Sathya Sai Baba dead - Live updates

Sathya Sai Baba who was in critical condition for last 28 days passed away on April 24, 2011 at 7.40 am. He was admitted in a super-specialty hospital at Prashantigram at Puttaparthi which he himself had created for the common people. After being on ventilator support for many days with all his vital parameters failing, Sai Baba died of cardio-respiratory failure. More


7.30 pm: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said she was greatly pained over the death of Sathya Sai Baba.

"The news of the death of Sai Baba of Puttaparthi has greatly pained me. He was a spiritual person in whom lakhs of people had faith. In his lifetime, he inspired the people of this country and those abroad towards spiritualism and religion," she said. More

7.00 pm:Thousands of devotees, from commoners to VIPs and celebrities, are making their way to the pilgrim town for a last glimpse of Sai Baba, whose body will be kept at Sai Kulwant Hall in Puttaparthi on Monday and Tuesdayof Prashanti Nilayam, the ashram he founded.

6.35 pm: Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai expressed deep shock and sorrow over the demise of prominent religious leader Sri Satya Sai Baba.

In his condolence message, Sahai said: "Sai Baba was one of the great saints of India who dedicated his entire life to philanthropy."

"Baba's passing away is a irreparable loss to the country. Shri Sahai said Baba will be remembered for his nobel deeds. May god give strength to million of his followers to face this tragedy," he added. More

6.00 pm: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah Sunday condoled the death of spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, describing it as a 'grave loss' to his devotees the world over.

5.35 pm: Gripped by grief, tearful devotees chanted prayers at ''Brindavan'', Sathya Sai Baba's ashram at Whitefield on the outskirts of the Bangalore.

In some parts of the city, devotees took out a procession carrying portraits of Sai Baba and chanted slogans like "Baba is not with us physically. But he remains with us forever".

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Governor H R Bhardwaj condoled Sai Baba's death.Read more


5.00 pm: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed profound grief at the death of Sri Sathya Sai Baba today.
In his condolence message, Kumar said Sai Baba''s death was an irreparable loss to the society and his sermons will continue to guide and inspire people. More

4.30 pm: Many of the millions of followers of Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away Sunday morning at Puttaparthi, believe he will be reborn as 'Prema Sai' in Mandya, Karnataka. Read more

4.00 pm:"The light of love, compassion and service to humanity that lit from Puttaparthi is extinguished. He gave love to those who needed, gave education to those denied, provided health services to those who could not afford above all provided water to those who were thirsty," said Krishna in his condolence message.
"He was a Yuga Purush, who inspired millions in the country and outside. He interpreted spirituality in terms of love and service, secular approach to issues was his hall mark. He provoked us to act affirmatively in life. Let us continue to walk his path," he added. More

3.30 pm: A string of Bollywood personalities have expressed grief over the death of Satya Sai Baba who breathed his last today morning following prolonged illness. More on Yahoo! India News

3.00 pm: Orissa Governor M C Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today expressed grief over the death of Sathya Sai Baba saying his message of love and compassion guided millions worldwide. More

2.30 pm: Sachin Tendulkar, who skipped his birthday celebrations in the wake of Sathya Sai Baba's death, decided to go ahead with playing the Mumbai Indians IPL match against Deccan Chargers. More


2.00 pm: Andhra Pradesh CM declares 4 days state mourning. The burial will take place on Wednesday. Baba’s funeral will be conducted with full state honours.

.....Sathya Sai Baba dead - Live updates
Yahoo! India News – Sun, Apr 24, 2011 10:37 AM IST
....retweet
EmailPrint.....Sathya Sai Baba who was in critical condition for last 28 days passed away on April 24, 2011 at 7.40 am. He was admitted in a super-specialty hospital at Prashantigram at Puttaparthi which he himself had created for the common people. After being on ventilator support for many days with all his vital parameters failing, Sai Baba died of cardio-respiratory failure. More


7.30 pm: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said she was greatly pained over the death of Sathya Sai Baba.

"The news of the death of Sai Baba of Puttaparthi has greatly pained me. He was a spiritual person in whom lakhs of people had faith. In his lifetime, he inspired the people of this country and those abroad towards spiritualism and religion," she said. More

7.00 pm:Thousands of devotees, from commoners to VIPs and celebrities, are making their way to the pilgrim town for a last glimpse of Sai Baba, whose body will be kept at Sai Kulwant Hall in Puttaparthi on Monday and Tuesdayof Prashanti Nilayam, the ashram he founded.

6.35 pm: Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai expressed deep shock and sorrow over the demise of prominent religious leader Sri Satya Sai Baba.

In his condolence message, Sahai said: "Sai Baba was one of the great saints of India who dedicated his entire life to philanthropy."

"Baba's passing away is a irreparable loss to the country. Shri Sahai said Baba will be remembered for his nobel deeds. May god give strength to million of his followers to face this tragedy," he added. More

6.00 pm: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah Sunday condoled the death of spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, describing it as a 'grave loss' to his devotees the world over.

5.35 pm: Gripped by grief, tearful devotees chanted prayers at ''Brindavan'', Sathya Sai Baba's ashram at Whitefield on the outskirts of the Bangalore.

In some parts of the city, devotees took out a procession carrying portraits of Sai Baba and chanted slogans like "Baba is not with us physically. But he remains with us forever".

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Governor H R Bhardwaj condoled Sai Baba's death.Read more


5.00 pm: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed profound grief at the death of Sri Sathya Sai Baba today.
In his condolence message, Kumar said Sai Baba''s death was an irreparable loss to the society and his sermons will continue to guide and inspire people. More

4.30 pm: Many of the millions of followers of Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away Sunday morning at Puttaparthi, believe he will be reborn as 'Prema Sai' in Mandya, Karnataka. Read more

4.00 pm:"The light of love, compassion and service to humanity that lit from Puttaparthi is extinguished. He gave love to those who needed, gave education to those denied, provided health services to those who could not afford above all provided water to those who were thirsty," said Krishna in his condolence message.
"He was a Yuga Purush, who inspired millions in the country and outside. He interpreted spirituality in terms of love and service, secular approach to issues was his hall mark. He provoked us to act affirmatively in life. Let us continue to walk his path," he added. More

3.30 pm: A string of Bollywood personalities have expressed grief over the death of Satya Sai Baba who breathed his last today morning following prolonged illness. More on Yahoo! India News

3.00 pm: Orissa Governor M C Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today expressed grief over the death of Sathya Sai Baba saying his message of love and compassion guided millions worldwide. More

2.30 pm: Sachin Tendulkar, who skipped his birthday celebrations in the wake of Sathya Sai Baba's death, decided to go ahead with playing the Mumbai Indians IPL match against Deccan Chargers. More


2.00 pm: Andhra Pradesh CM declares 4 days state mourning. The burial will take place on Wednesday. Baba’s funeral will be conducted with full state honours.




