best food in the world.

My Sports Car Emmanuel de Noronha, Std IV, The Rosary School, Miramar

A Squirrel Melachy Fernandes (7), Std I, Shiksha Niketan, Sangolda Purument Lindsy Antao (10), Std VI, St. Mary of the Angels Convent HS, Chinchinim

starches) that you will grow to like – however unbelievable it might seem to you now.

Essential vitamins are nutrients we have to get from food because our bodies can’t produce them from scratch. And although we only need tiny amounts of these compounds every day, they are required for many of our body’s vital functions.

For you, vitamins are crucial for the demands of your growing bodies. And for all of us, vitamins help our blood to clot, our eyes to see and our teeth and bones to stay healthy and strong.

Health Benefits

A Well Shenaya Pereira(8), Std III, Mary Immaculate Girls’ HS, Panjim

Colour Me

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GOA, Monday, 14 June, 2010

More than 400,000 watched Cup start in fan parks AGENCIES JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 13

More than 400,000 people watched the opening match of the World Cup in open-air fan parks in South Africa and around the globe, in addition to the nearly 90,000 in Johannesburg's Soccer City sta-

dium, officials said on Saturday.

Soccer's ruling body FIFA said 300,000 watched the opening match on Friday at fan parks in the host nation, now consumed by World Cup fever and patriotic fervour, while another 100,000 viewed

the South Africa-Mexico 1-1 draw in fan parks in Rome, Paris, Berlin, Sydney, Mexico City and Rio de Janeiro.

The biggest audience of 75,000 was in two of the Johannesburg fan parks in the township of Soweto and the glitzy shopping district of Sandton.

But they were rivaled by the 50,000 people who watched in Mexico City.

Many foreign fans have travelled to South Africa for the month-long tournament without tickets, to enjoy the tournament on giant screens in the fan parks.

We don’t fear Brazil: Portugal’s Simao AFP MAGALIESBURG, JUNE 13

Winger Simao said on Saturday Portugal could beat five-time champions Brazil if they had to in order to qualify from the "Group of Death" but admitted he wanted to avoid Spain in the next phase.

The Portuguese, semi-finalists at the 2006 World Cup, are battling for qualification with Brazil and Ivory Coast, with North Korea the dark horses in Group G, and Simao said they were anxious to get their tournament under way.

"Portugal have some of the best players in Europe with a lot of ambition and it's a very united and strong team," the Atletico Madrid player told reporters at Portugal's rural training base outside Johannesburg.

It's always important to start the World Cup in the best way with a win. We don't want to face Brazil in the third game

Brazil not too experienced despite oldest squad AGENCIES JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 13

Brazil will begin the World Cup with the oldest squad at the tournament, but not the most experienced one.

The Brazilian team has the oldest player average among all squads at 29 years and 3 months, and it is also its oldest ever at World Cups. But most players summoned by coach Dunga are making their debut in football’s biggest tournament and are far from veterans.

Only nine players are back for their second World Cup, and only three of those were starters in 2006 in Germany—defenders Juan and Lucio and playmaker Kaka.

The Brazilian team is one month older than the English team, while the youngest is Ghana at 24 years and 9 months, according to FIFA.

needing a win but if we need to win, why not? Because we have beaten them several times before."

He said Portugal, who face the Ivory Coast in their first match on Tuesday, wanted to avoid Spain in the last 16, which would happen if Spain topped Group H and Portugal finished as runners-up in their group.

"It will be difficult if Portugal face Spain in the last 16 because they are the European champi-

ons," the 30-year-old said. Spain are hot favourites to top Group H. And he sought to quash rumours that he did not get on with superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, saying he was good friends with the Read Madrid player.

"It's a lie and I don't understand it. You can ask Ronaldo and he will confirm that."

Portugal needed a play-off against Bosnia-Herzegovina to

reach South Africa after a qualifying campaign in which midfielder-cum-striker Ronaldo failed to score in seven matches before being sidelined by injury.

Where to play the "golden boy" will occupy much of coach Carlos Queiroz's time with the options facing the former assistant to Alex Ferguson at Manchester United including using him in a wide or central midfield role or as a lone

striker.

Portugal breezed through a 3-0 warm-up victor y over Mozambique on Tuesday, but the match was overshadowed by the loss of Nani following an injury in training.

Simao admitted the Manchester United winger would be a loss but said: "Of course he is a good player but unfortunately he is injured. We are sad but we have a lot of good players that can also play in our position."

