Microsoft's new Windows Server 2003 is opening up opportunities in the server landscape, particularly in the high-end area once dominated by Unix machines. With the arrival last week of the new server operating system, Windows now works on servers based on Intel's Itanium chip. The symbiosis between the two could carry the operating system into powerful back-end computers it hasn't been able to tackle in the past, and the Windows support could encourage more customers to use Itanium servers. The software release is giving new life to companies' prospects for the server market. For Intel, it's fueling hopes that Itanium will conquer high-end computing. Hewlett-Packard has a new way to sell high-end computers and a new sales pitch for low-end systems. And Dell Computer, which made the debut of its forthcoming Itanium-based server a few days ago, is looking to accelerate its market share gains. Microsoft wants the new operating system to replace Windows NT 4, the grandfather of Windows Server 2003 that runs on millions of servers, and is putting its biggest sales effort into that, said company CEO Steve Ballmer at last Thursday's launch event. But Microsoft has been strong in such low-end servers for years, so the more strategically significant change would come in high-end machines. The top-end Datacenter Edition of Windows Server 2003 works on servers with as many as 64 processors, giving Microsoft new ammunition in its effort to displace previously untouchable servers--from IBM, HP and Sun Microsystems--that run the Unix operating system. HP is leading the high-end charge. On Thursday, an HP Superdome server with 64 Itanium processors running Windows took the top score in the widely watched TPC-C server speed test. At $6.4 million, the system isn't cheap, but it is the least expensive one in the top 10 tested. The server maker expects the number of Superdomes it will sell will double or triple within two years as a result of the availability of Windows for Itanium. That's in part because the product line will benefit from Microsoft's sales effort for its new software. Itanium, initiated and co-developed by HP, but manufactured and now designed by Intel, has had a rocky start. It was hampered by several delays and by the fact that software must be rebuilt to take advantage of its 64-bit nature, which permits it to use vast amounts of memory. The arrival of Windows Server 2003 will accelerate software companies' moves to support the processor. At the Windows Server 2003 launch event, Intel Chief Operating Officer Paul Otellini promised major performance improvements with future versions of the processor.
It's not easy being Abhishek Bachchan
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
MUMBAI: It's not easy to weather a slew of flops, especially when you are the son of Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan. But Abhishek Bachchan is a pillar of strength. "I'm a human being and so I'm bound to feel the pain. But I've to rise above my personal problems. "There's no subtitle in a film explaining why I'm looking listless in a scene or to excuse me in a scene because I shot it after shooting for 36 hours at a stretch. "One thing I've learnt from my dad is never be scared of retakes. Because it's that final take which the audience is going to see. You have to do your job well and you better do it," Abhishek told in an interview. Whatever the problem, Abhishek keeps it well hidden from public view. In spite of many box-office debacles he continues to be one of the most in-demand stars in Bollywood. His ready-for-release film "Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost" carries excellent reports. But the actor is guarded. "Don't know about overtaking competition. I guess I'm blessed. 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost' is extremely close to my heart. I've put my heart and soul into it. I'm praying it'd get its due recognition. "Once I was in costume and on the village set in Jailsalmer, I remained in character throughout. My director Apoorva Lakhia's greatest asset is his preparedness. He knew every dialogue, shot and moment in his film from beforehand. "I never felt the need to try to dissuade him. He saw his whole film in his head before seeing it on the monitor. Now at the end of the shoot I can't categorise it. Is it a social satire, a romantic or a dramatic film?" Abhishek's next two releases, again with new directors, provide him with a total change of pace. In Rohan Sippy's "Kuch Na Kaho" he does "a mature love story with Aishwarya Rai", and Rohit Shetty's "Zameen" "is my first full fledged action film". For those who think Abhishek is doing too many films with new directors, here's news: there're new projects with two of the finest filmmakers in India -- Mani Rathnam and Raj Kumar Santoshi. The Santoshi project is finally going to bring father and son together in a film. Reveals Abhishek: "Raj Kumar Santoshi had a script, 'Zakhm', that he was very keen for me to do. I was always keen to work with him. While working on the script he came to me one day and said, 'There's one part which I think your dad would be fantastic doing.' And dad agreed. That's it. "Apart from a son wanting to work with his father who wouldn't want to work with Amitabh Bachchan? I've an advantage. He'd be more comfortable with me and he'll make sure that I'm comfortable. I'm just excited at the thought of standing in the same frame as him. I don't care if I don't have a single dialogue." In May, the two Bachchans will have their films premiered together at the International Indian Film Awards in Johannesburg. How does it feel to be pitched against his father? Abhishek stares disapprovingly. "My film can never be pitched against his film. He's far too great an actor for me to be pitched against. But yes, my film 'Mumbai Se Aaya Mera Dost' is being premiered along with his ('Armaan') at Johannesburg. It's a great honour to be given a world platform."
Manisha under cover
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Manisha Koirala had a brush with the Dubai police recently when she was shooting for Market. The police ordered Manisha and Aryan Vaid to halt, smelling something fishy. Actually, Manisha’s car was being followed by a jeep seemingly full of gangsters and the police swung into action attempting to take the two actors into their protective cover. But later, the police realised that Manisha and Vaid were out for a shoot and the gangsters were following them as per the storyline of the movie. The cops apologised profusely for interrupting the shooting.
Cable modems outpacing DSL for speed
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Cable modems are outpacing digital subscriber lines in terms of connection speeds, as global household broadband access continues to increase, according to a study released this week. The number of Internet users accessing the Web through home broadband connections rose 9 percent between October 2002 and March 2003, according to Net measurement firm ComScore Networks. That brought the total percentage of broadband-connected households to 28 percent of all homes with Internet access. However, despite signs of consumers' appetite for broadband, connection speeds vary depending on whether they use DSL or cable modems, according to ComScore. Individual service providers also showed differences in access speed. The study said cable modems were 50 percent faster on average than DSL connections. According to data tabulated during February, the fastest cable modem connections averaged 750 kbps. DSL providers showed huge swings in performance, ranging from 700kbps to 240kbps. According to ComScore, competition for broadband services will continue to intensify, leading to pricing pressure and greater importance placed on performance.
Singapore truck driver in Vellore CMC found to be down with SARS
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
VELLORE: The first case of suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in Tamil Nadu has now been confirmed. Elumalai, 44, a truck driver in Singapore, who was admitted to the Christian Medical College hospital here on April 24 following symptoms of high fever and cough was tested positive, Dr Kurien Thomas, Professor of Medicine, told reporters here on Tuesday. The diagnostic report from the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, which tested his blood and urine, confirmed that the samples were positive for corona virus. However, there was no reason to panic, he hastened to add and said that the health condition of the patient had since improved. ``He showed symptoms of the SARS only when his samples were taken, but now he has recovered,'' he said. Elumalai, he said, was treated for his clinical symptoms with a dose of antibiotics. The patients did not have any clinical symptoms of SARS since April 26, he said. As per the WHO guidelines, any patient free of symptoms for more than 48 hours is considered ``fit for discharge.'' Still, as per the directions from the State government, Elumalai would be kept under observation for a few more days in the isolated ward. ``After this he will be kept in home isolation for another 10 days. All this only by way of precautions, there is nothing to worry about'' he said. A senior district official, meanwhile, asserted that there was no chance of the spreading of SARS in the district. ``As a precautionary measure the Pennathur TB sanatorium has a special SARS ward to tackle future infections, if any. We are also making arrangements to get the sanatorium doctors to be trained at CMC on taking care of SARS patients,'' he said.
'Cinema is an ally, not a rival, to TV'
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
A host of television stars, including Aman Verma (who played the second lead in Tanuja Chandra's Sangharsh) and Amarr Upadhyay (popular as Mihir in Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi, who appeared in Dhund: The Fog earlier this year), and directors like Anil Kumar (Kucch To Hai) have not had a successful run in cinema. But Bollywood seems to be looking at these stars and directors with renewed interest. Showman Subhash Ghai has led the way by signing Suhail Tatari (whose serial Kashmeer is now on air) to direct Chandni Chowk for his banner Mukta Arts. Three of television's top directors -- Tigmanshu Dhulia, Parvathi Balagopalan and Kushan Nandy -- are ready with their first feature films. Dhulia, whose Haasil (Hrishitaa Bhatt, Jimmy Shergill) is being talked about in trade circles, thinks television is a breeding ground for considerable talent. "There was a time when television was looked upon as an inferior medium," he says. "Now, when soaps like Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi are stealing away the audience [from the theatres], the film industry has begun to treat actors and technicians from the home- viewing medium as some sort of saviours who can bail the industry out of the doldrums." Parvathi Balagopalan, who has just completed Rules: Pyar Ka Superhit Formula for actor-turned-producer Milind Soman, feels the time is right to do away with the lines demarcating television from cinema. "When I made Margarita for Zee TV many years ago, people said it was ahead of its time. They probably meant the home-viewing medium was not taken seriously enough. Now is the time for cinema to become an ally rather than a rival to television." Kushan Nandy, whose thriller 88 Antop Hill is ready for release, does not think he is migrating from one medium to another. "I didn't think of myself as a TV director, and I don't think of myself as a feature director now. I am a filmmaker, period." As the walls dividing the two media drop, many filmmakers from television are getting ready to make feature films. These include Anurag Basu (who did Ekta Kapoor's soaps and is now directing Saaya with John Abraham for Mukesh Bhatt) and Neena Gupta (the actress' soap Saans on television was a turning point for soaps on satellite television). Ashish Chowdhary, who started 10 years ago at the age of 18 on television, has bagged a parallel role to Ajay Devgan in the action thriller Qayamat. He is now being looked at with avid interest by the film industry as the third major star after Shah Rukh Khan and R Madhavan to break the barriers between television and the big screen. Among the women, Gracy Singh and Gauri Karnik moved on to the big screen from television, with Lagaan and Sur, respectively. Chowdhary could well trigger a wave of migration to the movies. Several television stars are being groomed for big-screen stardom. Perizaad Zorabian, who starred with Chowdhary in the soap Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye, broke through with Nagesh Kukunoor's Bollywood Calling and will soon be seen in two crossover films, one of them produced by Ghai. Says Chowdhary, "I have never regarded television as a casual medium. For me acting is acting. Even Pierce Brosnan and Bruce Willis spent a great deal of time doing Remington Steele and Moonlighting on television before going to cinema."
Friends see off Dravid's bride-to-be for wedding
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Nagpur, April 30: Admirers, friends and colleagues of Dr Vijeta Pendharkar, bride-to be of the Vice-captain of the Indian cricket team, Rahul Dravid, gathered at the Nagpur Railway Station here Tuesday afternoon to congratulate her and see her off along with her father, Wg.Cdr. (retired)S P Pendharkar and other family members, who left for Bangalore where the wedding is scheduled to take place on May 5. The family left by the Jaipur-Bangalore Express. Mediapersons who had also gathered at the railway station to speak to Dr Pendharkar, had to return disappointed as she refused to oblige and reply to any of their questions. Photographers, too, had a tough time and were unable to capture her since her face was covered in cloth to save herself from the scorching Nagpur heat. Her father, though, told the waiting journalists that they are going to Bangalore for the wedding but would not add anything more. Dr Vijeta, who did her Masters in Surgery(General) from the Government Medical college last year, is the youngest of the three siblings. Her eldest brother Abhijit is a Major in the Indian Army while another brother runs an advertising agency in Dubai. UNI
13 militants killed in Doda encounter
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
JAMMU APRIL 29. Thirteen militants and six security force personnel were killed in a gunbattle in Doda district of the Jammu region early on Tuesday. Three jawans were injured in the encounter. According to police sources, on receiving intelligence inputs that a group of militants was camping in the Bharat Nullah area, 35 km from Doda town, members of the 10 Rashtriya Rifles as well as the State Police launched a combing operation. Over two dozen militants of the Hizb-ul-Mujahideen and the Lashkar-e-Taiba were holding a joint meeting of their command councils when the security forces reached the spot. Immediately, the militants began firing at the security forces and a fierce battle ensued. Thirteen militants were killed while the others fled to the neighbouring forest area. Six Rashtriya Rifles jawans also died in the encounter while three injured jawans were airlifted to the Udhampur Military Hospital. Five AK-47 rifles, 1 Pika gun, 1 RPG and 1 wireless set were recovered from the spot. The search for the remaining militants was continuing and the Doda SP, Saji Mohan, and other senior Army officers were camping at the spot. Fidayeen strike foiled Shujaat Bukhari reports from Srinagar: In Kupwara district, the attempt by two members of a Jaish-e-Mohammad suicide squad to sneak into the Rashtriya Rifles Dragmulla headquarters was foiled. While one militant, identified as Badri Hanan of Pakistan, was killed near the camp, the other was chased and shot dead by security forces personnel. In another incident, two BSF jawans were injured when a landmine exploded in Padgampora Pulwama and a BSF vehicle hit it.
After big budget exploits, Shahrukh goes back to romance
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Mumbai, April 30: Superstar Shahrukh Khan, recovering from back surgery, is yearning to return to his romantic image portrayed in earlier films like Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, Dil to Pagal Hai and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, which made him a screen icon. "I am keen to return to my one-jean-four-shirt image as my two last films Asoka and Devdas were larger than life characters which the common man does not identify with", Shahrukh told reporters at the music launch of his latest home production, Chalte Chalte here on Tuesday. He said although Asoka and Devdas were some of the big characters he had portrayed on celluloid, he would love to do soft and romantic type of roles which suit his image. "Asoka and Devdas were challenging roles and I was immensely satisfied", he said. Shahrukh described Chalte Chalte directed by Aziz Mirza as a "die-hard romantic comedy". "It is a film revolving around basic human emotions involving a girl and a boy. The emotions are tested as the film progresses and later, the two fall in love", he explained. Actress Rani Mukherjee, fresh from her critically acclaimed performance in Saathiya, plays the lead opposite Shahrukh. "Every Indian girl longs for a relationship and I find such roles challenging", Rani, who was also present at today's launch, said. She described Chalte Chalte as a good romantic film. "I have worked with Shahrukh in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and later, in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Similarly, Shahrukh also had a special role in my film Har Dil Jo Pyar Karega. "I am working for the first time in his home production. As a producer, he is as good as he is as an actor", she remarked. Shahrukh said he would love to act in a light comedy and a film which a common man could identify with. "I want to look like a middle class character on screen. This script was read out to me a year ago and I immediately decided to produce the film. But due to my back problem, the shooting got delayed". Javed Akhtar has penned the lyrics and music is composed by Jatin-Lalit and Aadesh Srivastav. Chalte Chalte will be released in June. UNI
BCCI to request govt for Indo-Pak series at neutral venue
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
In a bid to revive the stalled Indo-Pak cricket relations, the Cricket Board will soon put a request to the Centre to grant permission to the Indian team to play bilateral series against Pakistan at neutral venues, a Board official said here today. "Board president Jagmohan Dalmiya is of the view that we should abide by the government's directives. But we will soon be requesting the Prime Minister to consider a proposal regarding staging of bilateral series in a neutral venue," Rajiv Shukla, a Board member and Rajya Sabha MP, told here today. He said the Board was taking whatever steps possible to revive the cricketing ties between the arch-rivals. "The BCCI is quite serious in reviving cricketing ties. But we are waiting for the Centre's nod." He declined to tell the date when he will be putting the request to the government. "You will come to know about it very soon." India has refused to play Pakistan in bilateral series in protest against Islamabad's continued support to terrorism in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. The cricket teams from both the sides played their latest match in the World Cup in South Africa which India won by six wickets.
RBI cuts bank rate, CRR
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Continuing with its soft interest rate regime, the RBI today cut the bank rate and the Cash Reserve Ratio by 0.25 per cent each in a move that is expected to release an additional Rs 30 billion into the system, even as it expected the overall economic growth rate to be around six per cent with a 5 to 5.5 per cent inflation rate during the current fiscal. In its Monetary and Credit Policy for 2003-04, released today, the RBI spoke of the "limited potential" for further reduction in interest rates due to subsidies, administered prices and rigidities in wage structure. The apex bank cut the bank rate by 0.25 per cent to six per cent from the close of business hours and the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR) by 0.25 per cent to 4.25 per cent beginning the fortnight of June 14. RBI Governor Bimal Jalan told the bankers while presenting the policy that the GDP growth rate is expected to be around 6 per cent assuming satisfactory spatial distribution of monsoon. "The inflation rate is likely to be benign and likely to fall in the second quarter, depending on the monsoon and oil prices," he said. Some structural factors like subsidies, administered prices and wage structure contribute to inflation and nominal interest rates in India - which are somewhat higher than those in industrial or fast-growing emerging markets, Jalan said.
AI derecognises IPG, suspends 18 more pilots
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Mumbai,Tuesday, April 29, 2003: Turning the heat on agitating pilots on SARS issue, Air-India today derecognised the Indian Pilots Guild with immediate effect, suspended 18 more pilots for refusing to fly and filed a caveat with Mumbai and Delhi High Courts in a bid to prevent the strikers from challenging disciplinary action against them. Air India Public Relations Director Jitendra Bhargava told reporters here that a letter has been sent derecognising the IPG which will take away the collective bargaining right of the pilot's trade union body with the management. Explaining the reasons for such a strong measure, he accused IPG of violating an agreement for observing constitutional means and not resorting to aggitational steps or concerted action which might disrupt the airline's functioning. Bhargava said directives issued by IPG to its members on SARS related issues and on flights to Kuwait was nothing but a "concerted action with common understanding not to operate flights, which amounted to illegal strike". This is the second time that the airline has de-recognised a union, the earlier one being in 1970s when the AI Employees Union faced similar action. With the suspension of 18 pilots today, the total number of suspensions since April 26 has gone upto 45 of whom 12 have been charge-sheeted. The management has also issued show cause notices to 55 pilots, Bhargava said.
Pak calls for nuclear restraint in S Asia after Prithvi test
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Pakistan today downplayed the Prithvi missile test by India saying it was "simply a reconfirmation" that missiles were now a reality in South Asia and called for clear and consistent measures to observe nuclear, missile and conventional arms restraint. "This (the test firing) is simply a reconfirmation that missiles are now a reality in South Asia," Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmed Khan said in a statement. "It comes in the wake of continuing reports about India's acquisition of missile technology from abroad," he said. He said Pakistan wanted a "responsible attitude reflecting a clear consistent vision favouring measures for nuclear, missile and conventional arms restraint". Khan said such measures were necessary for promoting peace and security between the two nuclear neighbours, an objective which could only be advanced through "a comprehensive dialogue whose importance Pakistan had stressed time and again." Asked whether India gave any advance notice to Pakistan about the test, he said that this came as a "pleasant surprise since only about a month ago when India conducted a similar test it did not notify Pakistan".
No lowering of guard on LoC in J-K: India
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
New Delhi,Tuesday, April 29, 2003: Treading a cautious path even in the midst of peace moves with Pakistan, India today asserted that there would be no lowering of guard on the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir. The Government's resolve to maintain strict vigil on the Borders was highlighted by the Defence Minister George Fernandes during his high-level interaction separately with top Army and Airforce Commanders. In the backdrop of reports of thousands of mercenaries massed near the Loc in Pakistan occupied Kashmir, Fernandes told the commanders that With the winter snow melting making the high Himalayan passes fordable, strong vigil has to be maintained against infiltration bids. He is believed to have assured the commanders that all efforts were being made to equip the armed forces with anti-infiltration devices like sensors, thermal imagers and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) in larger numbers through imports. The weeklong commanders conference, being held in the backdrop of New Delhi's new peace overtures to Islamabad and the recent spurt in fidayeen attacks by mercenaries in Jammu and Kashmir, was given a detailed briefing by Fernandes of Prime Minister A B Vajpayee new initiative to Pakistan. For the first time, both the Army and Airforce commanders dwelt at length on the War in Iraq with the Defence Minister telling them they should minutely scrutnise the war's implications and future developments.
Terrorism figured during talks with Jamali: Vajpayee
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the issue of terrorism figured when his Pakistani counterpart Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali spoke to him over telephone Monday night. Though he did not give details of his talks with Jamali since Parliament was in session, the Prime Minister told the weekly BJP Parliamentary Party meeting that terrorism was among the issues he discussed with the Pakistani Prime Minister. Vajpayee said if the issue figures in Parliament, he may make a statement in the House, party spokesman V K Malhotra told reporters here. The Prime Minister, who chaired the meeting, said the Government was making efforts to evolve a consensus on the Women's Reservation Bill with a view to bringing forward a legislation in the current session, Malhotra said. Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani asked all ministers to reply to letters from Members of Parliament since they were not getting prompt response to their queries, Malhotra said. Members raised issues like better deal for sugarcane growers of Uttar Pradesh, VAT, powerlooms and readymade garments. Finance Minister Jaswant Singh assured them that their views would be taken care of when he replies to the Finance Bill in Lok Sabha on Wednesday.
Mother's beatification to be celebrated in city on Nov 8
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Kolkata,Tuesday, April 29, 2003: With the main ceremony of Mother Teresa's beatification scheduled at St Peter's Bascilica in the Vatican on October 19, the Archdiocese of Calcutta has decided to organise another event here on November eight to celebrate the event locally. Church sources said the event here would be organised in two parts -- a liturgical celebration and a public celebration. The liturgical celebrations would comprise a religious procession, praying of the rosary, Holy Mass, veneration of Mother Teresa's relics and garlanding her picture, while the public programme would include an all-faith prayer service and other forms of tribute to Mother. Local parishes under the Archdiocese have been directed to 'spiritually prepare' their members for the event, they said. A 14-member core committee, with Kolkata Archbishop Lucas Sircar as convener, has been formed to organise the celebrations. Besides Missionaries of Charity head Sister Nirmala, the committee also comprises the Provincial of the Jesuits Fr Jerome Francis and Salesian Provincial Fr John Berger. 10:15 IST
Second suspected SARS case detected at NSCB airport
Tuesday, April 29, 2003
Kolkata,Tuesday, April 29, 2003: In the second suspected SARS case in the last 24 hours, an Indian national who arrived at the NSCB International Airport here early today via Bangkok, showed symptoms of deadly killer respiratory disease. Immediately after detecting the 32-year-old passenger, a resident of Gorakhpur, with SARS symptoms, a team of doctors, keeping watch on all air travellers, isolated him at the airport arrival lounge before sending him to the Infectious Disease Hospital for diagnosis, sources said. The name of the suspected SARS patient running fever and suffering from cough and breathlessness was not declared when he returned here early today from Cambodia in a Thai international airlines via Bangkok. Meanwhile, instructions have been issued by the airport authorities for the fumigation of the Thai aircraft. This was second instance of the detection of the suspected SARS case at the NSCB International Airport after Jamil Ahmed's upon his arrival from Hong Kong via Bangkok on Sunday last, they said. Jamil Ahmed was still in the ID hospital as his blood report from the Institute of Virology in Pune was awaited.
AI suspends 15 more pilots, seeks IA help
Monday, April 28, 2003
MUMBAI: Hardening its stance against the Indian Pilots' Guild (IPG), the Air India management on Sunday suspended 15 more pilots for refusing to fly to SARS-affected countries. With this, the total number of pilots suspended after the "unofficial" IPG strike is 27. Jitendra Bhargava, AI's Director of Public Relations, told reporters: "Our primary concern is that the passengers must not suffer any inconvenience. Hence, we are using the AI executive pilots to fly to various sectors." At present, 159 executive pilots are serving with A-I. They are mainly senior pilots who have been given executive level postings within the organisation; those belonging to IPG are considered as 'worker class'. Bhargava added that five retired A-I pilots who are still holding a valid flying licence have also been asked to rejoin on a contract basis to ensure that the international flights are not affected. Already, more than 50 other pilots have been served with letters for their refusal to operate flights to Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuwait. They would face disciplinary action, he said. As per the AI contingency plan that has been put in place, A-310 airbus services may be curtailed but operations of Boeing 747-400, 747-300, 747-200 would be carried out with the help of the executive pilots. "If we fail to accommodate passengers on our flights, we will try and shift them to Indian Airlines or other international carriers," Bhargava said. Referring to the contentious CAT III landing instruments, the airline spokesperson had said on Saturday that the Government has installed them in Delhi and IPG has been demanding $35 per hour flying allowance for all pilots irrespective of whether they flew to Delhi or not. He said "we would like to have a written communication from the Guild that they have no such demand and are willing to go for CAT III training. This is the minimum they can do to prove their point. Payment of one dollar amounts to addition of Rs 1 crore to the wage bill annually." On IPG writing to Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj seeking a meeting, he said they should have done it three weeks back. Meanwhile, an Indian Airlines release said all its flights to Singapore from Delhi, Chennai and Bangalore, were operating as per schedule. The airline has decided to shift the night halt for its cockpit as well as cabin crew from Singapore to Bangkok after consultations with the unions concerned, it said. IA circles said that following an AI request, Indian Airlines operated an additional flight on April 26 on the Delhi-Dubai-Delhi sector to clear AI's 142 stranded passengers. This was besides accommodating passengers of cancelled A-I flights on common routes such as Mumbai-Cochin, Calicut-Sharjah, Mumbai-Delhi, Calicut-Doha, Chennai-Singapore, Cochin-Coimbatore and incoming passengers on sectors Bangkok-Kolkata, Bangkok-Mumbai, Bangkok-Guwahati Bangkok-Delhi, Guwahati-Mumbai, Mumbai-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Kolkata. Indian Airlines is also scheduled to operate additional flights on the Delhi-Dubai-Delhi sector on April 28 and 30 and Delhi-Abu Dhabi-Muscat-Delhi on April 29 to clear stranded AI passengers.
PM to christen LCA on May 4
Monday, April 28, 2003
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will christen the indigenous multi-role Light Combat Aircraft (LCA) on May four after witnessing a flight demonstration of the aircraft at the HAL airport here. "Vajpayee will select a suitable name from a list of 20 Sanskrit names identified for LCA. He will also roll out the prototype vehicle (PV-1) of the aircraft," Aeronautical Development Agency sources told today. ADA officials said Defence Minister George Fernandes, Scientific Advisor to the Defence Minister V K Aatre and senior officials would witness the demonstration of LCA. Conceived in 1983, the development of LCA had been hit by delays due to various reasons including sanctions by the United States post Pokhran-blasts before it made its maiden flight on January 4, 2001. Two technology demonstrators TD-1 and TD-2 have so far made 66 flights and a final clearance for the aircraft is expected after 2,000 hours of flying. "The Sanskrit names have been chosen from Hindu mythology and are apt for the next-generation fighter," sources said. The tailless, delta-winged, digital, fly-by-wire aircraft which is presently fitted with a GE-404 engine is expected to replace the Indian Air Force's aeging MiG-21 fleet in future. Limited series production of six aircraft is already underway at HAL and is expected to be delivered by 2008 around the same time when the aircraft is certified. 11:59 IST
India ready to help Iraq with relief supplies: Fernandes
Monday, April 28, 2003
Expressing concern over the post-war situation in Iraq, Defence Minister George Fernandes today said India is ready to send a floating naval hospital and relief supplies as part of the country's humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people. "I was always of the view that the kind of war that was waged was not going to stop where it has. I believe that there will be far more destabilisation not only in Iraq which is already getting demonstrated," Fernandes said. "Its reverberations will be felt in other countries also," Fernandes told here in the east Chinese metropolis before winding up his week-long and first-ever visit to China. Asked what India will do to alleviate the long suffering of the Iraqi people, he said the government is ready to send in relief supplies as well as doctors. "As far as we are concerned, we have kept ourselves ready to provide relief supplies. We have in readiness a floating hospital manned by our naval doctors and we also have a ship ready to move in with food, medical and other relief supplies," he said. 12:48 IST
Fernandes confident on forging friendly ties with China
Monday, April 28, 2003
Defence Minister George Fernandes today said his first-ever visit to China has helped in charting out a new road map for friendly relations with India's most important neighbour with both sides caring for each other's concerns and sensitivities. "It was a visit that has enabled us to appreciate each other's concerns and also each other's sensitivities and take the forward steps. I found that there is tremendous love for India (in China)," Fernandes told here in an exclusive interview here in the gleaming east Chinese metropolis. Summing up his impressions on the week-long official visit to China, the first by an Indian Defence Minister since 1992, Fernandes, well-known for his anti-China comments before and after the 1998 nuclear tests, appeared to have taken a positive and pragmatic policy approach in New Delhi's relations with Beijing. "The important thing is the sincerity on both sides to take forward steps and this is one of the major outcomes of our discussions," Fernandes said. "I noticed a genuine desire to build greater friendship with India and also to remove whatever obstructs such friendship with the acknowledgement that resolving some of the issues will take a little time," he said. Fernandes had separate meetings with the chairman of the central military commission (CMC), Jiang Zemin, Premier Wen Jiabao, CMC vice chairman Gen. Guo Boxiong, Defence Minister Gen. Cao Gangchuan and Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. 11:59 IST
Oppn-govt talks tomorrow to resive stalemate on Muhsarraf
Monday, April 28, 2003
Crucial talks between government and the opposition to resolve differences over the Presidency of Pervez Musharraf and his constitutional amendments in Pakistan resume on Monday amid reports of Musharraf evolving a joint strategy with Prime minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali to deal with the oppostion that has hardened its stand. Jamali, who began formal talks with opposition leaders over the weekend, met Musharraf yesterday at the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and is understood to have briefed him on talks with opposition leaders and sought the President's suggestion to resolve the political stalemate. Media reports quoted officials as saying that Musharraf was of the view that the opposition should avoid striking an uncompromising posture in view of the internal and external security of the country. He also gave suggestions to Jamali to shape a consolidated strategy ahead of the next round of talks with the opposition beginning on Monday. Jamali told Musharraf that his government was ready to continue with the Legal Framework order (LFO) being part of the Constitution with the Parliament's approval. He however added that there is a need to show flexibility on government's stand to soften opposition, local daily 'The Nation' said. Meanwhile Pakistan Muslim League-N of exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Shairf hardened its stand and said it would not accept Musahrraf as President even if he quit as Chief of army "The PML-N will not be part of any dialogue with Pervez Musharraf even if he invites our party. Other opposition parties can have their own viewpoint on the issues including the uniformed president," acting President Makhdoom Javed Hashmi here last night after a PML-N Parliamentary Party meeting. 16:24 IST
Lakshya successfully test-flown
Monday, April 28, 2003
Balasore (Orissa),Sunday, April 27, 2003: The indigenously developed Pilotless Target Aircraft (PTA) - Lakshya - was successfully test flown from the Integrated Test Range (ITR) at Chandipur, about 14 km from here, today, according to defence sources. Lakshya was flown at 1.55 pm. Already inducted into the Indian Air Force (IAF) in 2000, Lakshya's latest trial was undertaken with an improved engine and other sub-systems developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Lakshya, a sub-sonic, re-usable aerial target system, is remote-controlled from the ground and designed to impart training to both airborne and air defence pilots for weapon engagements, sources said. 17:31 IST
Pak reviving militant camps in PoK
Monday, April 28, 2003
Srinagar,Sunday, April 27, 2003: Despite Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee extending an "olive branch" to Pakistan, reports indicate that Islamabad was reactivating militant camps in its illegaly occupied Kashmir and other areas. Militants arrested recently and information collected from border outposts indicate that all five camps of Lashker-e-Taiba in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir have been revived and several hundred cadres, 80 per cent of them foreign mercenaries, were being trained in them, official sources said here. These militants who were arrested after Vajpayee's two-day visit to the Kashmir valley, have reportedly told their interrogators that several camps in Northern areas of Gilgit and Baltistan, which had been shut for long, have been reactivated to carry out violent activities in Kashmir. They revealed that several ultras were waiting across the border for the snow to melt to enter the Valley for unleashing a rein of terror, the sources said. The militants had specific instructions to carry out as many suicide attacks as they could, the sources said. Vajpayee's public rally at the Sher-e-Kashmir stadium was a cause of frustration for the Pakistan-based militants, they said.
Centre, UP differ on fixing SMP for sugarcane
Monday, April 28, 2003
New Delhi,Sunday, April 27, 2003: Differences between the Centre and Uttar Pradesh on the issue of fixing Statutory Minimum Price (SMP) for sugarcane came to the fore at a meeting between Union Ministers led by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Chief Minister Mayawati even as both sides agreed to provide remunerative prices to farmers. During the 90-minute long meeting, Mayawati, who was accompanied by state Sugarcane Minister Premlata Katiyar, impressed on the Prime Minister the need to empower the states to fix the SMP "to ensure that the interest of poor farmers is not hurt by sugar mill owners". She said though the state had fixed Rs 95 per quintal for sugarcane procurement which was being paid by the state's 49 state-sector sugar mills, the 52 private mill owners were denying the same to the farmers as the Centre had announced SMP of only Rs 69.50. "I told the Prime Minister that every state Government should get the right to fix SMP. Then, the private mill owners won't dare to hurt the interests of the farmers. Within a month, I will make them dance. It is for the Centre to decide," Mayawati told reporters after the meeting. However, Union Food Minister Sharad Yadav said "New Delhi has been fixing the SMP traditionally and conventionally and states are free to fix their own prices. An attempt is being made to break that mechanism and we will not allow that." Union Agriculture Minister Ajit Singh said the Government was committed to provide last year's price of Rs 95 for a quintal and a committee would soon meet to discuss ways and means to achieve it.
Aparna Sen wins best film award
Sunday, April 27, 2003
New Delhi: For most filmgoers in the Canary Islands, Spain, seeing Indian films was a new experience. But going by the popularity that the Indian package enjoyed, it was clearly not a bad experience. Fourteen Indian films of the last decade in different languages including 'Lagaan,' which missed the Oscar by a whisker, and 'The Making of the Mahatma' were screened at the Festival of Las Palmas in the Canary Islands of Spain last month. The package of mainstream films, being screened in the Festival for the first time, had been put together by Cinemaya, the Asian film quarterly published from New Delhi, and is increasing evidence that Bollywood is getting international recognition. Apart from the fact that the Lady Harmiguada Gold prize for the best film (which carried a cash award of 1,20,000 Euros) was presented to Aparna Sen's 'Mr and Mrs Iyer' by 'Sandokan' Kabit Bedi, the package was a great success not only with Indian audiences delighted to have Indian films occupy such a prominent place in the festival, but also with Spanish audiences who had a chance to discover the cinema being now talked about all over the world. Las Palmas is the capital of the Grand Canary island, one of the group of seven Canary islands off the southern coast of Spain. Among its population of one million are two and a half thousand Indians (five thousand Indians in the seven islands out of eleven thousand in the whole of Spain) who have been there for more than a century. The films in other sections were the Shah Rukh Khan-Madhuri Dixit-Aishwarya Rai starrer 'Devdas' by Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Aamir Khan-Sonali Bhendre's 'Sarfarosh' by John Mathew Matthan, 'Kuch Kuch Hota Hai' (Karan Johar), 'Dil Chahata Hai' (Farhan Akhtar), 'Everybody says I'm fine' (Rahul Bose), 'English August' (Dev Benegal), 'Zakhm' (Mahesh Bhatt), 'Satya' (Ram Gopal Varma), 'A Peck on the Cheek' (Mani Rathnam), 'Astitva' (Mahesh Manjrekar), and 'Mitr My Friend' (Revathy Menon). Aamir Khan's 'Lagaan' was directed by Ashutosh Gowariker and 'The Making of the Mahatma' was an Indo-South African production by Shyam Benegal. This package had been put together with the cooperation of the Directorate of Film Festivals and the External Affairs Ministry. Mrs Aruna Vasudev, Chief Editor of 'Cinemaya' and Director of CINEFAN Asian Film Festival, was President of the official jury whose six members including Daniel Bergman (son of Ingmar Bergman). Konkona Sen and Rahul Bose were present to introduce 'Mr and Mrs Iyer', with the latter also represented his own directed 'Everybody Says I'm Fine', and 'English August,' in which he plays the main role. Mahesh Bhatt had declined to attend the Festival to protest against the Spanish support to the United States in Iraq, though the Festival authorities had assured him that they did not support their own government.
Nuts yield heroin haul
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Afghanistan is the source of most of the world's heroin The authorities in India say they have seized heroin with a street value of more than $3m, being smuggled inside almond shells. Customs officials made the discovery at the international airport in the capital, Delhi, when they stopped a passenger arriving off a flight from Afghanistan. "The officer on duty took out one of the almonds and squeezed it and found that there was a small white powder pouch inside it," customs officer Manish Mohan told Reuters news agency. "It was a fake almond. We were suspicious of the size of almonds as they were bigger than usual "When we carried out the test, it was found positive for narcotics and it was heroin." Officials say the drugs would have fetched $3-4m on the international market. Afghanistan was the world's largest producer of opium, from which heroin is derived, last year, the United Nations says. India is increasingly being used to channel drugs from Afghanistan to other Asian countries, the authorities say.
Three more SARS cases in India confirmed
Sunday, April 27, 2003
The Health Ministry has confirmed three more cases of SARS in India, which takes the total number in the country to seven. Of the three freshly confirmed cases, one is being treated in Kasturba Hospital, Mumbai, the second in Apollo Hospital, Kolkata and the third in Naidu Hospital, Pune. In a significant meeting chaired by the Senior Additional Direc- tor of Health Services in Maharashtra, a decision has been taken not to release names of patients of suspected or confirmed cases of SARS. The decision has been taken in view of the social stigma, which is beginning to be attached with the disease. In other developments, preliminary tests have proved that two patients admitted to hospitals in Kerala with symptoms similar to SARS are not afflicted with the disease. Health Secretary K Ramamurthy and Director of Health Services VK Rajan told reporters that the duo would be under observation. Another patient, who was a suspect case, was discharged from a Kochi hospital as he was cured. The final clinical test results of the three patients were await- ed from the National Institute of Virology, Pune. Agencies
Air India Bombing Trial Opens Monday in Canada
Sunday, April 27, 2003
AP The trial for two men accused of bombing the Air India Flight 182 begins in Vancouver on Monday, after more than 17 years of investigation. The long and complicated trial is expected to last for at least a year. The two men from India's Sikh religious minority, millionaire Ripudaman Singh Malik and forestry worker Ajaib Singh Bagri are each charged with killing the 329 people aboard an Air India 747 that exploded near Ireland in June of 1985. Most of the victims were Canadian. They are also charged with killing two baggage handlers at Narita Airport near Tokyo, Japan in a related bombing of another Air India flight, 54 minutes earlier. Officials said both bombs were put on departing planes here in Vancouver. The two Indian-born Canadians, who were arrested in 2000, have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Mr. Bagri is also charged with the attempted murder of a local Sikh newspaper publisher in 1988. Critically wounded in that attack, the publisher (Tara Singh Hayer) was killed in another attack 10 years later. It is believed that the bombings were in retaliation for the Indian government's 1984 invasion of the Golden Temple in Amristar, the holiest shrine for the Sikh religion. Still to this day, the bombing is the worst single incident of aviation terrorism in history. It also has the distinction of being the biggest and the most expensive police investigation in Canada so far. Courtroom in Vancouver has special security modifications for the trial of the alleged Air India bombers After numerous delays, the complicated trial will begin under tight security in a specially modified courtroom. That courtroom alone cost $5 million to renovate and the criminal investigation in this case has already cost tens of millions of U.S. dollars. During the trial, the 17 prosecutors are expected to link two men with militant political groups that were actively campaigning for a Sikh homeland in the Indian State of Punjab. There will be 15 defense lawyers to refute the evidence. A third man, Inderjit Singh Reyat,who holds dual British and Canadian citizenship, plea-bargained to a lesser charge of manslaughter in February and received a five year sentence for the 329 deaths. As the bomb maker, he was previously found guilty of manslaughter for killing the two baggage handlers. Reyat might be called to testify for the prosecution. The trial will also be a first for many Canadian journalists, as they will be allowed to record audio of the legal proceedings to authenticate quotes. Broadcasts of the recordings and picture taking inside the court room, however, remain illegal in Canada.
