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O HERALD O
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Goa’s Heartbeat: Men don’t ask me out — Emma Pg 4 Man is the artificer of his own happiness. — Thoreau
IN BRIEF Man fakes identity to meet Obama A college student, who allegedly impersonated an IPS officer to meet US President Barack Obama, has been arrested, police said at Muzaffarnagar on Monday. Dalip Kumar, a BSc student, allegedly posed as an IPS officer and reached the residence of the District Magistrate on Sunday, police said. Kumar then asked for a VIP car to go to Delhi to meet Obama, they said. The youth was later handed over to police by the officials present at the DM’s residence, they said. – PTI
Car bombings in Iraq kill 18 Twin bombings in Shiite holy cities targeting Iranians killed at least 18 people on Monday, 10 of them pilgrims from Iran, at the start of a ninth month of wrangling over a new government. Police and local officials said the attacks also wounded 58 people, mostly Iranian pilgrims. – PTI (Report on page 11)
Business: US a prime source of investment — FM Pg 13
Obama backs India on permanent UNSC seat PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 8
President Barack Obama on Monday wound up his visit with the announcement of broad support to India’s bid for permanent seat in the UN Security Council and offering to play “any role” in reducing Indo-Pak tensions, an euphemism for Kashmir which has been a sensitive issue. Indo-Pak tensions came up during talks Obama had with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who expressed readiness to engage with Pakistan but made it clear that there can be no dialogue till Islamabad ends “terror-induced coercion”. During the 75-minute meeting in the Hyderabad House on packed day of events, Singh and Obama agreed on a number of new initiatives, including cooperation on internal security, removal of Indian companies from the US sanctions’ list and setting up of a research centre in India in civil nuclear field. Obama, who struck the right chord with the Indian political and business leaders, made the most-awaited announcement when he spoke to MPs backing India’s quest for permanent membership of a “reformed” UNSC in the “years ahead”. The announcement, which was greeted by thunderous applause by the gathering, was
Obama credits Gandhiji for success
NEW DELHI: US President Barack Obama paid fulsome tribute on Monday to Mahatma Gandhi and said studying the legacy of India’s independence icon had helped propel him to the White House. In an address to the Indian parliament as he wrapped up a three-day visit, Obama (Continued on page 10)
US President Barack Obama signs a welcoming book as Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar looks on as he arrives to deliver a speech at Parliament House in New Delhi on Monday.
tempered with his suggestions for what India should do to fulfill its increased responsibility that comes with increased power. His message was clear that India should speak up on issues like human rights violations in Myanmar and implement sanctions against Iran over its nu-
clear programme. “Indeed, the just and sustainable international order that America seeks includes a United Nations that is efficient, effective, credible and legitimate.” “That is why I can say today in the years ahead, I look forward to a reformed UN Security
Council that includes India as a permanent member,” he said in his speech in Parliament. Recalling the terror attack on Parliament and Mumbai attacks, Obama said the US would continue to insist to Pakistan’s leaders that “terrorist safe heavens within their borders are unacceptable and that the terrorists behind the Mumbai attack should be brought to justice.”
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Sports: Pak keeper Haider Pg 16 goes missing Winter Session: Oppn to raise Adarsh, CWG PTI NEW DELHI, NOV 8
The Winter Session of Parliament beginning from November 9 is expected to be a hot affair for the Congress-led ruling coalition with the Opposition gearing up for bringing to the fore the issue of corruption by raising “various scams” including the Adarsh housing scandal. Though Speaker Meira Kumar has convened a meeting of leaders of all political parties on the opening day to ensure a smooth session, it could be trouble for the government from the word go. The NDA has threatened to stall the proceedings if “strong action” was not taken against all the guilty in the Adarsh housing scam. In fact, the Adarsh scam has become an ideal issue for the Opposition to target the ruling party with Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s alleged links proving to be an embarrassment for Congress. The Opposition would utilise the opportunity to seek a discussion on the outcome of the US President Barack Obama’s visit, including the assurances given by Washington on key issues. While the floor strategy of the Opposition is unclear, the BJP-led NDA as also the Left parties have given enough hints that the scams would be their handle to beat the government with.
PeRneM, CanaCona PlanS aPPRoved HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 8
Finally, after dragging feet for a long time regional plans for Pernem and Canacona talukas were approved by the Town and Country Planning Board on Monday that will now send it for Government nod which will have to move for their notifications. The TCP Board that met on Monday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Digambar Kamat had two-and-half-hours meeting which involved a power-point presentation by Senior Town Planner S T Puttaraju on the two plans. Speaking to Herald, Puttaraju said the Pernem and Canacona plans were submitted by the State-level Committee to the TCP Board for its approval which was granted today. He said the Board decided today from here onwards every month it will release two to three plans and the whole process of having a full-fledged regional plan would be achieved by March 2011. The Board has accordingly directed the SLC, which is working on the plans, to complete its task, he added. Puttaraju said though the two plans approved today involved a mammoth task of integrating 28 plans of both the talukas. Hopefully, by the month-end plans of Ponda and Sattari that are ready will be okayed by the SLC and placed before the TCP Board for its approval, he informed. Meanwhile, the Goa Bachao
The Pernem and Canacona plans which involved a mammoth task of integrating 28 plans of both the talukas have been submitted by the State-level Committee to the TCP Board for its approval. From here onwards every month, it will release two to three plans and the whole process of having a fullfledged regional plan would be achieved by March 2011. - Sr Town Planner S T Puttaraju
Abhiyan, which has been continuously pressing for the RP, in a press statement, asserted the Government had not yet finalised or notified the village panchayat status based on which the floor area for construction was given. The GBA maintained it is strongly opposed to the blanket imposition of 80 floor area ratio in villages which have opted for lower FAR as per the draft RP 2021. The abhiyan will also continue to agitate to notify all ecosensitive zones as mentioned in the RP, the statement said. Village-level meetings have been planned at Cansaulim (November 9), Moira (November 13), and Keri-Ponda (November 14).
