India closer to developing its own space shuttle
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MUMBAI: India is on the cusp of developing its own reusable space launch vehicle, popularly known as a space shuttle. Isro's 1.5 tonne vehicle resembling an aircraft is provisionally slated to make its maiden flight towards the end of July or August from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
Officially known as the reusable launch vehicle (RLV-TD), it is undergoing final preparations at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Its primary role will be to reduce the cost of access to space. The cost of placing 1kg of object in space is about $5,000, which scientists are hoping will come down to about $500 with the RLV.
As of now, there are no plans to use it for a manned mission. Speaking to TOI, those connected with the nearly Rs 100-crore project said that the spacecraft will initially be carried by a single solid rocket booster with nine tonnes of propellants.
After lift off, it will zoom to an altitude of 70km and then execute a soft landing in the Bay of Bengal. The duration of this sub-orbital mission is expected to be around 900 seconds.
The most anticipated moment will be when the vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere at five times the speed of sound. An Isro engineer told TOI: "To prevent the vehicle from getting damaged (due to heat), its nose has been protected by carbon-carbon and there are about 600 heat-resistant tiles placed around the vehicle. These tiles will be able to withstand a temperature to about 1,200 degrees Celsius."
The space-qualified tiles have been procured from Tamil Nadu.
Interestingly, after it splashes down, the vehicle will sink to the bottom of the sea and for now there are no plans to recover it.
"We have simulated different scenarios and we know what can happen. But, we have kept other options open. If there is a change of thinking at the last moment, we may seek the help of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard to recover it," the engineer said.
Isro ultimately plans to develop technology to land the shuttle on a runway.
The mission, which will attract global interest, will evaluate technologies such as hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and hypersonic flight using air-breathing propulsion.
These technologies will be developed in phases through a series of experimental flights. The first in the series is the hypersonic flight experiment followed by the landing experiment, return flight experiment and scramjet propulsion experiment.
MUMBAI: India is on the cusp of developing its own reusable space launch vehicle, popularly known as a space shuttle. Isro's 1.5 tonne vehicle resembling an aircraft is provisionally slated to make its maiden flight towards the end of July or August from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.Officially known as the reusable launch vehicle (RLV-TD), it is undergoing final preparations at the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Its primary role will be to reduce the cost of access to space. The cost of placing 1kg of object in space is about $5,000, which scientists are hoping will come down to about $500 with the RLV.
As of now, there are no plans to use it for a manned mission. Speaking to TOI, those connected with the nearly Rs 100-crore project said that the spacecraft will initially be carried by a single solid rocket booster with nine tonnes of propellants.
After lift off, it will zoom to an altitude of 70km and then execute a soft landing in the Bay of Bengal. The duration of this sub-orbital mission is expected to be around 900 seconds.
The most anticipated moment will be when the vehicle re-enters the Earth's atmosphere at five times the speed of sound. An Isro engineer told TOI: "To prevent the vehicle from getting damaged (due to heat), its nose has been protected by carbon-carbon and there are about 600 heat-resistant tiles placed around the vehicle. These tiles will be able to withstand a temperature to about 1,200 degrees Celsius."
The space-qualified tiles have been procured from Tamil Nadu.
Interestingly, after it splashes down, the vehicle will sink to the bottom of the sea and for now there are no plans to recover it.
"We have simulated different scenarios and we know what can happen. But, we have kept other options open. If there is a change of thinking at the last moment, we may seek the help of the Indian Navy and the Coast Guard to recover it," the engineer said.
Isro ultimately plans to develop technology to land the shuttle on a runway.
The mission, which will attract global interest, will evaluate technologies such as hypersonic flight, autonomous landing, powered cruise flight and hypersonic flight using air-breathing propulsion.
These technologies will be developed in phases through a series of experimental flights. The first in the series is the hypersonic flight experiment followed by the landing experiment, return flight experiment and scramjet propulsion experiment.
Jayalalithaa calls on Tamil Nadu governor, stakes claim to form government
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CHENNAI: AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa on Friday called upon Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah and staked claim to form a government, making a significant occasion, coming as it does in the wake of her acquittal in the sensational wealth case. She was greeted by Rosaiah and his wife Sivalakshmi with shawls, bouquets and fruit basket. She too handed over a bouquet to Rosaiah before handing over a copy of the resolution passed by her party MLAs earlier in the day, electing her party legislature leader. Dressed in a green sari, her hair in a loose chignon and with a bindi on her forehead, Jayalalithaa appeared relaxed and smiling. She was accompanied by chief minister O Panneerselvam and four other senior ministers. Visuals of her brief meeting with the Governor was beamed live by her party channel Jaya TV.
