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India News: March 2005
CPI(M) asks Centre to reject US offer of F-16 planes
Monday, March 28, 2005 | Editor
New Delhi, Mar 28 (PTI) CPI(M) today asked the Centre to "outrightly" reject the US' offer of F-16 fighter planes, saying accepting it will adversely impact Indo-Pak relations and would tantamount to becoming Washington's junior partner in the missile defence system.
Holding that US was trying to draw the country into its global strategic plans by asking New Delhi to join the missile defence system, CPI(M) Polit Bureau said "India should outrightly reject the proposal to join the infamous National Missile Defence System as joining it will tantamount to becoming a junior partner of the US." "Acceptance of these offers will also adversely impact India-Pakistan relations," it said, adding that the game of the Bush administration was "clear" as it intends to draw India into a strategic military relationship just as Pakistan had been involved in one for decades.
"The fuelling of arms race between India and Pakistan with the sale of sophisticted weaponry to both countries suits the US' interests perfectly as well as providing a good market for its arms manufacturers," CPI(M) said.
The pursuit of an independent foreign policy and forging of closer ties with all major countries including China should not be sidetracked by the US efforts to inveigle India into a strategic military alliance, it said.
Asking the UPA Government to be "wary" of such offers from Washington, it said India has been accessing defence equipment from a number of countries and "experience shows that the US cannot be relied upon to be a dependable supplier for political reasons." PTI
India beat Pakistan by 195 runs
Monday, March 21, 2005 | Editor
Amit Varma in Kolkata
One of the world's great technicians dismantled Pakistan's batting line-up on the fifth day of the second Test as India won by 195 runs. Anil Kumble took seven for 63, on a pitch that did not give him much assistance, to complete a win that was easier than expected.
However, Kumble's heroics were overshadowed by the Indian bowler Harbhajan Singh who has been reported for a suspected illegal bowling action by match officials.
"The report relates specifically to the bowler's action when delivering the 'doosra'," said the match referee, Chris Broad. The player's action will now undergo independent analysis by the International Cricket Council's panel of human movement specialists.
For a fifth-day pitch the surface at the Eden Gardens was surprisingly benign. It was slower, but had not deteriorated too much, and India's lower order had made enough runs on the fourth day to show how easy batting on it could be.
Inflation breaches 5 per cent
Saturday, March 19, 2005 | Editor
Inflation breached the 5 per cent figure with price level rising for the second consecutive week by 0.30 percentage point to 5.3 per cent for the week ended March 5 despite cheaper fruits and vegetables.
The point-to-point Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation rose from the previous week's level of 4.95 per cent due to costlier manufactured products including edible oils.
The price level stood at 4.79 per cent in the previous year period.
The WPI rose by 0.1 percentage point to 188.9 points despite cheaper mass consumption primary articles, while fuel prices remained unchanged even as world oil prices touched $55 a barrel.
The index was 179.4 points in the year ago period.
The Government revised upwards inflation to 5.77 per cent during the week ended January 8 as against the provisional estimate of 5.6 per cent.
The WPI stood corrected at 188.9 points during the second week of January as compared to provisional figure of 188.6 points.
[Agency]
SBI revises NRI term deposit rates
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
MUMBAI: State Bank of India has raised the interest rate on new NRI term deposits upto 0.30 per cent across various maturities effective on Tuesday.
The revised rate for one year but less than two years is four per cent (3.8 per cent being the previous rate), SBI said in a statement here.
The rate for two years but less than three years is 4.4 per cent (4.1 per cent) and for the three years to five years 4.6 per cent (4.3) per cent.
The country's largest commercial bank has also revised rates for FCNRB deposits denominated in US dollar, Euro and British Pound.
One year to less than two year FCNRB deposits in USD would attract 3.28 per cent (3.01 per cent), those in Euro 2.08 per cent (2.04 per cent) and British Pound deposits 4.93 per cent (4.72 per cent) respectively, it added.
Microsoft Postpones Launch of Low-Cost Windows in India
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
by Dan Hong
Microsoft Postpones Launch of Low-Cost Windows in IndiaLaunch of the low-cost version of Microsoft Windows XP in India will be delayed to June from its original release timeframe of the first quarter due to some localization issues, according to the Associated Press, Tuesday.
Ranjivjit Singh, marketing and business operations director of Microsoft India, told reporters in Bangalore, “We are still working on providing Indian language capability” and added “You can’t underestimate the huge development work involved.
'Indian Ocean could see another tsunami'
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
The massive earthquake, which caused the tsunami in South and Southeast Asia in December last year, might cause yet another such catastrophic disaster, scientists have said.
A build-up of stress in Sumatra's seismic faults caused by the December 26 seaquake is likely to trigger another large tremor - and potentially another tsunami - in the Indian Ocean, seismologists warned.
Researchers at the University of Ulster-Coleraine in Northern Ireland said stress was now building not only in the Sumatra fault but in the adjacent fault zone known as the Sunda Trench, located under the sea west of Sumatra, Australia-based Special Broadcasting Service website reported.
Kashmir issue: Musharraf seeks US support
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf has urged the US to support efforts aimed at resolving the Jammu and Kashmir issue.
During a meeting with the visiting US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he said "normalisation in the region would not be possible without a settlement of the core dispute."
The confidence-building measures should be matched by tangible progress in the dialogue process, Musharraf told Rice.
Peace initiatives
The US Secretary of State lauded Musharraf's vision for South Asia and initiatives to promote peace and stability in the region and briefed him about her discussions with the Indian leadership.
Musharraf and Rice expressed satisfaction at the cooperation between the two countries in wide-ranging fields and reviewed bilateral relations, exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
Nokia sued for exploding handset
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
Nokia, the world's largest mobile phone maker, is facing a $25,000 lawsuit in Thailand after a user was severely injured when his handset exploded, Xinhua reports.
The accident took place in March last year when Prasit's Nokia mobile phone exploded. Prasit suffered severe burns and his right leg and all five toes on his left foot had to be amputated while his right hand was crippled.
Prasit was working near a high-voltage power line when the accident occurred. His mobile was in his shirt pocket and it rang before exploding, a newspaper quoted a spokesman from the attorney general's office as saying.
MS to launch Indian version of Windows starter
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
Microsoft Corp, the world's largest software major, is working on a stripped down version of its popular Windows XP edition to launch the Windows starter with Indian language capability.