CAG pulls up Min of Tourism for "unauthorised posts" overseas
Sunday, April 27, 2003
New Delhi,Sunday, April 27, 2003: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has pulled up the Ministry of Tourism for creating "unauthorised" posts in overseas tourist offices resulting in an outgo of Rs 17.4 million from the exchequer. Though the ministry could post India-based personnel to its overseas tourist offices only against posts sanctioned by the competent authority, it said in a report that prima facie there were no extenuating circumstances justifying the posts. "The Ministry of Tourism can post India-based personnel to its overseas tourist offices only against posts sanctioned by the competent authority. Similarly, Heads of Government of India Tourist Offices abroad can employ locally-recruited personnel only against posts specifically sanctioned by the ministry," the CAG said. Citing various cases where the ministry has posted people against the "sanction", the CAG said the tourist office had also "acted in excess of its delegated powers" in one of the posts. Certain instances of unauthorised operation of posts noticed in the course of audit of the tourist offices at Frankfurt was mentioned by the CAG. 10:10 IST
Tendulkar leaves for US for surgery
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Mumbai Indian batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar left for the US on Saturday to operate on his left hand ring finger. Tendulkar would undergo an operation at a hospital in Baltimore and would be away for six weeks, the star batsman while speaking to reporters at the airport before boarding the flight here. Tendulkar had carried the injury - which he put down to "wear and tear of playing non-stop cricket" - while playing the World Cup in South Africa where he scored 673 runs and was named the Player of the Tournament. Tendulkar said he was not able to give specific details of his recovery although the operation was a minor one. "As far now, all I know is that my left hand will be in a cast for at least two weeks. There is nothing much I can say or do, and now everything is in the doctor's hand," he said. When asked why he chose to do the surgery in the US, Tendulkar said "my wife Anjali knows some doctors over there who had treated other sportspersons successfully. And I though why not try them out." "I might be in the US for six weeks and because it is a minor one, I am also planning to have a holiday with my family after the operation," he said.
NHRC issues notice to AIIMS Director in harassment case
Sunday, April 27, 2003
New Delhi,Sunday, April 27, 2003: Taking cognizance of a complaint of a women employee of the country's prestigious All India Institute of Medical Sciences alleging "harassment, abuse and torture" at the hands of the Institute authorities, National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to AIIMS Director seeking report on the matter by April 30. The Commission, which received a complaint by Kiran Lata Kaushik, a receptionist in the Protocol and Public Relations department of AIIMS alleging that her salary was stopped from December 2002 followed by her suspension in February this year as "premeditated agenda", issued a notice last week granting four weeks time to AIIMS authorities to respond. NHRC also asked the Director to take appropriate action into the matter and send the 'Action Taken Report' to it. The Complaint alleged misbehaviour by AIIMS Deputy Director (Administration) N Baijendra Kumar and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Attar Singh who had asked her to provide them with "some useful information against Protocol and Public Relation Officer B K Dash and if I refused to comply then I would face serious consequences." Kaushik approached NHRC after she failed to get redressal from Health Minister Sushma Swaraj. She also alleged that besides using abusive language, Kumar and Singh manhandled her and sought NHRC's intervention into the matter 10:10 IST
Aish and Vivek will shoot at Wales
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Aishwarya Rai will be visiting Wales next month with Vivek Oberoi to shoot for her forthcoming movie 'Kyon Ho Gaya Na Pyar?' The pair will be filming scenes for the movie, which also stars Amitabh Bachchan in an important role. Wales is becoming an increasingly popular location for Bollywood movies and is proving competitive to Switzerland, until recently used for countless Indian films.
Raj Sippy's venture with Big B and Salman
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Director Raj Sippy whose last movie with Amitabh Bachchan was 'Satte Pe Satta', is now planning his next venture with Bachchan and Salman Khan. The film will feature "Mr. Bachchan and Salman as rivals" is how our sources have put it. The movie will be produced by Suresh Sharma. The Shooting may commence from July 2003. Details are awaited.
"You don't have to be a singer to appear on the show. Being a movie buff is enough". Raageshwari
Sunday, April 27, 2003
An actress, singer, model and veejay Raageshwari is a master of all performing arts, equally comfortable before a camera or a recording studio or a giant gathering of her fans. She has been fortunate to get 'Kuch Kehti Hai Yeh Dhun' a weekly prime time show on Sony television. This will premiere in mid April. She is there because the show is based on music. She explains, "You don't have to be a singer to appear on the show. Being a movie buff is enough". According to her, the show took so long to come around, because Sony was not happy with the earlier show. Now they have changed it and that's the reason for the delay, she says. This show was announced about a year ago. The show enables every participant to win prizes and the winners need not to pay taxes on what they win. Sony has ensured that. This is to recall that Raageshwari, made a debut as an actress with 'Aankhen' followed by 'Main Khiladi Tu Anari'. But 'Duniya' marked her entry into the field of pop singing in 1997. She followed it up with albums like 'Pyar Ka Rang' and 'Y2K Saal Do Hazaar'. Apart from her catchy numbers 'Oye Shaava', 'Pyaar Ka Rang' and 'Y2K Saal Do Hazaar', she gained popularity with her numbers like 'Mere Mehboob' and 'Dil Sheesha'. Raageshwari has the distinction of hosting a show for Ten Sports called 'One on One'. This show saw her interviewing Pakistani Cricket players Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. She is extremely comfortable in hosting shows. She can talk to walls even, she claims.
Petrol, diesel prices slashed again
Sunday, April 27, 2003
New Delhi, 26 April Petrol and diesel prices will fall between Re 1 and Rs 1.20 a litre from midnight, as per the agreement between the All India Motor Transport Congress and the Government, which brought an end the 10-day long transporters' strike. This is the second time within eleven days that oil companies have reduced petroleum prices by around Re one. Though the mandatory revision of prices was due on April 30, the government had assured transporters that the date of revision will be brought forward. This agreement brought the strike to an end. The state-owned oil companies said in a statement that the reduction in prices of the two automotive fuels, second in a month, followed further decrease in oil prices in the international market. Petrol and diesel will be cheaper by Rs one each at Rs 31.49 and Rs 20.12 per litre, respectively in Delhi. In Kolkata, petrol will be down Re one at Rs 33 per litre, while diesel will fall by Rs 1.01 at Rs 21.51 per litre. Petrol will be available at Rs 36.43 per litre in Mumbai, down Rs 1.09 and diesel will be priced at Rs 25.50 per litre, a fall of Rs 1.20. In Chennai, petrol and diesel prices will be Rs 34.40 and Rs 22.43 per litre, down Rs 1.08 and Rs 1.12, respectively.
Five killed in abortive suicide attack on DD, AIR complex
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Srinagar, 26 April, Five people, including three ultras and two security personnel dead were killed and seven injured in a battle between militants and security men after the rebels launched a suicide attack on the complex housing All India Radio and Doodarshan in Srinagar at 1300 hrs. According to official sources, the militants, dressed in police fatigue, drove to the heavily guarded complex in the heart of the city in an explosive laden ambassador car and exploded it at the main gate. Consequently an intense gun battle for about 30 minutes followed between the militants and the security guards at the main gate of Radio Kashmir in which a CRPF jawan and a ultra were killed and four security personnel were critically injured. Sources informed that two other militants were killed by BSF personnel in a nearby mosque, where they had taken refuge, after they failed to storm the complex. A BSF jawan was killed and three others were also seriously injured in the encounter. This was the first suicide attack by militants on the complex. Meanwhile, the an obsure militant outfit, Al-Madeena Regiment, claimed responsibility for the suicide attack. A spokesman of the outfit, called up Kashmir Press Service, and also claimed responsibility for the suicide attack on BSF headquarters at Bandipora yesterday.
Nothing good can happen unless NDA govt is removed: Sonia
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Congress president Sonia Gandhi yesterday said unless the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre was removed from office nothing good can happen in the country. Addressing a 'cooperative convention' at Madhya Pradesh-level on the Lal Parade Ground, Sonia said that under the present government, unemployment was on a rise even as there was a steep rise in prices and corruption. She said that the common man's was dismayed by the all pervading darkness. The area under agriculture was shrinking even as materials used in farming were becoming costlier and farmers were not getting enough price for their produce. The Congress president alleged that whenever BJP came to power either in the Centre or states, it worked for the destruction of the agriculture and cooperative sectors. She asserted that in sharp contrast to the NDA government the Congress had always worked for the betterment of the agriculture and cooperative sectors. The Congress president said the BJP and its allies had formed the coalition government only for the sake of their vested interests. She claimed that all the Congress governments in various states in the country were doing a better job than the NDA government at the Centre.
Bollywood banking on 'The Hero'
Sunday, April 27, 2003
After a string of flops this year, Bollywood is pinning all its hopes on one Friday release - Anil Sharma's much-hyped Sunny Deol starrer The Hero - Love story of a spy. Sharma and Deol had earlier come together for the whopper hit Gadar - Ek Prem Katha which had even outshone the massive success of Aamir Khan's Lagaan. The Hero which has Preity Zinta and Priyanka Chopra playing the leading ladies, has been hot in the trade circuits ever since it was launched and its top-notch production values, Hollywood stuntmen and the works, have added to the curiosity factor. If Anil Sharma resorted to jingoistic patriotism in Gadar, this time around he is balancing nationalism with James Bond-like thrills and gadgetry. Touted as the costliest Indian movie ever made, The Hero also carries immense hopes for Sunny Deol, who has over the years stood his ground in Bollywood, even at the face of a surge of young entrants. The success of The Hero would reinstate Deol's position in the industry as among the most dependable Box Office bets. Meanwhile, Anil Sharma has reportedly pencilled in all the three Jats - Dharmendra, along with sons Sunny and Bobby - for a project.
Devdas" sweeps IIFA Technical Awards
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Mumbai, Apr 23: Continuing its award winning spree, Sanjay Leela Bhansali's magnum opus "Devdas" has swept the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Awards for technical excellence. The film, starring Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit in lead roles, won top honours in nine of the 14 categories, IIFA announced here today. The film won awards in categories of cinematography, dialogue, sound recording, make-up, choreography, art-direction, song recording, sound re-recording and costume designing. Bollywood's ace choreographer Saroj Khan won the award for her crafting of the film's hit song "Dola Ree". Ram Gopal Verma's hard-hitting, almost real-life depiction of Mumbai's underworld, "Company" won two awards for best action and best dialogue. Music genius A R Rahman won the award for best "background score" for Shaad Ali's debut movie "Saathiya". "Kaante" won the award for visual special effects. IIFA, in a statement, said votes for the awards were cast by "The best talent from Indian cinema - including actors, film directors, producers, script-writers and singers". The awards will be presented in South Africa on May 17. International audit firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers Ltd, official auditors for Hollywood's Oscars, monitored the voting which was also open on the net for the public, IIFA said.
BCCI challenges arbitrators award lifting ban on Jadeja
Sunday, April 27, 2003
New Delhi, Apr 26: The cricket board has challenged before the Delhi High Court the arbitrator's award making Ajay Jadeja eligible for playing international cricket by lifting the five-year ban imposed on him for his alleged involvement in the match-fixing scandal. The petition challenging arbitrator Justice J K Mehra's award was filed yesterday, two days before award was to become binding if it had gone unchallenged. The January 27 award of the arbitrator would have become effective tomorrow at the expiry of the 90-day period. "BCCI has decided to challenge the award before the Delhi High Court. The decision was taken after obtaining legal opinion," BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya said in Kolkata. Jadeja's lawyer Vineet Malhotra told that it would not be possible for him to say anything right now about the petition. "We will see to it (petition) as and when it will come for hearing," he said when asked about the ground on which the award has been challenged. "The board would be in a better position to tell about it," he said, adding that Jadeja was yet to be served with a copy of the petition. Asked whether BCCI's petition was to scuttle Thursday's April 24 High Court order asking the board to consider Jadeja for selection in the Ranji Trophy matches if found eligible, Malhotra said "it would be unfair for me to say anything". The court order to this effect was on a petition by Jadeja seeking direction to the Board of Control for Cricket in India following the arbitrator's award given three months ago.
Powell speaks to Musharraf on violence in Jammu and Kashmir
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Washington, 26 April, Expressing concern over the continued violence in Jammu and Kashmir, US Secretary of State Colin Powell has spoken to President Pervez Musharraf in this regard, State Department spokesman Richard Boucher has said. "US has continued to be concerned with the violence in Kashmir and Powell spoke about it on Thursday to Musharraf," Boucher said yesterday when asked what kind of message Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage will be taking with him to India and Pakistan during his visit to the sub-continent next month. He said "Powell has been talking with the Pakistanis as well as keeping in touch with the Indian Government about steps that we can take to try to help them decrease tension there."
Fernandes meets Jiang to boost Sino-Indian ties
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Beijing, 26 April Indian Defence Minister George Fernandes today met China's top military leader and former president Jiang Zemin to pledge closer Sino-Indian military and economic ties. "As China and India are the two largest developing nations and also neighbours, to develop bilateral relations is in the fundamental interests of the two countries," Mr Jiang told Mr Fernandes. Despite a long-term alliance with Pakistan, in recent years Beijing has said it wants to reduce tension between India and Pakistan by building ties with both countries and urged the neighbours to unite against terrorism. Mr. Fernandes who met Mr. Jiang in Shanghai after earlier meeting with Premier Wen Jiabao and other leaders in Beijing, said India sees economic and military exchanges as key parts of its relations with China. China and India are still working to resolve several border disputes, which are mainly left over from a brief border war fought in the high mountains of the Himalayas in 1962. China also occupies part of the Kashmir region, with India accusing Pakistan of illegally ceding it to Beijing.
India's software industry worried by new woes
Sunday, April 27, 2003
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Walloped first by the dotcom meltdown and then by the September 11 attacks, India's software industry is now discovering new woes -- visa restrictions and police raids overseas that some see as shades of protectionism. Several recent incidents, including one in which Malaysian police detained 270 Indian information technology workers on suspicion of being illegal workers, have shaken an industry that was looking at steady growth, as overseas firms move software work offshore to benefit from India's low-cost engineers. Coming against the backdrop of a prolonged slowdown in the U.S. economy, which takes more than 60 percent of India's nearly $10 billion in software and service exports, the incidents raised a spectre of protectionism in the industry. Some speculate political lobbies, or unions fearing job losses, may have been behind them. Others think Indians were just caught up in routine police action against illegal workers. But with grumblings that India is swiping white-collar jobs from western nations, industry officials say low-skilled jobs in the industry have become politically sensitive. "This is an economic issue which has become a social situation," Atul Takle, spokesman for India's largest software exporter, privately held Tata Consultancy Services, told Reuters. British telecoms group BT Group Plc is having trouble with unions over its Indian call centres that will eventually employ 2,200 people. In New Jersey, a lone U.S. legislator is trying to stop the government from outsourcing jobs abroad. Oracle, the world's No 2 software company, last year denied it was slashing headcount in the United States while hiring in India, where it plans to double staff to 4,000 over four years. TOUGHER CHECKS Indian software service companies use a mix of "onsite" workers located at client premises overseas with India-based "offshore" workers who operate over high-speed telecoms. Industry officials say protectionism or not, Indian IT workers are facing more visa curbs in the United States and Europe, particularly security checks that intensified after the terror attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001. Kalpa Shah, chief executive of privately held software firm NetGalactic, told Reuters that one of her workers, a Muslim, had his U.S. visa revoked and another had his visa rejected twice despite seven years of credible work. Industry officials say an express programme that helped firms to get visas for their workers without physical interviews is also being scaled down. "They have made everything much more strict," said Shah. Despite such problems, business is good in the industry. India's software exports are estimated to have grown by nearly 30 percent in the year ended March to nearly $10.0 billion. This is below the heady 50 percent growth rates of the 1990s but is still strong because of demand for software that helps corporate productivity. India's leading listed software companies, Infosys Technologies and Wipro hired more than 3,000 workers each in the first three quarters of the fiscal year ended March, showing robust demand for workers. "In high-skilled categories, there is still a short supply," said Laxman Badiga, Wipro's head of talent and staffing. FEEL-GOOD FACTOR GONE Indian workers were hit by layoffs in the West two years ago. Of late, political security is a bigger problem. Industry officials say Indian firms have seen new hiring opportunities since the September 11 attacks because many western-based Indians want to return home to safer jobs and to avoid embarrassing security checks and "racial profiling". Partha Iyengar, vice-president at the Indian arm of industry researcher Gartner Group, said Indian firms were aggressively recruiting managers and engineers comfortable with western customers but longing for their home country. "At the emotional level, the feel-good factor has gone out of the U.S," Iyengar said. "There is uncertainty over the economy and backlash over jobs, while India is still in a growth mode". Iyengar said western authorities who overlooked small technical details on duration or types of business visas in the talent-hungry 1990s were now looking harder at the papers. "This is a political issue driven by economics," said Ravi Ramu, chief financial officer of software and back-office services firm MphasiS BFL Ltd. "As the Indian industry scales up its profile, these issues are likely to come up more and more." Wipro's Badiga said the perception of job losses in the West, especially in back-office work, was a politically sensitive issue Indian industry has to learn to cope with. "Once a perception starts, it is difficult to change that. Noise levels create problems," Badiga said. (Additional reporting by Anshuman Daga)
"For the last 3yrs I have been trying to search myself, my abilities "-Akhsay
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Akhsay eyes 'different' roles to shed action hero image Kolkata, Apr 24: Bollywood star Akshay Kumar, famed for his martial arts skills, now looks for 'different roles' in Bollywood to display his versatility and come out of the 'action hero' image. "For the last three years I have been trying to search myself, my abilities. There are lot of things other than action. I want to play different roles to show my strength as an actor," Kumar, who was in the city to campaign for his upcoming release 'Andaaz', told a press conference here today. The actor, accompanied by co-star Priyanka Chopra, said he has transformed a lot since playing the lead role in 'Janwaar', which remains his favourite so far. "For the first 10 years in Bollywood, I was there without knowing what I was doing actually. But after Janwaar, I started inventing myself through different portrayals in films like Ek Rishta, Dhadkan and others," he said. While Kumar, a great admirer of Amitabh Bachchan, eyes select roles, former Miss World Chopra was concerned about quantity rather than quality of characters and was "open to any kind of role", including those in regional films. "I am in early stages of my career and want to do all kinds of films," the beauty queen, who gets entangled in a love triangle along with Lara Dutt in Andaaz, said. The 'spiritually inclined' actress said while she was happy with her film career, there were other plans for future to contribute to the society and influence the masses. The Rs 14 crore film, to be released next month, was directed by Raj Kanwar and produced by Suneel Darshan.
4 killed in suicide attack on BSF HQ
Saturday, April 26, 2003
Two militants and an equal number of security personnel were killed, and two injured, as militants stormed a sector headquarters of BSF at Bandipora in Baramulla district on Friday morning, a BSF spokesman said. The militants, suspected to be members of a suicide squad, were engaged by security personnel in a gun battle, the spokesman said. In the gun battle, two militants and two security personnel were killed. 3 killed in blast in J&K court Meanwhile, three persons, including 2 women, were killed and 34 injured on Friday afternoon in a blast in a court in Patan town in Baramulla district. The court is located on the Srinagar-Baramulla road, 27km from Srinagar.
PM pulls back 'hand of friendship'
Friday, April 25, 2003
NEW DELHI: The brief excitement over a possible thaw in Indo-Pak ties completely evaporated today with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reiterating that Pakistan’s support to terrorists must stop for talks to begin even as Islamabad screamed innocence. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Mr Vajpayee said while he was ready to extend the hand of friendship to Pakistan, improvement in bilateral ties would require Pakistan to walk the other half. In my speech, I spoke of extending our hand of friendship to Pakistan. At the same time, I also said that this hand of friendship should be extended by both sides. Both countries should resolve that we need to live together in peace. Stripped of diplomatese, Mr Vajpayee’s statement in the Lok Sabha is an echo of the government’s insistence on the cessation of cross-border terrorism as the condition for the resumption of dialogue. And it should tamp down the excitement that the estranged neighbours are on the verge of setting the timetable for high-level diplomatic engagements. Elaborating on New Delhi’s expectations of Pakistan, Mr Vajpayee was forthright in saying that his hand of friendship gesture by itself couldn’t kickstart the dialogue. Recalling his remarks in J&K last week on the subject, the Prime Minister said: I expressed the hope that a new beginning can take place between India and Pakistan. I said that we have extended our hand of friendship. Let us see how Pakistan responds to this. Stopping cross-border infiltration and destruction of terrorist infrastructure can open the door for talks. Talks can take place on all issues including that of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan’s response to Mr Vajpayee’s statement was along predictable lines, with its foreign minister Mohammad Kasuri absolving ISI of the Indian terror charge. We are committed to combating terrorism. If we want to resume relationship, let’s not jump to accusations, Mr Kasuri told a television channel over phone, according to an agency report. We should not assume that every violent incident in either country is handiwork of either RAW or ISI, he said. We have to learn to trust each other, he further said. All this added up to the known Islamabad’s position which has been consistently rejected by India for the implicit assumption about the jehadi gangs acting on its own. India maintains that the jehadi gangs are sponsored and motivate by the ISI and the talks about autonomy is just a smokescreen. However, even while the caveats inserted by the Prime Minister had the effect of putting the hand of friendship on the same level as the known official posture since December 13 attack on Parliament, certain sections continued to read it as fraught with the potential of a breakthrough. In sharp contrast, the media in Pakistan remained stoic in its response, some even treating it as a Machiavelian plot. International players with known interest in the region also stayed cool with the usually active state department appearing to be rather indifferent. The Musharraf regime, however, seemed to be keen to use the hand of friendship gesture and to tie the Prime Minister to his words as part of what is suspected to be the preparation for yet another assault on New Delhi’s refusal to come to the negotiation table. Accordingly, Mr Kasuri was lavish in praising Mr Vajpayee for acting very wisely in a statesman-like manner by distancing himself from certain statements which raised the pitch in the region and may have to do a lot with focusing international attention on the region. On the SAARC summit, Mr Kasuri said it would be held as soon as possible and hoped Mr Vajpayee and external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha would travel to Pakistan on invitation, said the agency report.
PM pulls back 'hand of friendship'
Friday, April 25, 2003
PM pulls back 'hand of friendship' - The Economic Times 24-04-2003 Print this page NEW DELHI: The brief excitement over a possible thaw in Indo-Pak ties completely evaporated today with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee reiterating that Pakistan’s support to terrorists must stop for talks to begin even as Islamabad screamed innocence. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Mr Vajpayee said while he was ready to extend the hand of friendship to Pakistan, improvement in bilateral ties would require Pakistan to walk the other half. In my speech, I spoke of extending our hand of friendship to Pakistan. At the same time, I also said that this hand of friendship should be extended by both sides. Both countries should resolve that we need to live together in peace. Stripped of diplomatese, Mr Vajpayee’s statement in the Lok Sabha is an echo of the government’s insistence on the cessation of cross-border terrorism as the condition for the resumption of dialogue. And it should tamp down the excitement that the estranged neighbours are on the verge of setting the timetable for high-level diplomatic engagements. Elaborating on New Delhi’s expectations of Pakistan, Mr Vajpayee was forthright in saying that his hand of friendship gesture by itself couldn’t kickstart the dialogue. Recalling his remarks in J&K last week on the subject, the Prime Minister said: I expressed the hope that a new beginning can take place between India and Pakistan. I said that we have extended our hand of friendship. Let us see how Pakistan responds to this. Stopping cross-border infiltration and destruction of terrorist infrastructure can open the door for talks. Talks can take place on all issues including that of Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan’s response to Mr Vajpayee’s statement was along predictable lines, with its foreign minister Mohammad Kasuri absolving ISI of the Indian terror charge. We are committed to combating terrorism. If we want to resume relationship, let’s not jump to accusations, Mr Kasuri told a television channel over phone, according to an agency report. We should not assume that every violent incident in either country is handiwork of either RAW or ISI, he said. We have to learn to trust each other, he further said. All this added up to the known Islamabad’s position which has been consistently rejected by India for the implicit assumption about the jehadi gangs acting on its own. India maintains that the jehadi gangs are sponsored and motivate by the ISI and the talks about autonomy is just a smokescreen. However, even while the caveats inserted by the Prime Minister had the effect of putting the hand of friendship on the same level as the known official posture since December 13 attack on Parliament, certain sections continued to read it as fraught with the potential of a breakthrough. In sharp contrast, the media in Pakistan remained stoic in its response, some even treating it as a Machiavelian plot. International players with known interest in the region also stayed cool with the usually active state department appearing to be rather indifferent. The Musharraf regime, however, seemed to be keen to use the hand of friendship gesture and to tie the Prime Minister to his words as part of what is suspected to be the preparation for yet another assault on New Delhi’s refusal to come to the negotiation table. Accordingly, Mr Kasuri was lavish in praising Mr Vajpayee for acting very wisely in a statesman-like manner by distancing himself from certain statements which raised the pitch in the region and may have to do a lot with focusing international attention on the region. On the SAARC summit, Mr Kasuri said it would be held as soon as possible and hoped Mr Vajpayee and external affairs minister Yashwant Sinha would travel to Pakistan on invitation, said the agency report.
Khwahish
Friday, April 25, 2003
Khwahish seems to be a film for the new generation. Quite away from the stereotype love and action Bollywood films, Khwahish tries to touch the feelings of the young Urban Indian. The young movie is directed by Govind Menon and produced by Vivek Nayak. Music is composed by Milind Sagar. Asha Bhosle, Udit Narayan AND Kay Kay, renders the lyrics of Faaiz Anwar. The Story Khwahish traces the relationship of Lekha Khorzuverkar (Mallaika Sherawat) and Amar Ranawat (Himanshu Mallik) from the time they meet in the clothing store in Pune three months before they graduate from college, through the ups and downs that modern urban couples experience, to the end of their relationship five years later. The film explores in microcosmic detail the growth of their relationship - their acrimonious meeting, the growth of a quirky friendship, attachment and attraction, the joy and fear of acknowledging their romantic feelings for each other, the initial discomfort and excitement of the physical touch, the progression to a comfort zone of physical contact and kissing each other's lips and girl's mental block in dealing with pre-marital sex. He proposed marriage because he wants to get laid. - His dad refuses to let him and his wife sponge off of him and they rebel and stupidly get married, go to Manali on their Honeymoon, get horny and stoned and discover they have no condoms. Condom hunting in the night in Manali to a chawl in Pune where he starts his MBA and she sacrifices her career in classical music. She supports him through his studies with some help from her father and even though they have no money, they enjoy the freedom and being with each other until he graduates and lands a job. They get a second hand Maruti, a one bedroom flat and think they're in paradise. Six months later... Boredom sets in, is marriage a convenient arrangement finally? Before one of them embarks on an affair they have to come up with schemes to bring back excitement in their lives. They start off making contact with their college friends who are all too busy with their families and lives. They decide to have a baby. The condoms are tossed out but six months later she's still not pregnant. Rifts start to appear in their marriage as they await the doctor's verdict. And then an external tragedy hits them and their relationship could end. And this is when they discover what love is all about and he quits his job, get humiliated and borrows money from his Dad and they go on a vacation to Kerala and everything is forgotten in wake of the cruelty of fate and destiny. Do they manage to overcome it - definitely not, "Kyonki kuch khwahish poori ho jaati hain, aur kuch dil hi mein reh jaati hain." Khwahish is all about loving, living and Losing.
Another Feather in Ash's Cap
Friday, April 25, 2003
Leading Bollywood actress and former Miss World Aishwarya Rai has been signed as brand ambassador of L’Oreal Paris, the flagship brand of the group, a statement here said. Aishwarya joins what has been described as the L’Oreal Paris dream team - models Laetitia Casta, Andie MacDowell, Milla Jovovich, Noemie Lenoir, Virginie Ledoyen, Agbani Darego, Gong Li and actress Catharine Deneuve. "I am delighted and very excited to be associated with L’Oreal Paris. The brand’s tag line ’Because you’re worth it’ has always been very close to my heart," Aishwarya said. The actress will represent all product categories including skin care, hair colour and cosmetics. Aishwarya, who has acted in multi-million rupee films like ’Devdas’, is the first Indian actress to be invited on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival beginning May 14.
The Hero
Friday, April 25, 2003
"Abort, abort the mission now!" a bad guy screeches into the Dolby-driven soundtrack in the second half. And one sort of longingly gazes at the long-emptied bag of popcorn and wishes that would happen with this film. Everything in Anil Sharma’s long-awaited post-"Gadar" opus goes on for too long. "The Hero: Love Story Of A Spy" is an expertly executed slab of mainstream cinema. Sharma knows which buttons to push to get the required audience response. Exacerbated jingoism often substitutes for meaningful moments of interaction. The basic meat is, predictably, bar-be-cued on Pakistani fires. After "Gadar", Sharma knows how turned on the Indian audience gets with anti-Pakistan rhetoric. It flows out of the furiously paced action-romance with the urgency of an overloaded bus that must make it to its destination before dark, never mind the casualties on the way. One obvious casualty of screenplay and dialogue writer Shaktimaan’s zealous patriotism is good taste. Rajpal Yadav playing an Indian spy spits out at an Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed terrorist: "The one who errs once is an ’insaan’ (human), the one who errs twice is a ’shaitaan’ (Satan) and the one who errs repeatedly is Pakistan." Clap clap. Whistle whistle. But just by making a success of the Pakistan-bashing formula in "Gadar", director Anil Sharma can’t hope to do it again, even though he tries hard. Sharma’s film doesn’t have much to give us beyond the name-calling and nitpicking against the enemies across the border. This isn’t the first film to lash out at the ISI for perpetrating terrorism in Kashmir. John Mathan’s "Sarfarosh" did it with more cautious conviction four years ago. "The Hero" isn’t a bad film. But it lacks real feelings. Everything in the narrative is about creating an effect. Helicopters hover over snow-capped mountains, lavish tombs and domes get blown up and nuclear plants are run to ruin by the super-hero, Major Arun Khanna (Sunny Deol). When the major arrives in Kashmir, local girls form a giggly gauntlet to welcome him. One has to be truly special to be accorded such an extraordinary welcoming committee at a time when the valley is under crippling stress. Major Khanna is soon feeding ’mithai’ (sweets) to the local ISI representatives and taking time off to romance Reshma (Preity Zinta). To avoid any communal aspersions -- audiences are ostensibly allergic to Hindu-Muslim romances -- we’re hurriedly told that Reshma is a Hindu girl adopted by a Muslim couple in her childhood. Having got its political correctness straight, it’s time for the narrative to show Reshma serving as the Indian moll in an army man’s house in Pakistan. Though facile, this is the most absorbing part of the narration. And Reshma’s bid to escape her enemies with the help of a good-hearted local (Asif Zakaria) when she’s caught out is heart-in-the-mouth stuff. But then out comes the heart and in goes the foot in the mouth. The second half of the film gets caught up in a whirlpool of over-baked rhetoric. The Sunny Deol-Preity Zinta-Priyanka Chopra love triangle (quadrangle if you count Pravin Dabas as a saintly Pakistani dude mooning over Preity) that’s teased into the commodious plot in the second half seems like a bit of a digression in a narration rapidly running out of steam. By the time the climax chugs along (literally, as like "Gadar" the climax is on board a hurtling train), the bad guys from Pakistan led by the evil Isaq Khan (Amrish Puri) are all foaming at the mouth. There are moments that one cherishes elements beyond the stylish sound and flamboyant fury of a film that wants to win over an audience at any cost. The Deol-Zinta romance in the first half unconsciously echoes the Dharmendra-Sharmila Tagore relationship in Hrishikesh Mukherjee’s "Satyakam". In his quieter moments, Sunny Deol reminds you of his father Dharmendra from the espionage thriller "Aankhen". But the various disguises just don’t work on Sunny. Watching him do a bit of Tom Cruise in "Mission Impossible", Val Kilmer in "The Saint" and papa Dharmendra in "Satyakam" is far more interesting than the more obvious personality assumptions that Sunny is made to undergo for the sake of the country. For a macho movie, Preity Zinta has a fairly substantial role. She’s played a girl in terrorism-ridden Kashmir before (in "Mission Kashmir"). Though she carries off the innocent act, her body language and giggle-and-grin expressions are no different from "Dil Chahta Hai" or "Dil Hai Tumhara". Zinta needs to seriously shop for new expressions. Amrish Puri should win an award for the hammiest performance of his career. Just why an actor of his stature is reduced to shrieking in droll dementia is a question that only the director can answer. Priyanka Chopra’s debut is a bit of a non-happening. Though she looks svelte and pretty and is bound to go places in the near future, her role in the major’s minor love triangle is laughably meagre. If the film scores high marks in any area, it’s in technical finesse. The two high points of the production design are Suresh Urs’ editing and Kabir Lal’s cinematography, which create a heightened impact in the drama without forfeiting the naturalistic tones of the headline-based plot. But for a predominantly action film, Allan Amin’s action is shockingly wishy-washy. Not once do we see Deol do anything that makes our adrenaline race. The much-touted aerial stunts bring us down to earth with a thud. "Gadar" worked well because it told a story we believed in. Sharma has cleverly incorporated elements from that film in "The Hero". If in "Gadar" Sunny Deol hunted for Amisha Patel, here he spends half the film looking for Preity Zinta. When the search is over, we rejoice -- but not for the reunited lovers, only for the end of our ordeal.
Bhosle, Sami Pair for US Concert
Friday, April 25, 2003
Evergreen nightingale Asha Bhosle and Pakistan’s prince of Indi-pop Adnan Sami shared the stage at a concert here and treated the audience to popular Hindi music from the 1950s to the present day. Adding further flavour to the three-and-a-half hour programme was Sudesh Bhosle, singing popular numbers of legends like Kishore Kumar, Hemant Kumar and Mohammad Rafi by modulating his voice to sound like them, apart from his own songs. He also had the audience in splits when he mimicked actors such as Amitabh Bachchan, Sanjiv Kumar, Asrani, ’Dada Moni’ Ashok Kumar and Raj Kumar. The show at Trenton was called "Kabhi To Nazar Milao", taking from the album by the same name cut by Bhosle and Sami together. Going by audience response, the star of Saturday evening’s event was Bhosle, who said she was performing in the U.S. after several years and, like in the past, was touched by the affection showered on her by the audience.
"I sick of the industry's double standards" - Sunny Deol
Friday, April 25, 2003
Subhash K. Jha It's a more aggressive and less shy Sunny Deol that one encounters after the release of his latest film The Hero: Love Story Of A Spy this month. All talk that the film has fared below expectations visibly exasperates India's highest paid actor. The Hero generated a lot of hype. But the industry is of the opinion that it hasn't done well. It's the film industry which was hyping it from day one. And now they’re busy running it down. The film industry has got 500 filmmakers and just as much self-interest. Nobody wants others to do well. Your fans have found the action sequences disappointing. I'm not saying I'm totally happy with my action scenes. Perhaps audiences expected me to indulge in raw fisticuffs. But my character isn't the usual earthy guy. This time the character and everything I did was subdued. I don't scream my feelings. "But in The Hero, they got to see me doing something different. Those who wanted to see the 'Gadar: Ek Prem Katha' boy were disappointed. That film came without any expectations. We couldn't make the same film again. The audience are suffering from a 'Gadar' hangover. I guess so. Audiences think I look convincing when I fight. With 'The Hero' I've tried to appeal to a more upmarket audience. So now I can do both kinds of films, those that appeal to the masses and those to classes. Has The Hero generated the profit you expected from it? When my film does business worth Rs.30 million to Rs.40 million, people say it hasn't done well. When other actors' films do business worth Rs.10 million, they're called hits. What can I do? I feel 'The Hero' will definitely be in the same league as my career's big hits. You are also not very fond of the numerous award shows that happen in Bollywood. Awards are of no use. They're just time pass. They aren't about your work but your PR and what you can give in exchange for the so-called honour. Giving me a special award for 'Gadar' at the Zee awards last year was an insult. I don't know what the award was for. I left the trophy at the function. What are popular awards? If 'Gadar' wasn't popular, what is?" What is next on the cards? My next release, "Jaal", is around the corner. I play a singer this time. As in Guddu Dhanoa's 'Ziddi' there're lots of twists and turns in the plot. Some projects with old friends and associates such as Rahul Rawail and Raj Kumar Santoshi are also in the pipeline. Are you happy with the way things are progressing? I'm very happy with life. All that bothers me is the film industry's double standards. They talk about being part of one fraternity. But they don't go by what they say. I can see the industry getting rid of the scum in the next two years and professional corporate organisations coming in. Five or six professional organisations would control the whole film industry. Hopefully that will change everything.
Bollywood turning to TV talent
Friday, April 25, 2003
Bollywood turning to TV talent Mumbai Bollywood seems to be looking at TV stars and directors with renewed interest after having given them step-motherly treatment in the past. Producer-director Subhash Ghai is leading the way by signing Suhail Tatari, whose TV serial "Kashmeer" is now on air. Ghai has signed Tatari to direct "Chandni Chowk" for his banner. Three of TV’s most talented directors -- Tigmanshu Dhulia, Parvathi Balagopalan and Kushan Nandy -- are ready with their first feature films. Dhulia, whose film "Haasil" is one of the most talked-about works in recent times, thinks TV is a breeding ground of considerable talent. "There was a time when TV was looked upon as an inferior medium," Dhulia told . "But now, when soaps like ’Kahani Ghar Ghar Ki’ and ’Kyunkii Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi’ are stealing away the audience, the film industry has begun to treat actors and technicians from the home-viewing medium as sort of saviours who can bail the film industry out of the doldrums." Parvathi Balagopalan, who has just completed "Rules: Pyar Ka Superhit Formula" for model-actor-producer Milind Soman, feels the time is right to do away the lines demarcating TV from cinema. "When I made ’Margarita’ for Zee TV many years ago, people said it was ahead of its times. What they probably meant was, the home-viewing medium wasn’t taken seriously enough. Now’s the time for cinema to become an ally rather than a rival to TV." Kushan Nandy, whose thriller "88 Antop Hill" is ready for release, doesn’t think he’s migrating from one medium to another at all. "I didn’t think of myself as a TV director, and I don’t think of myself as a feature director now. I’m a filmmaker, period." As the walls dividing the two media drop, many filmmakers from TV are getting ready to make films. These include Anurag Basu, who did Ekta Kapoor’s soaps and is now directing the film "Saaya", for Mukesh Bhatt, and Neena Gupta, whose soap "Saans" was a turning point for soaps on satellite TV. The same trend of acceptability is visible for TV actors. Until now, a host of TV stars, including Aman Verma, who played the second lead in Tanuja Chandra’s "Sangharsh", and Amarr Updhyay, who acted in "Dhund: The Fog", failed to make it in cinema. But now, one of the most talked about young actors in Bollywood is Aashish Chowdhary who started 10 years ago at the age of 18 on TV. Aashish has bagged a role parallel to Ajay Devgan in the action thriller "Qayamat". Now when the film is ready for release, he’s being looked at with avid interest by the film industry, as the third major star after Shah Rukh Khan and R. Madhavan to break the barriers between the small and the large screen. Says Aashish: "I’ve never regarded TV as a casual medium. For me acting is acting. Even Pierce Brosnon and Bruce Willis spent a great deal of time doing ’Remington Steele’ and ’Moonlighting’ on TV before going to cinema." Aashish could well trigger off a chain of migrations into the movies. Several TV stars are being groomed for big screen stardom. Perizaad Zorabian who starred with Chowdhary in the soap "Hum Pardesi Ho Gaye" broke through with Nagesh Kukunoor’s "Bollywood Calling" and will soon be seen in two crossover films, one of them produced by Subhash Ghai. Perhaps TV is now ready to give cinema the talent it so desperately needs. Indo-Asian News Service
Urmila's secret of a great performance
Friday, April 25, 2003
Urmila Matondkar is one actress who has given consistently good performances. But director Ram Gopal Varma claims that Matondkar has gone beyond what he suggested to her in his scare drama Bhoot. It's not just Varma who feels so. Even Urmila's co-star Rekha complimented her saying that she had never seen an actress showing so many different expressions of fear! Well, few know as the secret goes that Matondkar, always a distinction-procuring student, was studying psychology when stardom weaned her away from academics. Her references from this subject of human behaviour, coupled by her own cerebral insights, have urged a stellar performance.