1.25 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of Sathya Sai Baba, saying he was an inspiration to people of all faiths. Vice President Hamid Ansari and Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani also expressed sorrow at the passing away of the spiritual guru.

'I express my sincere condolences to the millions of his followers, disciples and well wishers,' Manmohan Singh said in his condolence message.

LK Advani said, "I offer a tearful homage to his great soul. I would like to go for the anthyesthi kriya (last rites). I first came in contact with him only after my incarceration during 1975-77 emergency in Bangalore jail. And after that I have been meeting him quite frequently...and it has always been inspirational for me to meet him to get his guidance". More on this story
1.10 pm: Sathya Sai Baba: A village boy who became demi god

Sathya Sai Baba was seen as a reincarnation of god by millions, having preached an eclectic blend of Hindu religion since the time he claimed to be an 'avatar' at a young age of 14.

Born Sathyanarayana Raju Nov 23, 1926 in Puttaparthi, his devotees claimed he started singing Sanskrit verses, of which he had no knowledge, one day in March 1940 after being apparently stung by a scorpion.


Within two months, the teenager claimed to be a reincarnation of the more famous Shirdi Sai Baba, who had reportedly stated before his death in 1918 that he would reappear in the then Madras Presidency eight years later. More


12.40 pm: "I am deeply grieved to learn about the passing away of Sri Sathya Sai. Baba's message of love should be our guiding light in this trying hour. Baba's words and actions have lit the lamp of love in the hearts of devotees," said Vice President Ansari. More on Yahoo! India News


12.30 pm: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan expressing deep shock over the demise of prominent religious leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that he was a living god and the strength of people in and around the world. Read more


12.20 pm: Karnataka State Transport Corporation said it would run special buses to Puttaparthi to enable devotees from the state to pay their last respects to Sai Baba who passed away this morning.

12.10 pm: Iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was a sad man on his 38th birthday today as his spiritual guru Satya Sai Baba passed away this morning. So no celebrations

12.05 pm: From ordinary believers to the President of India, his clout spread far and wide but controversy also followed Puttaparthi Satya Sai Baba all along. But still no godmen could match Satya Sai Baba's name and fame.Read more


11.41 am: Last rites is scheduled for Tuesday.




11.38 am: On Times now, one of Baba's doctor says medically everything was done to save Baba.


11.27 am: Here is BBC's obituary of Sathya Sai Baba's death.

11.23 am: Devotees can pay their final respects after 6pm today.


11.10 am: BJP leader LK advani offers his condolences. Says Baba had shown him the way several times.

10.45 am: Security has been heightened in Puttaparthi as many VVIPs are expected to arrive in the next two days.

.....Sathya Sai Baba dead - Live updates
Yahoo! India News – Sun, Apr 24, 2011 10:37 AM IST
....retweet
EmailPrint.....Sathya Sai Baba who was in critical condition for last 28 days passed away on April 24, 2011 at 7.40 am. He was admitted in a super-specialty hospital at Prashantigram at Puttaparthi which he himself had created for the common people. After being on ventilator support for many days with all his vital parameters failing, Sai Baba died of cardio-respiratory failure. More


7.30 pm: UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi said she was greatly pained over the death of Sathya Sai Baba.

"The news of the death of Sai Baba of Puttaparthi has greatly pained me. He was a spiritual person in whom lakhs of people had faith. In his lifetime, he inspired the people of this country and those abroad towards spiritualism and religion," she said. More

7.00 pm:Thousands of devotees, from commoners to VIPs and celebrities, are making their way to the pilgrim town for a last glimpse of Sai Baba, whose body will be kept at Sai Kulwant Hall in Puttaparthi on Monday and Tuesdayof Prashanti Nilayam, the ashram he founded.

6.35 pm: Union Tourism Minister Subodh Kant Sahai expressed deep shock and sorrow over the demise of prominent religious leader Sri Satya Sai Baba.

In his condolence message, Sahai said: "Sai Baba was one of the great saints of India who dedicated his entire life to philanthropy."

"Baba's passing away is a irreparable loss to the country. Shri Sahai said Baba will be remembered for his nobel deeds. May god give strength to million of his followers to face this tragedy," he added. More

6.00 pm: Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad and Minister for New and Renewable Energy Farooq Abdullah Sunday condoled the death of spiritual guru Sathya Sai Baba, describing it as a 'grave loss' to his devotees the world over.

5.35 pm: Gripped by grief, tearful devotees chanted prayers at ''Brindavan'', Sathya Sai Baba's ashram at Whitefield on the outskirts of the Bangalore.

In some parts of the city, devotees took out a procession carrying portraits of Sai Baba and chanted slogans like "Baba is not with us physically. But he remains with us forever".

Meanwhile, Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa and Governor H R Bhardwaj condoled Sai Baba's death.Read more


5.00 pm: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed profound grief at the death of Sri Sathya Sai Baba today.
In his condolence message, Kumar said Sai Baba''s death was an irreparable loss to the society and his sermons will continue to guide and inspire people. More

4.30 pm: Many of the millions of followers of Sathya Sai Baba, who passed away Sunday morning at Puttaparthi, believe he will be reborn as 'Prema Sai' in Mandya, Karnataka. Read more

4.00 pm:"The light of love, compassion and service to humanity that lit from Puttaparthi is extinguished. He gave love to those who needed, gave education to those denied, provided health services to those who could not afford above all provided water to those who were thirsty," said Krishna in his condolence message.
"He was a Yuga Purush, who inspired millions in the country and outside. He interpreted spirituality in terms of love and service, secular approach to issues was his hall mark. He provoked us to act affirmatively in life. Let us continue to walk his path," he added. More

3.30 pm: A string of Bollywood personalities have expressed grief over the death of Satya Sai Baba who breathed his last today morning following prolonged illness. More on Yahoo! India News

3.00 pm: Orissa Governor M C Bhandare and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today expressed grief over the death of Sathya Sai Baba saying his message of love and compassion guided millions worldwide. More

2.30 pm: Sachin Tendulkar, who skipped his birthday celebrations in the wake of Sathya Sai Baba's death, decided to go ahead with playing the Mumbai Indians IPL match against Deccan Chargers. More


2.00 pm: Andhra Pradesh CM declares 4 days state mourning. The burial will take place on Wednesday. Baba’s funeral will be conducted with full state honours.


