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December 26, Trinamul Congress President Mamata Banerjee had to be temporarily put on Oxygen support in the afternoon after she complained of chest pains and respiratory complications. Her health deteriorated on the 23rd day of her hungerstrike over the Singur issue.

A team of doctors rushed along with an ambulance. But the firebrand Trinamul chieftain refused to let them attend on her. The is not taking any chances and has kept the medical team on standby near her Dharna Manch at Esplanade, the venue of the hungerstrike.

Trinamul Congress leader Mukul Roy said that Mamata Banerjee’s condition further deteriorated on Tuesday afternoon and her family doctors examined her at the Dharna Manch and decided to put her on oxygen as she complained of breathing trouble. He also said that they all were concerned about her health.

BJP president Rajnath Singh met Ms.Banerhee. He had earlier met her on December 4, the day she launched her fast in protest against Tata Motors project. After the meeting he said that they all were worried about her health. He also said that if anything happened to her, the entire nation would blame chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and his government.

December 25, BPCL beat IOC 9-8 in sudden death to pocket the MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup in the 83rd MCC-Murugappa Gold Cup All India hockey tournament. The team were locked 1-1 at the end of regulation and extra time.

Scores level was 8-8. The deadlock was broken by Tushar Khandker in the 17th minute when he took a pass off Hari Prasad from the right frank. BPCL Goalkeeper M.T.Muttappa saved the strike of Rajpal by defeating the ball.

Rajpal had failed to score during the tie-breaker. Tushar Khandekar of BPCL scored the first goal of the final in the 17th minute. Prabhjot Singh of IOC scored the equaliser in spectacular fashion, single-handed, off an accurate pass from Deepak Thakur.

Extra-time too could not produce a winner. Both teams committed mistake. The second half of extra-time was dramatic with Deepak Thakur being given a yellow card for sledging. Both sides matched stroke in the tiebreaker with Rajpal (IOC) and Ravi Naikar (BPCL) failing to score.

The champions were riched by Rs.130000 and the runners-up took home Rs.8000. Deepak Thakur was adjudged player of the Tournament and received a cash prize of Rs.10000.

December 25, Getting passport will be easier form Tuesday. Only three out of 14 documents as proof, including one with a photograph are required to submit for a new passport. The government has also relaxed rules for obtaining certificate for waiver of police verification.

In the case of reissuing of passport no police verification would be necessary, expect in select cases where there is any negative information about an applicant. The government has extended the authorisation powers for giving certificates for waiving of police verification to undersecretaries, tehsildars and station house officers of police station.

The process for reissuing of passports will have to be completed within four days. It has also been decided to change the eligiblity criterion for Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR), with all those who have passed matriculation now being eligible for the ECNR stamp. Earlier, Only graduates were eligible for this.

In the Tatkal scheme, a person can now get a passport within 14 days. A Tatkal passport may also be issued within seven days, if an applicant shells out Rs.500 extra. The reissue of a passport under the Tatkal scheme will now be done within three days. As per the changes, an applicant does not need to cite reasons for applying for a Tatkal passport.

While easing procedures for applying for passport, the government is also examining suitable amendments to the passports’ Act to provide for stricter penalties for those obtaining passports by fraudulent means.