UK backs India on UNSC permanent seat
Friday, April 25, 2003
The United Kingdom supports India's candidature for a permanent seat in the UN Security Council, Lord Willams, the Leader of the House of Lords, UK, said on Thursday. Speaking on 'Indians in Britain and the British in India' at the Guru Nanak University here, he said the partnership between India and UK covered several areas, including combating international terrorism, peacekeeping, trade, IT and Science and Technology. Willams said Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and his British counterpart Tony Blair have reaffirmed their will to continue the partnership between the two countries for the benefit of the people of both the nations, besides helping each other to create a better and safer world as per the New Delhi Declaration, 2002. He said both the countries wanted to play a positive and proactive role in international affairs. Both have mutual interests on the world stage and both play leading roles in the United Nations and Commonwealth. Willams said the UK is unique in being the only country in the world to be a member of the Commonwealth, the European Union, UN, NATO and the G-8. On ethnic minorities in the UK, he said they constitute eight per cent of the population in the country as per the 2001 census. There are over 1.3 million Indians in UK. Among the major ethnic communities in the country, Indians are the most prosperous, influential, innovative and successful in business, politics and arts.
Randhir Kapoor is back!
Friday, April 25, 2003
After a long pause Randhir Kapoor is back in bollywood and is seen in Honey Irani's debut directorial Armaan. He liked working in the film a lot though he didn't comment on accepting more acting projects. Randhir, fondly called Daboo, plays Preity Zinta's father and a billionaire in the film who helps Amitabh fulfill his dream of building a state-of-the art hospital in the hill station. But Randhir doesn't have a problem working with the actress who is a rival to his own daughters. And Preity too is quite fond of him. That's the spirit!
Kajol - Ajay have a baby girl
Friday, April 25, 2003
Kajol was expected to deliver her first baby by the end of April. But the baby girl arrived on 20th April. Thankfully, it was a Sunday and therefore hubby Ajay Devgan, who doesn't shoot on Sundays, was at home and there with Kajol at 8.37 PM when the little baby was born. Ajay has taken a fortnight's break to be besides wifey dearest. One heard Ajay was hunting for the right names for the baby. He couldn't hide the excitement. As for Kajol, she has knitted baby thingies for her darling daughter.
Foreign Policy not being bent to suit US : Sinha
Thursday, April 24, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 23, 2003: External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha tonight rejected the opposition charge that Government was acting under US pressure on the foreign policy front but said "compulsive hostility" towards Washington was not suited to India's national interest. "India does not act under pressure from any country and we will not be cowed down," he said while replying to a debate on Demands for Grants of the External Affairs Ministry in the Lok Sabha which was later adopted by voice vote. 21:52 IST
Nationwide truckers strike called off
Thursday, April 24, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 23, 2003: The ten-day nationwide truckers strike that had led to shooting up of prices of fruits and vegetables and threatened to cripple the industry was tonight called off after Government agreed on nine of their 10 demands including early cut in diesel prices. Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways B C Khanduri told a press conference after reaching an agreement with the striking truckers that "the strike has been called off." The oil companies would soon cut petrol and diesel prices, advancing their scheduled revision slated for April 30.
Ending cross-border infiltration can lead to talks: Vajpayee
Thursday, April 24, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 23, 2003: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today calibrated his latest peace initiative preferring to wait for Pakistan's response to his "hand of friendship" but asserted that stopping cross-border infiltration and destruction of terrorist infrastructure "can open the doors for talks" on all issues including Jammu and Kashmir. Making a statement in the Lok Sabha on his week-end visit to Srinagar where he spoke of friendship with Pakistan, Vajpayee said "...I expressed the hope that a new beginning can take place between India and Pakistan. "I said that we have extended our hand of friendship. Let us see how Pakistan responds to this. Stopping cross-border infiltration and destruction of terrorist infrastructure can open the doors for talks. Talks can take place on all issues, including that of J and K," he said. Vajpayee also referred to his speech at a rally in Srinagar in which he had said "...this hand of friendship should be extended by both sides. Both sides should resolve that we need to live together in peace". 13:20 IST
Doordarshan to enter DTH services
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Doordarshan has finally decided to join the Direct-to-Home (DTH) services bandwagon and is likely to place its proposal before the Government by the end of this month. The Rs 500 crore proposal was cleared at a meeting of the Prasar Bharati Board last week and the free-to-air Doordarshan will soon make all efforts to talk to other channels to bring them on to its DTH platform. According to Prasar Bharati sources, Doordarshan plans to offer its proposed DTH service at Rs 50 per month, after an initial one-time investment ranging between Rs 8,000 and Rs 10,000 for set-top-box and a dish antennae. On air would be a bouquet of 30-odd channels including Doordarshan's national, regional and metro fare, apart from some private free-to-air channels though the footprint - expected to go on air early next year - will be countrywide eventually. DD plans to start by targeting the Ku-band service at geographical areas where terrestrial television service is not readily available, such as towns and cities in North East, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir and Rajasthan. These "TV-shadow" areas have a market size of 100-million population. To further increase penetration of the DTH service in remote or rural areas, Prasar Bharati is open to the idea of an operator receiving the service through a dish antennae and distributing it to subscribers through cable. Prasar Bharati has set aside a budget of around Rs 500 crore to be spent over the next five years on the DTH project. Apart from subscription, advertising and carriage fee from private channels are the other source of revenue of DD's DTH project. Prasar Bharati's marketing strategy appears to be unique. Globally, DTH projects offer premium service to TV audiences, unlike the DD plans for free channels. Two private broadcasters - Zee group and STAR group - have recently applied to the government for license to launch premium DTH services in the country through the C-band. Each platform provider has to offer a licence fee of Rs 10 crore, a bank guarantee of Rs 40 crore and an annual revenue-share arrangement of 10 per cent. The government had opened the doors to private players offering DTH service in the C-band couple of years back. With conditional access regime set to roll out in four metros by July 14, television viewers in the country would have more option than ever before. However, they have to get used to pay more to receive the same.
Govt remains tough on three main demands of truckers
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 23, 2003: In the face of a split among the striking truckers, Government on Tuesday remained tough on the three main demands of the strikers but appealed to them to call of their nine-day-old strike. As the splinter group of the strikers met Petroleum and Road Transport ministry officials, Transport Minister B C Khanduri made a statement in the Lok Sabha in which he said the Government was willing to consider their demand that diesel prices should not be revised every fortnight if the fluctuation was within 25 paise a litre. He said while there was no major difference of opinion on seven of their demands, the abolition of toll tax demanded by the strikers, could not be considered. While reports of violence due to clashes between the supporters of the rival factions poured in from some places, prices of essential commodities like fruits and vegetables firmed up. Besides, cargo movement out of ports as also export consignment and cement and steel despatches were badly hit. Disagreeing with All India Motor Transport Congress' approach to the strike call, splinter group, All India Confederation of Goods Vehicle Owners Association (ACOGOA) met officials to resolve their three-point agenda including appropriation of toll tax and rationalisation of levies on diesel. Even as reports of various industrial units shutting production filtered in, ACOGOA President Chenna Reddy told that "negotiations (with government) are still on. All issues have not been resolved and dialogue will continue." On the other hand, AIMTC, which gave the call for the strike from April 14, General Secretary J M Saksena said AIMTC was not part of today's discussions with the government. 09:39 IST
Nine Indian hostages freed
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Moscow,Wednesday, April 23, 2003: Nine Indian nationals, kept hostage by Russians of Pakistani origin, have been rescued in a joint operation conducted by the Moscow Police and Federal Security Service. They were released in Tula (South of Moscow). Two Russians of Pakistani origin Maqsood Ahmad Bhat and Khalid Nadeem have been arrested for taking Indians hostages for criminal ransom, RIA Novosti reported quoting FSB press service. However, it did not say when this incident took place, neither did it disclose the identity of the Indians. Police are also searching for a Pakistani national living in Moscow, who was also part of the criminal gang allegedly involved in trafficking of illegal immigrants from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh to the West via Russia, Ukraine and Belorus. The agency said that some of the members of this gang are based in East European countries and the Russian police have contacted their counterparts in respective countries to nab them. 09:39 IST
26 articles recovered during excavation work in Ayodhya
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
Ayodhya,Tuesday, April 22, 2003: Twenty-six articles, including green tile pieces, stone pestles and elephant remains, were recovered during the excavation work in the acuqired land in Ayodhya on Tuesday, sources said. A little more time that expected was being taken as digging work in about 15 trenches were done and the articles counted and carefully sealed by the ASI teams after completion of the day's work, they said. Now, digging in one dozen trenches around the makeshift structure was being carried out, the sources said. Excavation in west of the structure were being carried out in new trenches. The number of labourers was decreased from 151 to 102 since last Sunday, they said, adding 54 Muslims were engaged in the digging work. 09:39 IST
Shortage of 2,50,000 Bullet Proof Jackets for troops in LoC
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 23, 2003: The Indian Army is facing a "huge shortage" of nearly 2,50,000 Bullet Proof Jackets required for its troops in the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir and for counter-insurgency operations despite the procurement action being initiated nearly 15 years back. This has been revealed by the Standing Committee on Defence in its report submitted to Parliament on Tuesday. Voicing its deep concern over this development, the Committee said it was "disturbed" to note that such a "major shortfall" still remained notwithstanding the fact that procurement action was initiated as far back as 1988-89 reflecting very adversely on the procurement process. 09:39 IST
Advani to discuss UP devpts with Gen Secys, state leaders
Wednesday, April 23, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 23, 2003: The BJP top brass, led by Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and senior leaders from Uttar Pradesh, are meeting here today to discuss recent political developments in the state, including the problems affecting the BSP-BJP coalition. The recent developments, including the lodging of FIRs against Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, which led to an uproar in Parliament, are expected to figure prominently in the meeting party President Venkaiah Naidu and his General Secretaries would be having with Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani, party sources told. UP Chief Minister Mayawati's recent diatribe against former Chief Minister and BJP General Secretary Rajnath Singh is also likely to come up in the discussions, they said. Since the party is in favour of continuing with the coalition, the leaders are expected to convey to both Singh and Mayawati not to criticise each other publicly, the sources said. The party's central leadership is also not supportive of Mayawati's actions against the Samajwadi Party leader as it believes it would only serve to "lionise" him. Later in the evening, Advani and Naidu are expected to meet senior leaders from the state and discuss the recent developments. State party Chief Vinay Katiyar, Lalji Tandon, Kalraj Mishra and Rajnath Singh would be present at the meeting, the sources added.
South Africa and India joint winners
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
DHAKA: India and South Africa were declared joint winners of the triangular one-day series here after rain played spoilsport at the Bangabandhu National Stadium yesterday. India were struggling at 46 for 3 off 17.1 overs when sharp showers held up proceedings with captain Saurav Ganguly (11) and Yuvraj Singh (2) at the crease. A 25-minute spell of rain at 0930 GMT rendered the ground unfit for play and the best of efforts from the groundsmen could not help resume the match. Even a private helicopter was pressed into service in a bid to dry the ground. But match referee Clive Lloyd ruled out play at 1430 GMT after another bout of rain. International Cricket Council rules state that at least 25 overs need to be played by each side for a result to be obtained. Virender Sehwag, left-hander Gautam Gambhir and Mohammad Kaif were the batsmen out as paceman Makhaya Ntini took two wickets Shaun Pollock claimed the other.
Cracks appear in Indian truck strike
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
he future of an indefinite strike called by truck drivers in India appears uncertain after owners in three states decided to resume services. The Press Trust of India says that truckers in West Bengal, Orissa and Andhra Pradesh have decided not to carry on with the stoppage. However, the main truckers union, the All India Motor Transport Congress say they are pressing ahead with the eight-day old strike, which has sparked a price rise in essential goods such as vegetables, fruit and milk. The strike has also hit manufacturing operations. The truckers want an end to frequent hikes in diesel prices, the scrapping of a uniform sales tax and the cancellation of a ban on 15-year-old trucks.
US dismisses policy rift with Blackwill
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
The United States has dismissed speculation that its Ambassador to New Delhi Robert D Blackwill has decided to quit as he was "unhappy" over America's lack of firmness in dealing with the terrorism issue between India and Pakistan. Any speculation of the type is "totally misplaced. No it is not true," State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said at a briefing on Monday when a correspondent referred to speculation that the Ambassador's desire to return is linked to his unhappiness with the lack of firmness in the US resolve on the terrorism issue between India and Pakistan. Blackwill will be in India for some months more. "I know there is still a lot of work to do, that he will help us do," Boucher said. He said that Secretary of State Colin Powell spoke to Blackwill on Sunday and appreciated his service as Ambassador to India, and praised the work that he had done. "They talked, as always, about the work on the current agenda between the United States and India," he said adding that both President Bush and Powell had known that Blackwill desired to return to his teaching at Harvard and spend more time with his family. Blackwill announced in New Delhi yesterday that he will return home to pursue his academic career at Harvard University.
'J&K may face another brutal summer due to Pak terrorism'
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
India fears "another brutal summer" lies ahead for Jammu and Kashmir this year because of preparations in Pakistan to infiltrate more terrorists into the state, Indian Ambassador to the US Lalit Mansingh has said. "Close to a 100 training camps have been spotted across the Line of Control, holding some 3,000 trained terrorists, destined for being sent to India. An additional 1,500 are already on the LoC, waiting to slip across, with the active assistance of the Pakistan armed forces," Mansingh said at a conference on India-US relations at the University of California, Los Angeles, during the weekend. He said Pakistan was currently the epicentre of international terrorism that was particularly directed against India, adding the Taliban and Al Qaeda, displaced from Afghanistan, were regrouping in Pakistan. "Terrorist leaders in Pakistan have been released from detention and are being freely allowed to mobilize funds for Jihad. Most importantly, the Pakistani President has failed to fulfil his own solemn commitment made to the US to put a complete end to terrorist infiltration across the border and LoC into India".
PDP partner demands re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Panthers Party, a coalition partner in the PDP-led Government in Jammu and Kashmir, on Monday demanded reorganisation of the state, general amnesty for political prisoners and a special economic package for the Jammu region. In a letter to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, party Chairman Bhim Singh said, "the reorganisation of the state on the basis of cultural, linguistic and geographical identity is inevitable to ensure justice and equity to all the regions of the state and strengthen the confederation among the regions of the state." "It shalll help promote and strengthen national integration and restore peace and law," Singh said. In his 13 point charter of demands, Singh also urged the Prime Minister to declare a generl amnesty for all the political prisoners detained under Public Safety Act in various jails. He appealed to Vajpayee to ensure comprehensive settlement of the refugees of 1947 from Pakistan occupied Kashmir by granting them full civil, political and human rights. Panthers Party has four members in the state Assembly.
Fire in city business area
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Kolkata,Tuesday, April 22, 2003: A fire broke out in an airconditioned market in Burrabazar area here in the early hours today, fire brigade sources said. Fifteen fire engines are working to douse the flames, which broke out around 5 am, the sources said. The area falls within the congested wholesale market in Satyanarayan Park area of the city. The extent of damage was yet to known, the sources said.
Five killed in land mine blast in Pulwama
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Srinagar,Tuesday, April 22, 2003: Atleast five persons were killed and three others injured in a land mine explosion in Pulwama district of South Kashmir this morning, police said. The mine was detonated by militants at Gulshanpora, three km from the main town of Tral around 8:00 a m, the sources said.
Indian boy who survived cancer gets killed in tragic accident
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
Indian boy who survived cancer gets killed in tragic accident Washington,Tuesday, April 22, 2003: Sahil Ahmed, an 11-year-old Indian boy, who won a battle against leukemia and was looking forward to lead a normal life, was killed when he was accidently shot in the face by a friend of his while playing with a semi-automatic loaded gun. After battling with cancer for five years, Sahil was getting better. His dreams were returning to those of a normal boy: touchdowns and free-throws scored, video games conquered. The shooting happened on Friday. Sahil tagged along with his sister Shahana, 18, on visit to a friend's house in Centennial. While playing, Sahil and a 15-year-old boy found a gun in the house, and began toying with it, thinking it was unloaded. The teen, whose name was not released, pointed the gun at him and pulled the trigger. Sahil was dead before paramedics could arrive, The Denver Post reported. Officers and investigators would meet with the district attorney's office this week to determine whether there was criminal wrong doing, Sheriff Grayson Robinson of the Arapahoe County Sheriff's department said. Sahil's family, which brought the boy to the US in a bid to rescue him from cancer, however, remains indifferent to the question of whether charges should be filed. "Charges can't bring a boy back," Max Ali, one of Sahil's uncles, said Sunday. The whole family spent the day mourning. The parents of 15-year-old also visited Sahil's home Sunday to pay their respects, it said.
India launches its first indigenous stealth warship
Monday, April 21, 2003
India on Friday launched its first indigenously built stealth warship as part of its ambition of increasing its maritime influence in the turbulent Indian Ocean, defence ministry officials said. The ship, christened INS Shivalik after one of India's Himalayan peaks, has been built at the state-run Mazgoan Dock Ltd. (MDL) near Bombay and is designed to evade interception as part of its stealth capabilities, they said. Warship Shivalik, part of a national naval project to build three stealth ships, will be assigned operational duties when fully armed by December 2005, the officials said. The remaining two will be commissioned with the Indian navy in 2006 and in "Shivalik will play the dual role of offensive and defensive combat and it also has the capacity to attack in-shore targets," a defence ministry official said. MDL chief H. S. Kang said Shivalik's original cost when the project left the drawing board in 1994 was estimated at two billion rupees (42 million dollars) and warned the cost would jump 10 times by the time it is deployed in two years time. Defence Minister George Fernandes was among the officials present at the ship's formal launch into the Arabian Sea by naval chief Admiral Madhavendra Singh's wife Kaumudi Kumari, the MDL ship-builders said. Further details of the ship were not available, but sources said it was likely to be fitted with the 300 kilometre (180 mile) anti-ship cruise missile BraHmos, being jointly built by India and Russia. French military ship-builders are trying to sell or build stealth ships for the 137-ship Indian navy. The Indian navy, which is also expecting the delivery of a Russia-made stealth warship later this year, plans to build an aircraft carrier to double its fleet of such maritime combat platforms to two.
SARS: China reports 1800 infected, India still safe
Monday, April 21, 2003
The Indian government has cleared the three suspected cases of SARS in Delhi after blood and other tests turned out negative. There are a total of 10 suspected cases of SARS in the country but none of them are confirmed. So far, only one case of SARS has been confirmed that of Prasheel Varde, a 32-year-old marine engineer from Goa, who was subsequently released after he recovered. Beijing scare But the global impact may be much worse than initially estimated. Today China, where the virus was first detected, indicated that the number of people infected was 10 times higher than originally reported. An official spokesman said that at least 79 people had died so far and around 1800 were infected. The government has also sacked Health Minister Zhang Wenkang and officials have cancelled the weeklong May Day holiday when millions of Chinese travel to their hometown. The death toll from the SARS epidemic in Beijing was dramatically revised from four to 18, confirming the worst fears of the World Health Organisation, which reported that Beijing was under-reporting the magnitude of the epidemic that has killed over 200 people worldwide. Vice Health Minister Gao Qiang admitted that 339 people were infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome in Beijing alone, along with 402 suspected cases as of April 18. Gao said the new figures included 235 confirmed and suspected cases at the highly secretive military hospitals run by the Chinese People's Liberation Army. Hiding the numbers City officials had previously maintained there were only 37 cases in the Capital and four fatalities despite estimates by the WHO experts who said Beijing could have upto 200 cases. Infact the health minister had also declared it safe to travel to China as recently as the beginning of April. But last week a retired Chinese military doctor had alleged the ministry of health had failed to report at least 140 cases in Beijing military hospitals. He claimed the ministry was hiding the extent of SARS for the sake of stability during the annual parliament session in March, which witnessed sweeping leadership changes. The official figure quoted now is even higher than the estimate of WHO and other experts. Third highest hit Figures released by Gao indicated that Beijing has been hit hard by SARS and the city of nearly 14 million had to do a good job to prevent further spread of the deadly disease. The nation-wide number of cases now stands at 1,807, with 79 deaths. Out of the 1,807 confirmed cases of SARS, 1,304 cases are found in the southern Chinese province of Guangdong from where the SARS epidemic spread worldwide. There are 339 cases found in Beijing, 108 in Shanxi, 25 in Inner Mongolia, 12 in Guangxi, six in Hunan, five in Sichuan, three in Fujian, two in Shanghai, two in Henan and one in Ningxia, Gao said. Beijing city became the third-hardest hit place in the world from SARS, after China's Guangdong province and Hong Kong Apecial Administrative region of China. Hong Kong has recorded 88 deaths, including seven during the last 24 hours. The former British colony also reported 22 new cases of SARS. Out of nearly 1,000 SARS cases in Hong Kong, 102 patients are receiving treatment in intensive care units. The upward revision of SARS cases in China came after the WHO as well as the international community put pressure on the communist nation not to under-report SARS cases in Beijing and elsewhere. Following this, China's top leadership met at least thrice and promised not to cover-up and warned officials that they would be severely punished if they resorted to under-reporting of SARS.
Indian troops shot dead nine militants
Monday, April 21, 2003
JAMMU: Indian troops shot dead nine militants yesterday in Kashmir's border district of Poonch, 240km west of Jammu. Police said the soldiers killed seven infiltrators while they were trying to cross over into Indian territory in the border village of Nara Balnoi in Poonch district's Mendhar area. The infiltrators were equipped with modern weapons and explosives and allegedly belonged to Lashkar-e-Taiba, police said. Another two rebels were killed by the army while they were carrying out search operations at village Madana in Surankote area of Poonch. The army assault came as a militant leader vowed to continue a holy war and suicide attacks to end Indian rule in Kashmir, rejecting an Indian offer of talks. Hafiz Saeed, the former chief of the Lashkar-e-Taiba organisation, said yesterday that Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's offer to hold talks with Pakistan was a sham. "Jihadi (holy warrior) forces do not believe in talks," he told about 500 of his supporters in Rawalakot, roughly 110km south of Muzaffarabad. "The jihad will not stop, the suicide attacks will continue." Saeed now leads a non-violent social welfare group called Jamaat-ud-Daawa. Saeed has been touring the country in recent weeks in an attempt to mobilise support for jihad in Kashmir. On Friday, Vajpayee offered to hold talks with Pakistan, but later insisted that Islamabad must first give up support to fighters in Kashmir. Pakistani Information Min-ister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed quickly responded by saying "no cross border infiltration is taking place into Indian-occupied Kashmir from Pakistan's soil". Pakistan has offered India talks without conditions. *A popular Pakistani rock band and Indian singers sang in harmony at a concert in Karachi to promote peace between their countries. "We have come here to share love and promote peace," a popular Indian Punjabi traditional folk singer, Anaida, told an audience of 2,000. "We want to see peace, peace and only peace in Pakistan and India," she said. Standing at her side, Salman Ahmad, the lead singer of Pakistan's hugely popular rock band Junoon, said: "We are also for peace ... we are also for love."
Advani rejects two-nation theory
Monday, April 21, 2003
Rejecting the two-nation theory, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today warned that a nation could be disintegrated if the right of self-determination was confined to a certain language or religion. Advani also asserted that divided India did not face the prospect of any further division. "Nations which are multi-lingual, multi-religious and which are exerting to become viable nation states, in their case the right of self-determination cannot be confined to a certain language or a certain religion. "If they do that the consequences would be disintegration of that nation," Advani said at a book release function here. Referring to the two-nation theory which was propogated by Pakistan's Mohammad Ali Jinnah, the Deputy Prime Minister said "this feeling may be weaker among some sections of the Muslim community, but they too are fast realising that they have no choice but to live here, work here and get integrated into the national mainstream." He said "the tragic partition of India has brought no change in this self definition of Indian nationhood. Neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh or for that matter any other Islamic nation in the world is a role model for them", Advani said.
BJP backs PM's friendship offer to Pak
Monday, April 21, 2003
Two days after opposing talks with Pakistan, BJP today backed Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's "bold gesture" of extending a "hand of friendship" to that country and hoped Islamabad would respond "positively" to pave the way for early and "meaningful" bilateral talks. Hailing Vajpayee's two-day Kashmir visit with the hope that it would "hasten the process of return of peace" in the state, the ruling party endorsed Prime Minister's assertion that all problems can be resolved peacefully on the basis of 'insaniyat' (humanism), 'jamhooriyat' (democracy) and 'Kashmiriyat' (age-old culture of Hindu-Muslim unity). "BJP hopes Pakistan responds positively to the Prime Minister's bold gesture of extending a hand of friendship, paving the way for meaningful talks between our two countries to begin soon," BJP president M Venkaiah Naidu told reporters here referring to Vajpayee's comments in Srinagar on Saturday. He said Vajpayee has "rightly emphasised that sincerity of Pakistan's response depends on whether it ends its policy of cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir." Naidu had on Friday opposed talks with Pakistan, saying "time is not yet ripe till Islamabad stops encouraging militants". 19:50 IST
No further division of India: Advani
Monday, April 21, 2003
Rejecting Pakistan's Mohammad Ali Jinnah's two nation theory, Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today asserted that divided India did not face the prospect of any further division. "This feeling may be weaker among some sections of the Muslim community, but they too are fast realising that they have no choice but to live here, work here and get integrated into the national mainstream", he said at a book release function here. "The tragic partition of India has brought no change in this self definition of Indian nationhood. Neither Pakistan nor Bangladesh or for that matter any other Islamic nation in the world is a role model for them", Advani said. Observing that religious freedom has always been guaranteed in secular India, Advani said with passage of time Indian Musilms are bound to get more and more integrated into the broader Indian society. The Deputy Prime Minister observed that there would always be majority and minority communities but the important thing was to ensure the two lived in harmony and cooperation without fear of insecurity and persecution. Stating that demand for repeal of IMDT in Assam was justified, he alleged that Congress had brought in the law for a specific purpose under popular pressure but deliberately framed it in such a manner so as to subvert that very purpose. 15:57 IST
Forcible conversion not in spirit of true religion: Advani
Monday, April 21, 2003
Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today strongly opposed forcible and fraudulent conversions stating that it was not in the spirit of true religion and national interest. Speaking at book release function here, Advani said "It is the latter (forcible and fraudulent conversion) that we are opposed to. For it is neither in the spirit of true religion nor in the long term interests of the nation". Distinguishing between natural and forcible conversions, he noted that the latter variety was witnessed in Asia, Africa and Latin America. Advani said much of South East Asia's population had become Muslim under the influence of spiritual personalities or respected kings who accepted other religions. Referring to the first category, he said people migrating form one place to another out of free choice has been a natural process in history. This is how Indians in fairly large numbers have gone to United States and settled there.
Pak wants good relationship with India: Rashid
Monday, April 21, 2003
Asserting that Pakistan wanted good relationship with India, Information Minister Sheikh Rashid today said if India took one step towards friendship than Islamabad would take two steps in its response. "If India will take one step towards friendship then Pakistan will take two steps in response," Rashid was today quoted by Geo news as saying. Referring to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's offer of talks with Pakistan, the information minister said he welcomed the "change of heart" on the part of New Delhi to hold talks with Islamabad. He said Pakistan welcomed the changing attitude of Indian leadership even though New Delhi continued to accuse Islamabad of encouraging infiltration across the borders. Stating that such allegations were borne of misconception, he said Pakistan has asserted from the very first day that it was not assisting anyone and no infiltration took place from Pakistan. But if India has any doubts, "we are ready to enhance the number of UN Observers on the Line of Control", he said.
Govt proposes; truckers dispose
Monday, April 21, 2003
Hopes of an early end to the indefinite truckers strike appeared dim with the agitating transporters today rejecting a fresh appeal by government to end the stir even as they deferred a planned blockade of milk and cooking gas till Wednesday. "We have rejected the call given by Road Transport Ministry to end the stir as they first asked us to end the strike before coming to negotiation table", AIMTC Secretary General J M Saksena said as the strike entered the seventh day today. It is not possible for us to hold talks with government with pre-conditions attached, he said. Orissa and Andhra Pradesh reported claims and counter-claims on the fate of the strike with some groups indicating the stir has been called off. The All India Motor Transport Congress, which is spearheading the strike with 2.7 million trucks in its fold, extended the deadline for including LPG and milk within its purview till Wednesday keeping in mind the interest of the common man, he said. Truckers further resolved to sit on a dharna tommorrow to press for stable fuel prices, non inclusion in the VAT regime and an to end police harrassment.
INSAT-3A transponders overbooked: Kasturirangan
Monday, April 21, 2003
INSAT-3A transponders overbooked: Kasturirangan Bangalore,Sunday, April 20, 2003: Private television broadcasters, V-SAT operators, the Department of Telecom and Prasar Bharati have booked all transponders in INSAT-3A, India's latest multi-purpose satellite, which is expected to be fully operational by May 12. "As far as the satellite (INSAT-3A) is concerned..the booking is full and is overbooked," Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman K Kasturirangan told. INSAT-3A carries 12 C-band, six Extended C-band, six Ku band transponders, besides a Search and Navigation rescue transponder. "Nine of the 12 C-band transponders have a larger coverage from West Asia to South East Asia and are intended for television coverage and will help TV broadcasters target people of Indian origin in these regions," ISRO Satellite Centre Director Dr P S Goel said. This initiative has attracted TV broadcasters who had earlier leased transponder space from satellites of foreign operators. ISRO's transponder strength has increased to 121 with the addition of 24 from INSAT-3A, which was shot into space by Europen rocket Ariane-5 from the spaceport of Kourou in French Guyana in South America on April 10. "The INSAT co-ordination committee will look into the allocation of transponders. It involves various Government departments who will assess the user requirements before allotment", Kasturirangan said. 13:30 IST
TCS developing India's first bioinformatics software on Linux
Monday, April 21, 2003
IT major Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) is developing an end-to-end bioinformatics software package, "Biosuit" on Linux platform for which 20 leading Indian institutions have provided the domain knowledge. The Biosuit project, in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT) will roll out the Alpha version in May with the full product expected to hit the market in one year, National Task Force on Bioinformatics Chairman A S Kolaskar told here. Twenty leading academic bodies including Indian Institute of Science, Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics, IITs, Pune University and University of Hyderabad have contributed domain knowledge and tools for Biosuit. "We estimate the Indian bioinformatics industry to touch USD two billion by 2006. For this, we need affordable world-class software and the TCS effort is on this. We are learning from the IT experience to create talented people in Bioinformatics," Kolaskar, who is also the Vice-Chancellor of Pune University said. He said Biosuit will be comparable to Accedos, the best bioinformatics software available in the market and cheaper. Kolaskar said the effort was to bring down the cost to be affordable to students.
Rain forces abandonment of final
Monday, April 21, 2003
A heavy thunderstorm forced the TVS Cup triangular series final between India and South Africa to be postponed to Monday which had been kept as the reserve day. The thunderstorm, accompanied by strong winds lashed the stadium about 20 minutes before the scheduled toss forcing the groundsmen to cover the pitch and the adjacent areas. The two umpires -- Alim Dar of Pakistan and Akhaturuddin of Bangladesh -- decided to abandon the match at 4.25 pm local time after inspecting the ground condition which was found to be unfit for play. After all the matches in the tournament had been completed without any rain interruptions, the thunderstorm played spoilsport in the final, much to the dismay of a few thousand spectators who had thronged the stadium well before the start of the match. The thunderstorm lasted for about half an hour but left the ground completely soggy which ruled out the possibility of a prompt start to the summit showdown. The groundsmen started the mopping up operations immediately after the rain stopped and the super sopper was also put into use to dry up the ground as early as possible. But the sky remained overcast and the outfield was too damp. The umpires had no hesitation in calling off play after they inspected the ground once the covers were taken off. 17:51 IST
Sehwag on Time's cover page; Metro man, Gujarat NGO honoured
Monday, April 21, 2003
New Delhi,Sunday, April 20, 2003: Batting sensation Virender Sehwag has featured on the cover of the prestigious Time magazine's annual edition of Asian Heroes, which also names Metro Man E Sreedharan and an NGO which helped Gujarat's riot victims. The three Indian names are among the 29 outstanding individuals and groups from Asia "whose extraordinary courage, charisma or genius enable them to make a big difference in their societies or fields", Time said in a release here. The second annual edition of Asian Heroes described Sehwag as "India's latest cricket sensation who is not just an icon but an inspiration because of his modest background." Sehwag has stamped his authority as an explosive batsman in limited over cricket with aggregate 2247 runs from 72 matches at an average of 35.10 including five hundreds and 11 half centuries. He also averaged a healthy 41.52 for his 872 test runs from 14 matches with three centuries. The magazine describes Elattuvalapil Sreedharan as "the man who beat India's corrupt and ponderous bureaucracy to make sure New Delhi's sub-way was built properly and on time." It hails Anandi, the Area Networking Development Initiative, for helping the rural victims of the Gujarat massacre in their fight for justice. It noted that the NGO was branded anti-Hindu inspite of the members' Hindu background. Other Asian heroes featured in the latest issue include Pakistani human rights activist Asma Jahangir and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. 11:46 IST
Probe will be impartial: Mayawati
Sunday, April 20, 2003
LUCKNOW APRIL 19. In an apparent bid to look judicious to her critics, the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Mayawati, today issued a directive to avoid unnecessary harassment to beneficiaries of the Chief Minister's discretionary fund granted during Mulayam Singh Yadav's tenure while asserting that those found guilty of misusing Government money would not be spared. The directives issued to the Inspectors-General of Police, Deputy Inspectors-General of Police, District Magistrates and District Police Superintendents detail the procedure to be followed in registering cases and arresting beneficiaries. Officials have been asked to conduct investigations impartially. Talking to newspersons here, Ms. Mayawati denied allegations that her decision to take action in this regard smacked of political vendetta. The beneficiaries would not be prosecuted only on the ground that they had received more grants than what was then permissible. Action would be taken only in cases where there was misuse of the grants. First Information Reports would be registered only after cases were examined by the State Government and arrests made after securing necessary warrants from competent courts, she said. Ms. Mayawati said there were two specific reasons why the Government decided to enquire into the misutilisation of discretionary grants. First, Mr. Yadav had violated rules by sanctioning grants in excess of Rs. 35,000 that was improper before April 7,1994. Secondly, in a large number of cases, the beneficiaries had misused the grants. On the first ground, only Mr. Yadav was guilty while the beneficiaries were at fault on the second ground, she said. Ms. Mayawati announced plans to widen the scope of her enquiry beyond the rule of Mr. Yadav and said cases of beneficiaries receiving grants during the tenure of all Chief Ministers after 1995 would be scrutinised. Referring to cases during President's Rule in Uttar Pradesh when Motital Vora was the Governor, Ms. Mayawati said she had all the respect for the office of Governor. However, Mr. Vora had sanctioned huge grants to persons of his choice from the U.P. Chief Minister's Discretionary Fund, for which he was not authorised. Prior to October 8, 1999, no one except the Chief Minister was authorised to grant money from the fund under the rules. She warned Mr. Yadav and his supporters of strict action if they tried to take the law into their hands
250 taken ill after taking 'prasad' in West Bengal
Sunday, April 20, 2003
At least 250 people were taken ill after consuming "harinam prasad" at village Saguma in North 24 Parganas district early on Saturday. According to District Chief Medical Officer Dr Sankar Saha, 37 persons including 10 children were admitted to Bongaon sub-divisional hospital and others were treated in two specially organised medical camps. The devotees consumed 'prasad' after the puja on Friday night and reported ill after few hours.
Bhoot
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Nitin Manmohan and Ramgopal Varma are back with their latest venture BHOOT. Starring Ajay Devgan, Urmila Matondkar, Nana Patekar, Rekha, Fardeen Khan, Victor Banerjee, Seema Biswas and Tanuja, this is one of the most keenly-awaited films of the times. BHOOT is an urban supernatural thriller set in Mumbai city. Vishal, a stock analyst, is in search for a flat for his wife Swati and him. He finds the perfect place on the 12th floor of a tall apartment building. The flat has a problem the previous occupant, a young woman, had plunged to her death from the balcony. But a non-superstitious Vishal does not let this affect his decision to shift in. He just neglects to inform Swati about this. Eventually, Swati finds out about the young woman's death. She starts losing sleep over it. She begins to see things. She gets distressed. What Vishal thinks is a psychological problem begins to unravel into the unexplainable. He becomes helpless. In a fight to save Swati, Vishal will have to reach out into the horrifying and discover the truth. The technicians Cinematography: Vishal Sinha. Editing: Shimit Amin. Writers: Sameer Sharma, Lalit Marathe. Action: Allan Amin. Background music: Salim-Sulaiman. Sound: Dwarak Warrier. BHOOT is slated for release on May 2, 2003.
Armaan
Sunday, April 20, 2003
ARMAAN as the title suggests is a film about individual hopes and dreams and extent to which a son goes to fulfill his father's dreams. The story is set against the backdrop of the hospital owned by Dr Sinha - a philanthropist who refuses to grow either cynical or indifferent, despite having to struggle with the harsh reality of death and disease, daily. His dream remains to run a state-of-the-art hospital in which patients may be given indiscriminate treatment. Aakash, his son is an equally devoted doctor, who remains dutybound to both his profession and his father. Enter Soniya Kapoor, a rich arrogant young woman, who is used to getting things done her way. Beneath her veneer of defensive sensitivity however is an individual who has shades of compassion. However since Soniya belives that no one can ever truly love her for who she is, she decides that since Aakash is the man for her, she can latch on to him by literally 'buying' his love through financial agreement. The agreement states that on marrying Soniya, her father Gulshan will help finance the hospital project. Aakash is thus faced with an emotional dilimma in which he is forced to choose between his love for fellow doctor, Neha and his duty towards fulfilling his father's dream. The story leads to an unusual climax, in which each of the characters are forced to tread the fine line between extremes of duty, devotion and finally even emotional sanity. However, there is a resolution in which difficult choices must be made, keeping in mind everyone's best interests. 'ARMAAN' is a family drama that allows one to explore the intricacy of human relationships and exposes the velnerability of individuals in those relationships and choices made by them. Does Aakash fulfill his final duty towards his father? Or does marry Neha instead? Does he marry Soniya and forsake his love for Neha? Does he find the courage to pursue his own dreams? These are the questions that will be answered in the course of the film.