Sri Sathya Sai Baba passes away
Reports said on Sunday that Sri Sathya Sai Baba has passed away, hours after his condition deteriorated further and his organs stopped responding to treatment.Reports said Sai Baba breathed last ...


1.25 pm: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh condoled the death of Sathya Sai Baba, saying he was an inspiration to people of all faiths. Vice President Hamid Ansari and Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani also expressed sorrow at the passing away of the spiritual guru.

'I express my sincere condolences to the millions of his followers, disciples and well wishers,' Manmohan Singh said in his condolence message.

LK Advani said, "I offer a tearful homage to his great soul. I would like to go for the anthyesthi kriya (last rites). I first came in contact with him only after my incarceration during 1975-77 emergency in Bangalore jail. And after that I have been meeting him quite frequently...and it has always been inspirational for me to meet him to get his guidance". More on this story
1.10 pm: Sathya Sai Baba: A village boy who became demi god

Sathya Sai Baba was seen as a reincarnation of god by millions, having preached an eclectic blend of Hindu religion since the time he claimed to be an 'avatar' at a young age of 14.

Born Sathyanarayana Raju Nov 23, 1926 in Puttaparthi, his devotees claimed he started singing Sanskrit verses, of which he had no knowledge, one day in March 1940 after being apparently stung by a scorpion.



Within two months, the teenager claimed to be a reincarnation of the more famous Shirdi Sai Baba, who had reportedly stated before his death in 1918 that he would reappear in the then Madras Presidency eight years later. More


12.40 pm: "I am deeply grieved to learn about the passing away of Sri Sathya Sai. Baba's message of love should be our guiding light in this trying hour. Baba's words and actions have lit the lamp of love in the hearts of devotees," said Vice President Ansari. More on Yahoo! India News


12.30 pm: Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan expressing deep shock over the demise of prominent religious leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba said that he was a living god and the strength of people in and around the world. Read more


12.20 pm: Karnataka State Transport Corporation said it would run special buses to Puttaparthi to enable devotees from the state to pay their last respects to Sai Baba who passed away this morning.

12.10 pm: Iconic Indian cricketer Sachin Tendulkar was a sad man on his 38th birthday today as his spiritual guru Satya Sai Baba passed away this morning. So no celebrations

12.05 pm: From ordinary believers to the President of India, his clout spread far and wide but controversy also followed Puttaparthi Satya Sai Baba all along. But still no godmen could match Satya Sai Baba's name and fame.Read more


11.41 am: Last rites is scheduled for Tuesday.






11.38 am: On Times now, one of Baba's doctor says medically everything was done to save Baba.


11.27 am: Here is BBC's obituary of Sathya Sai Baba's death.

11.23 am: Devotees can pay their final respects after 6pm today.


11.10 am: BJP leader LK advani offers his condolences. Says Baba had shown him the way several times.

10.45 am: Security has been heightened in Puttaparthi as many VVIPs are expected to arrive in the next two days.


10.21 am: Devotees from around the world have been pouring in over the past week. Special arrangements are being made to accommodate thousands more devotees in the town.

10.15am: The AP chief minister and Governor on his way to Puttaparthi.

9.00 am:Spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba dies this morning around 7:40am. His body will be shifted to his ashram. Sai Baba's body will lie in state for two days.

A complete shut down has been called for at Puttaparthi.

Sai Baba was hospitalised on March 28. He died of cardiac and respiratory failure. He was 85.

....

14-year-old Chennai girl is world’s youngest CEO

Many of us dream of becoming a CEO of a company. But to get there requires the right qualifications, lots of hard work and years of experience.

But Sindhuja Rajaraman is different. She has become the CEO of Seppan, a Chennai based animation company at just 14 years of age.

Now, many will ask what has she done to become a CEO!

Well, Sindhuja is extremely gifted and talented when it comes to animation. Secondly, she has the backing of her father – who realises she can make it really big one day.

Sindhuja was adjudged the fastest 2D and 3D animator by software lobby NASSCOM (National Association of Software and Services Companies) at the Gaming and Animation Conclave held in Hyderabad last year.

Besides that, She is the youngest digital caricaturist certified by Corel Corporation.

Sindhuja may soon register her name in the Guiness Book of World Records. She has attempted to make a three minute animation film in 10 hours.

Big companies have approached Sindhuja but she has other plans. She wishes to study more. She aims to study animation at the Vancouver Film School, Canada. Sindhuja also aims to build her company into a big one.

Like they say “Where there is a will there is a way”. Lets hope this bright little CEO makes it big and inspires many to follow her footsteps.

Wipro’s new CEO to get Rs 10 Cr a year salary

Indian IT major Wipro has decided to pay its new CEO T.K Kurien a whopping Rs 10 Crore annual salary package.
Kurien’s salary is in the range of minimum of Rs 3 crore to a maximum of Rs 10 crore a year, Wipro said in a filing to the Bombay Stock Exchange.

Kurien’s salary will include variable pay, leave travel allowance, commutation allowance, educational allowance, house rent allowance, provident fund, gratuity and other retirement benefit contributions apart from other benefits.

Few salary packages can match this in the IT industry.

CEO Salaries of other Indian IT majors:

S Ramadorai, Managing Director, TCS : Rs 3.61 crore.

S Gopalakrishnan, CEO and MD, Infosys: Rs 1.01 crore.

Earlier this year, Wipro did away with their joint CEO system by sacking joint CEOs Girish Paranjpe and Suresh Vaswani. Wipro Chariman Azim Premji wanted things to be more efficient with a single CEO the the helm.

Prior to this appointment, Kurien was President of Wipro’s recently launched Eco Energy business. He has been with the company for over 10 years now.

500 Indians sue US company for Human trafficking

Over 500 Indian “guest workers” who were brought to the US to work in shipyards after Hurricane Katrina are suing American company Signal International and other entities on charges of human trafficking and racketeering.

This lawsuit could well be the largest human trafficking case in US history, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) said in a statement.

According to reports, Signal International brought the workers into the US on the H-2B visa with false promises of helping them attain permanent US resident status.

The complaint alleges that once in the US the workers were subjected to squalid living conditions, psychological abuse, inadequate payment for their work and threats of serious legal and physical harm.