Simao said he was not certain to be in the starting eleven as there were many good players pushing for places.

"I'm very happy to be part of this 23. We are preparing for the World Cup in a good way and instead of thinking about our opponents we are thinking about ourselves.

"We hare working hard. I am fit, all the players are fit. I feel 100 percent."

Robinho dances to Brazil’s tune REUTERS JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 13

Robinho’s club career has often been a messy affair punctuated by tantrums, walkouts and longrunning transfer sagas.

His international career, however, could hardly be more different. When in the yellow shirt of Brazil, Robinho has been reliability personified, never complaining and always feeling at home.

One of the few players who performs better for his country than club, the King of the Stepovers has been almost ever-

present for Brazil in the four years Dunga has been coach.

His only moan since Brazil arrived in South Africa is that his team mates cannot follow his goal celebrations.

“There are a lot of stiff waists in the team—Kaka, Luis Fabuloso,” he said. “I want to see if they can dance a little better.”

Robinho burst onto the scene as an 18-year-old with Santos in 2002 when his precocious dribbling helped them win the Brazilian championship.

One of the most replayed

moments of his career came in the final against Corinthians when he performed seven stepovers before provoking a defender into giving away a penalty.

But he fell out with Santos three years later when they initially refused to sell him to Real Madrid. Robinho boycotted training sessions in protest before the move finally went through.

His three seasons with Real ended in a similar fashion, an unsavoury transfer saga finally landing him at Manchester City

rather than Chelsea, the team he had publicly stated he had wanted to join.

Despite scoring plenty of goals for City, Robinho never seemed happy in England and at one stage was fined for walking out on a training camp in the Canary Islands.

At the start of this year, he was loaned back to Santos and, despite clearly enjoying himself on his return home, is now in the middle of yet more speculation about his club future, with Turkey’s Besiktas appearing a possible buyer.

FAN PICS

Mexico striker Hernandez hopes to repeat history AGENCIES JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 13

Javier Hernandez’s family has a long soccer tradition, and the Mexico striker will try to repeat history by scoring in a World Cup like his grandfather did in 1954.

Hernandez is 22, the same age as his granddad, Tomas Balcazar, when he played in the tournament 56 years ago. He scored in a Mexico 3-2 loss to France “This is the fruit of all the hard work he has done since he began playing at 8 years old,” Balcazar said before the World Cup. “He has always been a dedicated boy. Whatever he has achieved he has done through his own efforts. We just give him advice so his head doesn’t get too big.”

Mexico fans, meanwhile, hope Hernandez can mirror his dream start with Chivas last season when he scored eight goals in his first five games.

A supporter of Serbia flashes the V sign as she stands outside the Tshwane stadium in Pretoria on Sunday.

A France supporter is pictured before the start of the Group A first round 2010 World Cup football match France versus Uruguay on Friday.

An English couple kiss before the start of England-USA match on Saturday.

World Cup teams’ banners and flags displayed at Aldrin Soares’ Basilio Gym at St Inez, Panjim.

A girl stands by a mural depicting Argentinian and Brazilian football players painted by football fans in Kolkata on Sunday.

Football is taking off in cricket-mad India and the World Cup is set to give the game another lift.

Photo: Rozario Estibeiro

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GOA, Monday, 14 June, 2010

Hand of clod - Green slammed for blunder AFP LONDON, JUNE 13

The Sunday newspapers blasted Robert Green for the goalkeeping blunder that cost England a victory in the opening World Cup game against the United States.

The weekly press printed frameby-frame images of Green's error, with the front pages of the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror both reading "Hand of Clod", accompanied by a giant picture of Green.

any England goalkeeper guilty of a clanger is given merciless treatment by the national newspapers, with international careers usually then brought to a shuddering halt.

David Seaman, David James, Paul Robinson and Scott Carson can all testify to that.

Green was not spared.

"Cock-up keeper Green wrecks dream start," said the News of the World, adding: "Stars and tripe". "it's back to the drawing board

after this, with Capello forced to reconsider his options after Green's mistake."

"Tainted Glove", said the Sunday Mirror. "Worst Howler Ever", said another headline.

"Calamity keeper Robert Green gifted one of the all-time blunder goals last night as the jinx of the England goalies struck again.

"Hapless Green somehow managed to parry the softest of soft strikes into the goal behind him. it was ag-

onising to watch."