No SARS impact on tourism in Goa
Sunday, April 20, 2003
The tourism industry in Goa appears to be going strong despite the SARS scare. "Of course we are nervous but we wanted to come. I have always wanted to see Goa and nothing will change my plans," said a tourist. It is this holiday spirit that local businessmen are counting on to see them through the last few weeks of the tourist season. The peak season, which sees a large number of foreigners, ends in March after which the industry depends on the domestic travellers. In the last two years Goa's tourism economy has taken a severe beating due to the fallout of the 9/11 attacks. And local businessmen say this latest SARS threat is the last thing they need. But so far there have been no last minute cancellations of tours or hotel bookings. In fact nine chartered flights are arriving from Europe in the next two weeks as per schedule. "We are also hoping that the government will also take some initiative to reassure the tourists," says Charles Bonifacie, President, Goa Tours and Travels Association. And Goans will be also hoping that this one case of SARS will not have a long-term impact on its tourism industry.
Teachers caught cheating in Bihar
Sunday, April 20, 2003
For many people in Bihar cheating during exams is considered a right and till now the Bihar School Examination Board caught only students cheating during exams. But the cheating doesn't stop there. Anxious parents have been bribing examiners to evaluate answer papers and pay for every extra 10 marks. This year for the first time the board has set-up two flying squads to catch teachers fiddling the evaluations. "We found that 28 teachers had chits that had roll codes of certain examinees," said Subhash Sharma, Chairman, Bihar School Exam Board. The teachers who were handed over to the police have been fined up to Rs 2,000. But the exam board is not just tracking the decline in moral standards it is also looking at teaching abilities in a first time survey of high schools across Bihar. "So far we have inspected 60 high schools and we have found that in many of them teaching work is in a very bad shape. Teachers are physically present but are not able to teach in a qualitative manner," added Sharma. And the findings are shocking, as an estimated 40 per cent teachers cannot teach while an equal number choose not to teach. To add to that there are 8,000 teacher vacancies in high schools across the state. This goes some way to understand what prompts students to cheat at exams but the board also says cheating reflects the desperation of students in a job scarce market.
George suspends 3 loyalist legislators
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Yielding ground to the pre-eminence of Nitish Kumar, Samata Party President George Fernandes today suspended three Bihar legislators, who are considered his loyalists, from the party with immediate effect in a bid to avert a split in the organisation. Fernandes suspended Ganesh Paswan, Bhai Virender (both MLAs) and P K Sinha (MLC), a press release issued by the party said, adding it "has been done on the recommendation of Samata Party's Bihar State Council and the State Executive Committee". Supporters of Kumar had demanded their expulsion at their meeting in Patna on April 13. The release issued by Samata Party General Secretary Aneel Hegde was, however, silent on Kumar camp's demand for expulsion of two Fernandes-loyalist MPs Raghunath Jha and Brahmanand Mandal from the party. It is for the second time since January this year that Fernandes had to bow to the pressure from the Nitish camp. Early this year, Jha, a close confidant of Fernandes, had to resign as Bihar Samata chief and pave the way for appointment of Kumar loyalist Basisth Narayan Singh, MP as the party's convenor in Bihar.
Bappi Lahiri's record hits US market
Sunday, April 20, 2003
PTI WASHINGTON: A record containing Bollywood music composer Bappi Lahiri's most famous Hindi film songs has hit the US market after the enormous success of one of his remixes. Bappi Lahiri's record is produced by Serious Music, a Los Angeles-based record label and film scoring company. "Bappi has established an incredible body of work in the Indian film industry, having scored in over 500 Bollywood pictures. In 1988 alone, Bappi set a record of over 180 songs recorded for 35 films, which were released in a single year and is documented in the Guinness Book of World Records," the company said in a press release. About the record being released in the US, it said, "Containing ten of his most famous Indian Bollywood songs, Bappi remixed the songs in addition to utilizing the talents of his multi-instrumentalist son Bappa, and his equally talented daughter, the singer Rema, on many of the tracks." "With a US tour hitting many of the largest Indian communities in the United States, along with various planned promotions to hit the club/dance market, Bappi's music and fame are going to be exposed to a world audience for the first time during his 30-year career. Welcome to Bappiwood!" One of his remix songsKaliyon ka chamanbecame a great hit in US after its background score was used by a western music group Truth Hurts.
Supari
Sunday, April 20, 2003
SUPARI is a film about today's youth their wants, their desires and how far they would go to achieve that. Easy money was what Aryan [Uday Chopra] Papad [Rahul Dev], Chicken [Purab Kohli] and Mushy [Akash Saigal] wanted. And the one person who showed them the easiest way to make all their dreams come true was Mamta Sekhri [Nandita Das]. Aryan and his friends place a heavy sum of money on a bet allegedly rigged in their favour. And lose. It was money they didn't have in the first place. All their confidence and faith in their luck does not impress the 'bhais' who come to collect the money. A hapless Aryan turns to Pandit, the 'paanwallah' who had helped them place the bet. A now hostile Pandit suggests meting a lady called Mamta Sekhri. The mysterious Mamta makes a deep impact on Aryan. He is almost relieved, though surprised, by her maternal attitude in willing to help him when she offers him gun and a cover photograph for a contract murder (supari). The usually cool Aryan loses his composure but provoked by her contempt agrees to do the job. Thus begins the journey of their transformation and a step towards realisation of their dreams. Death becomes a fascinating game and the power that comes with it addictive. Aryan's relationship with Mamta and his maturity deepens, while the rest of the boys begin to enjoy the power. Misusing it becomes easy till Mamta tightens the strings. Even pseudo-power becomes addictive to Aryan, till he loses his best friend Chicken. Dilnawaz [Nauheed Cyrusi] gets shot by the opposite gang's bullet that was actually meant for Aryan. Now Aryan wants to get out of it and the only person who can help him with that is Mamta. Aryan's guilt of putting his friends into this whole mess, which they can't get out of or don't want to get out of, drives the film to its climax. SUPARI co-stars Irfaan Khan and Nisha Arora. Produced-directed by Padam Kumar, the film has music by Vishal-Shekhar, lyrics by Vishal, screenplay by Padam Kumar, Mushtaq Sheikh and Anuradha Tiwari, dialogues by Sutapa Sikdar, with additional dialogues by Atul Sabharwal, cinematography by T. Ramji and Velraj, choreography by Farah Khan and Rekha Prakash, editing by Sanjay Verma, art by Guruji Bros., sound by Rakesh Ranjan, costumes by Ashley Rebello and action by Ram Shetty. Meenu A. Kumar is the executive producer, while Krishan Arora is the co-producer. (Source: IndiaFM.com)
Qayamat
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Ali (Arbaaz Khan) and Abbas (Sanjay Kapoor) along with Laila (Ishaa Koppikar) are the biggest arms dealers in Asia. With America policing most of Europe, Asia and specifically India is being seen as a heavenly route by the people who deal in arms through the disintegrated Russia. Akram Sheikh (Suniel Shetty) a CBI officer cannot see India being maligned on the world scene in the future. He cracks down on the two warlords as they are in the process of completing an arms deal. Ali and Abbas are under tremendous pressure from the buyers to either supply the arms or return their money. They plan a dangerous game. A game which will get them millions of dollars and an escape route from India. Rahul (Aashish Chowdhry) is a scientist who works in the C.D.C. Lab. He is in the process of creating an anti-virus, which would help in saving lives in case of a Biological or a Chemical warfare. Little does Rahul know this deadly virus can be smuggled out of the lab and land into dangerous hands. A city is put under threat. Akram Sheikh puts down a plan of action. He needs the help of one man. A lethal convict - Rachit (Ajay Devgan). Rachit has a dangerous past. He was the biggest daredevil in the high-tech robberies, which took place in Mumbai. He worked with Ali and Abbas in the past. Rachit is gifted with a body which is capable of such gymnastic stunts that he makes robberies look like a work of art. He was put into solitary confinement. Today he has degenerated almost in to a vegetable. Drugged by doctors because memories of his love Sapna (Neha Dhupia) make him violent. A dangerous journey into the unknown world of dreaded criminals begins. A desperate attempt to save the lives of millions of Mumbaites. It is an epic saga of honour and courage. A fight so that evil dies, lives survive, love survives. (Source: IndiaFM.com)
Urmila Steals The Limelight in Bhoot
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Urmila Steals The Limelight in Bhoot By Farhana Khatri/CelebnCeleb.com The buzz goes that Urmila Matondkar has surpassed herself in Ram Gopal Varma's Bhoot. Know the secret ... April 19, 2003. Urmila Matondkar is one actress who has given consistently good performances. In Rangeela, Jungle, Mast, Satya or even Judai and Pyar Tune Kya Kiya, Matondkar's abilities have never been ignored. But director Ram Gopal Varma claims that Matondkar, 'showing such emotional reams in her portrayal,' has gone beyond what he suggested to her in his scare drama Bhoot. It's not just Varma who feels so. Even Urmila's co-star Rekha complimented her. Says Urmila, 'Rekhaji complimented me by saying that she had never seen an actress showing so many different expressions of fear!' Few know that Matondkar, always a distinction procuring student, was studying psychology when stardom weaned her away from academics. Her references from this subject of human behaviour, coupled by her own cerebral insights, have urged a stellar performance. So, watch out for Urmila. (source:CelebnCeleb.com)
Vajpayee launches rail projects in J&K
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Srinagar,Saturday, April 19, 2003: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today laid the foundation stone of a railway bridge and inaugurated six computerised railway reservation centres in various parts of Jammu and Kashmir here, as bad weather forced cancellation of his visit to Qazigund where the function was scheduled to be held. After the formal launching of the rail projects, Railway Minister Nitish Kumar announced that the construction of railway line between Jammu and Udhampur would be completed by March next year, while the entire project of providing a link between Udhampur and Baramulla would end by 2007. The Udhampur-Baramulla line would pass through Katra and Qazigund, which, Kumar described as the "most difficult section" and said the project was being executed by IRCON and the Konkan Railways. 18:57 IST
Kasuri suggests SAARC as forum to begin Indo-Pak talks
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Indicating that SAARC was an appropriate forum for India and Pakistan to kick start a fresh dialogue, Pakistan's Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri has said his government would soon work out new dates for the regional grouping's summit to be held here later this year. "We shall give a new date for the SAARC conference. It will help lower the temperature in South Asia," he told BBC Radio while welcoming Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's offer of a hand of friendship in Srinagar on Friday. Reacting to Vajpayee's statement, he said "a positive thing has come forth and it ought to be welcomed in a positive manner." "When the new government came to power in Pakistan, in my very first statement I said, we attach very high priority to improvement of relations with India. But unfortunately we did not receive any response. Now the response has come and Pakistan welcomes it," he said. Referring to recent exchanges between External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha and Pakistani Ministers on the theory of pre-emption, Kasuri said "in the capacity of the Foreign Minister of Pakistan, I can say with responsibility that I never used any wrong or filthy language." Asked about war of words between India and Pakistan on the issue, Kasuri said that he does not want to worsen the issue by going into the past. "It is of no use to repeat those sentences," he said. 21:22 IST
Inclusion of milk, LPG in strike deferred by a day
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Striking transporters today deferred by a day blockage of goods like milk and LPG cylinders following Government's request even as the common man suffered due to a sharp increase in prices of fruits and vegetables, and industrial units slowed down production on the sixth day of the indefinite strike by truckers. The strike, in which tempos and other small cargo vehicles have joined truckers, is expected to echo in Parliament when it resumes on Monday after a ten-day break. "We expect the talks with government to resume on Monday", All India Motor Transport Congress General Secretary J M Saksena, who had earlier sought PM's intervention after discussions broke down with Road Transport Minister B C Khanduri on Thursday, told reporters here. The country's economic activities were seriously affected by the agitation which AIMTC had called to protest frequent hike in diesel prices, introduction of VAT, harassment by state and police authorities with leading industrial units like Maruti and Hyundai warning of an imminent shut down in case the agitation was prolonged. Despite precautionary steps undertaken by various state governments to ensure supplies of essential commodities, prices of vegetables and fruits are reported to have soared by 30-50 per cent in various parts of the country. 20:27 IST
Khanduri asks truckers to withdraw agitation
Saturday, April 19, 2003
As the countrywide truckers' strike entered the sixth day, Minister for Road Transport B C Khanduri tonight said the government was ready to have "meaningful" talks with them but first asked them to withdraw the agitation. "From our side, it has been our effort from the beginning to have meaningful negotiations on their demands. I do not think there is any reason for the strike to go on. I told them (striking truckers) to withdraw the strike and talk. They want to have talks where the Prime Minister is also present which is not possible," he told 'Aaj Tak' news channel. He said the government does not foresee "very strong problems" on meeting seven of the 10 demands of the truckers. "There are three demands which need to be discussed like diesel price hike. We told them prices are decided as per the international crude prices. Petroleum Minister Ram Naik also said we can talk," Khanduri said. The minister said seven states had provided a 'golden pass' to truckers to undertake overloading, for which the Centre has written to these state governments stating that the practice was wrong. He termed the decision of the truckers' to continue with the strike as "unfortunate". Truckers across the country had gone on an indefinite strike since April 13 demanding an end to frequent hike in diesel prices, immunity from a planned Value Added Tax, repeal of an order to scrap 15-year-old trucks and fixing of minimum freight rates. 22:19 IST
Free incoming calls for cellular subscribers from May one
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Incoming calls are all set to become free for cellular subscribers from May 1, with telecom operators today agreeing on a methodology for implementation of Interconnect Usage Charges (IUC) regime. Today's resolution of technical issues over IUC implementation also paves the way for the new tariff packages for basic telephony to become operational as scheduled from May 1, 2003. "Implementation of the IUC regime shall take place on the scheduled date of May 1, 2003. Some operators had informed us that they faced technical difficulties in implementation of IUC regulation. After discussions, a generic interim solution emerged on the method for implementation, and this was unanimously accepted by everyone," TRAI chairman Pradip Baijal said here. 20:27 IST
Ending infiltration must to stop violence in Kashmir: Blair
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Islamabad,Saturday, April 19, 2003: British Prime Minister Tony Blair has said that ending cross-border infiltration of militants across the Line of Control is "essential" as violence would never solve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan. "Terrorist organisations including Lashkar-e-Toiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Harkatul Mujahideen have been at the forefront of the terrorist attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Violence will never solve the Kashmir dispute," he said in an interview to 'Friday Times' weekly. "Ending cross-border infiltration of militants is essential to stopping violence," Blair said, adding "during the last decade, the nature of the conflict (in Kashmir) has changed as a result of the incursions by armed militants across the Line of Control." On how Britain proposed to solve the Kashmir issue, Blair said it should be resolved through bilateral negotiations. "In the end this dispute between Pakistan and India, including on Kashmir, can only be settled by bilateral negotiations between Pakistan and India. But it is a dispute with serious international implications, not least because any future military conflict could escalate to nuclear weapons use," he said. He said such a conflict would be devastating for Pakistan and whole of South Asia. "In such a dangerous environment it is imperative that both sides act with restraint and avoid inflammatory rhetoric. All who wish both countries well - and this certainly includes UK - should do what we can to encourage them to find a solution through a peaceful means and engagement". 18:57 IST
Vajpayee announces STF for addressing unemployment in J&K
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Srinagar,Saturday, April 19, 2003: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today announced setting up of a Special Task Force for addressing the "pressing" problem of unemployment in Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing a press conference here at the end of his two-day visit to the state, Vajpayee said the Task Force would submit its report to the government by June 30 and implementation on its recommendations would begin from August 15 this year. The Force would comprise representatives from the Centre, the state government, industries, finance, banks and financial institutions. He said the aim was to create employment and self-employment for one lakh youth over the next two years. 18:57 IST
Onus on Pak to respond positively to hand of friendship: Vajpayee
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Srinagar,Saturday, April 19, 2003: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said it was entirely upto Pakistan to respond positively to the hand of friendship extended by him and see that cross-border terrorism and infiltration stops for a meaningful dialogue to resume. "There should be a new beginning. It depends on Pakistan. What reaction and what type response Pakistan gives to end cross-border infiltration and terrorism. That is when a dialogue can take place. "We are willing to discuss all issues including Jammu and Kashmir. But the route of cross-border terrorism cannot go on. There has been no (no) benefit from it and there cannot any benefit in future. I hope there be an appropriate response from across the border," Vajpayee told a press conference before leaving for Delhi at the end of a two-day visit to the valley. 18:57 IST
Vajpayee promises constructive approach to resolve Kashmir
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Srinagar,Saturday, April 19, 2003: Promising a "constructive approach" devoid of "acrimonies and unrealistic goals of the past", Prime Minsiter Atal Bihari Vajpayee today affirmed the Centre's commitment to a dialogue with elected representatives and other sections of public opinion in Jammu and Kashmir to resolve issues peacefully and democratically. Candidly admitting that mistakes had been made in the past, Vajpayee told the 16th convocation of Kashmir University here that "it was sometimes forgotten that democracy is too delicate a plant to be subjected to manipulation and mishandling. We must learn from these mistakes and resolve not to repeat them." He hailed the "heroic and unmistakable manner" in which the people of Jammu and Kashmir gave a ringing verdict against militancy and terrorist violence from across the border for the past decade and more. "Defying threats and violence, they turned out in impressive numbers to exercise their franchise," he said. "My current visit to Kashmir has reinforced my belief that darkness and despair are, indeed, departing; that light and hope are, indeed arriving. Indeed one such bright ray of hope was visible when the people of Jammu and Kashmir expressed their will in a heroic and unmistakable manner in the assembly elections held six months ago," he said. 18:57 IST
India to go into final with positive frame of mind
Saturday, April 19, 2003
India to go into final with positive frame of mind Dhaka,Saturday, April 19, 2003: Undeterred by the defeat in the last match, India will seek to draw inspiration from their splendid World Cup campaign and go into the TVS Cup tri-series final against South Africa here on Sunday with a positive frame of mind. The five-wicket defeat in the last match against the South Africans halted India's winning run in the tournament but captain Sourav Ganguly insists that it will not dent the morale of his young team which is eager to add one more title to its collection. "I don't think it will affect our morale. We didn't play well enough to win the last game. It's a question of how you play on that particular day which matters. I am sure we will be able to lift our game tomorrow (Sunday)," Ganguly said. The return of star performers Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh will bolster the team to a great extent, a fact which was acknowledged by the captain himself. "We missed their services in the last match. There was a bit of inexperience in both the bowling and batting departments. But it gave the youngsters an opportunity to prove their worth," he said. Both Zaheer and Yuvraj Singh had to sit out of the last two matches because of indisposition. While Zaheer had suffered a slight hamstring injury in the match against South Africa last Sunday, Yuvraj was down with flu and the team management expects that the duo will be fit enough to take the field on Sunday.
Centre to work with J-K govt: Vajpayee
Friday, April 18, 2003
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the Centre will work in tandem with the new Government in Jammu and Kashmir for the state's development and root out unemployment there. Addressing a mammoth public meeting at the Sher-e-Kashmir cricket stadium here, the first by a Prime Minister in Srinagar in the last 15 years, Vajpayee said, "We, sitting in New Delhi, are concerned about Jammu and Kashmir". He hoped the Kashmiri new year, 'Navroz', would usher in peace, prosperity and brotherhood. Taking full credit for holding free and fair polls in Jammu and Kashmir, Vajpayee congratulated the people of the state for exercising their democratic right "at grave risk to their lives and even daring death." "It (elections) is a sacred right which can change your destiny and if it falls into wrong hands, it can lead to destruction," he said adding "we should remember that after ages, through the democratic process we have got the opportunity to decide our fate." He said people had ridiculed him when he announced from the ramparts of the Red Fort that free and fair polls would be held in Jammu and Kashmir and a popular government would be installed in the state. "They asked which world am I living in as here votes that are cast are not counted and even if they are counted, they are not credited to the right party," Vajpayee said. Referring to the celebration of Navroz by the people in the state, Mahavir Jayanti by Hindus and observance of Good Friday by Christians, he said, "only in India do you find people worshipping in their own way and helping each other". 13:14 IST
Gun cannot resolve issues: Vajpayee
Friday, April 18, 2003
Accusing Pakistan of not not responding to peace initiatives taken by India, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said problems could not not be resolved through the barrel of the gun but only through dialogue. "I have said that every issue should be settled by talks. We are prepared...internal as well as external issues," he said addressing a public rally stressing the point that "not guns but brotherhood alone can resolve issues". 13:14 IST
Togadia seeks protection apprehending threat to life
Friday, April 18, 2003
Ajmer,Friday, April 18, 2003: VHP leader Praveen Togadia, presently in judicial custody, today sought protection from the court apprehending threat to his life. An application in this connection was moved before additional Chief Judicial magistrate Indu Pareek by Togadia's counsel Onkar Singh Lakhawat. The application quoted remarks purportedly made by Inspector General of Police A K Jai that "Togadia would be dealt with in an encounter" and also referred special public prosecutor S R Bajwa telling the court on April 16 that "Praveen Togadia had come to Rajasthan to become a martyr". The application noted the jail authorities had refused permission to VHP President Ashok Singhal and Togadia's relative Mohan Bhagwat to meet him in judicial custody. It demanded that a health bulletin about Togadia's condition in jail should be issued daily with a specialist doctor checking Togadia's diabetic condition, and his blood samples be taken daily and sent to specialised lab for testing any poisonous substance or slow poison in them. It said Togadia was lodged in Ajmer central jail where several TADA detenue were among the other inmates who can physically harm the VHP leader. Togadia's counsel told the court that a complaint regarding police official's "threat to deal Togadia in an encounter" was lodged with the Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by fax on April 13 but the State government was deliberately taking no action.
Ashgar Ali "main killer" of Pandya
Friday, April 18, 2003
New Delhi,Friday, April 18, 2003: CBI today said that Asghar Ali, who was arrested along with three others in Hyderabad in connection with the murder of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya was the "main killer who pulled the trigger". "We can say with confidence that Asghar Ali is the main killer. He pulled the trigger", CBI Director P C Sharma said here. 13:14 IST
'Indian govt inaccessible and unresponsive to local needs'
Friday, April 18, 2003
Washington,Friday, April 18, 2003: Accusing Indian government of being "inaccessible" and "unresponsive" to local needs, a study by the Congressional Research Service has blamed New Delhi for the previous conflict in Punjab and the current tension in Jammu and Kashmir. These conflicts are "the result of centralised power operating in a predominantly heterogeneous society", said a Library of Congress Study, last updated in 1995 but still present on the US State Department website. "Although tensions...have important historical roots, they have been fueled by controversy over the policies of India's Central Government. Opposition is built up on the feeling that political power in New Delhi is inaccessible and unresponsive to local needs," it said. In each case, the Congress (I) leadership attempted to intervene in the conflicts "to advance its partisan interests only to have its intervention backfire and aggravate regional tensions," the Study said. The Kashmir crisis of the 1990s, the study said, is "reflective of trends occurring throughout the Indian polity; the increasing intervention of the Central Government in local affairs, the resort to coercion to resolve social conflict and maintain social order, and the increasing political assertiveness of the Indian public." The study concedes that the State acceded to India "when Kashmir was under attack by a Muslim paramilitary force supported by Pakistan" and that "the conflict assumes considerable symbolic as well as strategic importance because, as India's only Muslim majority state, Jammu and Kashmir validates India's national identity as a religiously and culturally diverse society held together by a common history and cultural heritage". 09:54 IST
Trucker's strike enters fifth day, prices soar
Friday, April 18, 2003
New Delhi,Friday, April 18, 2003: After a setback to the first ever talks held between the Government and striking truckers yesterday, the country-wide indefinite strike by transporters entered the fifth day today resulting in shortage of essential commodities. Along with the surge in prices of fruits and vegetables, consumers have started feeling the pinch as supply of even essentials like petrol and medicines have been severely affected due to the stir. Reports reaching here indicated a 20 per cent rise in price of vegetables. J M Saksena, secretary general of All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC), the largest truckers' union with 2.7 million vehicles in its fold, said they might stop the movement of cooking gas and milk also if the issue was not sorted out soon by the Government. Soaring prices of vegetables has affected states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh as small lorries and tempos are not sufficient to ferry all the items. The strike has also affected supply of components to different manufacturing units while cargo movement from ports and export consignments have been hit. The truckers' demands include putting an end to frequent hike in diesel prices, non-inclusion in the proposed Value Added Tax, repeal of an order to scrap 15-year-old trucks among others.
GM sold Opel Astra with Aussie engine; ordered to refund
Friday, April 18, 2003
GM sold Opel Astra with Aussie engine; ordered to refund New Delhi,Friday, April 18, 2003: Automaker General Motors India (GMI) has been ordered to shell out Rs two lakh compensation and refund the price of a "defective" car sold to a consumer by suppressing the fact that its "German-engineered" 'Opel Astra' was actually fitted with an Australian engine. The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, which held the US auto giant's Indian subsidiary guilty of deficiency in service, ordered the company to refund Rs 734,244 -- the cost of the premium mid-size car -- to complainant Vinoo Bhagat with 12 per cent interest a year from Jan 22, 1997 -- the date of purchase -- till payment. "Considering that the complainant has suffered because of the defective car supplied to him and also because of misrepresentation, we award him compensation of Rs 200,000," Commission President Justice D P Wadhwa, Members Jusitce J K Mehra, Rajyalakshmi Rao and B K Taimni said in their order and asked the company to also pay litigation costs of Rs 10,000. Bhagat had purchased a brand new Opel Astra thinking that he was buying a defect-free German car and not a car which was manufactured 'as a German' one. The complainant claimed he was not told that the car had been manufactured in Australia by Holden Company, a subsidiary of the American company. General Motors (India) Ltd denied they indulged in any unfair trade practice saying if one reads the brochure of the car, what has been represented was that the car is a product of technical know-how/engineering obtained from Adam Opel A G (a German company) and not that the car was actually manufactured in Germany or by Adam Opel A G. 11:17 IST
Truck movement falls, food shortage if strike prolonged
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Truck movement falls, food shortage if strike prolonged New Delhi,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: Fruit and vegetable traders have warned of a likelihood of major shortages if the ongoing strike by truckers is prolonged, leading to hardships for the common man. Government officials, however, said 45 per cent decline in truck transporation of fruits and vegetables has been made up for with 180 per cent rise in movement of smaller commercial vehicles. "Number of trucks entering the Capital with fruits and vegetables has fallen to 300 from 550 but tempos and lorries pressed into service have increased to 1,700 from 600, ensuring increased supplies", Chairman, Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee, Rajendra Sharma, told. As of now no major adverse price impact is being felt but a long strike can hit supplies and jack up the prices, President, Potatoes and Onions Merchants Association (POMA), Trilok Chand Sharma, said. Rajendra Sharma, however, countered saying even a two month long truckers' strike will not hit supplies in the Capital if small commercial vehicles do not join the agitation. This is because the tempos, tractors and trollies are adequate to supply most vegetables which are grown within a 25-km radius of the region. Even though wholesale prices of 25 important fruits and vegetables have not shown any significant price increase, retailers have seized advantage by artificial hike in rates despite normal arrivals, Trilok Chand pointed out. Sharma said with many items being removed from the Essential Commodities Act, it is difficult to exercise control and retailers are beyond the purview of APMCs. 18:04 IST
Govt invites striking transporters for talks
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Govt invites striking transporters for talks New Delhi,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: In a bid to end the transporters' strike that has led to surge in prices of fruits and vegetable in some states, the government today invited unions for talks and clarified that transporters were out of new VAT regime by virtue of being service providers. The government move comes a day after Re one cut in price of diesel, the high price of which, along with Value Added Tax, order scrapping 15-year-old trucks and minimum freight rates, had prompted All India Motor Transport Congress to call the countrywide strike which entered third day today. "I have invited them for talks tomorrow," Minister of Road Transport and Highways B C Khanduri told reporters here. Prices of fruits and vegetables soared in some states like Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Punjab, Chandigarh and Karnataka even as small lorries and tempos filled in for trucks in most states. The strike has also impacted cargo movements out of ports and export consignments. "The impact of strike is marginal," Khanduri said, adding supplies had not been affected anywhere in the country. He said VAT was to replace varing sales tax system across states and would not apply to truckers who fall under service provider category and as such do not pay sales tax. J M Saksena, secretary general of All India Motor Transport Congress, the largest truckers' union with 2.7 million vehicles in its fold, said the demand would be withdrawn if the Government gave an undertaking in writting. AIMTC, which had earlier rejected offers of discussions at Secretary level, has termed the cut in diesel prices as "too little" and demanded atleast Rs 7.50 per litre reduction. 20:34 IST
Blackwill meets Advani
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Blackwill meets Advani New Delhi,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: U S Ambassador Robert Blackwill today met Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and is understood to have discussed America's plans for reconstruction of war- ravaged Iraq. Blackwill, who was there with Advani for nearly 45 minutes, is also believed to have conveyed to the Deputy Prime Minister Washington's efforts to establish an interim administration in Baghdad led by Iraqis opposed to Saddam Hussain and his Ba'ath Party. The US envoy had met Advani shortly before the start of the US-led attack on Iraq. India has made it clear that all reconstruction efforts should be carried out under the aegis of the United Nations and any future government in Baghdad should comprise Iraqis. 20:34 IST
India dismisses Pak accusations
Thursday, April 17, 2003
India dismisses Pak accusations New Delhi,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: Dismissing Pakistan Foreign Minister Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri's acerbic attack against it, India today dubbed Pakistan as the "most irresponsible country", accusing it of continuing to foment violence and sponsoring terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir and other parts. "They (Pakistan) continue to foment violence in India and sponsor terrorism against it. Is that being responsible. In fact, I would say that Pakistan is probably the most irresponsible country in the world," Foreign Secretary Knawal Sibal told a television channel. Kasuri had on Tuesday warned India of massive retaliation if it tried to launch a pre-emptive strike on Pakistan, contending that Islamabad had a more advance missile programme than New Delhi. He also described as "irresponsible" comments from External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha that there was a stronger case for military action against Pakistan than Iraq if the criteria for it was having weapons of mass destruction, export of terrorism and absence of democracy. Hitting back, Sibal said Islamabad was irresponsible to its own people because it has not been able to give them democracy, irresponsible to the region because it has blocked normal progress, peace and stability through its policies. 20:34 IST
Pak troops continue shelling in Rajouri district
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Jammu,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: Pakistani troops continued targetting Forward Defence Locations and civilian areas with mortar and light arms fire in Bhawani and Noushera sectors of Rajouri district in J and K, official sources said here today. The firing and shelling from across line of control started from 2030 hours on Tuesday and continued throughout the night, they said, adding Indian troops retaliated effectively. A few houses were damaged in Seeri and Makri areas of Noushera sector due to the shelling. However, there was no report of any casuality on the Indian side, they said. Any damage on the enemy side in retaliatory action could not be ascertained, the sources said. Pakistani troops had also targetted Bhawani and Noushera sector from early yesterday in which an army havildar and a woman were killed and two youths injured. Reports from the International Border said intermittent exchange of light arms fire took place at some places in Samba and R S Pura sectors in Jammu district last night without any loss of life or damage to property on the Indian side. 12:28 IST
Space scientists complete deployment operations of INSAT-3A
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Bangalore,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: India's space scientists have deployed multi-purpose satellite INSAT-3A's solar panels and the two antennas, as well as the solar sail and put the satellite in its final three-axis stabilised mode. Indian Space Research Organisation said today that the solar array and antennas of INSAT-3A, launched by the European Ariane-5 rocket last week, were deployed by commands from the Master Control Facility at Hassan in Karnataka. The city-headquartered ISRO said in a statement that the sun-tracking solar array of INSAT-3A has a area of 26.6 sq. M and it is designed to generate 3.1 KW of power in orbit. The satellite has two deployable antennas and one fixed antenna to carry out various transmit and receive functions. The three-axis stabilisation of INSAT-3A was carried out. In this configuration, the spacecraft would be locked to earth continuously through the optical sensors, and would maintain the correct attitude to look at the earth in a stable manner. The momentum on board the satellite was switched on and stabilised to the nominal speed of 4500 revolutions per minute to provide gyroscopic stiffness and facilitate 3-axis stabilisation, the space agency said. The deployment of the solar sail/boom on the North side of the satellite was carried shortly after 3-axis stabilisation of the spacecraft. With this, all the deployment operations had been completed, ISRO said. The health of INSAT-3A is normal. It is now located at 87.4 degree East longitude and was moving towards its designated orbital slot of 93.5 degree East longitude, ISRO said. 20:34 IST
Togadia slapped with sedition charge
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Togadia slapped with sedition charge Ajmer,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: Firebrand leader Praveen Togadia was today slapped with the charge of sedition by the Rajasthan Government after which an Ajmer court denied bail and extended his judicial remand till April 30. Togadia, who is in jail since Monday on charges of defying the prohibitory orders and ban on distribution of tridents, today faced a new charge under Section 121-A of IPC (waging war or attempting anti-national activity). In a sharp reaction, senior VHP leader Acharya Giriraj Kishore alleged that the sedition charge was levelled as an afterthought and the Rajasthan Government had intentionally applied it so that Togadia is not given bail. BJP leader Pramod Mahajan said the action showed Rajasthan's Government's "bankruptcy" of thought. In her order, Ajmer Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Indu Parek said the bail was being rejected as Togadia has been booked under Section 121-A of IPC - "waging war or attempting anti-national activity ('rajdroh') - also and it was not in her jurisdiction to deal with the same. "The District and Sessions Judge can hear it as the punishment under this Act is life imprisonment," she said. Amid tight police security, Togadia was produced at 7 AM before Indu Parek, who pronounced the verdict a few hours after reserving her order after hearing arguments from the prosecution and the defence counsels. 15:14 IST
India yet to decide on Iraqi diplomats
Thursday, April 17, 2003
India yet to decide on Iraqi diplomats New Delhi,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: Barely a week after the fall of the Saddam regime, India today said it is yet to take a view on the issue of Iraqi diplomats here as that depends on which government comes to power in Baghdad. "The situation (in Iraq) is still fluid," an External Affairs Ministry spokesman told reporters. Asked whether India continued to recognise the Iraqi Embassy here, he said "there is no notification from any Government in Iraq to the contrary. "We have to see what happens and which Government takes over and what they decide about their international representation." On whether the Iraqi mission here enjoyed the diplomatic status and other protocol facilities, he said "theoretically yes". India has made it clear that at the moment its focus was on extending humanitarian assistance to the people of Iraq through the UN agencies. New Delhi has also suggested that the reconstruction efforts in Iraq should be under the UN agencies. 22:22 IST
Sehwag not averse to captaincy in future
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Sehwag not averse to captaincy in future Dhaka,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: Having registered a victory in his first match as captain, Virender Sehwag today said that he would love to lead the side in the future if he was given the opportunity. "Its a great honour to lead the country. I am happy that I could win the first match. I will be happy to lead the team if I get the opportunity in the future," Sehwag said after India defeated Bangladesh by four wickets to storm into the final of the TVS Cup triangular series. "I am glad that I succeeded in whatever responsibility was given to me for this match. I really enjoyed captaining the team," he said. The dashing opener said captaincy did not put any additional pressure on him and he felt quite relaxed right through the match. "I did not feel any pressure of being the captain. I just played my natural game," Sehwag said. The stand-in captain was full of praise for youngsters like Gautam Gambhir, Avishkar Salvi, Amit Mishra and Sarandeep Singh and felt they had the potential to succeed at the highest level. "I think its good to give the youngsters a chance in such matches. They will learn by playing. I must say they all played very well." Sehwag, who got out for 43 today, dismissed suggestions that he was not concentrating hard enough to convert the starts into big scores. "I play my natural game and always try to get the big scores. It is not that I lose my concentration and get out after getting the starts". 22:19 IST
India storm into final with win over Bangladesh
Thursday, April 17, 2003
India storm into final with win over Bangladesh Dhaka,Wednesday, April 16, 2003: Young Gautam Gambhir struck his maiden half century as India moved into the final of the TVS Cup triangular series with a four-wicket victory over hosts Bangladesh here today. The left-handed Gambhir made amends for his early failures with a sparkling 71 which helped India overhaul Bangladesh's score of 207 with 7.1 overs to spare to record their third consecutive victory in the tournament. The Indians gave a chance to all the newcomers in the squad but still proved to be too strong for the struggling hosts whose winless streak extended to 35 matches with today's defeat. Gambhir, who had scores of 11 and 18 in the two previous matches, justified the faith reposed on him by the team management to anchor the Indian run chase after stand-in skipper Virender Sehwag had given a flying start. The Indians made life a little difficult for themselves by losing three wickets in quick succession at the home stretch with Gambhir, Mohammad Kaif (20) and Sanjay Bangar (7) returning to the pavillion. But Dinesh Mongia, who remained unbeaten on 16, anchored the side past the target. Earlier, Bangladesh batsmen put up a much improved performance and, thanks to a fine half-century by Habibul Bashar, crossed the 200-run mark for the first time in 18 innings. Akram Khan (35) and Mehrab Hossain (30) also made important contributions. 22:19 IST
BJP reels from rally blow
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
New Delhi, April 15: Mayavati’s pardafash rally is another setback to the BJP in the series of blows it has been dealt ever since the party allied with the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh for the third time. The cases Mayavati slapped on Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav announced at yesterday’s rally have reinforced the perception that Uttar Pradesh polity is getting polarised on the Tamil Nadu pattern. The model involves two major regional parties which hold the centrestage and have alliances with smaller caste-based outfits and allow the mainstream parties to ride them piggyback. BJP sources said their party, which dominated the state in the mandir-Mandal era, was being pushed to the fringes. The phenomenon, they said, would revive the debate whether it was worth sacrificing the party’s carefully nurtured base for the sake of Lok Sabha seats, irrespective of the central leadership’s stand. The scenario that is emerging suggests that while the poor castes and classes are rallying behind Mayavati, the richer, land-owning communities are opting for the Samajwadi Party rather than us, a BJP functionary said. In some cases, members of the latter castes (read group) even prefer to vote directly for the BSP rather than the BJP because they get an equally good, if not better, deal from Mayavati. In recent elections, Mayavati has been giving tickets to upper-caste candidates, ensuring their victory and rewarding them with plum positions. Mayavati has also shown a willingness to embrace Buddhism. As for the BJP, it considers Buddhism another sect of Hinduism; Buddha and Ambedkar have already been co-opted in the party’s pantheon of luminaries. The proselytised Buddhists (neo-Buddhists), however, do not consider Buddhism part of Hinduism. This is a point that Mayavati underlined in yesterday’s speech when she asked Dalits to convert to Buddhism if they could not endure the exploitation of Hinduism. BJP sources said her call to the Dalits was bad news when party leaders were pushing the pan-Hindu identity under the Hindutva banner of Ram temple, religious conversion and cow slaughter. BJP vice-president Pyarelal Khandelwal said: Hindu religion was always reformist. Mayavati has a point about reforming it further, but she should also ask her people to stop drinking and practising child marriage and polygamy. According to political observers, Mayavati’s Hinduism-Buddhism distinction was also meant to appeal to Muslims. In her present tenure as chief minister, she alienated the community when she refused to renew the notification that would have enabled the revival of the trial of the Babri mosque accused.