Scheduled for launch in June, the starter edition will be priced cheaper than the XP version. The company is in talks with OEMs such as HP and IBM on the price of the software that will be bundled with the PCs.
"We plan to roll out first in Hindi and follow it up with versions in ten other Indian languages. We are working on the local language features," Microsoft India director Ranjivit Singh said on Monday.
Arms to Pak may affect talks, says Pranab
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
Even as India and the USA move towards increasing their military-to-military contacts and sale of defence equipment, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee today sent out a cautious signal to Washington that the supply of weapons including F-16 fighter planes, by the USA to Pakistan could impact the composite dialogue between New Delhi and Islamabad.
Day 3: India look for early wickets
Friday, March 18, 2005 | Editor
Friday, March 18, 2005 (Kolkata):
India will be under pressure to take some early wickets on the third day of the second Test against Pakistan in Kolkata.
The visitors finished day two at 273 for two with Younis Khan not out on 108 and Yousuf Youhana unbeaten on 101.
They are trailing India's first innings score of 407 by just 134 runs.
Valuable partnership
Younis and Youhana added 203 runs for the third wicket partnership till stumps on the second day of the match, giving their team a strong base.
The two batsmen came together when Pakistan were 70 for two in the post-lunch session.
After making a brisk start, opener Shahid Afridi was caught by Sachin Tendulkar off the bowling of Irfan Pathan for 29.
Taufeeq Umar and Younis Khan then put on a 35-run partnership before Umar fell victim to Laxmipathy Balaji. He was caught by Harbhajan Singh for 18.
Quick wickets
Earlier, resuming from the overnight score of 344 for six, the Indians lost their last four wickets in quick succession.
The first to go was wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthick. He was run out for 28 in the second over of the day.
Karthick was followed to the pavilion by Laxmipathy Balaji, who was bowled by Shahid Afridi for 3. Irfan Pathan also did not last long and was caught by Younis off Danish Kaneria for 8.
The last pair of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble added 44 runs for the last wicket as India crossed 400-run mark. But their partnership came to end when Bhajji was trapped LBW by Abdul Razzaq for 27.
Kumble remained unbeaten on 21.
University of Sutherland opens country office
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 | Editor
University of Sutherland today became the latest in an increasingly long list of British universities trying to win over Indian students when it opened its country office here.
Launching the office, Oscar-winning film producer and Chancellor of the University Lord David Puttnam asserted the need for partnerships in the expanding world of education.
Puttnam pointed out the need to look beyond Oxford and Cambridge and highlighted the modern and high-tech facilities provided by Sunderland, especially in the field of journalism and mass media.
The filmmaker, who has won 26 Academy Award nominations, said out of the 17,000 students in the university, 1500 are from foreign countries, including India.
"We are looking for partnerships and affiliations with Indian universities. Talks are on with one or two partners, especially in the field of business and pharmacy," Puttnam said.
The University will undertake programmes to ensure a balanced exchange of students between the two countries.
"There is a great imbalance in the exchange of education between India and England. While nearly 16,000 students from India go to UK every year, the number of British students coming to India is less than 100," said Keith Brown, head of international relations at the University.
Air-India Express to expand network in India, abroad
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 | Editor
Air-India Express, the low-cost airline promoted by flag carrier Air-India, will expand its network within the country and to Southeast Asian nations in a phased manner after launching flights to the Gulf next month.
Beginning April 29, Air-India Express will operate 37 flights a week to Abu Dhabi and Sharjah. While 31 services will connect Kerala, three flights each will be operated from New Delhi and Mumbai.
"We will add more Indian cities such as Chennai in the Air-India Express network over the next few months as the size of the budget airline market grows," said Air-India director (public relations) Jitendra Bhargava.
"Air-India Express will also fly to Southeast Asian destinations like Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Jakarta next year after more aircraft are added to the fleet of the budget airline," Bhargava told IANS.
"The profitability of a budget airline can be greatly enhanced by adding more near-shore destinations. We expect good load factor in all these sectors that have a sizable Indian migrant population who want to travel at a lower cost."
Air-India Express has already received its first Boeing 737-800. The aircraft, with 181 economy class seats, have been taken on lease from Boullioun Aviation Services Inc.
According to Bhargava, two more leased Boeing 737-800s would be added to the Air-India Express fleet by early next month.
The airline plans to acquire four additional planes in January next year to expand its network. The board of Air-India has approved acquisition of 18 Boeing 737-800 aircraft over the next two years for the airline.
All Air-India Express flights will have a team of five cabin personnel, as compared to 15 on regular international airline services, to trim operational costs, said the Air-India official.
"The process of hiring and training cabin crews and pilots is already underway," said Bhargava, noting the public sector aviation major had hired some 200 pilots in the past year for Air-India and Air-India Express.
Air-India Express' 37 flights a week to the Gulf countries would be in addition to over 90 flights operated by parent Air-India in the region. The fares of the budget airline would be 30 percent lower than the regular rates.
According to the civil aviation ministry, 2.43 million passengers travelled in the Gulf sector in fiscal 2003-04 against previous year's 2.23 million.
NRI support for hi-tech Indian mythological park
Tuesday, March 15, 2005 | Editor
Indian Americans have extended their support to Ganga Dham, a hi-tech mythological theme park to be set up in India on the lines of Disneyland with characters like Hanuman instead of Mickey Mouse.
The park is to be built on the banks of the Ganges in Haridwar, Uttaranchal, and will bring together an entire pantheon of Hindu gods, including Ram, Krishna and Hanuman.
Shiv Sagar, grandson of film and television maker Ramanand Sagar - whose serial "Ramayana" set an unbeatable record for TV viewership - is on a tour of the US to seek NRI support.
The Sagar family is setting up the park, and Shiv Sagar, who studied at the Les Roches hotel management school in Switzerland, and the Indian School of Business, Hyderabad, is the project's CEO.
Ganga Dham, to be set up on a 25-acre site, will feature high tech rides, with Hanuman, among others, recreating great moments in Hindu mythology, an animated mythological museum, food courts, a temple city, a sound and light show and a petting zoo.
"Conceptually, the park is a no-brainer," Shiv Sagar told IANS. Indian epics like the Ramayana had unquestionable brand equity. "Over one billion people have seen the TV serial. It has been shown in 60 languages and in over 100 countries."