The editorial said: "Poor Robert Green will take a long, long time to live down the goal."

The Sunday Express meanwhile said of Green that "for all our sakes, he's got to go - now."

The Sunday Telegraph said Green's howler had "cost England dear".

Former England defender Graeme Le Saux wrote that if England manager Fabio Capello was to axe Green, "he may as well send him straight

home.

"He will certainly not play again in this tournament, and that could even be the death knell for his international career".

The Mail on Sunday said it was a "nightmare start".

"There was endeavour aplenty and flashes of quality but a fragility remains at the core of the side," it added.

"The calamitous goal which will threaten the international future of

goalkeeper Robert Green was a catastrophe."

The independent on Sunday said it was "one of those frustrating opening games the country often produces after all the build-up to a major tournament". "an improvement will be required in the second game in Cape Town on Friday against algeria."

The Sunday Times referenced the Deepwater Horizon oil rig, saying Green's error was "one disastrous

spill the Yanks won't complain about". it was a "howler that will haunt him for the rest of his career".

The broadsheet compared Green to a "pub cricketer misfielding on the boundary. "a scrappy, uncomfortable draw against the second-ranked side in Group C may not stop Capello's men topping it but it is hard to see England going too far in the knockout rounds if they fail to improve."

THE GOAL THAT WAS...: Combination of images shows England's goalkeeper Robert Green failing to block a shot by US midfielder Clint Dempsey during their Group C match at Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg on Saturday.

Capello counts cost AGENCIES RUSTENBURG, JUNE 13

Fabio Capello has played down the damage done to England's World Cup campaign by the blunder from goalkeeper Robert Green that handed the United States a point in their group C opener on Saturday.

Green let in an innocuous 25yard shot from Clint Dempsey to gift the americans a 1-1 draw after new captain Steven Gerrard had got England's tournament off to a dream start with a wellworked fourth minute strike.

Capello declined to assure Green that he would be in goal for England's second match, against algeria in Cape Town on Friday, but he insisted there were positive aspects to his side's display. "i think we played a good match, we created a lot of chances to score goals," the italian said. "The team tried to go

forward all the time. "i don't think the result is okay for us because we played better than the USa but this is football.

We have to accept the result and we are looking forward to the next game." "i am not happy with the result but i saw, another time, the spirit of England, the spirit of the team, because we fight every time to win back the ball. "i am not worried for the next game about the phsyical condition because we ran a lot and in the second half we were much better than the US, and usually they are a team that run a lot and press a lot."

Capello said Green had earned his place in the side on the strength of his displays since displacing the more experienced David James as his number one.

"He made one mistake but in the second half he made also a good save. This is the problem of the goalkeeper. i will speak with him and then we will decide what we will do."

Despite the head coach's upbeat tone, Britain's Sunday newspapers blasted Green, with the front pages of the News of the World and the Sunday Mirror both reading "Hand of Clod", accompanied by a giant picture of 'keeper.

"Cock-up keeper Green wrecks dream start," said the News of the World, adding: "Stars and tripe".

Iniesta looks ready to play Spain’s WC opener AGENCIES POTCHEFSTROOM, JUNE 13

AGENCIES RUSTENBURG, JUNE 13

andres iniesta looks likely to be ready for Spain’s opening World Cup match against Switzerland after the midfielder returned to regular training Sunday. iniesta, who hurt his right thigh muscle last week, worked out with his teammates for the first half hour and took part in a simulated game. “iniesta could play against Switzerland,” coach Vicente del Bosque said.

Xabi alonso also returned after leaving practice Saturday to prevent injury and should start the Group H opener in Durban on Wednesday.

Fernando Torres remains the only question mark for the European champion, who also play Honduras and Chile. “i don’t think Torres will play the first game but he’s not been discarded yet,” said Del Bosque, who will go with David Villa fronting a five-man midfield— a lineup Spain regularly uses when either of its top strikers have been missing. although available iniesta may not be in the starting midfield, where Cesc Fabregas could be preferred alongside Xavi Hernandez, alonso, David Silva and Sergio Busquets.

Steven Gerrard wants England to pick up maximum points from their remaining games in Group C following Saturday’s 1-1 draw with the USa. The skipper gave Fabio Capello's side the lead after just four minutes but Robert Green’s howler allowed Clint Dempsey to equalise late on in the first half.