Pakistan threatens India
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Pakistan's foreign minister has warned India of massive retaliation if it tries to launch a pre-emptive strike on his country. Mian Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri described as irresponsible, comments by his Indian counterpart, Yashwant Sinha, that there is a stronger case for military action against Pakistan than Iraq. The Pakistan foreign minister says he's concerned at the comments, but not alarmed. The minister says he would advise India against threatening nuclear war as Pakistan's missile program is more advanced than India's and they will pay a price. Both India and Pakistan have detonated nuclear devices and have assembled arsenals of warhead-capable missiles. Mr Sinha said India had better grounds for staging a pre-emptive strike against Pakistan than the United States had for invading Iraq. But, he later said India was not about to attack Pakistan and that his comments may have been misunderstood.
Tourist tastes Calcutta therapy
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Calcutta, April 15: Girlfriend in tow, he had come all the way from Japan for a taste of Calcutta. When he left today, he had only the bitter taste of its therapy in the mouth. Down with fever shortly after his arrival, 25-year-old Oishi Hidiyuki was shunted from hospital to hospital on the suspicion that he was a Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome patient that he never was. Hidiyuki landed in Calcutta on April 4. Two days later, he suddenly got fever, caught a cold and had convulsions. He went to a doctor near his hotel on Free School Street, who advised immediate hospitalisation. The same day, Hidiyuki got himself admitted to Kothari Medical Centre. A series of blood tests followed, including one for malaria. Once the malaria test proved negative, doctors surmised he could be suffering from SARS. A mask was strapped to his face and he was packed off to the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Beliaghata. Hidiyuki did not get any relief there either. I was taken to the emergency ward where I couldn’t find anybody else, he said, his Korean girlfriend Moon Jay Ouag playing interpreter. They (the Kothari staff) simply went away leaving me there. They did not even take the Rs 3,000 we had incurred, he said. After an endless wait, a doctor told Hidiyuki he did not have SARS. I was told to leave by a doctor who said I didn’t have SARS, he said. But they did not even put a stethoscope on me. Hidiyuki then consulted another doctor who advised more blood tests. The results were again negative but Hidiyuki’s health was deteriorating. On April 9, he called up his health insurance firm in Tokyo. It got in touch with the Calcutta-based medical director of Asia Rescue and Medical Services, Anraj Singh, who got Hidiyuki admitted to Belle Vue Clinic. Tests revealed he was suffering from typhoid, Singh said. He was released after a thorough check-up, P. Tandon of Belle Vue said. Kothari superintendent S. Sahay said Hidiyuki had been shifted to Beliaghata because he came from a region very close to places that have thrown up so many SARS cases. Infectious Diseases Hospital superintendent S. Biswas said the youth was given only preliminary treatment.
Unit Trust headquarters under sale
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Calcutta, April 15: Unit Trust of India (UTI) may sell off its headquarters in New Marine Lines, Mumbai, after UTI Mutual Fund the new avatar of the country’s largest mutual fund moves to its new office in the Bandra-Kurla Complex. The five-storey building with a huge glass façade in south Mumbai near the Churchgate station has been UTI’s abode for over 30 years. Before this address, the Trust worked from the Reserve Bank Building in Mumbai. After we move to the Bandra-Kurla Complex the business hub of Mumbai we might dispose of the building in New Marine Lines that used to be our headquarters. But we haven’t decided on it as yet, chairman M. Damodaran told The Telegraph. Besides its headquarters, the Trust has four other properties in south Mumbai. Damodaran said these, too, could be sold or leased out. What is the point of operating out of four different buildings when we could relocate all our offices in one state-of-the-art building? he explained. The Trust’s real estates valued at around Rs 600 crore a year ago were held by US-64, its flagship scheme that is being closed down. Strictly speaking, these assets are no longer part of any particular scheme. Rather, they are under the administration of the government that has taken over the management of the assured return schemes and US-64, UTI spokesperson K. Madhava Kumar explained. He also said the Trust might dispose of other inessential properties around the country. There are, however, no plans or commitments to sell or lease these properties out as of now, he clarified. The proceeds from the disposal of these properties would be used for the redemption of the assured return schemes that are being gradually phased out. UTI Mutual Fund would be moving into its new office in the Bandra Kurla Complex within the next 10 days. This property bang opposite the ICICI Bank headquarters was acquired by the Trust some six years ago. Construction at the site started six years ago. The seven-storey building was ready for use two years ago. It is connected to all our 54 branch offices across the country, and has all the facilities that you could expect in a building like this, Kumar said. The Trust started looking out of its headquarters some seven years ago, when the Maharashtra government asked the financial institutions located in south Mumbai to help develop the Bandra-Kurla Complex as a financial hub. UTI Mutual Fund is going to be the latest addition to a long list of leading organisations like the National Stock Exchange and ICICI Bank that have moved their headquarters to the Bandra-Kurla Complex.
Guerrillas Kill Eight Policemen in Patna
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
PATNA, India - Communist guerrillas staged two separate attacks on police in eastern India, killing eight officers, officials said Tuesday. Three officers also were injured when rebels detonated a land mine early Tuesday as they were returning from a patrol in the densely forested Cherki Valley, Inspector-General of Police A.C. Verma told The Associated Press. The area is about 60 miles south of Patna, the state capital. The attackers fled after taking the officers' weapons and ammunition, Verma said. Hours earlier, rebels detonated two land mines, injuring five soldiers and their driver, police said. A rebel was killed in a gunfight following the attack in the Manatu area. Militants of the outlawed Maoist Communist Center were suspected in both attacks, police said. The rebels work closely with the Peoples' War Group, another guerrilla group, and are active in five states of south and eastern India. They are also suspected of having close links with Nepal's Maoist rebels. More than 6,000 people have been killed since the rebels - inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong - began fighting in 1981. The insurgents mostly target rich landowners and police, who they say collude to exploit farmers and rural laborers.
Mulayam hits back, says prime land sold by Maya for peanuts
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Amroha (UP),Wednesday, April 16, 2003: A day after Mayawati Government in Uttar Pradesh slapped 137 cases against him, Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh Yadav on Tuesday hit back by alleging that prime land in the state had been sold for "peanuts" by the Chief Minister in league with her BJP cabinet colleague Lalji Tandon. "Prime land in NOIDA, Agra, Lucknow and other big cities are being sold for peanuts by Chief Minister Mayawati in connivance with state's Urban Development Minister and senior BJP leader Lalji Tandon", he said addressing party workers here. Yadav also alleged that funds released for drought relief by the Centre were distributed among office bearers of BJP. He claimed Mayawati had framed fake cases against him to divert peoples attention from her own "misdeeds". "The FIRs have been filed only to divert the attention from the corrupt practices of those at the helm of affairs in the present government", Yadav said. The SP leader alleged that Mayawati was misusing power to intimidate her political adversaries. He said he had faced several such probes and charges in the past and had emerged unscathed and was not afraid of facing any case or inquiry.
Vajpayee to address public rally in Srinagar
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
New Delhi: Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be the first Prime Minister to address a public rally in Srinagar since the advent of militancy in 1989 when he begins his two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Friday. State government sources said the Prime Minister would be addressing a rally at Sher-e-Kashmir grounds and all security measures have been completed for the same. Vajpayee would be sharing the dais with state Chief Minister Mufti Mohammed Sayeed much to the displeasure of its NDA coalition partner National Conference. Already some rumblings appear to have started within the National Conference over the decision of Vajpayee to share the stage with a Congress-backed coalition in the state. The Prime Minister is also scheduled to address a public rally at Qazigund where he would be reviewing work on prestigious National Highway Development project. Vajpayee's public meetings come 15 years after the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had addressed a public meeting in the Kashmir valley in 1987. Ironically, all Prime Ministers and important political leaders had stayed away from addressing any public meeting in the state till last year when Congress President and leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi addressed an election rally in the Srinagar city. Among other engagements, the Prime Minister would be laying a foundation stone for expansion of Srinagar Airport which would be completed at a cost of Rs 45 crore. He would also be attending a convocation of Kashmir University.
''Good relations'' with Iraq to continue: Vajpayee
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Gangtok: Visualising good relations with the post-Saddam regime in Iraq, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Monday maintained that it would have been better had there been no war. ''India has always shared good relations with Iraq. We want the relationship to continue even after a post-war government is installed in Baghdad,'' Vajpayee told a news conference at the end of his four-day visit to Sikkim. Vajpayee called for speedy reconstruction of Iraq. ''As the war is now coming to an end, we are looking forward to quick reconstruction and rehabilitation work in Iraq,'' he added.
Ash is only Indian in race for Bond girl
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Mumbai: Aishwarya Rai is the only Indian heroine in contention for the prized role of a Bond girl opposite Irish actor Pierce Brosnan in the next James Bond movie. "We have not approached any other Indian heroine for the role," Jazz Barton and Ravi Bharj, owners of the Asian agency assigned to interact with Aishwarya, said.
India keeps up pressure over Kashmir
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee has ruled out talks with Pakistan until Islamabad stops its role in Kashmir. Her says Pakistan must stop cross-border terrorism to build a conducive atmosphere for talks. The statement came as his Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha reiterated that Pakistan qualified for pre-emptive military strikes for its alleged support to Islamic militancy. India is holding Pakistan responsible for the massacre of 24 Hindus in Muslim-majority Kashmir last month. As the politicians continue their war of words, people continued to die in Kashmir. Seven rebels and a soldier were killed in clashes and Indian and Pakistan troops exchanged fire across a military control line. Islamabad denies giving material support to militants, but says it backs what it calls Kashmiris' struggle for freedom.
India is a model for Iraq, says Chalabi
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
In an exclusive interview with Third Eye TV, Dr Ahmed Chalabi, the long-exiled businessman-politician who is now involved in the formation of a new interim government in Iraq, has said that the Indian democratic system should be taken up as a model for emulation by his country. "India is a great country. It is special for us," said Chalabi. "Democracy in India is a marvel of civilization. We hope to have a political system similar to India's. India also developed on her own and achieved great technological advancement. I am devoted to India and would like to visit India soon." The road to set up a proper democratic system in Iraq is expected to be completed in less than two years. "[Major] General [Jay] Garner will come in to restore basic services," he said. "The interim government will also draft the constitution and get it discussed in a constituent assembly. People will vote in a referendum. Elections will also take place." Chalabi denied being in the race for any leadership position. He claimed to be more interested in building institutions of civil society so that a firm foundation is set for democracy in Iraq and said his role in active politics is almost over. Asked what would happen if the Iraqis elect him their leader, he said, "That is a hypothetical question."
Mayawati hits back, 137 cases registered against Mulayam
Tuesday, April 15, 2003
Mayawati hits back, 137 cases registered against Mulayam Lucknow,Tuesday, April 15, 2003: In a counter-offensive in the wake of video tape controversies, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati on Monday filed 137 cases against her arch political foe and Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and attacked Congress for trying to poach into her Dalit vote bank. The BSP filed an FIR against Yadav for alleged misuse of the Chief Minister's discretionary fund when he was the head of government in the state in 1995. A case was also filed against Yadav, SP general secretary Amar Singh and Leader of the Opposition in UP Azam Khan for "fraudulently" shooting an in-house party meeting in February 2001 in Ambedkarnagar district and using it for "political gains", Mayawati told her party's "pardafaash" (exposure) rally. The Chief Minister said the government had also ordered an inquiry into the "misuse" of the discretionary fund by former Governor and senior Congress leader Motilal Vora who, she alleged, distributed around Rs 18 crore during his brief stint in Raj Bhawan. Releasing two separate lists of 177 beneficiaries, Mayawati alleged Mulayam Singh Yadav circumvented rules of CM's discretionary fund when he was the head of government in UP in 1995 and nearly Rs 27 mn was sanctioned to "undeserving" people. Yadav dubbed the cases against him as a "political vendetta", dismissed the charges as "baseless" and dared Mayawati government to arrest him. 09:14 IST
Vajpayee: First PM to address rally in Srinagar in 15 years
Monday, April 14, 2003
New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) Mr Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be the first Prime Minister to address a rally in Srinagar in the past 15 years after the onset of militancy in Kashmir when he visits the Valley for two days from Thursday. The last Prime Minister to make a public speech in Kashmir was Rajiv Gandhi during an election rally in 1987, four years before he was killed by a suspected LTTE suicide bomber at Sriperumbudur in Tamil Nadu on May 21, 1991. The Valley was even avoided by top leaders of almost all political parties during the electioneering for the September- October Assembly polls due to the threat perception. However, leader of the Opposition and Congress President Sonia Gandhi, ignoring militant threats, was the only top politician to address an election meeting in Srinagar on September 19 last year. Mr Vajpayee will visit the Valley nearly a year after he announced in Srinagar an economic package of Rs 6,165 crore for the development of the insurgency-hit state. Highly placed sources told UNI here that Mr Vajpayee will inaugurate the North-South Corridor project in Kashmir during his visit. The sources said the Prime Minister will perform ''Bhoomi Pujan'' to mark the inauguration of his dream project. Mr Vajpayee will also attend several functions, including laying of the foundation stones of a new terminal at the Srinagar Airport and a railway line at Awantipora, and address the Kashmir University convocation. Significantly, the Prime Minister's tour itinerary misses out on Nadimarg village, where 24 Kashmiri Pandits were massacred on March 23. In 2000, Mr Vajpayee had visited a massacre site in Pahalgam where 35 Amarnath yatris had been gunned down. The sources said Mr Vajpayee will also chair a Unified Command meeting, which will take stock of the security situation in the restive state, especially at the Line of Control and the International Border along Pakistan.
Samata crisis deepens, five Fernandes loyalists expelled
Monday, April 14, 2003
Samata crisis deepens, five Fernandes loyalists expelled Patna,Monday, April 14, 2003: The Samata Party was on the brink of a split as bitter factional feud deepened with Nitish Kumar loyalists "expelling" five senior senior lawmakers and "ousting" leaders of Samata Legislature groups owing allegiance to George Fernandes. Amid a boycott by supporters of Fernandes, Defence Minister, loyalists of Kumar, Railway Minister, held meetings of the state executive committee, state council and the legislature party on Sunday where they announced the "removal" of George-supporters Umashanker Singh as leader of Samata legislature party and P K Sinha as head of the party's group in legislative council. Kumar-supporters in the state executive of the party assembled at the MLA club hall on Sunday morning and unanimously adopted a resolution seeking expulsion of two party MPs Raghunath Jha and Brahmanand Mandal, Bhai Birendra and Ganesh Paswan (both MLAs) and Sinha from the primary membership of the party. A swarm of Kumar loyalists ratified the action at the meeting of the state council and the legislature party expressing unflinching faith in the Railway Minister. Fernandes loyalists, including Jha, Mandal and others, holding workers' meeting in the north Bihar town of Darbhanga for restoration of inner-party democracy termed Sunday's meetings called by Kumar's supporters as "unauthorised" and said "we will take our battle to the logical conclusion". 10:14 IST
Nehra knee-joint operation on April 17
Monday, April 14, 2003
Nehra knee-joint operation on April 17 Rohtak,Monday, April 14, 2003: Left-arm pacer Ashish Nehra, who was forced to miss the on-going tri-series in Dhaka due to a troubled knee, will undergo a surgery next week which will keep him out of action for three months. Nehra, who was the toast of the side for his fine bowling in the World Cup in South Africa where India finished runners-up behind Australia, told reporters here that his knee-joint will be operated upon on April 17. Saying that he needs at least three months rest after the operation, Nehra hoped he would be completely fit to take the field after that and available for selection to the national side. Nehra was one of the five members of the World Cup team who opted out of the tri-series in Dhaka for various reasons. 10:14 IST
Trucks go off roads to protest against VAT & diesel price hike
Monday, April 14, 2003
Trucks go off roads to protest against VAT & diesel price hike New Delhi,Monday, April 14, 2003: Lakhs of trucks went off the roads this morning in response to the nation wide indefinite strike called by All India Motor Transport Congress to protest against frequent hike in diesel prices and value added tax. The strike is likely to put pressure on prices of essential commodities like milk and vegetables as also other house hold products as supply chain would be severely impacted during the period. Ahead of the strike by the truckers on a ten point charter of demand, many state government's including Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra had said they were taking adequte measures to ensure that the supply of essential commodities and services are not affected. According to Delhi Transport Minister Ajay Makan the government had taken steps to stock essential commodities but added there could be problem relating to perishable items as Delhi was largely dependent on neighbouring states for supply of vegetables, fruits and milk. The capital has "ample" stock of food grains and other essential commodities in various markets, sufficient for a month and we have also been assured of smooth supply of milk, oil and LPG, Chief Secretary Shailaja Chandra told reporters last week. 10:14 IST
Indian filmmaker wins top honour in US
Monday, April 14, 2003
Indian filmmaker Rajesh Touch river's movie 'In the Name of Buddha' has won the Best Film award at the Newport Beach Film Festival, California, US. on receiving the news, Rajesh said he received a communication to that effect on Saturday. The movie was screened at the festival on April 10. Hailing from Kerala, Rajesh changed his last name from Thodupuzah to Touchriver, a direct translation of it, after moving to England where he obtained his postgraduate degree in film direction from Wimbledon School of Art, London, and last year. Earlier, he studied theatre arts at Kozhikkode and was a student of the National School of Drama, Delhi. 'In the Name of Buddha' is Rajesh's first film, both as a director and screenplay writer. The movie vividly narrates the human rights violation by both the Sri Lankan army and the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in the strife-torn island nation, through the character of a Tamil boy Siva, who is forced to take refuge in England. Produced by K Shanmughanatha and Sai George of Da'Sai Films International, the English language film will be the inaugural movie at the Los Angeles film festival which begins on May 8, Rajesh said. He has sent it to Cannes and is hopeful of selection for the prestigious film festival, he adds. Rajesh, who is currently in Hyderabad in connection with a movie starring popular Telugu hero Chiranjeevi, for which he is the art director, says he keeps shuttling between London and Hyderabad. Currently he is making two documentaries - one on popular cartoonist and writer O V Vijayan and another on noted painter M F Hussein. The film on Vijayan will be completed by the end of this month, while the one of Hussein will take some more time, he said. Rajesh said he would be directing a Telugu movie to be produced by Chiranjeei's brother Nagababu, who is a good friend of his. The film, scheduled t go to the sets in June, features senior artiste and `Urvasi' awardee Sarada in the lead and deals with the feelings and loneliness of a mother in her old age. Rajesh said he would also be directing a film in English on Sage Vatsayana from December this year. To be produced by da'Sai Films, it will have an international cast, he said.
US refusal to admit Iraq-Pakistan similarities unacceptable
Monday, April 14, 2003
Ranchi,Sunday, April 13, 2003: The US contention that there were no similarity between situation in Iraq and Pakistan was unacceptable to India since available facts contradict Washington's views, External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha today said . ''Pakistan possesses and proliferates weapons of mass destruction. It is also expanding such weapons. It is for this reason that America has banned the Khan Research Laboratory which is at the centre of Pakistan's nuclear programme,'' Sinha said here. If America thought Iraq had a dictatorship, then Pakistan has no democracy and is the ''epicentre and exporter of terrorism'', Sinha said. He, however, evaded a question if India would take preemptive action against Pakistan, sying ''I do not announce actions through media.'' Stating that regular firing was taking place on the Line of Control, Sinha told newsmen that a new strategy had been discussed during the recent internal security meeting which was attended among others by the deputy Prime Minister, L K Advani, to check infiltration and cross-border terrorism. He said that reconstruction of Iraq should be led by the United Nations. 20:10 IST
President, PM greet people on Baisakhi
Monday, April 14, 2003
President A P J Abdul Kalam and Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today greeted people on the occasion of Baisakhi, hoping the festival of harvest would usher in peace, happiness and prosperity for the people. "I extend my greetings and good wishes to all fellow citizens, particularly those engaged in the field of agriculture and harvesting," Kalam said in a message. The hard work and sweat of farmers would help in the progress of the nation, he said. In his message, Vajpayee said Baisakhi is an occasion to pay tribute to farmers, who contribute so heavily to the socio-economic development of the nation. The Prime Minister also greeted the people on the occasion of Bihu, hoping the festival would bring peace and happiness to people belonging to all diverse communities in the beautiful state of Assam.
Samata crisis deepens, five Fernandes loyalists expelled
Monday, April 14, 2003
Patna,Sunday, April 13, 2003: The Samata Party was on the brink of a split today as bitter factional feud deepened with Nitish Kumar loyalists "expelling" five senior senior lawmakers and "ousting" leaders of Samata Legislature groups owing allegiance to George Fernandes. Amid a boycott by supporters of Fernandes, Defence Minister, loyalists of Kumar, Railway Minister, held meetings of the state executive committee, state council and the legislature party where they announced the "removal" of George-supporters Umashanker Singh as leader of Samata legislature party and P K Sinha as head of the party's group in legislative council. Kumar-supporters in the state executive of the party assembled at the MLA club hall this morning and unanimously adopted a resolution seeking expulsion of two party MPs Raghunath Jha and Brahmanand Mandal, Bhai Birendra and Ganesh Paswan (both MLAs) and Sinha from the primary membership of the party. A swarm of Kumar loyalists ratified the action at the meeting of the state council and the legislature party expressing unflinching faith in the Railway Minister. Fernandes loyalists, including Jha, Mandal and others, holding workers' meeting in the north Bihar town of Darbhanga for restoration of inner-party democracy termed today's meetings called by Kumar's supporters as "unauthorised" and said ''we will take our battle to the logical conclusion''. 20:10 IST
ICICI transactions normal, many make deposits: officials
Monday, April 14, 2003
Mumbai,Sunday, April 13, 2003: ICICI Bank, which kept its branches specially open in Mumbai and Gujarat today as a measure of customer confidence, witnessed normal transactions and there was no pressure at the ATMs, a senior bank official said here. Some customers even deposited money in branches in Gujarat, which had witnessed panic withdrawals by customers since Friday night. "The banking operations were normal in the country and withdrawals were less than those seen on any normal day. In fact, 90-100 customers deposited money at branches in Gujarat," ICICI Bank executive director Chanda Kochar told. There was no pressure at ATMs or branches and "at any point of time, there were not more than five customers at any branch," Kochar said. Senior bank officials in Ahmedabad said there were negligible crowds at ATMs, withdrawals at various branches in Gujarat were low at Rs 1.25 crore and customer made deposits to the tune of Rs 40 lakhs today. The bank, with an assets base of Rs 100,000 crore, will keep its branches in Gujarat and Mumbai open tomorrow also even though it is a holiday on account of Ambedkar Jayanti. The Friday night run on the ICICI Bank had yesterday spread from Gujarat to Mumbai with panicked customers thronging its branches and ATMs to withdraw money. But by evening the situation had eased a bit following RBI's assurance that the bank's health is sound. Regarding the rumour that triggered the run, the bank's regional manager for Gujarat R Nagarajan said "a detailed post mortem would be conducted once people have settled down from withdrawals and the bank begins to function normally". 19:05 IST
Togadia arrested, VHP calls for Rajasthan bandh
Monday, April 14, 2003
Vishwa Hindu Parishad General Secretary Praveen Togadia was tonight arrested shortly after he distributed tridents to Bajrang Dal activists in Ajmer defying ban and prohibitory orders. Togadia distributed the tridents among a gathering of 3,000 Dal activists amid chanting of hymns and slogans at the Subhash Udyan. But within hours, police arrested the VHP leader near Kishangunj, about 40 km from Ajmer, as he headed towards Jaipur after the tridents distribution function. According to reports, Togadia was arrested under the Arms Act. Unsuccessful persuasion Earlier, Togadia was stopped by the police from entering Ajmer this evening as he was going to attend the Dharamsabha and Trishul Diksha in a convoy of 10 vehicles. After heated arguments with the police, Togadia and 50 supporters walked from Makhupura towards the city. But they were again stopped near Martin bridge, five km from the venue of the function. Authorities tried to persuade Togadia to call off his journey to the venue of Trishul Diksha but to no avail. He was then taken alone to the Dharamsabha venue in a bulletproof vehicle. Addressing the Diksha, Togadia said the coming assembly polls in Rajasthan would be fought on the issue of tridents and attacked the state's ruling Congress for "placating" Muslims for electoral gains. Security tight Tight security arrangements had been made and prohibitory orders imposed in the town in view of the VHP programme. Two companies of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary and three units of the Rapid Action Force were deployed around the venue and in the city. On April 8, the Rajasthan government had banned distribution, possession and carrying of tridents in the state except at religious places. 'High-handed arrest' Terming the arrest of its leader as high-handedness, the VHP tonight called a 'Rajasthan Bandh' on Tuesday in protest. "The arrest is a high-handed action on the part of the Congress Government in Rajasthan. It is a mockery of democracy and we will fight it," VHP Senior Vice President Acharya Giriraj Kishore said. "The Government itself had clarified there was no ban on tridents with less than six inches blades," Kishore claimed.
Kaif stars in India's resounding win against SA
Monday, April 14, 2003
Mohammad Kaif led a merciless batting onslaught with an unbeaten 95 as India put up a commanding show to steamroll South Africa with a comprehensive 153-run victory in the TVS Cup triangular series in Dhaka today. Kaif and left-handed Dinesh Mongia (55 not out) plundered runs at will in the slog overs to steer their team to a mammoth 307 for 4 after electing to bat on a good batting track. Captain Sourav Ganguly provided the early sparks with a controlled 75. Kaif and Mongia set the Bangabandhu stadium ablaze with an amazing display of strokeplay during their rollocking unbeaten 110-run fifth wicket partnership which left their opponents in a daze. Kaif struck seven boundaries and three sixes in his knock which came off 103 balls while Mongia was more severe as he scored his 55 in just 38 balls. Proteas humiliated Required to score at more than six runs per over, the South Africans never recovered from the early jolts and were bundled out for 154 in 34.5 overs to give the Indians their second consecutive victory in the series. The Indian bowlers kept the pressure on the Proteas by bowling a nagging line and length under floodlights to supplement the good work done by the batsmen. The South African run chase began on a disastrous note as they lost skipper Graeme Smith in the very second over of the innings with Ajit Agarkar providing the vital breakthrough. Smith, the youngest ever South African captain, edged an incoming delivery on to his stumps after scoring just one run. Jacques Rudoph, who joined the action after his captain's departure, did not survive long falling prey to the wily Agarkar with Virender Sehwag taking a brilliant catch at first slip. The two quick wickets left South Africa gasping at 13 for two by the fifth over forcing Herschelle Gibbs and Boeta Dippenaar to play cautiously against the Indian speedsters. The two put on 42 runs for the third wicket before the the South African batsmen made a beeline back to pavilion even though Zaheer Khan had pulled out of the attack with a hamstring injury. Harbhajan Singh, who was introduced into the attack in the 14th over, struck in his very first over by getting rid of dangerman Gibbs (26) who offered a simple return catch. Dippenaar joined him in the pavilion soon after with Ganguly taking the wicket as the Proteas slumped to a precarious 57 for four by the 15th over. Neil McKenzie (12) and Shaun Pollock (2) also joined the list of early casualties, falling to the spinners. Debutant leg-spinner Amit Mishra captured his first wicket in one-day internationals when he had Mckenzie caught behind by Parthiv Patel while Harbhajan Singh accounted for Shaun Pollock. The remaining batsmen tried to hang in for the remaining overs but could only succeed in delaying the inevitable. Formidable total Earlier, the Indians gave another awesome display of their batting talent to score a huge total. The Indians were lucky not to lose the dashing Virender Sehwag in the first over by Charl Willoughby as Robin Peterson dropped a straight forward catch at square leg. In a surprise decision Smith did not give the new ball to his predecessor Shaun Pollock, opting to use Willoughby with Makhaya Ntini instead, and the Indian openers, Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, had no difficulty in negotiating them. The two batsmen put on 45 runs for the first wicket before Gambhir, playing his second one-day international, perished for 18. The Delhi opener, who was quite comfortable against the South African bowlers and also the more attacking of the two batsmen, tried to pull a delivery from outside the leg stump but only succeeded in edging the ball to Mark Boucher behind the stumps. The dismissal of Gambhir saw Sehwag unleash a flurry of strokes on both sides of the wicket, forcing the South African captain to introduce Allan Dawson in the first bowling change in the seventh over. The Teams: India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Mohammed Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Mongia, Parthiv Patel, Ajit Agarkar, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra South Africa: Graeme Smith (captain), Herschelle Gibbs, Jaque Rudolph, Boeta Dippenaar, Neil McKenzie, Mark Boucher, Shaun Pollock, Makhaya Ntini, Robin Peterson, Allan Dawson, Charles Willougby Umpires: Billy Bowden (New Zealand) and Akhter Uddin (Bangladesh) Third umpire: Mahbub Rahman (Bangladesh) Match Referee: Clive Lloyd (West Indies) (with inputs)
India wants peace with neighbours: PM
Monday, April 14, 2003
Without naming Pakistan, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said India wanted peace and friendship with all its neighbours. "We want peace and friendship with all our neighbours. But, we cannot clap with one hand. The initiative for peace can be taken by either side," he said at a public meeting. Referring to Iraq war, he said "It is good the war in Iraq has ended paving the way for peace and development." Dwelling largely on development projects in Sikkim, the Prime Minister said central assistance worth Rs 110 crore would be given to the state for construction of an airport and an alternative highway between West Bengal and Sikkim.
Nitish flags off Jalianwalabagh Express
Monday, April 14, 2003
Railway Minister Nitish Kumar today flagged off a new bi-weekly express train to Amritsar from Tatanagar under Chakradharpur division of the South Eastern Railway. The train, which was initially named Tata-Amritsar Express, was rechristened 'Jalianwalabagh Express' following the demand of Sikh community, as the day coincided with that of the infamous Jalianwalabagh massacre of 1919. Kumar said the new name was given on the spot to pay tribute to the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the country.
India appoints new lobbying firm in US
Monday, April 14, 2003
Sunday, April 13, 2003 (New Delhi): Keeping in view the fast-changing global scenario, India has appointed a top-ranking new lobbying firm in the US on a monthly remuneration of $ 50,000 to present its position in proper perspective. M/S Akin Gump Strauss Hauer Feld was selected after the Indian Embassy in Washington short listed six lobbying firms. Among the considerations that went in its favour was that it ranked top among the leading 10 lobbying firms in US according to the US National Journal, had the highest revenues among all the six evaluated and enjoyed bipartisan links. Several of the firms' partners and advisors were perceived to be influential with President George W Bush's administration. The earlier contract with M/S Verner Liipfert came to an end after it was taken over by another law firm, M/S Piper Rudnick. Liipfert became part of a new and larger entity whose main strengths were in the area of corporate law and not in lobbying. It was also uncertain whether leading assets and personalities of Liipfert would continue to be associated with the new entity. As a result India opted for the change.
ICICI Bank continues to besieged, RBI assures bank is sound
Saturday, April 12, 2003
The run on ICICI Bank today spread to the commercial capital with anxious customers queueing up before the bank's ATMs despite statements from the RBI and ICICI that it had enough money and rumours that triggered the withdrawals are baseless. A day after the ICICI Bank ATMs were besieged by customers in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat and Anand districts of Gujarat on rumours that the bank was facing liquidity problems, the RBI and the ICICI stepped in to scotch rumours that the bank had plunged into a liquidity crisis. In Mumbai, depositors flocked to the bank's branches and ATMs to withdraw money. At some of the branches police personnel were deployed as a precautionary measure. In Delhi, a bank's spokesman said the situation was normal and there were no queues of customers flocking to the branches and ATMs to withdraw money. As panic spread from Gujarat, the RBI and the private sector bank said the bank had sufficient liquidity and was financially sound. The RBI said it was monitoring the developments and has arranged to produce adequate cash to the bank to meet the demands of the customers at branches and ATMs. The bank had sufficient liquidity in its current account with the apex bank to meet the requirements of its depositors and the "bank is financially sound", RBI said in a statement. 14:08 IST
1 dead, 18 serious following chlorine gas leak
Saturday, April 12, 2003
Daltonganj: One person died and 18 were seriously affected after they inhaled poisonous chlorine gas emanating from a leaking gas pipe of a chemical factory in Rehla town of Jharkhand's Palamu district on Friday, official sources said. Of the 18 affected, six of the victims were discharged from Garhwah Government Hospital after being treated for breathing trouble, while the condition of the rest was stated to be serious, the sources added. The deceased was identified as Sharwar Singh, a worker of the factory. Police have registered an FIR against the management of the factory. But so far no arrests have been effected in this connection, they said, adding the leakage had been since plugged.
India beats Bangladesh
Saturday, April 12, 2003
Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh's maiden century, backed by lethal bowling, helped crush Bangladesh by 199 runs in the opening match of a tri-nation limited-over cricket tournament in Dhaka on Friday. Bangladesh crashed to 77 runs in reply to 's 276. It was Bangladesh's 33rd consecutive defeat in one-day internationals. The team narrowly passed its lowest score of 76, against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2002. Even many Bangladeshi fans at Bangabandhu National Stadium cheered Singh's brilliant unbeaten knock of 102 from 85 balls. He reached the landmark after striking a boundary off Khaled Mahmud, the Bangladesh captain, in the last over of the match. Singh's knock included some elegant shots, including four sixes and nine boundaries. He went on playing impressive shots in spite of wickets falling around him and was named man-of-the-match. With a tough target of 277 runs to win, Bangladesh lost five top-order batsmen at 38 within the first 15 overs. 's pacer Avishkar Salvi marked his debut by claiming the wicket of opener Mohammad Ashraful in his first over. Ashraful's departure on five started a Bangladesh slide with four other top-order batsmen following him to the dressing room too early, disappointing the home crowd of nearly 20,000. Salvi, who finished with two wickets for 16 runs off seven overs, was brilliantly backed by fast bowlers Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan. Khan had a haul of four wickets for 19 runs, and Agarkar finished with three wickets. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh contributed with one wicket. Earlier, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first in a placid wicket. Opener Virender Sehwag started slowly with debutante Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir was the first Indian batsman to fall to a sharp delivery off seamer Tapash Baishya. Sehwag went on playing strokes and made 63 before he was trapped leg before by spinner Mohammad Rafique. In his second spell, seamer Baishya removed Indian tailenders Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan in two successive balls in his last 10th over. Baishya finished with three wickets for 65 runs. Spinners Mahmud, Sanwar Hossain and Alok Kapali each claimed two wickets to bowl out with three balls remaining.
India beats Bangladesh
Saturday, April 12, 2003
Middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh's maiden century, backed by lethal bowling, helped crush Bangladesh by 199 runs in the opening match of a tri-nation limited-over cricket tournament in Dhaka on Friday. Bangladesh crashed to 77 runs in reply to 's 276. It was Bangladesh's 33rd consecutive defeat in one-day internationals. The team narrowly passed its lowest score of 76, against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2002. Even many Bangladeshi fans at Bangabandhu National Stadium cheered Singh's brilliant unbeaten knock of 102 from 85 balls. He reached the landmark after striking a boundary off Khaled Mahmud, the Bangladesh captain, in the last over of the match. Singh's knock included some elegant shots, including four sixes and nine boundaries. He went on playing impressive shots in spite of wickets falling around him and was named man-of-the-match. With a tough target of 277 runs to win, Bangladesh lost five top-order batsmen at 38 within the first 15 overs. 's pacer Avishkar Salvi marked his debut by claiming the wicket of opener Mohammad Ashraful in his first over. Ashraful's departure on five started a Bangladesh slide with four other top-order batsmen following him to the dressing room too early, disappointing the home crowd of nearly 20,000. Salvi, who finished with two wickets for 16 runs off seven overs, was brilliantly backed by fast bowlers Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan. Khan had a haul of four wickets for 19 runs, and Agarkar finished with three wickets. Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh contributed with one wicket. Earlier, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly won the toss and decided to bat first in a placid wicket. Opener Virender Sehwag started slowly with debutante Gautam Gambhir. Gambhir was the first Indian batsman to fall to a sharp delivery off seamer Tapash Baishya. Sehwag went on playing strokes and made 63 before he was trapped leg before by spinner Mohammad Rafique. In his second spell, seamer Baishya removed Indian tailenders Harbhajan Singh and Zaheer Khan in two successive balls in his last 10th over. Baishya finished with three wickets for 65 runs. Spinners Mahmud, Sanwar Hossain and Alok Kapali each claimed two wickets to bowl out with three balls remaining.
Aishwarya on jury of Cannes Film Festival
Friday, April 11, 2003
PTI MUMBAI: Popular Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai has earned the distinction of being the first Indian actress to be on the jury of the Cannes International Film Festival, starting in France from May 14. The actress has given her consent to the president of the festival, Gilly Jacob to attend the festival as member of the jury, sources close to her told here. Her award winning film Devdaas, in which she plays the role of Paro, had a special screening at the Cannes festival last year. Meanwhile, the actress had a meeting with the London-based agents of the studio making James Bond movies before she was discharged from the Hinduja hospital. "We had a satisfying meeting with the top Indian heroine and if all goes well, she would certainly play the lead role in the next James Bond movie opposite Pierce Brosnan", they told before leaving for London on Wednesday. "Aishwarya will be coming to London sometime next month to finalise the project," they added.
Vivek vs Salman: The battle continues
Friday, April 11, 2003
Diya Mirza is finding herself in a soup amid the raging controversy between Salman and Vivek. Actress Diya Mirza was shocked that Vivek Oberoi mentioned her amongst other heroines that Salman accused Vivek to be having had a physical relationship with during his press conference last week. Diya opined that her name and the names of her colleagues should have been kept out of the fiasco. Diya has worked with Salman Khan in Tumko Na Bhool Paayenge and with Vivek in Dum. There have been a lot of reactions from the film fraternity to Vivek Oberoi’s press conference. Some supported him while others felt that matters could be sorted out internally. As of now Vivek prefers to maintain a low-profile what with father Suresh Oberoi keeping his favorite toy the mobile phone with himself.
India readies to greet new order in Iraq without Saddam
Friday, April 11, 2003
New Delhi: As the beginning of the end game in Iraq became a reality , the Ministry of External Affairs got down to the task of consigning Saddam Hussein to the pages of history and learning to deal with a new order in Baghdad, at least in the beginning, led by retired US general Jay Garner. As officials watched live broadcasts of Iraqis dancing in the streets, it dawned upon them that the celebrations were taking place in Saddam City built in the 80s on the eastern fringe of the capital by well-known Mumbai industrialists, the Makers. But barely a day after the on-off 48-hour parliamentary debate whether India should ‘‘condemn or deplore’’ the US action, New Delhi seemed ready to deal with both the US and the UN on the reconstruction, as well as delivery of humanitarian aid to Iraq. Principal Secretary Brajesh Mishra is preparing to go to Japan next week, followed by a tour of New York (where he will speak at the Council for Foreign Relations) and Washington in mid-May, probably via Moscow, where he is expected to meet a wide spectrum of the leadership in these countries. Iraq is said to be on top of the agenda. With the fall of Saddam which is expected to change the face of the Arab world, New Delhi knows now is the time to reach out to old friends in old places, as well as engage with new ones. India’s Ambassador to Kuwait Swash Pavan Singh has in the past few days met General Garner in Kuwait, as well as Barbara Boudine, the US diplomat and Arabist expected to run central Iraq. Meanwhile, R.M. Abhyankar, MEA’s own Arab hand and secretary in-charge of West Asia, has firmed up his tour of Amman, Damascus and Ankara from April 20-24. He is likely to meet the foreign ministers of Jordan, Syria and Turkey during his trip. Besides its announcement of food aid (50,000 tonnes of wheat worth $8 million), the MEA is now committing medicines, medical supplies, diesel pumps and generators worth another $12 million through the World Food Programme and other UN agencies. With the Umm Qasr deepwater port ready to receive shipments in another three-four weeks, New Delhi is readying its relief supplies for transportation. Significantly, the MEA is also considering the possibility of sending Indians to work as medics, paramedics, sanitation and water engineers to help in the reconstruction work. New Delhi is also closely watching the shake-out already taking place in both the Arab and Western world in favour of the US-led regime in Baghdad. The European Union in a meeting yesterday made noises about participation in the economic reconstruction of Iraq, while an Arab League meeting in Kuwait, a couple of days ago, agreed to keep peace. Western diplomats in the capital said they expected the West to ask ‘‘friendly’’ nations like Kuwait and Saudi Arabia to participate in civilian efforts, thereby putting an Arab face to Western initiatives in Iraq.
