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August 2004
India hockey hero hits out at officials
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
NEW DELHI: India's star field hockey player Dhanraj Pillay yesterday expressed bitterness that his last Olympics ended with him warming the benches. "My farewell match in the Olympics ended on a bitter note, thanks to the team management which was already issuing press statements about my retirement," said Pillay, who played in his fourth Olympics. "As far as these Olympics are concerned, it is all over for me and I feel extremely sad that it had to end in this manner," Pillay wrote in a column in the Hindustan Times. "Anyone who has some knowledge of the game would realise the difference I make when I take the field. Even then I had a tough time getting into the first 11 for reasons best known to the team management," he said. "To add to this humiliation, I was made to sit out in my last game (against South Korea)," said Pillay, as eight-time gold medallists India finished a poor seventh. India failed to make the semi-finals and then lost to arch rivals Pakistan in a match for minor placings before beating Asian Games champions South Korea 5-2 in their last outing. Pillay, 35, said he had not yet made a decision on retirement. "I will only decide on my next course of action after discussing it with my family when I return to India," said the most famous name in contemporary Indian hockey.
Oommen Chandy to be new Kerala CM
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 30 In a change of guard forced by factional feud in ruling Congress and its debacle in Lok Sabha elections, senior leader Oommen Chandy was tonight elected leader of the Congress Legislature Party in Kerala paving the way for his becoming the next Chief Minister succeeding A K Antony who resigned yesterday. Chandy, 61, who rose from the ranks to become the third most important Congress leader in the state, will be sworn in tomorrow as the Chief Minister, marking the first break from nearly three decades of Congress leadership alternating between K Karunakaran and Antony. Eight-time MLA from Puthuppally in Kottayam District, Chandy, Convener of Congress-led UDF, emerged as the unanimous choice at the CLP meeting held here in the presence of AICC observers led by Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee who later announced his election. Earlier, Mukherjee and AICC General Secretary Margaret Alva held one-to-one meetings with Congress MLAs, senior leaders, KPCC functionaries and leaders of UDF constituents eliciting their views on the new Chief Ministerial candidate. Though the name of Assembly Speaker Vakkom Purushothaman did the rounds in the initial stage as a contender for the top post, by evening the choice narrowed down to only Chandy.
People of South Asia bound by shared destiny: PM
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 30 Observing that the people of South Asia are bound by shared destiny, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh today said the future belonged to "shared management of our inevitable interdependence" and offered support to "any forward looking initiative" for greater regional cooperation. "South Asia needs a new vision for the future backed by credible strategies that have the backing of the common people and can reverse the adverse tide of strife and suspicion," he said reaffirming India's commitment to multi-sectoral and multi-faceted regional cooperation. The Prime Minister was speaking to delegation of senior South Asian policy analysts from seven institutions in the region here, an official release said. Singh asked scholars in the region to come forward with ideas that will help the region develop together, conquering the scourge of poverty and disease. "A new climate of opinion has to be created that cooperation has immense possibilities. The leadership in the region has an obligatgion to create a congenial atmosphere for cooperation in our common struggle for development," he said. The delegation was led by Arjun Sengupta, former Member Planning Commission, and included Rehman Sobhan, Lalia Rahman Kabir, Farooq Sobhan (Bangladesh), Mohan Man Sainju (Nepal), Syed Babar Ali, Akmal Hussain and Humayun Khan (Pakistan), Godfrey Gunatilleke and Saman Kalegama (Sri Lanka). SMI
Inflation needs to be monitored on continuous basis, says RBI
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
Mumbai, Aug 30 Reserve Bank of India today said that the inflation environment needs to be monitored closely on a continuous basis for any unforseen developments either in the global or in the domestic front to consider appropriate prompt and as measured responses. Maintaining that fuel prices would hold the key to overall inflation outlook, the RBI said on current indications, the prospects for GDP growth continue to be bright due to possible acceleration of world output and enhanced domestic activity, the central bank said in its annual report 2003-04. It said there were also downward risks emanating from monsoon as well as possible persistence of high and uncertain oil prices. These risks impart an element of downward bias to the estimates of GDP growth made at the beginning of the year but evolving strengths during the rest of the period may restore the position. In any case India would continue to be among the top performers, it added. The report said the overhang of liquidity would also need to be carefully monitored in view of its potential to pose demand pressures on prices. Referring to interest rates, RBI said domestic rates are likely to be impacted with the northward movement of international rates and financial markets would have to manage these challenges. "As real activity is picking up globally and inflation is rising across the economies, several central banks have raised their key policy rates," the central bank added.
India tests missile before talks
Tuesday, August 31, 2004
AP in Delhi The Guardian India test-launched an Agni II surface-to-surface missile capable of carrying nuclear weapons yesterday. The trial, on the testing range on Wheeler Island off eastern Orissa state, was the third trial of the Agni II, which has a range of up to 2,500 kilometres (1,560 miles) and can carry a warhead weighing up to a tonne. India's defence minister, Pranab Mukherjee, and more than 100 scientists and military officials witnessed the successful launch, which met all test criteria including guidance accuracy and performance, said a ministry official. "This was a scheduled test. And as is the practice, the external affairs ministry had informed Pakistan in advance about the missile test," the official added. It is customary for the nuclear-armed south Asian rivals to notify each other before testing missiles capable of striking each other's territory. Yesterday's trial came a week before a planned meeting between the foreign ministers of India and Pakistan in New Delhi to discuss disputes such as their conflicting claims to the Himalayan region of Kashmir. The countries have fought two wars over Kashmir.
Kashmir woman is abducted and beheaded
Monday, August 30, 2004
Srinagar, India, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Terrorists abducted and killed a young Indian woman Saturday by reportedly beheading her in Kashmir. Shehnaz Akhtar, 28, was kidnapped from her home Friday night and her decapitated body was found in nearby forests Saturday morning, the Hindustan Times reported. She was the 55th woman to be killed by terrorists in Kashmir this year. Terrorists forcibly took Shehnaz away from her home in the presence of her husband, who was beaten with rifle butts when he tried to resist, police said. The motive for the murder was not immediately determined and no group has claimed responsibility for the killing.
PM’S GREETINGS ON 150TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF SREE NARAYANA GURU
Sunday, August 29, 2004
The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, has called for concerted action towards constructive social change as practiced by Sree Narayana Guru to fight the vested interests that use religion for divisive purposes. Dr. Manmohan Singh in a message to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Sree Narayana Guru recalled the Guru’s basic philosophy of one caste, one religion and one God. He also recalled the Guru’s focus on women’s education and the need to establish industries and other economic enterprises to improve the living standards of the people. The Prime Minister said that the progress of Kerala in human development terms and its present status as a model State owe a lot to the social change initiated by Sree Narayana Guru. The Prime Minister hailed Sree Narayana Guru as a saint and extended his greetings and good wishes to Guru’s followers and the Gurudeva Jayanthi Celebration Committee on the 150th anniversary of the Guru.
Kalam in Kashmir to open IT university
Sunday, August 29, 2004
President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam arrived here Thursday to inaugurate the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University that will teach information technology in an environment eulogising Indian ethos. This is Kalam's third visit to Jammu and Kashmir since he became president and he will also address the university students. The sprawling 400-acre campus of the university is nestled in the Shivalik range in the foothills of the Himalayas, 45 km north of the state's winter capital Jammu. The well-known Hindu hill shrine of Vaishno Devi, visited by an estimated five million pilgrims every year, is providing the crucial backing to the university, which has pledged to come up to international standards. "I am thrilled (to have the president)," said B.B. Chatoo, an expert in biotechnology who is vice chancellor of the university. "It is very rare that a president comes to inaugurate universities, especially when the man happens to be a scientist himself," Chatoo added. Governor S.K. Sinha, who is also chancellor of the university, is elated that a "dream has come true" with the establishment of the university. Sinha told : "I am grateful to the president that he has come to inaugurate this institution which has all the elements that would make it a great institution." The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, which manages the affairs of the shrine, has spent Rs.200 million for the construction of the campus, said the board's chief executive Arun Kumar. The governor said: "Merit will be the sole criterion and excellence the mantra of the university. "The curriculum has been designed to help students acquire knowledge that they will need in a highly competitive modern world, duly equipped with all the skills in an era of globalisation, IT revolution and convergence of technologies. "At the same time, the emphasis here will be on Indian ethos and core values embedded in our social heritage." []
Nine-year-old tops IT exam in India
Sunday, August 29, 2004
In a reflection of the country's growing penchant for information technology, a nine-year-old schoolgirl has topped an IT examination here. Nisarga Save, a Class 4 student, scored 73 per cent in the final test and became the youngest recipient of the Maharashtra State Certificate in Information Technology. The test included 30 objective questions on IT 25 on MS Office. Both had to be completed in 60 minutes. "I am very happy to have won this award," said Save, whose father runs a computer institute in Palghar, some 90 km from here. Said her father Ninad Save: "Nisarga used to regularly use the computer after returning from school and as a result, got interested in the subject". []
Prime minister to launch work on nuclear reactor
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will visit Tamil Nadu Monday to lay the foundation stone for a fast breeder nuclear reactor at the Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research. The prototype reactor at Kalpakkam, about 50 km from Chennai, with a capacity to generate 500 MW of electricity, will kick off the second stage of India's programme for commercial use of nuclear energy. The atomic research centre has developed the complex technology for the reactor, while the Bharatiya Nabhikiya Vidyut Nigam Ltd of the Department of Atomic Energy will build the prototype, officials said. The reactor will use plutonium-uranium oxide as fuel, with liquid sodium as a coolant. This will be Manmohan Singh's fourth domestic engagement outside New Delhi after assuming office May 22. He earlier visited Andhra Pradesh, Assam and Bihar. The construction of the reactor coincides with the golden jubilee of the Department of Atomic Energy, which is under the direct control of the prime minister. India plans to double its installed nuclear energy capacity of 2,700 MW over the next four years, and reach 11,000 MW by the end of the 11th Five Year Plan in 2012. []
BSNL cuts long distance phone charges by 33 percent
Sunday, August 29, 2004
State-run Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. (BSNL), India's largest telephone services provider, Friday announced a 33 percent cut in domestic long distance phone tariffs to spur usage. The telecom behemoth also slashed tariffs of its mobile services by as much as 60 percent, raising the spectre of another round of price war in the country's fast growing cellular telephone market. The new reduced rates for fixed-line as well as mobile phones subscribers will come into effect from Sept 10, V.P. Sinha, chairman and managing director of BSNL told a press conference here. Under the revised rates for fixed-line phone users, the call charges for a distance beyond 100 km will be Rs.1.20 a minute as against the existing Rs.1.80 a minute. Sinha said the maximum tariff of Rs.1.20 a minute makes calling from fixed-line phones cheaper than charges of many mobile operators. The call charges for distance beyond 200 km will be Rs.2.40 per minute in place of Rs.3.60 a minute charged now, representing a reduction of 33 percent, said a company statement. "We expect the traffic to increase with the latest reduction that will be available to all fixed-line customers including the public call office owners," said Sinha. Close on the heels of slashing of tariffs by select mobile phone operators in India, BSNL also unveiled attractive packages for its CellOne cellular services customers. The charges for making a phone call from CellOne to another cellular network has been reduced to 90 paise per minute from Rs.2.20 a minute while tariff for call to fixed-line network has been cut to Rs.1.20 from Rs.2.40. []
Maharashtra govt to take stand on bar owners' petition challenging raids
Sunday, August 29, 2004
Mumbai, Aug 29 Maharashtra government would file a reply in the Bombay High Court on Tuesday in response to a petition filed by bar owners, challenging police raids on their establishments. A bench of Justice H Gokhale and V K Tahilramani had asked the state to file reply by August 31 and adjourned the matter till then. Fight for Rights of Bar Association, an organisation of bars and liquor shop owners, has filed a petition urging for a direction to the police to stop raids on the beer bars. The association claimed that continued raids on beer bars had affected their business and sought an end to it. The petitions stated that the police carried out raids throughout the month of February and March and detained over 2,000 people, including bar girls, during the drive. Pointing to the latest police raids that took place on July 14 and 22, the petition said it is ruining their earnings. The petition denied that minor girls were being used in the bars and said the police charges of obscenity and its abettment were wrong.