Sagar said he was projecting Ganga Dham as a place where visitors could learn about ancient Indian mythology in a "fun way". It was specially focused on children.
"If children want to learn about mythology, they are not going to read the 'Ram Charit Manas'. A lot of children learnt about Ramayana by watching TV. It is the children who will force their parents to visit the park."
The first phase of the project will cost about Rs.300 million (about $6.5 million). Sagar wants to raise about $2 million in the US. "There is a tremendous interest among NRIs. We have already raised $1 million," he said.
Ganga Dham will be an "infotainment destination". The park will capitalise on the status of Haridwar as the "Vatican for Hindus", Sagar said. He intends to blend the hi-tech with traditional art to present information with entertainment.
"We will have a live Ram Lila show. We also intend to tie up with an American company for the supply of robots for animatronics presentations," he said.
"If Mickey Mouse can be the central character in a theme park in the US, I don't see why characters from our mythology cannot be," Sagar said, "There cannot be stronger characters than those in the Ramayana, or the other epics."
Video theatres will depict mythological stories, like the story of the Ganges, in about 20 minutes. "We will have special effects like sprinklers, three dimension effects and a simulator ride synchronized with the audio visuals. We don't want to make it a place where people come to pray. We have enough temples in India," Sagar said.
Sagar is confident the project would be economically viable, considering that 20 million people visit Haridwar every year. "The 1998 Kumbh Mela attracted 30 million people. We are expecting a much larger number at the 2010 Kumbh Mela, by which time the park will be fully operational. The ticket will be only Rs.35. Our intention is to make it accessible to everyone. It is a business certainly, but we also have a spiritual motive. It is not just about making money."
Sagar has already secured investments from several people, including Alice Coltrane, a musician, and widow of jazz maestro John Coltrane.
Guj bus mishap: 15 bodies fished out
Monday, March 14, 2005 | Editor
The bodies of 15 people, including those of 3 children, who died after the bus in which they were travelling fell into the Mahisagar canal in central Gujarat's Dakor town on Saturday evening, have been fished out.
The bodies included that of the conductor, Kheda District Superintendent of Police S S Trivedi told PTI. According to a survivor, there were at least 18 people on board the state transport bus, he said.
Fire brigade teams and three cranes from Anand, Nadiad and Godhra were rushed to the spot, 70 km from Ahmedabad, to conduct search and rescue operations after the bus, going from Dakor to Rania, fell into the canal.
* Bus falls into canal, many feared dead
Even though a major part of the search operation is over and the bus has been retrieved from the canal, Irrigation Department personnel and fire officials are still looking out for three more bodies, Trivedi said.
The survivor told the police that the driver lost control after the bus apparently hit a portion of the canal, Trivedi said.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat State Road Transport Corporation has announced an interim compensation of Rs 50,000 to the kin of the victims, all local residents, sources said.
Structures found in sea bed off Mahabalipuram could be temple
Saturday, March 12, 2005 | Editor
Archaeologists have found "structures" buried in the sea off the coast of Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu that shows evidences of "human activities" and could lend credence to the age-old myth of existence of seven temples in the area, five of which are believed to be under the sea.
Mahabalipuram, which was recently ravaged by the killer tsunami, is known as the land of "seven pagodas" and archaeologists say they have found stone blocks and pottery under the sea and are examining whether the site is that of the fabled temples that went underwater.
"Some of the rocks we found under sea bore definite signs of human activities. We have already found remnants of a temple off shore. This new finding is not in isolation and we will have to compare and corelate it with the on shore structures," said Alok Tripathi, Deputy Superintendent of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
The ambitious expedition, jointly conducted by the Indian Navy and the ASI, began in early 2001 with the aim to clear the mystery behind the seven temples in Mahabalipuram, where only one temple exists now.
"We have recovered artefacts and structures, which resemble the shore temple during the expedition, which lasted for more than three years," Vice Admiral, Sureesh Mehta, Deputy Chief of Naval Staff told reporters here.
The ASI undertook preliminary search of the area in 2001 and based on the results, a team of Navy divers and ASI officials carried out extensive exploratory work in the area with INS Darshak, a hydrographic survey vessel, providing administrative support. PTI
Pak not to gain psychological advantage from draw: Ganguly
Saturday, March 12, 2005 | Editor
Mohali, Mar 12 : Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly today praised Kamran Akmal and Abdul Razzaq for steering Pakistan to an incredible draw in the first cricket Test but said the visitors would not gain any psychlogical advantage from the result.
"They played well to draw the match but I don't think Pakistan will get a big psychological advantage," Ganguly told reporters here.
"We played well in this Test but we must give credit to Razzak and Akmal," he added.
Wicket-keeper batsman Akmal struck his maiden century and was associated with a record 184-run seventh wicket partnership with Razzaq (71) which denied India a victory.
Ganguly said he did not think that the slower run rate on the third day by the Indians could have made much difference on the outcome of the match.
"I don't think so. We were in full control of the Test for the first four days and we had their six wickets down with 97 overs left to get them out and score the remaining runs. I don't see any connection (between the slow rate and the match outcome)," he said.
Asked when India felt that the match was slipping out of their control, Ganguly said "when they had a lead of 210 runs and we were left with just 38 overs to get those runs". PTI
Ponnaiyan pat for Tamil nadu govt
Saturday, March 12, 2005 | Editor
Chennai,Mar 11 : Denying allegation that funds for various schemes have not been hiked in the budget, Tamil Nadu Finance Minister, C Ponnaiyan today catalogued the funds allocated this year and said this was possible because of the "fiscal reforms" undertaken by the Jayalalithaa government.
Detailing the various allocations made to various departments in the budget, Ponnaiyan, replying to the six-day debate on the state budget in the assembly today, said these increased allocations were made despite presenting a tax-free budget for 2005-06 and the 'financial constraints' it inherited from the previous DMK regime in 2001.
Ponnaiyan said increased allocations had now been made to local bodies, police department, village development, and rural roads improvement.
He said the Centre had sanctioned a record annual plan outlay of Rs.9100 crore for 2005-06, which was not 'a mean' achievement. "The credit for bringing in various fiscal and administrative reforms, so as to save the state from the financial mess of 2001, should go to Jayalalithaa," he said amid thumping of the desks from the treasury benches.
