Chandigarh, Apr 20: Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) President and Punjab deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on Monday released his party’s manifesto for general elections.

The party in its manifesto reiterated its commitment to continue its peaceful and democratic struggle for inclusion of Chandigarh and other Punjabi-speaking areas left out of the state back into Punjab and for getting the river water issue settled on the basis of nationally and internationally accepted Riparian Principle.

Patna, Apr 20: After Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad, it was Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) chief Ram Vilas Paswan’s turn to blame the Congress party for the demolition of the Babri Masjid.

Lalu has just said that there was a Congress government at the Centre when the Babri mosque was pulled down. Who can dispute this fact?” Paswan told reporters here.

On April 18, Lalu Yadav had blamed the Congress for the demolition of the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.

Paswan also criticized the Congress for attacking him and Lalu.

New Delhi, Apr 20: Former Union Minister Jagdish Tytler on Monday asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the incident of shoe-throwing by a journalist on Home Minister P Chidambaram, which had brought Tytler''s role in the 1984 Sikh riots to the centerstage.

On April 7, Jarnail Singh, a journalist of the Dainik Jagran newspaper, had thrown a shoe at Chidambaram during a press conference at the Congress headquarters in New Delhi.

With the 48-hour countdown for the takeoff of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV-C-12) having begun at 6.45 a. m. on Saturday, the vehicle carrying two satellites is all geared up to rocket into the sky at 6.45 a. m. on Monday, from Andhra Pradesh's Sriharikota spaceport.

The two satellites that the PSLV will put in orbit include a radar imaging satellite called RISAT-2, and a 38-kg investigational mini communication satellite - Anusat - built by Anna University, Chennai.

State Bank of India, the country's top lender, has agreed to lend Rs 10,000 crore to Vodafone-Essar, the Indian arm of UK-based telecom firm Vodafone Group to finance the company’s entry into 3G (third generation) telecom services and expansion of its operations.

According to sources, the five-year loan carries an interest rate of 13.25 per cent for the first two years; thereafter, it will be re-adjusted on the basis of the average prime lending rate.

The company intends to use the funds for network rollout, broadband operations, and to pre-pay part of its previous debt.

Public sector United Bank of India (UBI) is witnessing February 2010 deadline for its proposed maiden public offer, after receiving cabinet nod for the long-awaited capital restructuring.

According to sources, the bank intends to file the red herring prospectus with market regulator, Securities & Exchange Board of India (SEBI) after September 2009.

The IPO size was still pending for finalization by the bank, but reports hinted it would be over Rs 50 crore and the shares will carry a premium.