INDIA COUNTRY BRIEF110224

Basic Political Developments

Police today resorted to use of water-canons and force to disperse a group of BJP activists who went on a rampage during a protest against Delhi government.

The non-cooperation movement for a separate Telangana has caused a loss of over Rs 2500 crore to the Andhra Pradesh state exchequer.

Samajwadi Party today said that it would launch a three-day agitation from March 7 against rampant corruption in Uttar Pradesh and demanded an inquiry into assets of Chief Minister Mayawati.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said it was shocking to learn that Malkangiri District Collector R Vineel Krishna is yet to be released, and demanded that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram apprise Parliament about the situation.

Villagers ransacked and damaged a camp of paramilitary Tripura State Rifles (TSR) at Nandakumarpara in West Tripura district alleging that a constable had raped a tribal girl.

A Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the 2G spectrum allocation issue was set up today amid charges and countercharges between the Government and the Opposition.

National Economic Trends Food inflation rose marginally to 11.49 per cent for the week ended February 12

from 11.05 per cent in the previous week, driven by rising prices of milk, egg, meat and vegetables.

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

Fortis Global Healthcare today said it has acquired a specialised under construction cancer hospital in Singapore from First Real Estate Investment Trust for a consideration of SGD 33 million (over Rs 115 crore).

Panasonic India is setting up the country's first Eco Idea factory at village Dadri-Toi in Jhajjar district of Haryana.

Civil Aviation Minister Valayar Ravi informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday that Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) has collected Rs.1,199 crore in development fee till January 2011.

NMDC will be setting up a 300,000-tonne capacity plant to make iron ore concentrate from iron ore waste with an investment of Rs 150 crore in Karnataka.

Infosys Technologies chairman N R Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran Venture Fund is set to invest Rs 200 crore, or $44 million, for a small stake in Manipal Universal Learning. Catamaran’s investment in Manipal, at one third the total fund size, is unusually large for a $129-million fund.

Tata chief Ratan Tata today told the Supreme Court that he was not satisfied with the "lackadaisical approach" of the government in investigating the leakage of the tapes.

Parliament was informed on Thursday that the CBI will file its final chargesheet on Rs 14,000-crore Satyam fraud after receiving responses to the Letters of Rogatory (LoR) seeking information in this regard from six countries.

Hindalco is raising Rs 8000 crore rupee loan for its Mahan Aluminium project.

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

Police said today that Maoists have damaged a gram panchayat office by exploding a landmine at Dhangori village in West Midnapore district of West Bengal.

The Orissa government today held fresh talks with mediators chosen by the Maoists as part of the ongoing efforts to facilitate early release of Malkangiri district collector R V Krishna in view of new demands made by the abductors.

Labor/Social Unrest

The Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) is set for a fresh spell of agitation from Thursday and a relay hunger-strike by its supporters in New Delhi from February 27 in support of its various demands.

Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) has said that the farmers would "lay a siege" to the national capital on March 9 to press for various demands, including amendment in the Land Acquisition Act.

Full Text

Basic Political Developments

BJP activists go on rampage during protest http://www.ptinews.com/news/1379052_BJP-activists-go-on-rampage-during-protest-New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Police today resorted to use of water-canons and force to disperse a group of BJP activists who went on a rampage during a protest against Delhi government.

The activists pelted stones at police, damaged two vehicles and tried to break the security cordon to proceed towards Parliament House, prompting police to resort to use of water canons and force to bring situation under control.

Some protesters and three photo-journalists suffered injuries in the protest.

As police prevented the activists from moving forward at Jantar Mantar, they resorted to violence and tried to break the security cordon.

They also allegedly pelted stones at police resulting in the damaging of a police vehicle and a DTC bus.

Following this, police resorted to force. Some of the protesters ran into Jantar Mantar to avoid police action.

The BJP activists were protesting against the alleged corruption in Delhi government.

Telangana fury is costing AP Rs 800 cr a dayhttp://www.rediff.com/news/slide-show/slide-show-1-telangana-fury-is-costing-ap-rs-800-cr-a-day/20110224.htmLast updated on: February 24, 2011 14:16 ISTThe non-cooperation movement for a separate Telangana has caused a loss of over Rs 2500 crore to the Andhra Pradesh state exchequer.

State officials have estimated the loss at around Rs 800 crore per day due to this non-cooperation movement.

The scenario is, however, not going to get any better in Andhra Pradesh until Parliament introduces the bill for the formation of a separate state.