Dempsey’s ambitious strike from the edge of the area looked certain to fall into the arms of Green but the England goalkeeper somehow allowed the ball to squirm past him in what was to be the decisive goal in the match.

Gerrard was disappointed not to beat the USa but is pleased not to get beat in thei opening match of the tournament.

The England skipper told iTV Sport: "it's one of them freak things. "i don't think you can criticise the goalkeeper, people have been talking about the ball and

Maradona and Messi work it out for Argentina REUTERS PRETORia, JUNE 13

Diego Maradona thrives on attention and continuing to be acclaimed as one of the greatest players of all time, which is a recipe for keeping Lionel Messi out of the World Cup limelight according to critics.

However, Messi did what all argentines hoped for in Saturday’s 1-0 opening win over Nigeria, dispelling the doubts surrounding his ability to carry his country toward a third world title and Maradona, confounding the critics, did his bit. in Maradona’s statements, even when he says he would like Messi to go down as the greatest footballer ever, there

is always the lingering suspicion of a slight reluctance to accept that Messi is now what Maradona was but no longer is.

Maradona’s praise for World Player of the Year Messi is always tempered by an immediate fol-

Gerrard blames ball for Green error

low-up about the quality and form of the team around him.

No-one is in doubt, though, that Saturday’s victory in argentina’s first Group B match at Ellis Park was due mainly to Messi even if the goal came from a corner drill involving Juan Sebastian Veron and scorer Gabriel Heinze.

The key was a Madrid heartto-heart between Maradona and Messi in april in which the coach gave the little ace his head and the role of pulling the strings in the team. “i want Leo close to the ball and today he was there,” Maradona said on Saturday.

Messi added: “Fortunately, i managed to get the ball a lot and make my team mates play.”

its tricky and i’m sure he’ll play a big part later in the competition. "it shocked us a bit but we expected to get on and win the match. i thought we finished the game stronger."

When asked whether Robert Green will remain as England's goalkeeper throughout the World Cup, Gerrard said: "Without a doubt, i’m sure hell learn from this and i’m sure he’ll play a part for us down the line and we’re all behind him."

Re g a rd ing the game as a whole Gerrard said, "it was a difficult game."

"The most important thing is not to lose and unfortunately we've let a poor goal in and we couldn’t get the winner.

"The target now is seven points."

English viewers left in dark as Gerrard scores REUTERS LONDON, JUNE 13

British broadcaster iTV apologized to viewers after thousands of England fans missed Steven Gerrard’s opening World Cup goal on Saturday when a commercial was accidentally aired at the crucial moment.

Fans watching iTV’s high definition channel at home and in pubs across the country were left in the dark as a car advert was screened at the moment Gerrard put England ahead against main group rivals, the United States.

The error did not affect iTV’s standard service. an iTV spokesman apologized for the “interruption” which left fans frustrated and angry. “a transmission problem temporarily affected iTV1’s HD service during the England/U.S. match. iTV standard definition service continued uninterrupted.

FIFA to investigate laser issue REUTERS RUSTENBURG, JUNE 13

FiFa has ordered an investigation into security at Ellis Park in Johannesburg after a green laser pen was shone at players during yesterday's match between argentina and Nigeria. a green beam could be seen being shone at various players, and in the direction of the ar-

gentina coach Diego Maradona, during the match and raises questions over how such an item was able to be smuggled through the security checkpoints.

FiFasaid in a statement: "We noticed this incident once and immediately asked the stadium security to look into the matter. according to the information that we have at this time, the incident only occurred

once. also at the time of writing, we have not received any comment from any of the teams."

Nicolas Maingot, the head of Fifa's media department, added: "i don't have reports that the security perimeters are not working. Security perimeters are essential for any big competition and are important for the smooth process of security. That is functioning well.

Spector backs Green REUTERS RUSTENBURG, JUNE 13

Robert Green took full responsibility for his mistake that gifted the United States their goal, but said he would bounce back immediately and not dwell on the error.

He was given huge moral support straight after the Group C game at the Royal Bafokeng Sta-

dium by one of his american opponents who also happens to be one of his best friends— his West Ham United club mate, Jonathan Spector. “i felt for him,” said Spector.

“My heart went out to him.”

Green told reporters: “i saw the ball coming, thought i had it covered, but missed it.”

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Germans too good for Kangaroos

Gift Koren goal gives Slovenia first win

AFP DURBAN, JUNE 13

Three-time champions Germany routed Australia 4-0 in a Group D World Cup football match here on Sunday. They led 2-0 at half time.

