Piracy cost 'Lagaan' a loss of over Rs 40 crore: distributor
Mumbai, Nov 29 Despite all hype revolving around it and making official entry for coveted Oscar, Ashutosh Gawarikar's 'LAGAAN ' has 'failed' to do expected business as the piracy menace has cost it a net loss of over Rs 40 crore, according to the film's distributor. 'In Mumbai alone, against an expected trade of Rs 15 crore turnover, 'Lagaan' could fetch us only Rs 6.75 crore business,' Shyam Shroff of Shringar Films said here last evening. On the sidelines of a meeting of film producers and cable operators, Shroff told that at the national level the film's business has fallen by over Rs 40 crore 'thanks to piracy'. He claimed that even among those who have been to the theatres to see 'Lagaan', 'they have seen the movie at least thrice on cable'. Earlier, participating in the meeting organised by the Indian Motion Picture Producers' Association (IMPAA), Shroff said one of his friends 'shell-shocked' him at Nasik by telling him that 'Lagaan is being beamed on cable with happy birthday message coming on the screen for his son'. 'This simply left me hurt,' he remarked.
Thursday, November 29, 2001
Seven Indian border guards killed in Kashmir
Srinagar, Nov 29 At least seven Indian frontier guards were killed in a fierce gun battle with terrorists at Achabal in Jammu and Kashmir. A senior police officer told from Baramulla on phone Thursday that troops belonging to the paramilitary Border Security Force's (BSF's) 88 battalion raided a house in Achabal village late Wednesday after receiving information that some terrorists were hiding there. When the security forces challenged the terrorists, they hurled grenades and opened indiscriminate fire. Three BSF men, including assistant commandant I.A. Khan who led the operation, died on the spot. Seven troopers were moved in a serious condition to hospital, where four succumbed to their injuries. Sources said reinforcement had come in from Srinagar and the gun battle continued. All the routes leading to the village had been sealed. Police said two boys were killed in an explosion at Magam village in the southern Anantnag district. The two boys found an explosive device in a wooded area and, as they fiddled with it, it went off. "There was an explosion in which the two boys died on the spot," a police source said.
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Nepal earthquake rocks Delhi, adjoining areas
NEW DELHI : Several parts of the national capital Delhi and neighbouring areas today felt tremors were felt in several parts of the capital this afternoon at 13.02 p.m., the Meteorological Department sources here said. The tremors in Delhi and surrounding areas was a result of a mild intensity-earthquake in Nepal.
Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Probe on into Chennai airspace violation
CHENNAI : A probe has been ordered into the violation of Chennai airspace by an unidentified helicopter, the airport sources said today. The Chennai Air Traffic Controller (ATC) spotted the helicopter on the radar on Monday, but despite his efforts it did not establish contact with the ATC, the sources said. The copter hovered in the Chennai airspace for more than two hours and went up to Kalpakkam atomic power plant site before leaving the Chennai airspace, they said. In a similar incident, an unidentified aircraft was spotted near Rameswaram coast a fortnight ago.
Sunday, November 25, 2001
Crackdown on food carts angers Mumbai's night birds
Mumbai, Nov 25 It's a little after midnight outside the Churchgate railway station in India's commercial capital. A few people hover around a mobile eatery to grab a quick bite before catching the last train home. Suddenly, a truck turns the corner and some men armed with sticks pounce on the food carts. It is a crackdown by Mumbai civic authorities on food vendors violating a 10 p.m. deadline. The decision has angered many Mumbai citizens who have to stay out late and need the cheap food from these mobile food stalls to keep them going at odd hours. Vendors of vada pav -- Mumbai's very own dish of a potato patty wrapped in a loaf - tea, omelette and other kinds of fast food are at the receiving end of a conservancy campaign. This is inconveniencing thousands of night birds who might have to go hungry because the city's restaurants close down at 11 p.m. "Until now we used to bribe municipal workers to help us do business. Now they attack us even after taking hefty bribes," complains Tambi Selvaraj, a vendor of the crisp dosa pancake preparation. Selvaraj and others like him used to do business from 7 p.m. into the early morning hours, providing a quick meal to many people working on nightshifts. The civic administration has formed six night squads, each with a team of 25 employees to carry out the crackdown. According to information from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), only 1,000 of the 6,000 food carts across the city have licenses. Though the licenses make it mandatory for them to follow regular business hours, the city's requirements for cheap food round-the-clock make it very lucrative for them to pay off municipal officials to look the other way while they do brisk business. But advertisement, media, transnational company executives and others who often have to stay back late in office, are all flooding newspapers columns to protest the action by the municipality. "All landmarks of a Bombay (now Mumbai) that I have always loved...they will be wiped off the face of the earth with the same finality as the twin towers of the World Trade Centre," ad man Adi Pocha wrote in his reaction to the decision. Deputy Municipal Commissioner Chandrasekhar Rokde, who initiated the crackdown, however, defends his actions. "We have received complaints about illegal sale of liquor by some of the hawkers creating public nuisance," he was quoted as saying. It seems, however, that the conservancy drive is not being implemented properly. The authorities reportedly force the vendors to shut down business for a day. The vendors re-appear the next evening after having allegedly paid off the municipal officials to retrieve their impounded goods. Town planners in Mumbai have suggested the authorities set up food zones at suitable points where clean and hygienic food could be available round-the-clock. The proposal has had no response so far because of objections from various groups of residents.
Saturday, November 24, 2001
ISI agents arrested for spying at airbase
Kolkata, Nov 24 Four people have been arrested on charges of spying on an Indian Air Force base in the eastern Indian state of West Bengal, police said Saturday. The four were caught spying allegedly for Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) at the Kalaikunda airbase, some 130 km south of here. "The four suspected ISI agents intruded into the airbase from its western side, where the MIG-27 aircraft are stationed, after snapping the barbed wire fencing last night," senior police official K C Meena said. Identified as Koirali Molla, Inder, Mohihar and Phul Singh, they were spotted by the air force officials, Meena said adding a map of the airbase was seized from one of the arrested. They were produced before a district court, which remanded them to police custody for two weeks. Police said the four were being interrogated. "They are giving different versions about where they are from," Meena said. Kalaikunda airbase near Kharagpur town is one of the oldest airbases in eastern India. The airbase was used extensively by the British during the World War II.