The city seemed to burst into celebrations as Jayalalithaa, who was making a public appearance after seven months after the Karnataka high court acquitted her in the wealth case, left her Poes Garden residence at 1.28pm and proceeded to Raj Bhavan. In what appeared to be a victory march, her cavalcade weaved through the main roads of the city, with thousands of frenzied cadres, who lined up on either side along her route, greeting her and shouting slogans, hailing her.
They threw yellow marigold flowers and rose petals, waved flags and hailed her as 'Puratchi Thalaivi' (Revolutionary Leader). Jayalalithaa in a green sari, sitting in front, could be seen waving constantly or folding her palms in a gesture of greeting, her smiling face visible through the windscreen. With the convoy moving slowly, especially in areas where the crowds were thick, her personal security guards could be seen running alongside her vehicle. With the city temperature touching 40 degrees celcius, it was a far from envious task. As Jayalalithaa falls under the Z Plus security category, a group of special commandos or Black Cats followed in a vehicle behind. As the crowds along the route to Raj Bhavan got more frenzied, policemen could be seen pushing back the crowds and security personnel frantically cleared the windscreen of flowers.
A tight security cordon had been thrown around the city with large groups of policemen and women trying their best to maintain order. After calling on the Governor, Jayalalithaa would garland the statues of three Dravidian leader, including AIADMK founder and mentor M G Ramachandran, DMK leader C N Annadurai and DK leader Periyar E V Ramasamy. All along her route, cadres lined up the streets. Much before Jayalalithaa's scheduled departure from her Poes Garden bungalow, cadres had arrived in tempos, trucks and mini vans at various points, holding up banners and posters of Jayalalithaa. On certain locations on the street side, young men and women dressed in sequined shirts and dresses gyrated to fast beats to keep the waiting crowds entertained.
Earlier in the day, the Governor had invited Jayalalithaa to form a government after chief minister O Panneerselvam handed over his resignation to make way for his party chief to take over the administrative reins. A Raj Bhavan press release issued at 8.30am by principal secretary to the Governor said he accepted the resignation of Panneerselvam and his council of ministers with effect from forenoon of May 22. "The Governor has requested the CM and his present council to function until alternative arrangements are made," the release said.
Another press release said the Governor had invited Jayalalithaa to form the ministry at the earliest and requested her to send the list of persons to be appointed as ministers with their portfolios. The AIADMK chief is scheduled to meet Rosiah at around 2pm today to stake claim to form the government. She is likely to be sworn in as chief minister at a gala ceremony in the city on Saturday morning.
At 7am, 148 AIADMK MLAs unanimously elected Jayalalithaa as legislature party leader. At a brief meeting presided over by party presidium chairman E Madhusoodanan, the MLAs unanimously passed a resolution electing her as their leader. Madhusoodanan read out the resolution that merely said she had been elected legislature party leader.
Barring two MLAs, including former minister S S (Agri) Krishnamoorthy, who was lodged in a Triunelveli prison, and Sendur Pandian, who was unwell in a hospital, the remaining 148 party MLAs assembled at the AIADMK headquarters in the city at 7am sharp. Panneerselvam proposed Jayalalithaas name and power minister Natham Vishwanathan seconded it, drawing claps and cheers. Panneeerselvam then announced he would be resigning from his post as CM.
The gathering dispersed soon after the resolution was read out and a core committee led by Panneerselvam went to Jayalalithaa's Poes garden residence to hand over the resolution copy to her. The occasion was marked by much cheer with seven of the rebel MLAs from Vijayakanth's DMDK too present to show solidarity with the AIADMK chief.
CHENNAI: AIADMK leader J Jayalalithaa on Friday called upon Tamil Nadu governor K Rosaiah and staked claim to form a government, making a significant occasion, coming as it does in the wake of her acquittal in the sensational wealth case. She was greeted by Rosaiah and his wife Sivalakshmi with shawls, bouquets and fruit basket. She too handed over a bouquet to Rosaiah before handing over a copy of the resolution passed by her party MLAs earlier in the day, electing her party legislature leader. Dressed in a green sari, her hair in a loose chignon and with a bindi on her forehead, Jayalalithaa appeared relaxed and smiling. She was accompanied by chief minister O Panneerselvam and four other senior ministers. Visuals of her brief meeting with the Governor was beamed live by her party channel Jaya TV.The city seemed to burst into celebrations as Jayalalithaa, who was making a public appearance after seven months after the Karnataka high court acquitted her in the wealth case, left her Poes Garden residence at 1.28pm and proceeded to Raj Bhavan. In what appeared to be a victory march, her cavalcade weaved through the main roads of the city, with thousands of frenzied cadres, who lined up on either side along her route, greeting her and shouting slogans, hailing her.