India's performance was "not bad" at Olympics: Sunil Dutt
Sunday, August 29, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 29 India finished their Olympic campaign with only one silver medal but Sports Minister Sunil Dutt is not disappointed with the performance of Indian sportspersons. "It (India's performance) was not bad. There has been a definite improvement in their performance. It is not easy to finish fourth, sixth or even seventh in the Olympics," Dutt said after flagging off 'Run for Sports' to mark the National Sports Day today. Athens silver medallist shooter Major Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore also took part in the run. "Look at Marion Jones of America, one of the richest countries. She finished fifth after availing all the possible facilities. But our sportsmen have limitations in the form of funds and facilities. They will definitely do well in coming days," Dutt said. The filmstar-turned-politician said the Athens Games had taught that four years were not enough for preparation for such a big event and "sports culture" needed to be inclucated in children right from their early school days. "We need to prapare our sportspersons from their school days to win a medal," he said.PTI
Olymopics: Indian relay quartet finishes seventh
Sunday, August 29, 2004
M R Mishra Athens, Aug 29 The Indian women's 4x400m relay quartet ended up a distant seventh in the Olympic Stadium here Friday night to bring down the curtain on the country's participation in the Games here on a disappointing note. The foursome of S Geeta, K M Beenamol, Chitra K Soman and Rajwinder Kaur came home in a slow 3 minutes, 28.51 seconds, much slower than the new national best they clocked last night -- 3:26.89 -- in reaching the final. The Indians made a surprising change to the line-up in the semi-final heats replaced Manjit Kaur, who ran a blistering anchor leg and enabled the squad to finish third and qualify for the final, with Geeta. Geeta ran the first leg in the final while Rajwinder Kaur, who began the race in the semis, did the last lap, with Beenamol and Chitra running the second and third legs. The gold went to USA, in 3:19.01, silver was grabbed by Russia (3:20.16) and Jamaica settled for the third place in (3:22.00). The Indians finished behind the three medal winners, Britain (3:25.12), Poland (3:25.32) and Romania (3:26.81). This was the last event for the 75-strong Indian contingent here after the exit of freestyle grapplers Sushil Kumar (60kg) and Sujit Mann (74kg) in the elimination rounds earlier in the day. The contingent came away with the lone silver medal in shooting won by Major Rajyawardhan Singh Rathore in the first week of the Games, thus making the tall pre-Games claims of the Indian officials nothing but empty boasts.
Outsourcing hot button issue in US elections
Sunday, August 29, 2004
T V Parasuram Washington, Aug 29 As the Presidential elections in the US draws nearer, outsourcing of jobs to countries like India has emerged as one of the main issues in the campaign, with the Democratic candidate John Kerry tyring to put George W Bush in a dock over the touchy topic. Kerry has raised the topic on innumerable occasions during his campaign trial, forcing Bush, who has all along tried to play it safe, to address the issue, saying "the way to deal with outsourcing is to make America a better place to do business, not a worst place." Despite warnings by experts that the US will be at a loss if obstacles are placed in its natural development, Kerry and his Vice-Presidential running-mate John Edwards have harped on the issue, analysts point out. "We are told that outsourcing jobs is good for America. We (Democrats) value an America that exports products, not jobs. And we believe American workers should never have to subsidise the loss of their own job," Kerry told the Democratic party convention in New York recently. "Few issues have become such a political hot button issue as outsourcing," David Eldon, Chairman of the Pacific Basin Economic Council (PBEC), an international business organisation, said. He said "carping about 'Benedict Arnold' corporations (Kerry's phrase) that 'export' jobs plays well in the highly charged atmosphere of the US presidential election season. Incumbents and challengers alike speak of the need for legislation to restrict what they view as a fundamental threat to the American economy."
Ragging slur upsets SPA alumni
Sunday, August 29, 2004
PTI NEW DELHI: The alumni and students' body of the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA) on Saturday closed ranks to deny that some freshers had been forced to perform acts of homosexuality and bestiality, but admitted that they had been ragged by seniors. The alumni association of the school held a press conference to deny a media report that three students had been forced to do the "unnatural" acts on the campus of the institute. One of the students had complained to authorities that he had been ragged, following which an inquiry was conducted and the guilty students suspended for three weeks and fined Rs 10,000, Alumni Treasurer Nikhil Segel said. "The student complained he was asked to mimic copulation with a dog while the other two first-year students were to enact a scene of sexual passion," he said, adding "At no time were they made to strip or to actually perform the physical act of copulation with man or animal." The Ministry of Human Resource Development had ordered a fresh inquiry into the incident after the media report appeared on Thursday. "The in-camera hearing of 17 first year students by the Dean was completed yesterday and the report has been sent to the Ministry," Secretary of the association Vijay Garg said. Confirming that the report has been received, sources in the Ministry said that the inquiry panel was of the opinion that there was no physical abuse. The panel also could not speak to the student who had complained to the authorities about the incident, the sources said adding that the Ministry has asked the SPA authorities to trace the student. A two-member team also been constituted by the Ministry to talk to the student and his parents on the incident, they said.
Manmohan government completes 100 days in office
Sunday, August 29, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 29 An aggressive opposition that thought it was sure to come to power, demanding allies and uneasy power equations with the ruling Congress marked the initial 100 days of the Congress-led coalition at the Centre that has had anything but a period of honeymoon. In his inimitable low-key style, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has tried to grapple with the multiple problems, but controversy has engulfed his government right from the day he took office. "Tainted" ministers, drought, floods, insurgency, inflation, truckers' strike, water disputes, hostage crisis, topped by a row over a meeting with opposition leader, Singh has moved from one trouble to another while his predecessor governments did enjoy a "honeymoon" to a reasonable extent. Singh, a late entrant into politics, has endured 100 days of turmoil in a stoic manner but last week he did give vent to his feelings at a function when he said his government was going through "abnormal" times and was not allowed the normal trouble free initial period. In fact, Cabinet formation itself led to considerable acrimony and marked the beginning of what is now known as the Paswan-Lalu divide, leave alone DMK's famous sulk. Swearing in of RJD ministers, including Lalu Prasad who got the prized Railways portfolio, gave the BJP-led opposition, which was yet to recover from a shock defeat at the hustings, an issue on a platter with which began the deadlock in Parliament.
Red alert in Assam
Saturday, August 28, 2004
PTI GUWAHATI: A red alert has been sounded by police in Assam which has been hit by a fresh wave of violence with ULFA militants triggering eight blasts since Wednesday killing six people and injuring over 100. "Red alert has been sounded in the state and security has been intensified. Search operations for any bombs hidden by the militants have started all over the state," IGP (special branch) Khagen Sarmah told here on Friday. Sarmah said additional police pickets have been posted at vital public installations and other vulnerable areas in view of Thursday's bomb attack near Noonmati refinery, near here. The police, he said, had intercepted ULFA messages indicating that the banned outfit was involved in all the incidents of violence rocking the state, including the Dhemaji blast on Independence day which claimed 13 lives, including 10 school children. The police are manning the highways and entry and exit routes of Guwahati city and major towns as a precautionary measure, he added. In twin blasts near the high security zone of Noonmati Oil refinery, the ultras injured seven people, including five policemen, the sources said. Official sources said one person was killed and eight others hurt when ULFA ultras lobbed a hand grenade in front of a cinema hall in Dibrugarh township on Wednesday night. The ultras exploded a bomb on the railway tracks near Kokrajhar later that night damaging a portion of it but there was no casualty. On Thursday, a time device planted by the militants of the banned outfit went off inside a passenger bus at the Gossaigaon weekly market in Kokrajhar district killing two people and injuring 71 others. At Paikan in Goalpara district the ultras blew up a bus carrying BSF jawans with an improvised explosive device killing two of them and a minor girl and injuring six others. The ultras lobbed hand grenades at two places in Tangla township in Darrang district last night injuring seven people while four others were injured when a bomb went off in a passenger bus in Dhupdhara a little later.
India's Anti-Polio Campaign Resisted
Saturday, August 28, 2004
ABDUL QADIR Associated Press GAYA, India - India's efforts to eradicate polio nationwide have hit a hurdle in eastern Bihar state where poor, conservative communities are refusing to have their children immunized because they don't trust the medicine or its distributors. Such resistance could seriously hurt India's chances of meeting a U.N. deadline of 2005 for eradicating the potentially crippling disease worldwide. Slum dwellers in Gaya, about 60 miles from the state capital, Patna, have refused polio drops for their children because they believe they contain anti-fertility drugs and are part of government efforts to curb India's burgeoning population, health workers say. "In the slums of Gaya, many poor and ignorant women regard the anti-polio drops as a deceptive strategy to control the birth rate. In the long run they feel it will reduce the fertility of future generations," Mahjabeen Anjum, a health worker participating in the polio vaccination drive, said Friday. "The misgivings against the polio drops are more pronounced among poor Muslims," Anjum said. Polio attacks the central nervous system, causing paralysis, muscular atrophy, deformation and, in some cases, death. It is transmitted through contaminated drinking water and usually infects children under the age of 5. India has reported 29 new polio cases so far this year, seven of those in Bihar. Last year there were 260 polio infections in India, and 1,556 in 2002. Sanjeeda Khatoon, a vegetable vendor, told The Associated Press she has not allowed health workers to give polio drops to any of her nine children. "The government is more concerned with population control than the health of the people," Khatoon said. "Neither I, nor my mother, nor even my mother's mother was immunized, yet none of us got polio." Her views were echoed by Savitri, a road sweeper. "I cannot trust these people. They belong to the enemy class," said Savitri, who uses only one name. Health workers from UNICEF have recruited counselors to try to dispel the ignorance and superstition surrounding the polio campaign, said Anjum. World Health Organization experts say even a single case of polio can result in a flare-up of the disease and would prove a setback to the global aim of wiping out polio by 2005. Indeed, a polio outbreak has spread across central and western Africa after religious leaders in northern Nigeria's heavily Muslim Kano state boycotted immunizations, claiming foreign powers were spreading AIDS and infertility through the vaccine. Yet Gaya's chief medical officer, Ramji Upadhyay, appeared unfazed by the resistance. "By and large the anti-polio campaign has been going on smoothly and isolated incidents of resistance do not matter much," Upadhyay said.