Saturday, November 24, 2001
India on alert after Taliban sends huge drug stocks to Pakistan
New Delhi, Nov 24 Indian anti-narcotics agents have heightened vigil at all entry points from Pakistan following reports that the Taliban had sent nearly 400 tonnes of heroin out of Afghanistan since September. "We are on alert at all entry points from Pakistan. We have specific intelligence reports that the Taliban passed on all its drug stocks to Pakistan along with processing machinery and laboratory equipment," a senior anti-narcotics official told . Under the Taliban regime, Afghanistan became the largest producer of opium and heroin and was said to be making almost 85 percent of the opium produced worldwide. During 1998-1999, Afghanistan had a bumper opium crop and produced 8,000 tonnes of opium that was converted to 800 tonnes of heroin. Indian officials say the Taliban earned a whopping $35 billion from drug trafficking last year. "We've been informed that some 400 tonnes of heroin has been sent out of Afghanistan. We fear it might reach India via Pakistan and then be sent to overseas destinations," said an official of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB). In 2000, the Taliban regime claimed it had stopped the production of opium in a bid to mollify the world community, which had accused it of using funds from drug trafficking for arms purchases. Indian officials say the Taliban continued to produce drugs clandestinely. "We have information that the Taliban had a supply of 400 tonnes of heroin in September. After the September 11 attacks in the U.S., they became desperate. "As the world heroin demand depends on Afghanistan where the Taliban was earning a huge profit from the drugs trade, they quickly sent the heroin across the border," the official said. "After the U.S. started bombing Afghanistan, there was unregulated movement of refugees to Pakistan. This was used by the Taliban to dispatch drugs through traffickers." Anti-narcotics officials now fear India might become an alternative route for shipping drugs from Afghanistan following the closure of Balkan routes through which drugs were earlier supplied to Europe and the U.S. "Moreover, the price of heroin is cheaper here (in India), while in Europe it is high. One kilogram of heroin fetches $30,000 in Europe," an official said. Even the Interpol had said that Afghanistan sent about 120 tonnes of heroin to Western Europe last year. Authorities here are also concerned that use of India as an alternative route for sending drugs to Europe could lead to a spurt in terrorist activities in the country. "Drug money is directly linked to supplying arms and ammunition to terrorist groups," an official said, adding that drug traffickers could link up with Indian terror groups to move drug shipments. Heroin produced in Afghanistan trafficked across the India-Pakistan border accounted for a significant percentage of drugs seized by Indian authorities last year. Almost 35 percent of the 1,240 kg of heroin seized by Indian authorities last year is believed to have originated in Afghanistan. The NCB also arrested six Afghans and 12 Pakistanis for smuggling drugs to India during the same period. The official said traffickers could use any route, including sea, postal and air, to send the drugs to India. The most vulnerable states through which drugs from Afghanistan could be smuggled are the northwestern states bordering Pakistan, including Jammu and Kashmir, Punjab and Rajasthan. Exit routes favoured by traffickers are Mumbai, Delhi and the Tamil Nadu coast in southern India.
Saturday, November 24, 2001
India sets deadline for switch over to new vehicle registration plates
New Delhi, Nov 24 India has set deadlines for switching to new tamper-proof vehicle registration plates to check thefts and unlawful use of vehicles. Switching of registration plates is a common ploy adopted by criminals and vehicle thieves to obliterate evidence of their crime. By February 20, 2002, all commercial vehicles would have to sport the new number plate with registration numbers in black against a yellow background. Privately owned vehicles have till July 1 to switch to the new plates with the registration number in black against a white background. Vehicles that have been registered prior to September 28, 2001, will get two years to make the switchover. "The new safety measures will make it difficult to tamper with the registration plates, which will now be located at three points on the vehicle," Minister for Road Transport and Highways B.C. Khanduri told . In addition to the plates at the front and the rear, a third registration plate would be embossed on the top left hand side of the windshield. "If tampered with, this self-destructive chromium-based hologram will leave a mark which would be easily identifiable," said Khanduri. Apart from the registration number, the hologram would also carry the engine number and the chassis number of the vehicle. The front and rear registration plates would include a chromium-based hologram and the word 'IND' to denote India in blue on the extreme left of the plate. Under the technical specifications laid down for the new plates, the registration number will have to be hot stamped and the plates themselves will have to be fastened on the vehicle with a non-removable and non-reusable snap lock system. The transport ministry has identified five agencies for testing and certifying samples of the new number plates, which would be manufactured by private companies. The government is also computerizing the vehicle licensing procedure to keep a check on malpractices, said Khanduri.