Political Joint Action Committee chief Professor Kodanda Ram says that there is no way in which this agitation is going to stop.

"This is an exercise to build up pressure and it will not stop at any cost until there is a solution. There will be no violence and we had stated the moment the Shri Krishna

Commission report came out that non cooperation would be the only way out in order for our demand to be met," he said. SP to launch three-day agitation from March 7 http://www.ptinews.com/news/1379270_SP-to-launch-three-day-agitation-from-March-7-Lucknow, Feb 24 (PTI) Samajwadi Party today said that it would launch a three-day agitation from March 7 against rampant corruption in Uttar Pradesh and demanded an inquiry into assets of Chief Minister Mayawati.

"An inquiry should be conducted into assets of Chief Minister Mayawati, her close ministers and some officers and their bank accounts outside the state," Shivpal Yadav, Leader of Opposition in the UP Assembly, said.

He said SP will launch a three-day UP bachao aur BSP hatao agitation from March 7 to expose rampant corruption in the government.

"The shape of the agitation will be decided in a meeting to be held on Saturday next," he said.

Yadav alleged that the government was shying from a debate on the budget as it was afraid of getting exposed.

He said, "Budget of 93 departments was passed in 14 minutes.

BJP appeals Chidambaram to apprise Parliament on Malkangiri hostage crisishttp://www.newkerala.com/news/world/fullnews-154798.htmlNew Delhi, Feb 24 : Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said it was shocking to learn that Malkangiri District Collector R Vineel Krishna, who was abducted by the Maoists on February 16, is yet to be released, and demanded that Union Home Minister P Chidambaram apprise Parliament about the situation. Talking to reporters here, Rajiv Pratap Rudy said: "It is shocking to learn that he has not yet been released. The Home Minister should come down and inform Parliament about the latest situation because we are all concerned about his welfare."

Complicating the hostage crisis, Maoists on Wednesday night have put forward new conditions for the release of Krishna, who was abducted by the Maoists on February 16.

After extensive negotiations between the government and the captors, Krishna was meant to be released on Tuesday night along with junior engineer, Pabitra Majhi, who too had been kidnapped from Malkangiri on February 16.

However, the Maoists now say they will hold on to Krishna till they get custody of five of their leaders who are currently in jail.

The new demands were conveyed in a letter sent through Pabitra Majhi, who returned home on Wednesday evening after being released by the Maoists near the Ambadoli village of Chitrakonda District.

Three mediators appointed to interface with the Maoists had earlier been told that Krishna would also be released on Wednesday. But in the letter, the Maoists said they wanted their leaders to be handed over to them in Malkangiri.

Among those leaders is Ganti Prasad, who was arrested in November and charged with sedition. Prasad''s release was at the top of the Maoists'' agenda.

The Maoists also want Padma, wife of a top rebel leader, to be released. These demands come in addition to other demands that had earlier been put before the Orissa government.

TSR camp attacked by villagershttp://www.ptinews.com/news/1379094_TSR-camp-attacked-by-villagersAgartala, Feb 24 (PTI) Villagers ransacked and damaged a camp of paramilitary Tripura State Rifles (TSR) at Nandakumarpara in West Tripura district, around 60 kms from here, alleging that a constable had raped a tribal girl.

Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Police Control, Nepal Das quoting reports said the armed villagers attacked the camp last night alleging that the constable had raped a 16 year-old girl.

"It was a small TSR camp with about 35 jawans and only 13 jawans were present there as the others were deployed elsewhere for village committee elections, which began today.

The villagers set ablaze a small hut in the camp and damaged it on the plea that a girl of the village was raped."

Das said medical examination of the girl found she was not raped.

JPC set up to go into 2G spectrum issue http://www.ptinews.com/news/1379175_JPC-set-up-to-go-into-2G-spectrum-issue-New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) A Joint Parliamentary Committee to probe the 2G spectrum allocation issue, being dubbed by the opposition as the biggest scam in independent India, was set up today amid charges and countercharges between the Government and the Opposition.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee moved the motion for appointment of the 30-member Committee to look into the telecom policy pursued from 1998 to 2009 including the allocation and pricing of telecom licences and spectrum.

The Committee will also examine "irregularities and aberrations, if any" and the consequences thereof in the implementation of government decisions and policy prescriptions.

The Committee, which will give its report by the end of the Monsoon session of Parliament, will make recommendations to ensure formulation of appropriate procedures for implementation of laid down policy in the allocation and pricing of telecom licences.