High jumper Aloysius also out, India's hopes pinned on Anju
Friday, August 27, 2004
Woman high jumper Bobby Aloysius Thursday failed to qualify for the Olympic finals, leaving long jumper Anju Bobby George as India's only realistic medal hope, though the women's 4x400-metre relay and free style wrestlers are yet to compete. Also faring abysmally Thursday were India's Malav Shroff and Sumeet Patel, who finished 19th and last in the mixed open double-handed dinghy-49er sailing event. Shroff and Patel finished with a whopping 253 net points, while Spain's Iker Martinez and Xavier Fernandez, who had already secured the gold before Thursday's last race, won with 67 net points. Aloysius, who trained under Englishman Denis Doyle, would have been hard put to achieve the qualifying mark set at 1.95m for the high-quality field. The 30-year-old Indian began at 1.75m, which she cleared on first attempt and then she cleared 1.80m, also on her first attempt. But at 1.85m, she failed on the first attempt and then managed to clear it on the second. As the bar was raised to 1.89m, Aloysius failed once and then came closest to clearing it on her second attempt. She managed to get her body over, but her heel nicked the bar. The third attempt too failed and out she went as the favourites moved up unhindered. Aloysius's personal of 1.91m was also the qualifying mark for an Olympic berth. That effort came in Chennai, but the record is yet to be ratified. On Friday, Anju will compete against the world's top long jumpers, including Marion Jones of the US. Anju had qualified for the finals with a comfortable jump of 6.69 metres Thursday that made her the first Indian to make it to an Olympic athletics final in 20 years. Anju sailed past the qualifying mark of 6.65m that assured the jumpers of a berth in the final. The 27-year-old became the first Indian since 1984 when P.T. Usha in 400m hurdles and the women's 4x400 metre relay team qualified for the final in Los Angeles. Usha finished fourth and the relay team seventh. Anju is also the first Indian woman to qualify for a field event final since Henry Rebello in men's triple jump in 1948. The women's 4x400m relay team will be amongst the 16 teams that will run in the semi-finals Friday. The Indian team of Rajwinder Kaur, Chitra Soman, K.M. Beenamol, Manjit Kaur has the national record against its name. The girls had clocked 3:27.35 seconds at the Asian Grand Prix at Colombo earlier this year, though the record is yet to be ratified. In theory, the team should get at least a place in the top five Friday. In practice, however, it might not qualify for the final. The Indian girls have returned some fabulous timings, all of them under 52 seconds, which gives hope of the team running under 3:25-3:26 seconds. On Friday, India will also play their last hockey match of the Olympic Games when they clash with South Korea for the seventh place. India had finished seventh at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. []
World Bank increases lending to India, to target poor states
Friday, August 27, 2004
T V Parasuram Washington, Aug 27 The World Bank has increased its lending to India by about USD 1 billion a year for the next four years and identified infrastructure building, human development and uplift of rural poor as its thrust areas in an effort to alleviate poverty. The Bank has decided to shift its strategy, which was focused on states undertaking comprehensive reforms, and will now target four states -- Bihar, Jharkhand, Orissa and Uttar Pradesh -- in particular, "where proverty is increasingly concentrated." Under the new programme titled "Country Strategy for India" approved by the Board of Executive Directors of the Bank, it would lend India up to USD 3 billion a year from 2005-2008, an increase of USD 1 billion a year, a bank statement said here yesterday. "Assisting India, which is home to over one quarter of the world's poor, with best practice knowledge and financing for development, is central to the Bank Group's mission to help reduce global proverty," Michael Carter, the Bank's country director for India, said. He said the new strategy unveiled for the four-year period covers a critical period if the 'Millennium Development Goals' are to be met globally by 2015. The Bank has identified three areas -- to help improve government effectiveness, support investments in people and empowering communities and to promote private-sector led growth -- as programme priorities for India, it said. In line with these priorities, the Bank's programme and lending will be expanded in infrastructure building, Human development and rural livelihoods, it added.
Sarkar To Star Newcomers
Friday, August 27, 2004
Ramgopal Varma’s Sarkar reportedly based on The Godfather that was to star Amitabh Bachchan along with actors like Abhishek Bachchan and Sanjay Dutt will now stars newcomers. Amitabh Bachchan is the only actor to play the lead in the film. Besides him, the entire cast will comprise of newcomers, Varma revealed. He added, I want to cast actors having theatrical experience. Their acting talents waiting to explode. I want to give them a chance.
Finance Minister agrees to meet truck operators
Friday, August 27, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 27 An end to the indefinite strike by truck operators, which entered the seventh day today, appeared in sight with Finance Minister P Chidambaram agreeing to meet them on the issue of levy of 10 per cent service tax. "At the intervention of CPM leader Harkishan Singh Surjeet, the Finance Minister has called us for talks. We will meet him today," Delhi Transporters Association president Bhim Wadhwa told here.
Three Chief Justices sworn in as Supreme Court judges
Friday, August 27, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 27 Allahabad High Court Chief Justice Tarun Chatterji, Jharkhand High Court Chief Justice P K I Balasubramanyam and Guwahati High Court Chief Justice Prakash P Naolekar were today sworn in as Judges of the Supreme Court. The oath of office was administered by Chief Justice of India R C Lahoti at a brief ceremony held in the Supreme Court. The new appointments increases the judges' strength of the Supreme Court to 25 as against a sanctioned strength of 26. Other judges of the Supreme Court, senior advocates and lawyers attended the oath taking ceremony.
Inflation falls marginally to 7.94 per cent
Friday, August 27, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 27 Even before the effect of duty cuts in petroleum products could be felt, inflation fell marginally by 0.2 per cent to 7.94 per cent for the week ended August 14 even as prices of fruits, vegetables, wheat and some manufactured products rose.
Kyun, Ho Gaya Na
Friday, August 27, 2004
By ApunKaChoice Starring Aishwarya Rai .... Diya Malhotra Vivek Oberoi .... Arjun Khanna Amitabh Bachchan .... Raj Chauhan Director : Samir Karnik Music Album : Kyon! Ho Gaya Na Synopsis When you have Bollywood’s adorable couple Aishwarya Rai and Vivek Oberoi coming together on screen for the first time, the movie is certain to create curiosity among the fans. And Samir Karnik’s Kyon! Ho Gaya Na has them playing love birds with ideological differences. Another reason why the movie is drawing attention is because it has the doe-eyed stunner Ash locking lips onscreen for the first time with her lucky beau Vivek. A romantic comedy, co-starring Amitabh Bachchan, Sunil Shetty and Dia Mirza, Kyon Ho Gaya Na tells the story of a sensitive, sensible girl Diya Malhotra (Ash) and an adventurous, reckless guy named Arjun Khanna (Vivek). Diya has been brought up by her father (Tinu Anand) after her mother passed away while she was just a child. She spent her childhood in the picturesque coffee-plantation town of Coorg. As a young woman she becomes interested in social work and starts doing her Masters degree in the respective field. Diya has been involved in a little bit of social work at the place of her father’s friend Raj Chauhan (Amitabh Bachchan), a confirmed bachelor who has dedicated his life to a small orphanage in his home. She goes to Mumbai for her exams for Masters degree. There, she meets an adorable Arjun Khanna (Vivek) in quite unusual circumstances. By nature Arjun is an easy-going fellow with a knack for adventures and motorcar racing. To Diya’s surprise it turns out that she will be staying in Mumbai with Arjun’s family (Om Puri and Rati Agnihotri) since they are friends of her father. Living together under the same roof, Diya and Arjun get to know each other better. They develop care and affection for each other but they are also often at loggerheads due to their differing opinions on love and marriage. Little do they know that these very differences will one day form an unbreakable bond between them… Review When you have Bollywood’s most desirable couple in the leading role, supported by a superstar like Amitabh Bachchan, the expectations of the viewers are naturally high. Debutant director Samir Karnik has made an ambitious attempt, but not good enough to engage a viewer for the entire movie’s duration. At the base of every good movie, there lies a thought-provoking story. That is exactly what is missing in Kyon! Ho Gaya Na. Samir is technically sound and knows well the nitty-gritty of filmmaking, but he is not an engaging storyteller. The movie begins on a promising note (with the opening car race) but then a repetitive dose of songs act as speedbreakers into the story. Even the jokes and the fun-stuff shown in the movie is puerile and superficial. The chemistry between Ash and Vivek may be groovy in real life, but in the movie there is hardly any vibe of love visible between the two. On the other hand, they look quite comfortable in the first half playing two characters with different opinions about love, life and marriage. But when the traces of love happening between the two begin to appear in the second half, you can detect the lack of real emotions in their chemistry. Mr. Bachchan puts a lot of energy into the story with his buoyant portrayal of a man young at heart. Om Puri chips in beautifully for his part and Sunil Shetty’s presence in the last half adds some vigor to the story. Dia Mirza makes a cameo appearance of just one scene. All in all, Kyon! Ho Gaya Na would have fallen flat had it not been for the presence of its motley star cast. Worth Watching Once Only Kyon, Ho Gaya Na has failed to meet the expectations at the box-office further strengthening the fact that Aishwarya Rai cannot carry a film alone on her beautiful but slender shoulders. Kyon, Ho Gaya Na had Ash along with her ‘good friend’ Vivek Oberoi coming together for the first time on screen. It even starred Amitabh Bachchan , not to mention Sunil Shetty and Dia Mirza in short cameos. But if a film stars Bachchan, it has to revolve around him, that was not the case with this romantic love story. More importantly, the basic ingredient of a good film – a taut script – was missing in Kyon, Ho Gaya Na. And also was missing the on-screen chemistry between Ash and Vivek. Ash, though may be called the current numero uno in Bollywood, is not capable enough to carry a film alone on her acting histrionics. To be the number one, you got to have the capability of carrying the film alone even if it has an average script and you should also be able to draw the maximum applause from both the audience and the critics, even if the film is male-dominated. Ash’s predecessors Sridevi and Mahuri Dixit had these qualities, their co-stars will vouch for that. That is why both Sridevi and Madhuri were the reigning queens of Bollywood for more than a decade. Yes it is a fact that Ash is as popular as she is gorgeous and that she has some Hollywood offers in her kitty, but this is also a fact that here in Bollywood she alone cannot carry a film on her shoulders.
Fida
Friday, August 27, 2004
Starring Kareena Kapoor .... Neha Shahid Kapur .... Jai Fardeen Khan .... Vikram Director : Ken Ghosh Music Album : Fida Synopsis ‘Not all love stories have a perfect ending,’ goes the punchline of Ken Ghosh’s film Fida. But mushy romance is not what this Kareena Kapoor, Shahid Kapur and Fardeen Khan starrer is all about. The movie has a strong element of a thriller with an important heist at the loci of two love stories. The movie tells the story of two young men and an ambitious girl. Shahid Kapur plays a buoyant, happy-go-lucky guy named Jai. He is an emotional person and is totally smitten with a demure damsel named Neha (Kareena). Neha is impressed by Jai’s determination to win her love at any cost. She too develops a soft corner for him. And then there is a rich and suave guy named Vikram (Fardeen), a chivalrous man who knows well how to go about winning the heart of a girl. But as pointed, the movie is not just about love. There is a big heist worth Rs 55 million at the centre of the plot. It is such a major heist that two major company accounts of a don are wiped out. The highlight of the movie is expected to be its climax. It is learnt that Ken Ghosh has opted for an out-of-the-ordinary end to his movie. Review Ken Ghosh’s second directorial attempt, Fida is a movie about love, money, intrigue, betrayal and vengeance. Let’s see how all these elements are incorporated into a single story. LOVE: It is said that love is blind. That goes true for Shahid’s character Jai who sees a woman of his dreams sipping a cool beverage one day and loses his heart to her. So smitten is he with this girl Neha (Kareena) that he even swallows sleeping pills to prove his love to her. She is convinced of his love and everything is hunky dory, but only for a while. MONEY: The very initial reels of the movie show a grand heist in which an anonymous hacker transfers a big sum of money of an underworld don into his account. Cut to Shahid and Kareena story – it is Neha’s turn to make a suicidal attempt. Reason? She owes Rs 60 million to an underworld don who had lent that money to her late father. Now, it is up to her to return the money within three days or be dead. Definitely something is fishy here, but our love-struck hero Jai can’t see through the smokescreen. He plans to rob a bank to pay off the debts of the woman he loves. INTRIGUE: He visits a bank and finds a man withdrawing a big sum from his account. The man is Vikram (Fardeen). Jai attempts to rob him, but only in vain. In return Vikram offers to help Jai and strikes a deal with him that he has to confess being the hacker that the police are looking for. Caught in a catch 22 situation, Jai takes his offer, not knowing the actual plot that the conning Vikram has in mind. BETRAYAL: It is after our ‘gullible and love-blinded’ hero confesses to police, that he begins to realize his folly and how he has been tricked. He becomes the target of don’s gunmen. He flees and comes to Neha’s house where he gets the shock of his life and the entire gameplan is exposed to him. He realizes that he has been betrayed by the very people he trusted and loved. Now he only desires for only one thing – VENGEANCE. Fida has the punch to engage a viewer for its entire duration except a few drab sequences in between. The chemistry between Shahid and Kareena is incredible. Shahid, in particular, has the qualities that can take him far in his acting career. Fardeen Khan carries his role with ease and Kim Sharma’s marginal appearance is quite forgettable. On the whole the movie is worth a watch.