Four persons admitted as precautionary measure on SARS
Friday, April 11, 2003
Four fresh cases of patients with symptoms of the killer repiratory disease were reported in the country as the government on Thursday declared there is not one case of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). Medical authorities however maintained that the new cases do not fall in the category of "Suspected SARS" cases. Union Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said in the Rajya Sabha, "there is no reason for panic". All fool proof measures including round the clock control rooms at airports and ports are in place, she said. "India is free of SARS. One person, admitted in RML hospital here, after a Nepal visit, "clinically" suffers from upper tract infection," Director General Health Services Dr S P Agwarwal told reproters here. The chest X-ray of 41-year-old Maria was normal, but her blood reports for presence of conona virus were awaited, he said. Two contacts of Rebecca Raelivh, the American woman who was undergoing treatment in a Mumbai hospital, had also been discharged as they were asymptomatic. They were admitted to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital as a precautionary measure, he said. Agarwal said Rebecca herself was being discharged and her tests had been negative for the virus. Four new cases were admitted in various hospitals for precautionary purposes. But they do not fall into the category of "suspected" cases, he said. 09:22 IST
India rjects New York city's contention on building
Friday, April 11, 2003
India has rejected New York city's contention that it is using the 26-storey building owned by it near the United Nations in Manhattan for commercial purposes. Commenting on the city filing a law suit to "recover" more than 16.3 million dollars in property tax arrears, a senior officer of the Indian Mission to the United Nations told that, unlike some other missions, India has not rented any part of the premises to any commercial organization. The mission has offices on the first four floors. The remaining have fifteen residential apartments and five single room units for the diplomatic officers of the Mission and the Consulate General of India. These officers enjoy diplomatic immunity, he said. He said India would take up the matter with the United States' State Department as also American mission to the United Nations. Discussions, he added, have been going on the issue for some time but declined to speculate on the reasons as to why city filed suit at this time. "We have no idea about the reasons," he said. A city spokesperson had said that only the apartment occupied by the ambassador or head of mission is exempt from the property tax. In the suit, the city has claimed that India has not paid property tax since 1985 and the amount includes interest on the unpaid amount.
Joshi not included in BJP poll panel for MP
Friday, April 11, 2003
New Delhi,Friday, April 11, 2003: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and state BJP Chief Kailash Joshi's name does not figure in a 12-member election management committee announced by the party high command here on Thursday to coordinate with the state unit in preparing the strategy for the coming Assembly elections. To be headed by party's Chief Ministerial candidate and former Union Minister Uma Bharati, the committee includes party's National Secretary Shivraj Singh Chauhan as Convener and Union Ministers Vikram Verma, Sumitra Mahajan, Satya Narayan Jatiya and Faggan Singh Kulaste and Leader of Opposition in state Assembly Babulal Gaur as its members. Other members of the committee are MPs Maya Singh, Prahlad Patel, Jaibhan Singh Pawayya, former leader of opposition in State Assembly Gauri Shankar Shejwar and state party General Secretary Krishna Murari Moghe, party spokesman Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said in a statement here. "The committee would coordinate with the state unit and make all strategies, plans and management on a war footing," he said. The party, at its national executive in Indore recently, had announced that General Secretary Sanjay Joshi would be in-charge of the state unit for the polls to be assisted by Union law and Commerce Minister Arun Jaitley.
US to remain engaged in helping India, Pak settle disputes
Friday, April 11, 2003
Washington,Friday, April 11, 2003: Terming the Indo-Pak stand-off as "a very difficult and dangerous situation", US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said the United States wants to remain engaged in helping the two subcontinental rivals resolve their disputes in a peaceful way. Powell rejected the view aired by External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha that an Indian pre-emptive strike against Pakistan was as justified as the one now being carried out by the US against Iraq. "I don't think there is a direct parallel between the two situations," Powell told Pakistan Television in an interview on Thursday. On Indo-Pak stand-off, he said, "we do have a very difficult and a dangerous situation with respect to actions across the Line of Control," adding that he remained in close touch with authorities of India and Pakistan. "The United States will stay engaged, but we don't believe there is a need now for any military action of any kind. We are looking to help the two parties resolve this in a peaceful way, and you can be sure that I will personally remain engaged, as will President Bush and members of his administration." Powell said the US wants to have strong relations with India and Pakistan and "through these relations we can serve to help both countries start to begin a dialogue with each other on outstanding issues. We want to be a friend to both nations".
IT cos losing charm in campus recruitment
Friday, April 11, 2003
THE information technology (IT) firms appear to be slowly losing charm as employers while there seems to be an increased preference for old economy companies among fresh graduates in campus recruitment. This was evident from the fact that despite continued domination by the IT companies in the job market, their overall share in campus placement at IIT Madras has been coming down in the last three years. In the current academic year, out of the 496 offers (total strength of 726) made so far at IIT (M), the IT sector's share reduced to 66.94 per cent from 71.6 per cent last year, while the old economy companies increased their share to 33.06 per cent compared to 28.4 per cent last year. The placement at IIT, Madras, is not yet over, a few more are expected to arrive in a few weeks time, said Mr A.K. Pattibiraman, Training and Placement Officer, IIT (M). The IT sector accounted for 332 while engineering industries recruited 164 engineers, he said. The volatility in the IT market and the fact that some of the seniors had to go through a tough time in their career (in IT firms) deeply impacted many of the students especially at the post-graduate level. This year a number of students shied away from IT companies and opted for hardcore engineering industries, which was more secure though the salary was less compared to the IT sector, said Mr Pattabiraman. According to him, since 1994-95, when the software sector was growing, the IT companies' recruitment share at IIT (M) was about 80 per cent and increased to about 85 per cent in 1998-99. However, following the slowdown in the IT sector, in 1999-2000 it fell sharply to about 65 per cent but went up to around 71 per cent last year. This year so far the IT sector accounted for about 66 per cent with some more placements to be made, he said. The Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Infosys dominated campus recruitment at IIT (M) this academic year selecting 85 (including MBAs) and 73 students respectively. Cognizant Technology Solutions was third with 39 students followed by Xalted Information Systems (17) and HCL Technologies (12). In the non-IT sector, BHEL topped the list with 10 candidates while a number of companies selected in single digit. Campus recruitment at IIT (M) was better than some of the other institutions, he said. According to Mr Pattibaraman, the days of "high flying salaries'', "astounding perks'' and "flaunting of stock options'' to lure young professionals has ended, at least for now. Salary structure of a number of companies especially the IT firms seems to have reached a plateau with no marked increase in their compensation package. Incidentally, some of the firms have scaled down their offers even as they tightened recruitment procedures, he said. Sources in the recruitment industry also confirmed that preference among fresh graduates for the IT sector has come down to a certain extent in the last couple of years. Only the top few IT companies attract fresh graduates, they said. According to Mr Pattabiraman, though marginal, the increased intake by engineering and manufacturing organisations tend to indicate a revival of demand in the old economy sector. If the trend persists with some more vigour there could be a healthy balance between IT and non-IT industries in campus recruitment in the next few years, he said. To match the IT companies, the non-IT companies too offered an attractive salary package plus perks. Maruti Udyog, for instance, increased its package for mechanical engineering graduates to over Rs 4 lakh per annum this year compared to Rs 2.22 lakh for under-graduate and Rs 2.34 lakh for post-graduate students at IIT (M), sources said. McKinsey tops in salary offering Consultancy firm, McKinsey, toped this year's salary offering at IIT (M) with an annual package of Rs 7 lakh for an electrical engineering graduate. Hindustan Lever was second with Rs 6.77 lakh for a mechanical engineering graduate, ITC Ltd was third with Rs 6 lakh per annum also for a mechanical engineering graduate, Sify Ltd offered Rs 4.25 lakh for an electrical engineering graduate, while Samsung offered Rs 4.20 lakh for an electrical engineering graduate and Maruti Udyog offered about Rs 4 lakh for mechanical engineering graduates. The IT leaders TCS and Infosys increased their annual package this year to Rs 2.5 lakh (Rs 1.90 lakh) for non-IT graduates, and Rs 2.25 lakh (Rs 1.68 lakh plus benefits) respectively, said IIT (M), sources said.
Infosys rattles market
Friday, April 11, 2003
A WEAKER-THAN-EXPECTED performance by technology leader Infosys, coupled with gloomier profit guidance for the year ahead, knocked the wind out of stock markets on Thursday. The "shocking" news dragged an already-depressed 30-share sensitive index of the Bombay Stock Exchange 105.92 points or 3.37 per cent lower to close the day at 3035.33. The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange plunged below the psychological 1,000-point level and strong resistance at 970 to close at 962.20 or 4.24 per cent lower than its previous close of 1,004.85. The BSE TecK index lost almost 18 per cent or 141.07 points to end the day at 643.89. "Aaj to rone ko aansoo tak nahin chode (today we did not even have tears to weep)," a dealer with a domestic brokerage house said about the day's carnage. He added that the markets were unlikely to recover for a few more days. According to him, Infosys's profit guidance of about 12.5 per cent year-on-year fell short of market expectations of 18 per cent. The dominoes started tumbling when the country's most reputed and largest listed software exporter reported a fourth quarter net profit of Rs 259 crore, sharply lower than Rs 275-280 crore expected by market analysts. The stock lost Rs 1,113.45 or 27 per cent, its steepest fall in recent times, to close at Rs 3,044.60 on the BSE. According to a dealer, today's weakness was the most acute seen in recent times. "Nobody had expected such a news from Infosys. We had met company officials a few weeks ago and they had denied that there was any pressure on pricing," he said. Another software solutions provider, Mastek Ltd, led the losers' list with a 50 per cent value erosion after the company lowered its profit forecast. It ended the day at Rs 284.70. The other major losers on the BSE were HCL Technologies, which lost 16 per cent or Rs 26.55 to close at Rs 139.80, and Satyam Computers, which fell 15.5 per cent to Rs 150.70 from its previous close of Rs 178.25. Zee Telefilms also slid six per cent to Rs 66.35 from its previous close of Rs 70.60. Mr Gul Teckchandani, Chief Investment Officer of Sun F&C Mutual Fund, said: "The market today was more sentiment-driven than performance. "Even though such sentiment bursts are difficult to predict, it could well be an opportunity for bottom fishers to enter." On the NSE, Wipro fell 17 per cent from yesterday's close of Rs 1,232.40 to end at Rs 1,022 and Digital Global lost Rs 100.20 or 17 per cent to close at Rs 496. Mr Teckchandani said that while some stocks may have been caught in the sentiment, some others might have been due for a correction. Some manufacturing sector and pharmaceutical stocks were standing up amid the ruins. Two-wheeler maker Hero Honda, the top gainer of the day, went up about five per cent from its previous close of Rs 184.30 to Rs 193 following the announcement of 900 per cent dividend. State Bank of India gained Rs 6.80 on speculation that foreign investors may be allowed a larger pie in the country's top commercial bank. It closed at Rs 290.90, or 2.39 per cent higher than the previous close of Rs 284.10. Among pharma stocks, Ranbaxy gained 2.81 per cent to close at Rs 683.90. Cipla closed 2.35 per cent higher at Rs 743.65 and Dr Reddy's ended the day at Rs 931.55 with a gain of Rs 6.65. ADRs also take a beating: The subdued forecast from Infosys percolated to Indian companies' shares listed elsewhere too. Infy ADRs were trading 28 per cent lower at $42.77 on the Nasdaq at around 9 p.m. On the New York Stock Exchange, Wipro lost nearly 21 per cent in early trade and was trading at $21.95. Satyam was trading at $7.26, down 17 per cent.
Fresh clashes in riot-hit Assam district
Friday, April 11, 2003
Silchar, April 10: Two persons were killed and over 100 houses set ablaze in fresh clashes between the Hmar and Dimasa communities in North Cachar Hills district of Assam, where a 48-hour curfew has been in force since yesterday. Suspected Dimasa militants set fire to 10 houses at Heronbasti near Umrangshu. Armed Dimasas set ablaze another 25 huts in neighbouring Rekzol and 72 houses in the remote Saranbasti village. The toll in the clashes since March 31 has risen from 24 to 32. Police sources in Haflong said there was heavy exchange of fire between armed groups at Saranbasti. However, there were no casualties. Union minister of state for home I.D. Swami will visit the state on Saturday for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in Cachar and the North Cachar Hills. BJP Legislature Party leader Bimalangshu Roy today said deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani informed him over phone two days ago that Swami would be touring the twin strife-torn districts. Roy said the Centre was very concerned over the spate of violent incidents, starting with the massacre of 24 Dimasas by Hmar militants on March 31. Accompanied by a team of senior home ministry officials, Swami will visit Cachar and North Cachar Hills on an IAF chopper and later hold a meeting with chief minister Tarun Gogoi. Though no untoward incident was reported over the past 24 hours, the situation in Cachar and North Cachar Hills remained far from normal. The army said another carnage could have taken place in Mahur block of North Cachar Hills district yesterday had its troops not been on maximum alert. A senior army official said Dimasa youths had attacked Hmar and Kuki tribesmen at Sharon and Samban villages, but speedy deployment of troops prevented a massacre. He said columns of the Red Shield Division rushed to the villages from different directions and took control of the situation. Veterinary minister G.C. Langthasa, who is from the Dimasa tribe, told The Telegraph that he planned to form peace committees comprising representatives of the warring communities. The Hmar community of Manipur is preparing to welcome hundreds of fellow tribesmen displaced during the clashes in south Assam. Nearly 500 Hmars are on their way to Imphal via Dimapur in six buses, adds our Imphal correspondent. Displaced Hmars who had fled to Jiribam in Manipur after the first wave of clashes have, however, returned to Cachar.
Trishul ban "ridiculous": BJP
Friday, April 11, 2003
New Delhi: BJP on Thursday termed the banning of tridents by Rajasthan Government as "foolish and ridiculous" and equated it with the action of some medieval Muslim rulers who had banned sporting of 'tilak' by Hindus. "While BJP has nothing to do with the 'Trishul Diksha' (distribution) programmes of VHP, the ban on acquisition, possession and carrying of tridents by the state Government is ridiculous and foolish," BJP Parliamentary Party spokesman V.K. Malhotra said. "It is interesting to note that the state Government considers tridents, which are shorter than four inches, as more dangerous than scissors and knives. Trishul is not a weapon of aggression like AK-47. It is just a symbolic arm," he said. The BJP leader said the state Government's move was reminiscent of ban on sporting trident shaped 'Tilak' by Hindus imposed by Mughal rulers like Aurangzeb.
MTNL, BSNL announce new telephone tariffs
Friday, April 11, 2003
New Delhi,Friday, April 11, 2003: Announcing new telephone tariffs, state-owned MTNL and BSNL on Thursday night slashed by more than half the number of free calls, retained the three-minute pulse for local calls and kept unchanged the overall monthly rentals. BSNL slashed free calls for urban users from 75 to 30 calls per month and for rural users to 50 calls per month. The new rates will be effective from May 1, 2003. MTNL has decided to offer three alternative packages which retain the three minute pulse for local calls, with effect from the first of next month. The monthly rental for the first plan has been retained at Rs 250 per month and call charges too have been retained at Rs 0.80 upto 300 calls and Rs 1.20 upto 2000 calls, an MTNL release said here. In the second package, the rental would be Rs 280 with additional value added features like free abbreviated dialing service, call transfer facility, three party conference and e-mail on phone service. The third package is for heavy users and offers 2000 free calls for a monthly rental of Rs 2000. The calling line identification facility has been made free of charge for all customers of all the packages. In order to encourage customers to make more calls, the call tariff has been reduced from Rs 1.20 to Re 1 for calls made after 2000 calls. 09:22 IST
Salman Slams Vivek For Making Wild Allegations
Friday, April 11, 2003
I have not called up Vivek. Now I will have to take care of him throughout my whole life. I have never abused my or his father ever. All he wants me is to become a drunkard and a mad man. He has even called me names like mentally sick, also that will take legal actions towards me, but what now? I have never called him ever, and this can be checked up by the mobile operator BPL. I am going for shooting to London and after coming back I will say more about on this. More on this matter Actor Salman Khan on Tuesday brushed aside allegations by rising star Vivek Oberoi that he had abused him and even threatened to kill him on Saturday night. Salman insisted that he had not even hinted about the underworld to Vivek. I guess now I will have to protect him for the rest of his life since he is making this wild allegation against me,'' he added sarcastically. He also denied that he had said anything about Oberoi's friendship with Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherjee or other actresses. Vivek has dragged in almost all the actresses of Bollywood,'' he noted jokingly. I am leaving for London tonight. I will be back after a few days. After that, I will make a detailed statement,'' Salman added. According to Vivek Oberoi, 38-year-old Salman also accused him of stealing his film roles. He said he would file a police complaint against Salman after consulting his parents, who were away from Mumbai but expected to return on Tuesday night. The Juhu police came to know about the incident and met me this morning,'' he said at a press conference at his Juhu residence on Tuesday evening. Oberoi said that he had earlier chosen to keep quiet about the incident and had flown to Chennai to meet director Mani Ratnam on Sunday morning. But my friend Kshitij Mehta told me that Salman Khan's bodyguards had been calling him up and asking for me. Kshitij advised me not to return to Mumbai.'' However, Oberoi did return to Mumbai on Monday evening and Salman's bodyguards did not show up. At the Coca Cola press conference on Tuesday afternoon,'' Oberoi added, a journalist asked me about the incident and that is when I decided to hold a quick press conference in the evening.'' Oberoi is a brand ambassador for the cola major and the press conference was to have announced a new campaign featuring him and Aishwarya Rai. The actor said he had called up Salman's brothers, Sohail and Arbaaz, on Saturday night but was told that Salman was mentally disturbed and inebriated. They sympathised with me and said I should deal with him the way I wanted. I spoke to Aishwarya, who was upset by the incident. She also said she had severed relations with Salman,'' Oberoi said. Rani Mukherjee came to meet me and Diya said she was sorry for Salman's behaviour,'' Oberoi added. As for Somy Ali, he said he had met her eight years ago. Oberoi said he had decided to come out in the open because the film industry had been tolerating Salman Khan for far too long. He has bullied Abhishek Bachchan, Aishwarya, Ranvir Kapoor and Subhash Ghai, but no one made an issue of it because the general attitude is that Salman is sick. However, he has to be made responsible and accountable for his behaviour. His family has finally to take a stand. Salman needs psychiatric help.'' Oberoi said the only thing he regretted was that this would affect his relations with Salman's family. The actor said he did not need police security since he was capable of defending himself. April 2003 Copyright SalmanOnline.net
13 medallists tested positive in National Games
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
New Delhi,Tuesday, April 08, 2003: In yet another case of drug abuse in sports, the Indian Olympic Association today disclosed that 13 medal winners, including five gold medallists, tested positive for banned drugs at the last National Games in Hyderabad and one of them has earned a life ban. Rower Lakshman Singh, who won a bronze in single sculls, was today slapped with a life ban by the Rowing Federation of India after his 'B' sample also tested positive for nandrolone conducted at the SAI laboratory here. Giving details of "positive" results for banned substances in 'A' samples, Indian Olympic Association secretary general Randhir Singh told reporters that "there were 22 positive tests of the 464 samples tested including 9 athletes who were tested at random." "All the Federations have been given time till April 21 to come out with reports and the IOA Medical Commission will meet two days later and release the names of all the athletes who tested positive," he said. "The Federations have been given time to complete the formalities including requests from athletes to conduct the 'B' sample test," said Randhir Singh, also a member of the World Anti Doping Agency and International Olympic Committee. He also said the 'A' and 'B' samples of one of the weightlifters tested positive but declined to give further details saying "it would be unfair to the concerned athletes." It is believed that among the remaining 21 there are eight athletes, seven weightlifters, three boxers and one each from cycling, swimming and volleyball.
Indian cricket squad to leave for Dhaka on Wednesday
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
Kolkata,Tuesday, April 08, 2003: A new-look 15-member Indian squad, led by Sourav Ganguly, will leave for Dhaka on Wednesday for the triangular one-day series beginning on Friday. The Indian team, sans several big names, would fly out from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport here by a Bangladesh Biman flight, manager Goutam Dasgupta told. Other than hosts Bangladesh, the ten-day tournament features World Cup hosts South Africa. The Indian selectors had to draft several rookies after batting maestro Sachin Tendulkar, World Cup vice-captain Rahul Dravid and paceman Ashish Nehra made themselves unvailable for the tour due to injuries. Pace spearhead Javagal Srinath also opted to take rest while leg spinner Anil Kumble skipped the trip due to "personal reasons". Young paceman Avishkar Salvi, Delhi opener Gautam Gambhir Abhijit Kale and Amit Mishra are the new faces in the team, which has dashing opener Virender Sehwag as vice-captain, while offie Sarandeep Singh has got a national recall after a fairly long gap. Ashok Malhotra has been appointed coach of the squad for the opening encounter against Bangladesh, with incumbent John Wright expected to join the team not before the second match against South Africa. Once Wright arrived, Malhota would serve as the assistant coach. 21:01 IST
India, Singpaore sign free trade accord
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
New Delhi,Tuesday, April 08, 2003: Giving a new dimension to their economic ties, India and Singapore today signed a comprehensive accord that would pave the way for a negotiated bilateral free trade arrangement. Visiting Singaporean Premier Goh Chok Tong, who held wide-ranging discussions with Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, expressed his country's readiness to facilitate trade between India and China. Commerce Minister Arun Jaitley and Singapore Trade and Industry Minister George Yeo signed a Declaration of Intent for a Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between the two countries. The two sides decided to negotiate CECA in the framework of the report of a Joint Study Group (JSG) set up by the two Prime Minister in April last year. The JSG has recommended that the two countries should enter into formal negotiations for CECA, which would consist of an integrated package of agreements. These include a free trade agreement, including trade in goods, services and investment, an accord on investment promotion, protection and cooperation and a revised double taxation avoidance agreement. It also envisages a more liberal air services agreement and open skies for charter flights and a programme of economic cooperation including an India-Singapore Fund, with a target of one billion US dollars, to address investment opportunities in India, a second India Centre in Singapore and tourism cooperation.
US takes India's assertion on pre-emptive strike "seriously"
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
Islamabad,Tuesday, April 08, 2003: The US has said it has taken "seriously" India's assertion that it reserved the right to launch a pre-emptive strike against Pakistan and advised the two countries to ensure that the situation does not "get out of hand". A senior unnamed US State Department official, quoted by Dawn newspaper, also said the infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir "has not stopped as yet and it is something we have said needs to stop." About External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha's remarks that India reserved the right to launch a pre-emptive attack against Pakistan just as the US did against Iraq, the official said Washington is "in pretty regular touch with both governments to ensure that the situation does not get out of hand. Threats of war are always something taken seriously." He said that "attempts to draw parallel between Iraq and Kashmir are overwhelmed by differences between the two situations." "We recognise the very serious nature of the situation in Kashmir as our recent joint statement with Britain made clear but the two situations were not comparable," he said. Elaborating the US point of view, he said "Iraq invaded, occupied and brutalised Kuwait in 1990." After that the international community came together to drive Iraq out of Kuwait the following year, he said. "A decade earlier Iraq attacked another neighbour Iran and used chemical weapons against it, and against thousands of its own citizens," he said. 14:41 IST
Forget condemn and deplore, lets together say "ninda"
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
All it finally took was a Hindi synonym of "deplore" for "condemn" to end the Government -Opposition tussle over the words to be used in a resolution in Parliament on the Iraq war. After frequent disruptions in Lok Sabha and hectic parleys among leaders, both sides agreed to the Hindi word "ninda" and passed a resolution only in the national language, probably for the first time. The English version of the text of the resolution, which came hours after it was adopted in the House, uses the word "deplore". The Opposition had earlier been insisting on the use of the word "condemn" for the US action against Iraq, but the Government did not want to budge beyond "deplore". Parliamentary Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said later that both sides accommodated a little seeing the seriousness of the matter and agreeing they had to express solidarity with the people of Iraq. Congress Spokesman S Jaipal Reddy described the use of the word "ninda" as "constructive ambiguity" and dismissed suggestions that the resolution was a "surrender" by the Opposition. "For us ninda is condemnation, but I won't vie with Hindi pandits," he said. 21:01 IST
India dismisses as "nonsense" Pak charge on Bio weapons
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
India today dismissed as "nonsense" Pakistan's charge that it possessed chemical and biological weapons besides nuclear weapons. "It is a denatured nonsense", an External Affairs Ministry spokesman said when asked to comment on Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed's utterances on the issue.
LS unanimously adopts resolution "deploring" Iraq war
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
New Delhi,Tuesday, April 08, 2003: Overcoming differences on its wording, the Lok Sabha today unanimously adopted a resolution "deploring" the US-led war on Iraq with Government maintaining that India cannot be subdued or subjected to similar unilateralism by any country. "India, a country of a billion people, cannot be treated so lightly....India cannot not be subdued by any power on earth," External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha said in the House allaying apprehensions that some countries including India could become victims of such action in future. Sinha was replying to a debate in which the opposition attacked the government for not coming out strongly against the "naked aggression" of the US and its unilateralism. However, there was unanimity that the war should end and the coalition forces should withdraw immediately. The reconstruction should be under U N auspices and there should be no threat to Iraq's sovereignity. The resolution was tabled after the two sides reached the agreement on the use of the word "deplore" instead of the opposition's insistence that the invasion be condemned. Moved by Speaker Manohar Joshi and passed without any dissent following two days of hectic parleys over its wording, the resolution in Hindi asked the international community to put pressure on the coalition forces to immediately halt hostilities and withdraw from Iraq. It emphasised that Iraq's sovereignty be kept intact and reconstruction work carried out under United Nations supervision. 19:19 IST
Five detained for killing Haren Pandya
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
Ahmedabad, April 9 : Five persons have been detained in connection with the assassination of former Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya in Ahmedabad last month and investigations are underway to establish if they had any links with the murder. Sources said the suspects were picked up by the Gujarat Police and CBI, and after examining them they will decide whether to take them into custody. The CBI has not got any "confession" from the five "ISI trained youth" arrested last week, top CBI officials investigating the case said here on Tuesday night. "We have not got any confession from any of the suspected persons. We are trying to ascertain whether the five youths arrested by crime branch have any link with Pandya assassination", the officials said adding "we have not come to any conclusion as yet". Mohammed Pervez Abdul Kayum Shaikh, Mohammed Yunus Abdulrahim Sareshwala, Mohammed Riyaz alias Goru Abdulwahid Sareshwala, Rehan Abdulmujib Punthawala and Munawar Beigh alias Captain Yakubmiyan Mirza, all in their late twenties and reportedly adept at handling sophisticated explosives and target shooting, were arrested by Crime Branch last week. Pandya, a former Home and Revenue Minister in the Gujarat government, was shot dead in a well planned shootout by gunmen unidentified "so far" on March 26.
15 Major States to introduce VAT from June 1: Dasgupta
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
New Delhi, Apr 8 (UNI) As many as 15 major states and two Union Territories will introduce Value Added Tax (VAT) from June one, VAT Empowered Committee Chairman Asim Dasgupta announced today. The states are Maharashtra, Gujarat, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Assam, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, Tripura, Goa and Meghalaya. Pondicherry and Daman and Diu will also have VAT from June one, Mr Dasgupta told reporters after a meeting of an extended empowered committee attended by Finance Ministers and other representatives of several states. The Centre would support the states for introduction of VAT through compensation and speedy clearance of a central legislation on service tax. Haryana was the only state to go for VAT from April one, the earlier deadline. With this, VAT would cover more than 75 per cent of India's total trade and industrial production from June one, Mr Dasgupta, who is also Finance Minister of West Bengal, said.
Hindi television serials getting popular
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
While Bollywood films had a disastrous outing at the box-office in 2002, Hindi television serials emerged even bigger. The common man seems more interested in the Parvati-Pallavi (Saakshi Tanwar-Shweta Kawaatra) squabble in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki and the values propagated by Tulsi (Smriti Malhotra-Irani) in Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi than Kareena Kapoor in Mujhse Dosti Karoge and Kaante's mega star cast. Writer-director-producer Vinta Nanda is not surprised. "Unlike films, television serials deal with people on a one-to-one basis," she says. "You can be alone in your own home and still relate to people through the small screen." Indeed, television artistes like Shekhar Suman, Malhotra-Irani, Tanwar, Kawaatra, Sudha Chandran, Ronit Roy, Nausheen Sardar Ali, Cezzane Khan and others have become household names. Most of these are perhaps better-known than many film stars who make a splash one Friday and disappear the next. Television stars enjoy their moment under the sun even if it costs some of them their identity. Says Kawaatra, "I love it when someone calls me Pallavi. Had Pallavi not happened, I would not have made my mark by now." Agrees Tanwar, "To say I relish being called Parvati would be an understatement. I was contemplating changing my name to Parvati!" Echoes Sudha Chandran, "Till lately I was known as Mayuri (one of her television characters), but now people want me to sign autographs as Ramola Sikand (another of her television characters). What's wrong? In fact, that's an incentive." Though serials like CID, Kittie Party and Ssshhh...Koi Hai! are popular, the ones depicting saas-bahu relationships score brownie points over others. What is it that intrigues the Indian audience, especially women, about these serials?Says Tanwar, "Simple. One is either a saas (mother-in-law) or a bahu (daughter-in-law). It is something they love to hate. It is the story of their lives. Isn't hatred a stronger emotion than love?" Balaji Telefilms head Ekta Kapoor, who is responsible for changing the face of Indian television with her soap operas, claims, "I have detected the pulse of the Indian audience. The one subject which holds eternal interest for us Indians is the family. Traditions, festivals, etc bind every Indian family. They celebrate occasions with relatives; they have certain characters who are good and bad. So I put it together. "I am not here to propagate sex and violence," continues Kapoor. "Families, including children, watch my serials. When I, a 26 year old cannot see sex on screen with my parents around, how can I imagine a 15 year old will be comfortable? As for violence, which is wrong in any form, I do not want to propagate wrong messages to youth." The only time she did show violence, specifically rape, was when she wanted to convey a message. "Rape is the worst crime," Kapoor says. "It leaves a woman in shambles. Even infants are not safe in our country. I wanted to show rape [in Kahaani Ghar Ghar Ki] and give a clarion call to parents that they ought to make their daughters aware of this crime soon. More important, I did not 'show' anything or have crude dialogues. The underlying meaning was that rape is rampant on the domestic front and we must be cautious." Psychiatrist Dr Jyoti Maheshwari feels, "People prefer television serials simply because these shows are far more close to their daily experiences. They begin to feel that, like them, others too have problems in life. This, in turn, gives them psychological satisfaction. Even some anchor-based shows like Simply Shekhar are lapped up because what is said in the show is what they feel but cannot voice it." Adds Dr S M Khanna, "Television has become an addiction. Not only are the plot of the television programmes registered on the human psyche, the sets are, too. It is all so close to reality, there is hardly any fiction or exaggeration."
"Nadeem and I are two bodies but one soul. -Shravan
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
A recent article in a Mumbai movie magazine claimed composer Shravan tried to sever ties with his partner Nadeem for a while, but failed due to pressure. A disturbed Shravan called a media meet on April 2 and said, "Nadeem and I are two bodies but one soul. Nobody can separate us. I am extremely disturbed over this article. I called up the editor but he gave me a wishy-washy reply saying he would like to speak to Nadeem about it." "Nadeem has been given a reprieve by the London court [he was an accused in the Gulshan Kumar murder case]. A few legal formalities need to be sorted out before he returns to India. He is expected back in six months. Despite being away from each other, we still work together. In fact, the seeds of most of the songs are sown in his brain. Then, we tune with each other on the phone. We complete a song on the phone in 30 minutes flat. Thereafter, my team of musicians and I work on it. Without each other, we would be incomplete. Please understand we are a team. In fact, we are the best team in the sense of the spirit [involved]. We have never disclosed the details of who does what work on a particular song," he added. "The article states that Nadeem-Shravan have given 'a string of flops' in 2002 and that, after a 'modest beginning with Raaz,' their other films have been disasters. Raaz is one of the biggest musical successes of all time," he continued. "Now the music of our film Andaaz has topped the charts. This kind of yellow journalism must stop. The magazine is demeaning the same industry that gives them [their] bread and butter. Nadeem is terribly hurt." Clenching his fist, he continued, "The article also says producers are deserting us, which implies our assignments have dwindled. In the last few years, we have given musical hits like Dhadkan, Kasoor, Ek Rishtaa, Dil Ka Rishta, Haan... Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya, Dil Hai Tumhara, Jeena Sirf Merre Liye and Raaz to name a few. Besides, we have some great assignments like Qayamat, Yeh Dil, Andaaz, Hungama, Footpath, Sheen, Dil Deke Dekho and Bewafa -- The Unfaithful. We have lots of work." "The magazine alleges Nadeem fled India. The truth is otherwise. Nadeem was on his summer vacation in London. Both of us take two vacations every year. It is necessary to unwind. It was then that the unfortunate incident occurred. I was holidaying in Rajasthan at the time," he went on to say. "The magazine also alleges Nadeem won the case on a technical point. This is false. He got a thundering victory in the London court, which is one of the most reputed courts in the world." "I am not ruling out the fact that there may be a lobby working against us," he said. "We have given many fantastic numbers and topped the charts for long periods of time. It is likely jealousy and hatred got the better of some of our competitors. Our rivals won't win. We will work doubly strong from here on. Our producers are not flustered; they know we have delivered fantastic products in time. We are talking to our lawyers and we are going to file a defamation suit. The Nadeem-Shravan partnership, wherein one is a Hindu and the other is a Muslim, is a classic example of national integration."
"ENOUGH! I will not work with Mr Salman Khan"-Aishwarya Rai
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
The recent controversy between actors Vivek Oberoi and Salman Khan has kicked up a storm in Bollywood. Vivek claimed that Salman had telephoned him 41 times one night and threatened to kill him. Salman, of course, denied these allegations. Unfortunately, a third person has been dragged into this mess -- Aishwarya Rai. Apparently, Ash was the bone of contention between the two actors. The actress, who is currently undergoing treatment for a hairline fracture of the ankle at Mumbai's Hinduja Hospital, issued her own statement: My duty towards all those who believe in me and love me compels me to make the following statement, even though I had always believed in the dignity of silence. In the wake of recent rumours regarding the proposed feature film Bajirao Mastani, I take this opportunity to clarify my stand and end all speculations! Some recent reactions and retaliations unnecessarily involving me and my name, and I have been wrongly projected, as agreeing to work with Mr Salman Khan for the sake of this proposed feature film. The truth is, from the very first meeting with Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali with regards to this feature film Bajirao Mastani since the past two months, I have categorically declined to work with Mr Salman Khan... and my family is witness. Yes, Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali and I have a wonderful and fabulous working relationship so far, with memorable films like Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Devdas. But sadly, and for obvious personal reasons and disturbing reasons, I cannot accept to work with Mr Salman Khan. For the sake of my well-being, my sanity, my dignity and the dignity and self-respect of my family -- ENOUGH! I will not work with Mr Salman Khan. The Salman chapter was a nightmare in my life and I am thankful to God that it is over! While I have maintained a dignified silence about him and his wrong-doings, he (his family and friends) has repeatedly attacked the respect, dignity and pride of me and my family (with irresponsible rumourmongering. I stood by him enduring acholism, misbehavior in worse phases and in turn, I was at the receiving end of his abuse (verbal, physical, emotional), infidelity and indignity. That is why like any other self-respecting woman and God is witness, I said enough and ended it almost two years ago but because of a dignified silence, all have misrepresented my stand and spread rumours about my character and baselessly alleged affairs and tried to spoil healthy working relations with costars. I do not want to get into the gory details and obnocuious experiences, which incite washing dirty linen and other ugly untruths. I have just to clarify this! For a very long time now, they have time and time again, tried to wreck my peace and sanity both personally and professionally. But they all forget-no one can play god; because there is a God! That is the only truth. My belief in God and my family has stood by me in solidarity, giving me the strength to rise above it all. And I must add, that it has been very easy for some members of the film industry, media or social circles to flog opinions, when they have not been at the receiving end. And when so many of them God knows, have been witnesses and in knowledge of the truth. This is truly sad. Contrary to the rumours, I do not call him. On the contrary, he has tried calling me and texting me on the pretext of his film Bajirao Mastani even using Mr Sanjay Leela Bhansali's identity. I have been compelled to make this otherwise trivial validation in print because of the continuous lies and false stories being circulated [by a strong clique]. Honestly, I do not have the time, energy and man power [in media or social circuits] to keep reiterating validations against every [and seemingly constant] false stories or allegations. On the end note, I am choosing the kind of films, roles, and directors I want to work with and enjoy the experience of the film. This way I can cherish the making of each film and give my best to every role and assignment that I accept, with peace and happiness intact. And that is of earnest importance - peace within and all around. I have just come out of a near fatal accident: accident miraculously only with an ankle fracture and a couple of wounds and abrasions; completely and act of God. And this is no exaggeration! God is extremely kind and I sincerely thank my friends and well-wishers for all their prayers, blessings and good wishes - I cherish them dearly as I take this time to recover and heal. God bless all!
CISF to take over Red Fort security
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI)- The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) is all set to take over the security of the historic Red Fort in the capital from Wednesday. This was decided at a high-level meeting between officials of the Defence Ministry, the Tourism and Culture Ministry and the Archaeological Survey of India. Hitherto, the Army was looking after the security of the monument, built by Mughal Emperor Shahjehan. According to an Army spokesman, various contingents of the Army would pull out of the Red Fort by the year-end. The Tourism Ministry had for quite some time been asking the Army authorities to move out of the Red Fort so that it could be developed into an attractive tourist spot. However, the Army had been showing its unwillingness to move out of the fort on the plea that the monument faced a serious threat from terrorist groups. The fort had been attacked by terrorists nearly three years back, strengthening the Army's argument that it must be allowed to remain in charge of the fort's security. However, the Army has now made way for the CISF to take over the security of the fort. The Army spokesman said nearly 1500 troops still in the Red Fort complex would gradually vacate the complex. He said the Armymen would be deployed in the Red Fort from time to time for ceremonials, like the Prime Minister's address to the nation on the Independence Day.