They threw yellow marigold flowers and rose petals, waved flags and hailed her as 'Puratchi Thalaivi' (Revolutionary Leader). Jayalalithaa in a green sari, sitting in front, could be seen waving constantly or folding her palms in a gesture of greeting, her smiling face visible through the windscreen. With the convoy moving slowly, especially in areas where the crowds were thick, her personal security guards could be seen running alongside her vehicle. With the city temperature touching 40 degrees celcius, it was a far from envious task. As Jayalalithaa falls under the Z Plus security category, a group of special commandos or Black Cats followed in a vehicle behind. As the crowds along the route to Raj Bhavan got more frenzied, policemen could be seen pushing back the crowds and security personnel frantically cleared the windscreen of flowers.
A tight security cordon had been thrown around the city with large groups of policemen and women trying their best to maintain order. After calling on the Governor, Jayalalithaa would garland the statues of three Dravidian leader, including AIADMK founder and mentor M G Ramachandran, DMK leader C N Annadurai and DK leader Periyar E V Ramasamy. All along her route, cadres lined up the streets. Much before Jayalalithaa's scheduled departure from her Poes Garden bungalow, cadres had arrived in tempos, trucks and mini vans at various points, holding up banners and posters of Jayalalithaa. On certain locations on the street side, young men and women dressed in sequined shirts and dresses gyrated to fast beats to keep the waiting crowds entertained.
Earlier in the day, the Governor had invited Jayalalithaa to form a government after chief minister O Panneerselvam handed over his resignation to make way for his party chief to take over the administrative reins. A Raj Bhavan press release issued at 8.30am by principal secretary to the Governor said he accepted the resignation of Panneerselvam and his council of ministers with effect from forenoon of May 22. "The Governor has requested the CM and his present council to function until alternative arrangements are made," the release said.
Another press release said the Governor had invited Jayalalithaa to form the ministry at the earliest and requested her to send the list of persons to be appointed as ministers with their portfolios. The AIADMK chief is scheduled to meet Rosiah at around 2pm today to stake claim to form the government. She is likely to be sworn in as chief minister at a gala ceremony in the city on Saturday morning.
At 7am, 148 AIADMK MLAs unanimously elected Jayalalithaa as legislature party leader. At a brief meeting presided over by party presidium chairman E Madhusoodanan, the MLAs unanimously passed a resolution electing her as their leader. Madhusoodanan read out the resolution that merely said she had been elected legislature party leader.
Barring two MLAs, including former minister S S (Agri) Krishnamoorthy, who was lodged in a Triunelveli prison, and Sendur Pandian, who was unwell in a hospital, the remaining 148 party MLAs assembled at the AIADMK headquarters in the city at 7am sharp. Panneerselvam proposed Jayalalithaas name and power minister Natham Vishwanathan seconded it, drawing claps and cheers. Panneeerselvam then announced he would be resigning from his post as CM.
The gathering dispersed soon after the resolution was read out and a core committee led by Panneerselvam went to Jayalalithaa's Poes garden residence to hand over the resolution copy to her. The occasion was marked by much cheer with seven of the rebel MLAs from Vijayakanth's DMDK too present to show solidarity with the AIADMK chief.
PM Narendra Modi trying to rule Delhi through LG, Arvind Kejriwal says
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NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to rule Delhi through the lieutenant governor.
Reacting to a ministry of home affairs notification issued on Friday morning, backing the LG on transfer postings of bureaucrats, Kejriwal said that the Centre wanted to place its own people in Delhi.
"The transfer-posting industry is worth crores of rupees. In the three months that we have been in power, we have closed down this industry. I have met so many peole from the Centre on so many occasions. The LG has never inquired about the state of water and power supply but keeps asking for transfer and postings to be put in his charge. There is something very fishy about this," he said.