Tim Cahill, Australia's best player, went in hard and late on Bastian Schweinsteiger and referee Marco Rodriguez of Mexico wasted no time in flashing an immediate red card, to the Everton player's horror in the 56th minute.

Germany totally dominated the Socceroos, with captain Philipp Lahm and rising stars Mesut Oezil and Thomas Mueller running Australian veterans Scott Chipperfield and Craig Moore ragged down the right wing. Podolski opened the scoring in the ninth minute, the happy recipient of a text-book training ground move executed to clinical perfection.

After Oezil had played in Mueller, the Bayern Munich right winger cut the ball back across the face of the goal for Podolski to hammer home left-footed, with Australia goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer getting a hand on it.

Slovenia’s midfielder Robert Koren celebrates after scoring a goal during their Group C first round match against Algeria at Peter Mokaba stadium in Polokwane, on Sunday.

AFP POLOKWANE, JUNE 13

Captain Robert Koren snatched the soft late goal that gave Slovenia a 1-0 victory over 10man Algeria on Sunday and top place in Group C of the World Cup. Goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi should have saved a curling shot from outside the penalty area on 79 minutes, but let it slip into the corner of the net soon after striker Abdelkader Ghezzal

Previews

Dutch must guard against over-confidence REUTERS JOHANNESBURG, JUNE 13

Netherlands coach Bert van Marwijk’s side face two dangers when they start their World Cup Group E campaign at Ellis Park on Monday—opponents Denmark and the possibility of being too confident.

Van Marwijk told reporters at the Dutch training base at Wits University in Johannesburg: “Yes, we did excellently in our warmup matches, but we are taking nothing for granted against any opponents in the World Cup. “We believe we can do well, and now we must go and do it.”

The match will be significant for captain Giovanni van Bronckhorst who will become the fourth Dutchman to win 100 caps after Edwin van der Sar, Frank de Boer and Philip Cocu.

Netherlands’ strength lies in their attack, with the ‘Big Four’— as the Dutch media call them— of Van Persie, Wesley Sneijder, Rafael van der Vaart and Robben, when he returns from injury, the key to their success.

However, Denmark winger Dennis Rommedahl believes the towering Dutch expectations could give his side an advantage.

“The players are being realistic but people in Holland and the media think that they only have to turn up and pick up the trophy,” he told reporters.

“Everyone expects them to beat us quite easily and so we have nothing to lose on Monday, which can result in a surprise.”

was sent off.

It was the first World Cup win for Slovenia after three losses in their only previous appearance eight years ago and will offer hope ahead of tougher assignments against the United States and England.

Koren, who was named man-of-the match, admitted his goal had been lucky with the semi-artificial pitch surface coming into play as well as Chaouchi following England's

Robert Green into the limelight as a blundering goalkeeper.

“Even before the match, we had said that our target was to reach the second round, and this win will only boost our confidence in ourselves," said the 29-year-old.

Algeria coach Rabah Saadane praised his players but conceded his side were still learning to compete at this level.

“There are only small details

Paraguay hoping to catch Italy cold things and he will decide the best team for us but it’s right Holders Italy, written off at home for a coach to try things. Right as no-hopers to retain their now we don’t know what he’ll world title and traditionally slow do.” starters, are in danger of being All that experimentation caught napping by in-form means few observers in Italy Paraguay in their Group F opener have a clue about Lippi’s likely on Monday. side for Monday.

Coach Marcello Lippi has kept Midfielder Andrea Pirlo is out faith with the bulk of the team with a calf injury for the first that triumphed in Berlin four two games while Daniele del years ago but local media and Rossi missed Friday’s 6-0 thrashItalian fans have not stopped ing of the Gauteng All Stars with complaining despite an un- a similar problem. beaten qualifying campaign.

Antonio Di Natale, with 29 A draw with Switzerland and goals for Udinese as Serie A’s defeat by Mexico in warm-up top scorer this season, and Algames added fuel to the fire and berto Gilardino should carry the with Lippi seemingly still unsure strike threat and the vastly exabout his first-choice lineup perienced Lippi, unsurprisingly, there is a real is not confear his team TODAY’S MATCHES cerned by the could be Netherlands v. Denmark, critics. caught out.

“No team With subse5 p.m. comes to the quent games rld Cup Japan v. Cameroon, Wo against New knowing exactly 7.30 p.m.

