PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. articles from June 2006

PTI - The Press Trust of India Ltd. archives from June 2006

RBI cancels licence of Ichalkaranji Jiveshwar Sahakari Bank.
June 1, 2006... RBI cancels licence of Ichalkaranji Jiveshwar Sahakari Bank Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) today cancelled the licence of Maharashtra-based Ichalkaranji Jiveshwar Sahakari Bank Ltd as it had become insolvent. All...

Johnny Lever says he is bored of films; to host TV show.
June 1, 2006... Johnny Lever says he is bored of films; to host TV show Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) One of Bollywood's best loved comedians Johnny Lever says he is now bored of films and the repetitive nature of his roles and will now assume a new avataar on...

Maha cabinet okays Human Development Mission.
June 1, 2006... Maha cabinet okays Human Development Mission Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Maharashtra Cabinet today approved setting up of a Maharashtra Human Development Mission to improve the state's human development index. The mission, to be based at...

WB govt to take up restructuring of 30 PSUs in second phase.
June 1, 2006... WB govt to take up restructuring of 30 PSUs in second phase Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) The West Bengal government would undertake restructuring of 30 state PSUs at a cost of Rs 1000 crore in the second phase of a massive revamping programme. ...

La Opala to set up new plant in Uttaranchal.
June 1, 2006... La Opala to set up new plant in Uttaranchal Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) Glass tableware manufacturer La Opala RG Ltd will investment Rs 35 crore to set up a plant at Uttaranchal and said the company is eyeing a turnover of Rs 100 crore in the...

Nicco Corporation returns to profits.
June 1, 2006... Nicco Corporation returns to profits Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) After a gap of five years, Nicco Corporation has returned to profits during the financial year 2005-06. The company has posted a net profit of Rs 68 lakh on a turnover of Rs...

Falcon Tyres reports 300 pc rise in net profit.
June 1, 2006... Falcon Tyres reports 300 pc rise in net profit Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) Falcon Tyres Ltd, which was bought by the Ruia Group from Chhabrias last year, today reported nearly 300 per cent rise in net profit to Rs 3.63 crore in 2005-06, compared...

Subway to open more outlets in eastern India, NE.
June 1, 2006... Subway to open more outlets in eastern India, NE Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) Submarine sandwich chain Subway would open more outlets in Kolkata, eastern India and the north-east within a short span of time. Regional head (east) of Subway...

Establishments to be allotted numbers for EPF purpose.
June 1, 2006... Establishments to be allotted numbers for EPF purpose New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Establishments will be allotted business numbers for enabling employers meet the requirement of employees' provident fund. Yesterday, business numbers have...

Britannia Q4 net up over two fold; declares 150 pc dividend.
June 1, 2006... Britannia Q4 net up over two fold; declares 150 pc dividend Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Britannia Industries Ltd today said its net profit for the January-March quarter more than doubled at Rs 27.8 crore, as compared to Rs 10.8 crore in the...

Rolls Royce 'Phantom' convertible model to be out next year.
June 1, 2006... Rolls Royce 'Phantom' convertible model to be out next year Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) European auto major Rolls Royce is planning to launch the convertible variant of its luxuary segment 'Phantom' in 2007. "We plan to launch our Convetible...

Samsung unveils third store in Chennai.
June 1, 2006... Samsung unveils third store in Chennai Chennai,May 31 (PTI) Samsung India Electronics Ltd (SIEL) plans to set up 50 more flagship stores across the country, R Zutshi, Deputy Managing Director, Siel said today. Unveiling its third...

CES proposes to build second airport in Kolkata.
June 1, 2006... CES proposes to build second airport in Kolkata Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) Delhi-based Consulting Engineering Services (CES) today proposed to build a second airport in West Bengal, which would be larger than the existing NSC Bose International...

Three mafia-style gang leaders sentenced to death in China.
June 1, 2006... Three mafia-style gang leaders sentenced to death in China Beijing, May 31 (PTI) Three leaders of a 31-member organised crime ring in east China were given death sentences and 26 gang members jailed after being convicted of 10 charges,...