Kejriwal likened the PM to the Queen of England when India was under British rule. The real power centre was the Queen, like the PM is. The LG is like the viceroy, only a face. I do not have 'jung" with the LG but we are fighting corruption and the Narendra Modi government is very worried about it. It has started creating hurdles for the Delhi government," he added.
Kejriwal said that he had sought the opinion of experts on the issue after which the government would explore the options available to it. Meanwhile, he did add that transfer and posting did not come under services, an issue which is under the LG's discretion.
The MHA notification also prohibits the Delhi anti-corruption branch from taking action against central officers, including Delhi Police. Kejriwal said that there is something wrong in trying to defend someone who has corruption charges against him/her.
"The Centre wants us to turn away if we find a central government employee indulging in corruption," he said.
NEW DELHI: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of trying to rule Delhi through the lieutenant governor.Reacting to a ministry of home affairs notification issued on Friday morning, backing the LG on transfer postings of bureaucrats, Kejriwal said that the Centre wanted to place its own people in Delhi.
"The transfer-posting industry is worth crores of rupees. In the three months that we have been in power, we have closed down this industry. I have met so many peole from the Centre on so many occasions. The LG has never inquired about the state of water and power supply but keeps asking for transfer and postings to be put in his charge. There is something very fishy about this," he said.
Kejriwal likened the PM to the Queen of England when India was under British rule. The real power centre was the Queen, like the PM is. The LG is like the viceroy, only a face. I do not have 'jung" with the LG but we are fighting corruption and the Narendra Modi government is very worried about it. It has started creating hurdles for the Delhi government," he added.
Kejriwal said that he had sought the opinion of experts on the issue after which the government would explore the options available to it. Meanwhile, he did add that transfer and posting did not come under services, an issue which is under the LG's discretion.
The MHA notification also prohibits the Delhi anti-corruption branch from taking action against central officers, including Delhi Police. Kejriwal said that there is something wrong in trying to defend someone who has corruption charges against him/her.
"The Centre wants us to turn away if we find a central government employee indulging in corruption," he said.
We gave one year of corruption-free governance: Jaitley says on Modiversary
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NEW DELHI: Finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday that "corruption-free governance" and "decisiveness even in the face of obstructionism" have been important hallmarks of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government.
"The nation is not ready to accept slow decision- making," Arun Jaitley while addressing a press conference on completion of one year of the Modi government.
"Now there is an environment of enthusiasm in this country," Jaitley said.
"A very important highlight of the government has been to give a corruption-free administration to the country. The common man has been freed from political corruption. We have done it in one year," the finance minister said.
Jaitley also expressed the government's commitment to GST and the land acquisition bill, besides promising more funds for rural development and infrastructure.
The economy is growing at 7.5-8 per cent, he said, adding that there is a restlessness to grow even faster which is the real potential of the country.
"One year back, there was an environment of pessimism... there was general environment of gloom. In its place, an environment of enthusiasm has been created," he said, adding that decisiveness even in the face of obstructions has been the hallmark of the Modi government.
India, he said, "has potential to touch double-digit growth rate" provided decision-making is quick.
"We are reforming and liberalising, but there is no place for crony capitalism," he said, observing that it was the unclear economic policies that led to the fall of the UPA government.
The current government, Jaitley said, is both pro-growth and pro-development.
"Our social security programmes are going to be one of the strongest ever in this country, but certainly the policy will be one of arms-length distance in terms of decision-making from individual business houses," he asserted.
NEW DELHI: Finance minister Arun Jaitley said on Friday that "corruption-free governance" and "decisiveness even in the face of obstructionism" have been important hallmarks of the Narendra Modi-led NDA government. "The nation is not ready to accept slow decision- making," Arun Jaitley while addressing a press conference on completion of one year of the Modi government.
"Now there is an environment of enthusiasm in this country," Jaitley said.
"A very important highlight of the government has been to give a corruption-free administration to the country. The common man has been freed from political corruption. We have done it in one year," the finance minister said.
Jaitley also expressed the government's commitment to GST and the land acquisition bill, besides promising more funds for rural development and infrastructure.
The economy is growing at 7.5-8 per cent, he said, adding that there is a restlessness to grow even faster which is the real potential of the country.
"One year back, there was an environment of pessimism... there was general environment of gloom. In its place, an environment of enthusiasm has been created," he said, adding that decisiveness even in the face of obstructions has been the hallmark of the Modi government.
India, he said, "has potential to touch double-digit growth rate" provided decision-making is quick.