The Rs.3000 crore world-bank assisted Tamil Nadu rural water supply project was nearing completion. The Rs.2200 crore Hyundai car expansion project had come to Chennai because of the effective steps taken by her, which otherwise would have gone to a northern state, he said adding the state now ranked Number one in the country in production of foodgrains, bajra, groundnut and banana. PTI
Natwar Singh holds talks with Jack Straw
Thursday, March 10, 2005 | Editor
India and Britain today shared "identical views" as External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh held talks with his British couterpart Jack Straw on a range of issues, including Indo-Pak ties, developments in Afghanistan and the Middle East.
"We discussed a whole gamut of issues, including India-Pakistan relations, developments in Afghanistan, Middle East, West Asia, UN Security Council and the forthcoming visit of US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to New Delhi next week," Singh, who arrived here today on his way to South Africa, said.
"On all these issues, we have identical views," said Singh, who is on his way to attend a two-day meeting of the India-Brazil-South Africa (IBSA) Ministerial Commission in Cape Town commencing tomorrow.
About his meeting with Straw, Singh said "we had met just three weeks ago in New Delhi. The more I get to know him, the more I admire him." Earlier, Straw told reporters, they had a "very good discussion" on a wide range of world issues, including Iran, Myanmar, South Asia, besides bilateral and Indo-Pak issues.
He expressed Britain's appreciation of the "further improvement" in relations between India and Pakistan and cited the current test cricket between the two countries as an example.
At the IBSA Ministerial meeting in Cape Town, an agreement is expected to be reached on establishment of a Council made up of business chambers from the three countries.
Indian High Commissioner to UK Kamalesh Sharma and British High Commisisoner to India Michael Arthur were also present at the meeting. PTI
RI doctor appointed to Florida Board of Governors
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 | Editor
New York: The American State of Florida has appointed an Indian-American physician based in St Petersburg to the powerful Board of Governors, which oversees working of universities and other educational institutions.
Akshay M Desai was appointed by Governor Jeb Bush, also the brother of President George Bush. The doctor is one of six appointed to the apex body that sets policy and oversees the management of Florida State universities.
Prominent among the other appointees are J Stanley Marshall, well-known Florida educationist, and Bill McCollum, former Congressman and co-chair of the Congressional Caucus on India.
The appointed members will have to be confirmed by the State Senate, and will serve for staggered terms of seven years, during which they will "operate, regulate, control and be fully responsible for the management of the whole university system" that includes 10 universities with a combined budget of $ 4.2 billion.
The doctor, an active member of the Florida Republican Party and a formidable fund-raiser, was an alternate delegate to the party's 2004 national convention. He was an elected delegate to the party's 2000 convention and currently serves on the influential 'Committee of 100' of the State Republican Party.
Last year, in recognition of his abilities, both professional and political, President Bush had appointed Desai to the President's Advisory Commission on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, thus giving him the rare distinction of being appointed to distinguished positions by both the Bush brothers.
PTI
Blair lauds the contribution of Indians in Britain
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 | Editor
London: Lauding the contribution made by people of Indian origin to Britain's economy and trade, Prime Minister Tony Blair yesterday (Mar 3, 2005) said that the legislative measures are being taken to end racial discrimination in the country.
"This Government will not tolerate any prejudice based on race or religion," Blair said while addressing a large gathering at the Annual Luncheon of the Labour Friends of India at Cafe Royal in London.
Blair commended the vast contribution made by the over 1 million people of Indian origin in Britain in trade, commerce, education and services.
"We acknowledge the vast contribution made by more than 1 million people of Indian origin who now live here, to our economy and trade," he said.
Referring to the rapid all round progress made by India, Blair said, "India is such a large country and such a vibrant democracy, it could teach the world a lot."
Prominent among those present at the function included Lord Swraj Paul, NRI industrialist and British Ambassador for Overseas Business, Sir G. K Noon, NRI industrialist and Chairman of the prominent ready made food, Noon Products, Charles Clarke, British Home Secretary, Keith Vaz, MP, former Minister, Onkar S Kanwar, President of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce (FICCI) and several Ministers in the Blair Cabinet.
Blair said that the Labour party currently has 12 Asian-origin MPs and it would like to have more in the next elections.
Kamalesh Sharma, India's High Commissioner to the UK said no country has hailed the changes in India more "unequivocally than the United Kingdom" under the leadership of Tony Blair.
"The pronouncements you have made, and the steps you have taken, both personally and through members of your Cabinet, have expressed strong confidence and belief in forging an ambitious and dynamic bilateral relationship worthy of the opportunity that is now before us."
"Modern India will inevitably have many partners in the future, but largely had only one for over 200 years. This is a shared and unique asset, which we must convert into a flourishing partnership appropriate for our two countries and peoples."
A high-level FICCI delegation also participated in the deliberations.
PTI
Indian American students bag Siemens AP awards
Tuesday, March 8, 2005 | Editor
Houston: Four Indian-American students were among the 24 selected from across the United States for the 2004-2005 Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement.
Kirtana Raja of St John's School, Houston, Shrenik Shah of Monta Vista High School, Cupertina, Veena Venkatachalam of Governor Livingston High School, Berkeley Heights, and Ryan Perumpail of Manalapan High School, Englishtown, New Jersey won the award, which honours students who score the highest marks on the College Board's Advanced Placement Program science and math courses.
Each student receives a $ 3,000 scholarship to the college of their choice.
Kirtana Raja, 17, a senior at her school, is a student researcher at the Bayeor College of Medicine for the second year and has finished a Nanotech research project at University of Texas at Dallas last summer as a Welch Summer Scholar, reports said.
Kirtana Raja's high scores in chemistry, biology, physics and calculus examinations, won her this years award and scholarships from the Siemens Foundation, a non-profit arm of the Siemens electronics corporation based in New York City.
Shah, who has earlier qualified for the Mathematical and Chemistry Olympiad and reached the semi finals of the US Physics Olympiad and Biology Olympiad, has been a member of the American Regions Math League (ARML).
President of Monta Vista Robotics and the Math and Science Club, Shah plans to study mathematics and computer sciences and pursue a career in research or teaching.
Veena Venkatachalam, who participated in the International Research Science Institute at Massachusetts Institute of Technology last year, has won several awards at the North Jersey Regional Science Bee, reports said.
A two-time Biology Olympiad semi finalist and winner of several medals in the New Jersey Science Olympiad, Veena Venkatachalam was named a candidate in the 2005 Presidential Scholars Program.
