The security of VVIPs in Punjab is being reviewed in the wake of the arrest by Delhi police of two suspected Babbar Khalsa International terrorists who had plans to assassinate some religious and political leaders.
“Yes, we are in the process of reviewing security of the VVIPs,” Punjab’s Director-General of Police Anil Kaushik told PTI over phone.
Without disclosing the names of the VVIPs, mostly top politicians, Mr Kaushik said they had viewed seriously the development leading to the arrest of the two terrorists in the national capital.
Asked if Delhi police had written to Punjab police asking it to beef up security of top VVIPs in the state, Kaushik said so far they had not received any such letter.
Assembly polls in Punjab are scheduled to be held on January 30.
***
Naveen pushes mineral rent tax demand
Akshaya Kumar Sahoo
Bhubaneswar, Dec. 25
The Odisha government has reiterated its demand for imposition of mineral resource rent tax on “super normal” profits earned by mine owners on iron ore extraction.
Chief minister Naveen Patnaik who had earlier written twice to the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on the issue has expressed his displeasure over the delay in taking a decision by the Central government on his proposal.
“I am unable to understand why the Central Government has not taken a decision on my proposal, which will be in the larger interest of the community, particularly those residing in the mining areas,” the chief minister said in a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday.
***
NO MUNABAO STOP FOR MINISTER ON WAY BACK
Narayan Bareth
Jaipur, Dec. 25
Though Rajasthan’s minority affairs minister Amin Khan became the first passenger to be allowed to board Thar Express from India’s last railway station Munabao on Western front.but when he returned back from Pakistan on Saturday through the same train, he got off at Bhagat Ki Kothi [BKK] station in Jodhpur. Mr Khan said he did not make a request for getting off at Munabao. The Barmer administration meanwhile sent a favourable report to the government for a second halt of Thar Express at Barmer.
‘’Last time, my family was in mourning and we were going to Pakistan to offer condolences on the death of my brother in-law. So we were allowed to board the train at Munabao but when we came back, we did not make any such request and got off at Jodhpur,” said Mr Khan.