Global News Post: Gujarat

Modi is Manipulating Opinion Polls: Gujarat Congress

Modi is Manipulating Opinion Polls: Gujarat Congress

AHMEDABAD (NNN-PTI) -- Gujarat Congress has alleged that "in frustration and desperation" Chief Minister Narendra Modi was...

INDIA: Jew Community Unhappy With Shop Named After Hitler

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">AHMEDABAD, Gujarat state, India (NNN-Bernama) -- The owners of a garment store named Hitler in the city said they will change the shop's name following intervention by Israel and the local Jew community. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">"We have voluntarily decided to change the name of our shop within this week and will remove the billboard displaying Hitler's name," Rajesh Shah, one of the owners of the shop located in Vastrapur, told Press Trust of India. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The 'i' in 'Hitler' is dotted with a Nazi swastika, which had stirred a controversy among local Jews. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">A group of Jews from a synagogue had earlier demanded that the shop owners change the controversial name, saying it hurt the sentiments of their community. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">Israel counsel-general Orna Sagiv, who is currently visiting West Indian Gujarat state, had taken up the matter with top state officials here. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">"I met the officials in Gujarat and expressed my concern about this shop and why we take the matter so seriously," she said. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">In the last few years, similar incidents have happened in Nagpur and Navi Mumbai, where shop owners changed their stores' names following complaints. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt;">The shop in Vastrapur selling western menswear opened last month and chose its name as an attribute to the grandfather of one of the shop owners, who was nicknamed Hitler for being very strict. -- NNN-BERNAMA <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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INDIA: Jew Community Unhappy With Shop Named After Hitler

AHMEDABAD, Gujarat state, India (NNN-Bernama) -- The owners of a garment store named Hitler in the city said they will change the shop...

INDIA: Former Minister among 32 Convicted in Gujarat Riots

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">AHMEDABAD (NNN-AGENCIES) -- A special court in Ahmedabad on Wednesday convicted 32 people, including a former BJP minister Maya Kodnani and Bajrang Dal leader Babu Bajrangi, in the Naroda Patia case, the biggest massacre of the post-Godhra riots. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The cases were filed under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including of murder and conspiracy. The maximum punishment is death, said a lawyer. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The court acquitted 29 people. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">On February 28, 2002, 97 persons were killed in Naroda. As many as 94 bodies were found, of which 84 were identified. Three people are still missing. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The court had earlier kept the judgment for pronouncement on June 30, but was deferred till August 29. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The city crime branch nabbed 47 people and filed four charge sheets, but after the Supreme Court transferred the investigation to the special investigation team (SIT), 24 other accused were arrested including Kodnani. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In all, eight charge sheets were filed in this case. The trial began in 2009 and lasted for more than two years. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Special prosecutors Akhil Desai and Gaurang Vyas examined 327 witnesses and in all more than 500 documentary evidences were produced before the court. Those who deposed before the court were 173 relatives of victims who were eyewitnesses, 41 panch witnesses, 17 officials, 42 doctors, 44 cops, one forensic experts and nine others. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"More than 90 people lost their lives, mostly children and ladies, all of them were defenceless," public prosecutor Akhil Desai said, adding that he would push for the death penalty when sentences are handed down on Friday. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">"If some of the accused are lucky enough to escape the death penalty, I will ask for life imprisonment, not for 14 years but for the rest of their lives," he told reporters. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Kodnani, who served as child and human development minister under Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi until her arrest in 2009, broke down in tears as the guilty verdict was pronounced, as did relatives waiting outside the court. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">The violence was triggered by the deaths of nearly 60 Hindu pilgrims in a February 2002 train fire that was initially blamed on a mob of Muslims. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Hindus hungry for revenge rampaged through Muslim neighbourhoods across Gujarat in an orgy of violence that marked some of India's worst religious riots since independence from Britain in 1947. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Human rights groups say more than 2,000 people, mainly Muslims, were hacked, beaten or burned to death, while government figures put the death toll at about 1,000. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Last year, a court in Gujarat found 31 Muslims guilty of murder and conspiracy charges for causing the train fire, but a national enquiry in 2005 concluded that the blaze was an accident and cast doubt on much of the police evidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Wednesday's verdicts came after final arguments in April following a trial that saw 327 witnesses called to give evidence. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">More than 100 others have been convicted for killing Muslims during the riots. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">In 2008, the Supreme Court ordered the re-investigation of nine of the most sensitive incidents during the riots, including the initial train fire and the violence in Naroda Patiya. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="direction: ltr; text-align: justify; unicode-bidi: embed;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">Bajrangi, in an interview taped by news magazine Tehelka, confessed to helping orchestrate the killing in Naroda Patiya where homes were set on fire and some Muslims were set ablaze while hiding in a pit. -- NNN-AGENCIES<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

