|
|
June 2002
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Dhirubhai Ambani ‘stable and critical’
The condition of Dhirubhai Ambani, Reliance Industries chairman, battling for his life since June 24, still continues to be critical, according to his son Anil. ‘The condition of my father remains the same... stable and critical and there has been no adverse development over last 24 hours’, Anil told waiting media persons outside the Breach Candy hospital in Mumbai. The business mogul continues to be on life support system and there is nothing specific to speak about, Anil added.
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Advani appointed Dy PM, Vajpayee initiates Cabinet revamp
New Delhi,Saturday, June 29, 2002: Home Minister L.K. Advani was tonight designated Deputy Prime Minister as Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee initiated the process of revamp of his Cabinet and the BJP in which External Affairs Minister and Finance Minister are expected to swap positions and Rural Development Minsiter M Venkaiah Naidu tipped to head the party. Two young ministers Arun Jaitely (Law) and Ananth Kumar (Urban Development) are being drafted for party work and will be part of the new team to be headed by Naidu. One portfolio for Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee appears to be still an unresolved issue with Banerjee insisting on Railways, held by her earlier, and a demand that is posing problems for Vajpayee. 75-year old Advani, the seventh Deputy Prime Minsiter, will continue to look after Home Affairs, a Rashtrapati Bhavan communique said tonight. After two rounds of consultations the Prime Minister had with his senior colleagues, the picture that emerged was that Jaswant Singh is likely to become the next Finance Minister and incumbant Yashwant Sinha is expected to take his place in External Affairs in the expansion and reshuffle of the Cabinet slated to take place on Monday. In the simultaneous shake up in the party, BJP President Jana Krishnamurthy, who had been resisting a change, today agreed to join the government. He is expected to take Naidu's place in the Cabinet. 21:48 IST
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Jana Krishnamurthy denies reports on resignation
Chennai,Saturday, June 29, 2002: Shedding his earlier reluctance, BJP leader Jana Krishnamurthy today said he was willing to join the cabinet. Denying reports that he has resigned as president, he told reporters that "there is no need for it (resignation). If I am included in the cabinet, the post (of president) will automatically go," he said. He said he will be joining the cabinet if he was invited by the Prime Minister. Denying a report that he had submitted his resignation to the Prime Minister or a senior party vice-president, Jana Krishnamurthy said: "There is no need for me to submit my resignation. The news is without any basis." "If my name is included in the cabinet list during the reshuffle, automatically I will cease to be party president," he said, adding the question of his having submitted the resignation, therefore, did not arise. 18:40 IST
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Pak troops resort to firing on BOPs in Jammu-Kathua sector
Jammu,Saturday, June 29, 2002: Pakistani troops resorted to firing and low intensity shelling on 52 Border Out Posts (BOPs) and civilian areas in Samba, R S Pura, Hiranagar and Akhnoor sub-sectors along the International Border in Jammu-Kathua sector last night, official sources said here today. Pakistani troops resorted to low intensity shelling in Rangpur camp and Nanga villages, while the firing took place in several BOPs dotted in Jammu-Kathua sector along the IB, the sources said. However, there was no loss of life or damage to property during the incidents, they added. Indian troops also retaliated to the Pak shelling and firing and the exchange of firing continued till 0300 hours, they said. 13:27 IST
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Indian hackers blocked Pak Govt web site
Islamabad,Saturday, June 29, 2002: Pakistani officials have claimed that Indian hackers blocked a government information web site by launching a DoS attack. The website www.pak.gov.pk hosted by the Information Ministry has been blocked for the past three days by Indian hackers through the elementary Denial of Service (DoS) attack, the 'Dawn' daily quoted the officials as saying. Director in the Information Secretary's office, Rasheed, however, said "the web site is inaccessible because the server of the ISP is down. The ISP is trying to change the server." The report said the blocking of the site which provides basic information about Pakistan and links various government websites was the latest in a series of attacks in the current cyber warfare between hackers of the two countries. IT experts in the ministry claimed the web site was choked by DoS attack, launched through the Yaha Worm virus by the Indians, according to the report. The Internet Service Provider which maintains the web site was rated as poor by an independent organisation, the daily said adding "the report about poor service of the ISP was received by the Science and Technology Ministry on Friday". Officials in Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology said the Information Ministry lacked in technical expertise to protect the web site from professional hackers. DoS attacks involve flooding target computers with false requests for information, overloading the machines' capacity to respond leading to denial of service to legitimate users, the report said. 13:35 IST
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Second Labour Commission report submitted to PM
New Delhi,Saturday, June 29, 2002: The much-awaited report of the Second National Labour Commission, set up to go into several critical and controversial areas of reforms, was today submitted to Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Ravindra Verma, heading the Commission, later told reporters that he gave the report to Vajpayee and now it was for the Government to implement its recommendations. He, however, declined to disclose the contents of the report. To a question whether the report would be made public after it was tabled in Parliament, Verma said that it was for the Government to decide how to implement the recommendations and whether it would be tabled in Parliament. The Commission was set up in October 1999 with a two-year term but was given four extensions to complete its task. The 10-member Commission was asked to suggest rationalisation of existing labour laws in the organised sector and take into account opening up of the Indian economy, international competitiveness and the needs and demands of the future labour markets. The panel, having representation of both the industry and the labour, was also asked to suggest an umbrella legislation for welfare of workers in the unorganised sector. For a close scrutiny of various labour issues in the wake of globalisation, the Commission constituted six study groups to examine the existing labour laws, effects of globalisation, social security, unorganised labour, skill upgradation and status of women and child labour. 13:27 IST
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Sonia seeks PM's intervention in stopping Modi's 'rath yatra'
Congress President Sonia Gandhi sought Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's intervention in dissuading the Gujarat Chief Minister from undertaking the reported "Gaurav Rath Yatra" saying it would further damage the already sensitive communal situation in the state. "The need today is for steps aimed at assuaging feelings of all communities and strengthening forces of tolerance, brotherhood and amity," Gandhi said in a letter to Vajpayee. The Leader of Opposition expressed alarm over reports that a "Gaurav Rath Yatra" is being planned in Gujarat on every Friday, Saturday and Sunday and that Chief Minister Narendra Modi himself intended to tour all the districts. She said the recent communal violence in the state had caused immense damage to the social fabric of the country and it was the state government's responsibility to restore harmony, create a sense of security among victims and provide them with necessary relief and rehabilitation in a non-partisan manner. Pointing out that the National Human Rights Commission,the National Minorities Commission and other agencies have held certain organisations specially responsible for the violence in Gujarat, she said "I believe that these very organisations will receive undue encouragement from this yatra and the sense of insecurity among minorities will increase." She recalled that Vajpayee had expressed his resolve to maintain peace and harmony on numerous occasions and expressed the hope that he will take the "constructive step" of dissuading Modi from undertaking the yatra.
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Govt's policy is to ensure workers' welfare: Vajpayee
New Delhi,Saturday, June 29, 2002: Seeking to allay the impression that labour reforms would overlook workers' interests, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today asserted that his Government's policy was to ensure workers' welfare. "Unfortunately the general impression is that reforms mean overlooking workers' interests which is not a fact. The Government policy is to work for workers' welfare," Vajpayee said after receiving the report of the Second National Labour Commission from its Chairman Ravindra Verma here. He, however, said that in the changed scenario it had become necessary to study all aspects and then take suitable steps, an official release said. The Prime Minister said the Government would like to implement maximum number of recommendations made by the Commission as quickly as possible and complimented the panel for making recommendations for the unorganised sector, which he felt were all the more important. Referring to the organised sector, Vajpayee said all social partners have to play their role and expressed the hope that those who have dissented would be satisfied with the Government's action on the report. While presenting the report, Verma said concerns of all social partners were taken into consideration while reviewing the labour laws. He said the Commission among other things considered the impact of globalisation on employment. Observing that international competitiveness of the industry required a new mindset, Verma said the Commission has presented a holistic picture of the organised sector. 17:39 IST
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Multi-faceted Tendulkar in yet another role
A multi-crore deal between Sachin Tendulkar and ESPN-Star Sports here today will soon see the maestro in a new role in front of the camera. Under the long-term contract signed between WorldTel, his marketing agents, and ESPN Star Sports, Tendulkar will join the channel on air in exclusive programming aimed at cricket buffs in the entire South Asian region and the Gulf. Though there was no official word on what the deal could be amounting to, sources said it was a whopping Rs 12 crore contract. The contract will allow Tendulkar to shuffle between his on-field commitments and his new avataar on TV. The coup is a shot in arm for the sports channel, threatened recently by the launch of another exclusive sports channel Ten Sports. Tendulkar said "ESPN-Star Sports are clearly India's leaders in sports broadcasting. They have completely altered the way the game is watched and followed in India. Along with their complete sports line-up of programming, I am looking forward to partnering the excellence in cricket broadcasting on ESPN-Star Sports". 15:46 IST
Sunday, June 30, 2002
Venkaiah Naidu to succeed Jana Krishnamurthy as BJP Chief
Union Rural Development Minister M.Venkaiah Naidu will take over as BJP President, succeeding Mr Jana Krishnamurthy who will be inducted into the Union Cabinet on Monday,top party sources said. Mr Naidu is meeting Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee tonight alongwith Law Minister Arun Jaitley who is tipped to become the party General Secretary and Spokesman. Another Union Minister, Mr Ananth Kumar, who holds the Urban Development portfolio, is also being drafted for party work, the sources said.
