Page 1:Layout 1 6/25/2010 1:22 AM Page 1
O HERALD O Visit us at: www.oheraldo.in
The Voice of Goa — Since 1900 panjim, friDaY, june 25, 2010
priCe rs. 3.00 (air Surcharge rs. 1.50) pages 18
Sports: India crush Lanka, lift Asia Cup Pg 13
Goa’s Heartbeat: Kareena, Karisma Business: Hike in petro rates hope to do a Sister Act soon Pg 14 looks imminent Pg 12
Circular on ripening fruits To prevent artificial ripening of fruits, the Union Health Ministry has asked State authorities to keep a strict vigil on use of chemicals for this purpose. In a circular to all State food (health) authorities, FSSAI has stressed the need for taking legal action for violation of the Prevention of Food Adulteration Rules. — (PTI)
Centre to push for Anderson extradition Rs 1,265 cr package for Bhopal PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 24
In the backdrop of outrage over the trial court’s verdict in the Bhopal gas tragedy, government today announced a Rs 1265.56crore package and decided to file a curative petition in the Supreme Court besides pushing for extradition of the former Union Carbide chief Warren Anderson. The Union cabinet, which considered the report of the Group of Ministers on the 1984 disaster, accepted all its 22 recommendations but did not fix liability on anybody. It decided that the opinion of the attorney general would be sought on whether Dow Chemicals or any other succes-
sor to Union Carbide Corporation (UCC) or Union Carbide India Limited (UCIL) could be held liable, Information and Broadcasting Minister Ambika Soni told reporters. The cabinet meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, decided that ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh would be given to the kin of each killed in the tragedy, Rs 5 lakh to those who suffered permanent disability, Rs 2 lakh each to people who suffered cancer and total renal failure and Rs 1 lakh to those with temporary disability. The ex-gratia would benefit 45,000 affected people and the amount would be paid after adjusting the compensation already paid, Soni said.
The government also announced various packages for remediation, rehabilitation and other measures, taking the total spending to Rs 1265.56 crore. The cabinet decided that additional material in support of the request for extradition of Anderson may be put together by concerned agencies and the External Affairs Ministry would thereafter press the request for extradition with the US government, she said. India had made requests for Anderson’s extradition earlier, the last being in 2008, but these have not been entertained by the United States. It was also decided that a curative petition may be filed in (Continued on page 11)
After shoddy Atala probe, police now eyeing Lucky HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 24
Two days after the Israeli drug dealer Yaniv Benhaim alias Atala was released on bail by the NDPS (Narcotics, Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) court due to lack of evidence, the Goa Police said that it will send a team to Sweden for questioning the Israeli’s former girl friend Lucky Farmhouse. Forced by the media to interact on the issue, Director General of Police Bhim Sain Bassi, who was initially reluctant to speak, stated that the police has done everything necessary in the case. The High Court which heard the case few days back had criticised the police investigations in the case. The court while hearing the bail application plea of a police
inspector linked to the drug mafia said that police were unwilling to get to the bottom of the high profile drug probe, in which a son of a senior ruling party minister is linked. “If the police department can send police inspectors North and East to investigate a simple case of attempted suicide, the police department could have certainly sent a responsible Indian Police Service (IPS) officer to record the statement of Atala’s friend,” Britto said. However, the DGP said that the court did no pass any strictures against the police but only made certain observations, “which we will keep in mind”. He also refused to admit there was lethargy on part of police in the investigation. “The police are probing the (Continued on page 11)
Jaswant back in BJP PTI NEW DELHI, JUNE 24
Expelled leader Jaswant Singh was today back in BJP, nine months after he was shown the door over his controversial book on Pakistan founder Mohammed Ali Jinnah with the party adopting a forgive-and-forget attitude. The 72-year-old leader, once one of the leading lights of the party when it was in power at the Centre as also in the opposition, was brought back by new party president Nitin Gadkari who is going the extra mile to revive the organisation. Ironically, the leader who welcomed Singh into the party-fold was party patriarch L K Advani who himself had to step down from the post of party president for his remarks on Jinnah during his 2005 visit to Pakistan. “It is good to be back in familiar surroundings... I wish to unreservedly express my gratitude to Advaniji who took the initiative (for my return) several months back,” Singh said at a function held at the party headquarters here to re-induct him.
Youngsters in colourful headgear at the Siolim Sao Joao boat parade celebrations. (Report on page 4)
Photo by Rozario Estibeiro
Vishwajit joins Cong, sworn in again
Cong MLA arrested for cheating
HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, JUNE 24
On a day of hectic political activities, Valpoi legislator Vishwajit Rane joined the Congress party after resigning his assembly seat. Within hours of tendering his resignation to the Speaker of the Goa Legislative Assembly Pratapsing Rane, Vishwajit was sworn in again as a cabinet minister, at Raj Bhavan. Rane was administered the oath office and secrecy by Governor Shivendra Singh Sidhu, at a function which was attended by Chief Minister Digamabar Kamat, Home Minister Ravi Naik, Revenue Minister Jose Philipe D’Souza, Education Minister Babush Monseratte, Goa Pradesh Congress Committee (GPCC) president Subash Shirodkar, Cumbharjua legislator Pandurang Madkaikar, Calangute legislator Agnelo Fernnades, Quepem legislator Babu
‘
I will be happy to work as the dedicated worker of the Congress as this will provide strength and stability to the party.
‘
Never deprive someone of hope; it might be all they have. —H. Brown Jr.
Kavlekar and Curtorim legislator Alexio Reginald Lourenco. Earlier, before swearing in ceremony Vishwajit submitted his membershi p f o r m t o t h e GPCC president in the presence of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat and Home Minister Ravi Naik, at Congress House, in the city. Addressing the media after the swearing in Vishwajit said he was always a Congressman. “Only during the last assembly election I did not get the assembly ticket otherwise I was
always a Congressman,” Vishwajit stated adding the people of Valpoi want to vote for the party and I am happy to be back in Congress.” “I will be happy to work as the dedicated worker of the Congress as this will provide strength and stability to the party,” he said. GPCC president Shirodkar said that Vishwajit’s entry into the Congress will strengthen the party base in North Goa. “In the Zilla Panchayat elections people voted for the Congress and the people now want to endorse the party,” he stated. Replying to a query the president said that the legislator’s entry into Congress was unconditional. “The Congress does not believe in setting conditions,” he said. On whether there would be any more entries into Congress, he said, “just wait and watch.
PTI MUMBAI/NEW DELHI, JUNE 24
A Congress member of the legislative assembly (MLA) and mining magnate from Karnataka was arrested at Mumbai international airport in connection with a case of alleged cheating and brought today to Delhi where a court remanded him to a day’s police custody.
You have joined Congress ‘unconditionally’. So what’s the problem?