INDIA: Former Minister among 32 Convicted in Gujarat Riots

AHMEDABAD (NNN-AGENCIES) -- A special court in Ahmedabad on Wednesday convicted 32 people, including a former BJP minister Maya Kodnani an...

Indian Court Convicts 23 for Deadly 2002 Anti-Muslim Violence in Gujarat

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</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">By Anjana Pasricha from New Delhi<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">In India, a court has convicted 23 people in connection with the killing of 23 Muslims during deadly religious riots that swept through Gujarat state in 2002. The massacre was investigated by a special team after allegations that the probe by state police was not impartial.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">A special court Monday found the 23 people guilty of setting fire to a house in Gujarat’s Ode village where a group of Muslims had taken shelter to protect themselves from rioting mobs.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Twenty-three others were acquitted for lack of evidence. Most of those who stood trial are Hindus.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The massacre took place a decade ago, when towns and villages in Gujarat were convulsed with riots that targeted Muslims homes and neighborhoods. The violence erupted after a train fire, blamed on Muslims, killed 60 Hindu pilgrims and prompted retaliation by Hindu mobs. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The prosecutor, P.N. Parmar, called it a historic judgment in the mass killings in Ode village. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“Nine children, nine women and five men burnt alive in this heinous crime,” he said.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The sentences will be announced later. Defense lawyers say they will appeal the verdict. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">The massacre in Ode village is one of nine incidents into which the Supreme Court has ordered a special investigation, following allegations that the Gujarat police were not impartial in their probe into the deadly riots. About 1,000 Muslims died in the violence.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">This is the third judgment to be handed down in connection with the riots. In two separate judgments last year, 31 people were sentenced for burning 39 Muslims to death, while 31 Muslims were found guilty for setting fire to the train that killed the Hindu pilgrims.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Gujarat is ruled by the Hindu Nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The state’s chief minister, Narendra Modi, has often been accused of not doing enough to stop the riots or bring the perpetrators to justice.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">After Monday’s verdict, senior BJP leader Balbir Punj said justice has been handed to the riot victims. <o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">“It is a victory for the people of Gujarat and it is a slap on the face of those people that [say] justice cannot be done in Gujarat,” said Punj.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoHeader" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt;">Although the 2002 violence tarnished Narendra Modi’s image, the controversial leader remains one of BJP’s top leaders. He has won state elections in Gujarat twice since the riots and hopes to play a larger role in national politics.---VOA News<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

Indian Court Convicts 23 for Deadly 2002 Anti-Muslim Violence in Gujarat

By Anjana Pasricha from New Delhi In India, a court has convicted 23 people in connection with the killing of 23 Muslims during deadly re...

India and ADB Sign an Agreement for US $100 Million ADB Loan for Gujarat Solar Power Transmission System