Mujhse Shaadi Karogi
Friday, August 27, 2004
Starring Salman Khan .... Samir Priyanka Chopra .... Rani Akshay Kumar .... Sunny Amrish Puri .... Colonel Dugraj Singh Director : David Dhawan Music Album : Mujhse Shaadi Karogi Synopsis Two guys in love with the same girl. Both trying every possible antic to win her love. Both are arch-enemies but still they have to put up in the same apartment. David Dhawan's Mujhse Shaadi Karogi promises to be a laugh riot. Samir (Salman Khan) is a brawny hunk working as a lifeguard in Goa. He is a handsome guy who hardly cares a hoot for the average-looking beach beauties. Only a stunner could catch his attention. One day he spots a girl who almost makes his heart burst out. She is Rani (Priyanka Chopra), an aspiring designer dedicated to making her career. A totally smitten Samir gets down to the act of wooing her. But there are hurdles galore. The first one is none other than his flatmate Sunny (Akshay Kumar), who is no less besotted with Rani. And surprisingly the streak of luck often favors Sunny, while everything Samir does to impress Rani goes spectacularly wrong. Even the advises from Samir's astrologer friend Raj (Rajpal Yadav) bring forth nothing ominous for him. And then there is hurdle number two - Rani's stern father Colonel Dugraj Singh (Amrish Puri) who fought the Goan war against the Portuguese and is now retired and over-protective about his daughter. While both Samir and Sunny try their best to woo Rani, she discovers fun and enjoyment in life, all this while keeping both the men on tenterhooks. Review If you are looking for full-fledged entertainment without having to rack your brains to understand the sub plots of a story and the depth of characters, then Mujhse Shaadi Karogi is the movie to watch. The film has a delectable mix of many spices that will appeal to viewers of all ages. At the center of the story are two hilarious characters – Salman and Akshay – who try everything in the book of ‘girl-wooing’ to win the heart of their dreamgirl Priyanka, an easy going gal who has an uncanny habit of doffing her clothes in her balcony, much to the delight of her neighbors. On the sidelines is the character of girl’s stern father Amrish Puri, a retired colonel who loves to spend more time with his pet Tommy than his wife. Then there is the character of landlord (Kader Khan) who develops a new disability everyday. One day he is blind, the next day he is mute and the third day he is deaf and so on… And then there is also a pair of crazy twins (Rajpal Yadav). One is an astrology freak who guides Salman with his ‘freaky’ predictions and the other impersonates Shahrukh Khan from Mansoor Khan's ‘Josh’ and is the leader of a gang called the Eagles. Mujhse Shaadi Karogi has a very youth-oriented feel. It has the look of teleserial ‘Baywatch’ in the first half with Salman playing a lifeguard on the beach. It has ramp shows, Matrix-style action in which one Salman fights a thousand Akshays. And if all this masala still doesn’t satiate you there is the climax - when Salman expresses his love for Priyanka on a cricket pitch. The scene features cricket stars like Irfan Pathan, Mohammed Kaif, Harbhajan Singh, Javagal Srinath, Parthiv Patel and Ashish Nehra. Also add to this the funky one-liners by Navjot Singh Sidhu. Entertainment galore…. http://www.apunkachoice.com
Julie
Friday, August 27, 2004
Starring Neha Dhupia .... Julie Priyanshu Chatterjee .... Mihir Shandilya Sanjay Kapoor .... Rohan Director : Deepak Shivdasani Review Director Deepak Shivdasani has said that his film 'Julie' is not about skin show but soul searching. The truth is that the movie has neither. Like a clever businessman, Deepak chose the attention-grabbing story of a prostitute and sprinkled it with regular and controlled doses of skin exposure by actress Neha Dhupia. And lo! comes a movie that has little substance but more saleable factors. Also add to this the disappointment of those who carry the fancy notion that the movie is some kind of a soft porn. The sexually explicit scenes in the film are somewhat titillating but they do not cross the acceptable limits. 'Julie' tells the tale of transition of a small-town girl into a high society prostitute and her right to self-assertion. The movie begins with a TV program in which Mihir Shandilya [Priyanshu Chatterjee], a young business tycoon and the most eligible bachelor of the city, is invited by a television host [Achint Kaur] for a rendezvous. In the interview the young man talks about his life, his success story and the mystery woman in his lovelife. The secret woman is none other than 'Julie' [Neha Dhupia], who is a high-class prostitute. But she hasn't revealed her profession to Mihir and his family. Mihir's open and honest admission of love unnerves Julie. At the same time she feels that she hasn't become less of a human being by being a prostitute and feels the right to assert herself openly. Julie is a girl who has been matured by ups and downs of life. When she was just a simple small-town girl she fell in love with a guy named Neil [Yash Tonk], who left her in lurch after sexually exploiting her. To start her life afresh Julie shifted to Mumbai and chummed up with her childhood friend Dinky. In Mumbai, Julie landed in a secretarial job in a construction company where she met Rohan [Sanjay Kapoor]. Julie and Rohan developed an intimacy in short time. But Rohan had something cooking in his mind. One day he came to Julie with the offer to spend a night with a tycoon [Kiran Kumar] to bag a prized contract for their company. Shocked at the realization that people didn't see more in her than her sexual side, Julie took to prostitution. And today, when she has begun to dream of having a future with Mihir, she doesn't want to conceal her identity and wants to assert herself in a TV interview… The chief flaw of 'Julie' lies in its story. Julie is shown as a conscientious girl with a sense of self-esteem. Then why does this girl decide to take to prostitution after being jilted by two men? In fact, a part of the movie gives the impression that Julie actually likes her profession. Another flaw is the deliberate attempt to make the movie more emotion-centric in the latter half. Neha Dhupia has a well-toned body and she flaunts it at regular intervals to keep the frontbenchers glued to the screen. But the actress fails to bring out the inner dilemmas, the pain and the essence of her character of a prostitute. Average http://www.apunkachoice.com
Asambhav
Friday, August 27, 2004
Starring Arjun Rampal .... Aadit Arya Nasseeruddin Shah .... Sam Hans Priyanka Chopra .... Alisha Director : Rajiv Rai Review Over the years, movie fans have learned to expect nothing more than commercial entertainment from Rajiv Rai's films. But his Asambhav fails to deliver even that. The movie is glossy but hollow, fast paced but shallow, technically sound but lacking in content. The film takes a dig at the Indo-Pak issue and contains references to ISI, President Musharraf, Al Jazeera and the Afghanistan. It tackles the issue of terrorism through an almost unbelievable story. The film is set in Locarno [Switzerland] where the Indian President Pratap Singh [Dr. Mohan Agashe], is on a short vacation with his daughter Kinjal [Dippanita Sharma], who studies in the U.S. The President and his daughter are kidnapped and taken hostage on an island by a terrorist, Mabros [Shawar Ali] at the behest of an ISI official Ansari [Milind Gunaji]. Ansari also has the full support of the terrorist group, Al-Hamas, led by Yuzan Baksh [Mukesh Rishi]. To rescue the President and his daughter from captivity, Indian government launches Mission 'Asambhav'. This mission is led by Captain Aadit Arya [Arjun Rampal], a skilled commando highly trained in combat and rescue operations. On Ansari's trail in Locarno, Aadit comes across Sam Hans [Naseeruddin Shah] and Brian [Tom Alter], who are involved with Ansari in the drug trade. The narcotics contraband is often smuggled from one country to another through a pop singer Alisha [Priyanka Chopra]. As Aadit sets out to realize mission Asambhav he finds a much wider terror network that he must penetrate to fulfill his task. Ajun Rampal suits the role of a commando, but his acting skills need some polishing. Naseeruddin Shah on the other hand grabs all the attention with his portrayal of a golden-haired drug trader with a one-liner for every occasion. 'Asambhav' is a film that sticks to the beaten and worn-out Bollywood stereotypes. Over-dramatic dialogues, deliberately forced songs and inflated action sequences make it quite a predictable and stodgy fare.
'Kehta Hai Dil' and 'Meher' top the charts
Friday, August 27, 2004
"Kehta Hai Dil" and "Meher", two shows produced by UTV Software Communications Ltd., have topped the prime slots of 9 p.m. for eight consecutive weeks. "Kehta Hai Dil", a one-hour series, hit the small screen in July 2003. Aired on Star Plus every Tuesday, it was inspired by the hit US serial "Picket Fences" but soon went the way of other Indian soaps. It is a story about ordinary people whose lives take a dramatic turn because of the situations they encounter. "Meher", a family drama about twin sisters, is telecast on Doordarshan every Monday to Thursday at 8.30 p.m. UTV Software Communications Ltd. is the only production company to air shows in all genres in seven languages on 26 channels across 19 countries.
Dhoom
Friday, August 27, 2004
Special effects magic in 'Dhoom' Tata Elxsi's Visual Computing Lab (VCL) was roped in to provide the magical special effects for "Dhoom", YashRaj Films new blockbuster. VCL's work includes styling and designing the look of the film, the outstanding opening credits sequence and the multiple split images. The Abhishek Bachchan, John Abrahan, Esha Deol high octane thriller has plenty of special effects, with explosions, smoke, fire and gunshot simulations, morphs, body-double replacements and key techniques, which allowed some of the most dangerous leaps and falls to be shot in the safety of the studio. VCL delivered a total of over 535 shots and more than 25 minutes of gripping effects in less than eight weeks. VCL head K. Chandrashekar said: " 'Dhoom' is a powerhouse of adventure and adrenalin starring some of the fastest motorbikes in the world and incorporating some of the finest stunts and physical effects ever seen on Indian screen.
I’m tired of people taking advantage of my silence: Bachchan
Friday, August 27, 2004
By ApunKaChoice Bureau Pay no heed to the words of a loud talker, but beware the fury of a patient man. Yes, Amitabh Bachchan has broken his dignified silence. It seems that the dam of Big B’s patience has been washed away by the blabbering tongues that keep judging him and his friends, and often comment about his inconsequential roles in films. To start with, Mr. Bachchan has taken a tough stand against Mahesh Bhatt , who passed certain distasteful remark on his good friend and Samajwadi Party leader Amar Singh, calling him ‘uncompassionate’. In an interview to a news agency, Mr. Bachchan left aside his equanimity and spoke freely. Flaring up uncharacteristically, he said: "We've no compassion to spare for him (Bhatt). I'd rather spare it for poor starving farmers of Andhra Pradesh, polio and dowry victims. They need it much more." The superstar added in the same breath: "I won't be compassionate to you, Mr Bhatt! I'm tired of people taking advantage of what has come to be known as my dignified silence. No more standing at the middle of the road waiting for any passer-by to pelt a stone. Ab bahut ho gaya (enough is enough)." Lashing out further, Amitabh says, "I've realized if you keep quiet, people rub your head in the mud. If I make a mistake I'd be the first to admit it. But if you exploit my name I won't stand for it. As you can see I've taken some hard decisions about my attitude to my career and public attitude." Mr. Bachchan added that he was also tired of playing marginal roles in films. He said that he received negative feedback from a great number of fans who were disappointed at seeing him relegated to marginal roles in the films, and the directors using him as just a selling point for their movies.