Saturday, June 29, 2002
National Executive of RSS begins
The two-day National Excutive of RSS began here this morning to deliberate on various issues of national importance in particular Jammu and Kashmir and Ayodhya. The meeting, to be chaired by RSS chief K S Sudarshan, will discuss threadbare findings of the Jitendra Vir Gupta committee on J&K. It is also expected to pass a resolution on J&K. The committee was set up in March 2001. VHP's recent demand for division of the state into four parts will also come up for discussion during the meeting, which has been divided into nine sessions. VHP Leaders from various regions will present their reports which will also be discussed. VHP leaders Ashok Singal, Preveen bhai Togadia, BJP leader Kushabhau Thakre are attending the meeting. The meeting is likely to take note of VHP's move to withdraw the letter of assurance it had given to the government on the issue of Ram Temple construction and mediation by Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswati, sources said. The Indo-Pak relations in the backdrop of the latest developments will also be deliberated. The recent series of visits by the leaders from US and UK and "their indulgence" in Indo-Pak matters is also likely to come up at the conclave, they added. 09:57 IST
Saturday, June 29, 2002
Rains claim 26 lives in Gujarat
Torrential rains claimed 26 lives across since Thursday and 8,000 people were shifted from low-lying areas to safer places across Gujarat prompting the state government to activate the emergency response group for crisis management. Four persons, engaged in digging out sand from the banks of flooded Ambica river in Mahuva taluka of Surat district, were killed when their boat was swept away on June 26. Search was on to trace their bodies, police said Friday. Two persons were electrocuted in Songadh taluka while two others were swept away by flood waters in Vyara taluka. Eighteen deaths due to rain-related incidents were reported from Navsari, Valsad, Baroda, Amreli and Sabarkantha districts of the state, they added. A high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Narendra Modi here decided to activate Emergency Response Group for Crisis Management to meet with the situation arising out of heavy rains. Nearly 8,000 people were shifted from low-lying areas to safer places in Valsad district, where 250 houses were damaged, Junagadh, and Navsari and Billimora areas of South Gujarat region. All major trains from Ahmedabad and Vadodara to Mumbai have been cancelled till July 2 due to breaches between Palghar and Boisar stations of Western Railway. Road traffic between Mumbai and Vadodara was also affected due to floods and uprooting of trees on the highway. Many areas of central and south Gujarat had to go without electricity as power lines snapped, the sources said. 09:57 IST
Saturday, June 29, 2002
Stage set for major overhaul of Union Cabinet
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Friday set the stage for a "major" overhaul of the Union Cabinet on Monday hinting at the possibility of having a Deputy Prime Minister and moving some important and young ministers to the BJP whose President Jana Krishnamurthy is understod to have resigned. With the Prime Minister's statement in Lucknow that young ministers would be inducted into the party, there was speculation that way is paved for Rural Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu being appointed in place of Krishnamurthy. His successor may be named shortly ahead of the cabinet exercise on Monday. However, the names of Parliamentary Affairs Minster Pramod Mahajan, Information and Broadcasting Minsiter Sushma Swaraj and former UP Chief Minister Rajnath Singh are also being mentioned as contenders for the top party post. The names of other minsters, including Arun Jaitely and Anantha Kumar, are also being talked about for induction into the new party set up, which the leadership is planning as a revamp ahead of assembly elections in over 10 states in a period of 18 months and the Lok Sabha elections in 2004. It appears that Home Minster L K Advani may be elevated as Deputy Prime Minsiter, which Vajpayee hinted at when he said a proposal in this regard has come and was being considered in consultation with NDA partners. 09:57 IST
Saturday, June 29, 2002
India acuqires Green Pine Radars
Even while entering into a dialogue with United States on sharing missile shield technology, India has embarked upon acquiring some of its key components by purchasing futuristic Green Pine radars from Telaviv. The acqusition of the ground based radars confirmed by Defence Secretary Yogendera Narain Friday would give India the capability of an early warning system against possible ballistic missiles attack by Pakistan and could be a fore-runner for New Delhi arming itself with a missile shield within a short time. "After discussions for the past three to four years, we have acquired a green pine radar," Narain said, adding the state-of-art radars would be used for "Advanced Research" purposes. But the Defence Secretary, who was speaking on the sidelines of a function to felicitate an NCC expedition, said recent talks with a high level Israeli Defence Delegation had not touched upon acquisition of Ofek-5 spy satellites or Arrow anti-missile system as these Israeli projects were still in developmental stage. Nothwithstanding Narain being evasive, highly placed Defence sources said India was working fast towards fielding a missile shield and was evaluating both the American Nuclear Missile Air Defence (NMAD) shield project as well as the Israeli Arrow anti missile system, in which the US is also collobrating. 09:57 IST
Saturday, June 29, 2002
There is no question of war with Pak: PM
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee Friday ruled out a war with Pakistan and voiced apprehensions that President Pervez Musharraf would not be able to fulfil his pledge to end infiltration of militants into Jammu and Kashmir. "There is no question of war," he said in reply to a question at a news conference at Rajbhawan here. Vajpayee said the tension along the border has eased but ruled out the withdrawal of troops from the borders at the moment. The situation at the borders is reviewed from time to time and decisions taken accordingly. Asked about apprehensions that neither the infiltration nor cross-border terrorism had stopped, Vajpayee said he shared such apprehensions. But, he said Pakistan was tied to its assurance to halt cross border terrorism and hoped international pressure would continue to be mounted on it to implement its promises. The Prime Minister also ruled out any dialogue with Pakistan until the latter stopped aiding and abetting cross border terrorism and infiltration. Vajpayee said India was always ready to talk to Pakistan on all bilateral issues, including Jammu and Kashmir but added that a conducive atmosphere was a must for holding of such a dialogue. The Prime Minister termed as "unfair to him" when a reporter posed a question whether the country always looked at the us while formulating its policies on the stand-off with Pakistan. 09:57 IST
Saturday, June 29, 2002
India and Finland to cooperate in power sector
India and Finland have agreed to step up cooperation in the power sector and have identified the utilisation of waste heat from thermal power plants for industrial application as an area of technical cooperation. The two countries reached a broad agreement following discussions Power and Heavy Industries Minister Suresh Prabhu, had with the Trade and Industry Minister of Finland in Helsinki yesterday, opening up new vistas of cooperation between the two countries. The two countries agreed to make energy as one of the focal areas of cooperation through the Joint Commission. Suresh Prabhu asked Finnish firms to send a delegation to India to explore possibilities of investment and also invited the Finnish paper industry to bid for the privatisation of public sector paper mills which have been identified for disinvestments. 10:04 IST
Saturday, June 29, 2002
Ganguly undaunted by England's superb start
India's captain Sourav Ganguly returns to his Happy Hunting Ground with a fresh resolve to do wonders again for his side when it takes on England in its first match of the Natwest triangular series at the historic Lord's ground today. "Whenever I have played here I have done well," said Ganguly on the eve of the one-dayer here. "It was so when I played my debut Test and then the MCC vs Rest of the World game in 1998." Ganguly smashed a brilliant hundred in his debut Test in front of packed galleries of Lord's in 1996. "The run up to the triangular series has been good. The seamers have bowled well and even Anil Kumble has been very impressive," he said. Medium pacers Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan picked up four wickets each in the first two practice games against Sussex and Kent and Kumble had a spell of 2 for 28 from his 10 overs in the game against Kent. Ganguly was also not daunted by England's facile win against Sri Lanka in the tournament opener at Trent Bridge yesterday. "They played well and are obviously an improved side. It should be a good game tomorrow." England defeated Sri Lanka by 44 runs in the tournament opener at Trent Bridge with man-of-the-match Andrew Flintoff smashing the fastest 50 ever for an England batsman, a half century from just 28 balls and then took 3 for 48. "Flintoff has obviously been in good nick," Ganguly said. "But it depends on how you play on a particular day". 09:57 IST
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Bipasha
A commerce graduate, Bipasha Basu came into the limelight when she won the Ford Super Models contest at the age of 17. She was coaxed into participating by a friend. But after some time abroad, Bipasha returned home, as she couldn't stay away from her family. The international modeling scene did not hold her for long. Back home, she was inundated with offers from all over. Her 'Close Up Smile' got her many big campaigns, including Pantene, Benzer and Lakme. Saturated by modeling after some time, Bipasha decided to move on and set her sights on Bollywood. Graduating from Sonu Nigam's music videos 'Kismat' and 'Jaan', she signed director duo Abbas-Mastan's 'Ajnabee' as her launch pad. Would you call Raaz the turning point in your career? No, I won' t say that. The turning point in my career would be Ajnabee because before it happened I was in a different profession completely. Ajnabee gave me a new thing to do. I was really getting bored of monotony. Ajnabee didn't do very well, but I was accepted in the industry, whereas Raaz was a hit. It was on the supernatural and me being the protagonist, it consolidated my position to an extent. Raaz was a boon. It helped in breaking my image. Immediately after Ajnabee where I played a negative role, I needed something to balance it with. You become more confident with each success. Now people know that I can do different kinds of roles. I would have got the roles, but those would have been stereotyped. I broke that by doing two different kinds of films. Now I have a larger choice. Have you always eyed Hindi films? Acting happened by chance. J P Dutta and Jaya Bachchan were the first people to notice me. They wanted me to do Aakhri Mughal with Abhishek, but it didn't happen. Vijay Galani saw me in a Rohit Bal fashion show and offered me Ajnabee. I met the directors Abbas-Mustan and liked the script. I wanted to do something different. They liked whatever I did and now I'm here. You are being compared to Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi. How does that feel? If people say that, it is not a bad thing. I liked Parveen and Zeenat as actresses and they definitely brought the right kind of glamour into the industry at that time. They were very stylish women and being compared to them is a compliment. Today I feel every actress is glamorous. Everyone works really hard to look good. At that point of time Zeenat stood out because she was completely different. Maybe people find me different, I don't know, but I take this comparison as a compliment. Tell us about your forthcoming films. My next film would be Yashraj Films' Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi. Then I have Chor Machaye Shor, a situational comedy, with David Dhawan and Nehle Pe Dehla with Ajay Chandhok which is a violent, mad, comedy, it is crazy.! These films are almost ready. Then there would be Encounter with Dino and Jaane Kya Hoga with Aftab, both thrillers. You cannot expect every role to be the best. I'm very excited about my role in Encounter, it is fabulous. I play a hard-hitting cop, a stern woman who is like a man and who has had a bad childhood. She falls in love with a criminal. It is a very violent and passionate love story. All the characters in Ankush Glen's Jaane Kya Hoga are very complicated and it is an interesting role. In Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi I have a very pleasant role. It is a special appearance, but a very special role. It is a great character. I play a girl who knows it all and who has her head on her shoulders. Everyone else around her is confused. She is this really bubbly character. Does competition bother you? I think there is enough work for everybody. I'm not in this industry to compete with anyone. I think I have made a niche for myself. Similarly, others have also done that. I don't see any problem. I know that there is a certain age when you can play certain kind of roles. After that, you move on and eventually you are out of the industry. I've decided that I will quit after 10 years. Competition starts when very new girls come in, when you are very young and enter the industry. And then when you're getting older, maybe insecurity creeps in. That is the only time when it could happen. I don't know if it does because I have to reach that stage and only then I'd experience it.