Infosys to broadcast AGM proceedings live on the internet.
June 1, 2006... Infosys to broadcast AGM proceedings live on the internet Bangalore, May 31 (PTI) Infosys Technologies Limited today announced it would broadcast the proceedings of its 25th Annual General Meeting on June 10 live on the Internet. The...

Sundaram Finance announces 135 pc dividend.
June 1, 2006... Sundaram Finance announces 135 pc dividend Chennai, May 31 (PTI) Sundaram Finance Ltd, a leading financial services company has announced a dividend of 135 per cent (including special dividend of 50 per cent) for the year ended March 31....

Jora Singh to make a return at Combined Event championship.
June 1, 2006... Jora Singh to make a return at Combined Event championship New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) National decathlon record holder Jora Singh will make a return to competition at the two-day National Combined Event championship starting here tomorrow. ...

Country's first project on jute geotextile launched in WB.
June 1, 2006... Country's first project on jute geotextile launched in WB Ghatal (WB), May 31 (PTI) The country's first pilot project on jute geotextile in road construction as a jute based alternative to conventional bitumen roads was today inaugurated in...

Navy War Room leak: Court rejects Parashar's bail plea.
June 1, 2006... Navy War Room leak: Court rejects Parashar's bail plea New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) A Special Court today dismissed the bail application of Kulbushan Parashar, accused in the Navy War Room leak case, after the CBI argued that he had played a...

Traders provided facility to deposit sales tax in SBI branches.
June 1, 2006... Traders provided facility to deposit sales tax in SBI branches Patna, May 31 (PTI) The Bihar government today announced that traders in the state capital could deposit their sales tax in different State Bank of India branches from June one....

Fuel price hike issue reaches PM again.
June 1, 2006... Fuel price hike issue reaches PM again New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) The issue of raising fuel prices, which has been necessitated due to spiralling international oil prices, today reached the Prime Minister again with Petroleum Minister Murli...

Down payment levels raised for large houses in China.
June 1, 2006... Down payment levels raised for large houses in China Beijing, May 31 (PTI) Down payment levels on loans for purchasing large houses in China are being raised from tomorrow in a bid to curb soaring prices and adjust supply. The...

Star One reaches settlement with Mumbai cable operators.
June 1, 2006... Star One reaches settlement with Mumbai cable operators Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Star One, the newest channel from the Star TV stable, has reached a settlement with cable operators in Mumbai area, which paves the way for its reappearance in...

BOI rolls out Misys Midas Plus to connect 16 int'l branches.
June 1, 2006... BOI rolls out Misys Midas Plus to connect 16 int'l branches Bangalore, May 31 (PTI) Misys banking systems announced today that Bank of India has rolled out Misys Midas Plus, core banking system, for its 16 international branch-banking...

Geometric Software to raise Rs 45.50 cr.
June 1, 2006... Geometric Software to raise Rs 45.50 cr Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Geometric Software Solutions Company Ltd today said it will raise Rs 45.50 crore through the allotment of 38.67 lakh equity shares to The Western India Trustee and Executor...

Iffco-Tokio launches new Cooperative Model.
June 1, 2006... Iffco-Tokio launches new Cooperative Model Chandigarh, May 31 (PTI) Iffco-Tokio General Insurance Company Limited, today announced the launch of a new Cooperative Model to enhance the reach of insurance in rural areas, starting with Punjab....

California software co's rights issue fully subscribed.
June 1, 2006... California software co's rights issue fully subscribed Chennai, May 31 (PTI) California Software Company today said its rights issue, which closed on May 25, had been successfully completed and fully subscribed. The company had made an...

Price hike of cement, steel delays Railway projects.
June 1, 2006... Price hike of cement, steel delays Railway projects Coimbatore, May 31 (PTI) Various railway projects were getting delayed due to sudden escalation of prices and non-availability of raw materials like cement and steel, Minister of State for...

Bio-2006 conference at Bangalore from June 7.
June 1, 2006... Bio-2006 conference at Bangalore from June 7 Bangalore, May 31 (PTI) To set a new direction for the emerging Biotechnology industry, a three-day Bangalore Bio 2006 conference will begin here on June 7. More than 60 international and...