Saturday, November 24, 2001
Watch out! The Chinese are here to learn
Bangalore, Nov 24 One Chinese delegation left last week and two more are arriving in India's tech capital next week. And they are being welcomed with all that Indian hospitality can offer. The one question that members of the delegation from the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, who were here last week, asked was: "What kind of model did India follow to reach this level in information technology?" Officials of IT companies that the delegation visited as well as their hosts, the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), told them whatever is already known about the growth of the Indian IT industry. "They have also seen the facilities at the software technology parks of India (STPI). They wanted to know what kind of software is produced here and what kind of business models our companies follow," STPI director B.V. Naidu told . Next week will see an economic and trade delegation of Xiangsu province sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the FKCCI. "The visit is at their initiative and the MoU will be in IT, garments and precision engineering," said G. Gurucharan, Karnataka's commissioner for industries and commerce. The delegation's visit will be more than an exploratory one. "They are looking at a sister-state relationship with Karnataka. And this will be the first such relationship with a Chinese province," added Gurucharan. Another delegation from the Xian economic zone is expected in the latter half of next week, Naidu said. And the three delegations are not the beginning or the end of visitors from China. "There have been quite a few visits. In fact, because of (the) September 11 (U.S. terror attacks), some delegations cancelled their planned visits. They may come later," said a FKCCI official. There are also indications that Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji would be coming to Bangalore when he visits India in January 2002. "They have obviously been told to study the technological and industrial developments in India," said an official who did not want to be identified. Does the Indian IT industry view the knowledge gathering exercise by the Chinese as a threat? "Definitely not now. But five years hence they could be a challenge," said the CEO of a big IT company, speaking on condition of anonymity. "Indian industry has grown over the last decade. This head start will hold us in good stead against any competition. And it is not the knowledge of English alone that gives us the edge over the Chinese," said a senior official of a medium-sized IT company. "India has over 60,000 middle level project managers today with technology, domain and business expertise. The ability to manage large projects. This is India's advantage against several other countries. But we definitely need to work hard to meet the challenge in the future," T. Mohandas Pai, director and CFO of Infosys technologies, told a meeting of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) recently. Pai said he was speaking for himself and not for his company.
Thursday, November 22, 2001
Indian media reaction to cricket crisis 'hysterical:' British papers
London, Nov 22 Some British newspapers seem unable to countenance the "hysteria" in the Indian media over the cricket crisis that arose from the second Test in South Africa. "The reaction of certain Indian newspapers reached hysteria level," The Times reported Thursday. There was some degree of amusement particularly at an article in The Hindu that connected the events involving Mike Denness, match referee of the second Test between India and South Africa who penalised six players including captain Sourav Ganguly and ace batsman Sachin Tendulkar, to the old colonial England. Passages from The Hindu were quoted liberally in the media, particularly this one: "Denness's sense of fairness dates back to the Victorian era when Britannia ruled the waves. In the event, Denness truly believes -- in the manner of his forefathers who ruled this land with such cunning for so long -- that there are always two sets of rules, or two different interpretations of them. "Like a no-nonsense headmaster from Eton, he whipped out the cane. Give it to the brats! Put them in their place! For some people, like Denness, things haven't changed in a long, long time. Nothing has changed since the days when the sun never set on the British Empire." The Guardian too referred to the same column by Nirmal Shekar. It said "the Indian media has been savage in its criticism of Denness who, though born in Scotland, has been widely castigated for supposedly old-fashioned, English prejudice." The Guardian said: "Anger has also spilled on to the streets of India. Signs bearing slogans such as 'Go to hell, Denness' and 'No to racism in cricket' were raised by protesters in Calcutta yesterday (Wednesday)." Rajiv Gandhi Memorial Society chairman Madan Mitra was quoted as saying: "We want to tell Denness the Menace that he is biased against Indians and to stop conspiring against the Indian team, which will defeat the English cricket team." Only Dicky Rutnagar writing in The Daily Telegraph presented the Indian view with some seriousness, though he too saw some hysteria in the media. Rutnagar noted the "angry tone of the Indian press" and said that "Osama bin Laden and Afghanistan yielded every inch of space to `Denness the Menace' on front pages." "Denness's decisions would perhaps have been more acceptable had he also punished South African captain Shaun Pollock for the manner in which he appealed for lbw against V.V.S. Laxman in India's first innings. There was no question that it was aggressive." This omission, he wrote, "fuelled the oft-repeated argument that referees are more heavy-handed in dealing with the transgressions of Asian players and that there is racial bias in their attitudes."
Wednesday, November 21, 2001
Top US official coming to discuss on defence
NEW DELHI : US Ambassador Robert Blackwill said today that Washington is sending high-ranking officials for discussions with New Delhi on a range of issues including arms sales. The Chief of the US Pacific Command, Admiral Dennis Blair will be arriving here next week followed by US Under Secretary for Policy in the Defence Department, Douglas Feith, the US envoy told a press conference at the Foreign Correspondents' Club. Signalling a new phase in Indo-US defence cooperation, Blackwill, just back from the US after the summit meeting between President George W Bush and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on November 9, said Washington saw a "robust" defence cooperation and "conclusive acceleration" in it in the coming year. Military ties between the two countries were suspended in 1998 after the Pokhran nuclear tests. Observing that Indo-US relations were built on common democratic values and increasingly overlapping national interests, Blackwill said that he anticipated defence cooperation of "a kind that is unprecedented". "The military relations would be taken forward in terms of arms sales, joint exercises, military education and other areas," said Blackwill, adding, that the Vajpayee-Bush summit was "most substantive" and "consequential in the history of Indo-US relations".