National Economic Trends

Food inflation up to 11.49% for week ended Feb 12http://www.ptinews.com/news/1378424_Food-inflation-up-to-11-49--for-week-ended-Feb-12New Delhi, Feb 24 (PTI) Food inflation rose marginally to 11.49 per cent for the week ended February 12 from 11.05 per cent in the previous week, driven by rising prices of milk, egg, meat and vegetables.

The marginal rise in food inflation for the seven-day period ended February 12 snaps a fortnight of consecutive decline during the weeks ended January 29 and February 5.

Food inflation stood at 21.82 per cent in the corresponding year-ago period.

As per wholesale price index (WPI) data released today, prices of eggs, meat and fish rose by 14.79 per cent in the week ended February 12.

Similarly, milk prices rose by about 17 per cent.

Vegetable prices rose by 15.89 per cent in the week under review, despite a 9.72 per cent decline in potato prices.

Wheat and pulses prices also dipped by 1.01 per cent and 5.

Business, Energy or Environmental regulations or discussions

Fortis acquires cancer hospital in Singapore for Rs 115 cr http://www.ptinews.com/news/1379490_Fortis-acquires-cancer-hospital-in-Singapore-for-Rs-115-cr-New Delhi Feb 24 (PTI) Fortis Global Healthcare today said it has acquired a specialised under construction cancer hospital in Singapore from First Real Estate Investment Trust for a consideration of SGD 33 million (over Rs 115 crore).

The healthcare group, which had earlier failed to acquire Singapore-based hospital chain Parkway Holdings, said it aims to complete the construction by the second quarter of 2012.

"Through this hospital, we are making a beginning in the highly recognised and competent healthcare delivery system of Singapore," Fortis Global Healthcare Executive Chairman Malvinder Singh said in a statement.

The hospital plan is being redesigned to incorporate the needs of the patients and the medical fraternity in Singapore.

The hospital will provide critical and intensive care service to the patients, the company said.

Panasonic breaks ground for new manufacturing facility in Haryanahttp://www.thehindu.com/business/companies/article1483918.ecePanasonic India is setting up the country's first Eco Idea factory at village Dadri-Toi in Jhajjar district of Haryana.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of the factory was performed on Wednesday by Rohtak Member of Parliament Deepender Singh Hooda.

Production within one yearAn official release issued by the Haryana Government said the factory, spread over 76 acres and entailing an investment of about Rs.1,000 crore over a period of five years, would start production within one year.

Employment generationMr. Hooda said the factory would provide employment to hundreds of people. He further said it was a ‘result of Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda's visionary approach' that companies of international standards were making investment in this backward area in the National Capital Region.

He urged Panasonic to adopt Dadri-Toi as well as nearby villages and develop them into model villages.

Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation Managing Director Rajeev Arora said the factory would manufacture air-conditioners, washing machines and welding and cutting machines.

Panasonic India President Daizo Ito said the company had “confidence in the developing economy of India and that it is why we decided to expand our activities in India.''

He further said Panasonic aimed to be the world's No. 1 ‘green innovation' company in the electronics industry by 2018 when it completed its centenary.

Delhi airport: Rs.1,199 crore in development feehttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/transportation/airlines-/-aviation/delhi-airport-rs1199-crore-in-development-fee/articleshow/7562955.cms

NEW DELHI: Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) which operates the Indira Gandhi International Airport here has collected Rs.1,199 crore in development fee till January 2011, Civil Aviation Minister Valayar Ravi informed the Lok Sabha on Thursday.

"So far funds amounting to Rs.1,199.54 crore have been collected up to the month of January 2011 by M/s Delhi International Airport Pvt. Ltd. (DIAL) at IGI Airport through development fee," Ravi said in a written reply.

The government had approved a levy of development fee of about Rs.1,300 per departing international passenger and Rs.200 per departing domestic passenger from March 1, 2009, he said.

The development fee is for a period of 36 months, which would be used to bridge the funding gap of Rs.1,827 crore in the development of the IGI airport.

"Funds collected through the levy can be utilised only for the construction of such aeronautical assets which will be transferred by DIAL to AAI (Airports Authority of India) upon completion of lease period," he said.

Meanwhile, AAI gets 45.99 percent of the gross revenue earned by DIAL.

DIAL is a joint venture consortium led by GMR Group, which has a majority holding of 54 percent, followed by state-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) with 26 percent and Fraport AG and Eraman Malaysia with 10 percent each.

