The Hindu, 5 May 2008

Bangalore (PTI): Ruling out post-poll alliance with Congress and BJP, the Janata Dal (Secular) vied with the two parties in promising freebies, including farm loan waiver, and said it would press for reservation for Kannadigas in booming IT companies if elected in this month assembly polls. Releasing the manifesto, party leader and former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda on Monday ruled out post-poll alliance with Congress and BJP with whom his party had formed shortlived coalition governments. ...

The Hindu, 5 May 2008

New Delhi (PTI): The CPI(M) on Monday said it will organise a militant protest on May 15 against the rise of prices of essential commodities in the country. On May 15, the party will carry out a militant protest against price rise. The form of the protest will be decided by different units in the states, party leader Sitaram Yechury told reporters here. The cadre would hold Raasta Roko, Rail Roko (road and rail blockades) and the party has called for mass picketing campaign in front of the Central government offices all over the country, he added. ...

The Hindu, 5 May 2008

New Delhi (PTI): India is sending two naval ships with relief and medical supplies to Myanmar where a severe cyclone claimed over 3,000 lives and rendered many more homeless. The ships carrying food items, tents, blankets, clothing and medicines will sail to Yangon from Port Blair, the External Affairs Ministry announced here. President Pratibha Patil, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee have sent messages of condolence, expressing their deep distress at the devastation caused by the natural disaster. ......

Hindustan Times, 5 May 2008

About 300 Indian workers, hired by a Kuwait contracting company, have alleged that have not been given any job since their arrival in the country four months ago and demanded stern action against unscrupulous agents who allegedly duped them.The Indian workers, who were recruited to work for an oil company, claimed that they have not been issued passes to enter oil installations and that the visas of many workers have expired. ......