Ryan Perumpail, 17, a senior at his school, is recipient of several individual as well as team awards, which include 2005 Manalapan High School Star Ledger Scholarship nomination, 2004 AP scholar with distinction and 2004 Merit Scholarship Award of the Federation of Kerala Associations of North America.
The AP Program is a signature program of the College Board which selects Siemens Awards for Advanced Placement winners from six US regions: New England, Middle States, South, Midwest, Southwest and West, a press release issued by the Siemens Foundation said.
With the award, Siemens gives, "additional national attention to young people in math and science, so, hopefully, others will look at them as models," said Jack Bergen, president of the Siemens Foundation.
"We are definitely interested in making sure that the US continues to produce graduates in math, science and engineering," he added.
PTI
Security tightened at IMA
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
Dehra Dun, Mar. 6 : Following reports that militants had threatened to launch attacks on the prestigious Indian Military Academy and recent incident involving the gunning down of three militants in New Delhi, police officials have said that security around the IMA has been strengthened.
The DIG Garhwal Range RS Meena said that additional police force has been deployed around the IMA building so as to keep a close vigil.
Police officials said that they were doing their best to throw a thick security cover around the IMA.
IMA officials said that all necessary security precautions are being maintained at the institute adding that security bunkers have been erected at vantage points around the IMA after intelligence revealed that terrorists were planning to attack IMA.
Incidentally, the three militants allegedly belonging to the Lashkar-e-Tayaba killed in the encounter, last night, which lasted for more than an hour, reportedly were planning to attack IMA. (ANI)
Hugo Chavez Calls Visit to India Fruitful and Extraordinary
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
New Delhi, Mar 6 (Prensa Latina) Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez called fruitful and extraordinary his visit to India where he signed with PM Manmohan Singh a framework agreement that comprehends several economic areas.
The agreement comprehends oil exploration and refining, space, biotechnology, railroad, and setting up a Joint Commission boosting economic ties between the 5th world oil producer and 8th world oil exporter and one of the largest economies in Asia.
"Venezuela wishes to become permanent oil supplier to India," added the Venezuelan head of state at the press conference who also explained as sheer speculation the current oil price escalation at the market of futures.
Chavez also blamed the later with the impossibility for production to meet the increasing demands whose grip affects the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), depletion of reserves, technological obsolescence, and thinning investment opportunities.
Indian Airlines bags PATA gold award 2005
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
PTI
NEW DELHI: Indian Airlines has won the prestigious PATA Gold award 2005 for marketing.
The Indian Airlines entry titled 'from service turnaround to perception', delineated the airline's two-pronged marketing strategy for the year 2003-04, said a company release.
While on one hand, IA focused on the rational benefits to the flyers through improved product features, innovative value additions and price offers, on the other, the marketing communications centred on trust, warmth, friendliness etc, to establish emotional connect, the release said.
The judging criteria for a winning entry consists of an evaluation of its overall marketing strategy, design and quality of the campaigns and their overall effectiveness, the release added.
The Pacific Asia Travel Association's gold award recognizes exceptional achievement by the region's travel, tourism and hospitality industry.
IA competed with thousands of PATA members consisting of airlines, hotels, tourism corporations and travel agents from over forty countries across the globe, the release said.
LeT ultras planned to target software cos: Police
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
Documents seized from the three Lashkar-e-Toiba militants, who were killed in an encounter in New Delhi on Saturday, have revealed that they planned to carry out suicide attacks at the Indian Military Academy in Dehradun, Delhi police said on Sunday.
The militants, including two Pakistani nationals, were killed at Suraj Vihar in Uttam Nagar.
According to reports, the militants had visited Bangalore and surveyed the location of several software companies in December 2004, Joint Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Karnal Singh said.
"They planned to hit these companies in an effort to hinder the economic development of the country," he said.
The Pakistani militants had been identified as Bilawal (24) and Shahnawaz (25), while Shams, alias Pervez Ahmed (26), was a resident of Patna.
The JCP said Bilawal's Pakistani ID card and passport had been recovered from the site of the encounter, which showed he had recently visited the United Arab Emirates and Nepal.
The encounter followed the arrest of two of their associates, one of whom had arrived from Jammu with a cache of ammunition.
According to Singh, the police got a tip-off that Hamid Hussain, alias Abu Faisal, would deliver a consignment of explosives from Jammu and Kashmir to his associate Mohammad Sariq (24) at Makarba Chowk in Delhi.
A team of special cell caught the duo and found 10.5 kg RDX in Hamid's bag.
On interrogation, Hamid disclosed he had been bringing consignments for militants holed up in a house in Suraj Vihar.
The special cell team surrounded the house at around 9 pm but the militants opened fire. Police returned fire. The three militants were killed in the gun battle, which lasted about an hour.
Three AK-56 rifles, six magazines, 100 kg of gelatin sticks, 450 detonators, four hand grenades, a satellite phone and Rs 24,500 in cash was recovered from the spot.
The police found several money transaction documents, bank accounts and information about IMA after raiding two hideouts -- Batla House and Zakir Nagar in South Delhi.
Several diaries, which contained encoded telephone numbers and e-mail addresses, have also been recovered and efforts are on to decode them.
Forex reserves rise by $2.69 bn
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
India's foreign exchange reserves swelled by over $2.6 billion to touch $135.65 billion for the week ended February 25.
The forex reserves grew by $2,699 million for the period under review, taking the reserves to $1,35,658 million, the Reserve Bank of India's weekly statistical supplement released here today said.
The past two weeks have seen accretion of over $5.5 billion to the forex kitty.
Foreign currency assets during this period also rose by $2,692 million to $1,29,844 million, the RBI said.
Inflows from FIIs followed by intervention by the central bank in the forex market and revaluation of international currencies contributed to growth in reserves, analysts said.
Gold and Special Drawing Rights remained static at $4,390 million and $5 million respectively, it said.
India's Reserve Tranche Position (RTP) with International Monetary Fund increased by $7 million to reach $1,419 million, it added.
Loans and advances to state governments declined by Rs 279 crore to Rs 2,242 crore while that to central government showed a nil balance.
The RBI said the aggregate deposits with banks as on February 18 grew by Rs 9,672 crore (0.6 per cent) to Rs 16,83,014 crore.