Monday, November 19, 2001
Bush borrows Delhi recipe
Washington, Nov. 17: In his all-out effort to chase the Muslim vote bank within the anti-terrorist coalition of nations, President George W. Bush has turned to New Delhi for guidance. Taking a leaf out of the Ramazan dairies of Indian politicians from Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee to Opposition leader Sonia Gandhi Bush is to host an iftar in the White House for the first time in the 201-year history of the US presidential mansion. At the annual ritual of iftars at the colonial bungalows occupied by ministers and MPs in Lutyen’s Delhi, attendance at the fast-breaking meals is carefully analysed to gauge a politician’s standing among Muslims. So will it be in the East Room of the White House on Monday. Although Bush is emulating Indian politicians in hosting the iftar, India’s ambassador to the US will not be among his guests. The White House has invited 50 ambassadors from Muslim countries to pray in the East Room. Bush will not join the prayers, but will be with the envoys when they break their dawn-to-dusk fast in the State Dining Room. When he was President, Bill Clinton used to host a party in the White House at the conclusion of Ramazan, but he never hosted an iftar. Monday’s iftar is part of a blitz by the White House, as it continues the war in Afghanistan during Ramazan, to convince Muslims around the world that the US is not opposed to Islam, but only against terrorists who exploit the religion. The White House is also attempting to calm the fears among America’s seven million Muslims, many of whom feel discriminated against after September 11. Bush issued a Ramazan message on Friday in which he extended warm greetings to Muslims throughout the US and around the world. Acknowledging that Islam is one of the fastest growing religions in America, with millions of American believers today, the President stressed his administration’s desire to minimise the suffering of the Afghan people, an emotional issue among Muslims as they begin their month-long fast and prayers. Americans now have turned to acts of charity, sending relief to the Afghan people, who have suffered for so many years...And today we are committed to working for the long-term reconstruction of that troubled land, he added. On Thursday, the House of Representatives opened its proceedings with an Islamic prayer by Imam Yahya Hendi, Muslim chaplain of Georgetown University here. The Imam read from the Quran and prayed to help Congressmen help us confront hatred wherever it exists that we all may live as one nation, united, under God. Last year, when Vajpayee addressed a joint session of the US Congress, the House began its session for the first time in history with a Hindu prayer. It is a sign of expediency in Washington in the context of the war in Afghanistan that this year, there were no Hindu prayers on Capitol Hill during Vajpayee’s visit to the US. Also conspicuous by its absence was a Diwali celebration which Clinton had hosted in the White House last year to signify the all-embracing friendship with India, which was the flavour of that season. Welcoming the Imam to the House, Benjamin Gilman, a prominent member of the Congressional India Caucus, said: We in the Congress want...all Americans to know of our nation’s view that Islam should be understood as a faith that firmly upholds the values of respect for the individual human being, the value of the family, and justice for all. Adding to the Ramazan blitz, First Lady Laura Bush took her husband’s place on Saturday, delivering the weekly presidential radio address. She focused on the plight of women under the Taliban. It was the first time in the history of the US presidency that a First Lady, instead of the President, had delivered the Saturday address.
Thursday, November 15, 2001
Eight killed in Bihar clash
BIHARSHARIF : Two rival groups of Yadavas clashed on Wednesday night at Nawada village in Nalanda district, killing eight people, the police sources said here today. The sources however did not specify the reason behind the clash, adding senior police officials had already rushed to the spot.
Sunday, November 11, 2001
India successfully test fires Osa missile
Bhubaneswar, Nov 11 India on Sunday successfully test-fired an OSA surface-to-air missile, defence sources said. The Russian made missile was test-fired from the Interim Test Range at Chandipur in Balasore, in the eastern Indian state of Orissa state. The OSA missile, which has an onboard computer, has a range of about 12 km. It successfully hit its target, the indigenously built pilotless target aircraft (PTA) Lakshya, the sources said.
Sunday, November 11, 2001
29 militants killed in Jammu and Kashmir
Jammu, Nov 11 At least 29 militants were killed in four different gun battles across the troubled state of Jammu and Kashmir Sunday, 25 of them in the frontier district of Poonch alone, official sources said. Three gun battles took place in Poonch district that borders Pakistan-administered Kashmir - two in the Mandi area and one in the Mendhar area. Nineteen militants were killed in the gun battles in Mandi, a thickly forested area in the north of Poonch, 240 Kms from here, and six in the incident at Mendhar. The gun battles occurred close to the Line of Control (LoC) that divides Jammu and Kashmir between India and Pakistan, an army spokesman said. The spokesman said that the gun battles were still on. "The progress is slow and the ultimate results would be known only tomorrow (Monday)," he said. An army officer and a soldier were wounded at Mendhar. The army also killed two militants in Doda and an equal number in Kupwara. Earlier this week, 42 militants had been killed in the Mandi area. The operations have been regarded as major successes of the security forces.
Sunday, November 11, 2001
13-yr-old burns herself after being caught copying
A 13-year-old student of Chandrabagh Vidya Mandir, Malad (East), burnt herself on Friday, apparently after being scolded and beaten by her English teacher. According to the police, Swati Bhosle, a Std VI student and resident of Pimparipada, burnt herself at around 12 pm after attending school. She was taken to Bhagwati Hospital with 50 per cent burns. Her brother Sachin told the police that Swati's English teacher had beaten her that day and asked to bring her parents to school. Tarulata Sonkar, the school principal, said that the school was conducting extra classes for students who were weak in their studies during the Diwali vacation. Swati was asked to attend the English classes. On Friday, according to Sonkar, the English teacher had caught Swati copying answers for an English test from another student. "We asked her to bring her parents to school so that we could report the matter to them. Our intention was only to improve her performance in the subject," she said. She denied that Swati was beaten up. Swati has been shifted to Wadia Hospital, Parel where she is reported to be out of danger.
Saturday, November 10, 2001
Bush-Vajpayee summit positive, productive: US
WASHINGTON : The United States has described the meeting between Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and President George W Bush as "very positive, very productive." "The Prime Minister told the President that India stands shoulder to shoulder with the United States." The discussions were "very positive, very productive," Press Secretary Ari Fleischer, who was present for part of the Bush-Vajpayee meeting, told reporters. Condemning the Oct 1 attack in Srinagar, US President gave his message on Kashmir issue that it is very important for both parties to engage in a peaceful dialogue, to have a peaceful resolution of any of the disputes here. Asked if this meant that Bush will ask Musharraf to cut off support, tacit or otherwise, for terrorists in Kashmir, Fleischer said Bush had made it clear to leaders around the world that terrorism anywhere needed to be prevented and stopped.