Zealand and what they can Slovakia it redo, you grow Italy v. Paraguay, mains unthinkthrough the 00.00 hrs able the tournament,” four-times he said. champions could fail to advance That is something Paraguay but the Azzurri seem to be putting rarely have the luxury of expetheir faith in past pedigree rather riencing having never got past than current talent. the second round in their seven “We have our traditions, our finals appearances, falling at the characteristics. If we put our first hurdle four times. army on the field we can comThis time, though, confipete with everyone,” said captain dence is high after ain impresFabio Cannavaro, outstanding in sive qualifying campaign in the 2006 campaign but at 36 which they finished second and now looking past his sell-by date. beat Brazil and Argentina along “The coach is trying lots of the way.

REUTERS CAPE TOWN, JUNE 13

that can make the difference, that is the blatant truth at this heady level," said Saadane. "My only regret is that we didn't shoot enough, which I had asked my team to do."

Among the crowd at the 46,000-seat Peter Mokaba Stadium in this northern city was former superstar Zinedine Zidane, born in Marseille to Algerian parents and a World Cup winner with France 12 years ago.

Klose, top scorer in the 2006 World Cup, made it 2-0 in the 27th minute with a well-taken goal - and his 11th in the World Cup - rising between Australian captain Lucas Neill and Schwarzer to head powerfully home from a Lahm cross from the right.

Germany’s third came in the 68th minute as Lukas Podolski raced forward and slipped a pass for Thomas Mueller, who brilliantly stopped on the edge of the box, twisted past Scott Chipperfield and lahsed in an arrowlike right-foot shot in, off Mark Schwarzer's right-hand post.

Two minutes later, it was 4-0 for Germany as Brazilian-born substitute striker Cacau slotted in from eight yards with his first touch of the game.

It was Australia who had the first real chance of the game, Lahm clearing a close-range effort by Richard Garcia in the fourth minute.

The first half was all about Oezil and Mueller, and the hatful of scoring chances that went abegging as Germany pressed home their total advantage of territory and possession.

MORE SPORTS ON P 13, 16, 17

Cameroon Lions ready for Japan REUTERS BLOEMFONTEIN, JUNE 13

Cameroon’s indomitable Lions look set to feast on struggling Japan when they meet in their opening World Cup match on Monday.

The nation that thrilled the world with the emerging power of African soccer by reaching the quarter-finals in the 1990 tournament have not been on such great form in recent years.

But spearheaded by striker Samuel Eto’o, they have rediscovered their roar under coach Paul Le Guen and will carry the hopes of many people not just in Cameroon but across the African continent.

Japan are putting on a brave face but they have struggled to score goals and look destined to be the supporting cast in Group E, which also features Denmark and Netherlands.

Eto’o will need to put a spat with former Cameroon great Roger Milla behind him when he leads his team out at Bloemfontein’s Free State Stadium.

Struggling Japan have failed to win a World Cup match on foreign soil and are desperate to find their scoring touch.

Fans of the Blue Samurai will place their hopes on attacking midfielder Keisuke Honda, who might even be used as a striker.

“I have practised this way of playing form time-to-time and I have been told there is possibility of having this role,” the 23-year-old told reporters.

Ghana’s defender John Paintsil celebrates with his national flag at the end of the Group D first round match against Serbia at Loftus Verfeld stadium in Tshwane/Pretoria, on Sunday.

Gyan stars as Ghana sink 10-man Serbia

An Asamoah Gyan penalty six minutes from time gave Ghana a crucial 1-0 World Cup victory over 10-man Serbia in Group D at Loftus Versfeld stadium here on Sunday.

Gyan's spot-kick was awarded for Zdravko Kuzmanovic's needless handball in the box after Serbia had lost Aleksandar Lukovic to two bookings.

And, the noise which met 2010 Africa Cup of Nations finalists Ghana's victory, the first by an African country at this year's World Cup, by a partisan African crowd was truly deafening. Ghana missed inspirational midfielder Michael Essien.

Ghana's victory puts them in pole position to emulate their performance in 2006 and qualify for the knock-out rounds in a tough group including Germany and Australia.

The win was bittersweet for Ghana's Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac. “Of course for me per-

sonally in my job this is a great victory but I'm sorry for the Serbian team," he said.

“I know many of their players and I could see how saddened they were but I tried to concentrate on my job and perform my duties in a professional manner.