Hiding the truth to entice movie audiences :
Friday, August 27, 2004
Bollywood India > Mumbai, Aug 26 : Noticed a new phenomenon in publicity campaigns for Hindi films - 'hide the truth, entice the audience' to get people flocking to the theatres? It happened with "Fida" and with this week's release "Phir Milenge" as well. Last week "Fida" opened to an intriguing lack of genuine information on the film. Says Bihar exhibitor Roshan Singh: "No one knew what to expect. The promos showed Kareena with both Fardeen and Shahid. So some people expected to see Kareena in a double role. Others had heard Salman Khan is the real villain of the piece. When he didn't turn up till the last, they went away disappointed." Salman is now in another intriguing situation in another distinctly different mainstream film. Revathi's "Phir Milenge" is a film that tackles the very real and very disturbing issue of AIDS. Both its protagonists, Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty, are HIV positive. But for some bizarre reason, the producers are marketing the film without highlighting the film's main theme. "That's because they're afraid no one will come to see a film about AIDS. You tell me, who would accept the muscled and sexy Salman as a guy fading away with AIDS?" asks a top filmmaker. "Oh, plenty of people would want to see Salman playing a vulnerable character. Didn't he play a mentally disturbed character in 'Tere Naam'? And wasn't that a super-hit?" says Shilpa Shetty, who is outstanding in the central role. "And, please, no one in the audience is stupid enough to come to see Salman and me do another 'Garv' in 'Phir Milenge'. The audience knows exactly what to expect from a film even if we don't spell out all the details to them." But why deliberately play down the film's main thrust and theme? Shilpa shakes her head vehemently: "None of us has hidden the fact that this is a film about AIDS. Maybe we didn't shout about it from the rooftops. But Salman has been speaking about his role as an AIDS victim at all press conferences. Who can stop him from saying and doing exactly what he wants?" "And, yes, I play an HIV victim. For a large part of the film, I'm pale and without makeup. In fact, my director Revathi wanted me to be without makeup on the posters as well." Pausing for breath she continues: "Isn't it about time we stopped looking at stars as commodities and allowed them to play real characters? Tom Hanks played an AIDS victim in Philadelphia and got an Oscar for it. "Salman, too, deserves all the awards for his performance. He's toooooo good in the film. So natural, confident and not at all afraid to be vulnerable on screen." Issue-based films have always been rare and precious in mainstream Hindi cinema. The last such film was Govind Nihalani's "Dev" where the director went all out to project his film not as a star-studded extravaganza but a film where the stars played real characters. "Phir Milenge" is another film in the same genre. "And we're very proud of the film. The fact that even the UN has taken note of its sensitive issues is a very positive sign. Salman or no Salman, this isn't a film about stars but about the subject." Shilpa has the last word. --Indo-Asian News Service
Shilpa Shetty
Friday, August 27, 2004
Bollywood India > Mumbai, Aug 26 : Shilpa Shetty is back with "Phir Milenge", Revathi's new movie that deals with the touchy topic of living with HIV/AIDS, and she says she has grown as a person and as an actor. Describing her role in the new movie as a "powerful one", Shilpa told in an interview that she wouldn't have been able to do it four years ago. Excerpts: Q. Suddenly you're in the limelight again? A. There were times when people said I was out. Now suddenly I'm being noticed for my performance in "Phir Milenge". From my career being all over, I'm suddenly all over the place (laughs). A new phase has started without my effort. The media's perception has changed. I've grown as a person and actor. If I had to do "Phir Milenge" four years earlier I wouldn't have been able to do justice to it. Q. Everyone is raving about your performance in "Phir Milenge". A. I'm so lucky to have got such a powerful role. Of course it's my film. But it's also Abhiskek Bachchan and Salman Khan's film. Without them, the story wouldn't move forward. Our director Revathi is so good! I agree with Salman when he says she's a mixture of Sanjay Bhansali and Sooraj Barjatya. Q. Do you play an AIDS victim in "Phir Milenge"? A. Yes, we're dealing with issues related to AIDS. You know I didn't even know there's a difference between HIV positive and AIDS. Imagine educated people don't know this! What I love about this film is that it puts the message across without being preachy. It's not a grim film. Like Jonathan Demme's "Philadelphia" it tackles the issue of an HIV positive person's ostracisation at her work place. Q. You've worked with a woman director for the first time. A. A director is a director. That's what I believed. For every director, male or female, the film is like a baby. But working with Revathi was a different experience. For one, she's fine actress herself. Also, I now realise her being a woman did make a difference. The way she asked me to express certain emotions could only be done by a woman. Honestly, I felt terrible when the shooting of "Phir Milenge" ended. We had become one big family. For the first time I got the job satisfaction I was craving for. It will always be a very special film for me. Q. And now you're doing an offbeat thriller! A. "Khamosh" isn't an offbeat thriller at all! Why do we have to categorise any of our films as offbeat? It makes it sound so boring! Don't you think it's about time we snapped out of these rigid mindsets about films and their categories? But yes, it's a different experience for me. I've never shot a film in one start-to-finish schedule. And we even did an acting workshop to prepare for our roles. I've been shooting in the rain and smoking for my character. And now I've this terrible cough. Anything for realism, I guess. Q. Is it that challenging? A. My entire look is different. In fact, all of us in "Khamosh" -- my co-star is the former Mr World Rajiv Singh -- feel like the characters. Though I must tell you this isn't the usual hero-heroine film. I like way I'm being presented in this film. Q. And who's your director? A. Deepak Tijori. I saw and quite liked his first directorial effort "Oops". I assumed it would be a different kind of film. And it was. I told him if he had made the film with experienced actors they'd have better understood the needs of the characters. But I don't think I'd have been able to carry off Mita Vashisth's role. How would I've looked like the mother of a grown-up son? Q. By acting? A. (Laughs) True. But not right now. Maybe 10 years from now. I don't mind challenges. But I don't want to push it. But I must tell you I'm doing the work that pleases me. I always wanted to work the way I'm doing now. A set-up like Revathi's "Phir Milenge" or Deepak Tijori's "Khamosh" gives me a new high. It's a whole new world for me. It moves in real time. I'd now think twice before doing run-of-the-mill roles. Why should I, when I'm finally getting the kind of roles I always wanted? Q. But aren't you afraid of being branded a mature actress? A. That risk is there. So alongside "Phir Milenge" with Salman Khan, I've "Garv" with the same actor. I'm not giving up my USP. I'm proud to be a typical heroine too. And don't mind serving as the eye candy, nothing to be apologetic about. But I must say I did "Garv" for two friends, Salman and the director Puneet Issar. To the director's credit he told me right from start that my role doesn't have meat. He wanted me to be part of his film. And you know how difficult it is for me to say no? Q. Yes. A. So I said let's do it. "Garv" brought that element of variety in my career that makes it exciting. If on one end I've "Dus" where I'm glamorous, on the other end I'm totally deglamourised in "Phir Milenge". I think I'm now getting my dues. The biggest compliment is when after a run-of-the-mill film people question me on why I did it. My role in "Garv" wasn't so short to begin with. But it had to be abbreviated for the good of the end product. It's the film that matters finally. Q. You've Salman as your co-star in your next two releases? A. Salman and I go back a long way. I've known him for 10 years. Over the years our bond has strengthened. He has always been there for me, and vice versa. Now when we've two releases together people are talking about our friendship. He's a very dear friend and he always will be. Q. Dharamesh Darshan's "Dhadkan" should've been your turning point? A. I think "Dhadkan" did me a world of good. The way the audiences responded to me proved it. But how many women-centric films were made thereafter? Recently there was "Kal Ho Na Ho". I chose from what came my way. Out of the 50 that I was offered, I chose five. Not bad, huh? Today I've my own "Phir Milenge". Even in Indra Kumar's "Rishtey" I was noticed. I was even nominated in the comic category. But it wasn't really a comic role! I've done all kinds of roles after "Dhadkan". To have lasted in the film industry for 10 years I couldn't be all that dumb. Each film, even "Shool" where I did just an item song, has helped me grow as an actor. Q. You're doing a film called "Dus". A. There was a film by the same name that the late Mukul Anand was directing when he passed away suddenly. The new "Dus" has nothing to do with the old one. This is an intrigue film. The audience thinks it knows what's going on. But the next moment they're proven wrong. I play a member of an anti-terrorist cell. I'm no prop here. My decoration-doll phase ends for now with "Garv". Next, in January 2005 I'm doing a film with Amitabh Bachchan and Paresh Rawal called "Maharathi". It's a play being adapted. Again it's a new experience for me. I haven't been in a film with Mr Bachchan for ages. Q. What are you looking for in life? A. Scripts that would appeal to audiences. I don't have to be the central character. Besides that, you know me. I've never planned anything in life. I'm just enjoying this phase in my career where I'm flowing with the tide. I don't have any time for a relationship. Whatever little time I have I spend with my parents, sister and a few close friends. I also like to cook and watch films in theatres. I'm the 'chawanni chaap' audience who cheers and whistles. Q. What do you feel about titillating films like "Murder"? A. Why crib when audiences are making a success of it? And honestly I thought "Murder" was a very well-made film. Mallika Sherawat played her role very well. Let's be fair. --Indo-Asian News Service
Red-carpet welcome for Aishwarya and Vivek
Friday, August 27, 2004
Accompanied by leading man and close friend Vivek Oberoi, Aishwarya Rai has been travelling all over north India to promote "Kyun Ho Gaya Na". In places like Nagpur and Indore, her presence was greeted with whoops of joy by fans, "It was awesome. Every city greeted us with so much enthusiasm. The audience seems so curious to see the film," said Aishwarya. Also with them was producer Boney Kapoor, minus Sridevi but with a good distributor-friend. "I don't have my beautiful wife with me. But I do have my lovely friend for company and that's good enough," he said. As for Vivek and Ash, they handled all the personal queries with great aplomb, steering the conversation back to the matter on hand. "I've never felt so close to my fans before," said Vivek. No wonder, more and more film units are undertaking these promotional tours. Although a film's fate isn't always bettered by these goodwill tours, at least fans in far-flung places get to see their favourite stars.
Distributors queue up for Salman films
Friday, August 27, 2004
Distributors queue up for Salman films : Bollywood India > Mumbai, Aug 25 : Salman Khan is on a new high. Though his solo starrer "Garv" has finally settled down to being just an average grosser, he has again proved his star power with distributors clamouring to buy his two new films "Phir Milenge" and "Dil Ne Jissey Apna Kahaa". In Revathy's "Phir Milenge" about HIV/AIDS, he plays Shilpa Shetty's supportive boyfriend. Salman didn't charge a single penny from his old colleague Revathi (the two had starred together in "Love"). His second film "Dil Ne..." is his home production and is directed by his brother-in-law Atul Agnihotri. Interestingly, Preity Zinta had a guest appearance to begin with, but her role has now been extended to a full-fledged heroine's part. "I've never had my role extended before. The chemistry between us is unbelievable," Preity chuckles.
Vajpayee, Rahul attend Mulayam's dinner meet
Thursday, August 26, 2004
New Delhi: In a significant political development, Congress MPs including Rahul Gandhi attended the dinner meeting hosted by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav on the issue of development of the state. Congress president Sonia Gandhi, MP from Rae Bareli, however, did not attend the meeting where all the MPs from the state were invited. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was among the first to reach the venue of the meeting and remained there for over two hours while BSP president Mayawati and other members from her party were conspicuous by their absence. The presence of Rahul Gandhi assumes significance in view of the strained relations between the two parties, especially in Uttar Pradesh with the Congress accusing the government of failure in maintaining law and order while the SP charging the Centre for not giving substantial financial package to the state. Prominent among those who attended the meeting at the Parliament library building included Sriprakash Jaiswal, Maneka Gandhi, Santosh Gangwar, Akhilesh Das, besides SP MPs Raj Babbar, Salim Sherwani, Prof Ram Gopal Yadav and Akhilesh Singh, Chief Minister's son.
Salman, Ash in Nikhil's next?
Thursday, August 26, 2004
By Taran Adarsh (IndiaFM.com) On July 13, exactly a month and a half ago, this writer broke the news of Nikhil Advani's new project. The talented director, who was responsible for one of the biggest hits in 2003 (Kal Ho Naa Ho), had turned independent and had approached Salman Khan and Saif Ali Khan for his forthcoming project. Nikhil had denied it then. But he confirms it now. I have narrated the script to Salman and he has agreed to do the film. He has liked the concept of the film immensely. We're presently working on the dates, Nikhil informs me. A two-hero, two-heroine project, Nikhil had reportedly approached Saif for the other principal role. If I had my way, I would never make a film without Saif, Nikhil states, Saif and I got along very well during the making of Kal Ho Naa Ho. And I would like Saif to be a part of every film that I make. But it's premature to talk about the second role since I haven't spoken to him yet. By mid-October, I should be ready with the entire cast, Nikhil adds. Till then, let's keep our fingers crossed! But the news doesn't end here. Here's the big, big scoop… There are rumours that Nikhil has decided to cast Aishwarya Rai in this project. Opposite Salman Khan. So far, Salman and Ash had been teamed in two movies - Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam and Hum Tumhare Hain Sanam [Ash made a special appearance in the film] - and both proved hits. Mujhe picture banani hain, Nikhil jokes, but gets serious after a hearty laugh, Are people really under the impression that Ash is a part of the project? Let me clarify, it's not true. I haven't even thought of casting the heroines simply because I don't have the dates of the two actors on my hand. As for the leading lady opposite Saif, is it Rani Mukerji? After all, the chemistry between Saif and Rani was electrifying in Hum Tum. I would love to cast Rani in my film. But she's an extremely busy actress and there's a possibility that her dates won't match with the dates of the actors. A thriller, the film will be partly shot in London and partly in Mumbai.