Opposition acts tough on Iraq, demands govt motion in RS
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) An agitated opposition in the Rajya Sabha today vociferously demanded that the Government should move a resolution condemning US attack on Iraq, which forced the Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat to adjourn the house for an hour. As the house assembled for question hour after a three-week recess, the opposition members Mr Natwar Singh (Congress) and Nilotpal Basu (CPM) were on their feet demanding suspension of the question hour so as to facilitate a discussion on Iraq and called for a resolution from the government condemning the US action. Leader of the House Mr Jaswant Singh said the government was ready for a discussion as the issue merited it but the resolution could be finalised subjected to the course of discussion. He also asked members to wait for the suo-moto statement of the External Affairs Minister on the issue and opposed the suspension of question hour. The opposition, however, stuck to its stand and continued to press with its demand. Mr Laloo Prasad Yadav (RJD) even raised anti-US slogans in the house stating nothing was more important than the barbaric US attack on Iraq. Assurances by the Chairman on holding of the discussion fell to deaf ears as the opposition members continued to create noisy scenes. Mr Shekhawat subsequently adjourned the house for an hour.
MobileFirst to have new tariff structure
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
CHENNAI APRIL 7. MobileFirst, the alliance formed by four cellular operators BPL Mobile, Escotel, RPG and Spice Telecom plans to come out with a new tariff structure soon. The alliance will leverage the same to ensure that the best value is delivered on long distance tariffs and enable its members to tie-up with over 400 international networks and provide extended roaming reach. MobileFirst will offer enhanced value across tariffs, roaming, long distance calling and new generation technology and services to its three million subscribers. The President and Chief Executive Officer, BPL Mobile, along with Sonjay Mohanty of Escotel Mobile, Dilip R. Mehta, Managing Director, RPG Cellular, and Umang Das, Managing Director-Corporate Afairs, Spice Telecom, hoped to maintain its individual identity in spite of its strategic move to come together to leverage synergies. All the four players will come out with individual schemes, which will supplement the schemes that are brought out by the individuals. The Business Heads of all the four cellular companies said the alliance would also deliver a common customer relationship management platform to provide home network experience anywhere/anytime to its subscribers.
Republican NRIs form organisation in Virginia
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
Republican non-Resident Indians in an American state have set up an organisation to work with the local and national units of the party and participate actively in formulation of important policies at the state level. The organisation called the 'Indian American Republican Council of Virginia' has been set up in the state of Virginia. The Republican NRIs will also actively participate in the formulation of policies of importance to Virginia. The Board of Directors of the new organisation include a long-time Republican, Dr Gopal S Pai, a dentist who was appointed to the Presidential Committee of the National Medial of Science by former President Ronald Reagan. 09:18 IST
Hurley says yes to Nayar's proposal
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
British actress Elizabeth Hurley has agreed to marry her Indian-origin millionaire boyfriend Arun Nayar, but only after he divorces his Italian wife. Arun, 37, proposed to 36-year old Hurley when she flew down to Mumbai to meet his parents recently, according to the 'Daily Telegraph'. Although Arun's mother was delighted, the grandmother reportedly disapproved of the marriage as she likes his Italian wife Valentina Pedroni. She and his father Kailash Nayar, strongly disapproved their kissing in public and said nice girls from good families do not display such affections in the open. But when Nayar proposed to Hurley, she said "yes" immediately as she feels her son Damien by the Hollywood's multi-millionaire producer Steve Bing, needs a father figure. Besides, Danian and Arun have hit off well, the report said. Hurley has told her close friends that she and Arun will not announce their engagement until he gets his divorce. They are said to be blissfully happy being together. Hurley says she has found her soul-mate and she is 100 per cent sure he is the man for her. "He is very serious about committing to Liz (Elizabeth). Deep down, she is a traditional girl and never wanted things to work out as they did," her friend told the daily. Valentina, meanwhile, is fretting and fuming that her best friend had stolen her husband. The divorce could be a lengthy affair. Arun told the media that he would not like to comment. So did Hurley's spokesman.
Pak to respond appropriately if India test-fires Agni III
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
Pakistan has said it would take "appropriate" steps if India test-fired Agni III long-range ballistic missile while asserting that it also has a right to launch a pre-emptive strike if the other side thinks the same way. Pakistan would take "appropriate" steps on how to respond to India's plans to test-fire Agni III missile when the time comes, Pakistan Information Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said on Monday. Reacting to Defence Minister George Fernandes' remarks that India is developing and making all efforts to test fire the missile, he said that Pakistan was not interested in arms race and does not want to be provoked. "But, it finds itself constrained to do something when an aggressive country makes futile attempts to intimidate us," he said, adding "if they want us to be intimidated by such acts they are totally mistaken. We know how to defend our motherland." Referring to External Affairs Minister Yaswant Sinha's assertions that India has a better case for pre-emptive strike against Pakistan that US had against Iraq, Sheikh Rashid said Islamabad too has a similar right. "India is a fit case for pre-emptive strike," he said. Rashid alleged that "India is taking unjustified advantage of our sincerity. If India thinks, and could do so, we also have the right to go for pre-emptive strike." He also charged India with possessing chemical and biological weapons besides nuclear weapons and that it kept some of them with a neighbouring country. He, however, did not name the neighbour. 10:18 IST
First SARS suspect improving: Minister
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
An American tourist who was admitted for a suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrom at Kasturba Gandhi hospital here, was improving, according to Maharashtra Health Minister Digvijay Khanvilkar. "Rebecca Raleigh is admitted to the special isolation ward as a precautionary measure on Monday. However, the investigations are being conducted about the type of infection she has and by this evening, we would be able to say something," Khanvilkar told today. "Since she had travelled widely through China, Cambodia, Vietnam and Thailand before coming to India earlier this month, we suspect the symptoms to be related to SARS and we want to rule out the possibility by conducting necessary tests", he said. Raleigh had arrived in the city on April three, Khanvilkar said adding she complained of high fever and got herself admitted to Jaslok Hospital before being shifted to Kasturba Gandhi Hospital.
Musharraf-Jamali discuss Sinha's remarks on pre-emptive strike
Monday, April 7, 2003
Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali discussed External Affairs Minister Yaswant Sinha's remarks on pre-emptive military action, saying any "misadventure" by India could be met with full force. After two days of strong statements denouncing Sinha's remarks that New Delhi has a better right to take pre-emptive action against Pakistan than United States against Iraq, Jamali met Musharraf on Saturday night and discussed impact of the remarks. "Both leaders discussed matters which included the threat of pre-emptive strike by India against Pakistan," local daily Dawn quoted officials as saying. During the meeting, Musharraf informed Jamali about the state of preparedness of the armed forces saying any misadventure by India would be met with full force, the daily said. They agreed that anti-Pakistan statements by the Indian leaders were meant to win the coming elections in 10 Indian states, the officials told the daily. Pakistan has already reacted sharply to Sinha's statement saying Pakistan's armed forces were fully prepared to retaliate any military strikes by India. Besides the India-Pakistan standoff, Jamali and Musharraf discussed the Iraq war and its impact on Pakistan. The two expressed "serious concern" over the war on Iraq and said Pakistan should continue to work closely with France, Germany Russia and China to achieve the United Nations' centrality over Iraq crisis. The two also discussed food and relief supplies to be sent to war-raved Iraq. 18:04 IST
Inflation at six per cent; petrol, diesel prices soar
Monday, April 7, 2003
Gripped by the onslaught of war on Iraq, petrol and diesel prices surged by four per cent causing inflation to surpass all the previous highs to touch six per cent for the week ended March 22 against a mere 1.63 per cent in the year-ago period. A sharp two per cent hike in domestic prices of fuels led to 0.43 per cent rise in point-to-point inflation, as measured by Wholesale Price Index (WPI), to 5.99 per cent for the week in review from previous week's level of 5.56 per cent, belying RBI's hopes of a "stable" scenario on the price front. WPI rose by 0.5 per cent to 171.6 as compared to 170.8 in the previous year on account of price hike in the manufactured products, even as prices of primary articles, mainly fruits and vegetables, declined, giving little respite to public. The index was 161.9 in the previous year. The final WPI stood corrected at 168.3 for the week ended January 25 as compared to provisional level of 168 and final inflation was at 4.79 per cent as against the provisional mark of 4.61 per cent. A sharp one per cent fall in the price of food articles pushed down the index for Primary Articles' group by 0.6 per cent to 177.3, even as non-food items became cheaper and the index was 167.4 in the year-ago period. Food Articles' group became cheaper as prices fell for fish-inland (nine per cent), mutton (seven per cent), jowar (three per cent), barley, vegetables and fruits (two per cent each) and bajra (one per cent). Prices, however, soared for urad and eggs (two per cent each) and rice and wheat (one per cent each).
Import oil bill for 2002-03 at Rs 840 billion: Naik
Monday, April 7, 2003
India's oil import bill for the just ended fiscal 2002-03 is pegged at around Rs 840 billion, higher by Rs 60 billion compared to the previous year, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Ram Naik said today. "The country imports about 70 per cent of its crude requirments and in FY-03 the bill is estimated to have reached Rs 840 billion mainly due to increased volatility in international crude prices", Naik said at the "Energium 2003" exhibition here. Even if import came down by one per cent, it could save Rs 8.4 billion, he said, emphasising the need for conservation. The prices have gone up from US dollar 19-20 per barrel of crude in February 2002 to about USD 36 per barrel in recent times and this has affected economies worldwide, he said. Referring to state-owned oil companies not revising the prices for the fortnight ended April one, the minister said "the war situation was uncertain. During first few days of the fortnight the price was about USD 33-34, which again came down to around 25-26 in the end and so they decided to wait". Naik said the country has enough stock for 60 days and even during the war, production and supply of crude has not been disrupted. "We do purchase from Kuwait, which is also in the war shadow but as per our contingency plan, we have diversifed our purchase resources and hence are not finding any difficulty in supplies", he explained. On food-for-oil programme with Iraq, he said "we did not import or export anything for last 6-8 months (from Iraq) as the UN committee did not recommend any quota for India". 15:38 IST
India beat New Zealand 4-1 to qualify for world group playoff
Monday, April 7, 2003
Leaving behind his disappointment in the opening singles, the talented Rohan Bopanna came good at the right moment fashioning an emphatic straight set win over James Shortall to lead India to the Davis Cup World Group play-off with a thumping 4-1 triumph over New Zealand here on Sunday. It proved to be a highly rewarding day for the hosts, as estranged doubles pair leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi renunited on the court, albeit briefly, in the morning and played vintage tennis to overwhelm Alistair Hunt and Mark Nielsen and put the hosts ahead 2-1 in the Asia-Oceania group I second round tie. While Paes and Bhupathi won 6-3 6-2 6-2 in 100 minutes, Bopanna took 13 minutes less to beat Shortall 6-3 6-2 6-4 in the first reverse singles on the South Club lawns, reducing the fifth match into a dead rubber. Davis Cup wizard Paes then exhibited his awesome form once again, to steamroll a clueless Robert Cheyne 6-1 6-0 in the second reverse singles to register his 65th victory in the tournament. Paes had earlier scripted an authoritative straight set win over Mark Nielsen on Friday, before Bopanna went down to Alistair Hunt in a gruelling five setter Saturday. 18:04 IST
Shanta Kumar resigns from Union Cabinet
Monday, April 7, 2003
New Delhi,Sunday, April 06, 2003: Rural Development Minister Shanta Kumar on Sunday resigned from the Union Cabinet after he came under attack from the BJP leadership for indiscipline which was cited as one of the reasons for the party's debacle in the recent Assembly elections in Himachal Pradesh. Kumar, a former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh, met Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee this evening shortly after latter's return to the capital and submitted his resignation, sources said. Vajpayee forwarded Kumar's resignation to President A P J Abdul Kalam for acceptance. Urban Development minister Anant Kumar is likely to be given additional charge of Rural Development ministry. BJP's top leadership including Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani and party President Venkaiah Naidu had cited indsicipline as the prime reason for its defeat at the hustings in Himachal Pradesh. The resignation comes two days after Venkaiah Naidu said at the crucial National Executive meeting in Indore that "the standards of discipline in the Himachal unit(of BJP) let the party down badly." Kumar and the then Chief Minister P K Dhumal appeared to have temporarily patched up after the elections but the Union minister insisted that the verdict was people's response to the type of governnance provided by the latter's government. 20:55 IST
Ram temple issue to be solved through "negotiations": PM
Monday, April 7, 2003
Raipur,Sunday, April 06, 2003: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the Ram temple issue is "relevant" and would be resolved through negotiations. "Ram temple issue is very much relevant and it is to be solved through negotiations," Vajpayee told reporters at Mana airport here before leaving for Delhi. To a query, he said "the court has given its verdict and through discussions the Ram temple issue is being solved". On Iraq conflict, the Prime Minister said there is need for strengthening the UN so that it performs its responsibility. "There are some difficulties in that direction but with the help of non-aligned nations, India is taking steps so that the strength of the UN is continued and it performs its responsibility," Vajpayee said. To another query, he said the situation in Iraq and Kashmir are different. 13:38 IST
US, India forge defence, security alliance to contain China
Sunday, April 6, 2003
New York,Sunday, April 06, 2003: United States and India are forging long-term defence and security alliances aimed at containing China, which both see as an emerging regional and global power, Jane's Foreign Report has said quoting a "classified" US analysis. "China represents the most significant threat to both countries' security in the future as an economic and military competitor," the 130-page analysis, 'Indo-US military relationship: expectations and perceptions,' prepared for US Secretary of State for Defence Donald Rumsfeld, said. The analysis quoted an unidentified US admiral saying that a positive relationship with India was a "hedge" against future Chinese ambitions. "The USA and India both view China as a strategic threat and share an interest in understanding Chinese strategic intent, though we do not discuss this publicly," the admiral said. The report noted Indian and US views of China were "strikingly similar", predicated to keeping China out of the Indian Ocean region where, over the past decade, it has been making swift inroads. US officials, it said, think a "strategic engagement" with India could become a "future investment" of growing value if Asia became hostile and dangerous to a continuing US military presence in the region. If the US's relations with its traditional allies - Japan, South Korea and Saudi Arabia - become more fragile (and they are), India "should emerge as a vital component of US strategy," the report was quoted as saying. 10:50 IST
Inflation at six per cent; petrol, diesel prices soar
Sunday, April 6, 2003
New Delhi,Sunday, April 06, 2003: Gripped by the onslaught of war on Iraq, petrol and diesel prices surged by four per cent causing inflation to surpass all the previous highs to touch six per cent for the week ended March 22 against a mere 1.63 per cent in the year-ago period. A sharp two per cent hike in domestic prices of fuels led to 0.43 per cent rise in point-to-point inflation, as measured by Wholesale Price Index (WPI), to 5.99 per cent for the week in review from previous week's level of 5.56 per cent, belying RBI's hopes of a "stable" scenario on the price front. WPI rose by 0.5 per cent to 171.6 as compared to 170.8 in the previous year on account of price hike in the manufactured products, even as prices of primary articles, mainly fruits and vegetables, declined, giving little respite to public. The index was 161.9 in the previous year. The final WPI stood corrected at 168.3 for the week ended January 25 as compared to provisional level of 168 and final inflation was at 4.79 per cent as against the provisional mark of 4.61 per cent. A sharp one per cent fall in the price of food articles pushed down the index for Primary Articles' group by 0.6 per cent to 177.3, even as non-food items became cheaper and the index was 167.4 in the year-ago period. Food Articles' group became cheaper as prices fell for fish-inland (nine per cent), mutton (seven per cent), jowar (three per cent), barley, vegetables and fruits (two per cent each) and bajra (one per cent). Prices, however, soared for urad and eggs (two per cent each) and rice and wheat (one per cent each). 10:37 IST
SARS carriers can transmit killer disease: doctors
Sunday, April 6, 2003
SARS carriers can transmit killer disease: doctors New Delhi,Sunday, April 06, 2003: Silent carriers of symptoms of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) can transmit the killer disease, warns doctors. Not all the SARS patients have severe symptoms. Only 10-20 per cent need ventilator support and mortality is only three-four per cent, says Dr Randeep Guleria of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here. The difference between other forms of pneumonia and SARS is that the later is more infectious and the virus has not been identified so far, he said. A question being raised is whether asymptomatic carriers can transmit the disease and health officals admit this kind of transmission is a possibility. The problem is virus has not been identified with certainty. "Silent carriers" who themselves do not have any symptoms of SARS may be capable of transmitting the disease, Dr Sudhangshu Vrati of National Institute of Immunology said. Dr Shahid Jameel of International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) agreed but said information so far available indicates spread in this case occurs only by people who have active symptoms. Otherwise, there would have more cases, he added. Health experts say people are most likley to be infective when they have symptoms such as fever or cough. However, it is not known how long before or after their symptoms begin that patients with SARS might be able to transmit the disease to others.
NDA Govt must make Pak pay for abetting terrorism: BJP
Sunday, April 6, 2003
NDA Govt must make Pak pay for abetting terrorism: BJP Indore,Sunday, April 06, 2003: The BJP on Saturday said the NDA Government must act in a manner that Pakistan pays a "price" for its continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism while it maintained the US has not been able to rein in Islamabad. "The Government must now act in a manner that shows that Pakistan has paid a price for its continued sponsorship of cross-border terrorism. The United States has not been able to rein in Pakistan," said the political resolution adopted at the two-day National Executive of the party here. It also criticised the PDP-Congress coalition Government in Jammu and Kashmir and said it must stop its "laxity towards terrorists and anti-India elements". Their resolution said the massacre of 24 Kashmiri Pandits in Nadimarg in Jammu and Kashmir last week was a "grave and intolerable" development. In an eight-page resolution moved by General Secretary Pramod Mahajan, the Party told the Government that the Constitution Amendment Bill for reservation of women in Lok Sabha and State Assemblies should be passed without any delay. Steps should also be initiated to introduce in the current session of Parliament a bill for evolving financial and administrative powers on Panchayat Raj institutions. It wanted scrapping of the Illegal Migrant Detection Act which it said has been proved to be detrimental in throwing out illegal migrants from Bangladesh. 10:37 IST
Vajpayee appears to doubt Iraq's possession of WMD
Sunday, April 6, 2003
Bilaspur,Sunday, April 06, 2003: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee on Saturday appeared to doubt if Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction, one of the grounds on which the United States and Britain launched the war against the West Asian country. "No government has the right to have weapon that kills thousands of people. But does Iraq has that kind of weapon?" the Prime Minister said addressing a public meeting here. Terming the invasion of Iraq as unilateral, Vajpayee said the "world will not approve of unilateral decisions" and there was every need to strengthen the UN system. "Manmani ho rahi hai aur duniya manmani bardast nahin karegi. Humko shantise mamla hal karna hai" (We are witnessing whims of a few countries and the world will not tolerate whims)," he said. Pointing out that foreign nations wanted India to support them (in the war), the Prime Minister said India did not want to get into that controversy since war is not the solution. "There is every need to strengthen the United Nations which is being ignored", he added. 10:37 IST
India making efforts to test fire 'Agni-III': Fernandes
Sunday, April 6, 2003
New Delhi,Sunday, April 06, 2003: India is developing 'Agni-III', a long-range surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying nuclear warheads, and is making all efforts to test fire it this year, according to Defence Minister George Fernandes. "The test firing of Agni-III is overdue and we feel the need for that long-range missile as part of our policy of deterrence," he told in an interview. Asked as to what would be the range of Agni-III, Fernandes said it would have a strike capacity longer than Agni-II, which has a range of over 2000 kms. India is in possession of surface-to-surface missiles, 700-km range Agni-I and Agni II, which are both capable of carrying nuclear weapons. To a question as to when Agni-III would be test fired, the Minister said "the date has not been firmed up. Effort is to see that it is test fired this year". On whether Agni-I and Agni-II have been deployed with the armed forces, Fernandes said "well, they are available for deployment". Replying to a question on if these missiles would be with the strategic forces or the Army, he said "that will depend on the situation that will demand their use". Fernandes replied in the affirmative when asked if Agni-I and Agni-II were being produced. 10:37 IST
Four members of a family killed in MIG crash
Saturday, April 5, 2003
A MiG-23 fighter of the Indian Air Force today crashed over a residential area at a village, 20 km from here, killing four members of a family but the pilot bailed out safely. A child belonging to the family remained buried in the debris and its fate was not known after the wreckage of the aircraft fell over five houses at Mullanpur Dakha substantially damaging them. Rescue workers at the site had earlier reported that the child was among those killed, but later a senior police officer said that since the child was still buried he may be alive. The pilot identified as Flt Lt P S Gill ejected safely after detecting an unspecified fault seconds before the aircraft came hurtling down in flames, IAF sources said. A Court of Inquiry has been ordered into the accident. Eyewitnesses also reported the fighter coming down in flames around 10.30 a.m after it took off on a routine training sortie from Halwara Air Base in Punjab. The Black Box of the ill-fated aircraft has been recovered and could give clues to the probable cause of the crash, senior IAF officials told reporters. While the bodies of three persons of Bimla Devi's family were recovered from the debris, she succumbed to burn injuries this afternoon in the Dayanand Medical Hospital at Ludhiana where she was rushed from the spot with four other injured. Those killed were Devi's son Raju (30), daughter-in-law Paramjit Kaur, who was six months pregnant, and a 15 year old boy Sunny, who had come on a visit from Ludhiana. 16:08 IST
LeT behind Pandya killing, Mumbai blast: Advani
Saturday, April 5, 2003
Deputy Prime Minister L K Advani today said Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Toiba was behind the killing of Gujarat Home Minister Haren Pandya, Nadimarg massacre and the Mumbai train blast. "According to investigations carried out by Intelligence Bureau in the last two-three weeks, the hand of Pakistan- backed Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT) has been confirmed behind the massacre of Kashmiri Pandits in Pulwama, the killing of Pandya and the blast in the ladies compartment of a local train in Mumbai," Advani said addressing a public rally on the first day of BJP Executive meeting. The BJP-led NDA government has achieved great success in checking ISI activities in the country, he said adding India has defeated Pakistan four times in direct confrontation and do it again decisively in the proxy war waged againt India. 22:06 IST
Vajpayee charges MP govt with manipulating electoral rolls
Saturday, April 5, 2003
Virtually launching BJP's election campaign in Madhya Pradesh, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and other party top brass today made a scathing attack on the Digvijay Singh Government charging it with manipulating electoral rolls and bungling in land distribution among dalits and tribals. Addressing a mammoth public meeting on the first day of the party's two-day National Executive here, Vajpayee said the yardstick of the performance of any government was its attitude towards the dalits. "How much the condition of dalits has improved in Madhya Pradesh? Was the land distributed properly? Has land gone into wrong hands in the name of land distribution among dalits," Vajpayee asked in his 30-minute address at the Nehru Stadium. Referring to the discrepancies in the electoral roll in the state, Vajpayee said "polls should be fought honestly, not by bungling electoral rolls. If voters list is not in order, how can polls be? "How did fake names find place in the rolls? At which stage did the bungling take place. If the electoral rolls can be in order in Jammu and Kashmir, why should it not be in Madhya Pradesh. This anomaly should be rectified forthwith," he said. The Prime Minister asked Congress not to try to win polls by bungling. "People know they were cheated earlier also. They are awakened now," he said. 22:06 IST
India dismisses Pak threat as 'knee-jerk' reaction
Saturday, April 5, 2003
India today dismissed as "knee-jerk" reaction Pakistan's threat to use "full force" to any Indian "misadventure" and asserted that if Islamabad gave up its politics of terror, there would be no talk of military tension. "These are knee-jerk reactions which essentially arise from Pakistan's sense of vulnerability which in turn arise from its sense of guilt," External Affairs Ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters. He was asked about Islamabad's angry reaction to External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha's assertion that India has the right to take pre-emptive military action against Pakistan on the lines of US war against Iraq if one were to take into account considerations that it has weapons of mass destruction and that it continues to be the epicenter of terrorism. Pakistan would retaliate with "full force" if India launches pre-emptive strikes, Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali said adding "the people of Pakistan and armed forces would give a befitting reply." Also striking an aggressive posture on Sinha's remarks, his Pakistani counterpart Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri said "Pakistan rejects the doctrine of pre-emption. Its security, however, is not based on mere legal doctrines. Any misadventure by India will be met with full force." "If Pakistan would only give up its politics of terror, then there would be no talk of military tension, leave alone talk of pre-emptive action," Sarna said. "Pakistan instead of focusing on imaginary scenarios should focus on the action they they need to take on the ground. Then, they would make these imaginary scenarios unimaginary," he added. 18:06 IST
Protracted Iraq war to hurt India's competitiveness: CII
Saturday, April 5, 2003
Confederation of Indian Industries President Ashok Soota said today a protracted war in Iraq would lead to the exchange rate heading "southwards" and rapidly hitting Rs 50 a USD, hurting India's global competitiveness. Soota told a press conference here that the protracted war (45 days to 60 days) would also result in inflation temporarily shooting up above five per cent. The spendings on information technology in the US could go down, affecting Indian IT exports and intensifying price pressures in at least Q1, Q2 and Q3 of the next fiscal year. However, Soota hastened to add that Indian economy had tremendous resilience and it could catch up after war. On reconstruction of Iraq once the US-led military campaign against Baghdad was over, he said India was well-equipped to make a contribution in rebuilding infrastructure. But it all depended on who would control Iraq then, he said.
Indian community in China cautioned over SARS
Saturday, April 5, 2003
India today cautioned its citizens in mainland China and Hong Kong to take precautions against the deadly atypical pneumonia epidemic that has so far claimed 62 lives and affected over 1,900 in the country. In a notice posted on the website of the Indian embassy here, it was pointed out that a new type of illness, called the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) - also known as atypical pneumonia - has been reported in parts of southern China, Hong Kong and some other countries over the past month. It said that travellers to mainland China and Hong Kong should decide after taking into account the travel advisories issued by the World Health Organisation and relevant governments. While no case of SARS has been reported from the Indian community in mainland China and Hong Kong, officials at the Indian missions are monitoring the situation very closely and is keeping contact with the Indian community, official sources told. In mainland China, SARS has officially been reported in Beijing municipality, Guangdong, Guangxi, Hunan, Shanxi and Sichuan provinces. Especially in Hong Kong, where there are over 20,000 Indians, the authorities are keeping a close watch on the situation, which during the past two days has showed some signs of improvement. The Department of Health in Hong Kong reported 26 new cases yesterday, compared with 23 on Wednesday. These figures represent a significant decline from the 155 cases reported on Tuesday and 60 reported on Monday. "This trend suggests that the extraordinary control measures undertaken by the government are working," the WHO said. 15:13 IST
Raveena
Friday, April 4, 2003
By CelebnCeleb.com She is a National Award winner alright. But, there's more to Raveena Tandon than talent and looks. She has just turned producer with Stumped and Pehchaan. She is ravishingly beautiful and talented. In one of those rare cases, she made a successful comeback after a three-year-sabbatical, nursing a broken heart. Now, Raveena Tandon says she is focussed on work, and work alone. She has indeed come a long way from being a 'Chitrahaar' queen, doing stray item numbers in someone else's films, to being the natural choice of directors like Kalpana Lajmi and Madhur Bhandarkar, when it comes to challenging roles. With one National Award (for Daman) already on her shelf, Raveena seems to be in the fray for yet another with her portrayal of a gritty politician in Satta. But, there's more to Raveena than acting. She has turned producer with Stumped, a film that deals with the Indian obsession with cricket. On the sets of her second film as producer, Pehchaan, Raveena, the actress-turned-producer, takes time off to answer a few questions. You are majorly into realistic roles. Is it that the glam girl image has gone for a toss? Not at all. It's not that I am concentrating on a particular type of image. I have been trying to do different kind of roles. In Feroze Nadiadwala's Aan I am playing a club dancer. In Ek Se Badkar Ek I am playing a glamour girl. But yes, I am looking for scripts that really excite me, which may not fall into the regular Hindi film bracket. You already have a national award tucked under your arm. Are you looking for a repeat with Satta? Whenever I have gone looking for something in life, it has never come to me. So, I never plan my life and I never expect things. Not just of this film, but of any other. If it works, great. If it doesn't work, I will work harder for the next film. Anyway, an award is always great to receive. It feels good to be appreciated. But, if it has to come, it will come. If you keep waiting for it, you might be disappointed, because it might just not come. How are you as a producer? Are you the interfering sort? When I see things getting disorganised and going out of hand, then I put my foot down. Otherwise, I do my own stuff. If I am confident that they can handle it without me, I leave it to them. What are the other projects in the pipeline, as an actress and as a producer? Right now, there's a film that is being talked over with Deepa Mehta. Then, there is another one being finalised with E.Niwas. As an actress, there's Sandhya, Ek Se Badkar Ek, Aan and two more new films, which I will be starting now. You have adopted two girls. Could you narrate one instance which makes it all worthwhile? It's worthwhile every night when I go back. Every night, both of them (Raveena's second cousin's daughters) are there waiting for me. Otherwise, they call me up and ask, 'Bua (aunt), what time are you coming home?' Then they will cook something. As soon as I reach, they will both prop me up on the bed. One will dabao (massage) one foot while the other will massage the other. And they will ask, 'Where is it hurting? Did you dance on your heels the whole day again? Why do you wear your heels?' They will give me a big lecture. Then, they will say, 'No, you have to eat. We have made some soup for you.' Actually, they mother me more than me mothering them! (laughs). Considering that you have gone through it all - acceptance, rejection, failure and success - are there any guidelines you give your daughters? Yeah, I do it all the time. I tell them incidents, both professional and personal, and make them learn from my mistakes. Right now they are studying. So I advise them to study well. Besides your daughters and films, you are into a lot of charity work. Do you feel complete? Or do you feel the need for a relationship? At the moment, I don't miss a relationship. But, I think these things are destined. If it's meant to happen, it just happens one day, yaar. You can't really plan this. It's not like I have closed doors to it or I am cynical. I am open to it. But, the day I meet the right person, that will be it, yaar. So, what is your concept of an ideal man? Someone who holds on to middle class values. Nowadays, you see these upper society kids at parties, all smoked up with coke. It is ridiculous. I don't call this upbringing. Most of them don't even know where their wives are going. There is no understanding left anymore. They don't realise that two people in a marriage have to share their lives together. I am looking for a very simple person who is prepared to share the rest of his life with me, and who has got his middle-class values, morals and culture well-grounded.
Hindi film remixes earn original makers' ire
Friday, April 4, 2003
MUMBAI: An album called DJ Dolly featuring a re-mix of a 1970s Lata Mangeshkar chartbuster Bangle Ke Peeche has triggered off a debate on aesthetics in the film industry. The music video of the song shows a young woman at a pub perusing a porn magazine for women and then, as the insistent beats play in the background, thrusting her bosom and pelvis into the camera for a dance that turns the original playful rhythms into an accompaniment for mock copulation. Understandably, the singer whose art has been appropriated and subverted without her permission is miffed. Says Lata: "The whole business of re-mixing old songs by me, my sister Asha, Kishore Kumar and Mohammed Rafi has bothered me for a long time. But what they've done to my Bangle Ke Peeche is downright obscene. What a pretty R.D. Burman composition! And how can it be reduced to such vulgarity?" Within the film industry filmmakers like Sanjay Leela Bhansali and Suneel Darshan, who are ardent admirers of Lata Mangeshkar, express dismay and embarrassment over the video-vitalised and vandalised tune. The song was originally sung for director Prakash Mehra's Samadhi. Composer Aadesh Shrivastava is even more vocal. "Each time Bangle Ke Peeche by DJ Dolly comes on television, my 10-year son switches off the television. He's embarrassed on our behalf. We regard Lataji as our Saraswati mata. "How could anyone do this to one of her songs? It's surprising to know that a woman has directed this music video. Earlier the same team had done the re-mix of an old R.D. Burman song, Yeh Vaada Raha. "I remember sitting with Rishi Kapoor who had starred in the film Yeh Vaada Raha, watching the music video by Sapru and Rao. And Rishi was horrified." Those in the film industry aren't the only ones objecting. The information and broadcasting ministry has reportedly objected to 13 Hindi songs that are being screened on music channels these days and most of these are remixes. Three channels have been served notices over airing these numbers. But business-creative partners and co-directors Radhika Rao and Vinay Sapru, formerly employees with Universal Music, seem unperturbed by the backlash. Says Sapru: "Frankly, we created the same impact with our earlier music video Kaliyon Ka Chaman (another Lata Mangeshkar melody). But now our remix of Bangle Ke Peeche has become a bigger rage! The entire nation is singing it." The fact that royalty issues are being sidestepped to create a Gen-X version of an old classic doesn't seem to bother Sapru. "Radhika Rao and I hit upon the concept for this album while we were in Hong Kong. There we came across this concept of 'Deejay Doll'. We decided to set up a brand called DJ Doll. My partner and I have devised the entire project." The identity of the girl singing in the music video is being kept a secret. "Curiosity is always the best incentive for good sales," says Sapru, laughing off charges of vulgarity. "Some people may find Bangle Ke Peeche vulgar. Vulgarity depends on the individual's perception. We were interested in creating a hit. If the entire nation is rocking to Bangle Ke Peeche, how can it be considered vulgar? "Every era defines vulgarity differently. In the 1960s a woman in a bikini would be considered vulgar. Looking on a mass scale our album 'DJ Dolly' is a success at a time when nothing seems to be working. And that's what counts. It's been at No.1 for eight weeks." The success of the raunchy re-mix threatens to trigger off a chain reaction of recycled evergreens where the inherent innocence of the originals will be transformed into suggestive terms, with not a care for the original creators.
Aamir, Naseer, Rakhee get Padma awards
Friday, April 4, 2003
PTI NEW DELHI: Bollywood actors Naseeruddin Shah, Aamir Khan and Danny Dengzongpa and versatile actress Raakhee Gulzar on Thursday stole the limelight at the presentation of Padma awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Khan, the 38-year old Lagaan hero, who has won many film awards, said "this award is more important to me". Thanking his large fan following for the love and affection bestowed on him for the last 15 years, Aamir Khan, who received the Padma Shri award from President A P J Abdul Kalam, said "I will keep working and hope to continue to do a good job". Recipient of the coveted Padma Bhushan award, 53-year Shah, also a theatre personality and known for his powerful portrayals, said "I am proud to receive this award. I am grateful to the government to have thought it fit to consider me for it. "Unlike other awards, this is not a competition. Nobody lost because of me. It is a recognition of what we have done. It has happened at the right time," he said. Raakhee, who has been widely acclaimed for acting her roles with characteristic sublime strength in films like Kabhie-Kabhie, Sharmeeli, Daag, 27 Down and Karan Arjun, chose to be very brief when asked for her thoughts on receiving the Padma Shri award. "It is very nice". Lauding the Bollywood recipients was actor-turned- politician and Minsiter of State for External Affairs Vinod Khanna. 47-year old Teejan Bai, who sang her way to many a heart with her soulful bhajans and folk songs, received the Padma Bhushan award to loud applause.
Arbaaz denies Vivek's allegation
Friday, April 4, 2003
PTI MUMBAI: Actor Arbaaz Khan on Wednesday denied that his elder brother and film star Salman Khan had threatened upcoming actor Vivek Oberoi on telephone and dismissed his allegations as "false and baseless". "Salman is a bigger star than Vivek. To become a star everyone in the industry is targetting Salman," Arbaaz told reporters here. Vivek had on Wednesday alleged that Salman had telephoned him 41 times in a single night and warned him to keep away from actresses Aishwarya Rai, Rani Mukherji and Somi Ali or else he would kill him. Arbaaz denied that his brother had threatened Vivek on telephone. "This is not true", he said. Salman left for London early on Wednesday but before leaving he denied Vivek's allegation saying he had never threatened him and he would give a detailed denial on his return.
I'm not a billionaire, - Amitabh
Friday, April 4, 2003
MUMBAI: A report calling him one of India's 20 billionaires has got Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan chuckling. "I'm very surprised at the report, and flattered. I've spoken to British TV channel Eastern Eye (which undertook the billionaires survey). But we've never spoken about my wealth or the lack of it," Amitabh said. "Do you think I'm the kind of person who would talk about money in public? It's vulgar. Besides, it's just not true, though I wish it were! The fact of the matter is I've no money." Amitabh is currently busy shooting for Raj Kumar Santoshi's Khaki. His new beardless look has gone down well with many. For his next release, Armaan, he sports an all-silver visage. "Director Honey Irani wanted it that way," he says. According to a publicity campaign launched by Sahara India, he is going to feature in a television serial for the company. Is it true? "I've the highest regard possible for the Sahara chief. If he asks me to mop the floor of his office I'll happily do so!" Amitabh says.
Aishwarya in Mumbai's Hinduja Hospital
Friday, April 4, 2003
PTI MUMBAI: Bollywood actress Aishwarya Rai, who was injured on the sets of the movie Khaki near Nasik on Wednesday, is undergoing detailed medical investigations at Hinduja Hospital here, sources said. "The duration of her stay in the hospital will be decided by the doctors after investigations are over", they said on Thursday. Rai was injured when a jeep accidentally hit her near Trimbakeshwar, about 25 km from Nasik, during the shooting of the Raj Kumar Santoshi film. She was flown to Mumbai and admitted to the Hinduja Hospital late on Wednesday night. She has a minor fracture in her left feet, the sources said.
I hope I grow up soon -Amrita Arora
Friday, April 4, 2003
Amrita Arora has had two releases but not one hit she can call her own. Though Awara Paagal Deewana was a hit she was reduced to playing a glam doll in the film. No harm done feels Amrita. "Song and dance roles are part and parcel of the industry," she cooes. She doesn’t rely on her close association to the Khan family nor does she mind her sister Maliaka hogging the limelight. Amrita is just waiting patiently for her time to come and drop that much needed hit in her lap. Tell us about your role in Ek Aur Ek Gyarah? My character is called Pinky who is a childish and animated girl. She is full of life and bubbly just like me. But she has a marked characteristic in her which is getting her worked done by sweet talking people and blinding them with her sexuality. She knows she has something very different about her and she uses it in a comic way. How was it working with Subhash Ghai? Fabulous. He was very involved as a producer. He was all there but never interfering gave us rocking budgets never cutting back on anything. He came on the sets to check if things were in order but never to tell anyone how to do it. We never had a problem dates were on time, payments on time. So do banners make a difference at the box office? Oh yes they do. You see if a not so well known banner film was released and pitted against a well known maker’s banner people will want to see the well known maker’s film first. That is only because you know he will give you value for money and it will be an entertaining experience. Then maybe the less known maker’s film might be better but first it will be the known guy’s turn. Then once people know that the other film is good they will want to watch it. So a good big banner assures initial which is important to any film. Then of course it is the merit of the film which matters the most. As you have known director David Dhawan since a long time, what do you think of his kind of movies? I think they are fun and entertaining. And trust me I am not saying this because I did a film with him. He has a talent for comedy and he uses it to the best of his ability. I have known David Dhawan since a while now. So there was never a moment that I didn’t feel comfortable working with him. He knew what he wanted and we all gave our best in the scenes. I feel he gave hindi films a new type of comedy by initiating his style since Aankhen. Tell me another director who has his own style of comedy? You have known Sanjay Dutt too. Yeah isn’t it funny I got to work with people I have known since ages. But working with Sanju was different. He was self-conscious because of my friendship with him as he thinks of me as a little girl and not a grownup one at all. I am little Amu to him. He has always been chummy with the Khans moreover my sister Maliaka and Sanjay’s wife Rhea are good friends. I could sense that he was uneasy about doing romance scenes with me. But later things went off well and I think we both look good together. Govinda and you had a problem during one of his films, so what was the status quo between you two? Yeah the film was Waah Tera Kya Kehna. I was dropped from the film. So Govinda and I had a problem but then it is old news and the film has come and gone. We buried the hatchet way before the film started. We were cool and he would even joke with me. It was cool What changes do you find in yourself after taking up acting? Not much. I have retained my innocence I think. But I hope I grow up soon. I hope the industry toughens me sooner. There are times when I feel oh god why didn’t I think of it or why am I not more mature? I am definitely mature after my first film. I haven’t learnt to play games with people yet. People tell me to wake up and smell the coffee. Why are you in the Amu land? I don’t want to toughen myself and make myself guarded as I feel I will lose myself. I want it to happen naturally. What are your forthcoming films? I have a film called Shart with Tusshar Kapoor and Gauri, which is a remake of south film Badri. Tanuja Chandra’s next with Rahul Khanna and another film produced by Yagnesh Shetty called Naam with Karan Nath and Dino Morea. Then I have another film with Mr Ghai starting soon. .