Mumbai-bound train hit by boulder, 17 injured HERALD REPORTER MARGAO, NOV 8
Around 17 passengers travelling in the Mangalore-Mumbai Matsyagandha Express were injured after a huge boulder came crashing on the train between Karwar and Harwad on Monday evening. The injured, including three passengers, who have sustained critical injuries, have been rushed to a Karwar hospital after the train chugged in at
the Karwar railway station. KRC Sr Public Relations officer Baban Ghatge, who was away in Kholapur, said the accident occurred at around 7 pm when the train was hit by a huge boulder between Karwar and Harwad. “Around 17 passengers have been injured in the accident”, he said, adding that all the injured have been admitted in a Karwar hospital. Replying to a question, Ghatge clarified that there’s no
land slide at the spot and only the boulder fall left the passengers injured. He further said that the railway track at the accident spot has been cleared for rail traffic. A number of Goans were travelling in the train and the Margao railway station was flooded by inquiries following the accident. Many a passenger, who were to board the train at the Margao railway station were lef t
Stringent visa norms hit Goa tourist inflow HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 8
The regular charter flights from Poland to Goa have been deferred owing to strict visa norms, Travel and Tourism Ass o c i a t i o n o f G o a ( T TA G ) spokesperson Ralph D’Souza said. The chartered tourist flights from Poland were to start their regular movement to Goa from this year, but have now prolonged their operations by oneand-half month. “We are expecting first chartered flight to arrive Goa by first week of November but due to time-consuming visa formalities, it will not begin operation before December 15,” D’Souza told
reporters. The tourism industry fears that if the Central Ministry does not modify the formalities, these tourists will be re-routed to another tourist destination. “The delay will result in cancellation of seven flights from India and hence losing 1500 tourists. If things do not improve, the tour
operators will offer their clients another tourist destination,” he said. Overseas visitors were given long-term visa extending to one year and multiple entry visas valid for three years. “If India relaxes its strict norms, the foreign tourist inflow can increase by 15 per cent. We don’t mind if the Ministry of Home Affairs limits visitors from hostile countries,” he said, adding that tourists arriving from traditional tourism markets should not suffer. Goa welcomes nearly 40 per cent repeated clienteles, however, with the new directives, foreign visitors face problem to (Continued on page 10)
RSS to woo Muslims HERALD REPORTER PANJIM, NOV 8
Moving a step ahead of being H i n d u - c e n t r i c , Ra s h t r i y a Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) on Monday said their fresh endeavour in Goa is to include the minority community in its work towards nation building. Addressing a press briefing, RSS (Goa Unit) chief Subhash Velingkar said that nearly 200 Muslim people participated at a function hosted by RSS in Mapusa on Sunday. “All terrorists belong to a particular community. It however does not mean that everyone belongs to that faith, are terrorists. Terrorism has nothing to do with religion,” he said without naming any religious community. The press conference was basically to announce RSS plans to hold ‘dharna’ on November 10 near Kadamba Bus Stand to oppose against the policies of
“Congress” in defaming RSS. “It is an international conspiracy to defame us. It is not a simple thing… Congress said this (RSS) is a terrorist group, which is a systematic and a conspiracy against us to attract Muslim vote banks…,” he lamented. The chief said that efforts are on to polarise patriotic Muslims, who have whole heartedly contributed for the welfare of the country. “RSS leaders have successfully implemented the mission of polarising patriotic Muslim population in Kashmir,” he said. He added, “In Goa, Muslim brethren celebrate festivities like Raksha Bandhan and others which are hosted by RSS workers.” The organisation was anguished with the attitude of the Congress Government of targeting RSS and not taking up issues (Continued on page 10)
stranded for some time. Our Poinguinim correspondent adds: Seventeen injured passengers, who have been rushed to Karwar District Hospital, may be shifted to GMC Hospital at Bambolim or to Manipal Hospital at Udipi-Mangalore. Speaking to Herald, one of the police department personnel of Karwar district said that the SP of Karwar has cancelled all his programmes and rushed
to the site to conduct site inspection along with the KRC officials. At the time of going to press, Karwar police department and other departments were having a tough time to bring the survivors to safety due to the torrential rains that is lashing Karwar and Goa. It may be recalled that the KRC route is mountainous and loose boulders alongside the railway track falling on the
tracks is a common phenomenon since its commencement. PTI adds: There were unconfirmed reports of a passenger succumbing to injures in a Karwar hospital, Superintendent of Police (Karwar) Raman Gupta told PTI by phone. Due to continuing rain in the region, a boulder came crushing down from a nearby hill and hit three bogies of the Mumbai-bound train, police said. (Continued on page 10)
Sir, Obama is here for the interview too claiming that he will grab each & every job opportunity in India.