Talent crunch,attrition may put India behind other BPO nations

Talent crunch and soaring attrition rate might push India behind other BPO giants, according to a study by ASSOCHAM.

India�s Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) sector is facing stiff competition from the likes of Mexico, Malaysia, Philippines, China, Canada and Ireland that are posing a grave threat to the growth of India�s BPO sector, said the Associated Chamber of Commerce and Industry of India.

The BPO industry is facing serious challenges vis-a-vis vis shortage of skilled and educated workers as the attrition rate in India�s BPO sector has risen phenomenally at the rate of 55 per cent with a significant visible movement in mid and senior management levels.

"Although, the BPO sector in India has been very popular since the beginning, as it has opened up plenty of job opportunities and has totted up huge revenue, the awfully high attrition rate coupled with talent crisis has plagued the sector since the very beginning," said ASSOCHAM Secretary General, D S Rawat.

According to the business chamber''s analysis, BPO-ITes sector has emerged at the top with highest attrition rate of 65 per cent during the course of last two years, giving a serious jolt to India�s prospects, which was till then the most sought after BPO destination.

Services offered by the IT/ITes and BPO in the domains of pharma and BFSI (Banking, Financial Services and Insurance) have registered an attrition rate of around 60 per cent. In the domains of retail and IT sector an attrition rate of around 55 per cent has been recorded.

Auto, FMCG, Manufacturing and infrastructure sectors have registered an attrition rate ranging between 45 to 50 per cent. Among all the relevant sectors, the services offered by the IT/ITes and BPO in energy sector domain has recorded an attrition rate of 45 per cent.

"The growing trend of job-switching in the BPO industry might prove to be fatal for the survival and growth of India�s BPO sector. Companies these days do not put much focus on enhancing individuals� performance, this might hamper India�s rapid ascension on the world economic stage in the long run," said Rawat.

"Rapid job hops prove to be a disadvantage both for the companies who pay higher wages and those individuals who benefit from higher wages in the short-run, as the rise in package is not keeping up with the rise in knowledge/skill levels of the individuals," said Rawat.

15 loco pilots found drunk in breathanalyser test

In what could raise alarm bells for the Railways, more than a dozen of its drivers were found to be in an inebriated state shortly before assuming their daily duty.

Fifteen locomotive drivers found drunk during the routine breathalyser checks in different railway divisions were debarred from driving trains and suitable actions were initiated against them for gross indiscipline and violating service rules, a senior railway ministry official said.

Several of the train drivers caught were from Northern Railway which operates some of the prestigious trains and handles bulk of the traffic movement.

While Moradabad division reported as many as 11 such cases, Lucknow, Ambala, Guntur and Bijaywada divisions had one case each of loco pilots found drunk in the last six months from September 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011.

"It is mandatory for loco pilot and assistant loco pilot to undergo breathalyser test before being booked to drive the train. If found drunk then the driver is not allowed to resume duty," said the official.

There are about 11,700 trains running everyday across the country carrying more than two crore passengers. One loco pilot and an assistant loco pilot are required to run a train.

"The alcohol test is being done by the supervisor staff and after the mandatory test only the loco pilots are allowed to drive the train," he said, adding, "Drunkenness during duty hours is a serious offence and Railways take it very seriously."

Railways use state-of-the-art breathalyser equipment to know the exact level of alcohol content in blood during the test.

"Loco inspectors also carry out random checks at stations as a precautionary measure to prevent the drivers from drinking," the official said.

Railways have stringent punishment meted out to loco pilots if found drunk during duty hours. While the driver is chargesheeted immediately, punishment like withholding of the year''s increment is also being given.
...

Meet the beauty queens

Three pretty women, smart and so full of poise. A look at the crowning moments.

Grand hunt for an Indian F1 driver

Bengaluru: "Among 1.2 billion people we are going to find that Lewis Hamilton." With these words Dr. Vijay Mallya announced the launch of Force India Formula One Team Academy's '1 From a Billion Hunt' project to unearth motorsporting talent in the country. In partnership with ExxonMobil, Force India will launch a nation-wide search for India's next Formula One driver later this month.

The unique initiative is aimed at identifying the talent - providing vocational and academic training for young Indians aspiring for a serious, professional career in the field of motor sport arena or related industries.

Boys and girls between 14-17 years will be eligible to apply for the same. And yes, you don't need a driving license.

"The academy was conceived with a vision to inspire young Indians who have talent but so far have had no proper opportunity or serious platform to showcase their innate abilities. If the Academy is able to place even one Indian on the Formula One grid then all the effort would have been well worth it when our national anthem is played out for a victorious graduate of Academy," said Dr. Vijay Mallya, chairman and team principal, Force India.

The hunt comprises of a three-stage programme:

- Hunt for 1 from a Billion: In the first stage of the hunt, the Academy will conduct regional trials in seven cities across India via a karting programme. Selected 14 finalists from each city will progress to the next level 'National Final'. The 98 finalists then will be joined by two wild card entries - who will compete against each other for a place in the top-ten.

- Silverstone Finale: The ten finalists then will go for a week-long stint at Silverstone circuit in UK. The ten selected drivers will complete their experience with a race in Formula Silverstone cars. At the end of the intensive hands-on week, an expert panel will pick three finalists on the basis of a holistic assessment of their multiple capabilities and proficiency in requisite areas. The winners will be announced at the Indian Grand Prix on October 28.

- Future Champions Programme: The winners of the Silverstone Finale will then be groomed next year and beyond. The ultimate winner will be put through a full season of racing in a competitive UK championship. The first runner-up will go on to race in a full season of racing in a competitive Indian championship while the second runner-up will benefit from a programme of karting tuition in Asia.

Force India's reserve driver Nico Hulkenberg, who was present at the occasion, said "it's a great opportunity for Indian youngsters. I wish I had the same kind of support when I started."

So, if you have ever dreamed of becoming a racer and drive those fast Formula One cars, this is your chance!

You can register online at www.onefromabillion.com or visit the local go-karting track in your city. The action starts on April 25, 2011.