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Cabinet reshuffle around July one: PM
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said the cabinet reshuffle would take place around July one. "It will be around July one", Vajpayee told reporters when asked about the possibility of cabinet reshuffle on July one. To a question whether BJP President Jana Krishnamurthy would be inducted into the Cabinet, Vajpayee in a lighter vein said, "he is the President. He can remove me from Prime Ministership." Home Minister L K Advani, whose "A Prisoner's Scrap-Book" was released by the Prime Minister at a function here, said "discussions are on" with regard to the Cabinet expansion. "Let us see", Advani said when asked whether some ministers would be shifted to the organisation and vice-versa. Meanwhile, a meeting at Prime Minister's residence in which top party leaders were to discuss the reshuffle tonight was postponed. On Tuesday Vajpayee had held consultations with senior BJP ministers and the NDA Convener George Fernandes. 22:18 IST
Thursday, June 27, 2002
PM offers relief assistance to quake-hit Iran
Expressing his grief and sympathy for the victims of the recent devastating earthquake in Iran, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said India stood ready to offer whatever relief assistance was required by Teheran in handling this crisis. In a condolence message to Iranian President Khatami, Vajpayee said he was deeply distressed to learn of the earthquake. ''The loss of life and property caused by this natural disaster is a matter of profound grief,'' he said. The Prime Minister said ''our sympathies are with the families of the victims and with the Iranian nation in this hour of tragedy.'' He assured the Iranian leader that ''India stands ready to offer whatever relief assistance is required in handling the crisis'' 19:44 IST
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Omar hints at quitting Union Ministry
Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah today hinted that he might quit the Union Council of Ministers to devote full attention to the National Conference of which he has been recently elected president. "I told Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee during my meeting with him on Monday that now that I have responsibilities of my party......." Omar, who assumed charge of NC president today, told party workers at the party headquarters here. He said his priorities would be to increase the rapport with the masses and interaction with them because "it is people who are the source of power and people are the masters of their destiny" which is the basic principle of NC. "My first job will be to reactivate the party and make NC more strong for which I will prefer to devote full time and energy. My close relations with party activists will further strengthen the National Conference," Omar said. The times ahead would be crucial for which "we have to close our ranks, God willing, success will be ours as the party has the support and affection of the people," he told the party workers who thronged the party headquarters from the nook and corner of the valley. "I consider myself as a servant of the people and will serve them with dedication and devotion and shall not give a chance for any complaint whatsoever," Omar added. 19:44 IST
Thursday, June 27, 2002
AI to acquire eight more planes to launch more flights to US
Hopeful of getting day or evening landing slots at Heathrow airport, Air India (AI) is going to acquire two Boeing 747-400s and six A-310s on dry lease soon to connect American cities via London by December one. With the dry-leasing of these eight aircraft, for which the process has already begun, the international flagship would also connect the Indian cities of Cochin, Chennai and Bangalore with US cities like New York and Chicago besides Paris, Civil Aviation Minister Shahnawaz Hussain told. With these aircraft, the carrier's fleet strength would rise to 36. The airline would also come up with a "new image" in December when these new flights are scheduled for launch, the Minister said, adding that while the interiors of aircraft were being refurbished, new varieties of food would be included in the menu. AI has already obtained a pair of landing slots at Heathrow to start an additional London terminator flight from Delhi from winter schedule starting December. The Indian carrier has also got six pairs of slots per week at Charles de Gaulle airport in Paris, besides JFK and Newark airports in New York for its three additional flights over Paris. 16:04 IST
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Ganguly, Sehwag go for big hits as Indians post 315 for 7
The Indians brushed aside the 21-run upset suffered against Kent to post a massive 315 for seven in 50 overs against Leicester in the third and final practice match here today. Virender Sehwag doused a bit of his coach's ire with a quickfire 98 and skipper Sourav Ganguly again shone with the bat slamming a 43-ball 68 in what was India's final lead-up game before their tri-series encounter against England on Saturday. Sehwag, criticised by coach John Wright for throwing his wicket all too often in the 30s and 40s, put his head down to make 98 from 87 balls with nine fours and three sixes and laid the basis for a strong Indian total. But the Indians squandered the opportunity to post a a total in the excess of 400 runs as the middle order once again flopped. Still it was an impressive total given star batsmen Rahul Dravid and Sachin Tendulkar were rested in the game. The more belligerent Sehwag was overshadowed by Ganguly today as he watched in awe his skipper blast 12 fours and two sixes, or 60 runs in boundary hits en route to his 68. The duo put on 132 runs for the first wicket in just 13 overs. India's 100 was up in the 10th over, 150 in the 16th but then wickets started to fall and run-making was reduced to a trickle. 22:18 IST
Thursday, June 27, 2002
Over 3,000 Al Qaeda men have crossed over to Pak: Advani
Over 3,000 Al Qaeda men have crossed over to Pakistan from their bases in Afghanistan, Home Minister L K Advani today said and charged the Pakistan High Commission here with being among the channels used to fund terrorists in India. "Government has information that over 3,000 Al Qaeda men have crossed over to Pakistan from their earlier bases," he told a meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee attached to his ministry. Replying to clarifications sought by members on the ground reality on the border with Pakistan, Advani said "there has been some decrease in infiltration but it has not totally stopped." Observing that Pakistan was spending several crores of rupees annually to fund terrorist and secessionist activities in India, he said the channel of funding "is through trans- border smugglers, infiltrating mercenaries, through the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, through Hawala operators and also charitable organisations". Stressing that the funding channels used by Islamabad needed to be blocked, the Home Minister said that Pakistan is funding these terrorist organisations by remunerating the cadres, maintaining infrastructure, supplying weaponry and logistics and providing maintenance to families of killed terrorists. Islamabad, Advani said, also provides finance to overground workers and sympathisers to create safe havens for terrorists and funds expatriate Kashmiri organisations to articulate its view point in international fora. 22:18 IST
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
IAF plane crashes
A fighter plane of the Indian Air Force Halwara station crashed near Talwandi Malhian village in this district today, police sources said. The pilot identified as Flight Lt. Bharat Kumar escaped with minor injuries in the crash which occurred at 7.30 am, they said. Senior civil and police officers from this district have rushed to the spot. The injured pilot has been taken to Halwara, the sources added. The figher aircarft was reported to be a MiG-23 and there were no reports about any casualties on the ground. A string of aircrashes has dogged the Indian Air Force (IAF) and they have mostly involved the MiG-21 fighters. 12:25 IST
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
CBI raid at Tehelka's office just before testimony of Tejpal
The CBI today conducted raids at the Tehelka's office shortly before the Editor-in-chief of the news portal Tarun Tejpal was to appear before Venkataswami Commission along with Samata Party leader Jaya Jaitly. Tejpal told that the raid was by CBI but expressed ignorance as to why it was being done. "I don't know why they are raiding my office but one should appreciate the timing because I was to appear before Venkataswami Commission along with Jaya Jaitly," he said. CBI is investigating two cases in which Tehelka reporters are allegedly connected. The first case is about procuring classified documents from Ministry of Home Affairs and the second one relates to poaching in the jungles of Saharanpur hills. However, there was no immediate confirmation from CBI on the raids. 12:25 IST
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Pak shelling in Jammu, Rajouri, Siachen, Kargil sectors
Exchange of low intensity firing and mortar shelling between Indian and Pakistani troops continued in some areas of Jammu, Rajouri, Kargil and Siachen sectors since last night, while shelling and firing have considerably reduced in most of the border areas, official sources said today. Pakistani troops resorted to mortar shelling in Sangral and Manjakote, Dhantani post and Rajdhani besides central Siachen, Thang, Chorbat La and Drass areas of Jammu, Rajouri, Siachen and Kargil sectors since last night, the sources said adding shelling continued intermittently till early this morning in Sangral area of R S Pura, but stopped in other areas. Indian troops guarding the LoC and IB in these areas retaliated and the fire exchange continued in some of these areas till this morning, the sources said and added there was no casualty or damage on the Indian side. Cross border firing and shelling has considerably reduced in most of the areas in Kathua, Jammu, Rajouri, Poonch, Siachen and Kargil sectors during the last few days, he added. 13:32 IST
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Govt allows 26 per cent FDI in print media despite opposition
New Delhi,Wednesday, June 26, 2002: Brushing aside opposition from political parties and media groups, Government Tuesday decided to allow 26 per cent Foreign Direct Investment in news and current affairs print media and 74 per cent foreign investment in technical and medical publications and devised "safeguards" to ensure that editorial and management control remained in Indian hands. The controversial decision, which reverses the 1955 Cabinet resolution against foreign pariticipation in news media, was taken by the Union Cabinet presided over by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after years of debate and in the face of outright rejection of the proposal by a Parliamentary Standing Committee recently. However, no changes were made in regard to news agencies, Information and Broadcasting Minister Sushma Swaraj told reporters after the cabinet meeting. She said the government has "attempted to address" the concerns expressed over FDI in news and current affairs media and mandated management as well as editorial control to remain with Indians. At least three-fourth of the board of directors of any print media company with FDI should be Indians while all key editorial posts must lie with resident Indians, the Minister said adding any change in shareholding pattern of such companies must get prior approval from her ministry. However, the government has come under severe attack from the Congress and the Left parties, which opposed the move. The Congress said it will take an "appropriate" position when the matter comes up in Parliament for discussion. 10:04 IST
Wednesday, June 26, 2002
Ambani continues to be unconscious
Mumbai,Wednesday, June 26, 2002: Dhirubhai Ambani, Chairman of Reliance Industries Ltd, today continued to remain unconscious and on life support system. There is no change in the health condition of Ambani and the doctors are monitoring him closely, Breach Candy hospital sources said here this morning. The Reliance patriarch was admitted to the hospital on June 24 after he suffered a cerebral stroke. He was taken for CT scan and other tests last evening. Hospital CEO Vijay Krishna had yesterday stated that the next 48 hours was a critical period and the clear picture would emerge only tomorrow. Among the first visitors this morning included Godrej group chairman Adi Godrej. 10:47 IST
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Advani may become Deputy Prime Minister
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister A B Vajpayee may soon have a formal No 2. As the much-talked about reshuffle of the Union Cabinet draws nearer, Vajpayee is learnt to be considering a re-designation for home minister L K Advani, as the deputy Prime Minister, thus formalising what has so far been a de facto arrangement. Even as deputy PM, Mr Advani will retain his charge of the home ministry. It's said that the formal appointment of Mr Advani as the deputy PM may come soon possibly by the end of the month. NDA allies have already been sounded out and are said to be willing to go along with the proposal. The Constitution doesn't provide for the post of a deputy PM, although various prime ministers, starting with Jawaharlal Nehru, have formally designated a senior colleague as their deputy. Mr Advani's re-designation, if it goes through, will be more in the nature of a power statement, aimed at ending any ambivalence about the government and Sangh Parivar's succession order. Besides, it is expected to clarify matters in the light of lingering speculation about a strained relationship between the top two. For Mr Advani, a re-designation may not lead to a change in his current job profile, but would lend him an additional layer of authority. The fact that the NDA allies appear to be acquiescing to the proposal also suggests that Mr Advani's hardliner image may not come in his way if the BJP were to assign him with a more powerful role in the future. Within the BJP, of course, Mr Advani will have a new stature and the gravitational pull that will come with it. To bring about the re-designation, Mr Vajpayee has merely to issue an administrative order as no separate swearing-in would be required. The re-designation, say party sources, is part of an image makeover package planned by Mr Vajpayee for his team. Mr Advani's elevation would also enable the Prime Minister to promote other BJP ministers without confusing the chain of command. If the PM sticks to his plan, Mr Advani will be joining a club comprising Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Morarji Desai, Jagjivan Ram, Charan Singh and Devi Lal. Different PMs made these appointments when they had to deal with powerful colleagues and when they struggled to establish their own authority. So far, these extra-constitutional appointments have been statements of compromise. Mr Advani's promotion is also expected to quell doubts in the Parivar about the ideological fidelity of the BJP on core issues. There has been disquiet in the Parivar on some government policies, with some of the members feeling that the BJP has been "too accommodative for too long" while dealing with the pressures of coalition politics. While the scope for course correction will remain limited, Mr Advani's presence as the No 2 will be a reassuring factor for these members. (From The Economic Times)
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
PM offers more powers to Jammu & Kashmir