"We are reforming and liberalising, but there is no place for crony capitalism," he said, observing that it was the unclear economic policies that led to the fall of the UPA government.
The current government, Jaitley said, is both pro-growth and pro-development.
"Our social security programmes are going to be one of the strongest ever in this country, but certainly the policy will be one of arms-length distance in terms of decision-making from individual business houses," he asserted.
10 books Osama bin Laden was reading in hiding
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NEW DELHI: The dozens of documents released on Wednesday by the Obama administration portray bin Laden as a leader cut off from his underlings, disappointed by their failures, beset by their complaints and regretting years of separation from much of his family.
He went into hiding after al-Qaida was chased out of Afghanistan by US forces after the 9/11 attacks.
Here is a list of books which Osama was reading while hiding in Abbottabad:
NEW DELHI: The dozens of documents released on Wednesday by the Obama administration portray bin Laden as a leader cut off from his underlings, disappointed by their failures, beset by their complaints and regretting years of separation from much of his family.He went into hiding after al-Qaida was chased out of Afghanistan by US forces after the 9/11 attacks.
Here is a list of books which Osama was reading while hiding in Abbottabad:
Coal scam case: All accused including Naveen Jindal, Madhu Koda granted bail
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NEW DELHI: Congress leader and industrialist Naveen Jindal, ex-minister of state for coal Dasari Narayan Rao, former Jharkhand chief minister Madhu Koda and seven other accused persons were on Friday granted bail by a trial court in connection with a coal block allocation case.
Special CBI court Judge Bharat Parashar asked all the accused not to leave the country.
"None of the accused were arrested during investigation by CBI, nor have they denied to cooperate," the Judge said granting them bail.
Earlier today, Jindal and others appeared before the court in pursuance of the summons issued against them by the court.
Besides the 10 accused individuals, five accused companies through their authorized representatives also appeared in court in pursuance of the court's summons
The accused were granted bail on furnishing a bail bond and surety amount of Rs 1 lakh each.
The five firms which are accused in the case are Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Gagan Infraenergy Ltd (formerly known as GSIPL), Sowbhagya Media Ltd and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd.
Special CBI court Judge Bharat Parashar asked all the accused not to leave the country.
"None of the accused were arrested during investigation by CBI, nor have they denied to cooperate," the Judge said granting them bail.
Earlier today, Jindal and others appeared before the court in pursuance of the summons issued against them by the court.
Besides the 10 accused individuals, five accused companies through their authorized representatives also appeared in court in pursuance of the court's summons
The accused were granted bail on furnishing a bail bond and surety amount of Rs 1 lakh each.
The five firms which are accused in the case are Jindal Steel and Power Limited (JSPL), Jindal Realty Pvt Ltd, Gagan Infraenergy Ltd (formerly known as GSIPL), Sowbhagya Media Ltd and New Delhi Exim Pvt Ltd.
Wi-Fi service coming to major tourist spots soon
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NEW DELHI: The government would soon provide Wi-Fi facility at all major tourist places across India, information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday.
"Taj Mahal, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya are some of the places that will get a Wi-Fi facility soon. We have already started providing free Wi-Fi service at Varanasi ghats. The government has also started the facility of providing e-visa to tourists," Prasad said at the 'Manthan conclave'.
He said his ministry has formulated a new policy to make tier-II and -III cities as IT hubs.
"We are setting up call centres and BPOs at small towns and creating 48,000 jobs in the first phase. We will give subsidy to take IT revolution to smaller towns," he added.
"E-commerce is a big opportunity and we are roping in the department of posts to deliver goods to small towns and villages. Postal department has become a reliable partner for big e-commerce companies to deliver their goods," the minister added.
Talking about the Modi government's focus on digital India that aims to bridge the gap between haves and have-nots by using telecom and IT as a tool, Prasad said India would soon have 100 crore mobile subscribers, while within two years Internet connections would grow from 30 crore to 50 crore.
"We are connecting 2.5 lakh village panchayats with broadband and opening common service centres at remote locations to provide services and government facilities at the doorsteps of citizens," Prasad said.
NEW DELHI: The government would soon provide Wi-Fi facility at all major tourist places across India, information technology minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday. "Taj Mahal, Sarnath, Bodh Gaya are some of the places that will get a Wi-Fi facility soon. We have already started providing free Wi-Fi service at Varanasi ghats. The government has also started the facility of providing e-visa to tourists," Prasad said at the 'Manthan conclave'.
He said his ministry has formulated a new policy to make tier-II and -III cities as IT hubs.