Lashkar-e-Taiba expanding, India still main target

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A top U.S. military commander expressed concern to Congress on Tuesday about the expanding reach of the Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group, warning it was no longer solely focused on India or even South Asia.
LeT, one of the largest and best-funded Islamic militant organizations in the region, is blamed for the November 2008 attacks on Mumbai, which killed 166 people in India's commercial capital.
The group was nurtured by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence spy agency to fight India in Kashmir, and analysts say it is still unofficially tolerated even though Islamabad banned the group nearly a decade ago.
Admiral Robert Willard, head of the U.S. military's Pacific Command, told a Senate hearing the United States was actively working with South Asian governments including Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, the Maldives and India to contain LeT.
But he cautioned that the group was active elsewhere.
"Unquestionably they have spread their influence internationally and are no longer solely focused in South Asia and on India," Willard told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The United States has evidence of LeT's presence in Europe and the broader Asia-Pacific region, he said.
In the past, LeT has fielded militants in Canada and in the United States.
India continues to be LeT's main target. But Willard noted that the group has declared holy war against the United States and renewed longstanding concerns in Washington about attacks by LeT militants against U.S. forces in Afghanistan.
"The discussion regarding the government of Pakistan's relationship to LeT is a very sensitive one," Willard said.
The comments come at a sensitive time in U.S.-Pakistan relations. Pakistan is demanding the United States scale back CIA activities and reduce the number U.S. Special Forces trainers in the latest example of strained security ties.
Although the U.S. focus in Pakistan remains on al Qaeda and militant groups more deeply involved in Afghanistan, there has been increasing attention in Washington on LeT, particularly since the arrest of Pakistani-American David Headley in 2009.
Headley had joined LeT hoping to fight in Kashmir but ended up scouting out targets for the Mumbai attackers and helping al Qaeda plan a strike in Denmark.
"It's important that this particular discussion continue to take place and that we continue to work with the government of Pakistan to root out terrorism that exists within their borders," Willard said.
The White House last week warned that despite unprecedented efforts by Pakistan to go after militants within its borders, it lacked a clear path to defeat them.

13 Food Types for Healthy Hair

When your hair starts falling off like dry straws, what can you do?
Well, panicking and running around to expensive salons for hair treatment might seem a brilliant idea, but the truth is that you can manage to get a hold of the situation back at your home alone.
First, it would help to locate the various reasons for hair loss. Studies have revealed that men lose hair for some common reasons, like:
• Improper diet,
• Lack of proper vitamins,
• Genetic factors,
• Excessive stress, anxiety and worries,
• Prolonged illnesses like typhoid, anemia, dysentery, jaundice etc,
• Poor blood circulation, and
• Unclean scalps.
Once you have located the source of your problem, it can become much easier to fight back. In desperate times like these, it would help to go completely natural. Do not trust chemical products since they might cause more harm than good. To put your panicking soul to rest, here are 15 different ways to reduce hair loss:
1. Take a glass of water with flaxseed (alsi) in an empty stomach. This will provide you with the omega 3 acid that you need for hair growth.
2. Begin every day with one amla. Women generally use hair oil made of amla to get those lustrous curls, didn’t you know?
3. Soak 5 almonds every night in water and eat them with their skin on.
4. Your scalp needs nutrition. So get plenty of fluids like buttermilk, lime juice and coconut water. Drink at least 8-10 glasses of water every day!
5. One bowl of sprouted pulses for would be great.
6. Proteins. Eat chicken and egg each day.
7. Reduce you daily intake of tea and coffee.
8. When you are washing hair, use a teaspoon of lime juice for the last rinse. That make your hair lustrous while protecting it from dandruff.
9. You are never too old for milk. Drink two glasses of skimmed milk for maximum benefits.
10. Apply a paste of methi seeds on your scalp for half an hour once every week, and drink methi water on empty stomachs.
11. Remember how the age old sadhus survived on fruits? No wonder that they had such long hair! Eat at least 2 or 3 fruits every day like strawberries, bananas, apples, mangoes, chikoos, and grapes.
12. Go green- eat a lot of vegetables, munch away on that iron laden spinach.
13. It is better to have more faith in white meat. Fish, chicken and egg can do wonders for your hair! Try to stay away from red meat.
Hair loss is more common in case of men than women. And you always did wonder whether gender difference worked out better for women, right? Follow these principles to the boots, and you would see satisfactory results soon enough!

Ash all set to go to Cannes, again

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan will be heading out to the French Riviera this May. She will be there for the Cannes Film Festival; her 10th consecutive year at one of the most prestigious film festivals.

Infosys Q4 lower than expectation; Revenue at Rs 7,250 cr

IT behemoth Infosys Technologies, posted tepid result in the fourth quarter of FY11, with the numbers coming in lower than market expectations. The company posted a net revenue of Rs 7,250 crore and a net profit at Rs 1,818 crore.

The company guided an 18-20% dollar revenue growth for FY12.

A surprising announcement

As this Moneycontrol report says:

The technology bellwether forecast Q4 revenue of $1.60-62 billion, up 23.5-24.8% from a year ago, while rupee revenue is seen in the Rs 7,517-7,230 crore range, up 20.4-21.6%.

However, analysts say the company's guidance has always been conservative and the street wouldn't be surprised if it outperforms in the fourth quarter as well as 2011-12 fiscal.

Though analysts expect QoQ revenue to grow 3-4%, the company prefers to keep its turnover growth figures to 2%.

During calendar year 2010, Infosys' revenues from infrastructure management grew by 13.6% compared with TCS' 39.5%. The company is realigning its verticals and restructuring big time. Analysts feel that this should help them find synergies across some verticals.

Infosys shares have been trading 6% down in 2011. Since investors and analysts alike have factored in higher growth than the forecast, it'll be interesting to note how the market reacts to the Infosys Q4 results.

Anna Hazare plans fast unto death for strong Lokpal bil

Veteran social activist Anna Hazare Monday said he is starting a 'fast unto death' to press for the demand to involve civil society in formulation of the anti-graft Lokpal (ombudsman) Bill.

'I will fast unto death, as announced earlier, as the prime minister has refused to form a joint committee with civil society members in it for the formulation of the Lokpal Bill. Even if I lose my life, I will have no regret, my life is dedicated to the nation,' Hazare said at a press meet here.

The Magsaysay Award winner activist, along with others, will go to Mahatma Gandhi's memorial at Rajghat at 9.00 a.m. Tuesday morning, after which the activists will stage a march from India Gate to the Jantar Mantar, a stone's throw from Parliament House, where Hazare will begin his fast.

Activists also called upon the nation to join the fast.

'I appeal to the nation to join the hunger strike, and support this anti-corruption movement,' said activist Arvind Kejriwal, who with former Supreme Court judge Santosh Hegde and Supreme Court lawyer Prashant Bhushan has drafted the Jan Lokpal Bill, the civil society's alternate to the government drafted bill.