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee seems to have offered devolution of more powers to Kashmir in response to the demand for autonomy raised by Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah and his son Omar Abdullah. Emerging from an hour-long meeting at the Prime Minister’s residence, Omar Abdullah, who is also the newly appointed president of the National Conference, said, "The Prime Minister assured us that he was willing to hold discussions on devolution of more powers to the state and I will take this assurance back to my party and chalk out future course of action.’’ Farooq Abdullah only said, ‘‘I had come to introduce the Prime Minister to our new president of the party.’’ He denied that the PM had offered him any berth in the central ministry, which he is likely to reshuffle soon. However, Omar Abdullah said he had expressed to the PM his inability to do justice to his two positions. Asked pointedly if he had offered to resign from his post as Union minister, Omar clarified, ‘‘I told the Prime Minister that I will not be able to do justice to both the jobs and I could neither be of any major help to him (Vajpayee) nor to Jaswant Singhji.’’ He refused to elaborate, saying, ‘‘Please do not put words into my mouth.’’ Asked about minister of state for home I D Swami’s statement that the Centre would not restore the pre-1953 status to the state, Omar said, ‘‘When you begin a discussion, you put your stakes high. Later on, whatever comes out of the discussion and is mutually acceptable would be implemented.’’ ‘‘We have a team of representatives ready and we are only waiting for the Centre to announce its team which will hold discussions with us,’’ Omar added. Asked whether the autonomy issue has been used by the National Conference as a plank to derail talks between the Centre and separatist leadership, including Hurriyat Conference, Omar said, ‘‘I have already offered my home as the venue for holding such talks. How much more support does one need? We are in favour of more and more separatist leaders joining the electoral polls,’’ he said.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
What about promises, Powell asks Musharraf
US secretary of state Colin Powell called Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf at the weekend over comments in which the latter appeared to waver in his promised commitment to end cross-border incursions into Kashmir, the State Department said Monday. Spokesman Richard Boucher said Powell had spoken to Musharraf on Sunday following the publication of an interview with the president in Newsweek and the Washington Post in which he said he had not committed to a permanent end to such incidents. Musharraf, Boucher said, reiterated pledges on the subject made earlier this month in Islamabad to deputy secretary of state Richard Armitage as well as in telephone conversations with Powell and US president George W Bush. "Deputy secretary Armitage was given assurances by Musharraf on June 6 that ending of infiltration across the Line of Control would be permanent," Boucher told reporters. "These assurances were also given to the secretary of state, to the president of the United States in their conversations, as well as repeatedly to our representatives, our charge (d'affaires) and ambassador in Islamabad," he said. In fact, despite Musharraf's comments to Newsweek and the Post, Boucher said Washington had seen "positive results" from the president's pledge with a drastic reduction in militant raids from Pakistan into Kashmir. "We've seen positive results from that commitment, and we've also seen significant positive steps by India since then," he said. "It's a commitment that's been made very clear and president Musharraf has made very clear to us that he stands by it." "We've seen him carry it out and he's reiterated it to us so we have no reason to disbelieve him," Boucher said. However, he did say that Washington wanted to see further steps from Musharraf to cool tensions with India over Kashmir. Boucher said the interview was one of several reasons that Powell had called Musharraf but declined to say how prominently it had figured in the conversation. "I'd describe it as a chance to compare notes on the present situation and, obviously, this interview and the reaction it was causing in various quarters was one of the topics that they discussed," he said. Reaction to the interview in India, where distrust of Pakistan and Musharraf runs high, was particularly strong. Newsweek and the Post, which ran interviews with both Musharraf and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee, quoted the Pakistani leader as saying he had made no lasting commitment on cross-border militant incursions or in shutting down training camps for Kashmiri militants.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Majority of people believe they won't get AIDS: UN poll
A United Nations survey has showed that awareness about HIV and AIDS is high in most countries but warned that education about the disease is not leading most people to take precautions against it. In a striking finding, the poll found that the level of education among those surveyed appeared to have no effect in making people aware of their own susceptibility to HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. The survey by the UN population division in 39 countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean said two-thirds of women and eight of 10 men surveyed said ''they were either at no risk at all or at small risk of getting AIDS''. The survey said people tend to distance themselves from the epidemic. ''Risk denial might also provide an explanation for the fact that, even in countries where most people know how AIDS is transmitted, such as the Dominican Republic, a vast majority of respondents expressed the view that they were not at risk,'' it said. It also found that knowledge about the disease was strikingly low in the poorest countries among the 39 surveyed, including Bangladesh, where 69 per cent of women did not know how to avoid AIDS. That percentage was 66 in Mozambique, 37 in Guatemala, 33 in Madagascar and 30 in Turkey. There was also a gap in knowledge about the epidemic between urban and rural areas. The survey said existing programmes have so far done little to inform couples living in rural areas in many African and Asian countries. The United Nations said there are more than 40 million people, or 0.65 per cent of the world's population, living with HIV. In the past two decades, the epidemic has killed another 22 million people. DPA
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Cong assails VHP's Haridwar decision
The Congress today assailed VHP's Haridwar decision to not abide by the court verdict on Ayodhya. A party spokesman said this "disturbing" development made it clear that the organisation had no faith in the judiciary and the Constitution of the country. The VHP's decision in our viewpoint is a disturbing development. This has once again proved that the organization has no faith in the Constitution and respect for the judiciary. - Anand Sharma, Congress spokesman Congress spokesman Anand Sharma said the organisation could not be trusted for its "commitments and words" as it had given in writing to the Shankaracharya of Kanchi only a few months ago that it would abide by the decision of the court on Ayodhya. "The BJP cannot co-habit with the VHP and Sangh Parivar on the one hand, as well as its allies in the NDA on the other", he said. The spokesman added that it was incumbent upon the constituents of the NDA to make their position clear about the "BJP's multi-linkages" with the VHP and other outfits of the Sangh Parivar. He also condemned VHP leaders' threat to minorities and demanded that the government must clarify its stand "whether it endorses or opposes" it. Asked if the party would favour a ban on the VHP, Sharma said on several occasions the party had asserted its position, seeking ban on its activities.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
IA cuts fares by 15-20% on select sectors
IN an effort to get more passengers to travel by air during the lean season, Indian Airlines today dropped fares by between 15 per cent and 20 per cent on seven sectors from Mumbai including Bangalore, Goa, Mangalore and Jamnagar. The reduced fares will take effect from July 1 and will be valid till September 30. However, if a passenger has already commenced journey before September 30, he will be allowed to complete the journey at the concessional fares till October 15. No other concessions, including for children, would be given, sources said. The seven sectors on which IA has reduced fares include Mumbai-Goa and return (new concessional fare Rs 2,380), Mumbai-Mangalore and return (Rs 3,620), Mumbai-Rajkot and return (Rs 2,500), Mumbai-Vadodara (Rs 2,500), Mumbai-Nagpur and return (Rs 3,560) and Mumbai-Jamnagar and return (Rs 3,340). "The decision has been taken to motivate passengers to travel. The period between July-September is a lean period when almost all airlines report decline in loads. Some airlines offer freebies. We have decided to go for a straight reduction,'' IA sources told Business Line from Mumbai. This is not the first time that the domestic airlines have reduced fares on select sectors to attract more business. It may be recalled that some years ago, all the airlines had reduced fares on the Mumbai-Delhi and return sector in order to boost sale of air tickets.
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
India go down to Kent
Canterbury, England, June 25: Kent beat India by 21 runs in their one-day tour match. Kent J.Hockley c Dravid b Yohannan 1 R.Key st Dravid b Harbhajan Singh 76 A.Symonds run out 75 D.Fulton b Kumble 7 M.Walker c & b Harbhajan Singh 3 M.Ealham not out 74 G.Jones lbw b Kumble 20 J.Golding c Mongia b Khan 3 J.Tredwell lbw b Khan 1 A.Khan b Khan 7 M.Saggers b Khan 0 Extras (lb-10 w-4 nb-3) 17 Total (all out, 50 overs) 284 Fall of wickets: 1-10 2-138 3-165 4-167 5-183 6-225 7-234 8-237 9-284 Bowling: Yohannan 8-0-73-1 (nb-1 w-1), Khan 8-0-38-4 (w-1), Ganguly 4-0-41-0 (nb-2), Kumble 10-0-28-2, Tendulkar 2-0-12-0, Harbhajan Singh 10-0-56-2 (w-2), Sehwag 4-0-16-0, Yuvraj Singh 4-0-10-0 India S.Ganguly run out 64 V.Sehwag c Saggers b Golding 45 D.Mongia c Jones b Golding 37 S.Tendulkar b Golding 15 R.Dravid c Khan b Ealham 34 Y.Singh c Fulton b Golding 3 M.Kaif c Ealham b Saggers 19 H.Singh c Fulton b Ealham 17 Z.Khan st Jones b Ealham 5 A.Kumble c Hockley b Ealham 9 T.Yohannan not out 1 Extras (lb-3 w-11) 14 Total (all out, 48.5 overs) 263 Fall of wickets: 1-85 2-136 3-166 4-172 5-179 6-220 7-247 8-249 9-262 10-263 Bowling: Saggers 9-0-58-1 (w-1), Khan 7-0-40-0 (w-5), Ealham 9.5-1-45-4 (w-1), Golding 9-0-42-4, Tredwell 4-0-24-0, Symonds 10-0-51-0 (w-4) Result: Kent won by 21 runs. Reuters
Tuesday, June 25, 2002
Time reporter `let off'
NEW DELHI JUNE 24. The India-based correspondent of Time magazine, Alex Perry, whose report on the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, sparked a controversy, was questioned today by immigration officers for the second time in the last four days. However, before letting him go from the Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRRO) here after a ten-minute questioning, the officials told him that, as a "matter of courtesy'', he should inform the office as and when he leaves the country. Mr. Perry, who was questioned by K. S. Bains and P. K. Bhardwaj, Joint and Deputy Directors at the Immigration Department, appears to have been let off for the time being. His lawyer said Mr. Perry was told by the officials that he was not required by them for the "time being''. It seems Mr. Perry was summoned today to be questioned regarding his three passports. He reportedly told them that the passports were part of continuing travel documents and this could be verified from the British officials concerned. He also handed over a letter from the British High Commission certifying that he held a valid passport. Mr. Perry was appreciative of the "Indian democracy''. He told newsmen that "it is unlike other Asian countries where you write anything against the Government and you are kicked out.'' Asked whether he intended to leave the country, he said "no, not at all. I am highly impressed with the Indian democracy.'' Immigration officials had not imposed restrictions on his movement. He declined to answer the question whether the treatment meted out to him was "unfair''. "I will not like to comment on this but yet I am happy that the basic ethos of democracy flourish in this country''.
Monday, June 24, 2002
PM rejects autonomy for J & K
Even as Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah pitched for autonomy for his state to help restore peace there, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee rejected it. While Abdullah's demand was made at a special session of National Conference in Srinagar where he handed over the charge of the party to his son Omar, Vajpayee's rejection was contained in an interview to Newsweek magazine. Farooq Abdullah said the Centre would have to seriously consider granting autonomy as there would be no peace in the state "till you (Centre) give autonomy to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh." Asked whether autonomy was a long-term solution for Kashmir, the Prime Minister said "we are for the devolution of power."
Monday, June 24, 2002
Omar to take over NC leadership, security beefed up
Security has been beefed up around Sher-i-Kashmir Cricket Stadium where Minister of State for External Affairs Omar Abdullah is scheduled to take over as President of National Conference at a function. The area has been sanitised; sources said adding all vehicles going towards city centre Lal Chowk are being checked. Barricades have been erected on all routes leading to the venue. Omar will take over the Presidentship from his father, Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah, at an extra-ordinary convention of the party delegates. Many important decisions are likely to be taken at the session and the party is expected to announce its future course of action with regard to the assembly elections due in October this year.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Four hurt in Baroda riots
At least four persons were injured and three vehicles damaged in a clash between two groups of people in Baroda city. Police rushed to the trouble-torn spot and burst tear gas shells to disperse the stone pelting mob in a locality under the City police station area in Baroda, police said. Two scooters and one matador were also damaged in rioting, they said. However, the cause behind the clash between two communities was not yet ascertained, police added.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Box Office Collections: June24, 02
Awara Paagal Deewana - 1st day in Mumbai Minerva - (100%) New Excelsior - (100%) Geeta - (97.77%) Premiere - (100%) Aurora (2 sh.) - (100%) New Citylight (3 sh.) - (100%) Gaiety - (100%) Chandan - (100%) Fame Adlabs - (100%) Cine Magic - (100%) New Era - (95%) Cine Star - (100%) Ajanta - (94.22%) Cine Planet - (100%) Imax Adlabs - (100%) Kalpana - (100%) Shreyas - (89%) Ashish - (47.54%) Deepmandir - (88.54%) Badhaai Ho Badhaai - 1st week Mumbai - 32,24,396 (60%) Ahmedabad - 6,90,468 Bhuj - 63,360 Sholapur - 1,82,554 Hubli - 1,10,785 Delhi - 42,80,599 (38%) Kanpur - 4,14,658 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 3,00,480 (55%) Agra - 2,50,000 (33%) Allahabad - 99,896 (42%) Varanasi - 1,14,998 Nagpur - 4,03,466 (26%) Raipur - 91,465 (6 dy.) Bhopal - 89,706 (24%) Jaipur - 2,01,684 (22%) 23rd March 1931 Shaheed - 2nd week Mumbai - 9,93,854 (26%) Ahmedabad - 3,37,151 Sholapur - 71,980 Delhi - 16,71,425 Kanpur - 2,59,995 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 1,57,615 (25%) Agra - 90,000 Allahabad - 60,265 (19%) Bareilly - 32,410 (6 dy.) (12%) Nagpur - 72,922 (18%) Akola - 57,154 (24%) Raipur - 73,094 (6 dy.) Yavatmal - 70,446 Jaipur - 53,844 (9%) The Legend Of Bhagat Singh - 2nd week Mumbai - 36,05,838 (67%) Ahmedabad - 4,47,420 Adipur - 67,022 Sholapur - 89,690 Bijapur - 1,05,535 Delhi - 21,66,199 Kanpur - 2,12,787 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 2,13,157 (21%) Agra - 82,000 (20%) Allahabad - 62,465 (19%) Bareilly - 25,827 (6 dy.) (9%) Varanasi - 59,116 Nagpur - 1,03,171 (31%) Akola - 65,182 (22%) Raipur - 34,809 (6 dy.) Wardha - 36,568 Bhopal - 53,344 (13%) Jaipur - 1,17,000 (20%) Mere Yaar Ki Shaadi Hai - 2nd week Mumbai - 28,34,766 (82%) Ahmedabad - 4,46,599 Sholapur - 1 (mat.) 33,606 Delhi - 30,94,684 Kanpur - 2,35,303 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 3,70,755 (74%) Agra - 3,45,000 (37%) Allahabad - 1,20,000 (42%) Bareilly - 68,779 (6 dy.) (29%) Varanasi - 99,263 Nagpur - 4,04,851 (55%) Raipur - 66,881 (6 dy.) Yavatmal - 41,820 Jaipur - 7,23,660 Aurangabad - 1,92,636 Hum Kisi Se Kum Nahin - 3rd week Mumbai - 24,32,264 (42%) Ahmedabad - 1,16,591 Sholapur - 1,48,875 Delhi - 5,24,906 Kanpur - 1,40,807 (6 dy.) Lucknow - 2,74,167 (46%) Agra - 48,000 (9%) Allahabad - 98,000 (28%) Varanasi - 81,192 Bareilly - 27,601 (6 dy.) Nagpur - 50,625 (23%) Akola - 54,742 (12%) Raipur - 41,982 (6 dy.) Gondia - 44,784 Jaipur - 1,17,217 (15%)
Monday, June 24, 2002
Naseeruddin Shah in elite company!