"We are setting up call centres and BPOs at small towns and creating 48,000 jobs in the first phase. We will give subsidy to take IT revolution to smaller towns," he added.
"E-commerce is a big opportunity and we are roping in the department of posts to deliver goods to small towns and villages. Postal department has become a reliable partner for big e-commerce companies to deliver their goods," the minister added.
Talking about the Modi government's focus on digital India that aims to bridge the gap between haves and have-nots by using telecom and IT as a tool, Prasad said India would soon have 100 crore mobile subscribers, while within two years Internet connections would grow from 30 crore to 50 crore.
"We are connecting 2.5 lakh village panchayats with broadband and opening common service centres at remote locations to provide services and government facilities at the doorsteps of citizens," Prasad said.
Govt to consider Geelani's plea after he completes formalities
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NEW DELHI: Government on Friday said it will consider the passport application of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani only after he completes the formalities and indicated that it was not averse to approving it.
"If it comes to us after due formalities, we will think over it.... We have no objections," home minister Rajnath Singh told reporters.
The home minister was asked whether the central government will give passport to the Kashmiri separatist leader. Singh was speaking on the sidelines of a function here.
Yesterday, the external affairs ministry had said the passport application of Geelani cannot be processed in its present form as it was incomplete as he has not yet submitted passport fees, biometric details and photographs.
The home ministry had said passport is the right of every Indian citizen and is issued by the ministry of external affairs after following due process.
"In case any applicant applies for the passport, he should fulfil all the formalities before his case is processed. As and when the matter is referred to the ministry of home affairs, we will process the case on merit," a home ministry spokesperson said.
Jammu & Kashmir's ruling coalition partners PDP and BJP are sharply divided over the Geelani passport issue.
PDP has said it would approach the Centre for giving passport to Geelani on "humanitarian" grounds while BJP has said he should not be given the travel document till he "apologises" for his anti-national activities.
Sources said Geelani and his family members want to travel to Jeddah and have applied for passports online.
But he has not yet visited the regional passport office in Srinagar to give his biometric data and photograph. As per the new rules, an applicant must visit the passport office in person to give biometric details and get photograph clicked.
NEW DELHI: Government on Friday said it will consider the passport application of hardline Hurriyat leader Syed Ali Shah Geelani only after he completes the formalities and indicated that it was not averse to approving it."If it comes to us after due formalities, we will think over it.... We have no objections," home minister Rajnath Singh told reporters.
The home minister was asked whether the central government will give passport to the Kashmiri separatist leader. Singh was speaking on the sidelines of a function here.
Yesterday, the external affairs ministry had said the passport application of Geelani cannot be processed in its present form as it was incomplete as he has not yet submitted passport fees, biometric details and photographs.
The home ministry had said passport is the right of every Indian citizen and is issued by the ministry of external affairs after following due process.
"In case any applicant applies for the passport, he should fulfil all the formalities before his case is processed. As and when the matter is referred to the ministry of home affairs, we will process the case on merit," a home ministry spokesperson said.
Jammu & Kashmir's ruling coalition partners PDP and BJP are sharply divided over the Geelani passport issue.
PDP has said it would approach the Centre for giving passport to Geelani on "humanitarian" grounds while BJP has said he should not be given the travel document till he "apologises" for his anti-national activities.
Sources said Geelani and his family members want to travel to Jeddah and have applied for passports online.
But he has not yet visited the regional passport office in Srinagar to give his biometric data and photograph. As per the new rules, an applicant must visit the passport office in person to give biometric details and get photograph clicked.