Food credit during the reporting period, however, fell by Rs 1,466 crore to Rs 41,482 crore while non-food credit grew by Rs 6,927 crore to Rs 10,14,728 crore, the central bank added. (PTI)
Hooda sworn-in as Haryana Chief Minister
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
Chandigarh
Jat leader Bhupinder Singh Hooda was sworn in as the 19th Chief Minister of Haryana on Saturday, ending nearly a week of uncertainty.
Haryana Governor AR Kidwai administered the oath of office and secrecy to the 57-year-old Hooda at the lawns of the Raj Bhavan in Chandigarh.
Hooda's rival contender Bhajan Lal also attended the function.
Hundreds of his supporters from the Jat community and over 50 legislators who decided on Friday that he would be the next chief minister were present on the occasion.
Congress leaders and supporters shouted slogans as Hooda completed his oath and signed official papers. His family members were present on the occasion.
Mohali a 'trend-setter' for Indo-Pak series: Gavaskar
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
Chandigarh: Former Indian captain, Sunil Gavaskar on Friday described the ensuing Mohali Test, the first of the three-Test series and six one-day Internationals between India and Pakistan, as a ''trend setter''.
The first Test will be played at the PCA Stadium in Mohali from March 8 to 12.
''Here at the PCA Stadium, the teams will lay down the trend for the series,'' explained the Little Master who was in Chandigarh for a promotional plan of LG Electronics LG Challenge Khelega Kya.
Gavaksar commented that Virender Sehwag played his own brand of attacking cricket but was not bothered about his opening partner.
He said the cricket matches between India and Pakistan always generated high intensity interest among the fans as both the teams displyed a highly-spirited game.
Regarding the prospects of the teams, Gavaskar said the team which cope up with the expectations of the cricket fans will win the series.
Asked whether the presence of Rawalpindi Express Shoaib Akhtar would have worried the Indian team, Gavaskar said you all have seen what happened when the Pakistani fast bowler played against India.
''All wins are memorable moments. However, the 10-wicket victory over Pakistan in the fifth Test at the Chepauk Stadium in Madras in 1979-80 series was the most memorable moment against Pakistan,'' Gavaskar said.
He recalled that in that Test Kapil displayed an all-round performance, taking 11 wickets for 146 runs in two innings and scored a breezy 84.
Three Lashkar ultras shot dead in Delhi
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
New Delhi, March 6. (PTI): Foiling an attempt by Lashkar-e- Toiba militants to attack Indian Military Academy in Dehra Dun, police shot dead three members of the outfit, including two Pakistani nationals, in an encounter here tonight.
Shahnawaz and Bilawal, both Pakistani nationals, and Shams alias Prevez hailing from Patna, were killed in a 50-minute-long encounter in Suraj Vihar in Uttam Nagar of south-west Delhi, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Ashok Chand told PTI.
Three AK-56 rifles and a huge amount of explosives and ammunition had been recovered from them, he said.
Associates nabbed
Earlier in the day, police had arrested two associates of the slain militants, Hamid and Sarik, at Mubarak Chowk in North-West Delhi with more than 10 kgs of RDX.
During interrogation, they revealed three other militants of Pakistan-based militant group Lashkar-e-Toiba were holed up in a house in Suraj Vihar.
When a team of Special Cell went to the area to investigate, they were fired upon with an AK-56 rifle. The militants also lobbed two grenades at the police team, police sources said.
The policemen returned the fire. The exchange of fire continued for about 50 minutes after which the bodies of three militants were found.
Initial investigations had revealed they had come to Delhi from Jammu and Kashmir and were on their way to Uttaranchal's capital Dehra Dun where they planned to carry out a suicide attack on the IMA, the sources said.
Further investigations and interrogation of the arrested militants was on to ascertain if more of their associates were involved in the operation, they added.
Rahul pacifies Cong workers involved in scuffle
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
Gorakhpur: In a bid to calm down the workers who were not allowed entry in the training programme, Congress leader and Amethi MP Rahul Gandhi intervened and made all efforts to pacify them.
On his way back to the guesthouse from the venue at the university campus this evening, Rahul climbed up a red plastic chair to shake hands with the workers through barbed wire barricade.
During his 25-minute stay, the Congress leader also had a brief interaction with the workers and got to know their grievances.
However, during the entire eposide, the security men of the leader had a hard time controlling the crowd wanting to shake hands with Rahul through the barbed wire.
Meanwhile, an old Congresswoman blessed Rahul, asserting that one day he would become the prime minister of the country like his father and grand-mother.
Earlier in the day, a scuffle broke out between two groups after several Congress activists were prevented from attending the party's second youth leadership development programme, minutes before the arrival of Rahul Gandhi at the venue.
Trouble erupted after several youths were prevented from attending the conclave as only about 245 selected delegates were invited for the two-day programme.
Activists who were denied entry raised anti-Salman Khurshid slogans and even clashed with security men manning the gates. The situation, however, was controlled after local Congressmen intervened.
A similar clash had also occurred at Chitrakoot between the workers during the first training programme held on January 18-19 last.
Chavez charmed by Kalam's hospitality
Sunday, March 6, 2005 | Editor
New Delhi: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was pleasantly surprised when President A P J Abdul Kalam played Venezuelan music and served him dishes from his country at a state banquet on Friday night.
"Kalam is extremely humane," said the flamboyant left-wing leader, obviously impressed by the warm hospitality he has received since he arrived in India.
Chavez said he was pleasantly surprised to see Venezuelan dishes served at the banquet hosted in his honour by the Indian Presidentc. "He played Venezuelan music and we enjoyed Venezuelan dishes at the banquet," he said.
Chavez also described Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, whom he met on Saturday, as "very humane and gracious". "He is also very attentive," said the leader of the fifth largest oil exporter in the world.
"I will never forget the warmth we received in India," said Chavez, who is on a five-day visit to the country.
Goa Speaker, deputy Speaker resign
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
Panaji, Feb 28 (PTI) In a dramatic turn of events, the Goa assembly Speaker and his deputy today resigned from their posts before Chief Minister Pratapsinh Rane could move his motion of vote of confidence leaving the game of numbers delicately balanced.
Speaker Vishwas Satarkar had disqualified Independent MLA Filipe Neri Rodrigues, who is the deputy Chief Minister and accepted the resignation of BJP MLA Digambar Kamat, both supporting the Rane government after it came to power dislogding the BJP-led Manohar Parrikar government on February two.