Microsoft launches programme to check piracy.
June 1, 2006... Microsoft launches programme to check piracy New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) In a bid to combat software piracy, Microsoft today launched its 'Genuine Software' programme in the country to promote use of original software among consumers. "In...

Evolvence Capital launches $150 mn India Life Science Fund.
June 1, 2006... Evolvence Capital launches $150 mn India Life Science Fund Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) The Dubai-based Evolvence Capital, an alternative investment company, today launched 150 million dollar Evolvence India Life Science Fund to provide capital for...

TCS announces 'Innovation 2.0'.
June 1, 2006... TCS announces 'Innovation 2.0' Chennai, May 31 (PTI) Tata Consultancy Services today announced the beginning of its next generation of innovative ventures, christened Innovation 2.0, aimed at spiralling TCS to the Global top ten by 2010....

Telecom PSU employees oppose unbundling of loop.
June 1, 2006... Telecom PSU employees oppose unbundling of loop New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) BSNL Employees Union today asked the government not to unbundle local loops in BSNL and MTNL for priviate sector use, saying that investment worth crores of rupees had...

Haryana govt on 'backfoot' on Reliance deal issue: Sampat.
June 1, 2006... Haryana govt on 'backfoot' on Reliance deal issue: Sampat Chandigarh, May 31 (PTI) INLD today alleged that the Haryana Government was on the "backfoot and in a nervous mode" since it was giving "repeated statements to clarify its stand" on...

Centre comes down heavily on states for taxing ethanol.
June 1, 2006... Centre comes down heavily on states for taxing ethanol New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Taking exception to the practice of state governments charging high taxes on ethanol, besides levy of import and export "pass fees", the Petroleum Ministry today...

Rowing championships in Kolkata from tomorrow.
June 1, 2006... Rowing championships in Kolkata from tomorrow Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) Over 300 boys and girls from seventeen states will vie for honours in the ninth sub-junior and 11th Challengers National Rowing Championship to be held at the Calcutta...

No compromise on interests of small industries at WTO: Nath.
June 1, 2006... No compromise on interests of small industries at WTO: Nath Paris, May 31 (PTI) India today made it clear there could be no compromise on the interests of its small and infant industries and any deal at WTO will have to take concerns of...

HP for changes in eligibility norms of employment schemes.
June 1, 2006... HP for changes in eligibility norms of employment schemes Shimla, May 31 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister V B Singh today stressed on the need for changes in the eligibility norms under Swaran Jayanti Rozgar Yojana of Union...

Umak group signs MoU with Orissa govt.
June 1, 2006... Umak group signs MoU with Orissa govt Bhubaneswar, May 31 (PTI) New Delhi-based Umak Investment Company Ltd today signed a memorandum of understanding with the Orissa Government for investing about Rs 350 crore in the hospitality sector in...

Prime Focus revises IPO price band, extends issue date.
June 1, 2006... Prime Focus revises IPO price band, extends issue date New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) Prime Focus Ltd, a post-production and visual effects service house, today extended its IPO issue date to June 3, besides revising the price band downwards to Rs...

CIAL Director Board reconstituted.
June 1, 2006... CIAL Director Board reconstituted Thiruvananthapuram, May 31 (PTI) The Director Board of the Cochin International Airport Limited has been reconstituted with Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan as Chairman. Finance Minister T M Thomas...

RIL not provided with land at concessional rates: Hooda.
June 1, 2006... RIL not provided with land at concessional rates: Hooda Bhiwani, May 31 (PTI) Haryana Chief Minister, Bhupinder Singh Hooda today made it clear that contrary to allegations by the INLD party, Reliance Industries Limited has not been given...

Greenply reports four-fold increase in net profit.
June 1, 2006... Greenply reports four-fold increase in net profit New Delhi, may 31 (PTI) Greenply Industries Ltd today reported a four-fold increase in its net profit for the quater ended March 31 at Rs 376.85 crore as against Rs 86.83 crore in the same...