Maybe we got lucky, they're a very good team and it's difficult to play against them. I hope they get six points in their next two matches."

Serbia coach Radomir Antic admitted that qualifying for the knock-out stages would now be difficult.

“Of course this is a big blow for us, it's bad to start the World Cup with a defeat," he said.

“But we have two more games and we must put this behind us and look forward to playing Germany and Australia."

However, he stopped short of saying they would have to beat Germany in their next match.

“It's difficult to say, we started with a defeat so now we must prepare in a different way when it comes to play Germany."

week. ''Some people say the important ones are those who are here.

I disagree, because top players are missed by their national teams when injured. Of course (right back) Jose Bosingwa and Nani will be missed, but we have other solutions.''

One of those solutions might be coach Carlos Queiroz deploying Ronaldo as a roving single striker. Ronaldo said he can play in any of the attacking positions as he has shown on several occasions over the last few years.

Some of those were with his former Manchester United team

mate Wayne Rooney who he said played very well in England's 1-1 draw with the United States on Saturday.

Regarding Steven Gerrard, England's scorer in that match, Ronaldo said he thought very highly of the Liverpool player, but declined to comment on t a l k s l i n k i n g h i m t o Re a l Madrid.

Ronaldo added that Argentina's Lionel Messi, with whom he denied having a rivalry, had also played very well even though he did not score in Argentina's 1-0 win over Nigeria.

AFP PRETORIA, JUNE 13

Algeria................0 Serbia.................0 Germany.............4

Slovenia............1 Ghana................1 Australia............0

Ronaldo expects goals to gush like ketchup

REUTERS MAGALIESBURG, JUNE 13

Cristiano Ronaldo said he is not concerned about his scoring drought with Portugal -- because goals will come in a sudden spurt like ketchup shaken from a bottle.

The world's most expensive player has not hit the net for Portugal for 16 months now, firing blanks in the World Cup qualifiers, but he is not worried about the goal drought.

''Goals, as a football legend once told me, are like ketchup,'' Ro n a l d o told reporters on Sunday,

without specifying who was the source of the comparison. ''Sometimes as much as you try, they don't come out, and when they come, many come all at same time.''

Portugal fans will be hoping he ends that dry spell on Tuesday's Group G opener against the Ivory Coast in Port Elizabeth. ''I hope so too... I've been working as hard as usual, and it is God that knows who works and deserves it, so in that sense I am completely tranquil,'' he added.

While confident of getting back among the goals, the Portuguese captain said

did not want to set any personal targets for the finals. ''To be the top scorer? No, I'll give my best and the goals will appear, but I don't want to set the bar at being the top scorer or the best player at the World Cup,'' he said.

Ronaldo believes he had great debut season at Real Madrid after his move from Manchester United for a world record fee of 80 million euros (96.30 million dollar), scoring 26 goals in the league, but added he felt sad the team ended trophyless.

However, the 25 year-old, who had seemed in sombre mood on the flight to South Africa and in the training sessions, appeared to be in good spirits, even joking with a journalist for speaking too quickly in Spanish.

His mood darkened again when asked about Portugal's absentees, including winger Nani who flew home yesterday after being ruled out with a shoulder injury earlier in the

Against vuvuzelas

Cristiano Ronaldo added his voice Sunday to the complaints about the wall of sound being made by the vuvuzela trumpets at the World Cup, protesting they disturb the players' concentration.

“It is difficult for anyone on the pitch to concentrate," the Portugal star said. “A lot of players don't like them, but they are going to have to get used to them."

The metre-long (three feet-long) plastic vuvuzelas have been a hit with fans at the World Cup stadiums in South Africa, but the noise of thousands being blown at once resembles a high-volume swarm of buzzing bees. “Teams have done nothing but criticise the vuvuzelas, but you have to respect them," Real Madrid midfielder Ronaldo said.

“Hardly anyone likes them, but the people who do like them are those who like to blow the instruments and make a racket." As well as the vuvuzelas, Ronaldo said he was getting used to the much-criticised World Cup match ball.

“I'm more used to it than I was two weeks ago. I don't think it will be a problem," he said. “We've trained enough with it to get accustomed to it and I'm sure the dribbles, the shots and the corners with it will all be fine."

Germany's striker Cacau celebrates with teammate Mesut Oezil (back) after scoring a goal against Australia during their Group D first round match at Moses Mabhida stadium in Durban.