Kuwait to work for safe return of Indian hostages in Iraq
Thursday, August 26, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 25 Kuwait today assured India that it would leave no stone unturned for the safe return of three Indian truck drivers held captive in Iraq since July 21. "Indian community working in Iraq are associated with humanitarian work. We are working very closely with our friends in Kenya, India and Iraq and will not leave any stone unturned for safe return of Indians held captive in Iraq," visiting Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Mohammed Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah told reporters here after signing a landmark India-GCC Framework Agreement with Commerce and Industry Minister Kamal Nath. He said "rumours" that Indian workers coming to Kuwait were forced to work in areas they did not want to go were "completely baseless". The hostage issue did come up during talks Al-Sabah had with External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh and "Kuwait has assured us that no stone would be left unturned to bring this matter to a positive resolution to ensure the safe return of not only the Indian hostages but other hostages also," Foreign Office spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters. Al-Sabah told the Indian side that Kuwait would be trying its utmost to get to the bottom of this, the spokesman said. Antaryami, Tilak Raj and Sukhdev Singh, employed by Kuwait and Gulf Link (KGL) trasnport company, were abducted last month in Iraq by a group calling itself 'Islamic Secret Army-Holders of Black Banners'. Negotiations to secure their release have not yet succeeded.
Infiltration bid foiled, one militant killed in near LoC in J-K
Thursday, August 26, 2004
Srinagar, Aug 26 Security forces have foiled an infiltration bid by militants by killing one of them and recovered huge quantity of Indian and American currency besides arms and ammunition, including 200 gms of RDX, near Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir, BSF sources said today. A group of heavily-armed militants tried to sneak into Indian territory from across the border near Line of Control near Kupwara district on August 24, the sources said. They said the BSF troops engaged infiltrators in an encounter at Butshaw in Tungdhar of the district and killed one of them . However, other members of the group took away his body but left behind Rs 14 lakh in Indian currency, US $29,900, one AK rifle, its nine magazines, 335 rounds and 12 remote control-fitted IEDs, four grenades, 200 gms of RDX and a wireless set, the sources added.
Olympics: Anju moves into women's long jump final
Thursday, August 26, 2004
M R Mishra Athens, Aug 26 After days of despair, India finally had something to cheer about with ace long jumper Anju Bobby George qualifying for the final of the women's long jump event in the Olympic Games here Wednesday, achieving the qualifying mark with her very first jump. World no 6 Anju, the only medal hope remaining in the Olympics, leaped to a distance of 6.69m in her first attempt to make it to the final, though some of her fancied rivals like Marion Jones used their second jump to attain the qualifying mark of 6.65m. She became only the second Indian woman athlete to qualify for the final in athletics after P T Usha did so in the 400m hurdles at the Los Angeles Games in 1984. The 27-year-old athlete took the jump from at least five cm from the line to easily cross the qualification mark in group-A and skipped the remaining two jumps having achieved her objective. Anju fell two cm short of her season's best of 6.71m but since it was only the qualification round she did not exert herself too much. "My objective was to qualify for the final, that is the first step. I just played it safe and jumped from a little behind. I did not stretch myself much, did not go for distance". "I am happy that I have made it to the final. The real competition will come in the final, so I am just preparing myself for it. There I will try to give my best," she said.
TCS: First trade struck at Rs 1,076
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Tata Consultancy Ltd’s scrip was today listed on the Stock Exchange, Mumbai (BSE) and the first deal was struck at Rs 1076, at discount to the issue price of Rs 850 per share of Rs one each. The first deal was contracted at Rs 1076 per share for 50 shares, BSE official said. The book-built issue of Tata group company opened for bidding on July 29 and closed on August five, 2004. The bidding price band for initial public offering (IPO) was Rs 775-900 per share. The IPO comprised of 5.55 crore shares and green shoe option consisted of 83 lakh shares. The issue by software major was oversubscribed by about 7.5 times and the offer had received over 13 lakh applications. The retail portion of IPO was oversubscribed by 2.9 times. The retail investors received 17 shares against 50 applied for. The portion reserved for the institutional investors segment, was oversubscribed by seven times. In non-institutional investors segment, the issue was oversubscribed by about 19.2 times. The book running lead managers to the issue were JM Morgan Stanley, DSP Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan.
I smell Sonia's revenge: Uma Bharti
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Raibag: Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday directly blamed Congress President Sonia Gandhi for reopening a 10-year-old criminal case against her and said she smelt the revenge of Gandhi in it. "I smell the revenge of Sonia Gandhi. By seeking revenge against me, she forgot she is insulting the tricolour. To protect the honour of the tricolour, I am ready to face any consequence", she told reporters on board the train, on her journey to Hubli to surrender before a court. Asked if Gandhi was behind reopening of the case, she replied, "Definitely. How was it that the Karnataka government's earlier decision to withdraw the case against her changed in one week. I was the one person who blocked the road of Sonia Gandhi from becoming Prime Minister". To another query, she said "Revenge politics and petty politics" was behind reopening of the case booked against her in connection with the hoisting of the national flag at the disputed Idgah Maidan in Hubli in 1994. "I believe the lady who belonged to the Congress but does not belong to the country." said Bharti, attacking Gandhi. "I am ready to be crucified for the honour of the nation", she declared, when asked if she was ready to be jailed, as she entered Karnataka from Miraj in Maharashtra on Wednesday. Asked why she had decided not seek bail, Bharti said, "I don't believe I have done any crime by hoisting the national flag". She also criticised Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh for not informing her about the state government's decision to send the police team to execute the Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) against her. "Courtesy demanded that he could have talked to me, which they did not do. I was also the Chief Minister. He could have spoken to me. He did not make me aware of it," she said. "What I cannot imagine even now is what was the haste in sending the police team to arrest me. I am not able to understand. When Musharaff and Vajpayee can talk, why couldn't Dharam Singh talk to me". Asked if she was aware of the NBW when she was in Bangalore recently, she said "I was aware of it. But it was unexpected". To another query, she said, "If I did not want to be arrested, I would not have resigned. I resigned because I knew the arrest will be there any minute". "As Chief Minister, I did not want to be arrested because I will be bringing disrespect to the chair. So I resigned. I have resigned means that I am ready for any consequences". Asked when she would start her 'Tiranga Yatra' from Hubli to Jallianwallahbag, she said, "The party has to make arrangements. Whenever they tell me, I will start the yatra".
Scotland says cheers to Indian whisky
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Glasgow: Indian single malt whisky is making its debut in Europe, and while it's no threat to Scotland's world-dominating whisky industry, it's earned warm kudos from some discerning Scotch-lovers. Amrut Single Malt Whisky, a product of Amrut Distilleries in Bangalore, made its official debut Tuesday in Glasgow -- part of a carefully plotted marketing strategy that grew out of a university thesis. Plans call for Amrut Single Malt to appear on the drinks menus of the 460-odd Indian restaurants in Scotland, with distribution to be extended soon to the rest of Britain and, later, the rest of Europe. Test samples are already tickling palates in France, Italy and Spain -- prime markets for Scotland's own single malts, from global favourite Glenfiddich on down. "I'd prefer that it stands on its own as an Indian single malt whisky," Amrut's young executive director Rakshit "Rick" Jagdale told AFP. "That should be our USP," or unique selling point. Made from barley grown in Punjab and Rajasthan, then malted in Delhi and Jaipur, Amrut Single Malt is distilled in Bangalore where it is then matured in American oak casks for three years. Amrut, part of the family-controlled Jagdale drinks and pharmaceuticals group, expects to sell most if not all of its maiden export shipment of 1,000 cases -- a dozen 70-cl bottles per case -- by Christmas. While mainly available through Indian restaurants -- of which, Jagdale says, there are 20,000 across Britain -- the whisky will also be available through specialist shops and Internet retailers. The idea is that if Indian beers such as Kingfisher can find popularity with Britain's legions of curry-lovers, then an Indian whisky can, too. "We find it compares very favourably with the panoply of single malts available today," said Alistair Sinclair, a Scottish whisky expert who helped Amrut with the technical side of its fledgling brand. By coincidence, Amrut launched its new product as it emerged that Glenmorangie, one of Scotland's best-known whisky brands with a history going back 300 years, was being put up for sale. An AFP reporter in Glasgow found Amrut Single Malt to be light and easy on the palate, if lacking the peat flavour that is the hallmark of many great Scottish single malts like Laphroaig. Jagdale, who sketched out Amrut's marketing strategy in his University of Newcastle business school thesis, used the word "chocolate-ty" -- a seemingly peculiar description that others concurred with. "Lots of countries make whisky," with India's own brands "frankly not good," said Bill Clapperton, an Edinburgh journalist who covers the single malt industry which, in Scotland, covers literally hundreds of brands. "But now you've got this one coming across, and I'm really quite surprised, actually," he told AFP. "It is distinct. It has distinctions to it." "You can actually pick out just a tweak of mint, and a hint of Maltesers," a popular chocolate treat in Britain, he said. "And vanilla, which comes from the American oak barrels... Add water and it's even silkier." Ken Storrie of the Potsteel bar, a Glasgow mecca for whisky buffs, judged Amrut to be "quite punchy, fruity... It doesn't have a long after-taste... a very pleasant malt". He said that in blind taste tests, "just to stir up a bit of controversy," patrons at Potsteels were offered shooters of Amrut, then invited to guess what it was. "Ninety-five percent automatically put it down as a Speyside," one of Scotland's great single malt regions, he said. Asked to guess again, most replied Ireland. Back in Bangalore, 5,000 barrels of Amrut Single Malt are maturing, waiting to make the long journey to Europe --a small quantity compared to the 19 million barrels lying in wait in Scotland's distilleries, but still a start.
Hubli court sends Uma Bharti to 14-day judicial custody
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
Press Trust of India Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti on Wednesday surrendered before a court in Hubli. Bharti, against whom a non-bailable arrest warrant was issued in a case of rioting 10 years ago at Idgah Maidan, was sent to judicial custody for 14 days in Belgaum. Earlier on arrival in Hubli, Bharti told reporters that hoisting the national Tricolour was not a crime and seeking bail would mean "insulting the national flag". Asked why she did not surrender earlier when the non-bailable warrants (NBW) were issued, she said they came during the Digvijay Singh rule, implying they were not executed then. When the NBW came during her rule, she decided to surrender, she said. Replying to a query, Bharti said the warrants could have been executed against her when she was in Bangalore recently. She charged that Karnataka Chief Minister N Dharam Singh had "lost vision" because of "Italian influence", an obvious reference to the Congress president Sonia Gandhi. Bharti also urged Prime Minister Manmohan Singh not to consider "hoisting of the national flag a crime". However, according to Bharti's counsel Manoj Hangal, she will be lodged in Hubli sub-jail. "I honour the court judgement. I am happily going to jail," she told reporters outside the court, before being taken by the police. She said she would start 'Tiranga Yatra' from Hubli to Amritsar after being released from jail.
Kerala demands Rs 315 cr towards calamity relief
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
PTI THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala on Tuesday demanded that the Centre provide Rs 315 crore as the first instalment of calamity relief to the state, by early next month. Chief Minister A K Antony made the demand during discussions with the Central team that arrived here to study the loss suffered by the state due to drought and flood. The seven-member multi-departmental team led by Sathish Chander, Joint secretary, Agriculture would be visiting Alappuzha, Kozhikode, Palakkad and Wayanad districts in the next two days to make a detailed assessment of losses caused by natural calamities. During the discussion, Antony explained the problems and issues faced by farmers and rural community as a result of an unprecedented drought followed by floods since the outbreak of monsoon. Antony wanted the team to take into account the importance of cash and perennial crops in the state's agricultural economy. He said though the state had sought a total assistance of Rs 3847 crore, it wanted the Centre to provide Rs 315 crore as the first instalment by September first week. He wanted liberal central assistance to raise the solatium given to the next of kin of farmers who had committed suicide to Rs one lakh from the present Rs 50,000.
