Day: July 12, 2013

AIZAWL, July 12 NNN: HIV cases in Mizoram have declined considerably in the past few years in Mizoram.
According to Mizoram health minister Lalrinliana Sailo, HIV cases in the state have declined during 2007-2011 as per ‘Technical Report India, HIV Estimates-2012, NACO” by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare Report, thanks to the steps taken by Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (MSACS).
Sailo was saying this at a Governing Board meeting of MSACS at his office today attended by Health Secretary Esther Lalruatkimi, IRS, MSACS Director Dr. Eric Zomawia besides representatives from YMA and Mizo Hmeichhe Insuihkhawm Pawl (MHIP). The minister lauded the measures taken by MSACS in organising Red Ribbon Football Tournament and Red Ribbon Drama Competition to tackle the menace which is being plaguing lives of Mizo youths and et al. Not only this, several NGOs and churches in Mizoram are also taking measures against the spread of HIV, the minister added.
Lalrinliana Sailo also opined that in order to tackle this menace, there should be close collaboration between NGOs, government departments, churches and even media can play a great role in this regard. Only through this, the beautiful state can send message to the outside its true nature, the minister added.
The meeting highlighted that as per Technical Report India, HIV Estimates-2012, NACO, HIV infection between age group 15-49 during 2011 was 0.74 percent in contrast to 0.79 per cent during 2007. The report also highlighted that the infection rate was 0.78, 0.76 per cent during 2009, 2010 which clearly shows that rate of HIV infection in Mizoram is on decline.
The meeting also accepted MSACS Action Plan for the period 2013-2014 which was appoved by National AIDS Control Organization, Department of AIDS Control, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. According to MSACS report during 2012-13 HIV test was conducted to 59088 (General 38560 and Pregnant Women 20528) of which 1142 (General 1022 and Pregnant Women 120) were tested positive. Till today, 6060 HIV patients have been given treatment from ART Centre. MSACS expressed happiness over churches and NGOs for their endeavour towards HIV patients.
The Mizoram state will implement and take measures under National AIDS Control Program Phase-IV from this year which is expected to be more dynamic and smooth as far as funds from the government is concerned. Tackling HIV menace in Mizoram is being carried out not only by the governmentt but also churches and NGOs like organising seminar, awareness pogramme and sports events. During the meeting a report of MSACS 2012-13 was also highlighted.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/hiv-cases-decreasing-in-mizoram/

New Delhi, July 12 (ANI): Congress Party on Friday launched a scathing attack on Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi over his remark that he had done ‘absolutely right thing’ in 2002 when the state was hit by riots and that an SIT set up by the Supreme Court had given him a ‘thoroughly clean chit’, saying this is totally against the analogy of India.
“We are condemning the analogy which he has made. It shows the kind of mindset Mr. Modi has. This is totally against the idea of India; India is not what he thinks. The analogy which he has drawn, the parallels which he has drawn is not the idea of India,” said AICC General Secretary and in-charge of Communication Department. Ajay Maken.
Maken said even former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji said at the time of Gujarat riots that he failed to implement a ‘Raj Dharma’.
“And not only Atal Bihari Vajpayeeji at that time, but even as recent as this month only the Goa Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar has said that the 2002 riots is a result of failed Gujarat model of governance. So, we are not only saying so, but his own party leaders, fellow Chief Ministers are saying so,” said Maken.
“But using a riot wherein thousands of people died, using an analogy drawing parallels the way he has done is something which shows his mindset and this is totally against the idea of India which we strongly condemn,” he added.
In an exclusive interview to Reuters news agency at his official residence in Gandhinagar, Modi said: “People have a right to be critical. We are a democratic country. Everyone has their own view. I would feel guilty if I did something wrong. Frustration comes when you think ‘I got caught. I was stealing and I got caught’. That’s not (what happened in) my case.”
The Gujarat Chief Minister, who was very recently appointed the BJP’s campaign committee chief for the 2014 Lok Sabha polls, described himself as a Hindu nationalist because he was a born Hindu.
“I am nationalist. I am patriotic. Nothing is wrong. I’m a born Hindu. Nothing is wrong. So, I am a Hindu nationalist so yes, you can say I am a Hindu nationalist because I am a born Hindu. I am patriotic, so nothing is wrong in it. As far as progressive, development oriented, workaholic, whatever they say, this is what they see. So there’s no contradiction between the two,” he said.
The Goa Chief Minister had in a recent interview to The Indian Express Editor-in-Chief Shekhar Gupta for NDTV’s Walk the Talk programme said that the 2002 riots in Gujarat were a clear-cut case of administrative failure and bad example of governance.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/congress-takes-on-modi-says-his-analogy-is-against-the-idea-of-india/

New Delhi, July 12 (ANI): The Core Group of the Congress which met here today to discuss the creation of a separate Telengana State, has communicated the outcome to the Congress Working Committee, the party’s highest decision making body, which will now take a final call on the issue.
Congress General Secretary Digvijay Singh, who is in-charge for Andhra Pradesh, today said a decision will be taken in the working committee meet.
He said the party had held wide consultations with all political leaders and the Core Group had heard Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, PCC chief Botsa Satyanarayana and Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha on the issue.
“Congress Party has held widest consultations with all political parties, with all leaders and finally the Core Group has now met the Chief Minister, the Deputy Chief Minister and the PCC President before taking a final view. And therefore now, the Congress Party will call the working committee and take a decision,” he told the media here.
Digvijay Singh yesterday said that the Centre has to consult UPA partners and opposition parties, as the decision might require amendments to the Constitution.
Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and other senior Cabinet ministers and leaders from the ruling party’s attended the core group meeting.
Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde earlier on Wednesday said the consultations on the demand for a separate Telangana were still on and it would take time for arriving at a decision.
“How can I make a comment on the core group’s plan? There is a high command which will take a decision,” he said, when asked whether a decision was expected from the Congress Core Group.
Congress MPs from Telangana have so far accused the Centre of following what they call a ‘one-step-forward-two-backward’ approach when it comes to addressing their demand for a separate state.
The Centre’s flip-flop over the issue began in December 2009 when the then Home Minister P. Chidambaram promised the formation of a new state only to go back on it after a few days.
The issue was later pushed before a committee headed by Justice B.N. Srikrishna. This panel did not come up with a tangible solution, but instead presented six options.
These included the creation of a Telangana Regional Council within Andhra, bifurcation of the state into Telangana with Hyderabad as the capital and Seemandhra with a new capital; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana after making Hyderabad a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Seemandhra and Telangana with enlarged Hyderabad metropolis as a Union Territory; bifurcation of the state into Rayala Telangana and Coastal Andhra; and maintenance of status quo.

Read more / Original news source: http://manipur-mail.com/congress-working-committee-to-take-decision-on-telangana-issue/