Africa Continent Countries Capitals with Currency & Code
Country Capital Currency Language Algeria Agiers Algerian dinar (DZD) Arabic Angola Luanda Kwanza (AOA) Portuguese Benin Porto-Novo (official) West African CFA franc (XOF) French Botswana Gaborone Pula (BWP) English, Setswana Burkina Faso Ouagadougou West African CFA franc (XOF) French Burundi Bujumbura Burundian franc (BIF) Kirundi, French Cameroon Yaoundé Central AfricanCFA franc (XAF) French, English Cape Verde Praia Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) Portuguese Central African Republic Bangui Central African CFA franc (XAF) French, Sango Chad N’Djamena Central African CFA franc (XAF) French, Arabic Comoros Moroni Comorian franc (KMF) Comorian, Arabic, French Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) Brazzaville Central African CFA franc (XAF) French Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government) West African CFA franc (XOF) French Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) Kinshasa Congolese franc(CDF) French Djibouti Djibouti Djiboutian franc (DJF) French, Arabic Egypt Cairo Egyptian pound (EGP) Arabic Equatorial Guinea Malabo Central African CFA franc (XAF) Spanish, French, Portuguese Eritrea Asmara Eritrean nakfa (ERN) Tigrinya, Arabic, English Ethiopia Addis Ababa Ethiopian birr (ETB) Amharic Gabon Libreville Central African CFA franc (XAF) French Gambia Banjul Gambian dalasi (GMD) English Ghana Accra Ghana cedi (GHS) English Guinea Conakry Guinean franc (GNF) French Guinea-Bissau Bissau West African CFA franc (XOF) Portuguese Kenya Nairobi Kenyan shilling (KES) Swahili, English Lesotho Maseru Lesotho loti (LSL) English, Sesotho Liberia Monrovia Liberian dollara (LRD) English Libya Tripoli Libyan dinar (LYD) Arabic Madagascar Antananarivo Malagasy ariary (MGA) Malagasy, French Malawi Lilongwe Kwacha (D) (MWK) English, Chichewa Mali Bamako West African CFA franc (XOF) French Mauritania Nouakchott Ouguiya (MRO) Arabic Mauritius Port Louis Mauritian rupee (MUR) Mauritian Creole, French, English Mayotte Mamoudzou, Overseas department of France Euro (EUR) French Morocco Rabat Moroccan dirham MAD) Arabic, Berber Mozambique Maputo Mozambican metical (MZN) Portuguese Namibia Windhoek Namibian dollar (NAD) English Niger Niamey West African CFA franc (XOF) French Nigeria Abuja Naira (NGN) English Réunion Saint-Denis Euro French Rwanda Kigali Rwandan franc (RWF) Kinyarwanda, English,
French Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha Jamestown (Saint Helena),
Georgetown (Ascension Island),
Edinburgh of the Seven Seas (Tristan da Cunha) Saint Helena pound, Pound sterling English Sao Tome and Principe São Tomé Dobra(STD) Portuguese Senegal Dakar CFA franc(XOF) French Seychelles Victoria Seychellois rupee (SCR) Seychellois Creole,
French, English Sierra Leone Freetown Leone (SLL) English Somalia Mogadishu Somali shilling (SOS) Somali, Arabic Somaliland Hargeisa Somaliland shillinga (SLSH) Somali, Arabic South Africa Pretoria (administrative / executive) ,
Cape Town (legislative),
Bloemfontein (judicial) South African rand (ZAR) Afrikaans
English
Southern Ndebele
Northern Sotho
Southern Sotho
Swazi
Tsonga
Tswana
Venda
Xhosa
Zulu South Sudan Juba South Sudanese pound (SSP) English Sudan Khartoum Sudanese pound (SDG) Arabic, English Swaziland Mbabane (administrative),
Lobamba (royal and legislative) South African rand Swazi lilangeni (SZL) English,
Swati Tanzania Dodoma (official),
Dar es Salaam (seat of government) Tanzanian shilling (TZS) Swahili, English Togo Lomé CFA franc (XOF) French Tunisia Tunis Tunisian dinar ( TND) Arabic Uganda Kampala Ugandan shilling (UGX) Swahili, English, Luganda Zambia Lusaka Zambian kwacha (ZMW) English Zimbabwe Harare various (United States Dollar, Euro, Botswana pula, Pound sterling, South African rand) English, Shona, Sindebele
| Country | Capital | Currency | Language |
|---|---|---|---|
| Algeria | Agiers | Algerian dinar (DZD) | Arabic |
| Angola | Luanda | Kwanza (AOA) | Portuguese |
| Benin | Porto-Novo (official) | West African CFA franc (XOF) | French |
| Botswana | Gaborone | Pula (BWP) | English, Setswana |