Pakistan spin India to defeat, England hammer Windies
Monday, August 23, 2004
AMSTELVEEN (Holland): Pakistan spinners Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik took seven wickets between them to bowl their side to a 66-run win over arch-rivals India in the opening match of the triangular event here on Saturday. Afridi took four for 20 and man-of-the match Malik, who earlier made 68, three for 18 as India, chasing a target of 194 to win, were bowled out for 127 with six overs to spare. But India were without Sachin Tendulkar after the star batsman was ruled out of the whole tournament, also featuring world champions Australia, earlier Saturday because of an elbow injury. Pakistan, after losing the toss, made 192 for six. That left India a revised target of 194 to win in their 33 overs after the innings had twice been reduced in length by rain. An unbroken stand of 56 between Abdul Razzaq and Moin Khan took Pakistan to their final total. Razzaq (35 not out) and Moin (27 not out) took 42 runs off the last three overs. Lakshmipathy Balaji kept things tight with three for 27 from seven overs but could do nothing about the late onslaught. n LONDON: England hammered West Indies by 10 wickets inside three days to win the fourth Test at the Oval on Saturday, claiming a 4-0 series whitewash and a record-equalling seventh consecutive Test win. The touring side were bowled out for 318 following on with pace bowler James Anderson taking four for 52. England had to bat again but Marcus Trescothick knocked off the one run needed to win with a four. They have now equalled the England record of seven successive Test wins set in 1928/29 and have also completed 10 wins out of 11 this year, including the 3-0 victory in the Caribbean in April. That betters the nine out of 10 wins recorded by Mike Brearley's side in 1978/79. Dwayne Bravo and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had earlier frustrated England with an 82-run fifth wicket stand to slow their quest for a second series clean sweep after the 3-0 rout of New Zealand in May and June. Bravo made 54, the second half century in his first Test series, before Matthew Hoggard trapped him lbw the first ball after the drinks break. – Agencies
Truckers stir begins amid fears of price escalation
Saturday, August 21, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 21 Truckers started an indefinite nation-wide strike from this morning to protest service tax amid fears of escalation in vegetable prices and brewing trouble for corporates, who have started hiring buses to avoid any halt in production. "We have stopped work from 6 am this morning after our efforts failed to convince the Government to roll back the 10 per cent service tax announced in the Budget," All India Motor Transport Congress (AIMTC) President J M Saksena told. Truckers are striking under the aegis of AIMTC to protest the imposition of 10 per cent service tax announced by Finance Minister P Chidambaram in the Union Budget for 2004-05. "Yes, the Finance Ministry approaced us last night but we will talk not to anyone other than the Finance Minister or Finance Secretary," he said. Though the AIMTC has announced that supply of essential commodities would remain uninterrupted for the initial 3-4 days to gauge the response of the Government, there were worries that prices of perishable commodities like fruits and vegetables would go up. Moreover, the truckers' stir comes at a time when inflation is shooting up However, the Centre has asked states to keep sufficient stocks of essential articles and has set up a control room to keep a close watch on the situation. Meanwhile, a number of car and two-wheeler manufacturers have stockpiled important components and have started hiring buses to avoid any disruption in production. Companies have also built up inventories at dealers end to keep providing products.
Turmoil over Bharti, Savarkar issues; Parliament stalled
Saturday, August 21, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 20 The hearing of a case in a Karnataka Court against Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti today rocked Parliament with RJD and Congress members demanding dismissal of her Government and her arrest. As agitated ruling alliance members were on their feet pressing their issue, BJP-Shiv Sena combine stuck to the demand for the fourth day for an immediate apology from Petroleum Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar for showing "disrespect" to veteran freedom fighter Veer Savarkar. Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha were adjourned for the day much ahead of the schedule amid pandemonium with ruling and opposition members adamant on their demands. The two houses were adjourned earlier also for a couple of hours on these issues. RJD members shouted slogans "Uma Bharti ko Giraftar Karo (Arrest Uma Bharti)". This was countered by the opposition members with slogans "Long live Veer Savarkar." Finding members in an unrelenting mood when the Lok Sabha met at 1530 hours after two adjournments, Deputy Speaker Charanjit Singh Atwal adjourned it till Monday. His pleas for the private members' business to be taken up fell on deaf ears. Similar unruly scenes prevailed in Rajya Sabha when it met at 1430 hours after a two-hour adjournment to take up private members' business. With the din showing no signs of abating, Deputy Chairman K Rehman Khan adjourned the House for the day.
SC issues notice to Amarmani on CBI plea for quashing bail
Saturday, August 21, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 20 The Supreme Court today issued notice to former Uttar Pradesh Minister Amarmani Tripathi, an accused in the sensational Madhumita Shukla murder case, on a petition filed by the CBI seeking cancellation of bail granted to him in the case by the Allahabad High Court. A Bench comprising Justice P V Reddi and Justice B N Srikrishna issued the notice to Tripathi when Solicitor General G E Vahanvati, appearing for CBI, alleged that the accused have been intimidating the witnesses, including the mother and sister of the victim, since the grant of bail on April 29. The CBI also alleged that Tripathi had abused his official position by making efforts to "get investigating officers transferred" when they did not agree to the theory floated by him that Madhumita was married to someone else. The agency said that Madhumita was killed on May 9, 2003 pursuant to a conspiracy "involving Amarmani, his wife Madhumani arising out of illicit intimacy between Amarmani and Madhumita and she being pregnant with his child and her refusal to have an abortion". It said that the High Court failed to appreciate the ground that when Amarmani was earlier granted permission to attend the Assembly proceedings, he had abused the same and went out of the Assembly to meet the Chief Minister and because of this his bail was cancelled. "There is clear and present danger that Amarmani would interfere with the fair conduct of the trial and try to influence and win over witnesses by inducements or threats," the CBI said and requested the apex Court to cancel his bail.
Tendulkar doubtful for series opener
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Amsterdam: India received a major setback when batting ace Sachin Tendulkar was declared doubtful for the opening match of the traingular one-day cricket tournament tomorrow. "Tendulkar has a tennis elbow and is doubtful for tomorrow's game," skipper Sourav Ganguly said. Rohan Gavaskar would step in for Tendulkar in case the star opening batsman is not fit for the match, Ganguly said. India take on Pakistan in the series opener tomorrow. They play world champions Australia on Monday. The third and final league match pits the Aussies against Pakistan while the final is scheduled for Aug 28.
Centre will not pay ransom to abductors
Friday, August 20, 2004
Centre will not pay ransom to abductors New Delhi, Aug. 19: The Union government on Thur-sday ruled out paying any ransom money to the abductors of the three Indian trucker drivers in Iraq. The government also said it will not hold direct negotiations with the hostage-takers. But Prime Minister Manmohan Singh assured the Rajya Sabha that his government was making all efforts to secure the release of the hostage. In response to questions in the Upper House, the Prime Minister said, We cannot say they will be released tomorrow... government is as serious as anybody else. Every effort is being made to ensure that the three hostages are released as early as possible. Answering several queries, minister of state for external affairs E Ahamed, who also heads the crisis management group on the hostage issue, said, We are dealing carefully with the situation. The government of India has decided there will be no direct dialogue with the kidnappers. Under no circumstances are we going to have a dialogue with them... And no ransom will be given. The Prime Minister spoke on the issue after members, cutting across party lines, expressed concern about the plight of the Indians in Iraq and Rajya Sabha Chairman Bhairon Singh Shekhawat observed that the government should realise the seriousness of the matter. Dr Singh said revealing who was talking to whom in this regard would not serve any purpose. He said any suggestion in this regard from the Opposition will be considered. Ahamed said it was the government policy not to talk to terrorists. The minister pointed out that the government would encourage the Kuwaiti employers of the truckers to step up efforts to secure the Indians’ release. Ahamed said even Kenya and Egypt, whose nationals have been taken hostage, have decided not to hold direct talks with the abductors. He said the government had stopped issuing travel documents for Indians to visit Iraq for the time being and that all recruiting agencies had been given instructions in this regard. He informed the House that Indians living in Iraq were not keen to return. Of the 170 Indians living in Falluja, only 20 of them were ready to return, and that too because of other compulsions, he said. Even now we have made all arrangements. There is absolutely no laxity on that part.
India, Japan discuss withholding tax on software
Friday, August 20, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 19. : India and Japan today discussed the contentious issue of withholding tax, which is imposed by the latter on subsidiaries of Indian software companies creating a non-level playing field. "It is mutual problem. They also have problem with us. We discussed that," Union IT and Communications Minister Dayanidhi Maran told reporters after meeting with his Japanese counterpart Toshimitsu Motegi. "But that is not the only issue. It is clear that Japan is looking at us differently. They see our software potential and capabilities which also include the defining as well as software embedded technology. We are trying to use their hardware expertise", he said. "We will have a preliminary work group to build a relationship in IT. The officials will meet in the next couple of weeks and we will work out the modalities and take it from there with regard to all outstanding issues," he said. India has been demanding that Japan waive the 20 per cent withholding tax imposed on the subsidiaries. Indian companies face problems due to levy of withholding tax by the Japanese Government on software development undertaken by them under which the Japanese Government can tax the fees for software development by India in the form of withholding tax. Currently, India exempts software developers from any tax liability. Due to imposition of such tax, the software cost increases by approximately 25 per cent.
Paes-Bhupathi lose in semifinals
Friday, August 20, 2004
Athens: India's hope of claiming gold at the 28th Olympics Games was shattered when the fifth seeded duo of Leander Paes and Mahesh Bhupathi went down to unseeded German pair of Nicholas Kiefer and Rainer Schuettler 2-6, 3-6 in an hour and six minutes on Thursday night. The unseeded big serving Germans thoroughly outclassed the Indians in an one-sided match at Court two of the tennis stadium. The Indians were broken twice -- in the sixth (Bhupathi) and eighth (Paes) games -- in the first set and in the sixth (Bhupathi) in the second while the Indians failed to break the Germans even once in the match. It was surprising to see the Indians who had beaten a strong Zimabawean pair Wayne Black and Kevin Ullyett on Wednesday night surrender so tamely. The zest and the magic that was evident in their game in their earlier three matches was simply missing. The Indians went into the match as hot favourites as they had beaten the American pair of Andy Roddick and Mardy Fish and the Swiss duo Roger Federar and Yves Allegro in the first and second round respectively. But the Germans had other ideas as their power play and big serve proved too much for the Indians to handle.
It's conspiracy, says Pratima
Friday, August 20, 2004
Disgraced woman weightlifter Pratima Kumari, who tested positive for performance-enhancing male hormone testosterone, pleaded innocence and accused coaches Pal Singh Sandhu and Leonid Taranenko of hatching a conspiracy against her. "I have never taken any such medicine in my life. It's a conspiracy hatched by Sandhu and Taranenko. I am completely innocent," Pratima, a lifter in the 53 kg category, told India TV on phone from Athens. "I cleared dope tests in Belarus and also in India on August 2 before leaving for Athens. But now, suddenly I hear that I have tested positive. I think this is all wrong," she said. Launching a scathing attack on the two coaches, Pratima said she was administered spinal injections in Belarus when she complained of back pain. "I told them repeatedly to give me some traction. But they refused. Because of these injections my back has worsened. I have got a severe allergic infection. I believe they have targeted me." Asked why she alone would be made the target, Pratima replied: "I don't know for sure, but may be, because both me and [Karnam] Malleswari are in the same weight category. Moreover, I had the best performance among the four Indian lifters competing at Athens." Pratima said the media should inquire and find out the truth about the entire controversy. "I have never used any medicine (to enhance my performance). And earlier also I have won medals," she said. The 28-year-old lifter said that she was kept in the dark in Athens about her 'positive' dope test. "They only told me that I have been adjudged unfit for my back pain. At 2-30 am on August 16, Sandhu and Taranenko told me that I'll have to leave the Games village and return home. I told them that I have a severe back pain and can't travel alone. But they did not listen," she said. Pratima said that it was only on return to India that she came to know about the positive dope test. Pratima denied that she had left the Grecian capital secretly. "That's not true. I travelled with a valid passport and ticket." Speaking to another television channel, Pratima said she wanted to meet Union Sports Minister Sunil Dutt and narrate her side of the story. "I'll tell him what I went through. My Olympics dream are gone. I don't want any other sportsperson to suffer as much as I did," she said. Pratima alleged she was administered 11 spinal injections under the supervision of Sandhu. "It was very painful, taking one such injection every day. Sandhu and Taranenko went all out to make me unfit." Pratima said she had told Sandhu that her condition was getting worse, but he did not listen. Pratima said Sandhu did not stand by her during the crisis. "But I want to fight it out. May be, if possible, take part in the Olympics again, and give a fitting reply to such coaches."