Jet Airways ties up with Thai, Austrian airlines for FPP.
June 1, 2006... Jet Airways ties up with Thai, Austrian airlines for FPP New Delhi, May 31 (PTI) India's leading airline Jet Airways today joined hands with Austrian Airlines and Thai Airways International for reciprocal Frequent Flyer Programmes (FPP)...

T S Bhattacharya to take interim charge as SBI Chairman.
June 1, 2006... T S Bhattacharya to take interim charge as SBI Chairman Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) State Bank of India Managing Director Tara Shankar Bhattacharya will tomorrow take over as the acting Chairman of India's largest commercial bank from A K Purwar,...

Sebi issues post-hearing order against Ajay Kumar Gupta.
June 1, 2006... Sebi issues post-hearing order against Ajay Kumar Gupta Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) today issued a post-hearing order against Ajay Kumar Gupta banning the usage of his depository participant...

Duggal calls on Pak Interior Minister.
June 1, 2006... Duggal calls on Pak Interior Minister Islamabad, May 31 (PTI) Indian Home Secretary V K Duggal called on Pakistani Interior Minister Aftab Khan Sherpao and discussed with him the decisions arrived at during the Indo-Pak talks, which...

L&T to acquire foreign gas processing firm.
June 1, 2006... L&T to acquire foreign gas processing firm Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Larsen & Toubro Ltd. (L&T) plans to acquire a foreign gas processing company as the Indian manufacturing firm plans to equip technological skills to tap growing opportunities...

Hitech Plast Ltd picks up 60 pc stake in Mipak Industry.
June 1, 2006... Hitech Plast Ltd picks up 60 pc stake in Mipak Industry Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Rigid plastics manufacturing company Hitech Plast Ltd, today announced acquisition of 60 per cent stake in Mipak Industry, a company in the same sphere, for Rs...

Rs 225 cr for equitable distribution of water in Haryana.
June 1, 2006... Rs 225 cr for equitable distribution of water in Haryana Bhiwani (Haryana), May 31 (PTI) Haryana government has allotted a sum of Rs 225 crore for equitable distribution of water in Mahendergarh, Bhiwani and Rewari districts and another Rs...

Additional Rs 1,000 crore sought under TUF scheme.
June 1, 2006... Additional Rs 1,000 crore sought under TUF scheme Coimbatore, May 31 (PTI) The Textile Ministry has submitted a proposal to the Union Finance Ministry seeking an additional Rs 1,000 crore to provide under Textile Upgradation Fund scheme...

Dr Reddy's crosses revenue milestone of 500 million USD in 2005-06.
June 1, 2006... Dr Reddy's crosses revenue milestone of 500 million USD in 2005-06 Hyderabad, May 31 (PTI) Overcoming the period of challenges in the market, Pharma major Dr Reddy's Laboratories has crossed a revenue milestone of 500 million USD in...

Exim Bank offers LOC of USD 250 mn to Ecowas Bank.
June 1, 2006... Exim Bank offers LOC of USD 250 mn to Ecowas Bank Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) The Export Import Bank of India (Exim Bank) has extended a line of credit (LOC) of USD 250 million to Ecowas Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) of Lome, Togo....

Nipuna to set up facilities to scale up head count by 1,000 over the next year.
June 1, 2006... Nipuna to set up facilities to scale up head count by 1,000 over the next year Hyderabad, May 31 (PTI) Nipuna Services Limited, the BPO subsidiary of software major Satyam Computer Services Limited, has drawn up plans to set up two...

Sania, Bhupathi move into second round.
June 1, 2006... Sania, Bhupathi move into second round Paris, May 31 (PTI) Sania Mirza made light of her first round exit in the singles advancing to the second round of women's doubles while Mahesh Bhupathi kept himself on track to win his third French...

Insurance employees to strike work on June 8.
June 1, 2006... Insurance employees to strike work on June 8 Coimbatore, May 31 (PTI)The All India Insurance Employees Association would organise a "walk-out strike" on June 8 to highlight various issues concerning them, including implementation of...