The Jan Lokpal Bill calls for setting up Lokpal and Lokayuktas (in states) independent from government's control. In the activists' version, investigation in any case will have to be completed in one year, and punishment would be a jail term of minimum 5 years and maximum of life imprisonment.

The government's version recommends a prison term of minimum 6 months and maximum 7 years as punishment for corruption.

The activists strongly rejected the Lokpal bill drafted by government.

'Government says its committee will draft the bill. Who are there in the committee... (Agriculture Minister) Sharad Pawar who has been involved in land scams in Maharashtra, or (Communications Minister) Kapil Sibal who does not see any corruption in the 2G scam,' Kejriwal said.

'The government is supposed to make legislation for the people. If they make their laws without keeping in mind what people mind, it's as bad as the British ruling India,' said Hazare.

'Government's Lokpal bill is useless,' said former Indian Police Service officer Kiran Bedi.

Talking about a meeting with some members of the National Advisory Council, which is an advisory body to government, Kejriwal said that even the NAC members agreed that the Jan Lokpal Bill was good.

'They agreed that the government's version of Lokpal Bill is toothless and agreed with almost all clauses of the Jan Lokpal bill,' he said.

He, however, added that this did not raise their hopes as the government mostly rejects the reccomendations of the NAC.
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Road to IIT: Meet Anand Kumar, brain behind Super 30

HIS father, a post office clerk in Bihar, couldn't afford private schooling for his children. So, Anand Kumar studied at a Hindi medium government school where, at an early age, he fell in love with mathematics. During graduation, he submitted papers on Numbers Theory that were published in UK's Mathematical Spectrum and The Mathematical Gazette.

He was accepted by Cambridge University and was close to realising his dream of becoming a mathematician, when his father suddenly passed away. The household income dwindled and Kumar and his mother made papad, which he sold door-to-door in the evenings, while writing mathematical theories in the daytime.

Then one day, a well-wisher suggested Kumar teach maths. In 1995, at the age of 22, he rented a classroom for Rs. 500 a month and started teaching. In one year's time, the strength of his classroom went from 2 to 36. Today, his study centre Ramanujan School of Mathematics is renowned, the world over. In a frank interview with Sumita Vaid Dixit, he talks (in chaste Hindi) about Indian education, revolution and his dream.

Q. Why did you start Super 30?

A. Within three years we had nearly 500 students. Although the fee was nominal - Rs. 1,500 a year - some poor students could not pay. Once, a boy came to me and said that he wanted to study but could only pay after his father, a poor farmer, had harvested potatoes. In Bihar, we call it 'aloo ukharna'.

I didn't want to take away the boy's only hope of changing his life because he couldn't pay. That's when I decided that I will form a group of 30 bright students, all from poor families, provide them with board and lodging and prepare them for IIT. This group was called Super 30. My brother Pranav Kumar, a violinist by profession, manages the institute, while my mother cooks for the students.

In the last seven years, 182 students out of 210 have made it to different IITs of the country. And for the last two years, all thirty students of Super 30 have made it to IIT. Parents of some students are bricklayers some work as domestic help. Now many of our students are working in Europe and the US.

Q. What is it about your teaching methods that help students get through to IIT?

A. This success is a combination of three factors. My students have junoon (passion), a fire in them to achieve. Two, our teaching approach is different. I use multimedia slides to make a little story with characters to explain maths concepts. Three, we take tests every day. Well, in a nutshell, we teach our students the how and why! That's all.

Q. But how do you run the place with the little fee you charge the other students?

A. I didn't start the place to make money. There are many coaching institutes in Patna for the rich, but none for the poor. NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) come to me with offers of help, but I wanted to prove that much can be achieved with fewer resources.

Q. Have you been able to prove that?

A. I think I have. There are far too many students coming to us, more than what we can take. And this has annoyed many coaching institutes. As you would know, many of the institutes here are run by criminals. I have received death threats one of my non-teaching staff was stabbed, once they even tried to blow me away with a crude bomb, but I escaped unhurt. I move around with two security guards armed with machines guns.

Q. Does the sight of security guards scare away children or parents?

A. (laughs) Children in Bihar are familiar with the criminal activities here. It doesn't scare them.

Q. Don't you get scared your life may be at stake?

A. I am doing this for society. Yes, mobility is restricted and I get frustrated at times, but it's okay. I get my strength from these kids. But over the past few years, the crime rate has come down and the police support me. Besides, if I get scared how will the others join me in creating a revolution?

Q. What kind of revolution?

A. Making education accessible to every poor child in India. I wish the kids I have taught, come back to their hometowns and do something for their people, their village. At times, it hurts to see that some forget about giving back to the society.

But there's another kind of kranti (revolution) taking place. Earlier when a peon used to work at an IAS officer's residence, he hoped that when his own son became a peon, the officer would treat him well. Today, the peon who works at the IAS officer's house wants his son to become an IAS officer, not a peon. That's kranti! We mustn't forget the sacrifice and hardships parents go through just to make sure their children live better lives, their children go to schools.

Q. Would the HRD minister's proposals bring about a change?

A. Kapil Sibalji thinks that by changing the syllabus or introducing a grading system, education will improve. The system will not change like this. Change will come when teachers have the passion to teach. 'Jab unme junoon hoga'!For that teachers should be paid well. It's ironical that while parents want their children to have great teachers, they don't want their children to become teachers!

The policymakers' idea of education is limited to Delhi and the NCR region. They have no clue of the positions of schools in Bihar or Uttar Pradesh many schools don't have roofs here.

And suggesting 80 per cent as cut-off marks for the IIT entrance exam is ridiculous. You cannot apply this to local boards or to students in villages. There cannot to be true development until the villages of India are also a part of the development process. 'Bharat ki atman gaon mein bassi hain' (the spirit of this nation resides in the villages).

Q. Then what's the way forward?

A. We need two syllabi: one for students with an ordinary intellect and one for students with extraordinary intellect. There are those who can do very well in jobs and there are those who can excel in research, and the first six years of schooling are good enough to evaluate a student's potential. This method is followed by China and Russia.

Do you know that China has topped 15 times in the past 22 years in the International Mathematical Olympiad? In times to come the top researches and scientists will come from China.

So we have to think of novel ways of encouraging our students to get into research. Why hasn't India produced Nobel winners in a long time? The ones that have are those who left this country to pursue their research elsewhere.

Q. And, what are your future plans?

A. I want to extent my programme to students of Class 5 and 6 as many gifted children fade away before they reach class 10. Many out of school to sell vegetables or work at tea stalls. I want to catch them young.

