A local Congress leader has served a legal notice to Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi asking him to apologise and withdraw his remarks calling Prime Minister Manmohan Singh a "night watchman" of Gandhi family."... Modi should do it (apologise or withdraw remarks) within three days of receipt of the notice... Failing which I will file a private complaint against him before Chief Metropolitan Magistrate here for offence of defamation," K K Benson, a former Pradesh Congress Member, said.In the legal notice released to the media here, Benson said by calling Singh night watchman, Modi has "insulted, degraded and defamed" in public the image and good reputation of Prime Minister's post. Without naming Manmohan Singh, Modi on March 3 had said the Congress appointed a "night watchman" to keep the seat warm for the first family of the Congress. "They did not realise that the night will be so long and dark. As a buffer, they appointed an economist to the post," he said.

Ex-Karnataka PCC member serves legal notice on Modi

Press Trust of India

Forecasting that manpower shortage may hit the salt industry hard by 2017, the Indian Salt Manufacturers Association (ISMA) has urged the Gujarat government to support mechanisation of salt fields in the state and back infrastructure development there. Gujarat accounts for nearly 77 per cent of country's total salt production, employing around 1.09 lakh workers. It produces over 13-14 million MT of salt annually."The industry has been loosing an estimated 15-20 per cent workers annually to the core infra sector. Its been a loss from our existing force," ISMA President P N Rao said."The way trend has been, manpower shortage would hit the industry by 2017.....Hence mechanisation of salt fields is necessary now," Rao, who is also member of Core Committee for Salt Industry, set up by the state government, said.According to Rao, mechanisation of salt fields here can be done on the model adopted in countries like China, Mexico, Australia or some of the African nations.For the mechanisation o

ISMA urges Guj govt to support mechanisation of salt fields

An international exhibition of ceramic industry 'IC 2013' will be held at in Ahmedabad from 19 to 21 March. This exhibition will see participation by leading suppliers of ceramic machinery, raw material and technical know how from all over the world.Indian Ceramics 2013, organized in association with Asian Ceramics magazine, is the second largest annual ceramic technology exhibition held across the world.Over 180 exhibitors from countries all over Europe and Asia, including Italy, China, Spain and other countries along with a healthy contingent coming from the Indian suppliers will take part in the exhibition spread across over 4000 square meter area.According to the organizer, number of ceramic manufacturers from across the country have set up units in Gujarat in the last ten years. The industry has flourished to such an extent that today over 75 per cent of tile, sanitary ware and tableware production worth over Rs  12,000 crore is done in the state.This industry in Gujarat is mainly

A'bad to host international ceramic exhibition

BS Reporter

With the government now deeming Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) as an export promotion council, the 900-odd units are now upbeat of tapping the overseas market in a fresh way.

KVIC's staus as export promotion council to boost khadi units

Business Standard

TERI is developing renewable energy-based cooling technology in partnership with CSIRO of Australia and an industrial organisation in India

TERI developing renewable energy-based cooling tech

A 500 MW coal-based power unit at Ukai in Tapi district has started power generation to its fullest capacity

Gujarat ups power generation capacity

The national leadership of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has chosen leader of BJP legislature party, Kanak Vardhan Singhdeo as the president of its Odisha unit.

K V Singdeo new Odisha BJP Chief

Addressing a gathering in US through video conference, the Gujarat CM says his idea of secularism is 'India first'

People forgive if govt serves them selflessly: Modi

The Kerala government has proposed  to set up a feeder airport in the tourism-oriented Wayanad district.The Airports Authority of India had suggested a 100-hectare site at Panamaram, Nadavayal village. The government plans to construct the airport in the public-private partnership mode.The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has been entrusted  with the techno, economic feasibility study  and environment impact assessment of the project.  Knight Frank India Limited has been appointed to prepare the techno economic feasibility report and the environment impact assessment.  Both the reports will be submitted in six months and the government will take further measures, a KSIDC release said.The airport is aimed at boosting the connectivity to the district, which has several tourism spots. The  airport will enhance the tourists inflow to the district. At present,  Wayanad is connected only through roads. Feeder airport will offer connectivity to the nearest  internationa

Feeder airport proposed in Wayanad

Gowda comes from the dominant Vokkaliga community and it's considered a huge plus