Saturday, November 10, 2001
Civilian deaths stoking pro-Taliban sentiments in Delhi
New Delhi, Nov 10 Rising civilian deaths in the war in Afghanistan are lending some support for the ruling Taliban militia among Muslims in the Indian capital. "I see a lot of people now supporting Taliban. This is because of the increasing deaths of civilians," said 26-year-old computer science student Faizan-ul Haque. Haque also said if the U.S. bombing continues into the Muslim holy period of Ramadan, which begins November 17, the Taliban would gain more support. "If the war doesn't stops in Ramadan, more people will sympathise with them." Added Sabihuddin Khan, 27, a business executive: "Ramadan is a month of self-introspection. We pray for peace and prosperity of all people. "When we see injured children without any food or medicine on television, it is very disturbing. This makes us hate America." Many feel the anti-war sentiment is against American policies, and less out of any sympathy for Afghanistan's ruling Taliban militia or the U.S. terror suspect Osama bin Laden. "It is basically an anti-American sentiment and has nothing to do with Ramadan," said Imtiaz Ahmed, a professor of sociology at the Jawaharlal Nehru University here and an expert on Muslim issues. "Ramadan might be an excuse. It is actually the high-handedness and violent American policies." India is home to 140 million Muslims, more than any country after Indonesia. Muslims are also the country's largest minority group. In the past, the Iranian fatwa (religious edict) against author Salman Rushdie's "Satanic Verses" had led to mass protests in India but the U.S. strikes have had no such reaction. Syed Ahmed Bukhari, the head priest of India's largest mosque here, has repeatedly called upon the Muslims to support the Taliban, a statement that has drawn widespread criticism from intellectuals and even commoners. But well known Muslim MP and actress Shabana Azmi ticked off Bukhari by brusquely asking him to go to Kandahar in Afghanistan - the Taliban's spiritual capital - if he was so concerned about the militia. There, however, have been police firing and Hindu-Muslim violence in the western town of Malegaon that left 13 people dead after Muslims called for a ban on U.S. and British goods. But localised and scattered protests in India have been far milder than in neighbouring Pakistan where unending street protests are threatening to topple the government. Here, the Taliban finds some ardent supporters like 25-year-old Nihal Siddique, who said: "Taliban is fighting the Americans bravely. Ramadan will give more strength to them." But even he said the conflict had nothing per se to do with Ramadan. "The war has nothing to do with Ramadan because Muslims have fought many wars during this holy month. But there is humanitarian angle. Innocents are dying there." The civilian casualties have also led to questioning of the U.S. commitment for ordinary Afghans. "They (the U.S.) throw food packets to show the world that they are concerned about the people of Afghanistan. If their concern is genuine, the war must stop now."
Friday, November 9, 2001
Maruti VERSA to propel on Amitabh-Abhishek magic
"Watch Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek Bachchan together for the first time" The countdown begins... Maruti, India's foremost automobile company, is all set to unveil the first television commercial of the VERSA, India's first Luxury Multi Purpose Vehicle (MPV). Maruti Udyog Limited plans to unleash a high voltage television campaign for Maruti VERSA to build up on the print campaign. The television commercial, to be aired from this week, brings together the magic of Amitabh and Abhishek Bachchan for the first time. The advertising campaign designed by Lowe Lintas highlights the concept of two luxury cars in one. The ads for VERSA give you a glimpse of the father-son chemistry, which would positively, stand out in the flurry of celeb endorsements. Racy repartee between the two sets the pace and feel of the campaign. Quips like, " Yaar tumhari gaadi mein driver ki awaz bahut aati hai" from Amitabh to Abhishek (The driver in this scene) is guaranteed to bring a smile to your face. A gentle reminder underlining VERSA's versatility is brought into the picture with Jaya Bachchan (we are led to believe) driving the car away, much to the surprise of the father son duo, while they are left standing on the road. The VERSA advertising campaign is targeted at both the generations. Amitabh settles for the luxury of space whereas Abhishek goes for the driving pleasure. It builds on the comfort, luxury, elegance and stature of the VERSA leveraging the aura of Amitabh Bachchan whereas Abhishek Bachchan revs up the ad campaign personifying the power, performance and driving pleasure of the VERSA. Commenting on the advertising campaign, Mr. Ravi Bhatia, GM, Marketing, MUL said, "The appeal of the VERSA Ad campaign cuts across boundaries of age, language and gender. Amitabh Bachchan and Abhishek come together on screen for the first time in a VERSA television commercial. The Bachchans together epitomize the best of both worlds... just like the VERSA, which offers the best combination of space and car like driveability." The VERSA is designed to suit the varied lifestyle needs of a modern family giving them the ability to "go anywhere & everywhere" in style. Travelling in a VERSA will mean travelling in comfort, it promises the space of a utility vehicle, with the ride, comfort and performance of a passenger car. Maruti is introducing this International way of travelling into the Indian market. Just as it has created new categories with the Maruti 80, Zen, Esteem and Baleno Altura, it has introduced the luxury MPV through the VERSA. The VERSA, appropriately named for its versatility, will be powered by a 1300 cc MPFI engine and will be available in three variants. MPV is a popular category internationally and every leading global car manufacturer boasts of a MPV in their product range. The MPVs are the most versatile vehicles on the road, they offer a car-like ride & handling and the luxury of space. In Western Europe the sale of MPVs have been growing rapidly and the category is predicted to reach 800,000 sales by 2005. Some of the leading and prominent MPVs on roads around the world are Fiat's Multipla, Mazda's Premacy, and Toyota's Verso.
Friday, November 9, 2001
Indo-French naval exercise gets going
A joint Indo-French naval exercise got off to a start in the Arabian Sea on Thursday. The three-day exercise, entitled Varuna, "is another significant step in a substantial naval cooperation," said a French embassy statement in New Delhi. Out of the four French warships, which were supposed to participate, support ship Bougainville could not make it. "The other three warships sailed into the waters and commenced the exercise," the official said. Command and support ship Var and frigates Courbet and Commandant L'Herminier will be under the control of Rear Admiral Laurent Merer, commander of the French naval forces in the Indian Ocean. From the Indian side, two destroyers and a submarine will participate in the naval drill. "The joint exercise commenced Thursday morning 50 nautical miles off the Bombay coast and will go on till November 10," said Defence Ministry spokesman C.K. Singh.