Naseeruddin Shah has beaten Gulshan Grover to bag the role of Captain Nemo in The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, which will be shot in Prague and is based in an alternate Victorean age. The role has been apparently adapted from Jules Verne's work 20,000 Leagues Under The Sea. If sources are to be believed, Sean Connery too is in the film. Naseer certainly is in elite company!
Monday, June 24, 2002
"Why would anyone want to kidnap me?" -Manisha
A headline in a news daily claimed there was an attempt on actress Manisha Koirala's life. When contacted on the sets of theTamil film Baba (costarring Rajnikanth), in Chennai, the Nepali beauty seems far from threatened. "Where is the threat? I got to know about it only through newspapers. Why would anyone want to kidnap me?" she chortles. "Actually, there was a threat. But that was almost a month ago in Mumbai. When I heard about it, I contacted the Mumbai police. They said they knew nothing about it. I asked them to check with the Chennai police who said there is a threat, so there had to be some basis to it," she explains. The Chennai police seems to be convinced there is a serious threat to Manisha's life. "When I arrived at the Chennai airport last month to shoot for Baba, there were at least 15 policemen waiting for me. I was aghast. Would I be arrested or what? Now what had I done?" she jokes aloud. Manisha muses, "Why would anyone want to kidnap me?" However, she shrugs off speculation: "I have no cops with me any longer. I was threatened a month ago. I do not know why the newspapers have woken up to it now. But I am not scared or nervous. The only thing is, I have to be cautious now. Earlier, I used to be quite a bindaas (daredevil) girl. "Nowadays, threats bother me," the actress adds. Speaking on her new Tamil film Baba, Koirala says, "It is a nice role. I have never played such a role before. But it is Rajnikanth's film all the way." The film releases August. The actress plans to turn into a film producer some time this year. "My first film will be a comedy thriller about two working girls trying to survive in the concrete jungle of Mumbai. It is quite an interesting subject. A bright young former assistant to Mani Ratnam named Sreenivas will direct my film. My executive producer is going to talk to Sushmita Sen to essay one of the characters. The role has been written with her in mind. I will play the other girl. "Next year, I want to expand on the production, so we can make many small, meaningful films. I want to make films that can go to Cannes. I want to be internationally known for my cinema."
Monday, June 24, 2002
Abhishek loses out on Bhoot
Remember we told you that Abhishek was out of Ramgopal's next film titled Bhoot? Well, the reason is quite clear now. Apparently, J P Dutta's LoC (on which Abhishek is working at present) has been delayed by a month due to the tense situation on the Indo-Pak border, and the clash of dates resulted in Abhishek losing out on Bhoot. Sad, that an actor has to lose one good film because of another. But don't worry, Abhishek, we're sure Ramgopal Varma is as impatient to work with you are as vice versa. We're betting it won't be long before Ramu finally gets you!
Monday, June 24, 2002
Samjhauta Express
After a film like Aks, one expected director Rakesh Mehra to do something even more exciting. And he's certainly not disappointing his fans. After a short sabbatical, he's now all set to launch his next film titled Samjhauta Express which is supposed to be a spoof on Indo-Pak relations. After roping in senior Bachchan last time, he's settled for the junior Bachchan, Abhishek this time. Also Anil Kapoor and Manisha Koirala will lend support to the cast. We're sure this time Rakesh won't miss the train when it comes to box-office success!
Monday, June 24, 2002
Madhavan confident of his second Hindi movie
MUMBAI: His Hindi debut Rehnaa Hai Terre Dil Mein bombed, but south Indian superstar and television heartthrob Madhavan is ready to take on Bollywood a second time with Dil Vil Pyar Vyar. One of the highest paid young actors in Tamil cinema, Madhavan in his second outing tries his hand at a tender love story woven around the songs of legendary music composer R D Burman. The film, slated for an August release, also marks the directorial debut of noted theatre and television actor Anant Mahadevan. Madhavan, who featured in Mahadevan's hit television show Ghar Jamai, is extremely excited about the film. "It's very difficult for me to come across a script that really excites me. Dil Vil Pyar Vyar did. "I couldn't be bothered with its commercial potential or who others should be in the cast. I just wanted to be in this film. Only good stories work. I was very kicked with the concept, story and the team I was working with. I'd say Dil Vil Pyar Vyar is the most enjoyable film I've shot so far." Though he has been getting several lucrative offers from Bollywood filmmakers, Madhavan says he would rather wait and see how his second Hindi film fares while he concentrates on his Tamil movies. But he feels there is a dearth of good scripts in the Tamil film industry as well. "Very few filmmakers in Tamil Nadu are doing creative work. Though I can sign 16 films right now if I want, I'm choosing carefully. Even in Hindi, there's a flood of offers. But nothing that really excites me." But he looks forward to the release of Dil Vil... His latest Tamil film is Run, by director Lingswamy. It is expected to hit the marquees in July. Its music is already a rage across Tamil Nadu. "My two forthcoming films in Hindi and Tamil are acid tests for me." But he is equally confident that he has a long inning ahead in Bollywood. "I know I'm going to be in Hindi films as long as I want to be because I can speak Hindi properly and I'm a fairly good actor. And no one can stop me. "Moreover I'm professional in my dealings. No one has a complaint against me. All my films have been completed within three months. There's a huge amount of producers in Mumbai including Ratan Jain and Jhamu Sugandh, interested in me." Madhavan continues to share a special relationship with ace director Mani Rathnam, who cast him in the hit Alai Payuthe. The two constantly exchanged messages on mobile. Madhavan's eyes light up at Rathnam's mention. "I'm the only actor to have done three films as a leading man with Mani, and I hope and pray I'll be in his next film as well. "My latest film with him, Kannaithal Muttham, was certainly tougher than Alai Payuthe. I didn't only have to play a character older than my age, but I also had to play a father of two children. To play this unsmiling frowning 35-year-old man and that too one who happen to be a poet required lots of preparation. "I studied the personality and speaking pattern of two Tamil poets Vairamuthu and Sujatha. To play the father, I watched Mani closely when he interacted with his 10-year-old son. But most of all, I watched him and give him credit for my performance."
Monday, June 24, 2002
Info on Five Films on Bhagat Singh
We’ve made Gandhi. And films on Sardar Patel, Babasaheb Ambedkar and Veer Savarkar. Bengal has also saluted its militant leaders, Khudiram Bose and Subhash Chandra Bose. The latest revolutionary to have fired the imagiantion of our film-makers is Bhagat Singh. This young member of the Hindustan Socialist Republican Party, was involved in a number of uprisings against the British. He masterminded the assassination of the assistant superintendent of police, Sauders who had ordered a lathi charge against Lala Lajpat Rai. He was also among the 17 revolutionaries who hatched the Kakoria train conspiracy. Pursued by the police, he threw a bomb into the Central Legislative Assembly’s visitor’s gallery and then refused to run, believing that his death could inspire other young men to join the revolution. He was hanged on March 23, 1931. The young martyr’s tragic life story has already been retold three times. After a 37 year drought, Bhagat Singh will once again be ressurected in as many as five films this year. A look at what makes the patriot everyone’s favourite hero. RAMESH TAURANI My film is about Bhagat Singh, the intellectual, his thoughts With five films on Bhagat Singh in the race and the Deols insisting that they’ll also release their film in June, may be on the same day as yours, aren’t you apprehensive about your multi-crore investment? No, we’re not because ours is an authentic film. I remember the first time Rajkumar Santoshi narrated the script to us, my whole family was instantly charged up about it and agreed that this was one film that had to be made. It’s not only a film about Bhagat Singh, the freedom fighter. We’ll present the man and the intellectual too. We’ve incorporated Bhagat Singh’s thoughts and his principles into the script and that was what really impressed his brother. When Kultar Singh, along with his son, Kiranjeet Singh, paid us a surprise visit when we were shooting in Pune, he was so moved by Rajkumar Santoshi’s script that he confessed, I feel maine zindagi vapas jee li hai. He even reproduced for us a letter his brother had written to him 71 years ago. When asked to bless Ajay Devgan who’s playing Bhagat Singh in the film he said, How can I bless Bhagat Singh. He’s my elder brother? The Legend Of Bhagat Singh is a film that can make you emotional. It gives out very positive vibes. We’ve made an honest film and that’s already evident in the promos and the songs. What do you think of the sudden wave of patriotic films following the super success of Gadar..Ek Prem Katha and Lagaan? What can I say except that our film was announced way back in July, 2000 before either Gadar or Lagaan were released. There’s documentary proof of that because an ad was released in Trade Guide. But after that Rajkumar Santoshi felt the film needed more research. He signed Anjum Rajabali to write a screenplay for him while he concentrated on Lajja. The screenplay was finished around July-August, 2001. That’s when we were approached. Rajji gave us a narration in September and we gave him the nod immediately. Our film went on the floors in January and will be completed by May. Considering it’s a period film you’ve completed it really fast. We wanted to shoot the film in one schedule because we wanted a certain look and took bulk dates from all the artistes way back in September. The film went on the floors in January and it’ll be through by May despite having a busy artiste like Ajay Devgan. The film was completed so fast not because we were in competition with the other films on Bhagat Singh but because it was planned so well. Even AR Rahman who’s known to take time over his scores, finished the music in three months flat. And admitted that for the first time in his life someone had taken such good work from him in such a short time. What made you choose a South Indian director for a film with a strong North Indian flavour? Rahman is one music director who gives you a period music and at the same time his tunes have a touch of the modern. It is this blend of the old and the new that makes his music so appealing. Your Mera rang de basanti chola... has been playing on the channels for some time now. A week ago, the Deols have come up with their own version of the song for 23rd March, 1931 Shaheed. The competition is certainly hotting up. Is it? Our music will be nothing like their’s. Rahman’s arrangement, his tunes and the wording of the song are very different. I think it would now be sensible to leave it to the audience to decide which film on Bhagat Singh they want to see. People know what they want. What made you decide on Ajay Devgan for the title role? When Rajkumar Santoshi first came to us with the story, we asked him if he had an actor in mind for the title role. He did but wouldn’t tell us who he wanted. Instead, he told us to listen to the story first. As he was narrating the story to us, the image of Ajay Devgan formed in my mind. I could only visualise Ajay as Bhagat Singh. The role needed an intense performer like him. When I told Rajji this he admitted that even he had his sights set on Ajay. In fact, he had approached the star during the making of Lajja. Taking Ajay was an unanimous decision. Does Bobby Deol make as convincing a Bhagat Singh? I don’t think it would be dignified to compare the two actors. Bobby’s a good performer too with whom we’ve made a very successful Soldier. In fact, we’re planning another film with him next year. We also have a good relationship with Sunny. Even Ajay and Bobby are good friends. They wouldn’t care for such comparisons. The Deol production has a lot of saleable names from Sunny and Bobby who’re playing Chandrashekhar Azad and Bhagat Singh to Aishwarya who’s Bhagat Singh’s fiancee, Amrita Singh who’s his mother and Sanjay Dutt who’s playing Kehar Singh. Your The Legend Of Bhagat Singh in comparison has only one bankable star, Ajay Devgan. That was a conscious decision. We wanted actors who looked the characters. Rajguru is being played by a Mahrashtrian and Jatin Das by a Bengali. Sukhdev is Sushant and Akhilendra Mishra is Chandrashekhar Azad. The casting is very apt. You know, two top actresses approached us for the heroine’s role but we knew that it was only a bit role that required just 15-20 days work. If we took an established actress to play Bhagat Singh’s fiancee, people would expect her to have more footage, more songs. So instead we opted for a newcomer, Amrita Rao. Even for Bhagat Singh’s parents’ roles we always wanted Farida Jalal and Raj Babbar because they looked the part. After Lajja’s failure were you ever doubtful of Rajkumar Santoshi’s ability to pull off this extravaganza? Never! We had complete faith in Santoshi’s potential. There was never any question of doubting his ability. In fact, we want to do more films with him. Incidentally, Lajja wasn’t such a big flop, was it? May be it didn’t live up to expectations but there are so many reasons for a film not doing well. You can’t only blame the director. Roshmila Bhattacharya SHAHEED-E-AZAM Produced by: Iqbal Singh Dhillon Director: Sukumar Nair Starring: Sonu Sood as Bhagat Singh This will be the first of the five Bhagat Singh films being made, to storm the theatres. The film is scheduled for release on May 24. Iqbal Singh Dhillon, the producer of the film, isn’t shouting from the rooftops about his achievement though. We were the first ones to go on the floors so it was inevitable that we would wind up first, he points out with irrefutable logic. Dhillon has earlier produced Shaheed Udham Singh and was a part of Gurdas Mann’s Shaheed-E-Mohabbat Boota Singh too. We had planned this film on Bhagat Singh before even Shaheed Udham Singh, way back in ’96. Our project was announced along with the Sagars’ film on Bhagat Singh, but after launching the film we realised that we needed more time to research the subject, Dhillon maintains. He made trips to Lahore to visit the Lahore jail and meet the children and grand-children of Bhagat Singh’s friends. We even spoke to the family of music diretor Khursheed Anwar who was one of Bhagat Singh’s oldest friends, Dhillon says proudly. He was surprised by the love and respect people across border have for the martyred revolutionary. No one refers to him as Bhagat Singh. They either address him as Bhagat Singh sahab or Allah log, he informs. Those trips to Pakistan yielded more such interesting information and documents about the hero whose bio-pix Dhillon has been compiling with the utmost sincerity these last couple of years. The USP of the film is that it has been shot on actual locations in Punjab including Ferozpur where Bhagat Singh cut his hair. Dhillon remembers that many of the locals would turn up for the shooting and if they found that the chaddar wasn’t tied right or Bhagat Singh’s walk was different, they’d immediately point it out to the film’s South Indian director, Sukumar Nair. That way we were constantly on our toes, smiles Dhillon. The script has been credited to Sardar Jagmohan Singh who is a nephew of Bhagat Singh and Soham Saha. A film was started in Lahore on the freedom fighter some years ago and later shelved. I managed to get a copy of the script that we’ve used for our film, says Dhillon. My film is not just about the revolutionary but Bhagat Singh the poet, the singer and the actor too. He did lots of plays. The songs have been written by Pakistani lyricists, SM Sadique and Khwaja Parvez and set to music by Sabar Ali, Sardool Sikandar and Maqbool Khan. What’s interesting is that ‘Mera rang de basanti chola...’ that’s there in all the other four Bhagat Singh films, doesn’t figure in this film. Bhagat Singh’s favourite colours were black and red. Saffron mazhab ka rang hai. Bhagat Singh didn’t belong to any religion, woh to insaniyat se pyar karte the. ‘Mera rang de basanti chola...’ was a figment of some poet’s imagination and over the years has come to be associated with Bhagat Singh, Dhillon comes up with the startling revelation. His film instead has a song penned by the revolutionary himself, ‘Ab to kha chuke hain Chittor ke gadh ki kasmein...’. While Sunny Deol has opted for Bobby Deol to play the title role and Rajkumar Santoshi for Ajay Devgan, Dhillon has put his money on a newcomer whose only ace is that he strongly resembles the freedom fighter. Bhagat Singh was a body builder, practised yoga and was a keen kabbadi player. We needed a young man who had a good physique, the face of an intellectual and a ready smile. We screen-tested several actors and Sonu Sood fit the bill. He looks right for the role and is also the right age. Bhagat Singh was 23 years and six months when he was hanged. Sukhdev was 22. The boys in my cast are in the age group of 21 and 23 and that, I feel, lends authenticity to the project, he avers. When questioned about his budget Dhillon quips, Films on men like Khudiram Bose and Bhagat Singh who gave their lives for the country, don’t have a budget. Is tarah ke films dil se bante hain. Touche.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Aftab
Despite having worked with most big banners, Aftab’s career didn’t really take off as expected. Most of his films were croppers at the BO but Aftab wants to change that now. His next three releases have him playing a wide gamut of roles and he hopes that the success of these films will take him up the ladder on a new level. In this Q&A, he sounds optimistic about future as an actor preferring to forget the not-so-eventful past. Despite having worked with big banners, you still haven’t reached the top so far. I definitely worked with reputed people and all the big banners. But it shows that big banners do not necessarily guarantee a hit in today’s times. Work at your best and hope for the best is what I am doing now. You cannot predict anything today. Big banners helped me in circulation in the market and that was an advantage but did not guarantee a hit. See, the big banners are failing and new people, be it new directors, new makers or new stars are coming in. I believe that new talents have everything at stake and so they put everything in that film. That little bit more they do pays off, as there is more passion in their work. So, I guess the doors are opening for these newcomers at last. Personally, I feel that though I haven’t reached the pinnacle yet, I am hoping to be there soon. Do you feel that the sweet-boy-next-door image you have went against you? I don’t agree because people have appreciated me in those roles. In Mast, I was appreciated with that sweet image but then I myself wanted to change that look so I did Kasoor. There again, I was successful to a certain extent as the film did well. See, I don’t want to be labeled as anything; I want to try and do something different all the time so that people don’t have a fixed image of me. The more versatile you are, the more life you have in a career like films. It is better not to stick to one kind of roles and get exhausted. So I try to do different things and try to fit into different genres all the time. Boney Kapoor recently said that ‘Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche’ bombed because there were too many Aftab films releasing at once. I don’t agree with that because I think that the audience did not accept the film because the script and the story were rejected. Though there was curiosity because it was Esha Deol’s launch pad and it was a Boney Kapoor film and had Jaya Bachchan in it, the film didn’t reach up to people’s expectations. Your film 'Pyaasa' with Yukta Mookhey has been surrounded by controversy. Yukta and the producer had a problem within themselves and I think that’s about it. I didn’t have a major problem with Yukta, just an argument, which was blown out of proportion. The problem is between her and the producer and I am nobody to comment on that. Yukta didn’t give me any problems; she was perfectly ok with me always. In fact she is a very hardworking, good actress. I am okay with both the parties. Vimal Kumar was upset because Amisha and you both gave him a tough time to complete Suno Sasurji He had a minor problem but everything has been sorted out. Amisha’s date couldn’t match mine and vice-versa. Since we both were busy doing other films, it affected his film’s dates. That is a common phenomenon, but he was entitled to his share of anger. In fact we apologized and even met up and sorted out things. Your career has been rather topsy-turvy. I know it has been topsy-turvy. But then everyone in this line goes through ups and downs. I don’t regret doing the kind of films I have done. I am happy with the kind of work I have done. I know I have not done well at the box office and I am aware of that. And I don’t regret that because there is no point regretting the past. One should look forward towards the future. And, honestly, I don’t have the time to think of what happened in the past. Many people find you arrogant. I think that’s a media made tag. Till date, no co-star, director or producer has ever said that on my face nor have they expressed that feeling to me directly or indirectly. I am just a very shy and introvert kind of guy and I don’t open up to people so easily. May be that makes them feel that I am arrogant. Generally I go into my reserved shell and only open up when I am comfortable with people. You have three films on release. How different are those films from each other? Yeah I have three different films all set to hit the screen. My next release will be Awara Paagal Dewana, which is an action thriller with a lot of comedy. It’s got a lovely track of romance, good songs and good production values. It's all with comedy as the backdrop. I would say it’s quite an entertainer. The climax is wonderful; it has a lot of action but no abuses and vulgarity. The family audience will love it. Then there is Suno Sasurjee, a complete laugh riot where people will laugh all through the movie and lastly there is Pyaasa, which is an intense love story. All the three films are really different from each other so you can’t really compare them.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Aftab
Despite having worked with most big banners, Aftab’s career didn’t really take off as expected. Most of his films were croppers at the BO but Aftab wants to change that now. His next three releases have him playing a wide gamut of roles and he hopes that the success of these films will take him up the ladder on a new level. In this Q&A, he sounds optimistic about future as an actor preferring to forget the not-so-eventful past. Despite having worked with big banners, you still haven’t reached the top so far. I definitely worked with reputed people and all the big banners. But it shows that big banners do not necessarily guarantee a hit in today’s times. Work at your best and hope for the best is what I am doing now. You cannot predict anything today. Big banners helped me in circulation in the market and that was an advantage but did not guarantee a hit. See, the big banners are failing and new people, be it new directors, new makers or new stars are coming in. I believe that new talents have everything at stake and so they put everything in that film. That little bit more they do pays off, as there is more passion in their work. So, I guess the doors are opening for these newcomers at last. Personally, I feel that though I haven’t reached the pinnacle yet, I am hoping to be there soon. Do you feel that the sweet-boy-next-door image you have went against you? I don’t agree because people have appreciated me in those roles. In Mast, I was appreciated with that sweet image but then I myself wanted to change that look so I did Kasoor. There again, I was successful to a certain extent as the film did well. See, I don’t want to be labeled as anything; I want to try and do something different all the time so that people don’t have a fixed image of me. The more versatile you are, the more life you have in a career like films. It is better not to stick to one kind of roles and get exhausted. So I try to do different things and try to fit into different genres all the time. Boney Kapoor recently said that ‘Koi Mere Dil Se Pooche’ bombed because there were too many Aftab films releasing at once. I don’t agree with that because I think that the audience did not accept the film because the script and the story were rejected. Though there was curiosity because it was Esha Deol’s launch pad and it was a Boney Kapoor film and had Jaya Bachchan in it, the film didn’t reach up to people’s expectations. Your film 'Pyaasa' with Yukta Mookhey has been surrounded by controversy. Yukta and the producer had a problem within themselves and I think that’s about it. I didn’t have a major problem with Yukta, just an argument, which was blown out of proportion. The problem is between her and the producer and I am nobody to comment on that. Yukta didn’t give me any problems; she was perfectly ok with me always. In fact she is a very hardworking, good actress. I am okay with both the parties. Vimal Kumar was upset because Amisha and you both gave him a tough time to complete Suno Sasurji He had a minor problem but everything has been sorted out. Amisha’s date couldn’t match mine and vice-versa. Since we both were busy doing other films, it affected his film’s dates. That is a common phenomenon, but he was entitled to his share of anger. In fact we apologized and even met up and sorted out things. Your career has been rather topsy-turvy. I know it has been topsy-turvy. But then everyone in this line goes through ups and downs. I don’t regret doing the kind of films I have done. I am happy with the kind of work I have done. I know I have not done well at the box office and I am aware of that. And I don’t regret that because there is no point regretting the past. One should look forward towards the future. And, honestly, I don’t have the time to think of what happened in the past. Many people find you arrogant. I think that’s a media made tag. Till date, no co-star, director or producer has ever said that on my face nor have they expressed that feeling to me directly or indirectly. I am just a very shy and introvert kind of guy and I don’t open up to people so easily. May be that makes them feel that I am arrogant. Generally I go into my reserved shell and only open up when I am comfortable with people. You have three films on release. How different are those films from each other? Yeah I have three different films all set to hit the screen. My next release will be Awara Paagal Dewana, which is an action thriller with a lot of comedy. It’s got a lovely track of romance, good songs and good production values. It's all with comedy as the backdrop. I would say it’s quite an entertainer. The climax is wonderful; it has a lot of action but no abuses and vulgarity. The family audience will love it. Then there is Suno Sasurjee, a complete laugh riot where people will laugh all through the movie and lastly there is Pyaasa, which is an intense love story. All the three films are really different from each other so you can’t really compare them.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Abdul Kalam: Spotted in Bollywood!