Sadananda Gowda is front-runner for K'taka BJP chief post

SBH declares FY14 as SME year, targets 60% growth

Andhra Bank, SBH to focus on SMEs

Curbs on iron ore exports by the Odisha government, coupled with sharp fall in iron ore shipments following imposition of 30 per cent export duty by the Centre have hit cargo volumes at Dhamra port, jointly promoted by Tata Steel and L&T.The port which operates two berths with a combined capacity of 25 million tonne per annum (mtpa), has handled a little over 15 million tonne, inclusive of export and import cargo, till March 5, this year since the beginning of its commercial operations in May 2011. The achievement is barely 60 per cent of its available capacity."Restriction on iron ore exports by the state government has been a dampener for the Dhamra port. As a result, one of the two berths, dedicated for iron ore shipments with handling capacity of 13 mtpa, saw minimal traffic in 2011-12", said DPCL sources. The export traffic from this berth has gone up marginally to two mtpa (iron ore fines and thermal coal) in the current fiscal.The port, however, has breached the 10 million t

Export curbs dent Dhamra port's capacity utilization

The elections to the ULBs or urban local bodies have come as a blessing in disguise to all political parties in different ways. Though reluctant to face the elections initially, the parties finally reconciled with the reality and have fielded the candidates.Top leaders of all the parties who visited the region admitted that the elections would help them guage the mood of the electorate and identify the strength and weakness of their own party and make amends before the elections to assembly.While the BJP was not clear of the impact the KJP would have on the prospects of its candidates in the assembly elections, the ULB elections would make known KJP's influence on voters. Similarly, the BJP would also come to know the role of the fence-sitting ministers presently in the BJP but have allegiance to KJP leader Yeddyurappa in the ULB elections.Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar told Business Standard, the elections have come as a boon in disguise. "The elections will show the mood of the vote

Civic polls come as blessing in disguise to political parties

Odisha yet to furnish its compliance to the Coal ministry with respect to illegal coal mining

Coal ministry urges Odisha to curb illegal mining

The counting of votes for the elections held on March 7 for filling up the seats in urban local bodies in the state, including the Mysore City Corporation (MCC), will take place tomorrow.Elaborate arrangements are made for the smooth conduct of counting of votes at the designated centres at the JSS Pharmacy College, Bannimantap, Maharani's Arts College, JLB Road and JSS College, Nanjangud Road, in Mysore where police is providing tight security.Prohibitory order under Section 144 has been imposed around 200-metre radius from 6 am to 12 midnight at these centres. Holding of victory processions, bursting of crackers, convening and addressing meetings among others have also been prohibited.Strict restrictions have been imposed on the entry into these counting centres. Only candidates and their agents will be allowed inside. They have to remain in the counting halls until the counting process is completed.The counting of votes will commence at 8 am. Votes of wards 1 to 19, and ward 21 will

Counting of ULB votes today

A section of state Congress leaders could not suppress their restlessness over early formation of a government with JMM, pointing  present tenure of the state assembly that ends in December 2014.

Jharkhand Congress presses on government formation in state

Shankara Infrastructure to raise second round of private equity

Keeping an eye on the oncoming Panchayat election in the state, the Mamata Banerjee government might go for a deferred announcement of the hike in cold storage charge for potato.

Bengal govt likely to defer hike in cold storage charge

The state government has decided to set up a venture capital fund especially for women entrepreneurs.

Bihar to set up venture capital fund for women enterpreneurs

Apparently wary of the poll gameplan of NCP chief Sharad Pawar, Congress MPs from Maharashtra could tell party Vice President Rahul Gandhi at their meeting on Sunday that it should prepare to fight all the seats on its own in next Lok Sabha elections."Instead of fully relying on the NCP, the Congress should be ready to contest all the seats", party MP Rajani Patil told PTI, adding this was necessary to avoid any unexpected move by Pawar's party that could derail Congress's plans. Patil recalled assertions by the state NCP that despite an alliance with the Congress, it will make preparations for contesting all the 288 Assembly seats as a "safety measure." It is also saying it wants a more seats.In the 2009 Lok Sabha polls, Congress had secured 17 and NCP 8 in the state having 48 seats. In the Assembly polls later, Congress had secured 82 seats while the NCP 62 in the 288-member House. The state NCP has already started laying claim on Pune Lok Sabha seat currently represented by Suresh K

Maha Cong MPs want party to fight all seats on its own

With the recent bypolls marking a continuing slide in its vote share since the rout in the 2011 Assembly polls, the Left Front in West Bengal is eyeing the approaching panchayat election with concern.

By-poll slide leaves Left apprehensive ahead of panchayat poll

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