Chura Liya Hai Tumne
Friday, April 4, 2003
Director: Sangeeth Sivan Producer: Pantaloon Cast: Esha Deol, Gulshan Grover, Salil Ankola and Zayad Khan Rating: * * * Remake of the 60s Hollywood hit Charade that starred Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn, Chura Liya Hai Tumne is not as entertaining as the original. Nevertheless it does at times succeed in holding your attention. Vijay (Zayad Khan) meets Tina (Esha Deol) in Goa. They instantly fall in love. Life is bliss till Tina receives a mysterious call. She is summoned to Bangkok. On landing there Tina learns that her uncle who died in a car accident was wanted in India for a 10 crore heist that he had committed. Tina also learns that were four other accomplices involved with her uncle. Shocked and jolted by the news, Tina resorts to help from Vijay. The three accomplices Om (Gulshan Grover), Sheena (Rakhi Sawant) and Chingaar (vijay raaz) begin to trouble Tina. Tina at this point also discovers that Vijay is not Vijay but Prakash Yogi and that he is the brother of a fourth accomplice of her uncle. Tina now doesn't know whom to turn to. Worse is when Sheena and Chingaar get mysteriously murdered. An interesting storyline Chura Liya Hia Tumne keeps you glued to your seat not allowing you to blink even once. Unlike most films where the climax usually falls flat, the suspense in the climax is simply electrifying. One only wishes that Zayed's mysterious persona could have been revealed only in the climax and not at the interval point. Music by Himesh Reshammiya is mediocre. T.Ramji's cinematography is first-rate. Bangkok and Thailand have been captured beautifully. Director Sangeeth Sivan deserves a pat on the back for handling some sequences with utmost precision and talent. Amongst the cast Gulshan Grover, Salil Ankola, Rakhi Sawant and Vijay Raaz make an impact. Esha Deol is good. But the one to deserve the praise is Zayad Khan. He lives to the expectations and would have made more impact had he only not worn those ugly glares and cropped his hair short in the scenes. Watch it if you have the time to kill!
Ek Aur Ek Gyarah
Friday, April 4, 2003
Director: David Dhawan Producer: Mukta Arts Music: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy Cast: Govinda, Sanjay Dutt, Amrita Arora Tara (Govinda) and Sitara (Sanjay Dutt) are crooks. They accidentally land up in border town. Which border and town? Don’t even bother to ask. It is only David Dhawan who could answer that one! Meanwhile brother Cobra (Ashish Vidhyarathi) and Pantheri (Gulshan Grover) are busy trying to smuggle sophisticated arms into the country. Ram Singh (Jackie Shroff) an honest and upright police officer spoils their plans and locks up Cobra in highly guarded jail. Tara, Sitara, Ram Singh, Panther thus keep bumping into each other under the most unbelievable circumstances. Tara and Sitara even take shelter in Ram Singh’s house Tara falls for Ram Singh’s sister Pinky (Nandini Singh) while Sitara loses is heart out to Priti (Amrita Arora). Please don’t confuse them for the singers Pinky and Priti. Every now and then they break into a song in the skimpiest of clothes. The climax of course has our heroes beat the villains black and blue. Music directors Shankar-Ehsaan and Loy score some inspiring music. Govinda tires to work out the Shola Aur Shabnam and Haseena Maan Jaayegi magic but he overdoes it times. Sanjay Dutt attempt to perform comic roles falls flat on its face. One wonders what scriptwriter Yunus Sajawal had in mind while penning down this inane story. Amrita Arora and Nandini Singh are there to show skin rather than talent. As for David Dhawan, Ek Aur Ek Gyarah will only bajaofy his barah, especially when it comes to his career as a director.
Hindutva soul of India: Venkaiah
Friday, April 4, 2003
Bharatiya Janata Party president M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday asked his party members to prepare for this year's polls in four Congress-ruled states. Delivering the inaugural address at the two-day BJP national executive meeting, he said, "The battle in the four states [Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Chhattisgarh] has to be taken as a semifinal before the final onslaught... in the general election next year." He expressed unhappiness with the party's preparations and urged the members to draw up a detailed programme to tell the people about the 'misrule in these states'. "Obviously, discipline should top the agenda. The party has to take initiatives to curb indiscipline. We shall always remind ourselves that while performance of the government provides the right launching pad... it is the discipline of the leaders and workers that makes the difference," Naidu said. Naidu said the BJP must learn from its defeat in the Himachal Pradesh election. "Cultural nationalism is our lifeline and Hindutva is the soul of India." He paid tributes to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for completing five years in office. The BJP president criticised the Mufti Mohammed Sayeed-led government in Jammu and Kashmir for its healing touch policy. He said the role of the Congress, which is a partner in the J&K government, is 'worrisome'. "I would like to warn the Congress party that it would be held accountable for the consequences of the deteriorating situation in J&K," he said. It is time for the Congress to review its Kashmir policy, he added. He also accused the Congress and its allies of denigrating freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar, who had made 'stellar sacrifices'.
Dravid bowled over by a Nagpur girl
Friday, April 4, 2003
Nagpur: Indian cricket team's vice-captain and one of the most eligible bachelors in the country Rahul Dravid was bowled over by a city girl. Dravid, known as 'the wall' for his solid defence on any pitch, was won over by Vijeta Pendharkar, sources close to the family said here on Tuesday. During the just concluded World Cup in South Africa, he had hinted that he was going tie the nupital knot soon but kept his choice a closely guarded secret. The marriage would be solemnised in Bangalore on May 4 and the reception held here on May 10. Dr Vijeta has done MS from Government Medical College here and is the daughter of Wing Commander (retd) SP Pendharkar and dietician Jayashree Pendharkar. Pendharkars remained tight-lipped about the much awaited marriage.
Pak will retaliate with full force if attacked by India
Friday, April 4, 2003
Reacting angrily to External Affairs Minister Yaswant Sinha's assertion that India has the right to take pre-emptive military action against Pakistan on the lines of US war against Iraq, Islamabad on Thursday said it would retaliate with "full force" to any "misadventure" by New Delhi. Pakistan would retaliate with "full force" if India launches pre-emptive strikes, Prime Minister Mir Zarullah Khan Jamali said. "The people of Pakistan and armed forces would give a befitting reply," the state television quoted him as saying. Also striking an aggressive posture on Sinha's remarks, his Pakistani counterpart Foreign Khurshid Muhammad Kasuri said "Pakistan rejects the doctrine of pre-emption. Its security however, is not based mere legal doctrines. Any misadventure by India will be met with full force." "India should not harbour any illusion of launching any pre-emptive strikes against Pakistan as it would constitute a major miscalculation on India's part leading to grave consequences," he said in a televison broadcast. Kasuri said Pakistan's security was dependent on the determination of its people and the armed forces to counter the Indian "aggression". "If India ever thought of committing aggression against Pakistan it would receive a befitting response," he said. Sinha made such "jingoistic" statement to please the the BJP hard-liners, he adding "instead of making irresponsible statements to please domestic audience, the Indian leadership should focus on peaceful resolution of all issues including Kashmir". 09:35 IST
India has 45 days to ship out goods to Iraq
Friday, April 4, 2003
New Delhi(Apr 4):The government today said the United Nations had granted 45 more days to India to ship out goods exported to Iraq to alternate ports. It is estimated that of the orders worth Rs 1,000 crore that were in the pipeline, goods worth Rs 600 crore were stranded in various ports for a fortnight due to the conflict in the Persian Gulf. We have received a new set of instructions from the PMI (permanent mission of India), which have been passed on to the traders, commerce and industry minister Arun Jaitley said here at a seminar on Exim Policy. We have been given 45 days extension to transship the consignments to alternate ports notified by the United Nations, commerce secretary Dipak Chatterjee said on the new set of instructions that have been received. The exports to Iraq are part of United Nations’ Oil for Food programme. The orders included export of 1 million tonne wheat to Iraq whose exports had resumed in January after a high-level delegation visited India and gave a go-ahead. Exporters had taken up the issue with the government as also the fact that the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation was extending covers to Indian consignments to the gulf region. The government had assured that the commerce ministry was exploring ways to manage trade with Iraq through the United Nations system, though Iraq had recently rejected the system of Oil for Food programme. Jaitley had said that the government was exploring the possibility of shifting the consignments to ports in Jordon and Syria. The war has affected India’s trade with Gulf nations. The countries contribute to about 11 per cent of India’s total exports which were estimated at $ 46 billion during April-February 2002-03. India had a trade surplus of $ 2.7 billion with the Gulf nations and its exports had increased by 36.33 per cent during April-December 2002-03.
Boat capsizes in Gujarat
Friday, April 4, 2003
At least 17 people are missing and feared dead after their boat capsized in a storm in the sea off Gujarat, in western India. Officials said the boat was carrying more than 40 people from Katpur to Jageshwar when it capsized in the Bay of Cambay, in Bharuch district. An inspector general of police, MK Tandon, said coastguards, police officers and the navy were searching for survivors, and had helped rescue some passengers, while others swam to the shore.
BJP meet in Indore
Friday, April 4, 2003
The Bharatiya Janata Party's national executive is meeting today in Indore to chalk out its electoral battle plan for the upcoming assembly elections. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will also be attending the two-day meet. A BJP rally will be held later in the evening where Vajpayee is expected to back his government's stance on Iraq. He is also likely to criticise United States for not putting enough pressure on Pakistan. Sidelining hindutva Sobered by defeat in the Himachal assembly polls, BJP is likely to focus on local issues rather than resort to aggressive Hindutva. "There is nothing like Gujarat experiment. All state elections are fought on local issues. Hindutva is BJP's ideology. We are dedicated to it but we don't contest elections on that," party General Secretary and spokesman Pramod Mahajan said. The meet is expected to identify electoral issues in Madhya Pradesh, Chhatisgarh, Delhi and Rajasthanthe four states that go to polls later this year. Local issues Elaborating on the poll strategy, Mahajan said that campaigning in Madhya Pradesh would target failures in the performance of the Congress government. He, however, added that Lok Sabha elections next year would be fought on national issues. The leaders, including party president Venkaiah Naidu, will also take stock of the preparations and organisational weaknesses, which contributed to the recent drubbing.
22 Tribal Farmers Killed
Friday, April 4, 2003
GAUHATI, India - A little-known insurgent group allegedly abducted and killed at least 22 tribal farmers in India's remote northeast this week, police said Friday. Gunmen believed to be members of the Hmar Peoples Convention attacked a cluster of villages in southern Assam state's Cachar district on Tuesday night, burning huts and taking 28 villagers as hostages, local police officer R.K. Singh said by telephone. Police searched the dense jungles along a mountain range and found the bodies of 22 farmers who had been shot dead, another police officer said, on condition of anonymity. The search for six missing villagers was continuing, but police believed they might also have been killed. The Hmar People's Convention is a ragtag band fighting for the rights of the small Hmar ethnic group in southern Assam, bordering Bangladesh. Police said there had been fighting over the past 10 days between the Hmar People's Convention and another rebel outfit, the Dima Halam Daoga, which belongs to the Dimasa ethnic group, the same as the massacred villagers. The Dimasas are generally believed to be supporters of the Dima Halam Daoga, police said. The two ethnic groups have been fighting for territorial supremacy in the area, police say.
Sonia aide playing key role in revamp
Friday, April 4, 2003
A trusted aide of Congress party president Sonia Gandhi is believed to be playing a leading role in drawing up a list of new party office bearers in the run up to elections to several key states in the coming months. Party sources said Ambika Soni, who is the most powerful among second rung leaders - she is both general secretary as well as Sonia's political secretary - is working on a complete reshuffle of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) that may well pull the rug from under the faction headed by party heavyweight Arjun Singh. Singh, a former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh and long-time member of the opposition party's decision making body, the Central Working Committee (CWC), with a strong following within a section of the party, is a fierce rival of Soni for Sonia's attention. Soni's hold over the party was strengthened with the hugely successful meeting of block and district unit chiefs held recently in the capital. This has infused new life in the party rank and file as for it was the first occasion many of these grassroots leaders directly interacted with Sonia. The Hindustan Times reported on Wednesday that the new "war council" is expected to be "result-oriented". Sonia is said to have begun the revamp exercise shortly after the party lost to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Gujarat. Sources said the reshuffle of the AICC is being undertaken with an eye on strengthening the party for the upcoming assembly polls in four Congress party-ruled states and to keep the party battle ready for the eventuality of facing a snap general elections in the country. Congress party-ruled Rajasthan, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are scheduled for assembly elections later this year while elections in Karnataka and Maharashtra will coincide with polls to Parliament. Some of the existing party office bearers are sent to the states facing polls later this year while others like Mohsina Kidwai and Mahabir Prasad, general secretaries and CWC members, may find themselves dropped when the new list is announced in the next few days. It is more or less certain that Ghulam Nabi Azad, the incumbent Jammu and Kashmir state unit chief, will be brought back as one of the national general secretaries. General secretary Kamal Nath and treasurer Motilal Vora could be sent to head the Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh state units. Veteran leader Pranab Mukherjee, who was the first among national general secretaries to be sent to head a state unit ahead of provincial polls, might replace Vora in case he is asked to head the Chhattisgarh unit. That state is set to face an upheaval with senior leader Vidya Charan Shukla announcing his departure from the party along with his followers to join the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP). While Mukherjee failed to steer the party to victory in home state of West Bengal, Azad succeeded in turning the fortunes of the party in his home state Jammu and Kashmir, and could be rewarded. While Mahabir Prasad, from the heartland state of Uttar Pradesh, is seen as ineffective and a liability in the present set up, the lack of confidence in Kidwai was reflected during the recent Himachal Pradesh polls when Sonia appointed two members from the CWC to oversee electioneering despite Kidwai being the general secretary in-charge of the state. Incumbent secretaries Mukul Wasnik or Kumari Selja are expected to replace Prasad as representative of the Dalit community while Salman Khurshid may be brought in to represent the minority Muslim community. The Hindustan Times said that Sonia wants her new mix AICC to give a social and regional balance to the team in keeping with attempts to signal the party's commitment to the weaker sections, highlighted recently by the appointment of Sushil Kumar Shinde as Maharashtra's first Dalit chief minister. As for Kamal Nath, shifting him to Madhya Pradesh to head the state unit is to lend a helping hand to the state's Chief Minister Digvijay Singh, who is facing a tough challenge from the BJP in winning the state for the third time in a row. His organisational capabilities were reflected when he as the general secretary in-charge was able to help the party win civic polls in Delhi and state assembly polls in Assam.
Canada may participate in Indian moon mission
Friday, April 4, 2003
Canada and India have signed a memorandum of understanding reaffirming their pursuit of international space co-operation for peaceful purposes, including Canada's possible participation in an Indian moon mission. The protocol was signed by Marc Garneau, president of the Canadian Space Agency, and Krishnaswamy Kasturirangan, chairman of the Indian Space Research Organization, in the southern Indian city of Bangalore last week. The move came as an Indian task force prepared to present its project report Friday on the planned moon mission. Under the current plan, India will send a small unmanned satellite to circle the moon by 2005, followed by a manned mission by 2015 at the latest. India has a robust space program. Since its establishment in 1969, the ISRO has launched a series of satellites, many using its own launch vehicles. It also offers a commercial satellite launching service to foreign clients. The country sent its first cosmonaut, Rakesh Sharma, aboard a Russian spacecraft in 1984. A second astronaut, India-born Kalpana Chawla, was killed in the February disaster of the U.S. space shuttle Columbia. "The scope and breadth of India's space program is impressive," Garneau, who is also Canada's first astronaut, said after the signing ceremony at the ISRO headquarters. "The ISRO program is both ambitious and diversified. The memorandum lays the framework for continuing co-operation in projects and activities in which we share a common interest." Kasturirangan praised the partnership with Canada. "This renewed co-operation between ISRO and CSA demonstrates our mutual commitment to pursue common projects benefiting both the countries, now and in the future," he said. The memorandum calls for co-operation in a number of areas including "the possible participation in a moon orbiter mission" and collaboration in the development of scientific instruments that could be flown on Indian satellites. The moon mission, which India has been planning since 1999, is expected cost more than $120 million Cdn. Kasturirangan says a lunar landing will "electrify the nation and show to the world that India can take up complex projects at the cutting edge of space research." Critics, however, argue that moon missions are outdated and a waste of money. Senior CSA officials and representatives of the Canadian space industry accompanied Garneau to India. The Saint-Hubert, Que.,-based CSA co-ordinates all aspects of Canada's space programs. Canada is a major partner in the international space station project.
Policeman killed, camp attacked by NLFT in south Tripura
Friday, April 4, 2003
A police constable was killed and four others were injured when insurgents of the banned National Liberation Front of Tripura (NLFT) attacked a police camp at Maithulungbari in south Tripura district today. Police said a group of about 25 NLFT insurgents, clad in olive green uniform and armed with sophisticated weapons, raided the camp of the Special Police Officers (SPO) at Maithulungbari, a remote tribal hamlet at about 4 am. The SPOs and police personnel, after being fired upon by the ultras, retaliated. In the 30-minute long encounter, the ultras killed a constable and injured four others. Among the four injured, three were admitted to the Tripura Sundari district hospital where their condition was critical. Any information about casuality on ultras' side was not available. Police said the ultras could not loot any arm. SPO is a temporary contingent of security force raised last year. Regular police also stayed with them in their camps. 10:25 IST
BJP may opt for local issues
Friday, April 4, 2003
A victory in Gujarat, a defeat in Himachal Pradesh; both decisive verdicts. What strategy then should the Bharatiya Janata Party adopt for the forthcoming assembly elections in four major states? This would be the question that the party would try to answer at its two-day national executive meet commencing in Indore on Friday. Buoyed by the Gujarat result, but suitably chastised by the outcome in Himachal Pradesh, the party appears to be realising that Hindutva is not an infallible issue. After a meeting of the party's general secretaries on Thursday, the seniormost among them Pramod Mahajan told reporters that Hindutva was a matter of faith and not an issue to be used by the BJP to fight elections. Now aware that the anti-incumbency factor played an important role in its rout in Himachal Pradesh, Mahajan said the party would rake up local issues during the forthcoming polls in Delhi, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. He denied that it would discuss the next general elections. "They are still eighteen months away," he pointed out. Mahajan said the O P Kohli committee's report on amending the BJP constitution would be discussed by the national executive, as also organisational polls, including electing a new party chief in November-December this year. Party president M Venkaiah Naidu would kickstart the proceedings on the opening day by spelling out the party's and the government's achievements. Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would be addressing a public meeting later in the afternoon during which he is expected to dwell on his government's achievements during the past five years. The party would also discuss the war in Iraq on the opening day itself. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance government has attracted considerable flak for being soft on the US, which attacked Iraq brushing aside opposition from the United Nations. Even some allies like the Telugu Desam Party and the Samata Party have openly criticised the BJP on this issue. Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani would be addressing the meet on Saturday and his views on the two issues he helped the party capitalize on -- Ayodhya and Hindutva would be heard with rapt attention. Vajpayee's speech on the concluding day, a party general secretary said, would include his prescription for avoiding the pitfalls of coalition politics while exhorting the party to strengthen the NDA.
Rolling Stones to play India
Friday, April 4, 2003
THE Rolling Stones may have arrived in India 40 years too late. The legendary rockers are to play in India for the very first time - in the southern city of Bangalore today and in the western financial hub of Bombay on Tuesday. There has been much excitement over the concerts in India, which rarely sees performances by Western pop or rock stars, but they are still not sold out. And musicians who play Western music in Bangalore said they do not play the British band's songs because their audiences are not keen for them. "They only want to hear music by Metallica, Deep Purple, The Doors and Dire Straits," said Chris Avinash, guitarist and singer in the Angeldust group which plays in colleges and other venues. "Not a single song of the Rolling Stones has been played as there have been no requests. You should understand that most of the young generation has not been brought up on Stones' diet," said Avinash, who formed his band in 1996. "I do not possess a single cassette of Rolling Stones and do not know any of their songs," he said. "They were not exposed to India unlike the Dire Straits and Pink Floyd. I will give them that benefit," he said. The veteran band - Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Ronnie Woods and Charlie Watts - are on the second half of their Licks World Tour with 50 sell-out gigs in the United States and eight in Australia behind them. They brought forward their Indian tour by almost a week after they cancelled concerts in Hong Kong in view of the deadly Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome raging around the globe but mainly in East Asia. Some musicians said people would still go to the "hyped" concerts just to see the lead singer Mick Jagger. "People will come to see the event and not listen to the music," said Brucelee Mani, guitarist and vocalist with Thermal And A Quarter, a Bangalore-based rock band. "I am not a big fan of Rolling Stones. But the way the show is made out it seems larger than life. Only about 20 per cent of the crowd may be real fans. "And I sure they will be above 50 years of age. Tell me how many college kids are into Rolling Stones? I am sure they, like me, will go to see the band's performance on stage. That will be it," said Mani. Organisers said video support systems, a self-standing stage and a prefabricated roof were being brought in with the help of eight sea containers. The concert venue will have digital plasma screens to display video and include special effects. The 240,000-watt sound system will be complemented by 800 mobile lights and sky tracers. Santosh Gnanakan, guitarist and song writer with the band Document Done, said people might turn up thanks to the hype. "People will go because of the hype created around the concert. It has been projected that this is the best thing to happen in Bangalore for a long time. So everyone is going," Gnanakan said. "If you ask a majority of people in Bangalore I am sure they will not be able to recollect more than one or two songs of Rolling Stones," he said. The three local musicians said they might turn up today to see Jagger on stage. "I want to watch what he does on stage," said Angeldust's Avinash. "I want to learn from a showman. There are people who teach what you should not do and there are others who teach what to do. Jagger falls in the latter category," he said. "I am yet to decide whether to go or not," he said.
New cola brand to enter India soon
Friday, April 4, 2003
New Delhi(Apr 4):Royal Crown Cola, the third-largest cola brand in the US after Coke and Pepsi, is entering India this summer. The Canada-based Cott Corp had acquired the rights for the brand called RC Cola outside the US, from Cadbury Schweppes a few years ago. The company is launching the brand in cola, lemon and orange flavours through a licensing, franchise bottling agreement with two companies in India. One will be based in Chandigarh overseeing the north, the other will be based in Hyderabad overseeing the south and west. A source from the Chandigarh-based franchise bottler said a bottling plant is being set up near Chandigarh, and the products are scheduled to hit the markets on April 20, if not, latest by the first week of May. Initially, we will manufacture 500 ml PET bottles. Later, we will manufacture smaller size PET bottles because that is where the volumes are expected to come from, he said. The company will not get into the returnable glass bottle segment, but may contemplate venturing into the can segment, he added. The executive said there were no plans for imports. There is enough capacity available with us to cater to the demand we are expecting for our products. If need be, we can acquire some more capacities, he added. The company has approached existing distributors of Coca-Cola and Pepsi to become its distributors. But it is reliably learnt that it has asked them to make a deposit of Rs 50,000-Rs 1 lakh in advance. The RC Cola franchise source, however, declined to comment on this. He said the company has established a very strong distributorship channel, especially in Delhi and western Uttar Pradesh. RC Cola changed hands from Cadbury Schweppes to Cott Cola a few years ago. Cadbury had bought RC Cola along with Snapple Beverage Co as part of its $1.45 billion acquisition of the beverage operations of Triarc Cos. When the non-US rights for the brand was sold to Cott Corp, Cadbury kept the RC Cola business in the US, where it also sells Dr Pepper and 7 UP. The deal satisfies an agreement Cadbury signed when it sold the majority of its international soft-drink businesses to Coca-Cola Co and agreed not to compete with Coke in those markets. The deal also falls in line with Cadbury’s strategy of streamlining its drink operations to concentrate on several markets in Europe, the US and Australia, and divest itself of businesses that don’t offer significant strength in a particular market. In India, the soft drinks market is dominated by Pepsi and Coca-Cola. The domestic brands have a minuscule market share as they are unable to compete with the financial and marketing prowess of these two companies. The soft drinks market, run mainly through the returnable glass bottles route, grew by over 20 per cent last year, and is expected to post a similar growth this year as well. The companies have made a headway in enhacing volumes and penetration by launching 200 ml returnable glass bottles. The 500 ml PET bottle experiment has also succeeded in the past few years
India, Vietnam review Iraq situation
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 02, 2003: India and Vietnam on Tuesday reviewed the evolving situation in Iraq and other international and regional developments and agreed to bolster bilateral cooperation in trade, information technology and other diversified spheres. The Iraq developments in the wake of the US-led military operations figured prominently during talks visiting Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien had when he called on Prime Minister Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The two sides have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation especially in the fields of science and technology and information technology. Both sides agreed that there was potential for stepping up investment and boosting cooperation in industry, mining, agriculture, animal husbandry, science and technology, health and tourism. The Vietnamese Foreign Minister called on President A P J Abdul Kalam and had a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The two sides voiced confidence that the forthcoming State visit to India by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh would open up a new era in the multi-faceted cooperation between them. Vajpayee had visited Vietnam in January 2001.
Airports alerted to screen pneumonia infected passengers
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
Airports alerted to screen pneumonia infected passengers New Delhi,Wednesday, April 02, 2003: Government has alerted all airports in the country to screen passengers coming into the country from the places where the incidence of mysterious pneumonia have been reported. "Authorities have been asked to keep a close watch on passengers coming from 15 countries where the risk of the disease is high," Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain told reporters on Tuesday. Airline officials as well as fellow passengers on board have been asked to inform in case they find people with symptoms such as cough and cold, he said adding doctors would be present at immigration. If necessary, the affected people would be taken to the National Institute of Communicable Diseases (NICD), Hussain said. Health Minister Sushma Swaraj said arrangements have been made to prevent entry of carrier patients to the country and isolate them if any one has already arrived. However, no case has been reported so far. "We are fully prepared to meet any eventuality", She said. Swaraj said she had a meeting with officials of Airports Authority of India, Ports Authority, National Highway Authority and WHO yesterday on measures to prevent the spread of the disease to the country. 09:52 IST
CBI arrests one more in DDA scam
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
CBI arrests one more in DDA scam New Delhi,Wednesday, April 02, 2003: CBI on Tuesday night arrested Ajay Khanna, who allegedly acted as a conduit on behalf of DLF Universal Limited and paid bribe to DDA officials for pecuniary benifit to the construction company. CBI sources said Khanna was placed under arrest after being questioned by its sleuths for some hours. He is the second person arrested in the DDA scam. Earlier, Commissioner (Land Disposal) Anand Mohan Sharan, a 1990 batch IAS officer of Haryana Cadre, was arrested by the CBI on March 28 after Rs 3.6 mn were allegedly recovered from his residence during March 27 raids. Khanna would be produced before the CBI designated court tomorrow, the sources said. The CBI alleged that Khanna had paid a bribe of Rs 5 mn to Sharan and Dharamveer Singh Khattar, a middle man allegedly acting on behalf of sacked DDA Vice Chairman Subash Sharma, to get undue favour from DDA officials in granting DLF Universal with Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 300 in one of their projects by charging them below market rates. The deal between Khanna and Khattar had clicked at Rs 11 mn and Rs 5 mn was the first installment of the alleged bribe money. Meanwhile, CBI has also issued a Look Out Notice for Khattar, who has been absconding since the raids took place on March 27. 09:52 IST
US can influence Pak to stop cross-border terrorism: Heptullah
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
Washington,Wednesday, April 02, 2003: Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah today said the United States can pressurize Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Taking to reporters after a meeting with US Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, she said "third countries have a very limited role but because America has been helping Pakistan, it is in a position to influence Pakistan to stop terrorism." Heptullah, who is also the Chairperson of the Indian Centre for Cultural Relations, said an Indian Cultural Centre would come up here soon. She said she had already inspected some properties for the proposed centre. Heptullah came to Washington after meeting members of the Indian community in Houston and Austin. 09:52 IST
US can influence Pak to stop cross-border terrorism: Heptullah
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
Washington,Wednesday, April 02, 2003: Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah today said the United States can pressurize Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Taking to reporters after a meeting with US Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, she said "third countries have a very limited role but because America has been helping Pakistan, it is in a position to influence Pakistan to stop terrorism." Heptullah, who is also the Chairperson of the Indian Centre for Cultural Relations, said an Indian Cultural Centre would come up here soon. She said she had already inspected some properties for the proposed centre. Heptullah came to Washington after meeting members of the Indian community in Houston and Austin. 09:52 IST
India, Vietnam review Iraq situation
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
New Delhi,Wednesday, April 02, 2003: India and Vietnam on Tuesday reviewed the evolving situation in Iraq and other international and regional developments and agreed to bolster bilateral cooperation in trade, information technology and other diversified spheres. The Iraq developments in the wake of the US-led military operations figured prominently during talks visiting Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien had when he called on Prime Minister Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. The two sides have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation especially in the fields of science and technology and information technology. Both sides agreed that there was potential for stepping up investment and boosting cooperation in industry, mining, agriculture, animal husbandry, science and technology, health and tourism. The Vietnamese Foreign Minister called on President A P J Abdul Kalam and had a meeting with Congress President Sonia Gandhi. The two sides voiced confidence that the forthcoming State visit to India by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nong Duc Manh would open up a new era in the multi-faceted cooperation between them. Vajpayee had visited Vietnam in January 2001.
US can influence Pak to stop cross-border terrorism: Heptullah
Wednesday, April 2, 2003
Washington,Wednesday, April 02, 2003: Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah today said the United States can pressurize Pakistan to stop cross-border terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. Taking to reporters after a meeting with US Deputy National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, she said "third countries have a very limited role but because America has been helping Pakistan, it is in a position to influence Pakistan to stop terrorism." Heptullah, who is also the Chairperson of the Indian Centre for Cultural Relations, said an Indian Cultural Centre would come up here soon. She said she had already inspected some properties for the proposed centre. Heptullah came to Washington after meeting members of the Indian community in Houston and Austin. 09:52 IST
Pak refuses Wagah route for Indian exports to Kabul
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Pakistan has refused to allow Afghanistan to import Indian goods through the Wagah border in Punjab but permitted Kabul to import Indian stuff through its ports of Karachi and Qasim under the Afghan Transit Trade Agreement (ATTA). In response to media reports that Islamabad had refused permission to land locked Afghanistan to import Indian items over land, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesman Aziz Ahmad Khan said Kabul could import the goods from India and any other country through Karachi and Port Qasim under the said bilateral pact. He said the Afghan request to import the goods through Wagah could not be accepted as it has not figured in ATTA. However at the Pakistan and Afghanistan Ministerial Joint Commission meet held in Kabul Sunday, Islamabad agreed to allow Afghan exports to India through Wagah border, he said. He said Pakistan has also agreed to 22 per cent premium being charged on transportation of the Afghan goods from its ports to Afghanistan.
Sachin, Dravid, Nehra to miss Dhaka tri-series
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Master batsman Sachin Tendulkar and vice-captain Rahul Dravid have decided to skip the tri-nation one-day series in Dhaka due to injuries, Cricket Board said today. Both Tendulkar and Dravid have made written requests to the BCCI to exempt them from the tournament, Board secretary S K Nair told here. With left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra also on the injury list and some other senior players reluctant to tour Dhaka after a non-stop 18-month itinerary, the national selectors would be forced to pick fringe players for the April 11-20 tournament which features hosts Bangladesh and South Africa as the other two teams. Nair said Tendulkar and Dravid had made themselves unavailable for the series as they were undergoing treatment for injuries. "Their requests will be placed before the selection committee slated to meet in Mumbai on April 2," Nair said. Nair said Nehra, who is due to undergo an ankle surgery, was almost certain not to be picked in the squad. Some other members of the World Cup squad including pace spearhead Javagal Srinath and leg-spinner Anil Kumble are also reportedly keen for a rest. 19:36 IST
John Wright to continue as Indian cricket team's coach
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
The Cricket Board has extended the contract of coach John Wright for two months so that his services were available to the Indian team in case the tri-series in Bangladesh was held on schedule next month. Confirming the development, top Board sources said here today that the decision to extend Wright's contract had been taken on adhoc basis in view of the Dhaka tournament and it would be formalised at the next Working Committee meeting. Speaking over phone from his home in Christchurch, Wright also said that Board president Jagmohan Dalmiya has asked him to continue for two months when he called him Sunday. "I am quite happy with this arrangement and look forward to a successful campaign in Dhaka," Wright said. India along with South Africa and Bangaladesh are expected to participate in the tri-series in Dhaka from April 11 to 20, but there has been some doubt over the tournament following South Africa's pull out from the Sharjah tournament in the first week of April in view of the war in Iraq. Wright has had a quite successful stint with the Indian team since he joined in November 2000 and his earlier contract with the Indian Board was till World Cup in South Africa which ended on March 23. Wright however, said that he was looking forward for a longer stint with the Indian team as he had developed "very good raport" with the Indian cricketers. 12:06 IST
Macroeconomic situation of India comfortable: RBI report
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
The macroeconomic situation in the country remains "comfortable although decline in agricultural production, concerns relating to the fiscal position and international political unrest remain downside risks that could constrain growth", a Reserve Bank of India report said. Seen in the context of these uncertainties, performance of the Indian economy during 2002-03 demonstrated its "intrinsic resilience to shocks", according to the report titled "Currency and Finance 2001-02" released here today. Despite the drought situation in many parts due to a weak and uneven monsoon after 13 years, foodgrain stock remains comfortable while the industrial sector is continously showing signs of broad-based recovery led by all three major constituents - mining, manufacturing and electricity, it said. The report pointed out that the international outlook, however, continues to be "uncertain especially in view of the delay in economic recovery in face of persistent weak activity in advanced countries and ramifications of military action in Iraq, which is unfolding". In the external sector, a robust performance of exports and invisible earnings, despite an adverse global scenario, was reflected in a modest surplus in current account, which facilitated a record accretion to foreign exchange reserves. Conditions in financial markets were stable with ample liquidity creating favourable interest rate environment. Real gross domestic product (GDP) growth is estimated to be 4.4 per cent in FY-03 as per Central Statistical Organisation compared to 5.6 per cent in FY-02 mainly because of sharp fall in agricultural GDP. 18:30 IST
India to fulfill WTO obligations: Jaitley
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
India today asserted there would be no let up in fulfilling its obligations to the World Trade Organisation including further liberalisation of trade and dismantling of quantitative restrictions. "We will comply with all our obligations (to WTO). It's a continuous process," Commerce Minister Arun Jaitley said after presenting the EXIM Policy for 2003-04. Though the QRs have been fully lifted in 2001-02, keeping in line with the WTO deadline, India maintained the restrictions on some items which were permissible under the multilateral trading system. These too were being lifted in a phased manner and this year's policy removed the restriction on 69 items including animal products, vegetables and spices, anti-biotics and films. Besides, the poliy also announced lifting of QRs on five export items -- paddy except basmati, cotton linters, rare earth, silk cocoons, family planning devices except condoms. Jaitely said India would take up problems faced by service sector professionals in their movement to other countries at the servcies negotiations at the WTO. Replying to a query on the problems faced by professionals regarding visa, he said, visa was a problem both at bilateral negotiations and at service sector negotiations in WTO. 16:19 IST
Powell to take up Indo-Pak issue after Iraq
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
U S Secretary of State Colin Powell has said he hopes to take up the Indo-Pak issue once the Iraq crisis is tackled to ensure that there is no threat of a nuclear war between the two subcontinental rivals. In an interview to 'New York Times', he said the "Indo-Pakistan and the whole subcontinent problem" was part of the "broader agenda" that the US plans to go back to after Iraq. "(We want to) make sure we don't find ourselvs in the same situation we were in a year ago. "When everybody was predicting war, we managed to solve that. People forget. If we had had a nuclear war, they wouldn't have forgotten it," he said. "We have to reach out. We have to spend more time," he said adding once the Iraq crisis is resolved, "it frees us to engage in ways that we have not been able to, say, in the last six to eight months." Powell said the "broader agenda we (US) will go back to" also included "work to cement the expansion of NATO even though we are not in the European Union".
UP Govt to abide by SC order on Ayodhya: Mayawati
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mayawati today said her government would abide by the Supreme Court order to maintain status quo at the Ramjanmabhoomi Babri Masjid site in Ayodhya till disposal of the title suit by the Allahabad High Court. "My party and Government would not go against the court decision... We would abide by the SC decision. We would act accordingly", she told reporters here while reacting to apex court's rejection of the Centre's plea for vacation of an earlier order banning all kinds of religious activities on the undisputed land near the disputed site. Mayawati, who heads a BSP-BJP coalition government, said the two parties would together contest the next elections in the state. In others states where there is no coalition, the parties would contest separately, the UP Chief Minister, who is here for a meeting of Jammu and Kashmir BSP leaders, said. 18:30 IST
Centre to implement SC order on Ayodhya: Jaitley
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
The Union Government today said it will fully comply with the Supreme Court's judgement ordering maintenance of status quo at the 67 acres of undisputed land around the disputed site at Ayodhya. "If Supreme Court has said status quo is to be maintained at the undisputed site then it is for the Government to comply with it," Law and Justice Minister Arun Jailty told reporters. On the controversy over Centre's stand on use of POTA charges against MDMK leader Vaiko, he said the mistake committed in filing of the affidavit had to be inquired into. However, Jaitley said "as far as Vaiko is concerned, the provisions of POTA had not been used rightly." The Government, in an affidavit before the Supreme Court, had justified invoking of POTA provisions against the MDMK leader. 17:26 IST
SC orders status quo on undisputed land, rejects Union plea
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
The Supreme Court today rejected the Union Government's plea for vacation of an earlier order banning all kinds of religious activities on the 67 acres of undisputed land around the disputed site at Ayodhya and directed maintenance of status quo till disposal of the title suits by the Allahabad High Court. A five-judge constitution Bench comprising Justice S Rajendra Babu, Justice S S M Quadri, Justice M B Shah, Justice N Santosh Hegde and Justice Doraiswamy Raju said the status quo ordered by the Court on March 13/14 last year "should be operative till the disposal of the title suits by the Allahabad High Court." Holding that it had rightly ordered maintenance of status quo there, the apex court said it was necessary "not only to maintain communal harmony but also to fulfil other objectives of the Act". Under the Acquisition of Certain Areas at Ayodhya Act, 1993, the Central Government had acquired both the 2.77 acres of disputed land and 67 acres of undisputed land. It was envisaged under the Act that after the decision on the ownership of disputed land, the undisputed land could be utilised for access to the disputed area and for proper development of the surroundings. The apex Court said "the acquisition of the larger extent of land was incidental to the main purpose. Thus, the two acquired lands are intrinsically connected with one another and cannot be separated at this stage of proceedings for different treatment during the interregnum". 15:28 IST