The presidential candidate's face has been splashed all over the papers. But what is surprising was that a particular film producer called Vinod Bhatt looks exactly like APJ Kalam. Guess, the producer must have been shocked to see 'his face' on the front page with "Presidential Candidate" written all over it. A suggestion. If APJ Kalam does become president, all your directors and producers know where to look for a lookalike!
Monday, June 24, 2002
Farhan Akhtar signs Big B for Laksh
It was bound to happen folks. For a director of the caliber of Farhan Akhtar, he definitely couldn't do without anything but the best. And FA is certainly getting just what his dil chahta hai. So this time he has reportedly roped in Amitabh Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan and Preity Zinta for his next film, which is titled Laksh. Also, dad Javed Akhtar plans to be fully involved in his beta's project this time. He's penning the lyrics and the dialogues. With that kind of talent already in the film, don't think the film is going to be far off its laksh (mark/target)!
Monday, June 24, 2002
Kareena and Rani fight over Hrithik!
Kareena Kapoor has made quite a reputation for herself in Bollywood as a man-eater who doesn't stop at anything to get the man she fancies. Lately, even if the men were committed to other relationships it didn't matter. Even Company's poor Vivek Oberoi had to bear the brunt of her seduction but since that attempt didn't turn out to be fruitful, it looks like she is to trying to grab Hrithik again. Recently, on the sets of Yashraj films' Mujhse Dosti Karoge, it is understood that co-star Rani Mukherjee had to face the wrath of Kareena after the latter insisted on being paired up with Hrithik Roshan. Sources say that the incident happened when Uday Chopra came into the picture (Yash Chopra's vain attempt at making an actor of Uday, undoubtedly). The two actresses then understood that they would have to be paired up with one of the two men at which Kareena threw her now familiar tantrums saying that audiences were now used to the Kareena-Hrithik team and that in any case Rani wouldn't look good with Hrithik. A fuming Rani kept her cool and asked the director to decide. The director then asked both the actresses to behave themselves on the set and asked all the actors to stay in their make-up vans till they could behave in a civil manner again. Imagine poor Hrithik's halat. A married man sandwiched between two of Bollywood's most desired women. But then one really has to pity Uday Chopra who has to live with the fact that whichever actress he gets was forced into being paired with him!
Monday, June 24, 2002
Germany Preferred Destination Of Indian IT Firms: Study
New Delhi: Germany’s policy initiative to introduce ‘green cards’ for information technology (IT) specialists has made it one of the preferred markets for Indian IT firms, according to a study done by the Indo-German Chamber of Commerce. There are currently 440,000 jobs in the IT sector in Germany, which are likely to increase to 723,000 by 2003, the chamber said quoting the German IT Industry Association. Indian IT experts have maintained their prominent position in the German software industry, cornering the largest chunk of the green cards, the chamber said. Quoting a recent survey, it said, Indian IT specialists have taken 2,377 green cards, which is almost 22 per cent of the total of 10,994 cards issued. Besides Germany, India’s software exports to UK and the European Union (EU) are likely to go up. The Nether-lands, Belgium, Spain, Finland, Denmark and Greece are sourcing software from India. India’s software exports to EU have increased from $766.39 million in 1998-99 to an estimated $842.27 million in 1999-2000, recording a growth of over 13 per cent, it said. There will be Indian participation at the ‘System 2002’ event to be organised by the chamber in Munich from October 14 to 18.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Tendulkar takes charge to bring Indian victory
London, June 23: Sachin Tendulkar scored a brilliant unbeaten 75 to propel Indians to a morale-boosting three-wicket victory over Sussex in a day-night tour-opener at Hove, about 100 km from here, last night. The master batsman also showed that the Indian batting line-up - even without their captain Saurav Ganguly, recovering from a flu - has the capacity to be awesome, when he is in this sort of mood. But it was not all one-way traffic after that, as Sussex, pressing hard, made a fight of it, and India eventually squeezed home with seven balls to spare, thanks to Tendulkar. SCOREBOARD Sussex: 203 for 8 wiclets in 50 overs India: D.Mongia c Carpenter b House 56; V.Sehwag c & b Innes 26; M.Kaif c Ambrose b Yardy 2; S.Tendulkar not out 75; R.Dravid b House 6; Yuvraj Singh c & b Davis 4; VVS Laxman b Innes 18; A.Agarkar lbw Innes 5; Zaheer Khan not out 6; Extras (lb2, w5): 7; Total (for 7 wkts, 48.5 overs): 205 Fall of wickets: 1-60, 2-69, 3-126, 4-144, 5-155, 6-185, 7-193 Bowling: Lewry 4-0-32 0, Taylor 10-2-33-0, Innes 10-2-35-3, Yardy 6-1-30-1, Davis 10-0-33-1, House 8.5-0-40-2 Tendulkar and Dinesh Mongia (56) put on a rapid 57 for the third wicket before the latter fell victim to a brilliant catch by Jamie Carpenter, who dived to his left at short extra-cover. But Mongia, who had also played a part in an opening stand of 60 with Virender Sehwag, before being dismissed completed a fine half century that contained eight boundaries. Showing no ill-effects from the head injury he suffered in the tour’s first nets, Sehwag replied with typical nerve and verve. He took 18 minutes to find the first boundary and then pulled Will House for the game’s first six. Indian innings suffered a mid-innings blip but that did not deter Tendulkar. He lofted Billy Taylor and Will House for sixes on his way to the match top score of 75 and against a background of flag-waving and whistles from Indian supporters in a 4,000 crowd. However, at one stage it looked as if Tendulkar might run out of partners as the tenacious Sussex whittled through the Indian batting order, and seamer Mark Davis conceded only 23 from his 10 overs. Earlier, Nehra picked up 4 for 27 to help restrict Sussex to a manageable total in which three batsmen got to within striking distance of half centuries but none actually reached it. The Indians’ bowling performance was a measure of their determination to harden up. The lanky Nehra, got pace and bounce from a lively wicket.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Troops not to be withdrawn from Assam: Fernandes
Union Defence Minister George Fernandes on Saturday said troops posted in Assam would not be withdrawn for deployment on the borders in view of the ongoing counter-insurgency operations in the state. "The insurgency situation in Assam has improved considerably, but we must continue to maintain a strict vigil to ensure that the situation does not escalate," Fernandes told reporters here. Militancy in Assam was mainly due to unemployment as disillusioned youths took to arms and resorted to violence after failing to get jobs, he said. "We must tackle the problem of unemployment as this alone can solve the various ills plaguing the Northeast," the minister asserted.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Integrating PoK is an unfinished agenda: Rajagopal
India had an 'unfinished task' of integrating Pakistan-occupied parts of Kashmir with the state of Jammu and Kashmir, Union Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs and Railways O Rajagopal said today. "We have the task of integrating parts of J&K, which are now under Pakistan, with the state. This is our unfinished agenda," Rajagopal said at a function here to observe the 50th death anniversary of Jan Sangh leader Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee. Recalling the contributions of Mukherjee to the cause of Kashmir's accession to India, he said "but for Shyama Prasad, the state would have gone out of the country". Rajagopal, who held "responsible" the then union government for Shyama Prasad's tragic death in Kashmir in 1952, described the Kashmir tangle as a consequence of the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's faulty policies. "About 500 princely states were merged with India after Independence and there is no problem in any of these.... For Kashmir, Nehru was given responsibility to look into it since his family hailed from that state. You have seen the outcome," he said.
Monday, June 24, 2002
VHP vows to take temple campaign to nationwide protests
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad said on Sunday it would hold nationwide rallies later this year to mobilize support for its decision to build a temple at the site of the Babri masjid. Closing a two-day meeting of the VHP, Acharya Dharmendra Maharaj, an organisation leader, said he anticipated that hundreds of thousands of people and Hindu religious leaders would participate in the rallies planned for December. The dispute over the site in Ayodhya has been at the center of India's bitterest religious dispute. The Babri mosque was demolished in 1992, triggering riots across India that killed more than 2,000 people. "We are regrouping to achieve our goal ... to make the temple a national issue," Maharaj said at the end of the meeting held in Hardwar. Hindu nationalists say a Muslim ruler built the mosque where Hindus god Rama was born. Muslims dispute this claim. At the VHP's opening meeting on Saturday, leaders said they would intensify their push to build a temple at the site. The group agreed to reverse an earlier decision to wait for a court verdict to decide which group should control the site. The VHP initially said it would wait for the court verdict, after New Delhi refused permission to start building the temple. The site is owned by the government. But the verdict isn't expected for two more years due to the large numbers of witnesses and voluminous records to be examined. And VHP leaders said their patience was wearing thin.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Vajpayee says infiltration into J&K continues unabated
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said that infiltration of terrorists into Jammu and Kashmir from across the border is continuing "unabated" despite promises by Pakistan to put an end to it. "There has been no change in Pakistan's policy so far as cross-border infiltration is concerned. Everyday we are getting reports that infiltration by terrorists into Kashmir continues unabated," Vajpayee said in an interview to the Newsweek magazine to be published on Monday. Vajpayee's remarks come after Defence Minister George Fernandes last on Thursday said that infiltration of terrorists from Pakistan has almost ended. A spokesman of the Prime Minister's office in New Delhi on Sunday said that Vajpayee gave the interview to the magazine a week ago.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gives birth to baby girl
NEW DELHI: Congress president Sonia Gandhi's daughter Priyanka Gandhi Vadra gave birth to a baby girl at 4 am on Monday at Sir Ganga Ram hospital in New Delhi. This is Priyanka's second child. Her first-born was a boy. The birth was eagerly awaited by Congress party workers who were looking forward to Priyanka's return to an active public life. It is widely believed by them that the party's revival in the UP belt could be spearheaded by the charismatic Priyanka's return to public life.
Monday, June 24, 2002
Urban Indians breaking taboo of pre-marital sex: Survey
Young Indian couples living in cities have sex every week and around 40 per cent say they have had sex before marriage, something considered taboo among the older generation, according to a new survey. "More than 43 per cent of the sample claims to have had pre-marital sex and a third of them claim to have had it before they were 21 years old," said the survey conducted by Indian condom manufacturer KamaSutra and carried out among 3,176 people living in 10 cities. "Although people seem to be much more liberal about premarital sex, hardly 20 per cent feel it is socially acceptable and only a third find it cool to indulge in it," the survey said. "Almost half of the married respondents claim to have had pre-marital sex with their spouses before marriage." The survey was carried out through the internet to allow respondents to be more uninhibited with their answers, KamaSutra said. Nearly 90 per cent of the respondents were male and the majority lived in nuclear families as opposed to traditional joint families. "On an average the population was having sex once every seven days and about 65 per cent are satisfied with their current frequency," the survey said. But only about half the people surveyed said they could "attain orgasm" during sex. More than a third were found to "fantasise having sex with film stars or other famous people". Indian men said they thought breasts to be the most sexually arousing attribute in women, while females said "overall looks and muscular physique in men" was what mattered. People living in New Delhi were the most sexually active, with nearly 22 per cent saying they had sex every day, compared to just 15 per cent of those questioned in Mumbai. Only about ten per cent of respondents in both cities said they were sexually inactive. An overwhelming majority in both Delhi and Mumbai were faithful to their partners, according to the survey. "The usage of condoms while indulging in sex is fairly high. Forty three per cent of the respondents claim to use condoms whenever they have sex," the survey added. "The overall awareness of safe sex is very high." Most of those questioned got their sex education through reading books or from friends. "Just about four per cent of the respondents have obtained sexual education through professional help," the survey said. But it said concern about AIDS was "extremely high" among a majority of people, who felt sex education should be taught in schools from the age of 12 years. KamaSutra said one out of four Indians could be classified as promiscuous.
Monday, June 24, 2002
VHP demands division of J&K into four
A day after breaking its commitment on the Ayodhya issue, the VHP today mounted fresh heat on the centre by demanding division of Jammu and Kashmir into four parts with separate statehood for Jammu region and accused Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah of hatching a conspiracy to kick-out all the Hindus from the militancy-hit state. On the last day of the two-day meeting of its Margdarshak Mandal, the belligerent VHP leaders gathered here passed a resolution calling for division of Kashmir valley into two parts with creation of a union territory in the northeast of the Jhelum river for resettling migrated Kashmiri Pandits in that area. Demanding abrogation of the controversial Article 370 of the Constitution that gives special status to the northern most state, the VHP said all the six districts of Jammu division should be given a separate statehood status.