| Burkina Faso | Ouagadougou | West African CFA franc (XOF) | French |
| Burundi | Bujumbura | Burundian franc (BIF) | Kirundi, French |
| Cameroon | Yaoundé | Central AfricanCFA franc (XAF) | French, English |
| Cape Verde | Praia | Cape Verdean escudo (CVE) | Portuguese |
| Central African Republic | Bangui | Central African CFA franc (XAF) | French, Sango |
| Chad | N’Djamena | Central African CFA franc (XAF) | French, Arabic |
| Comoros | Moroni | Comorian franc (KMF) | Comorian, Arabic, French |
| Congo (Congo-Brazzaville) | Brazzaville | Central African CFA franc (XAF) | French |
| Côte d’Ivoire (Ivory Coast) | Yamoussoukro (official), Abidjan (seat of government) | West African CFA franc (XOF) | French |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo (Congo-Kinshasa) | Kinshasa | Congolese franc(CDF) | French |
| Djibouti | Djibouti | Djiboutian franc (DJF) | French, Arabic |
| Egypt | Cairo | Egyptian pound (EGP) | Arabic |
| Equatorial Guinea | Malabo | Central African CFA franc (XAF) | Spanish, French, Portuguese |
| Eritrea | Asmara | Eritrean nakfa (ERN) | Tigrinya, Arabic, English |
| Ethiopia | Addis Ababa | Ethiopian birr (ETB) | Amharic |
| Gabon | Libreville | Central African CFA franc (XAF) | French |
| Gambia | Banjul | Gambian dalasi (GMD) | English |
| Ghana | Accra | Ghana cedi (GHS) | English |
| Guinea | Conakry | Guinean franc (GNF) | French |
| Guinea-Bissau | Bissau | West African CFA franc (XOF) | Portuguese |
| Kenya | Nairobi | Kenyan shilling (KES) | Swahili, English |
| Lesotho | Maseru | Lesotho loti (LSL) | English, Sesotho |
| Liberia | Monrovia | Liberian dollara (LRD) | English |
| Libya | Tripoli | Libyan dinar (LYD) | Arabic |
| Madagascar | Antananarivo | Malagasy ariary (MGA) | Malagasy, French |
| Malawi | Lilongwe | Kwacha (D) (MWK) | English, Chichewa |
| Mali | Bamako | West African CFA franc (XOF) | French |
| Mauritania | Nouakchott | Ouguiya (MRO) | Arabic |
| Mauritius | Port Louis | Mauritian rupee (MUR) | Mauritian Creole, French, English |
| Mayotte | Mamoudzou, Overseas department of France | Euro (EUR) | French |
| Morocco | Rabat | Moroccan dirham MAD) | Arabic, Berber |
| Mozambique | Maputo | Mozambican metical (MZN) | Portuguese |
| Namibia | Windhoek | Namibian dollar (NAD) | English |
| Niger | Niamey | West African CFA franc (XOF) | French |
| Nigeria | Abuja | Naira (NGN) | English |
| Réunion | Saint-Denis | Euro | French |
| Rwanda | Kigali | Rwandan franc (RWF) | Kinyarwanda, English, French |
| Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha | Jamestown (Saint Helena), Georgetown (Ascension Island), Edinburgh of the Seven Seas (Tristan da Cunha) | Saint Helena pound, Pound sterling | English |
| Sao Tome and Principe | São Tomé | Dobra(STD) | Portuguese |
| Senegal | Dakar | CFA franc(XOF) | French |
| Seychelles | Victoria | Seychellois rupee (SCR) | Seychellois Creole, French, English |
| Sierra Leone | Freetown | Leone (SLL) | English |
| Somalia | Mogadishu | Somali shilling (SOS) | Somali, Arabic |
| Somaliland | Hargeisa | Somaliland shillinga (SLSH) | Somali, Arabic |
| South Africa | Pretoria (administrative / executive) , Cape Town (legislative), Bloemfontein (judicial) | South African rand (ZAR) | Afrikaans English Southern Ndebele Northern Sotho Southern Sotho Swazi Tsonga Tswana Venda Xhosa Zulu |
| South Sudan | Juba | South Sudanese pound (SSP) | English |
| Sudan | Khartoum | Sudanese pound (SDG) | Arabic, English |
| Swaziland | Mbabane (administrative), Lobamba (royal and legislative) | South African rand Swazi lilangeni (SZL) | English, Swati |
| Tanzania | Dodoma (official), Dar es Salaam (seat of government) | Tanzanian shilling (TZS) | Swahili, English |
| Togo | Lomé | CFA franc (XOF) | French |
| Tunisia | Tunis | Tunisian dinar ( TND) | Arabic |
| Uganda | Kampala | Ugandan shilling (UGX) | Swahili, English, Luganda |
| Zambia | Lusaka | Zambian kwacha (ZMW) | English |
| Zimbabwe | Harare | various (United States Dollar, Euro, Botswana pula, Pound sterling, South African rand) | English, Shona, Sindebele |
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