Friday, November 9, 2001
India denies Taliban’s charge
India scoffed at the claim made by a Taliban envoy that Indian Army officers were helping the Northern Alliance along with US officers. Taliban's ambassador to Islamabad, Abdul Salam Zaeef, was quoted by Pakistani media as saying that Indian, Russian and US officers were guiding Northern Alliance commanders. "We are denying the insinuation made by the Taliban envoy. There is no Indian officer involved in the fighting as alleged by the Taliban spokesman," a senior defence official clarified. The reports quoted Zaeef saying Indian officers of the rank of general and brigadier were involved. "That is why they have started war on many fronts," he said. The Taliban envoy’s comment came at a dinner for Pakistani newspaper editors on Wednesday night, barely a few hours after Pakistan had asked him to stop his daily press briefings.
Wednesday, November 7, 2001
Raids rescue girls
Siliguri, Nov. 6: The Siliguri police rescued 40 women, including 15 minors, and arrested four persons after raids on brothels here last night. The police swooped down on the red-light district of Khalpara after 17-year-old Mahima, who was kidnapped from a village in Nalbari, Assam, during the Durga pujas and sold to a brothel owner, escaped and reported to the Siliguri police station on Sunday. Additional superintendent of police, Siliguri, Kaliappan Jayaraman said: Following Mahima’s complaint, we decided to rescue her cousin who was still at the brothel in Khalpara. Sixteen-year-old Moni, Mahima’s cousin, was kidnapped along with her and forced into prostitution. Interrogation revealed that most of the girls were kidnapped from remote villages of Assam, Meghalaya and Cooch Behar and Murshidabad districts in Bengal and sold for prices ranging from Rs 30,000 to 50,000. Jayaraman said Siliguri was emerging as a flesh trade hub. Teenaged or minor girls were being kidnapped or lured to Siliguri with the promise of jobs or marriage and sold to brothels in Khalpara or in other states. Surprisingly, the police officer pointed out that only 18 of the rescued women, including all the 15 minor girls, wanted to return home. The rest admitted that they had joined the trade on their own. The police said the raids would continue. We have identified 11 other members of the organised flesh trade cartel, Jayaraman said.
Tuesday, November 6, 2001
US war ship docks at Chennai port for refuelling
Chennai, Nov. 5: USS O’Brien, a sprance class destroyer which is part of the American Seventh Fleet, docked at Chennai port on Monday for refuelling, according to its commander Marcus B Yonehiro. Yonehiro, however, declined to comment on whether the ship, equipped with tomahawk and cruise missiles and multi-purpose helicopters among the weapon systems, had any role to play in the United States-led military campaign against Afghanistan. The ship is here for R and R (recreation and refuel). The ship’s personnel needed some relaxation. We are also finalising some plans with regard to doing some community service our personnel will take up during their stay here, Yonehiro said. The 25-year old ship, built basically for anti-submarine operation, was later upgraded with anti-air capabilities. Regarding the ship’s arsenal, he said the ship carried two ‘lamps MK3’ multipurpose helicopters and a ‘harpoon’ missile system. It has two five inch 54 calibre MK-45 gun mounts, one MK-41 missile launcher, one MK-32 torpedo tube and two MK-15 ‘mod 2 CIWS’ gun mounts, the commander said. He said it also had one MK-91 natosea sparrow missile system. It is a multi-mission destroyer and can carry out independent operation, the commander said.
Monday, November 5, 2001
Indian PM Leaves on Tour of US, UK And Russia
NEW DELHI, Nov 5 Asia Pulse - Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee left on a three-nation tour to United States, United Kingdom and Russia on Sunday asserting that the visit would focus on the global fight against terrorism and the challenges of post-conflict Afghanistan. "In my discussions in all three countries, I will place particular emphasis on issues relating to international terrorism and the urgent need to address the challenges of post-conflict Afghanistan," he said in his departure statement. Stating that his visit to Russia was in the backdrop of a "vibrant" bilateral relations between the two countries, Vajpayee said his parleys with President Vladimir Putin and other Russian leaders would focus on further accelerating the enhanced tempo of bilateral ties, deepening political understanding and expanding the range of economic interactions. "We will also discuss important regional and international developments," he said.
Monday, November 5, 2001
Delhi Dalits embrace Buddhism
New Delhi: Thousands of Dalits on Sunday embraced Buddhism at a ceremony in Ambedkar Bhavan here amid tension with police preventing them from moving to Ramlila maidan for a rally. Dalits from several States started arriving at Ambedkar Bhawan, two km from here, in response to a call by a Dalit bureaucrat who has hit out at the Hindu caste order. A heavy police arrangement was in place in and around the meeting ground, with firearm and baton wielding as well as horseback policemen swarming the area. The gathering is later expected to walk down to another, larger ground nearby, but the police indicated they would block that movement and possibly arrest the Dalit marchers as their conversion rally had been banned. But bureaucrat Ram Raj, who has called the rally as the head of the All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Organisations, said the actual number that turned up Sunday was easily short of the 100,000 Raj promised certainly much less than the one million he confidently claimed would seek conversion when he announced the rally last month. A majority of those who did turn up were from Delhi, but there were others from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand States. Some were government employees, like Raj, while others said they were labourers. The participants flocked the Ambedkar Bhavan ground, where some 50 Buddhist monks called to oversee their conversion and attired in saffron robes sat on a stage. Dalit volunteers led by Raj packed another stage. Raj continuously exhorted the participants to break the chains of Hinduism. He alleged the police were stopping volunteers at Delhi's borders and at the railway station. The police denied the allegation and said they allowed people to freely reach the Bhavan ground. But the conversion rally has been banned, so we will have to stop that, an official said. But Raj disagreed. The Indian government is repressive and anti-democratic. Whatever is happening here is a violation of human rights. But we will not stop unless we will get what is democratically due to us.
