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My Govt is committed to uplift backward classes: Modi

Deesa, Gujarat, Oct 9 (UNI) Chief Minister Narendra Modi today increased the monthly stipend of students from backward classes residing in hostels from Rs 450 to Rs 600.

This was announced at a function of the Thakor community in Deesa of Palanpur district in north Gujarat, where Mr Modi expressed his Government's commitment for the uplift of backward classes in the state. ''Since I was born into a backward class family, I know the miseries and pain of social discrimination suffered by the people of backward class community. It is my Government's commitment to mitigate the sufferings of not so privileged people in Gujarat. We are determined to rid them of poverty and backwardness,'' he said.

Talking about his government's initiatives, Mr Modi said, ''Through various irrigation schemes our Government has turned the barren lands, owned by farmers belonging to the backward class, into produce yielding farms. In the past five years due to good rainfall and the successful recharging of underground water, files on drought are gathering dust in the government office.'' ''Apart from this, we have accomplished the arduous task of providing electricity to downtrodden families residing in remote villages. Now a poor family can avail electricity connection at a nominal charge of Rs 50,'' he said.

UNI

Israeli police question Olmert over bank deal

JERUSALEM, Oct 9 (Reuters) Police today questioned Prime Minister Ehud Olmert over allegations of attempted bid-rigging in the sale of a commercial bank, one of several scandals dogging the Israeli leader. Olmert was Israel's finance minister during the 2005 privatisation of Bank Leumi, Israel's second biggest commercial bank. Suspicions in that case focus on whether he tried to tailor the sale offer to give preference to a friend, who ultimately never bid on the bank. Olmert has denied any wrongdoing......

Violence makes mockery of Nigeria democracy -report

ABUJA, Oct 9 (Reuters) Guns, machetes and looted public funds are the real instruments of power in Nigeria, where politicians backed by unelected ''godfathers'' use hired thugs to win office, Human Rights Watch said today. Africa's most populous country returned to civilian rule in 1999 after three decades of almost continuous army dictatorship, but civilian governments have routinely abused basic human rights, the US-based group said in a report. ''In place of democratic competition, struggles for political office have often been.....

Zambians ration fuel as refinery closure prolonged

LUSAKA, Oct 9 (Reuters) Zambia is rationing fuel following a shortage caused by the closure of its sole oil refinery, with long queues of motorists becoming a common feature amid panic buying across the country, officials said today. Zambia shut down its Indeni Oil Refinery on September 1 for 25 days due to crude shortages, energy officials said at the time. Energy and water development permanent secretary Buleti Nsemukila said Indeni Oil Refinery, which was shut down after running out of.....
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