NMDC to set up Rs 150-crore plant in Karnatakahttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals-mining/nmdc-to-set-up-rs-150-crore-plant-in-karnataka/articleshow/7562549.cmsHYDERABAD: State-run miner NMDC will be setting up a 300,000-tonne capacity plant to make iron ore concentrate from iron ore waste with an investment of Rs 150 crore in Karnataka, a top executive of the PSU said today.

The mining major has reserves to the extent of 12 million tonnes of iron ore waste from which iron can be extracted further. The waste has been generated over a period from regular mining, NMDC Chairman and Managing Director Rana Som said here.

"We have evolved certain processing mechanism in our R&D centre whereby we are in a position to extract a certain percentage of iron from them (waste). We are spending Rs 150 crore for a 300,000 tonne per annum plant in Donimalai (Karnataka) where the waste are available," he said.

Som was speaking on the sidelines of a workshop organised by Mining, Geological and Metallurgical Institute of India.

"With our new mechanism, we will be able to start high grade iron ore concentrate production from which iron pellets can be manufactured in 24 to 30 months."

To a question, he said they were awaiting a reply from the Coal Ministry for setting up coal-to-liquid project in West Bengal. Steel Ministry is also keen on the project.

"This is a huge opportunity, but we have not yet received the final nod from the Coal Ministry. Not only NMDC, even Steel Ministry is approaching the Coal Ministry for approval as fast as possible. I believe the initial investment will be Rs 1,000 crore for the entire project," Som said.

NMDC and Coal India are in talks to set up a JV to develop the project in Birbhum district. South Africa's Sasol Ltd has been approached for technical collaboration.

Narayana Murthy fund set to invest Rs 200 crore in Manipalhttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/services/education/narayana-murthy-fund-set-to-invest-rs-200-crore-in-manipal/articleshow/7560627.cmsMumbai/Bangalore: Infosys Technologies chairman N R Narayana Murthy’s Catamaran Venture Fund is set to invest Rs 200 crore, or $44 million, for a small stake in Manipal Universal Learning. Catamaran’s investment in Manipal, at one third the total fund size, is unusually large for a $129-million fund.

This has fuelled speculation that the technology billionaire’s fund is stepping out of pure play venture capital investments to possibly emerge as a family office, a private company that will be managing the proprietary wealth through multiple asset classes.

It is possible that Murthy, who retires from Infosys in August, could bring in more capital and make it a bigger play, said sources who did not wish to be identified. Murthy had earlier told TOI that Catamaran would not take money from others to invest—despite plenty of offers—and that it would be funded entirely by the family’s resources.

The size of Catamaran’s deal with Manipal Universal Learning has surprised investment professionals. Sources close to the development said Manipal Universal Learning was grearing up for a mega IPO with a valuation anywhere between $1.25- $1.75 billion, and Catamaran was vying with several other funds to clinch this deal.

PremjiInvest, a proprietery fund of another tech billionaire and Wipro chairman Azim Premji, had invested Rs 200 crore in Manipal Universal Learning exactly a year ago. Both will not have board representation, but are part of the company’s investment committee. Manipal Education and Medical Group (MEMG) could not be reached for immediate comments. Catamaran’s investment head, Arjun Narayan, declined comment.

Murthy may be taking a leaf out of Infosys co-founder N S Raghavan’s book, who after exiting the company, kicked off angel and venture investments but later set up a wellstructured family office managing proprietary assets through venture capital, private and public equity investments. Raghavan’s Nadathur Holdings and former Gujrat

Ambuja promoter Narotam Sekhsaria are torch bearers for this trend even though a truly European-style family office has still not gained ground in India.

The 64 year-old Murthy, who raised Rs 600 crore by part selling Infosys shares held by himself and his wife Sudha Murty two years back, is expected to articulate a clear vision for Catamaran after his retirement. “Catamaran’s investments till date does not signal its intent to be just a venture capitalist,” said a senior investment executive, who added that Murthy’s family would bring in more funds into a re-structured Catamaran.

Not satisfied with probe into Radia tapes leakage: Tata to SChttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/not-satisfied-with-probe-into-radia-tapes-leakage-tata-to-sc/articleshow/7562218.cmsNEW DELHI: Tata chief Ratan Tata today told the Supreme Court that he was not satisfied with the "lackadaisical approach" of the government in investigating the leakage of the tapes of telephonic conversation of corporate lobbyist Niira Radia with him and others.