Monday, November 5, 2001
U.S. to forge closer defence ties with India: Rumsfeld
New Delhi, Nov 5 The U.S. will soon send several senior military officials to New Delhi to forge closer ties with the Indian defence establishment, Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said Monday. Rumsfeld, who held talks with Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes on military cooperation and the Afghan situation, said Admiral Dennis Blair, the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command, and Under Secretary of Defence Douglas Feith would soon visit India. Addressing a press conference with Fernandes, Rumsfeld said it was important for Washington to strengthen military ties with India as both countries shared "many common values and common interests." Military ties between the U.S. and India, snapped after the nuclear tests of May 1998, have been speedily revived over the past few months. Washington has lifted most defence-related sanctions, except those imposed on India's nuclear and missile programmes. Rumsfeld said the U.S. State Department and the Indian government "undoubtedly will be discussing" the remaining American sanctions on nuclear and missile technology. Fernandes said the two sides would have to "continue to build on what we've achieved so far" in their strategic relations. "Some of the specifics of our defence-related partnership (that were discussed) include certain items we need to acquire, collaboration we could have." Although Fernandes did not provide details, India is keen on acquiring Israeli radar and airborne early warning systems that reportedly contain several U.S.-made components. It also wants the lifting of U.S. sanctions on dual-use technologies needed for its rapidly growing missile programme. Rumsfeld said Admiral Blair, who has made several trips to India in two years, would be in New Delhi in the "coming weeks", while Under Secretary Feith would lead a delegation later in the year to "establish linkages in military exchanges, training and various educational opportunities." The U.S. defence secretary said the two sides had also discussed their efforts at providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. "When we've been successful, when there is a post-Taliban government, both our countries will share that interest in providing whatever assistance the people need," he said. India has airlifted 40 tonnes of medical supplies to northern Afghanistan via Tajikstan. It also plans to send other relief materials to Afghan refugees through Pakistan.
Sunday, November 4, 2001
Thousands embrace Buddhism to escape Hindu caste order
New Delhi, Nov 4 Thousands of Dalits, who form the lowest rung in the Hindu caste order, embraced Buddhism at a controversial mass ceremony here Sunday keeping their pledge to step out of the "discriminatory Hindu system". Dalit participants from across India who gathered here since morning despite a police ban were declared to have converted to Buddhism after a nearly half-hour ceremony involving the rendition of Buddhist hymns and vows. "We are no more Hindus now. We are reborn today. We are Buddhists," Dalit bureaucrat Ram Raj, who had called the rally, declared after the brief ceremony, to all-round applause and sloganeering against Hindu caste oppression. Waving multi-coloured flags, participants took 22 vows as Raj read them out from a makeshift platform at Ambedkar Bhavan, an open ground two km near the city's main railway station where they assembled. They vowed now to practice Buddhism. As a saffron-robed Buddhist monk prayed before a five-foot-high bronze statue of the Buddha, placed on the stage, with marigold and lit candles, thousands took the solemn vow of "Buddham Sharanam Gachchami" (I seek refuge in Buddha's care). For centuries discriminated by high-caste Hindus, the Dalits make up nearly a fourth of India's population of one billion. Although India outlawed the practice of "untouchability" against the Dalits after independence in 1947, many of them allege that discrimination against them is rampant. With Sunday's conversion, the Dalits pledged to reject the trinity of Hindu gods Brahma, Vishnu and Mahesh, and give up Hindu rituals. "We do not any more believe in divine reincarnation or the cycle of human life and birth," Raj said. "Hinduism is detrimental to prosperity and equality of human beings. We, therefore, renounce Hinduism and accept Buddhism." Shortly afterwards, a beaming Tilak raj, a Dalit teacher from Gunnaur town in Haryana state, said: "I am happy that I have left Hinduism after suffering suppression for long. I will go home and convert my wife and four children." Although the march of the participants was a little more than a trickle in the morning, the ground was packed by the time the ceremony began, with participants spilling on to the road and the police having to divert traffic away from it. A heavy police arrangement was in place in and around the meeting ground, with firearm and baton wielding as well as horseback policemen swarming the area. Although Raj initially threatened to defy the police ban, the Dalits abandoned the idea of going to another ground nearby where it was originally planned. The climb down possibly helped avert an ugly situation with the police, who said they would make arrests if the Dalits marched to the other ground. Raj, who heads the All India Confederation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Organisations, also symbolically changed his name to Udit Raj after converting. But still, the actual number that turned up Sunday was easily short of the 100,000 Raj promised - certainly much less than the one million he confidently claimed would seek conversion when he announced the rally last month. A majority of those who did turn up were from Delhi, but there were others from Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh and Jharkhand states. Some were government employees, like Raj, while others said they were labourers. "The Indian government is repressive and anti-democratic. Whatever is happening here is a violation of human rights. But we will not stop unless we will get what is democratically due to us," Raj told the participants before converting. The gathering cheered Raj and raised slogans against Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which leads his multi-party government, saying it was "representative" of upper caste Hindus. Prithpal Singh, a turban-wearing lower caste Sikh from Punjab, said he was turning Buddhist due "to the discrimination in both Hinduism and Sikhism." Said R.K. Shnakar, an accountant from Kanpur: "We accept Buddhism because the Hindu caste system has given us no respect and forced discrimination upon us." Ramapati Lokbandhu Ratnakar, a Dalit farmer from Basti town, Uttar Pradesh, who turned Buddhist three years ago, said it changed his life. "I have found a great difference and moral boost-up. I can stand next to any other caste Hindu now." Explained Raman Kutty, president of the Kerala unit of Raj's outfit: "Even a top Dalit officer gets treated like a junior class IV officer. On the other hand, a Brahmin junior officer gets treated as if he were a top class officer." But the crowd appeared more festive than restive, as many bought posters of Ambedkar, who oversaw the writing of the Indian constitution, and of Buddha from the 20-odd stalls located there. Still others bought small Buddha statues. Amid the din of loudspeakers, volunteers also distributed pamphlets. The event drew foreign journalists by the dozens clearly outnumbering Indian hacks. A few foreigner tourists too turned up, perhaps out of curiosity.