AP to encourage massive housing: Reddy.
June 1, 2006... AP to encourage massive housing: Reddy Hyderabad, May 31 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh government has initiated a massive housing plan on completion of Outer Ring Road (ORR) which is being developed at a cost of Rs 2000 crore. Chief Minister, Y...

CABINET-NAGPUR.
June 1, 2006... CABINET-NAGPUR Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Maharashtra cabinet today approved acquisition of 1068 hectare additional land for the Nagpur cargo hub project. As a result, the total project area would be 3624 hectares, official sources said. ...

John Allen Muhammad convicted of six more sniper slayings.
June 1, 2006... John Allen Muhammad convicted of six more sniper slayings Washington, May 31 (PTI) A jury in US' Maryland has turned in a conviction in all six counts of first degree murder for sniper John Allen Mohammed who along with a teenager...

Laxman impresses on his first outing.
June 1, 2006... Laxman impresses on his first outing Antigua, May 31 (PTI) The touring Indians were 126 for three at lunch on the second and final day of their two-day cricket match against Antigua XI here on Wednesday. VVS Laxman gave a good account...

US ready to hold talks with Iran.
June 1, 2006... US ready to hold talks with Iran Sridhar Krishnaswamy Washington, May 31 (PTI) In a significant departure from stated policy, the Bush administration has said it is willing to hold direct talks with Iran and offer Tehran economic...

It raids on premises of big builders, jewellers.
June 1, 2006... It raids on premises of big builders, jewellers Vadodara, May 31 (PTI) The Income Tax sleuths today conducted raids on the premises of the big builders, jewellers and those involved in making gold and silver ornaments in the city. The...

High drama in EB, Sporting player transfer.
June 1, 2006... High drama in EB, Sporting player transfer Kolkata, May 31 (PTI) Intense drama today marked the stand-off between city soccer giants East Bengal and Mohammedan Sporting over signing four key players for the coming season, with Sporting...

MSEDC to undertake major upgradation programme.
June 1, 2006... MSEDC to undertake major upgradation programme Pune, May 31 (PTI) The Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company would undertake a major programme to upgrade and replace its problematic transformers and also aim to produce 18,000 MW...

BCCI decides to reconstitute elite umpires panel.
June 1, 2006... BCCI decides to reconstitute elite umpires panel Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Stung by the fact that the International Cricket Council has not found any Indian umpire good enough to make it to the ICC's Elite Panel, the Indian cricket board today...

W House says details of killings at Haditha to be made public.
June 1, 2006... W House says details of killings at Haditha to be made public Washington, May 31 (PTI) The White House has made it known that the details of a current probe into the killing of civilians at Haditha in Iraq will be made public when the...

Monuments in Poompuhar to be renovated.
June 1, 2006... Monuments in Poompuhar to be renovated Porayar (TN), May 31 (PTI) Tamil Nadu government has alloted Rs 1.74 crore for renovating monuments in the historic Poompuhar town, tourism minister Suresh Raja said here today. Speaking to...

Jet joined hands with Thai, Austrian Airlines.
June 1, 2006... Jet joined hands with Thai, Austrian Airlines Mumbai, May 31 (PTI) Jet Airways has joined hands with Austrian Airlines and Thai Airways International to offer a reciprocal frequent flyer programme. The agreement enables frequent...

Nuclear standoff with with Iran ought to be sorted out: Bush.
June 1, 2006... Nuclear standoff with with Iran ought to be sorted out: Bush Washington, May 31 (PTI) Stressing that the nuclear standoff with Iran ought to be sorted out diplomatically US President George W Bush said that he has in place a policy that...

Indian art to be on display in SA.
June 1, 2006... Indian art to be on display in SA Durban, June 1 (PTI) An exhibition of contemporary Indian paintings and sculptures will be put on show here for a month in three weeks' time. The exhibition, "Visual Trajectories", will feature the...

Pak to get Harpoon Block II missiles: Bush admn to Congress.
June 1, 2006... Pak to get Harpoon Block II missiles: Bush admn to Congress Sridhar Krishnaswami Washington, June 1 (PTI) Calling Pakistan a "key ally" in the 'war on terror' and a "friendly nation" to the US, the Bush administration has notified...