After the disqualification and resignations, Congress and BJP each have the support of 17 MLAs and a new Speaker has to be elected by the 34 members in the assembly. After the Speaker's election the ruling side's strength will get reduced to 16.
The Speaker can cast his vote only in case of a tie on the floor of the house in the trial of strength. As the House assembled to debate the vote of confidence to be moved by Rane, Speaker Satatarkar announced the resignation of Deputy Speaker Narhari Haldankar and later declared that he too had decided to step down. This was a move intended to to force the ruling party elect its own Speaker so that its strength would be down by one on the floor.
However, there was no clarity as to when the trial of strength would take place. Governor S C Jamir had asked the Chief Minister to prove his majority within a month and the House was convened for the purpose today.
Later, Rane said there was no Constitutional crisis in Goa and his government was in "no danger." Satarkar said he was hurt by the accusations levelled against him in the wake of the dismissal Parrikar government and has decided to resign. PTI
BJP-JD (U), Cong meet Jharkhand Governor, stake claim
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
Ranchi, Feb 28 (PTI) BJP-led NDA alliance and Congress today stepped up their efforts to have a shot at power in Jharkhand, where assembly polls produced a hung assembly, by meeting the Governor and staking claim to form government.
Governor Syed Sibtey Razi asked both sides to come back to him only after electing their legislature party leaders and a list of MLAs backing them.
The BJP MLAs promptly elected outgoing Chief Minister Arjun Munda as their leader amidst murmurs of protest by supporters of senior party leader and hopeful for the top post Babulal Marandi.
Congress elects its legislature party leader tomorrow but there is no word as yet when JMM, the bigger partner of the alliance, does the same.
The Governor made it clear to BJP-JD(U) and Congress that without election of legislature party leader supported by a list of MLAs it was not possibile to consider the claim, a Raj Bhawan press release said.
The day-long hectic political activities to put together a government began with a delegation comprising Arjun Munda and JD(U) President Inder Singh Namdhari among others meeting the Governor and staking claim in the morning.
After meeting the Governor, BJP General Secretary Rajnath Singh told newspersons that the Governor had asked them to elect legislature party leader and then approach him with a formal request in forming the Government.
The BJP-JD(U) combine, which bagged 36 (BJP:30-JDU:6) seats between them, is also counting on the support of its rebel leader Madhu Kora who emerged a winner as an independent candidate from Jagannathpur. PTI
Bourses welcome budget, sensex surges to all-time high
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
Mumbai, Feb 28 (PTI) Buoyed by the budget proposals, the sensex today surged by a whopping 114 points to end at a life-time high of 6713.86 on the Bombay Stock Exchange on across-the-board buying spree.
Terming the budget as market-friendly and growth-oriented, stocks brokers expressed optimism that the sensex will breach 7000-mark within a fortnight.
After fluctuating erratically in a narrow range, the BSE Benchmark 30-share Index later rallied sharply to the historic intra-day high of 6721.08 before ending the day at 6713.86 as against last Friday's close of 6569.72, a net rise of 144.14 points or 2.19 per cent.
Initially, operators and institutional investors had taken a cautious stance but later made heavy purchases despite their high outstanding positions in response to the budget proposals aimed at strengthening the capital market.
In a major relief to corporates and tax payers, the government proposed to lower corporate tax to 30 per cent and slash excise and customs duties on several commodities, including petro and diesel, and raise income tax exemption limit to Rs one lakh as well as restructured tax slabs.
The securities transaction tax, introduced last year, however, has been raised marginally from 0.15 per cent to 0.20 per cent.
Large-cap companies like HLL, RIL, Tata Steel, Infosys Tech, Wipro, Tata Motors and Grasim will be benefitted substantially following the reduction in corporate tax. PTI
Defence Budget hiked to Rs 83,000-cr
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
New Delhi, February 28: Signalling that current modernisation drive in the armed forces would continue, the government hiked the country's Defence Budget to Rs 83,000 crores for the year 2005-06 from Rs 77,000 crores, an increase of 7.8 per cent.
The highlight of defence spending in 2005 would be the steep allocation of Rs 34,472 crores made for the capital outlay.
Though in real terms it marked only an increase of about Rs 1,000 crores over last year's arms acquisition funding of Rs 33,472 crores.
In actual terms it amounts to fresh allocation as the ministry for the first time in five years has been able to spend all the allocated funds under the head in 2004.
With a huge allocation on capital outlay, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee can now go ahead with major arms acquisition programmes like buying killer-hunter Scorpene submarines from France, long range Smerch rocket system from Russia and low-level transportable radars, all of which have been pending for more than a year with the cabinet committee on security.
The capital outlay funding in fact almost constitutes 41.4 per cent of the total Defence Budget.
Though there is an increase of Rs 6,000 crore in Defence allocation, India with Defence spending of 2.5 per cent of the GDP still is lowest in the region. Pakistan and China's defence expenditure almost ran upto to 5 per cent and 8 per cent of their respective GDP.
Biggest ever seizure by BSF
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
Agartala, February 27 (ANI): The Border Security Force (BSF) seized a huge consignment of Bangladeshi garments from Nischintpur border area of West Tripura district.
A BSF spokesman said the consignment was being smuggled across Bangladesh from Nischintpur, 20 km south from capital Agartala, before it was seized. The cost of the garments is approximately around 20 lakh rupees, which is the highest ever, seizure by the BSF.
Officials from the 46 battalion of the BSF informed that following secret information, they along Customs Amtali, laid a night ambush at Tripura University tri-junction in the Agartala- Sabroom road and stopped a lorry after an half hours chase, which was later discovered to be full of Bangladeshi garments.
Three people, including a suspected Bangladeshi national, fled away from the scene, taking advantage of the roadside thick jungle leaving the vehicle. They could not be arrested though a combing operation was conducted. However, the lorry in which the consignment was carried has been detained. (ANI)
India ahead of China in satellite tech
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
India is "a step ahead" of China in satellite technology and can surpass Beijing in space research by tapping the talent of its huge pool of young scientists, India's space research chief said.
An Indian scientist monitors screens at Indian Space Research Organisation's satellite tracking Master Control Facility in 2003. [AFP/file]
G Madhavan Nair said India and China were "on par (with each other) as far as rocket technology is concerned," the Press Trust of India news agency reported.
Though China was ahead in planning a manned mission to the moon, "We are a step ahead of China in satellite technology," Nair, chief of the Indian Space Research Organisation, told a gathering in the southern city of Coimbatore.