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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">NEW  DELHI</span></span></st1:city><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"> (PIB) ---</span><span style="background: white;"> </span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed an agreement for a $100 million ADB loan to develop a transmission system that will distribute 500 megawatts of solar power from the <st1:placename w:st="on">Charanka</st1:placename> <st1:placename w:st="on">Solar</st1:placename> <st1:placetype w:st="on">Park</st1:placetype> in <st1:place w:st="on">Gujarat</st1:place>. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">Using an innovative public private partnership (PPP) model, the project will create job opportunities, improve social services and contribute to poverty reduction locally. It will also support power distribution companies in <st1:place w:st="on">Gujarat</st1:place> and other Indian power utilities to meet part of their clean energy procurement obligations through solar energy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">Under the PPP model, the government has launched an attractive feed-in tariff for solar power payable to the developers while offering them the option of developing projects in a solar park. State government agencies lease the land and provide common infrastructure facilities and services, including site preparation, transmission evacuation, access roads, water and other services, thereby allowing developers to focus on the timeliness and cost efficiency of the project. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">The Indian Government is aiming to generate 20,000 MW of solar power by 2022. It has launched the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission (JNNSM) in 2010, which is expected to generate 1,000 MW by 2013 by ramping up grid-connected solar power generation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">The signatories </span><span style="background: white;">were Prabodh</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"> Saxena, Joint Secretary (Administration & Bilateral Cooperation), Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance on behalf of the Government of India, and Mr. Hun Kim, ADB Country Director for <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:country-region w:st="on">India</st1:country-region></st1:place>. It was also signed on behalf of the State Government of Gujarat along </span><span style="background: white;">with S.K</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">. Negi, Managing Director, Gujarat Energy Transmission Corp. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">“Given rapid growing electricity demand, and increasing reliance on imported sources of fossil fuel, <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> expects to utilize its large potential for solar energy in an effective manner. This project will not only benefit <st1:place w:st="on">Gujarat</st1:place>, but will also help develop the PPP solar park model under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission,</span><span style="background: white;">” Prabodh</span></span><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;"> Saxena said. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">“ADB is committed to generating 3,000 MW of solar power by 2013 under its Asia Solar Energy Initiative and we believe <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">India</st1:place></st1:country-region> has the potential to account for a significant share of this target,” said Mr. Hun Kim. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">In addition, an associated Technical Assistance (TA) funded by the Deparment for International Development of the <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">United Kingdom</st1:place></st1:country-region> and administered by ADB will provide vocational training in energy-related skills and livelihood opportunities to local people. At least half of the participants will be women. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="background: white; color: windowtext;">This is a LIBOR-based loan from ADB’s Ordinary Capital Resources and has a term of 25 years including 5 years of grace period.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
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India and ADB Sign an Agreement for US $100 Million ADB Loan for Gujarat Solar Power Transmission System

NEW DELHI (PIB) --- The Government of India and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) today signed an agreement for a $100 million ADB loan...

India: Modi has done wrong by arresting Sanjeev Bhatt: Hazare

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NEW DELHI</span></st1:city></st1:place><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-PTI): Anna Hazare on Tuesday said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had done “wrong” by arresting IPS officer Sanjeev Bhatt as the matter was with the Supreme Court.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Bhatt has submitted an affidavit in the Supreme Court. The matter is with the Supreme Court. Then what is the need to arrest him. This is wrong,” Hazare told a press conference.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He was replying to a question if his plan to campaign against Congress in case it does not pass the Jan Lokpal Bill in Parliament’s Winter Session will be construed as support to BJP.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bhatt was arrested on Friday on the basis of an FIR filed against him by police constable K.D. Pant for allegedly threatening him and forcing him to sign a false affidavit with regard to a meeting called by Modi on February 27, 2002, hours after the Godhra train carnage. -NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India: Modi has done wrong by arresting Sanjeev Bhatt: Hazare

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): Anna Hazare on Tuesday said that Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi had done “wrong” by arresting IPS officer Sanje...

India: Bhatt’s arrest “naked dictatorship” of BJP - Cong

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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><st1:city w:st="on"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">NEW DELHI</span></st1:city><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";"> (NNN-PTI): The Congress has condemned the raid by <st1:place w:st="on">Gujarat</st1:place> police on arrested IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt’s house alleging BJP’s “naked dictatorship” is visible in the state.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">He has been served with a chargesheet by Gujarat Home Department in connection with his alleged unauthorised absence from duty. -NNN-PTI<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bhatt was arrested in connection with an FIR filed against him by constable K D Pant for allegedly threatening him and making him sign a false affidavit with regard to a meeting called by Modi on February 27, 2002 hours after the Godhra train carnage.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">Bhatt has been locked in a confrontation with Modi after he filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court accusing the Chief Minister of complicity in the riots.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS";">“Why is it that this officer is being targeted shortly after he the blew whistle about Chief Minister Narendra Modi and his government’s doings in <st1:place w:st="on">Gujarat</st1:place>. BJP’s naked dictatorship is visible in <st1:place w:st="on">Gujarat</st1:place>”, party spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters adding the charge against Bhatt was “laughable”.<o:p></o:p></span></div></div>

India: Bhatt’s arrest “naked dictatorship” of BJP - Cong

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI): The Congress has condemned the raid by Gujarat police on arrested IPS officer Sanjiv Bhatt’s house alleging BJP’s “n...