Sunday, November 4, 2001
Delhi formula for Kabul rule
New Delhi: India has mooted a formula to replace the Six-Plus-Two Group on Afghanistan that has Islamabad as a key member but not Delhi. According to the formula, members of the G-8 countries, along with Afghanistan’s neighbours which, of course, includes Delhi should be roped in to help install a broadbased, multi-ethnic and representative regime once the Taliban are toppled. Sources said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who begins his three-nation visit from Sunday, will impress upon Moscow, Washington and London the need to expand the existing group to make it more relevant to the situation. Foreign secretary Chokila Iyer told reporters the expansion of the Six-Plus-Two Group will be one of the topics of discussion between Vajpayee and the other leaders during his 10-day foreign trip. Besides the US and Russia, the group now has China, Pakistan, Iran, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Tajikistan which have borders with Afghanistan as members. Despite several meetings over the past few years, the group has not been able to bring about a regime in Kabul that could bring peace to the country, ravaged by years of war and ethnic rivalry. But Terror Tuesday and the subsequent American strikeback have thrown open the door to countries like India to be part of the decision-making set-up. The Group of Eight countries with the strongest economies has the US, the UK, France, Italy, Germany, Japan, Canada and Russia as its members. Neighbouring countries that India wants to be part of the new dispensation will definitely include almost all the six nations that have a border with Afghanistan and were part of the earlier group, sources said. It is important for India to be part of a structure that is likely to play a key role in deciding the new political structure in post-conflict Afghanistan. Delhi has always had strong ties with Kabul. But the first hiccup in its Afghan policy came in 1979, when Soviet troops invaded the country. A close ally of Moscow, India though opposed to the Soviet move decided to maintain a low profile, alienating Kabul from Delhi. The alienation was complete once the Taliban seized control in the mid-1990s.
Sunday, November 4, 2001
Three Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir
Srinagar, Nov 4 Three Indian soldiers were killed in heavy firing that erupted when separatist guerrillas stormed a small military camp in the strife-torn state of Jammu and Kashmir, officials said Sunday. Four soldiers were wounded at the Rashtriya Rifles camp at Dialgam village in the south Kashmir district of Anantnag following its storming by two militants late Saturday. Police here said the militants also hurled grenades after sneaking into the camp and launching a sudden attack. The fighting was continuing early Sunday, Soldiers in the camp retaliated but sources said three soldiers died in the initial firing. Authorities rushed reinforcements to the area and the camp was encircled. A police official said troops had engaged the militants who were reportedly holed up in a small building. "Heavy firing is continuing inside the camp," said the official. "We are trying to neutralise them." No one has claimed responsibility for the attack. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training Muslim militants trying to end New Delhi's rule over Jammu and Kashmir, the country's only Muslim-majority state.
Friday, November 2, 2001
Rumsfeld to visit India on Monday
United States Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld will pay a one-day visit to India on Monday for talks with Indian leaders over the ongoing US-led strikes against terrorist camps in Afghanistan. During his visit, Mr.Rumsfeld will meet Defence Minister George Fernandes and other senior ministers and apprise them of the US stand on the global coalition campaign against international terrorism. The Defence Secretary will also go to Pakistan during his South Asian visit to exchange views with the military government on their defence strategy to be implemented in targeting the Taliban as well as Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaeda network.
Friday, November 2, 2001
22 killed in accident
Twenty-two persons were killed and 24 injured when a truck, carrying tribal labourers and their children, collided with another lorry on the National Highway near Bijapur in Karnataka in the early hours, police said. Eighteen victims were killed on the spot and four on way to hospital, Bijapur District Superintendent of police Charanreddy told. The victims, tribals hailing from Rajankolur Tanda in Gulbarga district, were proceeding to Satara in Maharashtra along with their children in search of work, police said. The deceased included five women and six children, he said. The truck was carrying 60 persons, police said. Those injured, most of them in serious condition, have been admitted to a hospital in Bijapur in Karnataka. The Bangalore-bound lorry which hit the ill-fated truck was carrying steel metals, he said.
Friday, November 2, 2001
Smoking in public places banned
Concerned with the ill-effects of smoking, the Supreme Court banned smoking in public places with immediate effect and directed the Centre, all the states and Union Territories (UTs) to pass appropriate orders in his regard. Acting on a public interest petition, filed by former Lok Sabha member Murli Deora, a bench comprising Mr.Justice M.B.Shah and Mr.Justice R.P.Sethi has asked them to specifically ban smoking in public places like hospitals, educational institutions, libraries, courts and public transports like trains and buses. The Centre, all the states and the UTs were asked to give due publicity to the ban order with a view to educating the general public about it and file compliance report within six weeks. The court directed the police commissioners of Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and other metropolitan cities to strictly implement the provisions of Cigarette (Regulation of Production, Supply and Distribution) Act 1975 insofar as the advertisement for sale and distribution of cigarettes are concerned.
Thursday, November 1, 2001
PMC merges with Congress
Pondicherry, Oct 31: The Congress here today received a shot in the arm when the Puducherry Makkal Congress (PMC), which has four members in the 30-member Pondicherry Assembly, decided to merge with it. PMC founder P Kannan told reporters after a meeting of the party’s general council that the merger was unconditional. The merger will be formalised at a function here on November 11 in the presence of AICC president Sonia Gandhi, he said. The decision to merge had been taken following an appeal by AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad to all erstwhile Congressmen to return to the party, he added. He said a formal letter would be handed over to Speaker D Ramachandran, informing him of the merger. PMC’s decision enables the Congress to gain a simple majority in the House. Congress has 11 members. Kannan said Malladi Krishna Rao, an independent MLA from Yanam, would also support the Congress. So far the Congress had to depend on the support of the three-member AIADMK legislature group and the TMC, which has two members, for its ministry’s survival. The PMC had already announced its support to the new Chief Minister, N Rangasamy, who assumed charge on Saturday last. All the four PMC MLAs - K Lakshminarayanan, A Elumalai, P Rajavelu and R Radhakrishnan and Krishna Rao were present at the press conference.