"There has to be a comprehensive inquiry into it. My concern is that government is not giving serious consideration and attention to the issue ," senior advocate Harish Salve told a bench comprising justices G S Singhvi and A K Ganguly.

He said the government should have been concerned when the transcripts of the recorded conversation between Radia and others were published in the media for the first time on April 28, last year.

"Government should have been extremely concerned on April 28, 2010 as to how this got in the media and how it was leaked?" Salve said.

He said that the contents of the CD became public even before it was annexed with the petition filed by an NGO CPIL before the apex court.

"The government must have and should have ordered an inquiry when the trouble started on April 28," he contended.

He also accused the government of preserving all the contents of the recorded conversation which was intercepted by the Income Tax department.

He argued that only those tapes should have been preserved which were the subject matter of the order pertaining to the interception and the rest should have been destroyed.

"Something which is not required as per the order is to be destroyed immediately," he said.

Salve further contended that what has to be preserved and used by the government agency was the "class of messages" which must relate to the subject for which the order for intrerception was given.

He said during the course of interception, all types of private talk which infringed upon the privacy of the person should have been destroyed.

"They (agencies) are not entitled to have entire materials recorded during the course of time," he said.

The court was hearing the petition filed by Tata seeking to stop any further publication of the contents of the coversation between Radia and others, including him.

He has also sought thorough inquiry into the leakege of the tapes.

He has been contending that making public the contents of his private conversation violates his fundamental right to privacy, linked to his Right to Life and Liberty under Article 21 of the Constitution.

CBI to file chargesheet on Satyam scam after replies from 6 nationshttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics/nation/cbi-to-file-chargesheet-on-satyam-scam-after-replies-from-6-nations/articleshow/7562316.cmsNEW DELHI: The CBI will file its final chargesheet on Rs 14,000-crore Satyam fraud after receiving responses to the Letters of Rogatory (LoR) seeking information in this regard from six countries, Parliament was informed on Thursday.

The CBI is reported to have sent LORs -- a formal request sent from the court of one country to a foreign court for judicial assistance -- to six countries: the USA, the UK, Belgium , British Virgin Islands , Mauritius and Singapore .

"CBI has issued Letter of Rogatories to six countries. Since chargesheets will be filed after getting the information from these countries, no time limit can be indicated," Minister of State for Corporate Affairs RPN Singh said in a written reply in Lok Sabha.

Singh was replying to a question on by when the CBI was expected to file final chargesheets on the Satyam scam.

Singh further informed Parliament that the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO), alongwith the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate, was still probing diversion of funds and role of individual directors in the scam that came to light in January 2009.

He added that the accounting regulator ICAI is yet to punish the six CAs involved in the scam and disciplinary proceedings are underway.

In January 2009, Satyam founder and former chairman B Ramalinga Raju had confessed of having cooked the books of the company for several years. Raju is at present behind the bars and cases relating the scam are being tried in a special court in Hyderabad.

Hindalco: Rs 8000 crore rupee debt for Mahan Aluminium Projecthttp://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/indl-goods-/-svs/metals-mining/hindalco-rs-8000-crore-rupee-debt-for-mahan-aluminium-project/articleshow/7562699.cmsAditya Birla group owned Hindalco is raising Rs 8000 crore rupee loan for its Mahan Aluminium project. The lenders include SBI Caps, Kotak Mahindra Bank , Citibank & Royal Bank of Scotland. The average interest rate for the rupee is loan is 10.25%. Hindalco is expected to sign the deal with the banks before the end of this financial year.

The management had stated earlier that the debt equity ration for the project will be 75:25. Hindalco is looking to commission the Mahan Aluminium project by October 2011.The coal requirement for the captive 900 MW power plant at the site will be met from the Mahan Coal block allotted to Mahan Coal Ltd, a joint venture between Hindalco and Essar Power Ltd. The Mahan coal block is awaiting forest clearance approval before further progress can be made.

The Prime Minister has set up a group of Ministers (GoM) to sort out environmental issues hurting coal production and to also look in to cases of mining approvals. The coal and environment ministries had locked horns over the issue after the latter last year classified 203 coal blocks under 'no go' area prohibiting mining there. Hindalco is looking to commission the Mahan project by October 2011.

Activity in the Oil and Gas sector (including regulatory)

Militant Activity/Terrorism (Particularly in Bangalore, Mumbai, Noida, Chennai, Coimbatore)

Maoists blast gram panchayat officehttp://www.ptinews.com/news/1378783_Maoists-blast-gram-panchayat-officeJhargram (WB), Feb 24 (PTI) Maoists have damaged a gram panchayat office by exploding a landmine at Dhangori village in West Midnapore district, police said today.

