Varanasi, Oct 23 : Dozens including women were injured when Samajwadi party activists demonstrating against Mayawati Government clashed with police here today.

Police baton charged and used water canons to disperse the party workers who were staging a demonstration.

Samajwadi party, which was dislodged from power in the state by the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) during last elections, has been accusing Mayawati as "anti development."

As per reports, police asked party workers to be calm as they were raising slogans against Mayawati as part of their three-day statewide campaign.

Varanasi, Oct 23 : Seers in Varanasi offer prayers to holy river Ganges and vow to cleanse it of all the pollutants.

Residents, environmentalists and religious groups, who have formed a ''Ganga Sena'' (Ganges Army-for protection) to save the River Ganga from pollution, took part in the prayers that marked the completion of the first phase of action against pollution.

The plan of action has been divided into three phases. To begin with, the devotees said that they have succeeded in convincing the authorities about the steps that are required to be taken.

Lucknow, Oct. 22 : Authorities at a Lucknow zoo are faced with an unusual problem after observing that many animals at the zoo don’t have fellows to pair. Hence, they are exploring possibilities of exchange programme for help the creatures at the zoo.

Presently, the zoo officials wish to ensure pairing of animals under their care since a majority of the animals here are starved of partners.

The shares of major sugar companies witnessed a steep downfall on Bombay stock exchange on Monday trading. The shares of Bajaj Hindustan Ltd declined Rs 5.6 and closed at 53.50. The company is the biggest refiner by sale of the country. Balrampur Chini Mills Ltd. also saw share decline of 12% which is the lowest since December 2.

The shares downfall came after the decision of UP government to hike the cane prices in the state. UP government had hiked the state administered price (SAP) of sugarcane by Rs 15 per quintal for the new crushing season. UP is the largest sugar producing state of India and many leading cane companies are located in the state.

New Delhi, Oct 21 : Minister of Labour and Employment Oscar Fernandes has informed the Lok Sabha that Uttar Pradesh tops in child labour prevention followed by Rajasthan and Bihar as the maximum number of children in the age group of 5-14 year were rescued and rehabilitated.

During the year 2007-08, Fernandes said 71,479 children were withdrawn from work and enrolled in special schools under the National Child Labour Project (NCLP) in Uttar Pradesh.

Uttar Pradesh was followed by Rajasthan and Bihar where 39,601 and 34,650 children were withdrawn from work and enrolled in special schools.

The Uttar Pradesh Government has revised sugar cane prices for the current season on Saturday. The farmers would now get Rs 15 more than the prices of last year. The State Advised Price (SAP) for common variety sugarcane would be Rs 140 a quintal after recent revision of prices. It was Rs 125 per quintal last year. SAP for rejected variety would be Rs 137.50 a quintal which earlier stood at Rs 122.50.