India asks Russia's Mig to send RFP for 126 fighters: Tyagi.
June 1, 2006... India asks Russia's Mig to send RFP for 126 fighters: Tyagi Vinay Shukla Moscow, June 1 (PTI) India has asked Russia's Mig aircraft corporation to send a request for proposal (RFP) for the acquisition of 126 fighters, IAF chief S P...

Hariprasad Chaurasia enthralls Israeli audience.
June 1, 2006... Hariprasad Chaurasia enthralls Israeli audience Jerusalem, June 1 (PTI) Renowned flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia, a favourite among Israelis, joined local talent at a "musical meeting" to enthrall a sold out capacity crowd here. Among...

Chinese FM, Rice discuss Iran issue via phone.
June 1, 2006... Chinese FM, Rice discuss Iran issue via phone Beijing, June 1 (PTI) Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice have exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue, seeking a "proper" solution through...

Soviet era aircraft carrier to remain theme park after auction.
June 1, 2006... Soviet era aircraft carrier to remain theme park after auction Beijing, June 1 (PTI) The retired Soviet aircraft carrier, 'Minsk' has been auctioned for USD 16 million in Shenzhen, in south China. The ship, now converted into a theme...

Tibetan Buddhists enjoy religious freedom: Panchen Lama.
June 1, 2006... Tibetan Buddhists enjoy religious freedom: Panchen Lama Beijing, June 1 (PTI) The eleventh Panchen Lama has okayed the religious policies of the atheist Chinese government and urged Tibetan Buddhists to love their religion and the...

Three Indian projects vying for the 'Green Oscars'.
June 1, 2006... Three Indian projects vying for the 'Green Oscars' H S Rao London, June 1 (PTI) Three Indian projects are among eleven vying for this year's Ashden Awards for Sustainable Energy, popularly known as the 'Green Oscars'. The Awards,...

Sterlite Ind Q4 net at Rs 240.71 cr.
June 1, 2006... Sterlite Ind Q4 net at Rs 240.71 cr Mumbai, Jun 1 (PTI) Sterlite Industries India Ltd today posted a net profit after tax and extraordinary items of Rs 240.71 crore for the quarter ended March 31 as compared to a net loss of Rs 39.34 crore...

Hero Honda sales up 34 pc at 3.03 lakh units.
June 1, 2006... Hero Honda sales up 34 pc at 3.03 lakh units New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) India's biggest motorcycle manufacturer Hero Honda today reported a 34 per cent rise in its total two-wheeler sales in May at 3.03 lakh units as against 2.26 lakh units in...

Status of Muslims would be enhanced: Arjun Singh.
June 1, 2006... Status of Muslims would be enhanced: Arjun Singh Riyadh, June 1 (PTI) Union Minister for Human Resource Development Arjun Singh has assured Muslims that their status as a minority community will not only be protected but also enhanced. ...

Jain scriptures to go digital to reach a wider audience.
June 1, 2006... Jain scriptures to go digital to reach a wider audience New Delhi, Jun 1 (PTI) In an effort to reach out to a "universal" audience and to preserve their rich heritage, followers of the ancient religion of Jainism are undertaking a project...

Major FMCG players found violating advertising code.
June 1, 2006... Major FMCG players found violating advertising code New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) FMCG major Dabur, HLL, PSU BPCL, Korean car maker Hyundai, liqour barron Vijay Malaya's Mcdowell and TVS motors are amongst the major companies which were found to...

Maruti May domestic sales up 27.24 pc at 50,904 units.
June 1, 2006... Maruti May domestic sales up 27.24 pc at 50,904 units New Delhi, June 1 (PTI) Car market leader Maruti Udyog Ltd today reported a 27.24 per cent increase in domestic sales at 50,904 units in May this year as against 40,006 units in the same...

Saudi media welcomes Arjun Singh's visit.
June 1, 2006... Saudi media welcomes Arjun Singh's visit Riyadh, June 1 (PTI) The Saudi media has heaped praise on the visiting Union Minister for Human Resource and Development Arjun Singh, describing him as a very "seasoned politician" and an "icon of...