Monday, June 24, 2002
PM tells US not to play mediator role
INDIA sees the US as a "facilitator" but will not accept it as a mediator in resolving Indo-Pak differences on Jammu and Kashmir, according to Prime Minister AB Vajpayee who offered to resume talks with Pakistan if it fulfilled all its promises to end crossborder terrorism. In an interview to the Newsweek magazine published in its latest issue, Mr Vajpayee, when asked what should the US role be in the future on the Kashmir issue, said "that of a facilitator". On whether the US emerged as a third party to help in settling the Kashmir issue, Mr Vajpayee emphatically said "no" and added "that is why I said facilitator not a mediator". To a query when India would pull back troops, he said it would take some time. "Let us see what happens on the ground." According to the magazine, Mr Vajpayee laughed when asked if he thought Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is trustworthy and said "we are prepared to deal with him as he is, but we are cautious this time. Our past experience is not very encouraging." He said he was ready to meet Gen Musharraf if the Pakistani general implemented all his promises. "If Pakistan implements all the assurances given to us, then a new beginning can be made. India will be ready to have talks with Pakistan and discuss all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir," Mr Vajpayee said. He, however, said there is no change in Pakistan's policy so far as crossborder terrorism is concerned and "everyday we are getting reports that infiltration is continuing." Musharraf denial Gen Musharraf, in an interview published in the same issue of the magazine, said he has never given assurances of permanently ending crossborder terrorism. Asked about Gen Musharraf's promise to get rid of the terrorist training camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-controlled Kashmir, Mr Vajpayee said, "That was the promise. There are 50 to 70 terrorist-training camps in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and in Pakistan." The prime minister supported US decision to make Pakistan a partner in the war against terror. "It was the right policy. Pakistan should be pressured to fight terror, not only in Afghanistan but inside Pakistan as well." In reply to a question how close India and Pakistan were to the war, Mr Vajpayee said, "It was a touch-and-go affair... I did not rule out the possibility of war. Until the last minute, we were hoping wiser counsel would prevail." On whether al-Qaeda elements are in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, Mr Vajpayee said the terrorist organisations operating in Kashmir are closely linked to al Qaeda and other 'Jehadi' groups directly supported by Pakistan. The Prime Minister said leadership of al Qaeda which the United States has failed to capture "may be in Pakistan." He said he thinks that Osama bin Laden is alive and that Pakistan knew his whereabouts. Islamabad may not know every movement of Laden and his lieutenants, Mr Vajpayee said, adding "but broadly speaking, they know where the rest of al Qaeda and the Taliban are." To a question about the upcoming elections in Kashmir, the Prime Minister said the elections would be free and fair and held under the Central Election Commission.
Sunday, June 23, 2002
Govt may be forced to put off J&K polls
NEW DELHI: Jammu and Kashmir may not go to polls till March next year, well-placed official sources say, citing unpreparedness on part of both the Centre and the state government as the major reason. Before the polls are formally announced, the Centre will have to address issues related to electoral rolls, photo-identity cards, foreign observers, and the ‘‘accommodation’’ of CM Farooq Abdullah, and a political package for Kashmir, the sources told The Times of India on Saturday. Every political group has slammed the government for not carrying out a proper revision of the electoral rolls. They have criticised the government over the issue of photo-identity card (PIC). Although the Election Commission has said that PICs will not be mandatory, the Union home ministry is keen that all eligible voters are issued PICs. This process will certainly not be complete before October, the sources said. There is the controversy over inviting foreign observers. The Vajpayee government wants some form of foreign presence the US, the UK, or preferably the UN during the polls, to ensure a certificate from the international community to intensify pressure on Pakistan. During his recent visit to the state, CEC J M Lyngdoh had touched upon the issue of foreign observers. Later, he clarified that foreign observers were not being invited but they could come on their own. To involve foreign observers ‘‘formally or informally,’’ the BJP-led government will need a nod from its allies as well as major opposition parties as the issue involves. This process will take time, the sources pointed out. The government’s other imperative is to move Farooq out of the state to the Centre to convince political groupings that the polls will be free and fair. The most crucial decision a political package for the state is yet to come.
Sunday, June 23, 2002
Take further action to stop infiltration: EU to Pak
European Union leaders will tell Pakistan on Saturday to take further action to stop infiltration across the Line of Control in Kashmir and say India should respond positively when it does so. In a draft text of conclusions to be agreed later at a two-day summit of the 15-nation bloc and obtained by Reuters, the heads of government welcomed recent signs of easing tension but said the situation 'remains precarious'. "The European Council therefore called on Pakistan to take further concrete actions... to stop infiltration across the line of control and to prevent terrorist groups from operating from territory under its control, also through closing of training camps," the draft conclusions said. It told India 'to be ready to respond with further de-escalatory steps' as Pakistan 'meets those commitments'. Reuters
Sunday, June 23, 2002
VHP changes temple stand
The VHP has gone back on its promise made in March to honour the court verdict in the Ayodhya dispute. At the opening session of the VHP's two-day national advisory committee meeting here on Saturday, speaker after speaker reiterated that the Ram temple was "a matter of faith" for the country's "90 crore Hindus". No court, therefore, was qualified to pass judgment on the matter. At a press conference later, VHP leader Praveen Togadia claimed the Centre had, in March, given a verbal commitment to hand over the undisputed land at Ayodhya to the VHP by June 2. The Centre had apparently also promised to remove all restrictions on VHP workers converging at Ayodhya, and to facilitate the shila daan ceremony. However, the Centre had not fulfilled its promises. The Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas (RJN), therefore, was also not bound to abide by its promises, Togadia said. About a hundred Margadarshak Mandal members attended the proceedings, which were open to the media. No representative of the local akharas was present. Senior VHP leaders denied the meeting had been boycotted by the akharas, however. The agenda for Saturday's session included "Islamic terrorism" and the "safety measures" Hindus must take in response. Godhra and Jammu and Kashmir will be discussed on Sunday. VHP boss Ashok Singhal gave a hint on what might be expected: the Gujarat violence had been a "victory" for Hindus, he said "for the first time", it was Muslims, not Hindus, who had been driven out to refugee camps. Ramchandra Das Paramhans said if the building of a temple at Ram's birthplace was "communalism", such communalism was preferable to the "secularism" that some people swore by. In New Delhi, the BJP distanced itself from the VHP's volte face. The dispute would be resolved either through consensus or in the courts, party spokesman V.K. Malhotra said.
Sunday, June 23, 2002
No change in Pak policy on cross-border terrorism: Vajpayee
Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee has said there is no change in Pakistan's policy and that infiltration of militants from across the border into Jammu and Kashmir is continuing. Vajpayee's statement comes days after several ministers, including Defence Minister George Fernandes, have said that infiltration has "more or less come to an end". Speaking to the Newsweek magazine, the Prime Minister said, "There is no change in Pakistan's policy on cross-border terrorism. Everyday, we are getting reports that infiltration (by militants into Kashmir) is continuing." Vajpayee reiterated that India was ready for talks with Pakistan and discuss all issues, including Kashmir if Islamabad ends cross-border terrorism and fulfills its promises to dismantle terrorist training camps. "If Pakistan implements all the assurances given to us, then a new beginning can be made. India will be ready to have talks with Pakistan and discuss all issues, including Jammu and Kashmir," said Vajpayee. Vajpayee said that the two countries were very close to war in recent weeks, describing it as "a touch-and-go affair. Until the last minute, we were hoping wiser counsels would prevail."
Sunday, June 23, 2002
Woman burnt alive in Kashmir mosque
Three masked men burnt alive a woman to death in a mosque in Budgam, about 20 km from Srinagar. Police officers told Sify.com that three masked men swooped on 35-year-old divorcee, Neelofar, outside her house at Kralpora village. They gagged her and took her to a nearby mosque. They doused her in some inflammable material and set her ablaze. The attckers then fled from the scene. Neelofar's cries for help drew the attention of local people, who rushed her to nearest hospital. She died of injuries late last night. Before breathing her last, Neelofar told Sify.com that she did not know the identity or the motive of the assailants. She also exonerated her former husband. Hundreds of residents held protest demonstrations when her body reached the village.
Sunday, June 23, 2002
Kinetic Motor launches Nova (1500 hrs)
Kinetic Motor Company today launched a 115 cc four-stroke scooter 'Nova' in Delhi. Priced at Rs 35,547 (Ex-showroom, Delhi), the company expects to sell 50,000 units of the new scooter, Kinetic senior vice-president (sales and marketing) Ajay Kapila said. Speaking about the product, Kapila said the 'Nova' with high engine power has been designed to appeal to men unlike other automatic scooters which are mainly targeted at women and teenagers.
Sunday, June 23, 2002
The right spirit
Never mind Asoka and that annoying back, with audiences eagerly awaiting Bhansali’s 50-crore obsession Devdas, Shah Rukh Khan must be pretty nervous. Not only is he paired opposite the beautiful Aishwarya Rai and Madhuri Dixit, he’s got quite an act to to live up to. Khan has confessed to meeting Dilip Kumar to get a ‘feel’ of enacting Devdas from the redoubtable thespian. Also, there were certain scenes which called for extra effort, like those that demanded Khan to look inebriated.‘‘I didn’t get smashed,’’ he says. ‘‘But most of the time, I was actually drunk. That’s because I wanted to slow down for my role. It’s just that when you’re drunk, the eyes look nicer and a little darker, they blink less, they stare a little more too and your body becomes a little looser.’’ Spirit-ed revelations, these.
Saturday, June 22, 2002
Situation on Indo-Pak border still dangerous: Musharraf
Islamabad, Saturday, June 22, 2002: Calling for immediate withdrawal of troops from the border and resumption of Indo-Pak dialogue at a high level, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf today said the threat of war had receded but situation remained explosive and could turn worse in the event of any major strike in Kashmir or elsewhere in India by militant groups. In a hard hitting interview to BBC Radio and Television during which he pooh-poohed the de-escalatory measures taken by India, Musharraf said the two countries came very close to war during the past few weeks and the threat of war could recede only if the troops were pulled back from the borders. "We came very close. As a military man I gauge it more from military capability point of view ... When Indians moved their forces forward, Army and Air Force that became very dangerous. That situation still remains," he said. "The threat of war has in fact diminished because of diminishing of intentions. But the capability exists. The situation will remain explosive because if anything happens inside Kashmir or inside India which is a possibility by any independent, any terrorist organisation or group doing it, the situation can become explosive again. "Therefore the situation remains serious as long as forces are there. It is reduction of the forces which will reduce the tensions," he said. He also called for resumption of bilateral talks at a high level arguing that any lower level parleys would only mean to "sideline the issues". 11:01 IST
Saturday, June 22, 2002
UTI skips dividend on US 64
For the first time since its inception, the Unit Trust of India on Friday decided to skip dividend on its flagship scheme US 64 for the year ending June 30, 2002. "The flagship scheme is a Net Asset Value (NAV) based scheme and there is no sanctity attached to announce any dividend. Whenever the performance of the scheme improves, the board can review the decision and decide about paying the dividend," UTI chairman M Damodaran told reporters here. Last year (in 2000-01), despite the financial crisis which gripped the flagship scheme, the board had announced a 10 per cent dividend. Damodaran, after the six-hour meeting and persistent queries from the media, said this scheme already has a special repurchase facility upto 5,000 units and any declaration of dividend would increase the government's budgetary commitment towards it. In a statement, UTI said in arriving at the decision, the board noted that this would increase the gap between the NAV and the repurchase price deterimined as a part of special relief package for US 64. On meeting the shortfall on its two schemes - Monthly Income Plan 1997 (II) and Special Institutional Investors Scheme - Damodaran said UTI would use a credit line for Rs 10 bn from State Bank of India on the back of a guarantee given by the Union Government. He also announced that the accounting year would become SEBI compliant by March 2004. 10:02 IST
Saturday, June 22, 2002
Pakistan will "teach India a le |