Kitchen is top love-making spot!
Friday, August 20, 2004
Asian News International London, August 19 A survey by spring roll maker 'Daloon' has revealed that the kitchen is the favourite love-making place for most people. According to The Sun, eight in ten people admitted to have made love in kitchen proving that the kitchen whets up the sexual appetite of many people. Infact, a majority of women said that kitchen is their favourite place for sex after the bedroom and seven in ten reckoned that a curry usually acts on their libido and makes them get into the mood for 'some passion'. A quarter of people surveyed also revealed that they indulge in a quickie sex session minutes before guests arrive for dinner. According to the report, one in ten said that they had followed the example of the film 91/2 Weeks and had erotically explored the contents of the fridge with their partner.
Pratima tests positive for dope
Friday, August 20, 2004
PTI ATHENS: Indian weightlifter Pratima Kumari, who did not take part in her scheduled 63 kg event Wednesday, has tested positive for a banned substance. Pratima is one of the five weightlifters who have been suspended after failing a pre-Olympic drug test, an International Olympic Committee statement said here on Thursday. Wafa Ammouri of Morocco, Viktor Chislean of Moldova, Sule Shabaz of Turkey and Zoltan Kecskes of Hungary are the other lifters who have been suspended by the International Weightlifting Federation, it said. "The IOC praises the work and determination of the Weightlifting Federation in its fight against doping by testing the athletes on a systematic basis according to its rules," IOC President Jacques Rogge said in the statement. However, Indian officials were not available for comment on this shocking development. Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi told that he could neither confirm nor deny the development and that he would be in a position to make a statement only later in the day. Deputy chef-de-mission Harish Sharma had Wednesday claimed that Pratima had suffered a back injury two days before the event and had to withdraw from the event just before the start. Myanmar's Nan Aya Khine was earlier disqualified from the 48kg event after failing the dope test. As per the rules and regulations of the IWF, all the guilty lifters stand suspended.
Hockey: Australia edge India out 4-3
Friday, August 20, 2004
Athens: A last minute goal by Michael Brennan dashed India's hopes as Australia won the Olympic men's hockey Pool B match between the two sides 4-3 on Thursday. The thrilling contest saw India bouncing back from 1-3 down to level the score 3-3 before Brennan's goal just a few seconds before the hooter left India cap the day on a disappointing note. The fast paced and tension-filled match saw a lot of drama in the last few minutes when both the sides were locked 3-3. A yellow card to Dhanraj Pillay for a minor infringment reduced India to 10-men for the last five minutes and although the side tried hard to keep the Aussies at bay they failed in their effort. Jamie Dwyer, tournament's highest scorer with six goals, got a long pass from a counter move and tapped the ball cleverly to Brennan who put the ball in past a diving Indian goalkeeper Adrian D'Souza much to the dismay of the Indians. No one would have thought of the match coming to an end in such a fashion after India started it on a promising note. Deepak Thakur (6th), Gagan Ajit Singh (51st), Arjun Halappa (52nd) scored for the Indians while Troy Elder (11th), Jamie Dwyer (37th), Michael McCann (50th) and Brennan sounded the board for the Australians. A win in the match would have helped India take a giant step towards ensuring a place in the semifinal and the way the Asian powerhouse started the game, it seemed they were heading in the right direction. Thakur's goal in the sixth minute provided the perfect platform for the side to go for the kill. But that was not to be as Australia, bronze medallists in the Sydney Games, came back strongly equalising in the 11th minute and soon after, the complexion of the game changed with the Australians dictating the terms with some authoritative display. India, who were on three points from three matches in the competition, now need to win their remaining matches -- against New Zealand on Saturday and Argentina on August 23 -- by big margins to have some hope of qualifying for the semifinals from the pool. India must pray that Australia, now on seven points, do not win their next two matches against South Africa and Holland as even a single victory would ensure them a place in the last four.
'Rain, Rain...'
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
'Rain, Rain...' leaves viewers high and dry Film: 'Rain, Rain Come Again'. Director: Jayaraaj. Cast: Ajay Jose, Asif Khan, Renji V. Nair and Divya Lakshmi. Music: Jassie Gift. Lyrics: Kaithapram. English lyrics: Boban Abraham, Thara Thomas. "Rain, Rain Come Again" is a lesson on what overconfidence can lead to. Carried away by the phenomenal success of "4 the People", director Jayaraaj comes out with yet another youth-oriented caper that is no match to its predecessor. There is no denying that innovative music contributed heavily to the success of "4 the People", but there was a semblance of a storyline with well-etched characters to back it up. In "Rain, Rain...." the story and characterization are sacrificed at the altar of technical gimmickry and intoxicating music. Jayaraaj, also credited with the story, makes a hotchpotch of it. He takes inspiration from every possible source, be it Karan Johar's "Kuch, Kuch Hota Hai" for yuppieness and M. Night Shyamalan's "Unbreakable" for eeriness. It seems that screenplay-writer Sarath Sivadas was just assigned to fit in a few scenes between songs. The story begins with two neighbouring colleges, always at loggerheads for some unstated reason. Half of the reel time is taken up by the game of one-upmanship between the two colleges. The other thread of the story is about the fight between the good and the evil - the evil represented by none other than the followers of Satan himself. And, there is no symbolic representation of the evil like drugs or anything evil. The evil is only presented in religious terms. The entirely new cast gets no opportunity to display their histrionic capabilities. The actors have to either look stiff or start dancing when the music starts. Except for Renji V. Nair, who plays the sinister professor following the satanic path, nobody makes an impact. "Rain, Rain..." is inconsistent in the technical department, too. The camerawork by Gopinath is jerky, as in MTV Grind. It looks okay in song sequences but otherwise it makes tiresome viewing. The only saving grace Jassie Gift's music. The dusky composer also appears in almost every song as if to leverage his brand equity. All seen and said, you can watch this movie if you feel that you have still not grown beyond the college-going age, and if you do not mind dancing in the aisles when the song sequences are on.
Russia deplores terror attack in Assam
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Moscow, Aug 16 Deploring the terror attack on independence day in Assam, Russia today said terrorism has no justification and the world should unite to combat the scourge. "We in Russia resolutely deplore the terrorist attack in India and express our heartfelt sympathies with the bereaved families, a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said. Altogether 13 people, including 10 children were killed and 25 injured in the bomb blast by ULFA militants in Assam's Dhemaji district during an independence day function yesterday. "Terrorism has no justification, neither political nor religious or ethnic. The people of Russia condole the deaths of innocent victims of the brutal crime with the friendly people of India. "The terror attack in Assam once more underscores the need for co-ordinated efforts of all the members of the world community in combating the international terrorism at the global scale", the statement said.
Student agitator dies in Manipur, tension mounts
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Imphal, Aug 16 A student leader who attempted self-immolation succumbed to his injuries today, raising tension in Manipur where the government cracked down on the agitation for the withdrawal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act arresting eight proment women leaders, official sources said. The sources said 28-year old Pebam Chitaranjan, who received ninety per cent burns while attempting to set himself ablaze yesterday, died at 2:00 pm this afternoon at the Regional Institute of Medical Science Hospital here. Reports said security and police posts were put on maximum alert as the news of the death of Chitaranjan, advisor to the Manipur Students Federation, spread like wildfire creating tension in the valley. With his death, the number of persons who died during the current agitation has gone upto two. Earlier, 23-year-old Nimita, injured on August 7 by tear gas shells fired by the police, died yesterday. Meanwhile, eight prominent women leaders in the vanguard of the agitation were arrested as arterial roads were blocked and the first phase of the boycott of 'India-made' goods was launched by the 32 organisations spearheading the stir, the sources said. Those arrested included General Secretary of the All Manipur Women Social Reformation and Development Samaj (AMWSRDS) Ima Ramani, Publicity Secretary of the All Manipur Kanba Ima Lup (Mothers Group To Protect Manipur) Ima Ibetombi, former president of Thangmeiband Nupi Lup (a women's group) Ima Gyaneswari and AMWSRDS member Tombi.
GTB shareholders not to get any money back before 12 yrs
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
New Delhi, Aug 16 In a bad news for shareholders of Global Trust Bank, its acquirer Oriental Bank of Commerce today said equity-holders will not get any value for their holdings now and can expect some relief only after 12 years if the troubled bank is left with any surplus value. Amid trading in GTB counters, OBC sent a communique to the Finance Ministry and BSE, announcing that all realisable assets of GTB will be set aside in a separate 'Asset Account', which would be used to meet all the outstanding liabilities of the Secunderabad-based bank. If there is any surplus in this Asset Account, it would be distributed on a pro rata basis to ordinary shareholders of GTB after 12 years or an earlier date as it is specified by government or RBI. The record date for the GTB-OBC merger has been set at August 31, 2004. When contacted, OBC chairman B D Narang told: "We will set aside any surplus (assets minus the liabilities) into a separate escrow account (Asset Account). The shareholders will get the amount on a pro rata basis after 12 years." OBC has ruled out any share-swap soon after it proposed to take over GTB a few weeks ago. Narang said the GTB shares now amount to "junk" paper and shareholders will not get any value out of it now. The clarification comes in the wake of active trade at the GTB counters. However, a section of investors were still active in buying GTB shares on the hope that they may get some relief once the merger takes place.
Bindra blunders in final to finish 7th
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Athens, Aug 16. : Shooter Abhinav Bindra had a terrible final 10 shots as he failed to hold on to his third place in the preliminaries and finished a poor seventh in the 10 m Air Rifle event of the Olympic Shooting competition here today. Bindra, who looked poised for the bronze medal going into the finals, could not carry on the good work and finished with a tally of 694.6 points to the disappointment of a handful of Indian spectators at the Marcopoulo Shooting Centre. His compatriot, Gagan Narang, also failed to make a mark as he crashed out in the qualifying stage, finishing joint 12th with two others tallying 593 points. The gold went to 19-year-old Chinese Qinan Zhu, who equalled the Junior World Record and also created a new Olympic Record in the preliminaries, with a total of 702.7 while his compatriot Li Jie took the silver with a total of 701.3. The bronze went to Jozef Gongi of Slovakia with a score of 697.4 points.
Sex racket: Athlete's husband arrested
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Kolkata: Avtar Singh, husband of Asian Games gold medallist and CPI(M) Lok Sabha MP Jyotirmayee Sikdar, was arrested by police from a hotel in Salt Lake for allegedly running a sex racket, police said. IG (law and order) Chayan Mukerjee told that police acting on a tip off, raided the premises of Merilyn Park Hotel, owned by Singh, at Sector Five in Salt Lake yesterday and arrested four women and four men. Singh and the hotel manager were also arrested. The six would be produced at Barrackpore court today.
Lalu 'raids' goods train in Bihar
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Patna: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Monday sprang a surprise check of the consigment being ferried by a goods train from Mumbai at the Danapur station under the East Central Railway. Accompanied by the General Manager of the East Central Railway, Prasad drove straight to Danapur station from 1 Anne Marg, official residence of Chief Minister and ordered a thorough check-up of the consignment carried by the goods train going to Guwahati. He called the guard of the goods trains and went through the list of consignees and the details of the goods. The sealed consignments were likely to be opened during the search, Railway sources said, adding the weight of the consignment would also be verified.
Lalu 'raids' goods train in Bihar
Tuesday, August 17, 2004
Patna: Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Monday sprang a surprise check of the consigment being ferried by a goods train from Mumbai at the Danapur station under the East Central Railway. Accompanied by the General Manager of the East Central Railway, Prasad drove straight to Danapur station from 1 Anne Marg, official residence of Chief Minister and ordered a thorough check-up of the consignment carried by the goods train going to Guwahati. He called the guard of the goods trains and went through the list of consignees and |
