Pune Beat

RPI gets Race CourseDefence Ministry officials today finally allowed the Republican Party of India RPI to hold its national convention,...

RPI gets Race Course
Defence Ministry officials today finally allowed the Republican Party of India RPI to hold its national convention, scheduled on Sunday, at the Race Course.

For the first time in the recent past that the ministry has given the ground to any political party for its rally. Earlier, former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi had addressed the rallies here. Congress president Sonia Gandhi was denied permission to hold the election rally.

RPI sources said the permission was on stamp paper subject to certain conditions. Sources said the permission followed Ramdas Athawale and Jogendra Kawade, both MPs, raising of the issue in the Lok Sabha this week. The Government had to give them the permission since the party had said it would take the matter to court.

Meanwhile, a massive podium admeasuring 50 by 20 feet, will now be erected at the Race Course. RPI workers had stopped the preparations at Kedaribag, where rally was to be held.

Teachers8217; stir
The ongoing indefinite strike of the junior college teachers in the State is likely to affect schedule of higher secondary examination, if it stretches on for one more week.

According to the scheduled time-table, the syllabus of twelfth standard is supposed to be completed by December end or maximum by the second week of January. Generally preliminary HSC examinations are conducted by respective colleges in the month of January and the actual board examination is conducted in February.

Due to the ongoing strike more than 20 per cent of the HSC syllabus in colleges remains to be completed. The strike called by the agitating teachers for implementation of their various demands including the three-tier pay scales has yielded no results even after fifteen days.

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The teachers8217; unions on the other hand have blamed the State Government alleging indifference on its part in handling the sensitive issue. It may be noted that the talks of teachers8217; unions with the State Government, held in Nagpur two days ago had failed. The unions have reiterated their resolve to continue with the strike until all their demands are met.

Dandekar donates
Internationally acclaimed orientologist and Sanskrit scholar R N Dandekar has donated Rs one lakh for the Univeristy of Pune development fund.

Dandekar accompanied by his wife Indumati today paid a visit to the Vice-Chancellor Arun Nigavekar at the varsity where took a review of the various programmes planned by the varsity as a part of its golden jubilee celebrations.

Nigavekar said apart from informing the stalwarts from various fields about the varsity8217;s activities during the golden jubilee year, personal invitations have also been sent appealing for donations for the varisty8217;s development fund.