So, now I'm thinking of setting up a chain of free schools across the country, with free board and lodging facilities, where children can study from Class 5 to up to Class 12 and where they are prepared not just for IIT but Olympiad tests in mathematics, physics and chemistry.

Q. But your dream of going to Cambridge still remains unfulfilled?

A. When those eyes full of hope look at me, the respect and pleasure I get seeing my students being placed in large organisations makes me forget about it. But I do keep travelling to the US to give lectures my papers get published in international magazines. I am happy.

Tendulkar fulfills his World Cup destiny

There are certain incidents that make even the greats break down, and Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar experienced one such moment and shed tears of joy at the Wankhede Stadium on April 2, 2011, when India defeated Sri Lanka in the 2011 World Cup final to be crowned world champions.


This was a long-awaited moment for Tendulkar, who was playing in his sixth and probably his last World Cup, and for all the records and benchmarks he has set during his illustrious international career, which is now into its 22nd year, the disappointment of not being part of a World Cup winning squad had always rankled the batting maestro. The last time India reached the final of a World Cup – in the 2003 edition against Australia – Tendulkar failed in a massive chase as India was thumped by 125 runs. What happened to India in 2007 is a painful chapter that has been recounted many times over and Tendulkar felt the disappointment of the premature exit as much or more as the next player.


But, since then, the character of the Indian dressing room and the manner in which the players go out on to the field with a never-say-die attitude has seen India rise to the top of the Test rankings and currently being second behind Australia in the ODI rankings. As he has been for most of his career, Tendulkar has been at the forefront of this change along with former captains Sourav Ganguly and Anil Kumble as well as current skipper MS Dhoni and outgoing coach Gary Kirsten. Tendulkar has been a sounding board, inspiration and mentor for the rest of India's squad members apart from being an advisor of sorts to Dhoni on the field even as he has continued to be consistent and scored runs aplenty, especially over the last two-three years.


In the backdrop of this scenario and the fact that ahead of the 2011 World Cup, India was not only being touted as the pre-tournament favourites, but the rest of the squad had also expressed a strong desire to win the Cup for Tendulkar. India lived up to its billing of the pre-tournament favourites for most of the 2011 World Cup, except in the tied match against England and the loss to South Africa in the group stage; but after the loss to Proteas, Dhoni's men got their campaign back on track and were unstoppable for the rest of the tournament. And, not surprisingly, Tendulkar was again at the forefront of leading India's challenge for the title as he finished the 2011 World Cup as the second highest run-scorer with 482 runs to his name; this is not to forget the part that Yuvraj Singh, Zaheer Khan, Gautam Gambhir (in the final) and the support staff led by Kirsten played in this triumph. That being said, it was obvious the entire squad was inspired to do its best for Tendulkar.


Tendulkar may not have scored as many runs as he would have liked to in the World Cup final against Sri Lanka, but the manner in which Gambhir and Dhoni got India back into the match along with an useful knock by Virat Kohli, exemplified the desire the Men in Blue had to win the 2011 World Cup for the Little Master and the influence he has on the dressing room. Kohli then summed it up the best when he said after India's 28-year wait for the World Cup ended: "Everyone was emotional. Obviously Sachin was very emotional. Lifting him on my shoulders was very special. This was for someone who has dedicated 21 years for Indian cricket and we are very proud of his achievements."


The moment would have been that much sweeter for Tendulkar because it came on his home ground in front of an adoring crowd, and he expressed his emotions in the only way he could – by not hiding them, but shedding tears of joy for he had at last fulfilled his destiny and completed his career CV on the grandest stage of them all. This was the one achievement that had eluded Tendulkar, but he can now check that off his list.


One of the defining moments of the 2011 World Cup came when Tendulkar was chaired around the Wankhede Stadium. Apart from this being a show of gratitude to the master batsman, it was also an expression of the respect and admiration the players have for Tendulkar, and this is a perfect tribute to an iconic player who has bridged the gaps between generations with ease.


Tendulkar, and the rest of the squad, deserve to savour each moment and memory of winning the 2011 World Cup; but this will be a very special moment for Sachin as he has realised his World Cup destiny and finally managed to get his hands on that elusive trophy.

I'm still on with my commitment: Poonam Pandey

For all those who have been wondering what happened to Poonam Pandey's vow to strip and run in the buff after India's victory in the World Cup final, here's some dope - the young model hints that she will fulfil her pledge soon.

'Thanx a Lot All for ur Support!! I am Still on with My Commitments Stay TUNED,' Pandey posted on her Twitter page Monday.


The 19-year-old, who participated in last year's Gladrags' model hunt contest, offered to go nude for the cricket team just before the semifinal against Pakistan in Mohali.


But later, she issued a statement saying she would go ahead with her promise only if the BCCI permits.

Satya Saibaba still on ventilator support

Sri Satya Saibaba, who was admitted to hospital following lung and chest congestion, continues to be on ventilator support but is showing improvement, doctors attending on him said today.

"Sri Satya Saibaba, who was admitted in the hospital on 28th March, continued to show improvement in his clinical condition. He is still on assisted ventilation and on kidney support through CRRT, which is a process of slow dialysis," a media release issued this morning by the Director of Sri Satya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences said.

"All other clinical parameters are nearly normal.The panel of doctors attending on him are satisfied with the progress made so far," it said.

85-year-old Satya Saibaba was admitted to the super-speciality hospital at Prashantigram at Puttaparti near here following respiration-related problems.
...

Dhoni and co dared to dream

The cynics outnumbered the believers. The decibel notes from the critics were getting noisier and more vocal. Dean Jones came up with his now classic prediction: "India winning the World Cup? Tell Dhoni he is dreaming." He reckoned that with the bowling and fielding they had the Indians had no chance of winning. It was a view that was shared by a number of others.



And yet when it all ended six weeks after it started the World Cup was India's. Yes, the same team that didn't seem to have a chance because of their weakness in bowling and fielding emerged champions and Dhoni was able to join Kapil Dev. The legendary cricketer had complained more than once that it was lonely at the top and longed to have company. Now he has someone worthy to share the pedestal with him.