INDIA: GUJARAT STATE CM MODI BEGINS THREE-DAY FAST FOR PEACE AND COMMUNAL HARMONY

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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">AHMEDABAD, India (NNN-PTI) -- Fighting hard to remove the taint of 2002 violence, Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi today began a three-day fast for peace and communal harmony vowing to end vote bank politics but said nothing directly by way of regret for the post-Godhra carnage.--NNN-PTI </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">OTHER DEVELOPMENTS: </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">INDIA: 'SADBHAVANA MISSION' WILL END VOTE BANK POLITICS, SAYS CM MODI </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Ahmedabad, India  (NNN-PTI) -- Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi today began his three-day fast for "peace and communal harmony", saying the success of his endeavour would mean an end to votebank politics.--NNN-PTI </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">AHMEDABAD (NNN-PTI) -- Senior BJP leader L K Advani said if the whole country adopted a policy of "zero tolerance" towards terrorism and corruption like him, India would rise to new heights. – NNN-PTI </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">INDIA: DON'T READ TOO MUCH IN SUPPORT FOR MODI'S FAST- TAMIL NADU STATE CM JAYALALITHAA </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">CHENNAI, India (NNN-PTI) -- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa today said her support to Gujarat counterpart Narendra Modi''s fast was an "expression of goodwill" and dismissed suggestions about a change in the political dynamics behind her gesture.--NNN-PTI </span></div></div>

INDIA: GUJARAT STATE CM MODI BEGINS THREE-DAY FAST FOR PEACE AND COMMUNAL HARMONY

AHMEDABAD, India (NNN-PTI) -- Fighting hard to remove the taint of 2002 violence, Gujarat state Chief Minister Narendra Modi today began a...

INDIA:GUJARAT LOKAYUKTA APPOINTMENT ROCKS PARLIAMENT

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<div style="text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/India-Guide-Gujarat-Anjali-Desai/dp/0978951700?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="India Guide: Gujarat" height="320" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0978951700&tag=glob036-20" width="232" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0978951700" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI):The appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat rocked Parliament on Tuesday, with an agitated Bharatiya Janata Party terming it as “undemocratic” and demanding recall of Governor Kamla Beniwal accusing her of violating the federal structure.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">BJP members created uproar in both Houses over the issue.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Lok Sabha failed to transact any business as it was adjourned, first till noon and then till 2 p.m. Rajya Sabha saw similar scenes during Zero Hour and had to be adjourned till 2 p.m.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Congress tried to counter by raising the acquittal of all 12 accused in the murder case of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“We are going to approach the President seeking recall of the Governor,” BJP veteran L K Advani said in the Lok Sabha amid frequent interruptions by a section of Congress MPs from Gujarat who had been finding fault with the state government.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Raising the matter, he said while the Constitution provided that the Governor would act on the aid and advice of the Council of Ministers, it was violated in case of Gujarat as the Governor appointed the Lokayukta without consulting the Chief Minister.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">“Therefore, it is a fit case to be taken up by the House.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Parliament can take note of it. We will raise the matter with the President. We will seek recall (of the Governor)”, Advani said.</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It was similar story in the Rajya Sabha where Leader of the Opposition Arun Jaitley alleged that “this constitutional crisis has been created at the behest of those in power in Delhi... This Governor should not stay in office even for a minute.” -NNN-PTI</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&tag=glob036-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&search-alias=aps&field-keywords=Gujarat" target="_blank">Search Amazon.com  for Gujarat</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=glob036-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /></span></div></div>

INDIA:GUJARAT LOKAYUKTA APPOINTMENT ROCKS PARLIAMENT

NEW DELHI (NNN-PTI):The appointment of Lokayukta in Gujarat rocked Parliament on Tuesday, with an agitated Bharatiya Janata Party termi...