Two years ago, India announced it would launch a mission to the moon -- the Chandrayan-I or Moon Vehicle I -- by 2007.
The 590-kilogram (1,298-pound) Chandrayan-1 is expected to map the lunar terrain for minerals and conduct scientific experiments.
The 2007 mission also aims at landing a small probe -- an "impacter" module weighing about 20 kilograms (44 pounds) -- on the surface of the moon.
Besides India, the United States, the European Space Agency, China and Japan are planning lunar missions during the next decade.
Dacoits attack superfast train, kill 1
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
One person was killed and three others were injured in a train dacoity near here this morning. Six or seven armed robbers entered the last coach of the Jalandhar-New Delhi superfast train (4682) between Doraha and Jaspalon.
The robbers, who seemed to be migrant labourers, spoke Hindi and brandished two countrymade pistols and several knives. They boarded the train at Ludhiana and threatened the eight passengers at about 6:15 am. They left after pulling the chain and fled to the fields.
They took away Rs 2,700 and two mobile phones from the passengers. Before leaving, they locked the victims in the toilets of the coach. No one tried to follow them though police guards were present in the train. The police personnel were not in the last coach, which was not connected internally with the train.
The deceased was identified as Swaran Singh of Basti Jodhewal in Ludhiana, who worked as assistant lineman with the Haryana State Electricity Board. He used to commute daily to Ambala. He grappled with the dacoits, was stabbed thrice and died on the spot. The injured were Mukesh, a migrant labourer, Dharminder and Parveen Kumar. Mukesh suffered head injuries while the other two suffered minor stab injuries.
The train halted near Jaspalon for about 10 minutes, after which it proceeded to Khanna. It left Khanna around 9:30 am after the Government Railway Police and the Railways completed legal formalities.
Advantage Bhajan Lal in CM race
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
NEW DELHI, Feb. 28. — Haryana PCC president and former chief minister Mr Bhajan Lal seems to have got a head start in the race for chief ministership.
The Congress today swung into government-formation mode following its spectacular victory in the Haryana Assembly polls. The meeting of Congress Legislature Party will be held tomorrow afternoon in Chandigarh to elect the CLP leader who will assume the CM’s office.
The Congress high command appointed three senior party leaders — Mr Ashok Gehlot, Mr PM Sayeed and Mr Janardhan Dwivedi — as observers for tomorrow’s CLP meeting. They will interact with each newly-elected party legislator to seek his opinion over the chief ministerial question.
Sources said Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi does not want to be “burdened” this time with the prospect of having a one-line CLP resolution authorising her to choose the CLP leader. The CLP meetings generally practise this trend. In the case of Haryana now, Mrs Gandhi would like the issue to be settled to a “great degree” at the local level itself. Observers have been told to interact with MLAs and do the numbers. The decision taken at the CLP meet will, however, be vetted by the high command.
Over 1 mn students to take CBSE exams
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
Over 1 million students in the country will appear for the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class X and XII examinations beginning today.
Students from the tsunami-hit states have been given an option of appearing for the examinations either now or during the period between May 17-June 4.
CBSE officials said 1.07 million students have been enrolled for the examinations.
As many as 606,632 students will sit for the Class X examinations in 2,398 centres, while 421,463 students will appear in 2,177 centres for the Class XII examinations.
NASA hoax: Debate rages over media haste
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
The blame game for the story of 17-year-old Saurabh Singh, who hit the headlines, for topping the so-called ISD test of US Space and Aeronautical agency, NASA continues.
After repeated coverage across national media, the question that is being raised is what every journalist learns first- Why wasn't the story checked at the source?
It all started with a little column printed on page number 14 of the January 26, local edition of the Amar Ujjala.
From there the story of a 17-year-old boy from Ballia topping a NASA exam was picked up by other bigger papers and then eventually television channels.
For the sake of competition
The headlines ranged from Saurabh Singh giving tips to other children to his parents expressing worry about his security.
"There is so much competition between newspapers that one does not stop to think about the content of the news. This is why this entire debacle took place," said K K Pathak, Reporter, Amar Ujala.
If nothing else, Saurabh gets full marks for his ingenuity. He had apparently taken Rs 38,000 from his parents for coaching from a teacher, V K Bansal in Kota.
The boy later claimed that Bansal was taking him abroad for an international exam.
The whole story gained a life of its own when he returned with a certificate claiming he had topped.
The proud family told other villagers and the news soon spread, sparking a controversy.
Media hype
From television channels including NDTV, which took it from news agency ANI to international news sites, everyone carried this news without checking it at the source, NASA.
"Media created the hype but I personally feel that the PMO, the President's house and the state legislature are also responsible. How is it that an appointment was given to Saurabh without checking his credentials?
"Even after the report was given that he had topped in an examination in which President Kalam had stood seventh, the Rashtrapati Bhawan did not check the credentials of Saurabh," said Sunita Aron, Resident Editor, HT, Lucknow.
Those who chose not to carry the news say they suspected something when NASA did not reply to an initial inquiry.
"I made queries on mail to their public enquiry section thrice but I could not get a reply. So when I did not get a reply I presumed that this story can't be carried without any statement from NASA side," said Kulsum Talha, Correspondent, Associated Press.
A valuable lesson for everyone who fell hook, line and sinker for a 17-year-old boy's tall story.
Bihar stalemate: Lalu, Paswan to meet Sonia
Tuesday, March 1, 2005 | Editor
Congress President Sonia Gandhi will talk to RJD chief Lalu Yadav and Lok Jan Shakti chief Ram Vilas Paswan in separate meetings today.
Top UPA leaders are also meeting today to discuss the Bihar stalemate.
Paswan, who has emerged as the principal kingmaker in Bihar after a fractured verdict, had earlier met Bihar Governor Buta Singh and handed over a letter ruling out any support to either RJD or NDA formations.
There are also reports that the upper caste MLAs from LJP are pressurising Ram Vilas Paswan to tie up with Nitish Kumar's JD(U) and take outside support from the BJP.
However, Paswan will have to give up his Centre portfolio if he does that.
Meanwhile, Lalu Yadav will also meet Sonia Gandhi as efforts to form a non-NDA government in Bihar gain momentum.
Rabri Devi is also expected to be re-elected as RJD leader in a legislative party meeting in Patna today.
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