Armed Maoists arrived at the panchayat office situated on the road connecting Lodhashuli and Kesiapatha late last night, broke open the lock and planted a landmine before escaping.

The double-storeyed building was damaged when the landmine exploded. A balcony on the first floor collapsed and the entire building developed cracks due to the explosion, the police, which reached the village this morning, said.

The same building had been torched by Maoists about two months ago, damaging furniture and computers, they said.

The red rebels had also killed political activists, including supporters of the CPI-M, in the area in the last one year, the police said.

Dhangori and its adjoining Chatri villages, surrounded by Maoist-infested thick forests, are stronghold areas of the rebels.

Fresh talks with mediators to secure collector's releasehttp://www.ptinews.com/news/1378879_Fresh-talks-with-mediators-to-secure-collector-s-releaseBhubaneswar, Feb 24 (PTI) The Orissa government today held fresh talks with mediators chosen by the Maoists as part of the ongoing efforts to facilitate early release of Malkangiri district collector R V Krishna in view of new demands made by the abductors.

"We are making all efforts ... Talks are on with the three interlocutors to secure safe and early release of the collector from the Maoists," Chief Secretary B K Patnaik told reporters as the 30-year-old IAS officer of 2005 batch spent the ninth day in captivity.

Patnaik said the mediators have informed the abductors about the agreement reached between them and the Orissa government and made a fresh appeal to the Maoists to release Krishna by this evening.

Labor/Social Unrest

GJM to launch fresh agitation http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/other-states/article1484376.eceHaving withdrawn its call for a bandh in the Darjeeling hills, the Gorkha Janamukti Morcha (GJM) is set for a fresh spell of agitation that includes a “fast-unto-death” by batches of volunteers across the region from Thursday and a relay hunger-strike by its supporters in New Delhi from February 27 in support of its various demands.

“The hunger-strike in the capital will continue till the end of the budget session of Parliament,” senior GJM leader and member of the party's central committee, Harka Bahadur Chettri told The Hindu over phone from Kalimpong sub-division on Wednesday, a day after the decision was taken by the GJM leadership not to resume the bandh after relaxing it for four days. (The bandh had begun on February 9).

Tea industry circles in the hills are concerned over the GJM's threat to prevent the despatch of tea – the valued first-flush crop – from tea-gardens in the region from February 27 as part of its agitation. Officials concerned are planning to approach the GJM leadership with a request to reconsider the move, it was learnt.

As for the agitation by the GJM from Thursday Dr. Chettri said that batches of five volunteers belonging to the Gorkaland Personnel (GLP) – an outfit of the GJM - and ex-servicemen will go on a “fast-unto-death” at various places across the three hill sub-divisions as well as in Siliguri.

Their demands include the bringing of Gorkha-dominated pockets in the Terai and the Dooars within the jurisdiction of any “interim” administrative body being considered for the Darjeeling hills that – one that the GJM maintains should lead to the creation of a separate “Gorkhaland” State.

This demand has been ruled out by the West Bengal government. “The GJM has also decided to take its agitation to New Delhi to give it wider nation-wide attention”, Dr Chettri said. “Nearly 300 GJM supporters are expected to participate in the relay hunger strike in New Delhi”, he added.

The ‘padayatra' programme by GJM supporters through the Dooars to Kumani at the border of Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri districts where GJM president, Bimal Gurung is to address them on February 27 is continuing, Dr Chettri said.

The Jalpaiguri district authorities have imposed prohibitory orders under Section 144 Cr PC in certain parts of the Dooars to prevent any meeting or procession which, it is feared, could disturb peace in the region.BKU plans major stir on March 9http://www.ptinews.com/news/1378866_BKU-plans-major-stir-on-March-9Muzaffarnagar, Feb 24 (PTI) Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) chief Mahendra Singh Tikait has said that the farmers would "lay a siege" to the national capital on March 9 to press for various demands, including amendment in the Land Acquisition Act.

Addressing a meeting of farmers in Sisauli near here yesterday, Tikait said the farmers, under the banner of BKU, would stage dharnas in Delhi and block natinal highways at Sonipat, Rohtak, Palwal and Madola alongside the Delhi border.

The BKU president asked the farmes to prepare for a "final battle" in support of their demands, including amendment in the Land Acquisition Act.