Self belief is one of the most enduring of all qualities when it comes to sport. Yes, Dhoni was dreaming of winning the World Cup along with Sachin Tendulkar and several other players. There is nothing wrong with dreaming. Only when you have dreams can you realize them. And the same Indian team with certain inherent weaknesses went on to win the biggest trophy the game has to offer. Put it down to self belief. The cynics said the team would crumble in the final following two successive high octane clashes with Australia and Pakistan that must have drained the players. But these boys were made of sterner stuff. At crucial times the seemingly weaker links performed above their level; at other times the batting, bowling and fielding all clicked and the result was that it was Dhoni and his boys who lifted the trophy at the Wankhede stadium on a memorable Saturday night.



Ah yes, Saturday night! It was on another Saturday night back home when another Indian team rewrote the history books 28 years ago. "Kapil's Devils" they were christened by a suitably impressed British media and what they achieved was something quite matchless. In 1983 limited overs cricket in India was still in its infancy. Test cricket was still very much the name of the game. After two World Cups and a few ODIs around the world the Indians had yet to come with the intricacies of the limited overs game. They approached it like a Test match. Little wonder that Sri Lanka then only an associate member had shocked India in the 1979 World Cup - the first major upset in the competition.



And at the other end was the spectrum were the all conquering West Indies, undisputed champions in the game, twice world champions and just a match away from a third title. What happened at Lord's that sunny June day has been well chronicled. The result - India winning sensationally by 43 runs - altered the face of Indian cricket and perhaps the sport itself.



Of course there is the other angle too. With no high expectations the Indians were able to play freely. In a tension free atmosphere, bereft of any media hype - television was only in its infancy and restricted to Doordarshan while the press itself adopted a more controlled and balanced approach - the Indians had everything to gain and nothing to lose. There were no nationwide signature campaigns wishing the team good luck, no Bollywood stars involved, no corporate sponsors and no big money.



These days the scenario has changed in more ways than one. Limited overs cricket - be it Fifty50 or Twenty20 - has been the staple diet for Indian cricket fans. The Indian team is not any more a bunch of no-hopers. Over the years it has transformed itself to a world beating combination with victories in major tournaments and a No 2 ranking in ODIs. But with all this the expectations are sky high, the media hype is unbelievably over the top and the pressure is outrageous. Certainly a combination of all this led to India failing to win the World Cup over the years though they were finalists in 2003 in South Africa. At home the pressure is even more intense and that is why the Indians stumbled at the semifinals stage in 1987 and 1996.



If anything the pressures went to the limit and beyond this time around and Dhoni has admitted that the team members felt it throughout the tournament. He may call it anxiety not pressure but just as a rose by any other name would smell just as sweet whether it is anxiety or pressure it was a burden that the team was carrying. And to emerge triumphant after all this has to be one of the great triumphs in the history of the game.



A triumph for teamwork is one of the oldest cliches in sport but in reality this Indian team symbolized this. There were batting heroes, bowling heroes and fielding heroes. Then there was the back-up staff headed by the amiable Gary Kirsten. Spare a thought too for the selectors who picked the winning team. Ultimately however the buck stops with the captain and if Kapil Dev is rightly given the credit for the unexpected triumph 28 years ago, then this is another feather in Dhoni's multi decorated cap. If the captain is made the scapegoat for a debacle should he not be given due credit for a major triumph?

Independents promise Nano car as they join TN freebies war

Not lagging behind political parties, independents contesting the April 13 assembly elections in Tamil Nadu too have come up with promise of freebies to woo the electorate but most of them borders on absurdity.

An independent contesting from Salem South and North constituencies has made the most unbelievable offer of a Nano car each to every voter if they elected him.

Shahjahan also promised a cell phone, a generator set to each family to relieve them from power cuts, free cable TV connection and pocket money of Rs.200 to every student.

When asked from where he would get the money to fulfil his promises, Shahjahan coolly said, "if the money that came from 2G spectrum scam is confiscated, more could be done."

Asked whether his promise amounted to a corrupt practice, an offence under the Representation of the People�s Act, the candidate, a lawyer by profession, said there was nothing wrong in it. "If the political parties can offer (freebies), why can''t I?" he countered.

Another independent candidate from Musiri, Kannaiyan, has promised free gold coins to all voters if elected, besides three cents of land to those who worked for him during the polls.

He had also offered free cable TV connections to the voters in his constituency.

Congress candidate in Musiri M Rajasekaran had even moved the Madras High Court seeking a direction to the Election Commission to prevent Kannaiyan''s alleged corrupt practices.

The court disposed of the petition after Election Commission submitted it would take steps in accordance with law if the charges were true.

Vincent Paul, another independent from Manapparai, has offered gold chain of five sovereigns to all girls getting married.

Dubbing these promises as ''hollow'', former Chennai Mayor and DMK activist Sa Ganesan said people would believe promises made in the manifestos of political parties, but not those by independents.

In a war of freebies, ruling DMK and AIADMK have promised a bonanza ranging from mixer, grinder to mineral water and free rice.
...

Army submits inquiry report on Adarsh scam to Defence ministry

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) After probing the role of its officials including a serving Major General in the Adarsh Cooperative Housing Society scam in Mumbai, the Army has submitted its Court of Inquiry report in the case to the Defence Ministry.
The CoI was ordered by Army''s Pune-based Southern Command to investigate the role of Maj Gen Ram Kumar Hooda and various other officers for issuing No-Objection Certificate (NOC) to the private housing society to construct a 31-storeyed complex on a plot in Kolaba.
Hooda was the Mumbai-based area commander for Maharashtra, Gujarat and Goa.
"The CoI was completed and submitted with the Defence Ministry last week," Defence Ministry sources told PTI here.
In the report, the Army has stated that the land on which the controversial building was constructed belonged to it and the NOC was issued to private builders in violation of rules, they said.
The 104-apartment society got embroiled in a controversy after the navy had raised concerns over security as the building over-looked important military installations.
On December 9 last year, Defence Minister A K Antony had ordered a CBI probe to fix responsibility of the armed forces and defence estates officers in the housing scam.
He had asked the CBI to look into the circumstances under which a ''No Objection Certificate'' was issued to the housing society to construct the 31-storey building on a piece of land, which was in the "de facto" possession of the Army.
The probe agency was also asked to investigate into the commitments made for allotment of flats in the society for Kargil widows and martyrs'' families.
Former army chiefs Gen Deepak Kapoor and N C Vij, apart from former navy chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh had flats allotted in their names in the housing society.
Soon after the scam came to light, the defence ministry had asked the Army, Navy and the defence estates to submit a report on the issue.
The preliminary findings of the ministry''s probe brought out "criminal conspiracy" at the local level in army and defence estates to give up the land, which was in army''s possession till 1999-2000, in favour of the housing society. PTI AJD